Chapter 664: Return of the Missing Population

In the hidden carriage of the Starry Vault Train, the scent of red tea drifts; the System bought the tea leaves from Luofu, the brewed colour is fairly clear, but Heimu has no mood to taste it now.

The fragmented screens on the monitor are frozen as if someone hit the pause button.

On the streets of Winterwood City, Yuanban Shichen and Sakura stand rigid with heads tilted upward, and the golden phantom of Taiyi hovers in the sky, its light no longer flashing.

In the Mirror World it's even more absurd: Jing Yuan's Divine Lord still holds a chopping stance, the Giant Fox's mouth is frozen mid‑yawn, San Yue Qi has one foot on a little monkey's head, and looks quite spirited.

Heimu crosses her legs and taps the keyboard twice.

No response.

She doesn't believe it, shakes the mouse; the cursor stays still, the virtual pointer on the screen looks dead.

Heimu raises an eyebrow, taps the keyboard twice more, but the screen remains frozen, not a hint of change.

What's going on?

Heimu tosses the mouse aside, runs a hand over her chin, and stares at the frozen virtual screen.

Every detail on the screen is crystal clear: Ilya crouches behind a pillar, Robin stands before the golden radiance of Divine Lord Day suspended in midair, Gudazi is frozen in a diving pose, and even the Noble Phantasms in the sky hang motionless like decorations on a ceiling.

Heimu furrows her brows, her fingers unconsciously rubbing her chin.

Something's wrong.

According to her plan, Winterwood City should be in a chaotic‑then‑wrap‑up rhythm; Huo Huo should be secured, the fun should be produced for Aha to report, and she can also brush off Nanuku's Destruction Temporary Worker job.

But now the screen stops as if someone pulled the power cord.

Heimu turns her head, looking at the System pouring tea beside her.

The System, shaped like a doll, holds the teapot expressionlessly; its movements are elegant, but its face remains as unchanged as a statue.

The tea pours into the cup with a faint sound, steam curling upward.

"System."

The System pauses, turns its head, and looks at her expressionlessly.

Heimu points her chin toward the screen: "What's happening?"

The System, still holding the tea, gazes at the frozen virtual image for two or three seconds, then places the cup on the tea table before Heimu.

She closes her eyes, as if entering a Retrieval State; her long lashes stand out sharply against her violet hair.

Heimu doesn't prod her, shifts her gaze back to the screen, and taps a rhythm on the sofa armrest.

One second, two seconds, three seconds—under five seconds later, the System opens its eyes again.

Its violet‑red pupils turn to Heimu; its face remains expressionless, but its voice is steady: "Madam, you have a message to receive."

Heimu's brows knit tighter, her fingers unconsciously tap the armrest twice: "What does it mean?"

Nevertheless, she lifts her hand and swipes in front of her, bringing up the System Panel.

A translucent interface floats before her, neatly listing several messages.

Heimu scans it, and her pupils contract sharply.

What's the situation?

She shifts her gaze down from the first line, finding it increasingly absurd.

The bottom line reads "Harmony"'s gaze.

The font is a soft gold, edges tinged with a faint glow, looking rather amicable.

One line above, "Destruction"'s gaze—font interwoven black and red, lines sharp as blade edges, the mere sight exuding pressure.

Another line higher, "Joy"'s gaze.

The font is garish, alternating sizes, with a flashing effect, making one's blood pressure spike.

Well, the Three Great Star Gods are all staring at us, acting like a New Year's meeting?

Heimu's eyes scan the three lines back and forth twice.

The three stacked together look like some limited‑edition collector's book.

"Harmony"'s gaze is at the bottom, indicating it just arrived.

Heimu's mouth twitches, she looks away from the panel at the System: "What exactly is happening?"

The System falls silent for a moment.

That brief pause makes Heimu's stomach churn.

The System usually replies instantly; such a noticeable pause is rare.

The violet‑haired doll stands there, pupils slightly constricted, as if pulling data from a massive database and compressing it.

Heimu waits two seconds, then taps the floor with her toe.

The System finally speaks.

It delivers a long statement: "The world's condition is in a sealed state; because the simulated Order Star God's phantom is overly realistic, it has attracted Harmony's attention; and due to various complex causes and contradictions in the Rule, the world has temporarily paused."

The sentences are long and wordy, but the more Heimu listens, the more her head hurts.

Heimu squints slightly, her violet‑black pupils reflecting the panel's light.

She lowers one leg from the other, leaning forward.

"Speak human language."

The System pauses.

A subtle expression finally appears on the modified Black Tower Doll's face.

Its eyelashes droop slightly, and the violet‑red pupils flash.

After about two seconds, it lifts its eyes again, tone still calm.

"In short, our plan failed. Due to a combination of factors, the Holy Grail War is currently suspended. There is a chance it will resume in the future, but for now it cannot proceed."

Heimu leans back into the sofa, staring at the System for a full three seconds.

"Are you serious?"

The System nodded.

The carriage fell silent for two seconds, the red tea on the coffee table still steaming, white mist curling upward, tinged with a faint blue hue under the virtual screen's light.

Heimu remained silent.

Heimu leaned back on the sofa, fingers unconsciously tugging at the hem of the Lolita dress.

"What about my people?" Heimu lifted their head. "The ones I arranged in that world—what will happen to them? I can't just say they're paused together with Winterwood City, can I?"

The System fell silent again.

That silence made Heimu's heart thud.

Light flowed in the doll's eyes, as if retrieving some deep‑level data.

Then the System raised its eyelids, its tone still unruffled.

"Madam, would you like to activate Retrieval State?"

Heimu waved a hand: "Activate immediately."

The System responded, the light in its pupils brightening.

Heimu stood quietly there and entered the data Retrieval State, their whole being like a precision instrument in operation.

Heimu shifted their gaze back to the virtual screen.

On the Winterwood City screen, the Giant Fox still held its clawed, snarling pose, San Yue Qi's skirt hem frozen in midair, A Xing stood on the rooftop, staring face to face with the silver‑haired girl.

Everyone's expressions froze at the most subtle instant.

Heimu couldn't help but scratch their head.