Honkai Star Rail: Corruption System

Sparkle deliberately drew out the last syllable of her words, long and coquettish, her pink eyes darting around, carefully observing every subtle change in Daziel's expression.

"Of course, I remember." Daziel's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, a sense of foreboding creeping into his heart.

The chaotic feeling from that absurd Dream Bubble hadn't completely dissipated, and now this little imp had jumped out to stir things up again.

"But that seems to be a commission you accepted, right? What does it have to do with me?" Daziel's tone was flat, attempting to draw a clear line. "Or are you hoping I'll get involved in your affairs?"

An image flashed through his mind from the original plot where Sparkle had set up 999 dolls and a firework bomb, sending everyone into a frenzy… Daziel considered himself to have absolutely no interest in such tasteless pranks.

"Bingo! You got it!" Sparkle snapped her fingers crisply, her smile radiant. "However, Brother, accepting the commission is just an excuse. The fun during the process, that's the main event!"

She tiptoed, her body winding around him like a supple vine. Her breath, warm and fragrant as orchids, as she leaned close to Daziel's ear, a sweet, scented breeze gently caressing his earlobe.

"And you know, I have a strong premonition…" Sparkle's voice dropped to a whisper, filled with a bewitching mystery. "This matter is definitely connected to Penacony's deepest, darkest secret…"

Daziel pursed his lips. "Even if your premonition is correct, here's the problem: do you know where that Sam is right now?"

Just as his voice fell, a burst of messy, hurried footsteps accompanied by rough shouts, like a basin of cold water, abruptly shattered the momentary, eerie tranquility of the street corner.

"Stop! Don't let her get away!"

"Catch that stowaway vermin!"

Several burly men in the Family's uniform, their faces grim and unfriendly, were chasing aggressively in a certain direction, their eyes fierce. Their leather boots echoed dully on the paving stones.

Daziel and Sparkle, almost simultaneously, directed their sharp gazes towards the sound.

At the end of their line of sight, in the shadow of a nearby streetlight, a girl in a simple white and green dress, looking exceptionally frail and slender, was stumbling and fleeing in panic, not watching where she was going.

Her soft, silver hair danced chaotically in the night wind, like shattered moonlight. Her delicate face was etched with terror and helplessness.

The girl seemed to be running out of stamina, her breath coming in ragged gasps, her steps faltering. Losing her balance, she was cornered by her pursuers into a dead-end alley piled high with discarded junk.

She curled up her body, trembling uncontrollably, trying to hide herself as much as possible in the narrow shadow, her watery eyes staring in terror at the approaching pursuers.

Those members of the Bloodhound Family were cursing and grumbling as they ran.

"Hey, this stowaway sure runs fast, huh?"

"Don't worry, she can't get away. I saw her go in that direction. I remember that's a dead end, right?"

Daziel watched this familiar yet slightly different scene unfold, his heart calm, fully understanding the situation.

Indeed, the gears of fate were still slowly turning along their predetermined track. Firefly's appearance was almost perfectly on cue.

But… Daziel's peripheral vision caught sight of the one beside him—Sparkle, that little imp who loved nothing more than to stir up trouble, was currently standing beside him with great interest.

With her around, things probably won't be that simple…

Sure enough, Sparkle's pink eyes instantly lit up, as if she had discovered a fascinating new toy. A playful, mischievous curve slowly formed on her lips.

She gently nudged Daziel's arm with her elbow, her voice full of an excited, mocking tone, clearly enjoying the drama.

"Look, look, Big Brother Daziel! What did I tell you? Didn't the target of the commission just deliver herself to our doorstep?"

Sparkle's voice dropped, laced with a hint of cunning. "You definitely don't know, do you? That delicate and pitiful-looking young girl, her true identity is the infamous Stellaron Hunter, the wanted fugitive rumored to be able to easily destroy a planet—'Sam'~"

Daziel's expression remained calm, he didn't even bat an eyelid, merely nodding faintly. "I know."

The excited smile on Sparkle's face froze slightly, revealing a hint of astonishment. "Eh? Big Brother Daziel, why are you reacting like this?"

Her tone carried a trace of dissatisfaction and disappointment. "I thought you'd be so surprised your jaw would drop!"

Daziel turned his head, his gaze deep, and glanced lightly at Sparkle. "I told you, the things I know are far more numerous than you imagine."

Sparkle pouted, muttering under her breath, "Tch, so boring…"

However, that fleeting frustration was quickly replaced by an even more exuberant desire for amusement. Her eyes sparkled again with that eager, trouble-loving glint.

"Come on, come on, Big Brother Daziel, let's go take a look!"

Without waiting for a response, Sparkle grabbed Daziel's wrist, her movement intimate and natural. "Maybe there's an unexpected 'surprise' waiting for us?"

She dragged Daziel along, her steps light, towards the corner where the girl was trapped.

Daziel didn't resist, allowing Sparkle to pull him along. He knew that no matter what tricks Sparkle had up her sleeve, he couldn't avoid the Firefly storyline and, by extension, Elio's script tied to her.

As their footsteps approached, Firefly, cowering in the corner, also noticed the movement. When her terrified, helpless gaze fell upon Daziel, especially when she accurately spotted the inconspicuous yet highly recognizable Express emblem on his collar, a faint yet fervent spark of hope instantly rekindled in her dim eyes.

"Please… help me!" Firefly's voice was thick with tears. She urgently reached out her hand towards Daziel, as if clutching at the last straw. "You… you must be a Nameless, right?" Her gaze was fixed intently on the Express emblem, her tone almost certain.

A flicker of something stirred in Daziel's heart, but his face remained impassive. He asked with mild surprise, "How did you know?"

Firefly's slender fingers trembled as she pointed at the emblem, explaining rapidly, "I saw the Astral Express emblem on you… Only a Trailblazing Nameless would wear this symbol."

She struggled to calm herself, forcing a pale smile. "I… I'm really not a stowaway. They must have misunderstood! Actually, I'm a local—I'm an artist from the Iris Family. My name is Firefly…"

The few Family pursuers, who were about to make their move, stopped in their tracks upon seeing two people suddenly appear. One, a male, was well-dressed and had an extraordinary air about him; the other, a young girl, though plainly dressed, had an unnervingly sharp look in her eyes.

They warily sized up Daziel and Sparkle.

"Who are you?" The burly man with a scowl leading them warned in an unfriendly tone, his eyes fierce. "This is none of your business! Mind your own P's and Q's and get lost!"

Just as Daziel was about to speak according to his anticipated plan, Sparkle beside him beat him to it, her face instantly blooming with a disarmingly innocent and brilliant smile.

However, the words she spoke next were like a clap of thunder, leaving Daziel and Firefly in the corner stunned.

"Oh my, my, this adorable little sister, your words might fool those clueless idiots, you know." Sparkle skipped lightly over to Firefly, slowly bending down, and spoke in a conspiratorial whisper only the three of them could clearly hear, her voice like a lover's.

Her smile remained pure and innocent, but her eyes instantly became playful, as if she could easily see through the deepest secrets of one's heart.

"Penacony's personnel entry screening is notoriously strict, you know…"

Sparkle's voice suddenly turned cold, the sweetness gone, replaced by an undisguised tone of threat and control. "So, if you can't obediently listen to me…"

She paused, enjoying watching the color drain from Firefly's face as she turned deathly pale. "Then I'll just have to tell those mean-looking big brothers outside that you really are a stowaway~ You wouldn't want that to happen, would you?"

Firefly's body began to tremble violently and uncontrollably. She stared in terror at the sweet-smiling yet malevolent girl before her, her lips quivering slightly.

"What… what do you want me to do?" Firefly's voice was barely a whisper, laced with an uncontrollable tremor. Each word seemed to take all her strength.

Seeing this, Sparkle's lips curved into a satisfied, cunning smile, pleased with her successful ploy. She reached out her fair fingers and gently patted Firefly's cold, smooth cheek. The gesture seemed affectionate and soothing but was, in reality, full of an undeniable sense of control.

"My name is Sparkle, and this little ash-head, his name is Daziel. He's my master, you see…" Sparkle introduced them with a beaming smile, her tone light. "It's very simple, you just need to obediently come with us for now."

"As for what exactly you need to do…" Sparkle winked, keeping them in suspense, her smile growing ever more mysterious. "You'll find out when the time comes~"

Firefly pondered for a moment, her jaw clenched tightly, as if she had made a momentous decision, then nodded. "I… I understand. I'll do as you say, as long as you don't tell anyone about my situation."

Daziel stared in bewilderment at this utterly bizarre scene—Sparkle's improvisation, Firefly's fear so convincing it could pass for genuine…

His brows furrowed tightly, a strong sense of absurdity welling up inside him. These two… Each one is a better actor than the last!

In the original plot, Firefly approached him with a clear purpose. How could she possibly be intimidated by these few thugs from the Bloodhound Family? Her current display of weakness was merely a carefully crafted disguise.

And Sparkle… This Masked Fool was even more of a chaos-seeker who viewed life as one grand play!

However, Daziel had never imagined that Firefly, to achieve her goal of making contact with him, would choose to so meekly comply with Sparkle's almost humiliating threats and charade…

"Sparkle!" Daziel finally couldn't hold back any longer, his voice low, carrying an obvious warning. "That's enough. Don't take it too far!"

After all, this sudden development had already deviated wildly from his original script of "naturally" making contact with Firefly!

Sparkle turned her head. Faced with Daziel's displeasure, not only did she not back down, but she also playfully winked her right eye, a smile that was both cunning and placating on her face.

"Good brother, don't be angry~" She pressed close to Daziel, her voice dropping again, like a lover's private whisper, tinged with a subtle ambiguity and allure. "You just need to obediently follow my script, and I promise, I absolutely won't let you suffer any loss."

Sparkle's eyes flickered with a meaningful glint. "Whether it's in unraveling this huge mystery of Penacony…"

Her voice paused, the end of her words lilting slightly upwards, carrying an indescribable insinuation. "Or in… that other aspect~"

A chill shot through Daziel. He instantly recalled the key role Sparkle played in the original storyline. This seemingly insane Masked Fool indeed possessed a great deal of information about the inner workings of Penacony's deep dreamscape. Her actions were eccentric and chaotic, yet she always managed, at the most critical moments, in the most unexpected ways, to touch upon the truth hidden beneath layers of fog.

Moreover, in the original plot, although Sparkle caused countless troubles and chaos, in the end, she didn't seem to commit any truly irredeemable evil acts, at most planting a firework bomb.

What's more… A subtle thought flashed through Daziel's mind. This seemingly uncontrollable impish brat before him was now his branded plaything. No matter what tricks she wanted to play, she ultimately couldn't escape his grasp. Her loyalty was already bound by that irresistible power.

The pros and cons were weighed in an instant. Daziel ultimately chose to temporarily suppress his displeasure and acquiesce to Sparkle's seemingly absurd actions.

Playing along with these two doesn't seem like a big deal… Worst case, all three of us will just act together!

He needed Firefly to complete the three "deaths" foretold in Elio's prophecy, and he also needed to use Sparkle, this unpredictable pawn, to continue to stir the stagnant waters of Penacony… Every step was indispensable.

Daziel nodded expressionlessly, tacitly acknowledging Sparkle's lead.

Seeing Daziel finally "get it," the smile on Sparkle's face bloomed like a flower, becoming even more radiant and dazzling.

"Heehee~ That's more like it! My good brother!"

Sparkle clapped her hands in satisfaction. She deftly grabbed Firefly's cold, trembling wrist with one hand, while her other hand quickly retrieved her iconic smiley face mask from somewhere and put it on.

At the same time, she very naturally linked her arm with Daziel's, pulling him towards her.

"Well then, the fun game… officially begins!" Wearing the mask, her voice came out slightly distorted and triumphant.

Pink smoke billowed out, creating an invisibility effect. Sparkle then pulled the two of them, turning with the agility of a phantom in the night. The three of them instantly disappeared into a dimly lit, sparsely populated narrow alley nearby.

Although the scene above was complex, from beginning to end, only a minute had passed.

Those Bloodhound Family pursuers rushed cursing to the corner, only to find an empty shadow and scattered trash. Their target had vanished without a trace.

"Damn it! Where'd she go?! Where did she run off to?!"

"Split up and search! That little brat couldn't have gone far!"

Frustrated shouts echoed futilely at the alley entrance, soon completely drowned out by the never-ending, deafening clamor and ostentation of the "Golden Hour."

Inside the deep, narrow alley, the light suddenly dimmed, as if they had instantly entered another world, isolated from all the glitz and agitation outside.

Only the slightly hurried footsteps of the three, and Firefly's suppressed gasps, still tinged with lingering fear, echoed softly in the cramped, claustrophobic space, punctuating the silence.

Daziel, half-dragged and half-pulled by Sparkle, walked in the middle, feeling the soft touch of the girl's arm and her undeniable strength. He still felt somewhat dissatisfied.

According to the original plan, he just needed to wait here for a bit, for that mysterious Gallagher to appear, and he could then smoothly resolve the issue and establish initial contact with Firefly…

He didn't have to be dragged into this sorry state of fleeing by Sparkle… This impish brat, did she have to choose this way to escape?!

The crisis seemed to be temporarily averted. Sparkle finally stopped, clapping her hands triumphantly. She then turned around, beaming at Firefly, who was still pale and shaken, and Daziel, whose expression was complex and his eyes profound.

Wearing that eerie smiley face mask, Sparkle's voice came through the plastic with a distorted cheerfulness. "Well then, you two, please come with me~"

Her smile was as radiant as the mask itself. She took the lead and skipped off towards the deeper, more shadowy and light-streaked part of the street. Her silhouette, under the ever-changing neon lights, cast a shadow that was both lively and somewhat grotesque.

Daziel turned his head, his gaze falling on Firefly, who was still cowering in the corner, her body trembling slightly. The perfectly feigned fear and unease deep in her eyes could almost pass for genuine.

Daziel suppressed the irritation fueled by his disrupted plans, extended his hand, palm up, his voice softening, carrying a reassuring strength.

"Firefly, let's go. For now, follow her."

"Don't worry, with me here, she at least won't really hurt you." This promise was as much for Firefly as it was a confirmation of his own control.

Firefly's eyelashes fluttered. She hesitated for a moment, as if weighing the unknown dangers against the temporary support before her. Finally, trembling, she placed her small, cold hand into Daziel's warm, dry palm.

The moment their fingertips touched, that coldness and slight tremor sent a strange sensation through Daziel—she's a really good actress.

Or perhaps, that little brat Sparkle's methods really could make anyone feel uneasy.

Although Daziel knew this might just be part of the script, he had to admit that Sparkle's very existence was the biggest variable and… potential "fun."

Firefly mumbled in a low voice, weak with the relief of having survived. "Thank you, Daziel… Thanks to your help just now! Otherwise, I might have really been… caught by them."

The corner of Daziel's mouth twitched imperceptibly. Feeling the soft yet cold touch in his palm, his tone was flat. "You're welcome…"

Firefly, you're getting too into your role, aren't you…?

Daziel tightened his grip on Firefly's hand, gently pulling her up from the ground. Following Sparkle's steps, they ventured together into the deeper, more psychedelic area of this bizarre city, a zone dissected by neon and shadow.

After passing through several narrower alleys reeking of cheap, cloying SoulGlad and stained with unknown liquids, the view suddenly opened up.

They had arrived at the Reverie Galleria, the lower section of Penacony's commercial district, a place even more clamorous and chaotic, yet also more characteristically "dream-like."

The air was thick with an even more intense and complex sweetness, a mixture of the scorched fragrance of fried food, the pungent smell of cheap perfume, and a certain…

Faint, metallic tang, like that of over-evaporated Memoria.

The surrounding lights were even more disorienting. Huge, distorted, garish billboards with supersaturated colors flashed enticingly. Bizarrely shaped shops lined the streets, selling goods that could never exist in reality.

Sparkle stopped, turned around, her eyes behind the mask curving into crescents, seemingly thoroughly enjoying this environment.

She placed one hand on her hip, pointing with the other at the bizarre scenery around them, her tone carrying a hint of showing off and an undeniable authority.

"Big Brother Daziel just arrived in Penacony, he definitely hasn't had a chance to properly explore any interesting places yet, right?"

Sparkle's voice was crisp, with her characteristic mockery. "If you ask me, those luxury shops in Oti Mall and whatnot, there are plenty of flashy planets out there, so boring!"

"That dopey Clockie statue on Golden Boulevard? It's alright, but you get tired of it!"

"The annual Charmony Festival at the Grand Theater is certainly good, but it's not time for that yet…"

Her tone shifted. Her gaze, through the eyeholes of her mask, landed precisely on Firefly, carrying a cunning that saw through everything.

"A little stowaway girl from out of town, am I right?"

Firefly's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, then she nodded obediently, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

"Yes, you're quite right."

Sparkle clapped her hands in satisfaction, leaned closer, and lowered her voice, carrying a mysterious, enticing quality.

"If you ask me, the things in Penacony that you absolutely must taste, the things that make people linger and forget to return… are those entertainments meant for 'adults'~"

"'Adult'… entertainment?"

A perfectly feigned look of bewilderment and curiosity flashed in Firefly's eyes. "What is adult entertainment?"

"I can see you don't understand at all~"

Sparkle placed her hands on her hips, tilting her head proudly. "Let me, Sparkle, take you, a little girl who's never been with a man, to experience the 'world of adults'!"

The moment Daziel heard those words, his temples immediately began to throb violently. An extremely ominous premonition instantly gripped him.

In the original plot, Sparkle's true form didn't appear that early.

She initially approached Daziel disguised as Sampo, to lower the protagonist's guard and achieve her objective.

The Sampo-disguised Sparkle, upon appearing, had taken the protagonist and Firefly to some "adult world."

In the 12+ rated Honkai: Star Rail, there naturally wouldn't be any restricted "adult world." "Sampo" had merely taken them to a Pepeshi salon gathering.

But now it was different. Under the plot of this inner world, the "adult entertainment" Sparkle was referring to would absolutely not be anything decent!

___

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