『 [ It's fine, you've already apologized. ]
Stelle shook her head, not minding it too much.
[ That was an emergency, so it wasn't a formal apology. And it really was my fault in the first place. ]
[ For me, hiding things is much simpler than being honest… ]
[ But I also wanted to try and see if I could express my heart like a normal person… ]
Hotaru continued.
[ It's that girl! ]
[ Move, everyone! Secure that wanted criminal before the Charmony Festival opening ceremony begins! ]
Just as Hotaru and Stelle were talking, two members of the Hound Family suddenly rushed over from a distance.
It seemed they had recognized Hotaru as the wanted criminal.
[ To think they'd chase us all the way here… ]
[ Looks like we have to say goodbye. ]
[ Don't worry about me, just enjoy the festival— ]
[ The end of the script hasn't arrived yet—we will meet again! ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Ah, wait??"
Stelle: "How did she get spotted?"
Stelle: "Didn't she use a fake identity?"
March 7th: "Look closely. Don't those two Hound members look a bit familiar?"
Furina de Fontaine: "They look like the two Hound Family members who were trying to capture Miss Hotaru at the very beginning?"
Furina de Fontaine: "My goodness, talk about fate."
Furina de Fontaine: "They actually ran into each other again?"
Hu Tao: "Since it's those two familiar faces, there's no need to worry."
Hu Tao: "With their skills, they can't catch Miss Hotaru."
Stelle: "Curse them! How dare they ruin my date with my Hotaru-chan!"
Stelle: "WHEN I ACTUALLY MEET THOSE TWO, SEE IF I DON'T GIVE THEM A GOOD THRASHING WITH MY BASEBALL BAT!!"
Paimon: "It's fine, Miss Hotaru said you'll meet again."
Lumine: "Uh… when you meet again, it'll be related to the end of the script."
Lumine: "Why does that make me feel a bit uneasy?"
....
『 [ I hope she's okay… but if it's those two Hounds again, things probably won't go wrong. ]
[ I'll send a text to check in later. For now, let's head to the Charmony Festival. ]
Watching Hotaru's rapidly departing figure, Stelle shook her head helplessly and then headed to the venue of the Charmony Festival.
A moment later, she received a message from Hotaru.
⚠︎, Hotaru Messages
" /Hotaru: It's me, Hotaru. "
" /Hotaru: Everything is settled on my end. "
" /Hotaru: Don't worry, I didn't do anything out of line. I'm hiding. "
" /Hotaru: It's a shame I won't be able to watch Miss Robin's performance… " 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "What a shame. Why did she have to be spotted at a time like this?"
March 7th: "Miss Hotaru must be so disappointed that she can't watch Miss Robin's live performance."
Stelle: "Can't Silver Wolf use a holographic projection?"
Stelle: "Just help project the Charmony Festival venue right in front of my Hotaru-chan."
Silver Wolf: "You make it sound so easy."
Silver Wolf: "Do you think this is a simple task?"
Silver Wolf: "Besides, how is that any different from watching a livestream?"
Silver Wolf: "You'd be better off using your authority to get Hotaru's wanted status revoked."
Silver Wolf: "Wouldn't that be better?"
Furina de Fontaine: "That's right! Miss Stelle is technically a shareholder now."
Furina de Fontaine: "She should have some say… right?"
Stelle: "I think… nope!"
Stelle: "This is an internal wanted order from the Family."
Stelle: "With the Family's personality, would they listen to the Express?"
Hu Tao: "True, I don't think the Family would actually listen to Miss Stelle's opinion either."
Hotaru: "It's okay. Maybe I can sneak back to watch in a bit?"
Hotaru: "After all, the Family's security really isn't that great."
Hotaru: "They can't catch me."
....
『 [ Looks like there's no need to worry about Hotaru. I'll just wait for the opening ceremony in peace… ]
After receiving Hotaru's message, Stelle's mind was put at ease. She found a place to rest in the venue and waited patiently for the opening ceremony.
After a while.
[ Look! It's Miss Robin! ]
[ Miss Robin! Miss Robin! ]
[ Long live the Family! Long live Harmony! ]
Suddenly, a wave of deafening cheers erupted from the crowd. It turned out that Robin had slowly taken the stage, igniting the passionate emotions of the many guests. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Furina de Fontaine: "Wow, Miss Robin's popularity is really, really high!"
March 7th: "Of course!"
March 7th: "She is a galactic superstar, after all!"
March 7th: "Her fans are literally all over the universe!"
Hu Tao: "No wonder the Family didn't dare to do anything to Miss Robin."
Hu Tao: "With this kind of influence, she's barely secondary to the Family itself."
Stelle: "In my opinion, at least half of the people attending this Charmony Festival are here solely for Robin."
Stelle: "If Robin weren't performing, they might not even bother coming."
Qingque: "That's very true."
Qingque: "After all, not everyone likes watching some Harmony-promoting festival."
Qingque: "Because in the end, this festival is just to spread the good name of Harmony. How entertaining can it really be?"
Guinaifen: "Whether it's good or not doesn't really matter. What matters is that it's lively!"
Guinaifen: "Hehe, I just love lively places like this."
Paimon: "Miss Robin is on stage!"
Paimon: "Does that mean the opening ceremony is about to start?"
Lumine: "Definitely."
Lumine: "Otherwise, why would Miss Robin come up?"
Xiangling: "Maybe she's here to warm up the crowd?"
Yun Jin: "For such a grand event, there's no need for an early warm-up, is there?"
Yun Jin: "Look at those guests. Just seeing Miss Robin has already made them incredibly excited."
Amber: "Then she's here to host the opening ceremony!"
Amber: "Yay! Are we finally going to see the Charmony Festival?"
Amber: "I'M SO EXCITED!!"
....
『 [ Honored guests, compatriots of the Family, ladies and gentlemen, friends from all over the galaxy— ]
[ I am delighted to gather here with all of you to welcome Penacony's grandest festival of this Amber Era, the Charmony Festival. ]
[ First of all, on behalf of the Penacony Family branches and the Five Families… ]
[ And in… my personal capacity, I would like to extend the warmest welcome to all our guests! ]
After taking the stage, Robin first delivered a speech. Immediately, thunderous applause erupted from the audience! 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "As expected, Robin belongs on the stage."
Stelle: "Look at her elegant, poised, and confident manner. She is the perfect host!"
March 7th: "Uh… I suddenly thought of a question…"
March 7th: "Shouldn't the original host… have been Sunday?"
Hu Tao: "Eh?"
Hu Tao: "Mr. Sunday is the head of the Oak Family and the public leader of Penacony."
Hu Tao: "If all those incidents hadn't happened afterward, he probably would have been the host, right?"
Furina de Fontaine: "But the incidents did happen."
Furina de Fontaine: "So Miss Robin had to step up and host."
Furina de Fontaine: "Judging by the current situation, the effect is fantastic!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Miss Robin's popularity is truly unmatched."
Hotaru: "Miss Robin is beautiful and kind-hearted. It's hard not to love her."
Robin: "Your compliments are making me a bit embarrassed…"
Sunday: "Dear sister, everyone is simply speaking from their hearts."
Sunday: "After all, you truly shine on stage!"
Sunday: "You are forever my pride!"
....
『 [ As you may have noticed, this year's Charmony Festival is extraordinary. ]
[ With the efforts of all the Families, this festival is of unprecedented scale, and factions from all over the galaxy have been invited to the banquet… ]
[ Not only that, the opening ceremony, which was traditionally held at the Penacony Grand Theater, has also moved its stage to the Feldspar—the airship beneath your feet— ]
[ —Let us join together in offering our warmest applause and most sincere gratitude to the head of the Alfalfa Family, Oti Alfalfa, for his selfless contribution to the cause of Harmony! ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Himeko: "Old Oti's methods are indeed not simple."
Himeko: "If nothing goes wrong, Old Oti's reputation will soar after this Charmony Festival."
Himeko: "Taking over the mantle of the original Oak Family will be virtually seamless."
Welt Yang: "Yes, he is a business tycoon, after all."
Welt Yang: "It's not surprising he has such methods."
Welt Yang: "As long as he doesn't do anything out of line to Penacony."
Welt Yang: "That will be enough."
Stelle: "Tsk tsk tsk, but if he still harbors any bad intentions toward Penacony…"
Stelle: "Hehehe, then don't blame us for replacing him with someone more obedient to run Penacony!"
March 7th: "?"
March 7th: "Stelle, did you grab the wrong script?"
March 7th: "Since when did we take the villain's script?"
Hanabi: "Oh my, little gray hair, I'd really love to see you act so tough~"
Hanabi: "Unfortunately… with your strength, I probably won't see that day in this lifetime."
Furina de Fontaine: "Miss Hanabi's words make it sound like she's looking down on everyone on the Express."
Furina de Fontaine: "Clearly, everyone on the Express is already very strong, okay?!"
Paimon: "Exactly!"
Paimon: "The Express crew are powerhouses who even defeated an Aeon's Emanator!"
Paimon: "THEY ARE NOT WEAK AT ALL!!"
....
『 [ So, what makes this year's festival so meaningful? ]
[ As everyone knows, the Feldspar was once forced to suspend its operations due to an anomaly in the dream, which caused quite a stir in the Twelve Hours… ]
[ But with the joint efforts of both internal and external forces of Penacony, we have finally brought the dream back on track. ]
[ Coinciding with the Charmony Festival, it is a double blessing. The maiden voyage of the Feldspar also holds a new significance. ]
[ And finally, there is one more reason—everyone, do you remember the Watchmaker? ]
[ In fact, the Family has put its heart and soul into this festival also to commemorate this legendary tycoon— ]
[ The Father of Penacony, Legwork, Mikhail Char, one of the legendary Nameless who laid the foundation of Penacony! ]
[ During the most lost years of the Planet of Festivities, it was he and his companions who descended from the heavens, teaching us where freedom lies through the Trailblaze. ]
[ It was also they who led the pioneering work of the dreamscape, which brought about today's paradise of Harmony. ]
[ It can be said that Penacony's glorious achievements today are inseparable from the Trailblaze that the Watchmaker deeply planted in our hearts. ]
[ Only by remembering this resolve of the Trailblaze can we fulfill our mission and bring Harmony to more people. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "GREAT!!!"
Stelle: "WELL SAID!!"
Stelle: "BEAUTIFULLY SPOKEN!!"
March 7th: "Waaaaah, Miss Robin's words really touched my heart!"
Furina de Fontaine: "It had to be Miss Robin!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Finally, Senior Mikhail's name has been cleared!"
Hu Tao: "Not just Senior Mikhail, but also all the other Nameless seniors. Their achievements have finally been fully recognized by Penacony!"
Hu Tao: "This is all thanks to Miss Robin!"
Robin: "No, no!"
Robin: "It is only right to do so."
Robin: "It can hardly be called a credit."
Sunday: "The Family owes them a great deal."
Sunday: "If we can make amends like this, it can be considered a form of atonement for the Family."
Gallagher: "Heh, that's nice."
Gallagher: "Father of Penacony… though it sounds grand."
Gallagher: "But it's also what that old guy deserved."
Gallagher: "Haha, this sounds much better than the so-called traitor from before."
Gallagher: "Alright, an ending like this can finally let that old guy Mikhail rest in peace."
....
『 [ Hehe… hearing this feels really good. ]
[ As expected of us! ]
Below the stage, listening to Robin's words, March 7th, couldn't help but show a proud expression.
[ Of course! ]
[ Without you, this Express crew would fall apart! ]
Stelle teased from the side.
[ Naturally! ]
[ Wait, why does that sound a bit unlucky… ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Waaaaah, March, the Express cannot live without you!!"
Stelle: "WITHOUT YOU, HOW ARE WE GOING TO SURVIVE!!"
March 7th: "?"
March 7th: "Stelle, I'm still perfectly fine!"
March 7th: "Can you not act like you're mourning??"
March 7th: "It's very unlucky, okay?!"
Silver Wolf: "Lmao, you're really not afraid of mourning a living person away!"
Hu Tao: "Oh my, seeing Miss Stelle's expressive and emotional performance, she seems very suitable for a job at our Wangsheng Funeral Parlor!"
Stelle: "Huh?"
Stelle: "Don't tell me your Wangsheng Funeral Parlor offers professional mourning services?"
Hu Tao: "It's not impossible!"
Hu Tao: "After all, times are always changing. Those in our line of work must also keep up with the times!"
Hu Tao: "Consultant, wouldn't you say so?"
Zhongli: "Ahem… the Director's words have merit…"
Zhongli: "But isn't this professional mourning a bit… trivial?"
Hu Tao: "Oh, what's trivial about it?"
Hu Tao: "Simply put, it's hiring professionals to enhance that solemn atmosphere."
Qingque: "My goodness!"
Qingque: "Miss Hu Tao is truly professional!"
Qingque: "You've almost turned the funeral industry into an art form."
Qingque: "But seriously, if you opened a shop like this in Xianzhou, it might actually have a pretty decent market."
Jiaoqiu: "Why would there be a market?"
Jiaoqiu: "Is it because it's novel enough?"
Feixiao: "Heh, you got it right."
Feixiao: "These days, the more novel and fancy it is, the more people like it."
Feixiao: "If you kick the bucket one day, we'll throw a hotpot funeral for you. What do you think?"
Moze: "I'll sit at the kids' table."
Moze: "Actually, kids are quite fierce when fighting for food."
Moze: "I'll open a table just for myself!"
Jiaoqiu: "???"
Jiaoqiu: "YOU… YOU GUYS!!!"
Jiaoqiu: "Bad friends, BAD FRIENDS!!!"
....