Meanwhile, on a forum on Earth, a group of people were engaged in a heated discussion over a single image.
The image showed Lumina holding the Stellaron, casting a sidelong glance at the viewer.
Calling it a "discussion" was generous; it was mostly just people simping over the "Mysterious Girl."
Most of the comments were vapid and purely lustful, consisting of crude remarks like, "Just looking at this picture makes me want to cum," and other sexually charged comments.
However, a smaller group had delved into the lore from the third closed beta test, using the image as a springboard for intense speculation.
The most upvoted comment read:
["The Mysterious Girl—let's just call her 'the girl' from now on. As we all know, the third beta ended abruptly with Fu Xuan's appearance. While the cliffhanger was well-executed and revealed nothing concrete, that hasn't stopped us from speculating.]
["The Stellaron might not be directly linked to the Stellaron Hunters at all. Remember when Welt said on the Astral Express that a single Stellaron posed no threat to the Xianzhou? If the story is to continue, there must be a far greater menace at play.]
["And judging by this image of the girl, even if she didn't smuggle the Stellaron onto the Xianzhou herself, she's undoubtedly connected to it in some way."]
[Given the girl's status as a homologue of the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, there's a high probability she's aligned with Abundance.]
[Therefore, I believe Abundance orchestrated the chaos on the Xianzhou, and this young girl is the mastermind behind it all!]
Although the Xianzhou storyline remains largely shrouded in mystery, this image alone allows us to piece together roughly seventy to eighty percent of the plot.
It's probably a cliché: investigate, uncover the mastermind, defeat them, and then smoothly progress to the next planet.
Most players shared this sentiment, flooding the comment section with affirmations.
"What would their faces look like if the so-called mastermind of the Xianzhou suddenly appeared right here in the Space Station?" Lumina couldn't help but chuckle as she read the comments speculating about her role.
[ Perfect, ] she thought. [ Just when they're completely convinced I'm the Xianzhou mastermind, I'll make my grand entrance at the Space Station and scare the living daylights out of them. ]
Lumina burst into laughter, already picturing the players' bewildered expressions upon encountering the "Mysterious Girl" right here in the Space Station.
"How much longer until we reach the Space Station?" Lumina asked the System, tucking away her phone.
[Soon.]
Lumina nodded and quickened her pace.
Herta Space Station
Lumina descended from the platform, surveying her surroundings as she prepared to ask someone for directions.
She had clearly underestimated both her own beauty and her fame.
The moment she set foot on the platform, countless eyes turned to her. It wasn't for any specific reason, but simply because of her breathtaking beauty: her pristine white dress, her ethereal and flawless aura, and a face that seemed to belong only on television.
Wait... on television?
"That's... That's Miss Lumina!"
Snapping out of their initial daze, someone in the crowd recognized her and exclaimed excitedly.
Instantly, over 90% of the people present were visibly thrilled.
This was a superstar they usually only saw on television, a figure whose prestige rivaled, if not surpassed, that of Madam Herta herself!
As loyal fans who had followed Madam Herta to the space station, they naturally admired her greatly. Yet even these devoted supporters readily acknowledged that Lumina's reputation and status were at least on par with Herta's.
One could only imagine the sheer magnitude of Lumina's fame across the cosmos.
"..."
Watching the scene unfold before her, Lumina felt a wave of frustration wash over her.
How was Lumina supposed to ask for directions now?
Fortunately, just as she was about to randomly approach someone, the crowd suddenly parted, revealing a pink-haired young girl hurrying toward her.
Sweat glistened on the girl's forehead, and her clothes were slightly disheveled, as if she had rushed over upon hearing of Lumina's arrival at the space station.
As she stood before Lumina, a flicker of awe flashed in her eyes before she lowered her head respectfully. "Miss Lumina, welcome to Herta Space Station. I'm Asta, the Lead Researcher."
"Asta~" Lumina smiled softly at the sight of her. "I even held you when you were a baby."
"Huh?" Asta blinked, looking momentarily bewildered.
Despite her surprise, Asta didn't doubt Lumina's words. This meant Lumina had indeed held her as an infant.
Seeing Asta's reaction, Lumina's expression softened further. "You were only a few months old back then. It's natural you don't remember."
Lumina had indeed held Asta as a baby. Asta's family had hosted a celebratory banquet, and Lumina had happened to pass by, offering her blessings.
Seeing Asta's adorable expression, Lumina couldn't resist reaching out and giving her a hug.
Asta's family had recognized Lumina at the time and hadn't stopped her. In fact, they had even thanked Lumina afterward.
Lumina thoroughly enjoyed the privileges that came with her social standing.
However, she hadn't expected Asta's family to never mention the incident to her.
Well, it doesn't matter now. I can hug her whenever I want.
"Asta, is it alright if I call you that? You can just call me Lumina. Adding 'Miss' would make things too formal," Lumina asked softly.
"Hmm... if you don't mind, you can call me 'Sister Lumina' too."
"O-of course!" Asta replied, slightly overwhelmed. Even setting aside her status as a Young Miss, the difference in their social standing was immense.
Of course, even without setting aside her Young Miss status, there was still a significant gap between Asta and Lumina.
"Asta, the reason I've come to the Space Station this time is to stay here for a few days," Lumina explained her purpose simply.
"Of course, if you refuse..."
"Sister Lumina, I agree!" Asta blurted out before Lumina could finish. "Given your contributions to the cosmos, I doubt any faction would refuse such a simple request from you."
"Is that so?" Lumina murmured softly, then turned to Asta with a breathtaking smile. "Then thank you, Asta."
"U-um..." Overwhelmed by Lumina's stunning beauty up close, Asta's cheeks flushed crimson.
Noticing Asta's reddening complexion, Lumina paused, then smiled. She gently brushed away strands of sweat-dampened hair from Asta's forehead and straightened her slightly disheveled clothes.
"Asta, let's go."
"O-okay..."
Lumina's touch intensified Asta's blush, even reddening the tips of her ears. Summoning her courage, Asta stepped forward to lead the way.
"L-Lumina, please... follow me..."