Chapter 41

As her words fell, the black robe that cloaked her suddenly turned into countless violet‑red Data Stream Fragments, scattering like fireflies blown by the wind, silently fading into the moonlight, revealing the true face that had been hidden beneath.

Her waist‑length gray‑white hair flowed like moonlight, emitting a cold sheen in the darkness.

She wore a mysteriously dark‑purple Purple Witch Hat on her head, and beneath its brim was a face as delicate as a doll's, skin pale to near transparency.

Her violet‑black, matte eyes were like deep pools, reflecting the stunned silhouettes of the two Star Core Hunters before her.

She wore a shoulder‑bare Lolita Dress in dominant black‑purple tones, its hem intricate and lavish, with several tiny skull pendants hanging at her neck, swaying gently with her movements.

Gray stockings wrapped her slender legs, and on her feet were knee‑high black high‑heeled boots.

One hand rested elegantly on her waist, her posture upright, exuding an innate, unquestionable authority and charm.

"Black Tower?!!"

Yinlang's eyes widened instantly, his mouth slightly open, almost blurting out the name that made his teeth ache with hatred.

That iconic gray hair, the overly delicate visage…

Although the temperament and eye color were completely different, the impact at first glance was overwhelming!

Kafuka's hand gripping the gun tightened imperceptibly, a flash of genuine surprise passing through her magenta eyes, but her rationality quickly overrode that fleeting ripple.

"No…"

She quickly composed herself, her voice returning to its previous steadiness, "The Black Tower could never appear here in person, especially for a so‑called Star Core. The Space Station's owner isn't that… obsessed with 'collecting' Star Cores. So, madam, how should we address you?"

Black Curtain Lady—at this moment should be called Heimu—turned her gaze toward Kafuka, a hint of approval flashing in her violet‑black eyes.

"Not bad, unlike some who only shrieks like a 'little fool'."

"Hey! Who did you call a fool?!"

Yinlang instantly bristled, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, nearly crushing the Data Light Screen in his hand.

Anyone mocked face‑to‑face by a guy who looks like an old enemy would not feel pleasant.

Heimu tilted her head slightly, a gesture that would normally seem cute, but coming from her carried a condescending scrutiny.

She completely ignored Yinlang's Rage, her gaze locking back onto Kafuka.

"The title isn't important. What matters is, how do you find my proposal just now?"

Her violet‑black lips parting slightly, her voice carried a strange allure, "Exchange one Star Core for my promise of 'non‑interference'. This deal should be profitable for you. After all, my goal is simple: I only want the Star Core itself. Your objective, however, is evidently far grander, and you surely wish to avoid any unplanned… 'Variable', don't you?"

She paused, scanning the dim reception room as if evaluating the stage set.

"I know the 'Script' you're carrying out. Ailiou indeed sketches an interesting future. But believe me, if I insist on taking the Star Core here, even your combined effort may not stop me. The result of the clash would only cause your 'Script' to go completely out of control."

Moonlight bathed her, the black‑purple dress starkly contrasting with her pallid skin, the skull pendants emitting a cold glow.

She stood there like a queen formed from night itself—beautiful, mysterious, and brimming with unknown danger.

Her words were not a threat, but a statement of what she considered an obvious fact.

"Give me a Star Core, and we'll coexist peacefully. Otherwise…"

In Heimu's violet‑black eyes, for the first time, a Data‑like glimmer flickered, "I don't mind becoming the biggest 'Variable' myself."

The atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing point.

Just as the two sides faced off.

"Beep."

A faint yet clear prompt sounded from the sci‑fi device on Yinlang's wrist, breaking the near‑solid silence.

Yinlang furrowed his brows slightly, quickly lowering his head to glance at the scrolling information on the Light Screen.

Her expression instantly turned somewhat odd.

She lifted her head, looked at Kafuka, and conveyed succinctly:

"Ailiou says, 'agree to her.'"

Those simple three words seemed to possess magic.

Kafuka remained elegant and composed, but the tension in her shoulders subtly eased.

She flicked her wrist, and the gun that had been steadily pointing at Heimu vanished silently, just as it had appeared.

"It seems the 'Script' deems your inclusion acceptable."

Kafuka's tone returned to its original languidness, even with a faint smile, as if the earlier tense standoff had never occurred.

"That's fine, after all, I don't really wish to clash with a… such beautiful and mysterious lady."

Heimu inwardly let out a sigh of relief.

Avoiding combat is naturally best; she truly does not want to meet on the battlefield a character she quite liked in her 'previous life'.

At the same time, a clear piece of information was captured by her:

Ailiou can sense her existence, and her presence has already been incorporated into the other party's so‑called 'Script' considerations.

This is extremely important intelligence.

"A wise choice," Heimu nodded slightly, her violet‑black eyes still revealing no emotion, though her tone softened a bit.

At this point, Kafuka raised a practical question: "Then, how shall we communicate? When we need to deliver 'payment', or… when the 'Script' requires you, the new Variable, to cooperate?"

The posing of this question made the atmosphere somewhat delicate.

The two Star Core Hunters might be anticipating some Star Sea Communication Key, Spiritual Energy Mark, or High‑dimensional Coordinate Exchange.

However, Heimu's reaction surprised them.

She gracefully raised her hand, the fingertips of her black‑lace gloves lightly tapping the air; a faint glimmer flashed, and a… mobile phone appeared in her hand.

The phone case was dark‑purple, bearing a white little skull icon winking with one eye.

"That's simple," Heimu's voice was flat, "let's add a group chat."

Yinlang: "……"

Kafuka: "……"

Both well‑versed Star Core Hunters momentarily wore a blank expression.

Yinlang's mouth corner twitched visibly, and even Kafuka's eternally unchanging smile mask seemed to develop a tiny crack; her elegant eye corner flickered imperceptibly for a moment.

This… this method seems a bit too down-to-earth, doesn't it?

It feels absurdly out of place compared to the imposing Black Curtain Lady before us, who claims she can overturn the script.

It's just like seeing admirable Harmony pull out a QR code for you to scan and follow.

She stifled her strong urge to retort and the strange feeling, and Kafuka, relying on her extraordinary professionalism, quickly returned to normal.

"……Very……unique way of contacting."

She forced a smile and produced her own communication device—a terminal with a more pronounced sci-fi look.

Yinlang looked reluctant, muttering: 'What the heck… I thought it would at least be an encrypted star‑region network channel, but it turned out to be just creating a group…'

But, under Kafuka's gaze, she reluctantly fumbled out her game‑shaped communicator.

After the remarkably plain steps of scanning a QR code, adding a contact, and creating a group against the sci‑fi backdrop, a chat group called 【Star Core Chat Group】 was formed.

Group members: Black Curtain Lady, Kafuka, Yinlang.

Black Curtain Lady looked at the group name, seemed quite pleased, and casually set the group avatar to a skull emoji.

The matter seemed to have concluded, the deal was done, and contact information had been exchanged.

Kafuka had already prepared to take her leave; it was not wise to linger, for Beloberg's 'script' was still underway.

However, Black Curtain Lady did not move.

She stood silently, moonlight outlining her perfect profile and the splendid dress, her violet‑black eyes once again falling on Yinlang, who was trying to lower her presence nearby.