The woman's voice wasn't in any language the three of them knew. It was just a string of meaningless syllables, yet they could still understand what she meant.
Maybe it was because of the Synesthesia Beacon.
Or maybe because this was a dream.
When the three of them turned around, they weren't surprised to find that the speaker was also a trash can.
"Greetings, you who dive deep into dreams... My name is Shatana. I'd like to make a deal with you."
"Shatana... Isn't that Sister Natasha's name backward?" Nero said.
Stelle looked at the metal can and asked, "What's your relationship with Natasha?"
The metal can standing beside them froze for a moment, then replied in confusion. She had no idea who Natasha was.
"Natasha... Who is that? I don't believe we've ever met."
This dream was probably a linear story. To these metal cans, Stelle, and Nero were special existences. The metal can didn't dwell on the matter and continued talking about herself, or rather, about this dream.
"Let us return to the matter at hand. Have you... ever heard of Tatalov, the King of Trash?"
"The King of Trash?" Stelle's eyes lit up.
Shatana nodded.
"Ta... Tatalov?" Firefly looked puzzled by the name.
Shatana nodded again.
When Stelle and Firefly showed interest in Tatalov, the trash can person seemed delighted. After nodding excitedly, she slowly turned and looked toward Nero.
Under Shatana's hopeful gaze, Nero looked back at her with clear, innocent eyes and said, "Never heard of him."
Shatana immediately froze, opening her mouth several times before stopping herself.
Firefly couldn't help laughing.
Ever since entering this dream, they'd seen one thing after another that went beyond common sense. Now, at last, something had appeared that only she knew about.
Nero really was a kid. He didn't give anyone face.
He'd been like this back on the Xianzhou Luofu too. Even after a fight ended, he'd still ask, "Not fighting anymore?"
Shatana stayed silent for quite a while before continuing, "He is our king, and the shepherd of all waste in this world."
This time, though, Shatana sounded much less spirited. Nero's single "Never heard of him" had apparently dealt her quite a blow.
"He sits upon the throne, raising up the humble cans while suppressing the violent ones. He is Belobog's foundation, the sturdy lid, the strength that keeps our bodies upright..."
"But when that thing from beyond the sky descended with the cold wave, His eyes were clouded. No longer did He hear our cries. Poor cans suffered abuse, while loyal cans were shamed for no reason..."
"We could bear the humiliation no longer. We swore to raise the banner of Heavenly Fire and lead the King of Trash back onto the right path. But we were no match for the evil king... He spread poisonous rumors and divided the cans. Our trash bags (hearts) could no longer sense one another..."
"...I beg you. Restore peace to the trash bags here and reconnect all cans. Only then can we strike back against that false king."
"Didn't understand a word, smida," Stelle said.
"Uh... I think she's saying... we should unite these... um... trash cans, then lead them to defeat the evil bad guy... maybe?" Firefly guessed uncertainly.
"Then the contract is sealed," Shatana suddenly declared.
"Hey, we haven't agreed to anything!" Nero said. "What kind of bootleg game is this?"
"Doctor Edward said he didn't have time to make that many branching paths. Come on, little ancestor, just accept it," Sparkle said.
At the same time, Shatana handed something to Firefly.
"You need only do one thing. Help the trash cans free themselves from their troubles and obtain three Proofs of Trust."
"When you do, you shall become our new king and lead us against the false king. Go, you who dive deep into dreams... Your mission awaits."
Firefly stared blankly at the golden proof badge that had been stuffed into her hand. Then she turned to Stelle and Nero and asked hesitantly, "So... what do we do now?"
The corner of Stelle's eye twitched. Even for a raccoon, this dream was getting a little too bizarre.
Though, to be fair, trash can creatures weren't the bizarre part.
"Come on. Even if it's a bootleg game, it's still... Spark, Sampo's thought that counts." Nero rolled his eyes first, then immediately smiled with his usual bright energy.
That's just how little honey badgers are. Don't overthink it, just do it first.
Firefly and Stelle looked at Nero, then at each other, and shrugged helplessly.
Nero was right. Since they were already here, they might as well have a look.
Just then, Shatana urged them again.
"Go, travelers from afar... Your mission awaits."
The three of them left the clinic entrance and wandered toward the open square ahead. Since the map was based on Belobog's Underworld, both Stelle and Nero were quite familiar with the place.
Before long, they spotted three cans, a gold one, a silver one, and a bronze one, gathered together, arguing nonstop about something.
Shatana had told them to collect Proofs of Trust, but who knew where they were supposed to find them?
In any case, whenever there was a crowd, that was the place to start.
The three of them quickly walked over and listened in.
The moment they approached, the cans noticed them. The silver can spoke first.
"Ah, travelers from afar. A dispute here awaits your fair judgment."
After the silver can finished, the golden can took out a bag of glittering golden trash and introduced it.
"This is the legendary Golden Trash, a symbol of power and status. Only the most worthy can deserves to possess it. Each of us believes that can is ourselves, and so we have argued without end."
When the golden can finished, the bronze can spoke next.
"So we decided to ask an impartial observer with keen judgment to decide its rightful owner, and finally bring this long dispute to an end."
After that, the three cans each presented their own strengths.
The silver can went first.
"If you grant the Golden Trash to me, I promise you endless wealth, enough to fill the largest trash can."
Then came the bronze can.
"If you grant the Golden Trash to me, I promise you endless wisdom, greater than any overflowing bag of trash."
Finally, the golden can spoke, "If you grant the Golden Trash to me, I shall promise you the most beautiful trash can in the world, me..."
Halfway through the sentence, the golden can suddenly stopped.
It stared at Nero and fell silent.
"Go on. You weren't finished. What's wrong? Say something!" Nero blinked and urged anxiously.
The next moment, the golden can murmured absentmindedly, "...My Idrila..."
Then it suddenly seemed to snap back to its senses. Somehow, dazzling golden effects had appeared all over its body.
Its muscular arms abruptly grabbed the Golden Trash, held it up with both hands, and offered it forward as the golden can spoke in a voice filled with devotion.
"O great Aeon of Beauty, only after beholding you have I understood that this symbol of power and status, the legendary Golden Trash, should belong to you alone."
"Please forgive my earlier disrespect, for I failed to recognize your true appearance. Today, I, the Beautiful Can, swear my loyalty to you."
"I am willing to become the knight by your side, to stand before you against wind and rain. What you love, I shall love. What you hate, I shall hate."
"I swear upon my name that I shall follow in your footsteps until the seas run dry and the rocks crumble. I shall protect you until the very last moment the trash burns. All the beauty I behold, I dedicate to you."
The golden trash can's sudden actions stunned all five people present.
Nero (eyes losing all focus): "...Huh?"
Stelle (confused raccoon face): "...Huh?"
Firefly (completely unable to make sense of this): "Huh... Wha...?"
Sparkle (wearing Sampo's face): "Huh?"
Doctor Edward (his huge eyeball giving away no expression): "This... Hm?"