Boothill, who had been left hanging on the side, impatiently interrupted the two. Penacony and the 'Family' were not things he cared about.
The biggest reason Boothill had come to Penacony was Acheron. He had come to investigate this impostor.
"…I think you should have already guessed it, right?"
"Galaxy Rangers have very little contact with each other. I had no choice but to use this method to get in touch with you, because only then could I fulfill a promise — a promise from long ago."
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Inside the Family's archive…
'Rustle rustle…'
The sound of pages turning and paper rubbing against paper echoed softly in the quiet space.
Following the sound, one could see two peerlessly beautiful women — one tall and one short — sitting quietly at the large desk, carefully reading and flipping through the ancient books in their hands.
Their fair, jade-like fingers gently brushed over the slightly rough pages. Their delicate yet firm nails traced beneath the text, leaving faint marks.
At first glance, it was such a harmonious and peaceful scene.
"Hm?" ×2
Suddenly, two soft sounds rang out. The two peerlessly beautiful women simultaneously raised their heads and looked in the same direction.
'Snap—!'
"Did you feel that, Herta? That peculiar energy fluctuation."
Ruan Mei closed the book in her hand, her vermilion lips parting slightly as she spoke in a voice as fragrant as orchid.
"Mm, I felt it. This familiar aura is the power of Order. It seems the Oak Family Head has made his move."
Herta narrowed her eyes slightly. Her usually indifferent gaze revealed a sharp glint. A few days ago, the two of them had come to the Family's archive to "steal books" and had been caught red-handed by Sunday.
In the end, to prevent the situation from escalating further, they chose reconciliation and exchanged benefits.
Ruan Mei and Herta would not interfere with what Sunday wanted to do. In return, during this period, all their expenses would be reimbursed by the Family, and they could freely browse any book in the archive.
"I say… you really don't plan to get involved? This is a good opportunity to observe the Path of Order."
Herta poked Ruan Mei's waist and asked with great interest.
Upon hearing Herta's words, Ruan Mei was first stunned, then gently shook her head.
"I'm not that interested in matters outside of 'Life.' The Oak Family Head's actions and the power of Order he possesses are not particularly important research topics to me."
"Hah, fine, fine."
Herta curled her lips in boredom and continued flipping through the book in her hands. It had to be said that the 'Family' really had some good stuff. Penacony had only developed for a few Amber Eras, yet it already possessed such a rich collection. Tsk tsk tsk!
"Interesting. 'On the Existence of the Multiverse.' A multiverse, huh? That's not entirely impossible. After all, there is the concept of the 'Tree of Existence' in this world. Perhaps beyond that… Hm?!"
Herta had just wanted to share the article she saw with Ruan Mei beside her. However, when the girl turned her head, there was no trace of Ruan Mei beside her.
"This… when did this guy… Fine, fine, you want to play it this way? I'll remember this, you little—!"
...…
"Hot damn, you're not kidding me, right? There are actually five or six Emanators gathered on this tiny Penacony? This is going to flip the heavens!"
On the Astral Express, after hearing Black Swan's words, our Mr. Boothill slammed the table and stood up, speaking in disbelief.
"Calm down, Mr. Boothill. I am not lying. The facts are exactly as I said."
Black Swan shook her head, reached out to gently press down, and signaled Boothill to calm himself and sit down to continue the conversation.
"Damn it!"
Boothill sat back down, but huge waves had already surged in his heart.
Five or six Emanators? What kind of concept was that? Back then, the entire Galaxy Ranger force had mobilized and paid an extremely heavy price just to barely eliminate one Emanator.
That battle had severely damaged the Galaxy Rangers, and they had yet to fully recover even now. And now you're telling me there are five or six Emanators on Penacony?!
"Mm, this is only my conservative estimate."
Black Swan nodded slightly and then listed them one by one as if enumerating her own treasures.
"Two Emanators of Erudition — Herta and Ruan Mei from the Genius Society. The Emanator of Causality, Mr. Yun Fan, a Nameless from the Astral Express."
"Emanator of Nihility, Miss Acheron. And one more I observed — though I'm not sure whose Emanator she is, she is undoubtedly at the Emanator level. Plus the 'Resounding Choir' and 'Infinite Captain' that the Family can summon…"
Black Swan's meaning was already very clear. According to her calculations, if a war eventually broke out in Penacony, there would likely be as many as seven Emanator-level powerhouses involved.
Even if the Family could not summon those two Emanations of Harmony at that time, there would still be at least five Emanators participating.
"Ah—! I don't want to think about it anymore. My head hurts just thinking about it. You guys talk. I'll rest first."
Boothill scratched his head irritably, then directly slumped onto the sofa, closed his eyes, and began resting.
At this moment, the cold-faced little azure dragon Dan Heng, who had been sitting on the other side of the sofa with his arms crossed and silently pondering, suddenly stood up.
"I've decided. I will use the 'Alliance Jade Abacus.'"
"Hm? Alliance Jade Abacus?"
The moment the Alliance Jade Abacus was mentioned, our Mr. Boothill was no longer sleepy.
"Hot damn, you Astral Express people really have an Alliance Jade Abacus?"
During the period after the great Xianzhou catastrophe, a rumor had circulated in the galaxy: to express gratitude for the Astral Express's help, the Xianzhou Luofu had formed an alliance with the Astral Express and bestowed upon them the 'Alliance Jade Abacus.'
"Mm."
Dan Heng gave a faint response, then took out a verdant jade stone shaped like a tiger tally from a box right in front of everyone.
"It really is this thing!"
Looking at the emerald Jade Abacus quietly lying in the box, a flash of amazement could not be helped on Boothill's face.
As followers of the same Path of the Hunt, the 'Galaxy Rangers' and the 'Xianzhou Alliance' were neither enemies nor friends — basically like rivers that do not interfere with each other. However, he still clearly understood the weight and value of this Alliance Jade Abacus.
— — — —