["Ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt with urgent news. At 23:10:09 system time yesterday, Stellaron Hunter Silver Wolf, in collusion with the Mask of Fools, orchestrated an attack on the Corporation's headquarters."]
["The interstellar network suffered a severe cyberattack, resulting in a complete shutdown. The department managing interstellar network accounts reported several casualties. The Corporation has now fully restored operations and deeply apologizes for yesterday's network collapse."]
["Following a decision by the Corporation's senior leadership, Stellaron Hunter Silver Wolf's bounty has been updated to 8.832 billion credits. Our investigation team has been dispatched to track down the remaining Mask of Fools accomplices. We urge all residents to lock their doors and windows and stay vigilant against these villains. Protecting interstellar peace is our shared responsibility."]
At the Stellaron Hunters' hideout, Kafka swirled her wine glass, glancing at the single-turbo propeller-braided girl sitting across from her.
As expected, Silver Wolf was in an exceptionally good mood today.
"Did you get your game account back?"
"With [Eternity] on my side, victory's guaranteed!" Silver Wolf beamed, the joy of recovering her account indescribable.
"So… the babysitter's here to mooch a meal."
Kafka shifted her gaze to Adrian beside her.
"Never lift a finger if you can freeload—that's my life motto."
Adrian picked up a piece of medium-rare steak and popped it into his mouth.
"The Stellaron Hunters' breakfast is so lavish, I'm tempted to join you guys."
A certain slave to destiny shivered.
"Really?!" Silver Wolf shot up from her seat.
"Sadly, this babysitter's got to get back to looking after the kid."
Adrian had no interest in the Stellaron Hunters as an organization, but the people in it? That was another story.
"So… why haven't I met the other two members yet?"
"Regrettably, they're not here. Want me to take you to see them?"
"No need. Just pass this bottle of milk tea to that Cosmic Knight. It should help ease [Entropy Loss Syndrome]."
A bottle of dark brown caramel milk tea appeared on the table.
"As for the other one, I'm sure we'll meet soon enough."
Adrian looked forward to encountering the Stellaron Hunters on the Xianzhou Luofu. Poor Phantylia, about to be toyed with in the palm of his hand.
Last time, fighting Nanook wasn't satisfying enough, but picking another fight would be a bit rude, like Adrian was bullying THEM.
Since the Lord Ravagers couldn't contact Nanook, he'd just shift his focus to them.
That innocent foxian girl shouldn't have to suffer an attack from a Lord Ravager or have her life stolen.
You had to admit, Phantylia's disguise as Tingyun was flawless, like another Tingyun in the world. Without a god's-eye view, it really fooled the Nameless arriving on the Xianzhou.
But things were different now. If Adrian remembered correctly… there was an inorganic lifeform in the Church capable of disguising itself as others, with shapeshifting skills so seamless they outclassed Phantylia's by a mile.
It was the one the priestess brought back from Screwstar. Screwllum had even come to him about it.
If Phantylia could impersonate Tingyun, then let that mechanical lifeform impersonate Phantylia… or also pose as Tingyun. Let's see whose acting is better.
"The operation on the Xianzhou will likely be tougher than the space station." Kafka rubbed her temples, cherishing this last day of leisure.
"Entropy Loss Syndrome… right, we should've thought to involve you sooner!" Silver Wolf smacked her forehead. Though Firefly's favorite games weren't her type, she didn't want to lose a companion. Entropy Loss Syndrome was terrifying.
Those afflicted suffer irreversible chronic dissociation in their physical structure, a [disappearance] barely noticeable to others.
Iron Cavalry medical pods could suppress it, but the effect was weak.
Fortunately, [Eternity] was the perfect counter to Entropy Loss Syndrome.
Under an Aeon's power, everything seemed trivial. It was just genetic modification—seal it, and done.
"Exactly! It's Eternity. I added Eternity."
The secret art of Eternity could freeze the human body at a specific moment across all levels.
That's why Eternity's Emanators were both youthful and long-lived. To walk the Path of [Eternity], they locked their time through [Eternity], preserving their body and age at that moment.
Using [Eternity] to sustain [Eternity]. It worked.
Except for the Church's High Priestess. An elf's lifespan far exceeded that of ordinary humans by millions of times, not to mention she was an [Eternity] Emanator.
"Looking forward to your heart-freezing grand adventure." Silver Wolf tapped her virtual keyboard, almost tempted to join Adrian for the raid.
…
Astral Express.
Listening to the latest Interastral Peace broadcast, Stelle fell into deep thought.
She might've underestimated Silver Wolf's execution. She'd thought the hacker would throw a fit, crying and rolling on the ground.
Instead, she launched a night raid on the Interastral Peace Corporation and got her account back.
"Don't you guys think the Corporation's pretty pitiful? First, their Trailblaze Department head got ambushed and still hasn't woken up. Now, a massive attack last night. This world's too scary."
March 7th hugged Pom-Pom tightly in fear. Welt and Himeko were unfazed, used to such things.
"Dan Heng, any ideas?" March 7th nudged Dan Heng beside her.
"Hm? As long as trouble doesn't reach us, it's fine." Dan Heng had lived in the Corporation's world; he knew those big shots were all scheming, with few good ones among them.
"Passenger March 7th, didn't I ask you to call Passenger Adrian? The train's about to enter warp soon, pom!"
"Oh, right~ Our Teacher Adrian's sleeping in, huh? Stelle, come check on him with me."
Stelle had slept on the couch last night. It wasn't much different from a bed, just a bit cold without a blanket.
She wouldn't get sick anyway. With a Stellaron Core inside her, catching a disease? What a joke.
Meanwhile, in the upper level of the Party Car, Adrian's room.
After parting with Silver Wolf and Kafka, Adrian slipped through the void and quietly returned to the Express. As expected, a Mask of Fools was throwing a tantrum on his bed.
"You've broken my heart! You disguised yourself as a Mask of Fools to hit the Corporation! You're ruining Aha's reputation!"
Upon seeing Adrian, the mask flew right up to his face, visibly fuming.
"[Eternity] never lets a grudge go, and it's endless! Friend." Adrian swatted the mask away, smirking. "How's your backside feeling these days?"
"Haha! Aha broke that light arrow ages ago. You didn't really think you could hurt Aha, did you? No way, no way~"
"Tch. Where'd you pick up those nauseating lines?" Adrian was grossed out by Aha.
"From you, of course~"
Adrian: …
He opened Lan's chat, already typing to request ten more Cloud-Piercing Arrows.
"No, no, no… Aha was just joking, friend. Why so serious?"
Aha backed down. Adrian wasn't sure if THEY were faking it.
But THEY definitely didn't want to eat a few more Cloud-Piercing Arrows. Across the cosmos, aside from IX, probably only Qlipoth could tank a shot from him and Lan without flinching.
After all, the construction bro was too busy building walls. As long as you didn't go too far, THEY wouldn't even glance your way.
Unless you poked THEIR backside with a light arrow.
Physically, how many could break through [Preservation]'s defense?
Very few. Adrian was one. But he had no reason to clash with the wall-building bro.
The Abundance was better. Whenever Adrian wanted, THEY'd show up on call. The only downside was THEY'd immediately bless him with [Abundance], which could easily cause misunderstandings with Lan and the Xianzhou folk.
Too much enthusiasm wasn't always good. The Abundance seemed especially fond of him.
When it came to longevity, [Eternity] and [Abundance] were pretty similar.
Ultimate self versus ultimate devotion—both applied to Qlipoth. When Adrian first met THEM, THEY were building walls. Even now, THEY were still building walls.
What would happen if [Preservation] and [Abundance] combined?
After shooing the mask away, Adrian found a contact with a machine-head avatar.
[Adrian: O all-knowing existence, I pose a question…]
[Nous: Analysis: Your phrasing mimics [Genius Society] #83. Why the formality between Aeons? Conclusion: Speak normally.]
[Adrian: …]
Silence. Who'd have thought this pile of scrap had some human warmth in its words?
[Adrian: Search query: Lan and the Abundance]
[Nous: Searching… Using me as an AI assistant now?]
Adrian couldn't hold back a laugh at the message.
Who called THEM scrap? This was way more interesting than Screwllum.
Screwllum was the pinnacle of elegance but lacked a bit in the emotional department.
Clearly a computer, yet chatting with THEM felt no different from talking to an organic lifeform.
Seems Nous had nearly cracked the code on emotions.
Thousands of years ago, Adrian had sought out Nous, but THEY didn't even bother with him.
[Adrian: Aren't you?]
[Nous: I can't deny it. But that's no reason to mess with me. What do you need?]
[Adrian: Question: The relationship between [Preservation] and [Abundance].]
[Nous: Barely any connection. Qlipoth just builds walls. The Abundance answers all calls.]
[Nous: Friend, maybe one day you'll see THEM building walls together. [The Hunt] might even join the wall-building business. That'd be quite the spectacle, no?]
[Adrian: Aha hijacked your account?]