"Dreamscapes are made of Memoria."
Gallagher's voice was a bit strained.
"The Family will find this place of exile sooner or later."
"If Mikhail is still alive by then, he'll either be permanently silenced or imprisoned. If that happens, the truth may never see the light of day."
Old man, the one you were waiting for has arrived. Do you see?
"To avoid that, he turned all his Memoria—his entire past—into a single Memory Bubble."
The impossible thing in a dream isn't death, but slumber.
And now, Mikhail has long since fallen asleep.
"As long as this Memory Bubble survives, there's still a chance for this chapter of Penacony's history to be known."
Gallagher said in a low voice.
"Before he died, Mikhail told me that I had to find a way to pull the Astral Express into this situation, no matter what."
"He was always like that, always had this inexplicable faith in the Nameless. In his plans, 'The Trailblaze' always had a part to play."
Gallagher didn't understand it, but he was willing to believe, just as Mikhail did.
"Even though, while he was alive, he never once managed to contact the Express."
Believing the Nameless would take up the baton of "The Trailblaze."
That they would inherit his final wish to save Penacony, shouldering the old man's burden and accomplishing what he could not.
Believing the Astral Express could give the old man the justice he had been denied for so many years.
A hero must not be left unknown.
Those who gather firewood for the masses must not be left to freeze and starve in the snow; those who forge the path ahead must not be left trapped in shackles.
Belief... it doesn't need a reason!
"You mean to say, Mikhail was also desperately searching for the Astral Express, but ended up finding nothing before he died?"
Hearing this, Leon knew this trip seemed to have been for nothing.
According to Herta, there were basically no Nameless left in the universe with any known whereabouts.
The only one there was still news of, and who could possibly be found, was Mikhail.
But now Mikhail was dead too, and he'd died trying and failing to contact the Astral Express.
This Astral Express is quite the mystery, huh.
Wait, if all the Nameless are dead, who's going to get him his Astral Express?
Sigh, I should have just asked Aha.
Leon grumbled internally about the outcome of his trip to this so-called land of dreams.
With "The Trailblaze" in its current state of decline, Aha, as the most ancient stan of "Akivili," might actually know the whereabouts of the Astral Express.
"Yes."
Gallagher nodded, though he was also puzzled by him.
"As far as I know, the boarding passes for the Astral Express are personally issued to the Nameless by someone called the Conductor."
Gallagher's gaze once again fell on his collar.
"Since you hold a ticket, it means you received your proof of identity directly from the Conductor. So why don't you know where the Astral Express is?"
Gallagher didn't know the specifics of the Astral Express tickets.
But the style of the ticket on Leon was indeed slightly different from the old man's.
Though it could just be a special vintage model for living fossils.
But given his current hope of finding the Astral Express, he was more inclined to believe Leon was a new generation who had boarded after the old man's era.
Although its half-gold, half-silver appearance was strange, no one usually dared to forge an Astral Express ticket.
Why would anyone forge a ticket?
To use the Nameless's reputation to bluff their way through.
But whether you're a Nameless or not is obvious at a glance.
The moment you harbor impure motives, you can no longer be a true Nameless.
The ticket isn't important; the person is.
"I'm a second-generation trailblazer. This ticket was passed down through my family."
Leon's expression said, bet you've never seen that before.
"..."
Gallagher was silent.
He never expected to get such an answer.
Inheriting a ticket... he had never heard of such a thing from the old man.
"Then the Astral Express?"
The old man's last will was always to find the Astral Express.
But there was no news on whether the Astral Express was active or defunct, and Gallagher didn't know where it was.
And he himself couldn't leave Penacony.
If there was no news of the Astral Express's whereabouts, he might never be able to send them an invitation.
"The Astral Express has ceased its journey."
Leon relayed what Herta had told him.
"It seems most of the Trailblaze's silver rails were destroyed, and now no one knows where it's docked."
"Most of the Nameless have also disappeared. Mikhail was the last one of any note."
"That's the information I have."
"Is that so..."
Gallagher covered his forehead with a bitter smile.
Old man, you trusted the Astral Express so much, but it seems they can't even save themselves.
They don't even have a proper successor. Can the Astral Express really set sail again?
Did you have that much faith in the Nameless?
If the Astral Express never sets sail again, then upon whose shoulders will Penacony's future fall?
The more Gallagher thought about it, the more his head ached.
He just felt that the current situation was becoming more and more of an uphill battle.
"How long has Mikhail been dead?"
Hearing the voice, Gallagher, who was still rubbing his forehead, instinctively looked at him.
A Nameless should also be fine, right?
He thought.
Although the Astral Express didn't come, one of your successors did arrive today.
Gallagher remained silent.
Old man, I can't let your vision die with you, never to see the light of day before Penacony falls, can I?
A dog's life is very short, after all.
Instead of waiting for the completely untraceable Astral Express, it's better to place my hope in this Nameless.
He's your successor anyway, it makes no difference.
With that thought, Gallagher's mind was made up.
"Several decades now."
He answered Leon's question.
"Why is there no information out there about Mikhail's current status?"
Leon asked again, "Wasn't he one of the founding fathers of Penacony?"
"No information? How can you say that?"
Gallagher let out a sarcastic laugh, a jab at The Family.
"'The Land of Dreams,' isn't that the information related to Mikhail that's always present?"
"Old-timers always know more. Do tell."
Leon indicated he was listening.
"'The Land of Dreams.' Those four words are the Clockmaker's—Mikhail's—greatest lie."
There was a reminiscent look in Gallagher's eyes.
"He built Penacony on that lie, but now that the lie has become reality, his contributions have been completely erased."
"The Family's doing?"
Leon asked, having already suspected it.
"Who else could it be but The Family?"
Gallagher sneered.
"The Family wants to hide what they've done, so naturally, they have to eliminate everyone who knows the truth."
"What did The Family do?"
Leon asked again.
"How do you think this magnificent dreamscape of Penacony came to be?"
Gallagher asked, then answered his own question.
"A Stellaron."
"A beautiful dream doesn't just appear out of thin air. If you compare the Memory Zone to an ocean, building a land of dreams is like reclaiming land from the sea of memory."
"To achieve such a feat, you either need an Emanator of 'Remembrance' or 'Enigmata,' or you use a Stellaron. There's no other way."
Gallagher revealed the truth of the land of dreams.
"Mikhail thought 'The Family' were benevolent allies, but it turns out they were just like his old opponents—cut from the same cloth and equally resistant to the Stellaron plan."
"He realized it too late."
Gallagher's voice was low, as if he had wished countless times that Mikhail had found out sooner.
"By the time he looked back, The Family's influence was everywhere. He had already been sidelined with no power to resist, and then came the reckoning."
"With nowhere else to turn, I had to use the power of 'Enigmata' to hide him away in this chaotic Memory Zone."
"Then I created Dreamflux Reef, and watched as Mikhail died with his grievances unaddressed."
The more he recalled the past, the heavier Gallagher's tone became.
"Have you heard of the Galaxy Rangers?"
Leon suddenly asked a question that confused even him.
"I have."
Gallagher didn't know why he was asking, but he nodded nonetheless.
The Galaxy Rangers, dedicated to eliminating injustice and oppression.
For those who haven't embarked on a "Path," they are the only heroes willing to stand up for them.
And for those who have embarked on a "Path"...
If you ever encounter a being like a "Lord Ravager," they are your only hope in a desperate situation.
Regardless of consequences, regardless of cost.
This is the Galaxy Rangers' principle of justice.
Do not bully the weak, do not kill the innocent.
As long as you cross the bottom line of human decency...
Then no matter what you are, they will absolutely come to collect the debt!
In other words, you can seek them out for any injustice.
They are the most likely aid you can grasp when you have nowhere else to turn.
They are willing to help in any situation that crosses their line.
Even in the most desperate of circumstances.
Even if it means facing a Lord Ravager, they will not bat an eye.
When pushed to the edge, what is one to do?
From the depths of despair, witness my righteous code!
"But didn't they say all the Galaxy Rangers have disappeared?"
Gallagher had also considered sending an invitation to the Galaxy Rangers, to get them involved in the old man's plan and Penacony's situation.
"Their whereabouts are unknown, just like the Astral Express."
But it came to nothing in the end.
Because this group was as mysterious as the Nameless are now.
You could say both factions were in a similar state of decline.
He couldn't even find news about the Astral Express, let alone the elusive Galaxy Rangers.
"That's me."
Leon clarified that he was not dead, but very much alive.
Is the Ranger still here? The Ranger is still here.
"You are?"
Gallagher was stunned, not understanding what he meant for a moment.
"A Galaxy Ranger, who moonlights as a Nameless."
Leon said calmly, "Weren't you waiting for someone to lend a hand to Penacony?"
"If someone has to save this land of dreams, then why can't that person be me?"
Unlike other Galaxy Rangers, what Leon offered was never salvation in the truest sense.
Although on the surface there was no difference, and to outsiders it looked the same.
But he didn't save for the sake of anyone or any specific person.
His style was more spontaneous.
He saved people because it pleased him.
The Galaxy Rangers have the purest desire to uphold justice, whereas he upholds justice on the side while chasing his own stats.
If he wants to save someone, he saves them. That's it.
If he doesn't want to, then no amount of begging will work.
The greatest injustice in the world would be none of his business.
There's a saying: What does my saving you have to do with you?
The first prerequisite for him to act is his own willingness; the principles come after.
Gallagher stood dumbfounded for a long time, then suddenly broke into a silly grin.
"A Galaxy Ranger who moonlights as a Nameless?"
Gallagher never expected such an answer.
"Which one is your main gig?"
Well now, a Galaxy Ranger and a Nameless.
He's walked the path of the two most righteous factions in the universe.
Doesn't that make him so righteous he practically vibrates?
"Can't it be both?"
What's it to you if I like having multiple identities?
"Both it is, both it is."
Gallagher nodded repeatedly, grinning from ear to ear.
"Then, can I trust you, Nameless of 'The Hunt'?"
After a moment, Gallagher's smile faded, and he looked at him, asking seriously.
"It doesn't matter whether you trust me or not."
Because it's useless. It won't change anything.
He was just saying it for effect, why'd you take it so seriously?
Just kidding. He'd save Penacony even if Gallagher disagreed.
Leon had said it many times before.
If he wants to do something, he will do it.
This was the confidence brought to him by stats that no longer knew the limits of heaven and earth.
If he couldn't even achieve the carefree mindset of a happy-go-lucky hero, then what hollow things had his stats become!
"I trust you. I believe you are Penacony's destined savior."
Gallagher said, taking a deep breath.
A successor of "The Trailblaze" came to Penacony on his own, following Mikhail's trail.
It all felt like destiny.
That's why he was willing to trust Leon.
Old man, if it were you, you would have made the same choice, wouldn't you?
Even if it's not the Astral Express, the successor you've been waiting for all this time has arrived. Do you see?
"Follow me."
Gallagher put his thoughts aside, turned, and gestured for him to follow.
"Mikhail left something for the successor of 'The Trailblaze.'"
Before leaving, Leon glanced at Misha again.
"Hm? Sir, you should go. Don't keep Mr. Gallagher waiting!"
Misha replied with a slight smile.
"This might be a bit forward, but could you follow behind me?"
Leon's intuition told him something strange was about to happen, and that the key to resolving it was connected to him.
He didn't know on what basis, but inviting him was the right move.
Don't you dare underestimate the intuition of "The Hunt," kid!
"Eh?"
Misha was taken aback, but agreed anyway.
"If that's what you request, sir."
...
Dreamflux Reef, the garden.
Leon, March 7th, and Misha.
The three of them were led by Gallagher.
They came before an old man in a wheelchair, holding a round Memory Bubble.
His face was somewhat melancholic, and his eyes were slightly closed as if he were asleep.
"Who's this?"
Leon asked.
"The man you're looking for,"
Gallagher replied in a low voice.
Hearing this answer, Leon grew more confused.
"Isn't he dead? How is there a body left?"
"'Pathstriders,' amazing, aren't they?"
It was unclear if Gallagher was referring to his own methods from 'Enigmata' or if Mikhail had left his body behind through sheer force of will.
"Old man, the Astral Express has ceased its journey. Your half-baked plan seems impossible to carry out now."
Gallagher muttered to him, not caring if the corpse could hear.
Use the Clockmaker's legacy to send an invitation to the entire galaxy, attract various factions with the fame of the Planet of Festivities, and then let them fight amongst themselves.
Finally, reveal the existence of the "Stellaron" to those who could be trusted.
This was the plan Mikhail left behind to save Penacony before he passed away.
The best outcome of this plan was the arrival of the Astral Express.
It would turn all the attending factions into allies of "The Trailblaze," uniting them under a single goal to successfully save Penacony.
The worst outcome...
Either The Family and the Corporation would destroy each other, or the Corporation would successfully take over Penacony, and the fate of the "Stellaron" would depend on how the Corporation decided to handle it.
It's normal that the best and worst cases don't sound like they came from the same person.
This plan was built around the Astral Express, filled with the old man's absolute confidence in it.
So, if the Astral Express didn't enter the fray as envisioned, everything would quickly fall apart.
This is why Gallagher called it half-baked.
"But fortunately, although the Astral Express didn't come..."
Gallagher continued to speak to the body.
"The successor of 'The Trailblaze' did."
"I didn't find him; he came on his own, following your footsteps."
"Perhaps this is what you 'Nameless' call a legacy."
Gallagher smiled.
"Where's the thing you mentioned?"
"It's this Memory Bubble right here."
Gallagher replied, "I guess it contains something that's only meaningful to a Nameless."
"I've checked its contents before, but came up with nothing."
"It's probably some 'Trailblaze' secret code, even more enigmatic than my Enigmata."
Leon was sick of the convoluted rituals of riddle-makers.
But despite his complaints, he placed his hand on the Memory Bubble.
Ready to see what kind of treasure the old geezer had left behind.
The thick Memoria gathered in response, then stretched out from the center of his fingertip, as if forming a fine net, gently cradling his palm.
A chill spread from Leon's fingertips.
Normally, the contents of the Memory Bubble would play out now, but this time he saw nothing.
Leon withdrew his consciousness from it.
Gallagher couldn't believe the old man would leave a fake legacy for his own successor.
Unbelievable.
Leon said nothing.
Having had a premonition, he turned his gaze to Misha, who had followed him here.
From the very beginning of his time in Penacony, Misha's existence was the most peculiar thing.
If he wasn't mistaken, he was likely connected to this Memory Bubble.
No matter what illusion was placed before him, Leon would only trust his own intuition.
"Misha, are you familiar with this person?"
he asked.
Misha looked at the old man in the chair, his voice quiet.
"Yes. Don't you think he looks a bit like you?"
The contours of their faces were very similar; that was Leon's first deduction.
Misha fell silent, a clear look of astonishment on his face.
Gallagher spoke up, confused.
As if he had no idea such a person existed in Penacony.
"Who are you talking to?"
Gallagher looked left and right but saw no one.
Could this Ranger be delusional?
____
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