Suddenly, an abrupt voice shattered the standoff in the interrogation room. "Such a good deal? Then I, Blake, must join the fun."
The once-dim interrogation room was instantly engulfed in blinding holy light the moment the voice rang out—even Jingliu, her eyes veiled by black silk, felt the glare.
"Meant to debut earlier, but surprises keep piling up." Blake stood beside Jing Yuan, the ∞-shaped cross on his chest glaringly prominent.
The instant that item caught his eye, Luocha's face darkened. The Church of Eternity again!
"Oh?" Blake's gaze shifted to Luocha, laced with probing curiosity, lingering on him.
"I see—that guy's merchant was you."
Due to past experiences, Freesna was hyper-sensitive to bugs—max reaction speed.
Inside Luocha's coffin, she'd sensed the now-strong, now-faint Abundance energy.
"Since everyone's goals align—all aiming to take down the Lord of Abundance—why make the air so tense?"
"Internal division… not a good sign." Beyond childhood traumas and the church civil war, Blake loathed confrontations born of clashing views most.
Jingliu eyed Jing Yuan—an Emanator's presence here was proof. "The gods' clash… has begun."
"Eternity…"
Luocha thought it over. As Blake said, endgame was killing Abundance—they'd all borrowed Abundance's power already. Why not borrow Eternity's too?
"Merchant, your thinking's dangerous~" Blake dropped his smile. "We Eternity folk are just spectators—don't drag in the uninvolved."
"The church aided the Alliance because of Destruction meddling." Blake restated. "Dragging the church into your war (Abundance vs. The Hunt)… not great, right?"
Blake's hint landed; Jing Yuan and Luocha caught on.
"Not the Church of Eternity—but as individuals?"
"Quick on the uptake." Blake stepped before Luocha.
Jing Yuan's lip twitched. Fair point—the Xianzhou had the Seven Arbiter-Generals; the church visibly just Blake and Freesna as Emanators—kinda short-handed…
Ah, but they could summon THEIR Aeon.
...
Astral Express, parlor car.
Adrian rushed to the scene first, Stelle and the others close behind.
"Himeko! We're back—how's Pom-Pom?" March 7th fretted. The Conductor couldn't be in trouble!
Pom-Pom was nearby, listlessly watering flowers with a small mister.
"No way… This bad? Even the planters are wilting?"
On second thought, this planter had it rough—once drowned in Sola's by certain folks, recently flash-frozen into an ice sculpture by March 7th's new weapon, now burned out.
Himeko looked troubled; first time she'd faced this. The whole train's hopes rested on Adrian.
The much-hoped-for Adrian approached awkwardly. HE already knew why the Conductor was like this.
"Wah wah wah~ Passenger Adrian, Pom-Pom's sorry." Pom-Pom stood aggrieved before Adrian, bursting into tears before HE could speak.
"Wah wah wah wah wah wah~ Pom-Pom's not a good Conductor—didn't keep the promise!"
"Huh? The real culprit's Adrian?" March 7th was shocked.
"Damn milk tea Aeon—what'd you do to our cute Conductor!" Stelle scooped up Pom-Pom, donning reflective shades from who-knows-where, demanding answers.
"Case closed—Adrian takes full blame."
"Haha… Conductor, you did great. I spilled my identity myself." Adrian handed Pom-Pom a milk tea.
With Akivili and Aha absent, HE'd spent the most time with Pom-Pom. Nameless aimed for honesty; the Conductor had to outdo them—set the example.
"Huh?"
Pom-Pom blinked. "Then… the extra crispy fluffy Pom-Pom pies for secret-keeping…"
"Ahem~ Conductor kept my secret for a millennium—double desserts are the least."
Pom-Pom wiped tears, staring at Adrian in disbelief: "R-Really?"
"Of course. Eternity keeps its word."
"Wait—what'd I hear… The Conductor and Adrian had this secret dessert deal! Too much— I want treats too!" March 7th protested.
...
Truth out, Adrian paid the "heavy" price—compensating the Conductor's desserts, plus "hush money" bags for March 7th and Stelle each.
"March, look—you cleaned out Adrian's stock, forcing HIM back to restock the shop."
"You're eating too…" Dan Heng sighed at Stelle's antics. But Pom-Pom was fine—that mattered.
Adrian whatever… didn't matter now.
"Watching these Astral Skiffs, the moment they slip through the Jade Abacus gate feels like dreamlike unreality. How long till they reach their stars—and which ones?"
"On the universe's scale, long-lives and short-lives seem no different. The Xianzhou folk's pursued longevity falls short of a star's single flicker… Their sorrows mirror ours." Welt mused.
"Uncle Yang's waxing poetic—say more."
With Pom-Pom's gloom lifted, the mood lightened. March 7th happily pulled a confetti popper.
"Confetti popper—when'd that arrive?"
"Hehe~ Funny story—this is my gift for the Conductor."
"One journey ends, all things conclude… But endings birth new beginnings."
Welt felt weary. Back on the Express—have Stelle and them refund the extra rooms soon.
Seeing Welt slack, Himeko chuckled: "Next time, leave Welt to guard the train. I'll lead you kids to new worlds."
"Yay! Himeko-sis leading!"
"When'd the Express get rotating shifts?" Welt suddenly felt less tired.
"So… next stop?"
"Penacony." Himeko answered. "Remember? Before Kafka's invite, we planned there."
"Sigh~ Too much milk tea—memory's shot." Stelle feigned agony. "Remind me?"
"Wow… Don't blame Adrian every time!"
March 7th defended Adrian—Eternity milk tea QC was solid; no side effects.
"Per the Express archive, Penacony was once a company penal colony—at least in recorded eras."
"But post-Stellaron burst, it fell into The Family's embrace—remade into a thriving dreamland, they say."
"The Family's hosting a gala there, inviting the Express. I'm curious what's brewing, so I accepted."
"Once the Conductor's ready, we head to the next stop."
"Plenty of time till launch—no rush. Go play." Himeko eyed March 7th and Stelle.
"Hmm… Side note—when to the church? Pretty hyped."
"If Trailblaze fuel holds, two stops then little March's dreamed Church of Eternity."
Fearing confusion, Welt explained: "Unlike normal craft, the Astral Express converts each Trailblaze into running fuel."
"Ideal: unbroken Trailblaze yields endless power—like a perpetual motion machine, ever onward."