The players' reactions after watching "Skyfall Meteor" varied, but undoubtedly, they all brought immense popularity to Honkai Impact 3rd.
As for Elysia, after Himeko and Kiana ended their livestream, she chatted with her audience about Honkai Impact 3rd for over another half hour. Her enthusiasm finally sated, she contentedly ended the stream.
"Ah~~"
Elysia stretched languidly and thanked Eden, who had accompanied her throughout the afternoon's stream, "Eden, you've worked hard."
"I was just sitting here, chatting with you, Elly. It was no trouble at all," Eden replied, shaking her head gently, her voice warm, like that of an older sister who could embrace everything.
"That's not it at all~~ Having Eden by my side makes me feel especially good, you know~~" Elysia said, emphasizing Eden's importance to her.
"Is that so? Hearing you say that, Elly, makes me very happy."
Eden gave Elysia a gentle smile, then glanced at the sun gradually setting outside. "It's getting late. I'll go get ready, shall we go out for dinner together?"
"Okay~~" Elysia chirped in agreement, and Eden rose to leave.
After Eden had moved away, Elysia first tidied her appearance. Seeing that Eden hadn't returned yet, she opened the group chat.
Elysia: [What a delightful and satisfying day~♪]
Elysia had spoken, but it seemed no one in the group was free to pay her any mind at the moment.
Mobius: [It seems our dear Big Sis Mei is in for quite a bit of trouble next. How truly 'worrisome' for her.]
Vill-V: [Big Sis?]
Mobius: [What's wrong?]
Vill-V: [Nothing, cough. I just thought, compared to Mei's storyline, you'd be more concerned about World Serpent.]
Mobius: [It seems Vill-V has found me out.]
Vill-V: [It's quite an obvious matter, after all.]
Mobius: [Yes, obvious.]
Mobius and Vill-V exchanged remarks that left some in the group utterly bewildered, causing the atmosphere in the chat to turn rather peculiar.
Of course, there were also those unaffected by such an atmosphere.
Elysia: [What are you two talking about?]
Mobius: [Just some conjectures that cannot yet be proven.]
Meanwhile, in a certain private laboratory.
Projected onto a screen hanging on the wall was an 'infinity' symbol.
A woman with long green hair sat in an office chair, her legs crossed. She held a phone in her right hand, and a bowl of instant noodles sat by her left.
"World Serpent? Interesting."
Another woman, also with green hair, walked in from outside, carrying a stack of documents.
"Dr. Mobius, these are the materials for the upcoming meeting."
As she approached, she noticed the bowl of instant noodles on the desk and her expression immediately soured with displeasure. "Doctor! How many times have I told you! Don't eat this kind of non-nutritious junk food!"
She spoke as she cleared the instant noodles from the desk. "There are nutritious meals available in the cafeteria. They just need to be heated up; it's very convenient."
Mobius shifted her attention from her phone and looked at her assistant. "Klein~"
Her deliberately drawn-out tone made Klein feel a stir of apprehension.
Klein hurriedly tried to change the subject, "Doctor, the meeting is about to start..."
Mobius raised a hand, pressing on Klein and interrupting her, "My dear Klein, have you had a chance to play that little game I recommended to you?"
"Doctor, that's not the important thing right now."
Klein desperately wanted to return to the main topic, but she was firmly held by Mobius, struggling adorably but in vain.
Mobius asked, "What did you think of that game?"
"...It's quite engaging, yes. However, it tends to interfere with my work, so I don't indulge frequently," Klein answered honestly.
"Oh? So even Klein plays it. And here I was, thinking games held no interest for you."
A flicker of satisfaction crossed Mobius's face. It seemed her strategy of recommending an engaging game to help Klein relax occasionally had been a resounding success.
Of course, she wouldn't voice these thoughts.
Instead, Mobius pressed Klein further, leaning in with an imposing presence:
"Then, what are your thoughts on... World Serpent?"
"Doctor, we really shouldn't be discussing games at this moment."
"Hmm?"
"...It bears a certain resemblance to the Doctor's own style."
"Indeed. So, Klein, you perceive it that way as well."
Mobius smiled upon hearing Klein's words.
She casually touched the 'infinity'-shaped earring on her ear, stood up, patted down her white lab coat, and began to walk out.
"Doctor, where are you going?" Klein called out anxiously from behind.
"You know, Elysia and I... well, we're both heading to Linjiang at the end of the year anyway... I figured I might as well depart a little earlier," Mobius replied.
"Besides, there's someone in Linjiang I'm quite eager to meet right now."
"Doctor, we have a multitude of crucial meetings scheduled for the upcoming period!" Cold sweat beaded on Klein's forehead. "For instance, the quarterly research results report meeting is imminent. Any laboratory that is absent will face budgetary reductions for the subsequent quarter."
Upon hearing this, Mobius paused in her tracks.
"Aih~~ That does sound a bit troublesome."
She said this, then turned to face Klein, a mischievous smile suddenly appearing on her face.
Mobius sauntered over to Klein, then fumbled for her own ID badge and pinned it onto Klein's white lab coat.
"Alright. For the time being, I shall entrust matters to you... Mobius."
"Pardon my bluntness, Doctor, but that 'joke' isn't the least bit funny," Klein said, clearly exasperated.
Mobius waved her hand dismissively, utterly unconcerned. "Because you're Mobius, they'll surely understand. Now, off you go. Don't keep everyone waiting."
"..."
After a moment of silence, Klein slowly said, "Dr. Mobius, I implore you, please have some respect for everyone's eyesight and cognitive abilities."
"Don't address me as Mobius!"
Mobius placed her hands on her hips, feigning indignation. "From now on, you are to call me Klein. It lends an air of authenticity, you see."
"Doctor, no matter how you put it, this is too..."
"Alright, alright, it's decided."
Mobius pushed Klein out of the laboratory, then smiled and patted her shoulder.
"But, Doctor, this really isn't appropriate..."
"Klein~"
Mobius's voice adopted a deliberately feigned tone of grievance:
"You understand, don't you? Every time we're in those meetings, watching them rack their brains, as if attempting to grasp calculus using elementary school arithmetic—I simply wish to spare those poor souls further hardship."
"And so," her tone lifted, "if it's Klein, surely you can comprehend my... benevolent intentions, can't you?"
"Doctor..."
Klein blinked, hesitated, then finally let out a soft sigh. "I... understand. I will attend in your stead."
"I knew I could count on you, Klein." Mobius nodded, satisfied.
With that, she eagerly departed.
Destination: Linjiang!