Penacony.
Since they were in the Dreamscape, Herta's announcement hadn't caused any disturbance here. People remained immersed in their sweet dreams.
The Oak Family.
Inside a vast room.
"Sister, I truly didn't expect you to agree to sing for the Order."
Sunday looked at Robin, who was being attended to by a flock of makeup artists, his surprised tone laced with a thick apology.
"Brother, is this truly what you wish for?"
Robin lowered her head, her voice deep.
She sat on a chair, surrounded by three or four makeup artists dressing her up, like a string puppet.
"..."
Sunday fell silent.
He had always hoped his sister would understand him, and even agree with his ideals. But now that she had, he was unhappy. This wasn't right, just like with that Harmonious Bird back then.
He was a bird meant to be raised and protected, belonging to the mortal world. But she wasn't. She had her own ambitions.
Her destiny should be the sky, not falling to the mortal realm like him. It shouldn't be like this...
Sunday's expression was complex as he bit the soft flesh inside his lip.
Even if the two of them eventually reached an unavoidable point of opposition. He only wished for Robin to drown holding onto her ideals, not to be so submissive and on the verge of decay like she was now.
Losing her ambition for the sky... Was that truly Robin anymore? Sunday asked himself.
He alone was enough to willingly break his wings and stay behind. He would bear everything by himself.
Her wings were meant for soaring. To attract followers to vie for the future with her proud, celestial form—that was the 'Harmony' where everyone had the room to choose their own path.
Not to be stuck in a rut like him. Choosing to stay on the ground, using his wings to shield others from the wind and rain, seeking the protection of 'the Order' to elevate that struggle to a worldly scale.
"When did we start to go our separate ways?"
Robin's eyes were downcast, her voice very light.
But to Sunday's ears, it was incredibly heavy.
"Was it that time with the Harmonious Bird?"
Robin reminisced, realizing that their paths might have diverged a long time ago.
I might have dreamed that we were kindred spirits. Only to wake and find we were strangers.
Sunday remained silent. The death of that Harmonious Bird was the fuse, but it wasn't the decisive factor.
Over the years, as he saw more people and things, his thinking slowly changed. The path of pursuing 'the Order' was a gradual process, not something achieved overnight.
"Robin, you... Are you really sure?"
Before the sentence was fully out, Sunday pressed his lips together again, returning to his earlier silence.
"Brother, didn't we promise to take the stage and sing together?"
Robin spoke from the heart, but the regretful expression on her face didn't change.
Sunday was still silent.
Do I, as I am now, truly have the right to sing with you? Sunday couldn't find an answer.
However...
You haven't abandoned your original dream. That's wonderful, Robin.
Hearing this, Sunday felt a sense of relief.
"There's still some time before the Charmony Festival begins. If you want to escape, now is the time."
A faint, enigmatic smile hung on Sunday's face as he left after saying this. Before leaving, he took one last look at his sister, as if saying goodbye.
'Take the stage and sing together.' Perhaps there was hope before, but now it was absolutely impossible. When their ideals clashed, it was already impossible for them to soar into the sky together.
Robin was never one to compromise easily, especially on a promise like this. Even though he had a strong premonition before. His desire to walk alongside his sister made him subconsciously ignore many things and believe it to be true, including that premonition.
But when she said those words. Sunday knew that what was fake would always be fake. She had not truly accepted 'the Order.'
Everything she was doing now was just a delaying tactic. She was waiting for someone, someone who would definitely come. Sunday saw her true intentions.
Rather than being put under house arrest and restricted everywhere for opposing the inevitable tide. It was better to feign agreement first to facilitate coordination later. Very clever. As expected of his sister.
Sunday had no intention of exposing her; he was willing to fall for the trick.
Robin was gambling, or rather, she had immense faith that a certain Ranger would come to save a Penacony under the control of 'the Order.'
In fact, Leon would absolutely come, because he had not yet received the answers he sought. The 'Charmony Festival' plan was moved up precisely to deal with him.
"Prove it to me. If your paradise can save more people, then come and cut off my path forward yourself."
Sunday departed with resolute steps.
"Brother..."
Robin, who had kept her head lowered, lifted it upon hearing his farewell, her gaze shifting to his solitary back.
One person's strength is limited... Even the Aeon of 'the Order' has been devoured. Don't you understand this? Robin knew this well, which was why she placed her hope for a breakthrough on someone else.
"You will definitely come."
Robin whispered to herself, "Right, Mr. Ranger?"
The one who can save Penacony, the one who is willing to save Penacony. Right now, there was only one.
Although the Corporation could and would save it, their so-called salvation involved direct, violent suppression, followed by seizing power and marking Penacony as their territory.
Only Leon, only he as a Galaxy Ranger. Had the ability and the willingness to extend a helping hand to Penacony, free of any ulterior motives. For him, if he wanted to save someone, he just did. It was that simple.
"I'll wait for you..."
The reason Robin agreed to sing for 'the Order' was to pave the way for Leon. To buy time for his arrival while also lending him a hand.
If she wanted to end this farce from the very beginning, then Leon's power was indispensable. His battle against the Phantylia was still vivid in her mind.
She remembered that Leon had a very special ability. He could use his words to force people into a theatrical play with him. This ability to assimilate others surpassed even that of 'Harmony.' This could undoubtedly stop Sunday's plan directly, without causing any casualties.
He was the chosen one, and the only one!
Penacony.
After saying goodbye to Herta, Leon and March 7th returned once more to this land of sweet dreams. Fortunately, his mugshot wasn't flying around everywhere, and that old bird, the Dream Master, was nowhere to be found. So checking in and entering the dream was as smooth as before.
"That's great, sir. I thought I wouldn't get to see you again."
It was as if there was some kind of connection between him and Misha; the moment he arrived, he was precisely located and approached.
"Yo, Misha, are you off duty?"
Leon nodded in acknowledgment. He guessed it had something to do with the ticket he was carrying. Thinking this, he cast his gaze towards the ticket on his collar, which was half spirit pearl, half demon pill.
He didn't usually pay much attention to it, but he noticed it was already almost half full. No wonder he'd been feeling extra vigorous when taking a dump lately. It's all hard work and sweat, kids!
"Do you see anyone standing in front of you?"
Wanting to test his theory, Leon asked March 7th, who was beside him.
His intuition was usually sharp. If he said Misha was related to the ticket, then there was a high probability that he was related to the ticket!
March 7th shook her head.
"How about now, holding this?"
Leon unpinned the ticket from his collar and handed it to her.
"What's this?"
March 7th took it and asked curiously.
"A decoration."
Leon told her not to worry about the details and that he had a question for her first.
"Holding it, look in front of you again. Can you see anyone?"
March 7th, somewhat confused, held it and shifted her gaze as he instructed.
"What do you see?" he asked.
"A blue-haired girl?"
March 7th looked at Misha, who had suddenly appeared in her vision, and replied uncertainly.
"He's a boy."
"Can men be that beautiful?"
Hearing this, March 7th was suddenly reminded of something he had muttered before.
"Even a straight guy couldn't handle that."
Leon finished the thought, indicating she was a fast learner.
"Who is he?"
March 7th asked curiously.
"A hotel bellboy who calls himself Misha. Haven't found anything else."
Leon reported what he knew.
"Is he the person Leon is looking for?"
Even if March 7th was slow, she realized he had a purpose for coming to Penacony.
"It's related to him, but I don't know the rest."
Leon nodded.
"Sir?"
Misha, seeing that he was no longer listening, called out to him.
"Hm? What did you say?"
Leon replied instinctively.
"I said I'm off duty. Would you like to come to my home with me now?"
Seeing that he hadn't heard, Misha repeated himself.
"It's in Dreamflux Reef. Mr. Mikhail, whom I mentioned before, is there."
"Let's go."
This was exactly what Leon had come for. Otherwise, he wouldn't have come back to Penacony for no reason.
"Please follow me."
Misha nodded and turned to lead the way.
"Where is Dreamflux Reef?"
March 7th returned the ticket to him and asked.
"I don't know."
Leon pinned the ticket back onto his collar.
"We'll know when we get there."
With that, Leon took the first step to follow Misha, with March 7th close behind.
The three of them walked for a long distance. Following Misha through one alley after another, they finally stopped in a dark place whose style was completely different from the Golden Hour.
"This is Dreamflux Reef?"
Leon asked.
"Oh, no."
Misha quickly shook his head in denial. "It's just that Mianmian usually waits for me here to go home."
"Mianmian is?"
"Mianmian is a Memory Zone Meme, and also the necessary transportation to get to Dreamflux Reef."
"Wow, dedicated transport service."
"Mianmian, are you there?"
Misha ignored Leon's comment, cupping his hands around his mouth like a megaphone and calling out.
The next moment, a monster a hundred meters long, shaped like a human arm magnified ten times, appeared out of thin air in response to the call.
"Yo, a creature of 'Remembrance'?"
Leon didn't expect to see a familiar face. He had seen one just like it back in 'The Xianzhou Luofu.' He wondered if the two were related.
"Happy growl"
Upon seeing Misha, Mianmian immediately and eagerly nuzzled up against him, as if showing its happiness.
"Alright, alright."
Misha gently stroked it to calm it down.
"Can this thing really be used as transportation?"
No matter how Leon looked at it, it didn't seem like something a person could ride.
"How do we ride it?"
"I don't know how to describe it."
Misha hummed.
"In short, sir, you and your friend just need to empty your minds. Mianmian will handle the rest of the process itself."
"Alright."
Leon agreed, then gave March 7th a heads-up.
After that, the Memory Zone Meme named Mianmian unfurled its body, wrapped all three of them up at once, and carried them through the Memory Zone.
Dreamflux Reef.
Mianmian released the three of them. With its help, the trio successfully arrived at their destination.
A city of considerable size. The whole place looked like a reflection of the Golden Hour.
Except, unlike the original's decadent and carnival-like sweet dream. This place was dim and gloomy, like a lower district in a cyberpunk world. Its cool color palette was destined to create an exceptionally oppressive atmosphere.
"Oof, that nearly wrecked my kidneys."
Leon's review of this Memory Zone Meme was that it was a mediocre transport vehicle. Not only did he have to endure the heavy pressure from the Memoria, but he also had to tolerate it spinning around in all four directions, up, down, left, and right. It was enough to make anyone dizzy.
March 7th, however, showed no signs of discomfort. Perhaps because she was a child of 'Remembrance,' she had a natural resistance to things related to it.
"Who are you?"
A scruffy uncle with dreadlocks noticed the newcomers at the entrance.
"More travelers you've brought here by mistake?"
Gallagher sized up the man and woman who had suddenly appeared, then questioned Mianmian.
Mianmian swayed its body, indicating a 'no'.
"They're not?"
Gallagher frowned slightly.
Not by mistake, which means they came intentionally. But how did they know of the existence of Dreamflux Reef?
"I'm looking for someone."
Before he could ask, Leon answered first.
"Looking for someone?"
Gallagher's deep voice was quite puzzled.
Looking for someone? A prerequisite for looking for someone is knowing where they are. How did he know about Dreamflux Reef, and what made him so sure the person he was looking for was here? Where did he get this information?
"Do you know where this is?"
Another one who couldn't see Misha. Could it be that Misha is only visible to the Nameless, or rather, members of the Astral Express? Seeing Gallagher's reaction, Leon made this deduction.
"I heard Mikhail is here."
The moment this name was spoken, Gallagher's pupils constricted with vigilance, his face filled with disbelief, clearly caught off guard by this sudden development.
"Mikhail? You know Mikhail?!"
Gallagher moved closer to him, asking anxiously, his voice instinctively rising in volume.
"I came just for him."
Leon let the ticket on his collar become visible to him.
"You're... a Nameless from the Astral Express?"
Gallagher was stunned, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"You can consider me one."
Whether he was or not didn't matter to Leon. He'd let them believe what they wanted.
Gallagher stood there in stunned silence, unable to calm down for a long time. This pleasant surprise had come far too suddenly.
"Remember, no matter what it takes, you must get the invitation into the hands of the Astral Express."
This was the last will and testament left by Mikhail before his death.
He didn't understand what was so charming about the Astral Express that the old man was still so concerned about it even on his deathbed. Gallagher didn't know why the old man could never forget that train.
But he knew. The savior the old man had dreamed of had now appeared before him out of thin air, as if it were a response from 'the Trailblaze' itself.
"Why are you looking for Mikhail?"
After a moment, Gallagher asked in a deep voice.
"To ask about the whereabouts of the Astral Express."
Leon answered truthfully. There was nothing to hide.
"So the Astral Express really has gone silent?"
Hearing this answer, Gallagher murmured.
After receiving the old man's final request, he had also begun searching for any news related to the Astral Express in Penacony. But in the end, he found nothing. Not even a damn thing, which offered a glimpse into the Astral Express's fate.
The Nameless and the Astral Express. In the old man's era, both were synonymous with otherworldly heroes. Their reputation was immense. The respect that various factions across the universe showed the Nameless was largely due to this.
And now, not even a shred of news could be found. If that didn't mean they were gone, what did? The Astral Express hadn't disbanded; it's just that no one came anymore.
"So, where is Mikhail?"
Leon's voice cut through his thoughts, bringing him back to the main point of the visit.
"Mikhail is already dead."
Gallagher shook his head, his tone heavy with grief.
"What? Dead?"
Leon exclaimed.
"You're kidding, right? He's really dead?"
He didn't expect Herta's words to become a reality.
"Can a spiritual body even die normally?"
This was what he couldn't understand. After all, Chadwick had only achieved death with their help. Given his strong will to die, he should have died long ago if he could have, which meant that the death of a spiritual body was not so easily achieved.
_____
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