Pier Point, Interastral Peace Corporation Headquarters, Hall of Honor.
A prominent exhibition area known as the Hall of Honor stood within the headquarters of the IPC, filled with rows of gleaming honor trophies and awards.
Every visitor from across the various civilizations who came to tour the IPC's main building would inevitably pass through this hall.
Displayed here were the IPC's countless achievements and banners of commendation, alongside the medals and certificates the IPC had granted to other distinguished figures—each serving to highlight its unmatched prestige.
It was understandable.
A corporation capable of presenting awards across the entire universe needed no further proof of its status.
Besides, the IPC had always been meticulous about such matters of appearances.
Arita, the head of the Traditional Projects Department, often strolled around the main building idly when he had nothing better to do.
However, as he passed by the Hall of Honor, a male employee responsible for taking care of the hall suddenly called out to him.
"Sir, excuse me, what's this 'Emissary of Peace' medal? I've never heard of it before."
Arita followed the employee's pointing finger—and indeed, there was an unfamiliar medal displayed among the rest, with the name engraved beneath it reading 'Lucian.'
Strangely, since he was the one responsible for overseeing the achievement records granted by the IPC, he remembered very clearly that no such title as 'Emissary of Peace' had ever been registered.
'Lucian... isn't he the one who gave a planet to Diamond some time ago? When did we award him a medal of Emissary of Peace?'
'How strange...'
'Far too strange...'
In the end, unable to give a proper explanation, Arita decided to improvise, making something up on the spot.
"Mm, this Emissary of Peace requested that his identity not be made public."
Right after saying this, Arita quietly took the medal away, planning to ask Diamond about it later.
Had Diamond personally arranged it without his authorization?
Was Lucian really worth Diamond taking that kind of risk just to curry favor?
No matter how hard Arita thought, that was the only logical and plausible explanation.
===
Astral Express.
Inside the Parlor Car of the Astral Express, the space was filled only with the faint hum of the coffee machine.
Himeko sat in her usual seat, a cup of steaming coffee before her, while streams of complex astral chart data flowed across the floating screen before her face.
As she gazed at the screen, she occasionally took a gentle sip, her eyes calm and steady.
Conductor Pom-Pom, on the other hand, was performing their usual daily inspection with unwavering routine—their small figure moved across the floor, their short arms holding a custom cleaning tool, carefully polishing every inch of metal surface and checking each possible loose connection.
However, when they reached the maintenance passage near the power cabin, Pom-Pom suddenly paused just as their tiny paw brushed against a plaque embedded in the wall of the passage, on which a name and a few maintenance records were engraved.
It was the final signature left by a former mechanic of the Astral Express—Mikhail.
In that moment, a warm, fuzzy sense of joy welled up inside Pom-Pom's heart—it was a pleasant emotion that felt like... reuniting with an old friend.
Pom-Pom's long ears twitched slightly as they immediately activated the train's sensors to scan the entire Astral Express.
...
Life signs: single signal source—passenger Himeko.
Energy readings: core stable, no abnormal fluctuations.
Communication channel: silent.
Physical space: no trace of unauthorized intrusion.
...
"Strange, pom..."
Pom-Pom murmured, their paw still resting on the plaque.
Mikhail's face remained vivid in their memory, but he had disembarked from the Astral Express a long time ago—so long ago that they could no longer remember exactly when.
"Pom-Pom?"
Himeko's gentle voice suddenly called from afar.
At some point, she had set aside her screen and was now looking toward the passageway, where Pom-Pom stood motionless, looking dazed.
"What's wrong? You've been spacing out."
"Nothing, just reminiscing, pom..." Pom-Pom replied while looking down. "I just remembered a passenger named Mikhail."
"You mean the mechanic recorded in the archives?" Himeko raised her eyebrows slightly. "Hmm, that was a long time ago—a Nameless, wasn't he?"
Himeko lightly swirled her cup of coffee, her gaze turning toward the eternal sea of stars outside the window.
"People come and go on this train, and those who disembark are like fragments of starlight cast into the sea... Meeting them again is far too rare."
"Passenger Mikhail, passenger Razalina, passenger Tiernan..." Pom-Pom stared at Mikhail's plaque and muttered unconsciously. "I wonder if you're all eating properly in Penacony, pom..."
===
Penacony, Reality.
While those affected by Robin's script were still wondering about what had happened to them, inside his little house, Lucian was still lost in a world of softness and comfort.
Resting on his thigh was the sleeping form of Robin.
Leaning against his shoulder was the mature and alluring Serfina.
And across from them sat Sunday, the current head of the Oak Family.
If Sunday had to describe the current atmosphere, it was... somewhat bizarre.
From every fragment of his memories, he should have been part of the family of Serfina and Robin, so why did it now look and feel as though he were the son-in-law visiting his wife's family—an outsider sitting awkwardly in what should have been his own home?
"Sunny, have you decided?" Lucian asked calmly. "Do you wanna keep walking that miserable path of yours—using the Order to imprison the weak, only to be defeated and end up a prisoner yourself... or follow your old man here and make Penacony great again?"
"Heh, in my current situation, do I even have a choice?" Sunday gave a bitter smile. "Before I answer, I'd like to know—what exactly did you do to me—to us?"
Just as these words fell, Lucian felt his hand being held by two smaller ones.
He looked down and saw that Robin was already awake, her green eyes fixed upon him.
"I want to know too..." Robin said softly. "What's with these two different sets of memories, anyway?"
Given that his little bird wanted to know, Lucian naturally didn't mind telling her.
From what he learned, his followers would never betray him, so even if she became an Aeon later, she would still be his follower.
In other words, sharing a bit of truth with her would do no harm.
As for Sunday, he was easy to control, so letting him know a little wouldn't matter either.
And so, with this in mind, Lucian repeated his usual explanation about his unique ability to alter a person's fate through dreams.
"To change our fate so easily... What kind of power is that?" Sunday muttered in awe. "Is it the power of the Finality? The Remembrance? Or perhaps the Enigmata?"
"You don't need to know the details." Lucian replied casually. "All you need to know is... the power belongs to a being far stronger than any Aeon."
Sunday had always known Lucian was a formidable existence, but he hadn't imagined his background would be this overwhelming, which made him feel both amazed and terrified.
He couldn't help it.
Without even realizing it, he had actually lived two lives, and in his second life, he had become Lucian's stepson.
Now, the only question left was... which life should he continue living from now on?
Sunday glanced toward Robin.
Seeing the way her gaze rested on Lucian, full of dependence and affection, made it clear to him—she had already chosen to continue the second life in that dream.
He then looked at his mother, who bore the same gaze, and then fell silent.
Finally, after remaining silent for a while, Sunday nodded and spoke up.
"All the people I care about have chosen you, so I suppose I'll stay your son..."
Upon hearing Sunday's answer, Lucian smiled, looking pleased.
When he was still in Robin's script, he had anticipated having to force Sunday into submission with considerable effort when he returned to reality, yet the script itself had conveniently tilted reality in his favor.
"Good choice, son." Lucian declared at once. "Alright, from now on, Robin is both your sister and your stepmother."
As soon as these words fell from his mouth, Robin's face turned bright red, unable to meet her brother's eyes.
Sunday, on the other hand, stared at Lucian with an expression that could only be described as utter despair, as if to say: "Why not make yourself my father and my brother-in-law too? Robin and I are real siblings!"
Just like that, with a single reversal of order, Lucian had locked their roles firmly in place.
Sunday had once thought about turning the tables, becoming the elder brother-in-law of the house, but now, Lucian's manipulation ended up raising Robin's status while lowering his own.
Now that it had come to this, Sunday couldn't help but wonder whether there was even room left for him in this family anymore.
===
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