Stelle sighed, spreading her hands in exasperation. "Exactly. But Ah Guang, do you really think she is going to win?"
Pei Guang responded earnestly. "I do. It's just a gut feeling. Look, I'm not trying to jinx it, but sometimes I like to test my luck. Worst case, I lose and go along with what you've agreed to anyway. Best case, you all do what she wants, and I still have to tag along. Either way, I'm not really winning here."
March 7th waved dismissively, cutting him off. "As long as you're not trying to game the odds, we're good! Fu Xuan, why don't you go ahead and see if Ah Guang's guess holds up?"
Fu Xuan crossed her arms. "Fine, I'll do it!"
Yet, for some reason, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being led around in circles.
Meanwhile, Kafka, who had been quietly observing, allowed a faint smile to grace her lips. Unlike most people, she had some insight into Pei Guang's peculiarities. Before her capture, she had exchanged information with Silver Wolf, who claimed to have been outmaneuvered by Pei Guang.
This man's bets weren't about winning or losing; they were about making those around him happy. And when it came to matters of importance, Pei Guang never gambled unless the outcome was a sure thing.
Unfortunately for Fu Xuan, her divination, calculation abilities and Third Eye—impressive as they were—could not account for the intricacies of Pei Guang's nature, let alone the unknowable abilities of a "player" in this world.
Kafka noticed Fu Xuan's growing unease and interrupted the betting frenzy. "Master Diviner, witness my destiny. Surely gambling is not your priority here, is it? The truth must come first."
Walking into the center of the Matrix of Prescience, Kafka's words pulled Fu Xuan from her thoughts. She stepped up to the terminal, her voice calm but commanding. "You're right. I shouldn't let their nonsense distract me. Let's focus on the interrogation. Begin!"
Fu Xuan connected her third eye to the matrix, activating its immense power. The energy from the three foundational terminals converged, enveloping Kafka in a wave of radiant knowledge. Her fate, her past and her ultimate goals were laid bare before the matrix.
As the full force of the Matrix of Prescience engulfed her, Kafka's body began to float. Despite the overwhelming energy coursing through her, she smiled, her eyes gleaming like a starry sky.
Meanwhile, Stelle and March 7th exchanged a high five in the background.
March 7th grinned. "You're amazing, Stelle—so natural!"
Stelle nodded solemnly. "Not as good as you, March. Still, Ah Guang deserves the real credit. I feel like we should give him an award."
Pei Guang, standing nearby, maintained a serious expression. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. The results aren't in yet—anything could happen."
March 7th leaned in, teasing. "Come on, stop pretending! We all know you're just giving her a handicap. Wait… your expression… you don't actually think she'll win, do you?"
Both Stelle and March 7th noticed Pei Guang's uncharacteristic seriousness. As close companions, they could read him like a book, but his demeanor left them puzzled.
Meanwhile, Fu Xuan's face went through several stages of realization—first confusion, then shock, and finally disbelief. She stared at Kafka, her voice shaking. "You're really doing all this for that?"
Kafka's smile widened. "So? Do you like the truth?"
Fu Xuan's gaze shifted to Pei Guang. "Unbelievable… but the Matrix of Prescience doesn't lie."
Pei Guang spoke up casually. "So… did we win?"
"You… you scoundrel!" Fu Xuan's composure broke as she pointed an accusatory finger at him.
Initially stunned by Kafka's revelations, Fu Xuan now felt an overwhelming urge to scold Pei Guang. It wasn't just about losing the bet—through Kafka's revelations, she had learned about Pei Guang's uncanny "always-lose-at-gambling" quirk. It was clear she had been played, walking right into his carefully laid trap.
Fu Xuan glared at Pei Guang for a long moment before finally speaking. "I lost. Your guesses may not be entirely accurate in the details, but they're correct in essence. Damn it! I actually fell for your ridiculous scheme. Fine—tell me what we should do next to minimize losses."
She briefly considered reporting everything to Jing Yuan but remembered his cryptic hints and how he had deferred to Pei Guang's insights. She decided to hear him out first. Though she considered him infuriating, she also recognized his value as an ally of Xianzhou.
Pei Guang shrugged. "Suggestions? None, really. We'll just keep following the main story. But based on my calculations, something big is about to happen in Xianzhou."
Fu Xuan narrowed her eyes. "How do you know all this? Do you have some sort of prophetic ability?"
Pei Guang smirked. "Nope, just gaming instincts. In any story-heavy game, you get to know the local culture, uncover some truths, and then boom—major crisis for us to solve. It's practically a tradition. Unless, of course, some unbeatable entity shows up and one-shots us all. That'd be a surprise. But if you're asking for advice? Do nothing. Or better yet, stick with us. Follow our lead, and we'll handle the final boss and this Stellaron crisis."
Pei Guang didn't bother to lower his voice, and those nearby exchanged thoughtful glances at his confident declaration.
Fu Xuan massaged her temples. "Do nothing? That's absurd… but…"
She trailed off, recalling Jing Yuan's earlier demeanor. He clearly knew more than he let on, yet had chosen to let her conduct this interrogation. Thinking back to his interactions with Pei Guang, it all began to make sense.
Taking a deep breath, she turned to the group. "The interrogation is over. If any of you want to talk to Kafka, go ahead. Pei Guang, come here."
Pei Guang blinked. "Why?"
Fu Xuan's voice dropped an octave, full of menace. "I'm furious with you, you scoundrel. Ever since we met, nothing has gone smoothly. But I keep my word. I promised to use the Matrix of Prescience to find your past, and I will. Since the matrix is still active and I'm in good condition, I'll help you uncover your home world."
Fu Xuan decided to proceed because she felt exceptionally good today. Compared to her usual state, her mental and physical energy seemed to have increased by about ten percent. She wasn't sure if it was thanks to Pei Guang and Stelle's constant bouncing and antics, but everything seemed to be going so smoothly that she figured it wouldn't hurt to take a look into their pasts.
At the same time, she couldn't help but feel curious about Pei Guang himself. What was his deal with that peculiar coffee, his strange abilities, and those uncanny predictions? Under normal circumstances, she would never delve into someone's personal matters. However, with both Pei Guang and March 7th practically begging her to investigate his past, she was more than willing to take a closer look at what exactly was going on in this man's mind.
As Pei Guang stepped into the matrix, Fu Xuan steadied herself, drawing on its power. With a deep breath, she activated it.
"Begin!"