AR-214's personality was worlds apart from Firefly's.
One might call it an overflowing sense of curiosity, or perhaps she was simply an extrovert by nature.
Though they shared the same face, AR-214 was markedly more proactive compared to Firefly's reserved demeanor.
Beyond that, there was another thing: she was incredibly fond of physical contact.
Hugs, holding hands, linking arms... it was as if she were intentionally mimicking the intimate gestures of close friends, her actions tinged with a mix of restraint and genuine wonder.
The half-day's activities had also allowed Bai Ming to finally grow accustomed to her current body.
"I'm curious—can I ask you a question, AR-214?"
Bai Ming tossed the question out while they were resting on a roadside bench.
"Sure, what is it?"
"Why did you suddenly decide to trust me? After seeing me take control of the Swarm, you should have been suspicious. You were clearly on your guard."
What bothered Bai Ming most was how the girl's attitude had shifted the moment they arrived at the Reverie Hotel.
She had suddenly become trusting, even eager to engage in all that physical closeness.
"Hmm... it's actually because I confirmed you really are the 'Madam Bai Ming,' and not just someone with the same name."
"I once had the honor of chatting with a Giant of Light, and we happened to mention their creator."
AR-214 turned to Bai Ming with a smile.
"She told me that Madam Bai Ming is very mysterious and never shows her true face, choosing instead to walk among others using borrowed forms. I asked her then, 'How do you tell who the real Madam Bai Ming is?'"
"She told me that no matter how the appearance changes, to a Giant of Light, the nature of the Light itself never alters. And as it happens, the Land of Light collaborated with us to develop special detection equipment specifically to deal with Swarm mimics."
Bai Ming blinked in surprise. "The Land of Light actually researched stuff like that...?"
"They did. After you mentioned that this wasn't your true face, I tried activating that long-unused device. That's when I realized you really are the person yourself."
AR-214 couldn't distinguish the specific aura of Nexus, of course, but the combination of the aura of Light, the name Bai Ming, the use of a borrowed face, and the trust of Mr. Gopher Wood—plus that immense power—well, there probably wasn't a second person in the entire universe who fit all those criteria.
"I see. No wonder you dropped your guard so suddenly."
Bai Ming accepted the logic. However, AR-214 quickly added:
"Oh, even so, it's not like I didn't trust you before! How should I put it... I actually felt a sense of familiarity the moment I saw you."
"There's no need to add that. I don't really mind either way."
"Ugh..."
Seeing AR-214 looking all conflicted, Bai Ming thought for a moment and posed another question:
"AR-214."
"Yes?"
"You've been away from the Iron Cavalry for so long. Have you never thought of giving yourself a name?"
AR-214 froze at the question, her expression shifting into one of subtle melancholy.
"I've thought about it. But every time I find a name with a beautiful meaning, I wonder... does a short-lived traitor like me really have the right to pursue something like a name?"
It was Bai Ming's turn to be stunned. "You're still hung up on that?"
"What do you mean 'that'...? Isn't it important? I'm a traitor, you know."
AR-214 widened her eyes, looking at Bai Ming with a sort of endearing earnestness. But Bai Ming simply shook her head.
"Your Queen might not necessarily see you as a traitor. Otherwise, even if the Empire couldn't spare the manpower, someone from the Land of Light would have come looking for you."
"That's only because a stray like me is destined to die anyway, right?"
Bai Ming sighed helplessly.
Given the military code of the Glamoth Iron Cavalry, there was no way they would stop hunting a defector for a reason like that.
And knowing the way the Land of Light operated, they would likely drag the person back only to vouch for them right in front of the Queen.
They were upright to a fault.
The fact that AR-214 was allowed to roam the universe freely meant the Queen herself had tacitly permitted her departure.
Perhaps the Queen had even been looking forward to seeing such an act.
After all, according to the records in the Land of Light, the Queen of the Glamoth Empire had only been established in the first place to prevent a large-scale collapse of the Iron Cavalry.
Bai Ming suspected that seeing AR-214's self-awakening, the Queen was likely hoping she would find her own answers.
But if she voiced those theories now, the girl probably wouldn't believe her; she'd just think it was a lie made up to comfort her.
So, Bai Ming said nothing of the sort and instead declared: "Well, since I'm the one who picked you up, I'll be the one to give you a name. I haven't settled on one yet, so give me a couple of days to think."
"Eh?"
AR-214 blinked, seemingly wanting to say something more. But Bai Ming didn't give her the chance, reaching out to pinch the girl's mouth shut.
"Hush. 'AR-214' is too long to say. Just treat it as getting a new codename from me. I couldn't care less about the Iron Cavalry or the Empire."
"..."
With her mouth pinched, AR-214 wasn't sure what she was feeling. She only knew she was fighting the urge to pull the other woman into a tight hug again.
Once they had composed themselves and spent an entire day playing around Penacony, Tiernan and Mikhail finally reached out to them, arranging a meeting at Dreamflux Reef.
Bai Ming declined Sleepie's offer to lead the way, choosing instead to follow behind it as they made their way to this area isolated from the Twelve Hours.
However...
Compared to the dilapidated, sealed-off, and forgotten state it held in the game, the Dreamflux Reef appearing before Bai Ming's eyes was anything but ruined.
Aside from a subtle, eerie atmosphere, the place was actually quite bustling and prosperous.
The level of construction in this dreamscape was easily on par with the Twelve Hours.
Bai Ming looked at the distant Memoria accumulations and the beautifully designed architecture of the Reef. She turned to the smug-looking Tiernan and Mikhail, her voice filled with confusion.
"...This is Dreamflux Reef?"
Tiernan, who looked every bit the old man but still held his head high as if he'd been waiting for this reaction, nodded.
"Indeed. It is also the exclusive domain of my Lampmoth Family."
"Lampmoth Family?"
Bai Ming was baffled. If she remembered correctly, that was one of the Families in Penacony that had long since perished, along with the Blackplum Family.
She hadn't been in Penacony long enough to know the details, so were there six Families now?
She had guessed these two were with the Bloodhounds or the Nightingales, but it turned out they were in a Family of their own.
Mikhail and Tiernan shared a knowing smile.
"That's right," Mikhail explained. "Lampmoth was the Family Tiernan once led. It doesn't follow the Harmony exclusively."
"Rather, it's a unique Family where the paths of The Hunt and The Harmony intertwine—a group that exists on the fringes."
"...How did a Family like that survive in Penacony? The main Family didn't react?"
Bai Ming found Mikhail's statement a bit hard to process.
Tiernan shrugged with a smile. "That's a rather complicated story. It actually has something to do with the time a certain Ranger went to the Family to 'seek guidance' on the meaning of Harmony..."
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T/N: If you want advance chapters, you can find it at [email protected]/AspenTL