They won the Holy Grail War, but this turned out to be the Virtual Tree Universe.

Chapter 541 Extra (5): Natural Talent Overcomes Arrogance
The Starry Sky Train crew are all action-oriented individuals with exceptional initiative, and Ying is the type who will immediately act upon seeing a treasure chest.

Therefore, once the airdrop plan was confirmed, the Star Train immediately sprang into action.

The Star Train accelerated slightly, instantly pulling Starlight above the Lunar Torque Test Design Bureau. Then, the doors opened, and Star jumped off with a "whoosh!"

Then, March 7th and Danheng followed suit without hesitation. When March 7th was falling at high speed, she was even able to skillfully use the power of destiny to control her skirt and avoid exposing herself.

Seeing this, Ying and Columbia didn't have much to say and quickly followed suit.

However, they dared not attempt a freefall. Luminous could only glide slowly down with Paimon using the Wind Wings, while Columbia protected Luminous, who was unable to move freely in the air, and floated down with her all the way.

Of course, given the speed at which the Windwings glide, by the time Ying and Columbia landed, the three of them had already completed their operation of piercing the roof and clearing the area from a great height.

Ying had previously infiltrated the Lunar Torque Test Design Bureau once with the help of Yakoda, and subsequently entered the bureau multiple times with a girl named Netochka for "adventures".

Therefore, the Lunar Moment Force Experiment Design Bureau is far more familiar with Columbia, the former third executive of the Fools.

Led by Ying, the five of them destroyed Wild Hunt creations along the way and rescued many Fatui who were unable to evacuate in time. Guided by Ying, the five of them quickly found the seventh Fatui executive officer, Puppet, in the core area of ​​the Lunar Force Experiment Design Bureau.

Moreover, everyone knew in advance that the reason why the Fools were fighting so fiercely with the Wild Hunt outside Pahar was because after news of Columbia's disappearance reached the Lunar Force Experiment Design Bureau, Puppet sent out most of the Fools to search for Columbia.

As a result, the Lunar Hunters suddenly led the Wild Hunt to attack the Lunar Torque Test Design Bureau. The Lunar Torque Test Design Bureau, which was defended only by land patrol boats and a small number of Fools, was easily breached by the Lunar Hunters.

By the time the Fools outside received the news and returned to their aid, Pahari Island was already teeming with the Wild Hunt, so the fighting outside was even more intense than inside.

Fortunately, when the six people (including Paimon, Demogue didn't come out) found the puppet, she was at least outwardly unharmed, with only a slightly dirty hem of her clothes.

However, the scene was truly tragic.

At this moment, the puppet is located on the huge platform at the bottom of the Lunar Moment Force Experiment and Design Bureau.

The platform is now littered with damaged large land patrol boats, and the humanoid robot called Pronia has been stabbed in the ground with a hole in it, its body crackling with electricity, presumably stabbed by a Lunarian with a spear.

Meanwhile, a huge hole was broken in the center of the platform, leading directly underground.

Upon seeing the puppet, Columbia quickened her pace until she was certain that the puppet was unharmed, at which point she returned to her original pace.

The puppet was looking at Pronia with heartache, muttering through gritted teeth.

"Damn Moon Hunters, they went so far—"

Seeing that the puppet didn't seem to notice her, Columbia took the initiative to speak.
"Sandonie, are you alright?"

The puppet was clearly startled by Columbia's voice, but once she saw who it was, she immediately hissed at Columbia like a panting kitten.
"Gloria! What are you doing here?!"

Columbia clearly understood the puppet's way of speaking, and when questioned, she casually replied...

“I just came back from Mondstadt and saw that the Wild Hunt had breached this place. I was a little worried about you, so I came in to check on you.”

I was thinking, if you get damaged, I'll have to collect your parts and see if I can put you back together.

Colombian genuinely meant no harm; however, she truly lacked common sense.

She knew that the puppet was actually mechanical, so she thought that if it broke, it could be put back together.

However, to the puppet, this was a hellish joke.

It's worth noting that when Columbia said she was worried about the puppet, there was a fleeting moment of relief and happiness on her face.

When the second half of the sentence came out, the puppet almost bared its teeth.

Of course, this is not the puppet's fault. From a third-party perspective, if one did not know the relationship between the two or Columbia's personality, one would really think that Columbia was provoking the puppet.

So, the puppet rushed in front of Columbia, raised its hands in a claw-like gesture, and roared...

"Columbia! What do you mean? Are you cursing me to die?"

The puppet looked like it wanted to hit someone, which made the surrounding onlookers tense.

However, Columbia remained calm, and she said in a composed manner.

"No, the tea in Sandoni is delicious. I don't want you to die."

That one sentence instantly calmed the puppet's "frizzy fur," and her anger vanished in an instant. She then proudly put her hands on her hips.

However, the puppet's mouth was clearly "stubborn," and she deliberately mocked...
"Ha, you still have the nerve to mention tea?"
This is the first time I've ever seen a deity who has lived for hundreds of years and has only ever drunk the original tribute of herbal tea.

The puppet's mockery was met with the word "Immunity" appearing above Columbia's head, followed by her reply.
"So, you prepare different tea for me every time. Just to see my reaction...?"

Upon hearing this, the puppet immediately admitted it.

"Ah, that's right, what else could it be for? It's a rare treat in my boring life."

This conversation between the two serves as solid evidence to those around them that they have a very good relationship.

Ying then whispered to the others.

"So it seems that the puppet actually wanted Columbia to try more flavors?"
Could it be that they... actually have a good relationship?

Upon hearing Ying's words, March 7th immediately responded quietly.
Yes, they must have a good relationship.

However, this puppet... how should I put it? I thought such pure tsundere behavior could only be seen in comic books, but I never expected to encounter one in real life.

Hoshino and Demuse were clearly very interested in the topic of tsundere (a Japanese term for someone who is arrogant or tsundere), having read quite a few of March 7's comic books.

Suddenly, Demuse appeared in a bewildered form, looking like he was ready to watch the drama unfold.

So Hoshino also joined the discussion.

"If the puppet is considered tsundere, then Columbia should be considered natural."

"Natural arrogance is a weakness; what the book said was indeed true."

The whispers between Ying, Xing, and March 7th clearly couldn't escape the puppet's notice. She couldn't handle Columbia, but she wouldn't be so polite to others, directly questioning her.

"Hey you guys over there, what are you whispering about?"

However, the puppet regretted saying that as soon as it finished speaking.

She hadn't paid much attention to the people who came with Columbia before, but now that she saw them, she immediately sensed that Xing and the other two, along with the pink-haired "rabbit" that had suddenly appeared, were not ordinary people. After thinking about it carefully, she immediately guessed the identities of Xing and the others.

Clearly, at this point in time, the unknown powerful figure who could accompany Ying to Colombia could only have come down from that aerial train that appeared out of nowhere and clearly did not belong to Teyvat.

Considering that the identities, power, and methods of these people were completely uncertain, the puppet stopped shouting and instead asked in a formal tone...

"Which train did you three, and this flying rabbit, get off from?"

Demogue was already used to being mistaken for various creatures in her psychic form, so she was too lazy to explain and simply transformed back into her girl form.

Xing then answered the puppet's question in a quirky manner, admitting...
"Yes, we are members of the Star Train, currently on a mission to protect the beautiful girl." Upon hearing the words "beautiful girl," the puppet tilted its head, then looked at Columbia, its eyes clearly asking a question.

"Is she talking about you? You changed your title?"

Although Colombia's eyes were blindfolded, she could sense the fluctuations of the puppet's lunar torque, so she understood the puppet's meaning and replied.

"According to the standards of beauty I know, Sandone is a beautiful girl."

Columbia's direct approach effectively silenced all the complaints coming from behind the puppet.

If the machine itself didn't lack a blushing mechanism, the puppet would probably be blushing bright red by now.

The puppet had absolutely no way to deal with Colombia, so it could only steer the conversation back to the Star Train.

She turned her head dismissively and gave a light "humph" in response to Columbia's statement that she was also a beautiful girl, then turned to the four stars and said...
"Star Train? What is that? Are you really from outside this planet?"

This is a problem that the Star Train has to explain every time it encounters a new Teyvat faction, and this is clearly not the last time for the Puppet.

Therefore, the relatively serious Danheng took the initiative to step forward and explain the identity of the Starry Sky Train to the puppet.

Since it has been confirmed that the puppet and Columbia have a really good relationship, Danheng also shared the details of his previous encounters with the Moon Hunters.

After Danheng finished explaining, the puppet immediately understood and nodded.

"Now that you mention it, I understand why the Moon Hunters suddenly launched a large-scale attack on my area, absorbed most of the lunar torque from the ancient moon relic underground, and then ran away."

"So, he got a beating from you extraterrestrials, and now he feels his power isn't strong enough, so he started the Wild Hunt to find places with abundant lunar energy to absorb power."

As soon as the puppet said that, Paimon immediately interrupted.

"What! You're saying the Moon Hunter is still upgrading his power? He's already so strong and he can still improve? Doesn't he have a limit?"

The puppet had no answer to Paimon's question, but Danheng did answer directly, saying in a relatively serious tone...

"If the Moon Hunter is truly a Blood Sin Spirit, then his potential will be influenced by his original strength and the power of nothingness that sustains his existence."

According to Ying, the Moon Hunter was one of the five greatest sinners of the ancient kingdom of Kanria, and he divided up a massive amount of mutated void power (abyssal power) back then. So, he might not have truly reached his limit yet.

Danheng's words immediately made everyone present think, except that Ying was thinking about how to deal with the Moon Hunters.

The puppet, on the other hand, was more interested in concepts such as the mutated void power that Dan Heng mentioned.

However, now is clearly not the time to discuss the power of nothingness, and without much thought, Columbia suddenly said...
"Sandonie, I want to ask you for a favor."

The puppet wouldn't actually refuse Columbia's request, but being a proud and aloof person, she directly declined.
“Columbia, we are no longer colleagues, and I seem to have no obligation to help you.”

However, Columbia wasn't buying into the puppet theory at all; regardless of whether you agreed or not, she directly stated her demands.

"It's just a simple little thing, I want to see Arecino."

Columbia's words were tantamount to suggesting to another woman in front of a woman who cared about him, which is a major taboo.

But the puppet's reaction suddenly became much more normal; she simply asked in confusion.
"Arechino wasn't in Nordkale. After the Lunar Moment Force Experimental Design Bureau was completed, she went back with the rooster and the rich man."

Now it's just me and... By the way, what are you going to see her for?

Colombia spoke frankly about the puppet issue.

"I am the target of the Moon Hunters now."

Although I have the help of my partners, I can't just push all the problems onto others.

The world's rejection of me has severely weakened my strength.

Therefore, in order to fight against him, I need to redraw the lost moon.

Columbia's words silenced the puppet, who continued to weigh the pros and cons.

Of course, he wasn't thinking from his own self-interest, but rather calculating whether helping Columbia would harm her.

Seeing that the puppet remained silent, Columbia asked in a pitiful tone...
"Can't you?"

Columbia's question clearly shook the puppet.

Seeing this, Ying pressed her advantage, using the puppet's real name to persuade it.
“Sandonie, Columbia wants to regain her power, also in order to fight the Moon Hunters.”

Upon hearing Ying's words, the puppet could no longer remain silent and replied impatiently.

"Tsk, I don't need you to remind me. I hadn't even settled things with him last time. If someone hadn't teleported me to some random garden, I probably wouldn't be in this mess now."

And who gave you permission to call me by my first name?!

The puppet, however, acted up again, displaying its arrogant nature. After yelling, it said to Columbia...
"No matter how bad the situation is here, there is still a place to hold a tea party."

Even without you, we can still enjoy drinking tea.

The puppet had clearly agreed to Columbia's request.

And now everyone knows how to deal with the tsundere puppet, so Ying completely ignored the puppet's earlier remark about not being allowed to call her by her first name and laughed.

"In that case, the cooperation is settled."

Sandone, we won't bother you anymore. We'll help clear out the Wild Hunt on Paha Island.

You can call all the Fools back.”

Despite Ying's good intentions, Sandonne still breathed on her skin as usual, and she retorted directly with displeasure.
"Huh? Are you looking down on us Fools?"
As for the Wild Hunt on Paha Island, I can take care of it in no time once I'm free."

However, no one was worried about Sandonne's breath now, and Danheng said directly.
"I suggest we move the people outside into sturdy buildings first."

I could unleash a tsunami and wipe out most of the Wild Hunt on the island in an instant.

The remaining scattered Wild Hunt will be much easier to clear after the tsunami.

If the Moon Hunters continue to grow stronger, we need to conserve our strength.

Moreover, the restoration of this building will require a large workforce.

Danheng's words make a lot of sense; Sandoni is not the kind of cold-blooded leader who doesn't value his subordinates' lives.

Under Sandoni, the worst that could happen was working a few more nights; otherwise, it wasn't a big deal. (Several heads of the Lunar Torque Force Test Design Bureau had noticeable dark circles under their eyes unless they were wearing eye patches.)
　To verify whether puppets would blush, the author used AI to compare the color saturation of a screenshot of a puppet being held by a girl during the Moonlit Night event with a screenshot of a regular puppet.

　　The AI ​​determined that the slight difference between the two images was due to the angle of light, not because the puppet was blushing.

　　However, since puppets are mechanical creations, it's normal that they can feel warmth but not blush.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)