"Do you remember where you came from, old timer?"
Leon decided to get justice for him, asking about the amnesia March 7th had mentioned.
"I don't remember clearly."
The old man shook his head.
"I only remember that I must pursue death, and no matter what happens, I must not let the knowledge in my head fall into the hands of outsiders."
"You have no identity?"
Leon mulled over a breakthrough. "Do you remember the name of the weapon you mentioned?"
"Imaginary... Collapse..."
The old man clutched his head, struggling to recall the past he had deliberately chosen to forget. But after a long wait, nothing followed the word "collapse."
"I can't remember..."
After a long moment, the old man shook his head and said weakly.
"To prevent any possibility of it reappearing in the world, I've been intentionally avoiding it... My memory chose to forget everything related to it. I'm sorry."
"Sigh, senility is a real curse."
Leon didn't treat him as anything special, just a normal old man.
"But don't worry. Your justice will be served by me."
The Galaxy Rangers never fear any power, not even a behemoth like the Corporation.
"Uphold justice, hunt down evil."
"This is the duty of a Galaxy Ranger, and it is my mission."
Leon didn't mind lending a hand; it was a good chance to take care of those damned capitalist dogs along the way.
"Thank you..."
The old man expressed his sincere gratitude, but his self-destructive tendencies remained evident.
"But if you can, I still hope you will end my life, along with the 'memories' in my head..."
"I won't stop you if you want to end your own life."
Leon stood up from the bench. "But it would be best to wait until after you've witnessed the vengeance of The Hunt with your own eyes."
"That way, you can pass on more peacefully."
"I am the one at fault... It's my knowledge... It's no one's fault... It was all me..." the old man shook his head in weary confusion.
"Right and wrong are in the eye of the beholder, but think whatever you want."
Leon couldn't be bothered to provide psychological counseling.
He'd said it many times: he was only responsible for the rescue, no after-sales service for the small-fry. Ask again and you get deleted. Wait until you hit the big leagues, then we can haggle over support packages!
"Mr. Chadwick!"
Just as Leon was about to discuss with Robin what to do with the old timer, a group of men and women hurried over from behind them.
"Why did you wander off again?"
The woman in the lead wore the expression of a filial child, carefully taking his arm to help him up and lead him away.
"You had me so worried. Come, let's go back now."
Moira spoke with great concern, moving to lead him away as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Leaving without so much as a thank you?"
Just as the two were about to pass them, Leon spoke up coldly.
Playing familiar—a classic trick of human traffickers. He had been sitting here chatting with the old timer for a while. Wouldn't a normal guardian at least say hello and express some gratitude before leaving? Rushing to leave like this was a clear sign of a guilty conscience.
You'd have an easier time believing they were actually family than believing he was some useless mid-tier. Because both are equally impossible.
"Thank you for looking after my father, sir."
Moira took a deep breath, still hoping to bluff her way through.
"But he can't stay out for long. It's time for his medicine. We're on a tight schedule, so please forgive me for not being able to thank you properly. I will be sure to pay a formal visit another day."
After speaking, the group surrounded the old man named Chadwick and prepared to leave again.
"Medicine?"
Leon laughed. "Don't you find those two words a bit out of place in this land of sweet dreams?"
"Sir, this is a private matter for the Family. I advise you not to pry, or you might lose this hard-won opportunity to enter the dream."
Moira said, her face darkening.
"A guest has no right to inquire."
Robin removed her hat and sunglasses, her gaze upon the woman incredibly solemn.
"Then what about me?"
"Miss Robin..."
Moira flinched, her heart sinking.
Why was the sister of the Oak Family's current patriarch here? This was trouble.
Everything that happened in Penacony was under the cover of the Dream Master's wings. The confinement of Chadwick must have been carried out with his tacit approval. Most of the Family's upper echelons knew of Chadwick's existence, including Sunday, but Robin had been kept in the dark from the very beginning.
"Who is this gentleman, and why are the Hounds following his every move?"
Robin had clearly recognized them.
"You can ask the Oak Family Patriarch yourself later."
Given the singer's galactic fame, letting her continue to make a scene would complicate matters and expose Chadwick's existence. The best plan now was undoubtedly to leave first and let the Oak Family Patriarch handle everything.
"My brother?"
Robin was taken aback. She never imagined that this affair would involve her last living relative.
"Good idea. I'll bring some people and go ask him myself."
Leon stretched his right arm out, blocking their path.
"Sir, I advise you to think twice. Don't throw away this precious chance to dream just to play the hero."
Moira's subconscious message was clear: your actions are making an enemy of the Family.
"Haha, I'm not afraid."
No wonder they were so guilty; they really were hiding something. Since a Galaxy Ranger had stumbled upon it, they shouldn't blame him for meddling.
"You..."
Before Moira could say more, a calm voice interjected.
"Well, this is a surprise. I never thought the Hound Family would be involved in such shady business behind the scenes."
Sunday appeared as if on cue, a look of genuine surprise on his face, as if he had just happened to be strolling by.
"Confining a guest... you Hounds certainly wield your authority with a heavy hand."
Sunday glanced at Chadwick, his voice quiet but filled with authority.
"Penacony is a land of sweet dreams. As members of the Family, do you feel no shame in personally tarnishing our own reputation?"
Sunday offered no excuses, immediately admitting fault. Or rather, he threw all the blame onto the Hounds, owning the scandal himself so he could gracefully step away from it.
"Our apologies, Mr. Sunday... We admit our mistake..."
Meeting Sunday's gaze, Moira instantly understood. One played the villain, the other played the hero, hoping to muddle through the situation.
"If your loyalty is recognized by Xipe, then your sins will be absolved at the same time."
Sunday said no more. He turned, his gaze falling upon the crucial audience member to the side.
"My apologies, sir. I never expected that a dissonant chord had been lurking among my colleagues for so long."
Sunday acted as if he knew nothing about the matter.
"If you hadn't happened upon this, I'm afraid I would never have caught the Hound Family red-handed. Please, allow me to express my gratitude."
Sunday placed his arm across his chest and bowed slightly.
"Rest assured, sir. I will report this matter to the Dream Master truthfully. There is no need for you to trouble yourself. Penacony is, after all, the Family's territory."
"We will certainly get to the bottom of this, eliminate the dissonant voices, and see justice done for Mr. Chadwick."
Sunday said with an air of righteousness.
"Do you take me for a fool?"
Seeing him try to wrap things up so neatly, Leon found it hard to stomach.
"Of course not, sir. There is not a single false word in what I have said," Sunday said, shaking his head.
"Thanks. There's never a false word in what I say either."
"Remember what I've said many times before: do not underestimate the intuition of The Hunt."
Never underestimate the intuition of The Hunt. Many Galaxy Rangers rely on this very intuition to make a bullet travel between light-years.
"The Dream Master sent you to handle this urgently, didn't he?"
Leon thought of that old bird. "Tsk, seems he knows everything quite clearly."
"..."
Sunday fell silent.
Indeed, the Dream Master had sent him. Chadwick's existence was one of Penacony's few secrets and absolutely could not be exposed. Especially not to this Arbiter-General who called himself a Galaxy Ranger. If he discovered Penacony's collusion with the Corporation, there would be a reckoning, one hundred percent.
Sunday had a massive headache.
If not for the fact that walking around helped with memory recovery, Chadwick would have spent his entire life in a hidden room. Chadwick's free time was arranged entirely by the Hound Family; he rarely inquired about the specifics, so he didn't know the details. If he had known the details, there is no way he would have let the two of them come into contact today!
A bunch of useless Hounds!
Sunday cursed inwardly.
He sighed, and the corner of his eye caught a glimpse of Robin's complicated expression, which made him feel even worse.
Strictly speaking, Sunday had not truly colluded with the Corporation. He felt regret over Chadwick's situation and had planned for The Order to grant him justice later; his tacit approval was merely part of a long-term plan. But knowing his sister's character, he was well aware that Robin would never tolerate such a thing. So he had ensured not a whisper of it reached her ears.
But now, it was all ruined. Sunday found it hard to imagine how he could convince his sister to accept this.
And he couldn't reveal the Dream Master's plan right now. He truly didn't know how to handle this situation.
"I'm curious."
Sensing something, Leon's gaze met Moira's.
"What role did you, Penacony—or rather, the Family—play in this whole affair with Chadwick?"
After Leon spoke, the atmosphere instantly became tense and hostile.
"The Family provided him with a place of shelter. Nothing more."
Moira was silent for a moment. When she spoke, her voice echoed, a symbol of the Dream Master.
"Is that so? Then I'm taking him away from this shelter now."
Leon's tone allowed for no compromise.
"He will die if he leaves this dreamscape."
"And?"
Leon was completely unconcerned.
The old timer wanted to die anyway. Helping him do so could be considered a good deed. Besides, he already knew the target of his 'vengeance.' It would be good if the old timer could finally get the end he wished for.
"...When we have extracted the knowledge of the 'Imaginary Collapse Pulse,' we will share the results with the Xianzhou Alliance. Stand down."
The Dream Master made his biggest concession.
"Arbiter-General of The Hunt, even for the Xianzhou Alliance, facing both the Corporation and the Family at once will not end well. Why bother?"
"Are you admitting that you're in league with the Corporation?"
Imaginary Collapse Pulse, was that the full name of the weapon the old timer couldn't quite say?
"I told you, I am a Galaxy Ranger."
Leon took down Vanquisher, and the Dream Master could keenly feel the Memoria of all of Penacony tremble for an instant.
"And I have no desire for external trinkets."
Leon aimed the bow straight at him, telling him not to tarnish his values.
"Furthermore, I am not negotiating with you."
March 7th personally entrusted this to him. Oblivion was on his level. What gave the Dream Master the right to stop him?
"Given that Penacony was only a participant, not the mastermind, and has not yet done anything truly out of line."
Leon said calmly.
"I'll give you one chance. Friend or foe. Choose."
The Dream Master was silent for a long time.
"...Take him."
After a while, having carefully weighed the pros and cons, the Dream Master chose temporary friendship.
This Arbiter-General before him not only had the backing of the Xianzhou Alliance but also had connections with members of the Genius Society. Making an enemy of him was clearly unwise. Moreover, if word got out that a member of the Genius Society was being held captive in Penacony, it would undoubtedly cause a massive public outcry. That would be another major headache, and the Corporation might even kick them while they were down.
In that case, why couldn't Penacony be the one to backstab the Corporation first? It was better to let the Corporation bear this burden alone. After all, only those who can carry the lives of others are worthy of being called Preservation. Better to let a friend die than to die oneself.
"Not bad. The useless mid-tier has some self-awareness."
Leon slung Vanquisher over his shoulder again. He who understands the times is a wise man.
"Just in case, let me declare that this 'friendship' I speak of is only temporary."
After dealing with Chadwick's matter, Leon would challenge Penacony again.
"After all, I still haven't gotten the answers I want from Penacony. I can't say if we'll be friends or foes in the end."
With that, Leon left with Chadwick, March 7th following close behind.
"Mr. Ranger..."
As they were about to pass Robin, she called out subconsciously.
"Sorry, little bird. I probably won't be able to make it to the concert."
Hearing her call, Leon paused for a moment before continuing on, leaving those words behind.
"The plan must be moved up."
Watching his departing back, the Dream Master said to Sunday in a low voice.
He knew what Leon meant. As a founding creator, Mikhail had vanished without a trace. Penacony knew whether it was guilty or not. History is written by the victors. Undeniably, he had intentionally erased Mikhail's existence. This meant that a battle between them was unavoidable.
The Dream Master thought Leon was a bit too hasty. Or perhaps, purely insane.
He was the purest kind of Pathstrider, one who didn't understand an ounce of worldly affairs. Any other Arbiter-General from the Xianzhou Alliance would never commit such a reckless act as declaring war on the Family for someone they barely knew and who had been dead for a long time.
But Leon never cared about such things. He didn't care what you were. If you became an obstacle on his Path, there was only one solution: battle!
"Move it up?"
Sunday was startled. Tomorrow, he would have to confront Leon directly.
"There can only be one king in Penacony."
And that king must be The Order.
If war it is, then war it shall be. As long as he can trap Leon in the Dream of Oneness, unable to escape, the Xianzhou Alliance won't be able to find any fault.
"Brother..."
Hearing their conversation, a conflicted Robin pulled her gaze away from Leon.
"What are you hiding?"
She demanded, confronting him directly.
_____
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