One day later.
Belobog, Administrative District Plaza.
Sunlight tore through the clouds that had lingered for seven hundred years, casting a warm golden glow over the massive white city.
The new The Supreme Guardian, Bronya, stood on the high platform.
Her voice was clear and firm, promising a brand new future to the thousands of citizens in the plaza.
Cheers like mountains and tsunamis surged forward.
"Belobog! Stand eternal!"
Phainon leaned against the shadow of the street corner, indifferent to the applause.
The magnificent scene before him was merely a small ripple in the long river of history.
"Tsk tsk, what a touching scene."
A frivolous voice sounded beside him. Sampo had appeared at some point, clinging to him like a shadow.
He stood with his arms crossed, watching Bronya, who shone brightly on the stage, with great interest.
"I say, buddy, as the number one hero, aren't you going up on stage to enjoy the flowers and applause?"
Phainon didn't look at him, his gaze still fixed on the center of the plaza.
"The stage... is for the actors."
His voice was devoid of emotion, "The Fool... hides behind the scenes."
"Hahaha, well said!" Sampo clapped his hands and laughed, a shrewd glint flashing in his eyes.
"However, the 'Fools' I know all like to personally make a cameo appearance, they enjoy the thrill of manipulating everyone in the palm of their hand."
As soon as he finished speaking, Sampo flicked his fingertip.
A cold metal object arced through the air and landed in Phainon's hand.
It was a hotel room card, emblazoned with the logo of the Daydream Hotel, and the room number—0720.
"A truly spectacular show, this is my personal thank-you gift to you."
Sampo's smile held a hint of probing, "If you ever pass by the Festive Star in the future, I have a... surprise... waiting for you there."
Phainon lowered his head, his fingertips caressing the metal edge of the room card.
"Is it a cage... or a poisoned wine?"
Sampo's smile stiffened, "...Buddy, isn't that a bit too ominous to say? It's just a small gift."
"The gift of Aha... is never a gift." Phainon finally raised his eyes, quietly staring at Sampo.
Sampo awkwardly rubbed his hands, "Alright, alright, just consider it payment for you handling that 'little trouble' underground, okay?"
"That trouble... is still alive..." Phainon responded calmly.
"At least you made it sleep sounder." Sampo exaggeratedly stomped his foot, but the ground remained motionless. "See? Calm and peaceful, how stable."
Phainon's gaze pierced through the thick rock layers, landing on the hateful behemoth.
"If I can return, I will personally... utterly destroy it."
The cheers in the plaza once again reached their peak; Bronya's speech was nearing their end.
"Buddy, seriously, won't you go up and say a few words?" Sampo asked one last time.
When he looked back again, the shadow in the corner of the wall was already empty.
Sampo stood frozen, and after a long while, a meaningful smile slowly reappeared on his face.
He murmured softly, as if speaking to the air, or perhaps reporting to some distant entity.
"Aha—"
"His final act is to return to the cage that imprisoned him for thirty million cycles, and burn the entire false 'world' to ashes along with it."
"That gift I gave... Heh heh... that's not a room key."
"That is the only and final—"
"Opening ceremony for his grand finale."
—
At the same time.
Elsewhere in the plaza, by an outdoor table.
March 7th took a big gulp of juice, exhaling contentedly.
"Ah, finally everything's done! But Mr. Yang is really something; he clearly fainted, and before we even carried him back to the hotel, he went back to the Astral Express as if nothing happened."
Star rested her chin on her hand, saying wistfully, "That's because you didn't see it. After Mr. Yang woke up, he licked all the sugar coating off an entire bottle of heart medicine."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over the celebrating crowd, a trace of melancholy flashing in her golden eyes.
"I just feel... like we forgot something?"
Dan Heng turned a page of his book, not even lifting an eyelid.
"One person is missing."
"Who?" March 7th began counting on her fingers, "Me, Star, Dan Heng,... Eh!!!"
She slapped the table abruptly, finally remembering.
"Phainon! How could I forget him! While Bronya is still here, let's quickly go tell her to put out a city-wide wanted... no, a city-wide search!"
Just then.
All three felt a reassuring warmth.
"No need."
A familiar voice sounded behind them.
The three turned their heads sharply, only to see Phainon standing there, having appeared at some unknown time.
March 7th gave herself a thumbs-up, with an "I knew it" expression.
"See! I told you! As long as you pretend to forget to look for him, he'll pop out himself!"
Star immediately sprang up, standing in front of Phainon, continuously scrutinizing him with her golden eyes.
"After that day, where exactly did you go? Was that white-haired man... you?"
Facing the Astral Express Star's questioning, Phainon merely pulled out a chair in silence.
He didn't answer.
Neither admitting nor denying.
This silence, more than any explanation, seemed like an admission.
"You wish it were me... then it is me..."
"You guy! We're worried about you!" March 7th couldn't stand it anymore, puffing out her cheeks and putting her hands on her hips.
"I'm telling you, you must have been sold out by that scoundrel Sampo! Seriously, you're sold out and still helping him count the money, why can't you learn from me, how smart I am!"
"Hmm... you're right." Phainon responded calmly, which only made Star's brow furrow tighter.
She always felt that the black-robed Phainon with the mask in front of her was slowly overlapping with the white-haired young man on Everwinter Hill.
Two figures, two stances, yet pointing to the same person.
What exactly was hidden beneath this mask?
Star raised an eyebrow, her gaze falling on the golden mask, a strong impulse surging within her.
"Alright, alright, sit down, Phainon!" March 7th generously pushed the menu in front of him. "Given how pitiful you are, whatever you want to eat, this girl is treating!"
Phainon's gaze swept over the menu, and he calmly uttered a few words.
"The most expensive... one of each."
March 7th's smile instantly froze: "...Phainon, are you really stupid or just pretending?!"
Phainon reached for the menu, and the next moment, his entire motion abruptly stopped.
He slowly raised his head, his gaze piercing through the noisy crowd, locking onto the distance.
A figure.
A figure so familiar it was etched into his soul, yet one who absolutely should not be here.
The person had distinctive green hair, standing in front of a newsstand, looking down at something, with a gentle and refined demeanor that seemed out of place with the post-disaster revelry.
The next moment, the surging crowd happened to block his view.
When the crowd dispersed, the figure had already vanished.
"Why... here?"
An illusion?
Or... had The Fool's authority been triggered?
[Current Emotion: Madness]
[Emotion Threshold: 98%]
Phainon subconsciously touched the golden mask.
"Anaxa... Teacher..."