『 [ Ohohoho... now I'm convinced that you've indeed familiarized yourself with my biography, Miss Jade. So, about your next move... please consider it carefully. ]
Old Odi smiled, preparing to give Jade and Topaz a little time to deliberate.
[ With such a massive amount of information, we do indeed need some time to digest it. ]
[ Mr. Alfalfa, I propose that we conclude the first half of our meeting here. ]
[ Please allow Topaz and me to discuss this privately for a moment, and we will represent the IPC in giving you a response later. ]
Jade said after a moment of contemplation.
[ Ohohoho, of course. ]
[ Ladies, please do as you wish. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "The family was supposed to be the weaker party, right?"
March 7th: "But why do I feel like old Odi has turned the tables?"
Stelle: "Don't rush. I feel like Topaz and Jade haven't even started using their full strength yet."
Stelle: "The first half of the meeting was entirely dominated by old Odi."
Stelle: "Following the strategy of 'courtesy before force'."
Stelle: "In the second half, Topaz and Jade should be switching to a tougher attitude, right?"
Topaz: "You're right. We've already listened to old Odi's thoughts."
Topaz: "We've also done some probing."
Topaz: "Naturally, it's time to strike hard in the second half!"
Paimon: "But looking at Mr. Odi, he seems very confident!"
Paimon: "He doesn't seem afraid at all…"
Lumine: "That's why he's a tycoon, after all."
Lumine: "Just this ability to keep a straight face is something we can't learn."
Qingque: "Is it possible that even though he doesn't show it on the surface, he's actually panicking inside?"
Jade: "Heh, not necessarily."
Jade: "He was, after all, a big shark in the business world once, having seen countless storms."
Jade: "His psychological resilience isn't that fragile."
Jade: "However, if this negotiation doesn't yield the results he wants, then feeling unwilling is inevitable."
....
『 The scene shifts to the Astral Express crew.
At this moment, they are at the Dreamflux Reef bar.
[ The Alfalfa Family met with the IPC? ]
Dan Heng looked at Welt, asking with some curiosity.
[ It was a message brought by that IPC envoy. He said it was a courtesy. ]
[ It's not hard to understand. Today's Penacony is just like the frontier prison of the past—with the public and galactic forces eyeing it covetously from the outside, and the shadows of Order surging undercurrents within. ]
[ Instead of falling into a position of being attacked from both sides, it's better to take a step back and invite the IPC to the negotiating table. In name, it's cooperation, but in reality, it's seeking more opportunities for survival for themselves. ]
Welt nodded, analyzing the intention behind the Family's move.
[ No wonder they invited the Astral Express to mediate. ]
[ In your opinion, which side should we stand on? ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Good grief, we, the Astral Express, have become the mediators again!"
Stelle: "I remember this job was done by the Xianzhou Alliance when I was in a dream, right?"
March 7th: "Yes, it was General Jing Yuan representing the Xianzhou Alliance mediating."
March 7th: "But that was a dream, not reality."
March 7th: "The reality is that General Jing Yuan didn't come at all!"
Furina de Fontaine: "So this job fell to the Express crew?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Then which side does the Express crew support more?"
Hu Tao: "I feel… It's better not to support either side, right?"
Hu Tao: "After all, whether it's the current Family or the IPC… I feel like neither of them can manage Penacony too well."
Qingque: "I support the Express crew becoming the leaders of Penacony!"
Qingque: "Only they can bring Penacony back to glory!"
Stelle: "Oh my, Qingque, I like what you said!"
Stelle: "That's right, I also think our Express crew is better suited to inherit Penacony!"
March 7th: "But… that's not realistic, is it?"
March 7th: "Sigh… if only Miss Robin were the leader of Penacony right now!"
March 7th: "I would be willing to support the Family led by her!"
Lumine: "Miss Robin's performance is there for all to see. She is indeed the most suitable to lead Penacony."
Robin: "I am very happy to have everyone's high recognition."
Robin: "However… I personally don't believe I have the ability to lead Penacony."
Robin: "Besides, with things having developed to this point, it's impossible for me to have the opportunity to lead Penacony."
....
『 [ I don't think the followers of the Harmony are completely innocent victims in all of this. ]
[ Regardless of the reason, they also have a demand to smooth things over, and it's very strong. The reasons behind this are bound to make people speculate. ]
[ If one side, either the Family or the IPC, were to completely control Penacony, I'm afraid it would just turn back into a false dream of debauchery, and the efforts of the old Nameless… would go down the drain once again. ]
[ Heh, you're here. Did you rest well? ]
As he spoke, Welt turned his head and saw Stelle and March 7th walking over side by side.
[ Seeing that you were sleeping soundly, I didn't disturb you. ]
Dan Heng greeted Stelle.
[ Where's Himeko? ]
[ Why is it just the two of you here? ]
Stelle looked at Dan Heng and Welt, asking with some curiosity.
[ She, as the representative of the Express crew, went ahead to negotiate with the Family. ]
[ Once arrangements are made, she will contact us immediately. ]
Dan Heng explained.
[ After Ena's Dream was shattered, the branches of the Family from the Montour system arrived upon hearing the news and quickly took control of the scene. ]
[ Most members of the Oak Family lost consciousness, but fortunately, there were no life-threatening injuries. ]
Welt added.
[ The mastermind behind all the conspiracies was identified as the former Dreammaster, Gopher Wood, but by the time we arrived…. he had already fallen. ]
Dan Heng added. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Guinaifen: "The branches of the Family from the Montour system arrived upon hearing the news?"
Guinaifen: "Good grief, is the efficiency that high?"
Guinaifen: "This must have been notified long in advance, right?"
Furina de Fontaine: "It makes me feel more and more that the heads of the other families deliberately let the Dreammaster carry out the plan."
Furina de Fontaine: "Only in this way could they have the opportunity to remove the big mountain over their heads."
Navia Caspar: "Now that there's no Dreammaster suppressing them, Penacony is truly under the control of these family heads."
March 7th: "Speaking of which, the Dreammaster actually ended up being the main scapegoat."
March 7th: "But in reality, Sunday's personal factors played a big part in this, right?"
Stelle: "Anyway, the Dreammaster kicked the bucket for no reason. Dead people are naturally the best scapegoats."
Stelle: "As for Sunday, maybe he's at most an accomplice?"
Lumine: "Uh… it can't be just an accomplice, right?"
Lumine: "At the very least, he would be defined by the Family as one of the main culprits."
Lumine: "The other members of the Oak Family are more like accomplices."
....
『 [ Then… what about Sunday? ]
Stelle asked curiously.
[ A trial awaits him. As for more… the Family cannot disclose it. ]
Dan Heng replied.
[ In the end, ordinary people just think this was an attack by evil forces on the Charmony Festival, and the Family failed to fulfill its duty to protect the Dream, causing their credibility to plummet. ]
[ Although there is still a big gap from the truth, it can be considered the result with the least impact…. ]
March 7th sighed softly. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Qingque: "Is this called a big gap from the truth?"
Qingque: "This is clearly distorting the facts, okay?"
Aventurine: "Heh, isn't the Family good at this?"
Guinaifen: "Ah… Mr. Sunday is actually going to be put on trial!"
Guinaifen: "Is he going to be finished?"
Furina de Fontaine: "I don't know what the Family's trial is like."
Furina de Fontaine: "Is it immediate execution, or prison?"
Furina de Fontaine: "But I still hope Mr. Sunday doesn't have too miserable an ending."
Furina de Fontaine: "After all, he can't be considered a true villain."
Paimon: "Yeah, yeah, Paimon doesn't want to see Mr. Sunday have a miserable end either."
Paimon: "And I think Mr. Sunday is actually quite pitiful in a way…."
Hanabi: "The Family has no conscience!"
Hanabi: "The chicken-wing boy just wanted to give the whole universe a seven-day holiday!"
Hanabi: "WHAT DID HE DO WRONG!!!"
Stelle: "Well said!"
Stelle: "He did nothing wrong!"
Stelle: "THE FAMILY IS WRONG!!"
Silver Wolf: "Looking at the two of you singing in harmony, if someone didn't know, they'd think you were both Fools…"
....
『 [ After all, you can't tell who is awake and who is pretending to be asleep. ]
[ They will certainly open their eyes when they have no way out, but they will also throw themselves back into the embrace of the dream once the danger has passed. ]
[ Here's a toast, with three glasses of Glory of the Trailblaze to all of you. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Xiangling: "Eh, this is that cool Sister Siobhan!"
Xiangling: "Why is she here, too?"
Charlotte: "Is it possible… that this is her bar?"
Xiangling: "Oh, right, forgot about that."
Stelle: "Listening to what Siobhan means, she seems to know the inside story?"
Stelle: "Could it be that she heard it from Gallagher?"
March 7th: "Probably."
March 7th: "I have to say, what she said makes perfect sense."
Black Swan: "You can never wake a person who is pretending to be asleep."
Black Swan: "Even the blade of Nihility can only wake them up temporarily."
Boothill: "Laugh to death, if I had to translate what she said, it would be 'a dog can't change its habit of eating poop'!"
Boothill: "Sure enough, the whole of Penacony is full of those damn poop-eating fools!"
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "If they love to eat it, let them continue!"
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "We shall respect and bless them!"
Aventurine: "Tsk, Professor, that makes sense."
....
『 [ We meet again. ]
After hearing the voice, Stelle turned around subconsciously and was stunned for a moment after seeing Siobhan, then began to smile.
[ Yes, I'm very happy to see everyone again. ]
[ But after the reunion, perhaps it's time to say goodbye. ]
[ When does the Astral Express plan to leave Penacony? ]
Siobhan asked with a smile.
[ We will stay for a while longer, but not for too long. ]
Welt replied.
[ Ha, so this is the last time we meet? ]
[ If this is a farewell, it seems something is missing. ]
[ Music? Atmosphere? Ah, perhaps a special drink, dedicated to those who are not here. ]
[ Let me think, this drink should be solemn, grave, and unique, because we are going to use it to commemorate those heroes…. ]
[ A toast to the Nameless sleeping in the ground…. and to Gallagher. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Last time we met?"
Stelle: "That sounds a bit ambiguous!"
March 7th: "Yikes, it really sounds a bit ominous!"
Furina de Fontaine: "It seems Miss Siobhan is going to mix drinks again this time."
Furina de Fontaine: "The last bartender was Mr. Gallagher."
Furina de Fontaine: "It's a pity now…. Mr. Gallagher is gone, right?"
Gallagher: "Why am I gone? Aren't I still here?"
Hu Tao: "Ahem… this is talking about the Gallagher in the video!"
Gallagher: "Hmm, the me in the video should be truly gone at this time."
Gallagher: "However… I didn't expect someone to remember me and toast to send me off."
Gallagher: "Heh, that's pretty good, it can be considered a beginning and an end."
....
『 Siobhan begins to prepare the ingredients for the drink.
While Stelle runs off to chat with everyone.
[ On the journey of Trailblazing, it's rare for all passengers to get off the train at once, but Penacony…. truly has significance for us to do so. ]
Stelle walked up to the silent Dan Heng and heard him say with some emotion.
[ Then is the train okay? ]
Stelle asked.
[ With the conductor there, there's no need to worry for now. ]
[ But we should also return as soon as possible to bring the news of the Nameless to it. ]
Dan Heng explained, telling Stelle not to worry.
[ By the way, Dan Heng, what did you encounter in Ena's dream? ]
Stelle asked curiously.
[ I dreamed that the train passed station after station, people came, people left, and the five of us were always there. This journey seemed like it would never end. ]
[ Perhaps this is my deepest longing. When I realized this….. I knew it wasn't real. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Paimon: "Wanting to keep trailblazing with companions forever, never separating."
Paimon: "Is this Mr. Dan Heng's wish?"
Paimon: "Hmm…. it feels the same as Paimon's wish!"
Fu Xuan: "It's a pity…. this beautiful wish is not real. As the saying goes…."
Fu Xuan: "There is no banquet in the world that doesn't end."
Fu Xuan: "Even for the closest companions, there is always a day of separation."
March 7th: "No matter, even if we eventually have to separate, as long as we cherish every day we spend together, it's worth it!"
March 7th: "Dan Heng, don't you think I'm right?"
Dan Heng: "Hmm, you're absolutely right!"
Stelle: "Don't be afraid, so what if we separate?"
Stelle: "At worst, we'll just be buried together after we die!"
Stelle: "Wouldn't that mean we can be together forever?"
Silver Wolf: "Is she crazy?!"
Silver Wolf: "Stelle, you really are a genius!"
Furina de Fontaine: "If trailblazing with companions forever is Mr. Dan Heng's wish."
Furina de Fontaine: "Then, looking at Miss Stelle's Ena's dream, from before."
Furina de Fontaine: "Is her wish for every Trailblazing journey to have a happy ending?"
Hu Tao: "I think so."
Hu Tao: "In Miss Stelle's dream before, it was really perfect to the point of being unbelievable."
Stelle: "Perfect?"
Stelle: "Why don't I feel that way?"
Stelle: "At least in that dream of mine, I didn't see Robin, Sunday, and Hotaru get an ending that satisfied me."
Black Swan: "That's probably because the you in the dream didn't know them in such detail as you do now by watching the video."
Black Swan: "That's what made the dream fade their endings."
March 7th: "Oh no… compared to the dreams of you two… why does it feel like my dream was a bit heartless?"
Yunli: "Buy, buy, buy, eat, eat, eat!"
Yunli: "You are indeed a bit heartless."
Yunli: "But I think this belongs to a pure heart, which is also quite good."
....