"Uncle Yang? Didn't you go to customize a dream skin? I don't see any changes," Stelle asked, puzzled, upon seeing him.
"Heh, I did customize one, but I'm not one for flashy displays, so I went for something more niche."
Welt tapped his chest, and his chest plate transformed like a mech, a sleek chest cannon extending out…
Stelle: ?
This is the legendary 'flesh is weak, ascend through machinery'?! It does seem pretty low-key, huh.
"That's… an unexpected choice of outfit," Firefly said, stunned, staring at the cannon barrel extending from Welt.
"Oh? And you are…?"
Firefly paused, then smiled. "Hello, I'm Stelle's friend and guide. I'm showing her around since we're here."
Welt glanced at the cheerful and harmonious pair, pushed up his glasses, and said, "So… are you two on a date?"
Stelle: ?
"Uncle Yang, how did you come to that conclusion?" Stelle couldn't help but say. "You've definitely been watching too much anime and overthinking things, haven't you?"
"Hmph, you underestimate your senior's experience."
Welt chuckled lightly, his glasses gleaming as if they could pierce through everything. "Back in my hometown, I saw plenty of girls going out together in pairs. Their actions might only seem intimate occasionally, but… heh."
"I can tell what you're up to with one glance. Don't worry, I won't tell March either."
Stelle: "? Why did you say 'either'?"
"I told you not to underestimate your senior's wisdom."
Welt grabbed a handful of Aideen Tokens from his box and handed them to Stelle and Firefly. "Go play whatever you want. Young people's business isn't something Uncle Yang should meddle in."
Firefly smiled sweetly. "Thank you, Uncle Yang!"
"Go have fun."
A bead of sweat slowly rolled down the back of Stelle's head. She looked at the tokens in her hand and gave an awkward smile. "So, what should we play now?"
"How about the 'Lucky Wheel'?" Firefly tilted her head with a smile.
"Sounds good."
Ten minutes later.
Stelle looked at their empty hands. "Luck hasn't been great lately, huh…"
Firefly smiled gently. "No worries, that wasn't the main event anyway."
Stelle chuckled and asked, "Oh? Then what's the main event?"
Firefly gave a mysterious smile. "Guess~"
As they laughed, Stelle suddenly stopped smiling.
Because in Firefly's smile, she faintly saw something akin to March 7th's vibe.
Compared to March's, Firefly's felt even more direct.
Firefly took Stelle's hand, her voice soft. "I really want to get to the main event, but… if someone's watching, I'd feel a bit shy."
Stelle: ?
"I haven't mentioned it earlier because I didn't want to interrupt this wonderful time between us, but…" Firefly's tone shifted, "we're definitely being followed."
…Right, this part of the plot was surprisingly normal for once.
Stelle froze slightly, her mind racing through the relevant script…
According to the original plot, the one following them here was… Sparkle, disguised as Sampo?
"Don't move from here. I'll go deal with that gentleman following us. If necessary… I'll take care of him," Firefly said with a smile. "Don't wander off, okay?"
"Uh… okay." Stelle nodded.
…
Sampo—no, rather, Sparkle—looked haggard, her face weary and spirit drained. Ever since she noticed that familiar little gray-haired figure, a final shred of hope drove her to follow, hoping to find a way "back."
For Sparkle, she had recently encountered the greatest "Elation" of her life, the most absurd thing in the universe—
She had transmigrated.
Though this world felt incredibly familiar, for her, an "outsider," it was utterly alien, even carrying a sense of disconnection and bizarreness.
She had already experienced Penacony's storyline, so when she realized she had transmigrated, she was filled with anticipation. For a Masked Fool like her, having the "script" in advance meant she could create even greater "Elation" in the upcoming plot.
But reality dealt her a heavy blow, teaching her a lesson:
The waters here were too deep, even for her to navigate.
For example, when she arrived, Sparkle, brimming with Elation, began toying with various factions. Confident in her foreknowledge of the future, she was initially certain she could manipulate them all with ease.
Her first target was Sunday, one of the masterminds behind the Harmony Ceremony conspiracy.
She approached Sunday and bluntly revealed his intentions:
"Yo, chicken-wing boy, you've gone to great lengths to build this so-called 'Seven-Day Paradise,' haven't you? Too bad, I already know all about your little plans. Surprised?"
Looking back, that moment was painfully embarrassing. She had sat smugly in front of Sunday, legs crossed, speaking with utter disdain.
But Sunday merely sneered, said, "Too much SoulGlad?" and had her thrown out. Only after being tossed out did she learn that Sunday was the most powerful figure in the entire Penacony Corporation, a ruthless capitalist who devoured without spitting out the bones.
Seven-Day Paradise? Just last month, this guy proposed "raising employee ideological awareness, making work feel like a vacation," essentially wanting everyone to work seven days a week.
Sparkle was dumbfounded. She suddenly realized that this world's Penacony might not be what she had imagined.
So, she decided that in this unfamiliar world, she should first find a few trustworthy allies to establish a foothold.
After much thought, she sought out Black Swan. The reason was simple: Penacony's main players hadn't arrived yet, neither the Trailblaze nor Nihility factions were present, and as for her own Elation faction, they were out of the question.
If the folks at the tavern heard about her experience, they'd probably think she was joking.
After all, most people in the tavern knew the story of "the boy who cried wolf."
But when she found Black Swan, she discovered this woman was a bit too different. The original was elegant, noble, and in control of everything, but now, she was either bragging all day or engaging in zero-cost shopping sprees, offering no real help whatsoever.
Sparkle: How do I win? Tell me, how do I win? With a bunch of cute little minions, how do I win? I'm getting crushed and outdone to death!
Today, when she saw Acheron from the Destruction faction, Sparkle's heart sank even further. Clinging to a sliver of hope, she turned her attention to a certain little gray-haired figure.
If this universe was full of reversals, then… that quirky little gray-haired girl might just be her most reliable ally!