[Hahaha, that smile is genuinely wholesome.]
[Not gonna lie, the cowboy's kinda cool!]
[Boothill, and the Galaxy Rangers, the Galaxy Rangers, this faction that's been teased for so long, is it finally making an appearance?]
[Boothill, why are your teeth so sharp?]
[Well, let me ask you this?]
—
"Galaxy Rangers?" Dan Heng's brows furrowed even deeper.
Boothill gave a seemingly self-mocking smile, "Is that necessary? Your expression's like you've seen a ghost. Thought we were all extinct, huh? Haha! That's the downside of staying out of the spotlight for too long."
"The righteous group of 'The Hunt' wouldn't hijack the Astral Express."
"I haven't hijacked anything yet, have I? Just holding a gun and chatting counts as 'hijacking'?"
Pom-Pom sighed helplessly, "It kinda counts, Pom…"
[That's some solid logic, I'm actually speechless.]
[Oh, right, right, it's like bombing a train. I haven't bombed it yet, so why arrest me?]
[Maybe it's a cultural difference. With Boothill's skin tone, if it were a bit darker, someone on the North Coast would've already emptied a clip.]
[Hahaha, Pom-Pom is so cute!]
"If I may be blunt, there are many rumors about the current state of the Galaxy Rangers in the galaxy, none of which are pleasant stories. It's hard for me to trust you." Dan Heng said, looking at Boothill.
"Laughable, the stories these fools make up are getting more outrageous. They even say the Galaxy Rangers were all turned into gibbons by Dr. Primitive and are swinging on vines in some mountain ditch.
Of course, I know you won't believe me. Likewise, I can't easily trust that you're real Nameless either.
See the bullets in this gun? Nine millimeters, forever a classic. Right now, I need the Astral Express's help, but if you're a bunch of impostors like that guy… tsk, these bullets might end up in my forehead."
[Damn, too many things to comment on.]
[Boothill's way of talking is kinda interesting.]
[Starting with such a thrilling scene, I love it, I want to see blood flowing like a river.]
[I want to see Scott!]
—
Dan Heng ignored Boothill's words and directly took out the Alliance Jade Signet.
"Recognize this?"
Boothill's eyes widened, "Ha? This is—hot damn, the Alliance Jade Abacus?! The Xianzhou really gave this to you?!"
Pom-Pom blinked, "T-Treasure…?"
[Kinda interesting.]
[Does Pom-Pom not understand curse words?]
"This is the Jade Abacus gifted to the Express by General Jing Yuan of the Xianzhou 'Luofu.' This item on the train is the Xianzhou Alliance's certification of the Astral Express's identity. Is that enough?"
"Not bad, kid." Boothill immediately holstered his revolver, "No matter how vast the galaxy, a single grip can summon thousands of Cloud Knights… what a treasure, how spectacular that must be."
"Now it's your turn."
Dan Heng had proven the Nameless's identity through the Alliance Jade Abacus. Next, the two began a deeper discussion about the Galaxy Rangers as a group.
"Do not bully the weak, do not slaughter the innocent!"
This is the Galaxy Rangers' bottom line, the moral bottom line.
[Truly cool, that line!]
[Damn! It really lives up to the 'Ranger' title.]
[If it's really like this, I think it's worthy of the word 'Ranger,' because in our country, 'Ranger' carries heavy weight.]
[Sounds interesting, but it gives me a deeper understanding of 'The Hunt.']
['The Hunt' doesn't seem to be just about revenge.]
Dan Heng got the answers he wanted, "Second question, why are you causing trouble for the Astral Express?"
Boothill sighed, "I told you, I'm not here to cause trouble. I have business in Penacony, but no invitation. The Family won't even let me in the hotel door. So… I had to borrow the Nameless's identity. The whole galaxy knows you're the Family's honored guests."
Pom-Pom suddenly chimed in, "Aren't the Galaxy Rangers too?"
Boothill then explained his purpose for going to Penacony: to find someone impersonating a Galaxy Ranger.
Boothill spread his hands, "That person calls themselves 'Acheron.' According to our informants, she's likely… an Emanator of 'Nihility.'"
"That's impossible."
"See, I told you. When I first got this intel, my reaction was just like yours."
"IX never glances at anyone, that's only logical. Why would They grant power to a mortal?"
"Then you must know Emanators can hide their identities. For many, it's better that way, or it means stepping onto the galaxy's grand stage of slaughter, or even… betraying the Path they follow.
I was lucky enough to meet an Emanator of 'Elation' once. On the surface, they were no different from those clowns. If I hadn't gotten them drunk, I wouldn't have known their identity was so 'prestigious'!
Even the purest 'Hunt' has the Xianzhou Alliance in the light and the Galaxy Rangers in the shadows. Paths are ultimately concepts created by people, so there must be things beyond our understanding.
Thinking 'Nihility' has no Emanators… maybe it's just because we're not 'Nihilistic' enough."
[This shuts down all those claims that Nihility has no Emanators.]
[Hahaha, an Elation Emanator? Could it be they got drunk on purpose and deliberately told Boothill?]
[Very possible!]
[Elation and Nihility, these two Paths, I'm at a loss for words!]
[Hahaha, not Nihility enough, but Elation enough.]
—
After Boothill explained the pros and cons of the situation, he continued,
"So, got it? Your companions are in danger right now, serious danger. If you still don't believe me, go ahead and send them a message. But I'd advise you to act fast…
After all, neither of us knows what's happening in the Dreamscape, nor how much of that Memokeeper's words are true…
And that 'Acheron'… what exactly is she planning to do?"
The final shot focused on Dan Heng, still silent as always.
But a trace of worry appeared on his face.