Following the path pointed out by the woman in white, Caelus successfully returned to Penacony, specifically to the Golden Hour, where he had first arrived.
Caelus did not waste any time. Although he had planted many nodes in the deeper layers of memoria, and they would prove effective, he still needed to place nodes in Penacony's surface Dreamscape as well. Otherwise, his replication and seizure might not be complete.
"But come to think of it, quite a few people seem to have come to this Grand Festivity for the so-called Watchmaker's Legacy."
Caelus had gathered quite a bit of information during his time in Penacony. He knew that this Grand Festivity was rather special. The invitations seemed to contain certain information, revealing that one of Penacony's founders, the Watchmaker, had left a legacy somewhere within this dream.
Although it was difficult to find stories about this person now, they could still be discovered. After all, Penacony itself was essentially a Dreamscape constructed from memories. Even if much of the past had been buried and forgotten, the universe would still record it.
In the past, the Watchmaker had also been a Trailblazer. After arriving at Penacony, he set aside his identity as a Trailblazer and stayed behind with two other companions who were also Trailblazers. Together, they began to change Penacony, which at the time was filled with violence and sin. Later, they seemed to have contacted the Family to seek cooperation, after which this place was transformed into the Land of Dreams it was today. As for exactly how it was transformed, the memories related to that were more deeply concealed, and Caelus had not yet found them.
And the legacy left behind by this Father of Penacony would surely tempt many people.
The Family would also begin searching for it, hoping to retrieve it and avoid any accidents in this enormous money pit that gathered massive wealth for them.
As for the IPC, that went without saying. In the eyes of those who placed the Amber Lord first and profit second, Penacony was extremely valuable right now. Not to mention, this place had once belonged to the IPC. If they retrieved the Watchmaker's Legacy now, they would have both justification and the moral high ground, making the process of reclaiming it much smoother.
Of course, given the nature of the IPC, they would not place all their hopes on the so-called Watchmaker's Legacy. They would definitely have other plans. As for what those plans were, that would depend on what kind of people they sent.
As for the members of the Astral Express, that went without saying. Although it was unclear whether they knew the Watchmaker had once been a Trailblazer, they were, after all, the protagonists standing on the stage of destiny, so they would naturally be drawn into it.
Caelus intended to search for the legacy left behind by the Father of Penacony while placing his nodes, to see whether there was anything that could help him.
But it was probably a long shot, since he was not a Trailblazer.
Caelus set aside his thoughts. As he passed by a nearby statue of Clockie, he buried a spike. Just as he was about to leave, he felt the effect of some kind of memory. He looked to the side and saw a cartoon character currently watching him with a wary gaze.
"Clockie?"
Caelus raised an eyebrow. Although it existed as a memory spirit, he had not expected such an existence, which was likely deeply connected to the Watchmaker of the past, to appear directly in front of him.
"Tick-tock! Are you a bad guy or a good guy?"
After Clockie noticed Caelus's gaze, it jumped more than a meter high in fright, the hands on its face spinning nonstop.
"Hmm, that's a difficult question to answer. I don't know whether I'm a good guy or a bad guy either. I'm just a traveler."
"A traveler? Are you a Trailblazer?"
"No, but it isn't that different. We are all people who pursue our own philosophies, crossing the galaxy and setting out on journeys."
"No wonder. Since you're someone similar to a Trailblazer, it isn't strange that you can see me... Wait! That's not the point. I saw it. What did you just bury beside my statue?"
"Something that can bring happiness to everyone."
"Happiness?"
"Yes. A place that can provide a harbor for those who truly can no longer keep fighting in reality and truly have nothing left to hold on to. For such people, that place can indeed be considered happiness."
"Tick-tock. Although I don't quite understand what you're saying, it doesn't seem like a bad thing."
"Whether something is good or bad depends on the perspective of the person involved. What I am doing will be a great joy to some, but to others, it will be an incomprehensible evil."
"Tick-tock! That's so complicated!"
Watching the cartoon character before him look so confused, Caelus shook his head. He should not try to change a child's innocent dream.
"The person you've been waiting for is not me, but she will be here soon. I believe she will be the person you've always wanted to see."
After saying this, Caelus completely erased his unremarkable presence, making himself seem as though he no longer existed. Even Clockie, who had just spoken to him, began to forget him, until finally, it could no longer remember that it had spoken to anyone at all.
At that moment, outside Penacony, the Astral Express began to dock.
"Oh! Penacony, the Planet of Festivities, we're here!"
March 7th shouted energetically, holding up her camera.
"So, are there any trash cans in Penacony?"
Stelle still maintained that incomprehensible train of thought.
"Haven't you had enough of rummaging through those delivery boxes on the Xianzhou?"
"It's different. Penacony is a land of dreams. Aren't you curious about what trash in a dream would look like?"
"Who would be curious about what trash looks like?"
"Some people would be, like scavengers and homeless people who survive by picking through trash. Do you know how happy those people are when they find unfinished food in a trash pile? Do you know the feeling of salvation that comes from finding a half-finished bottle of soda in the trash when your lips are cracked from thirst? No, you don't!"
"Why did the topic suddenly become so heavy? This is supposed to be the Land of Dreams! We're here to relax this time, so don't make me think about such heavy things!"
"Don't worry. Based on past experience, even going to wash the train leads to accidents. I think there must be some huge conspiracy waiting for us in Penacony. I don't think any place we Trailblazers visit can ever be peaceful."
March 7th looked at Stelle, who acted as though this were only natural, and narrowed her eyes, feeling as if this person had insulted her as well.
"Ah, everyone is really full of energy."
Himeko, the navigator of the Astral Express, said with a smile on her face.
After officially entering The Reverie in Penacony, the anticipation on March 7th's face immediately collapsed, and she complained, "The Family's inspection is just too tedious! They checked our suitcases over and over again, three or four times. I suspect that if they keep checking like this, they'll even want to take the Stellaron inside you out for a look."
After hearing this, Stelle touched her chest and said, "It's fine. It's still very stable."
"Well, in a sense, the Family really is quite tolerant."
After all, they had let someone carrying a Stellaron inside.
Just as March 7th and Stelle were talking, Stelle suddenly shifted her gaze. She seemed to have seen a familiar shadow.
At that moment, deep inside The Reverie, an illusory shadow casually dropped something. Then, the entire figure dissipated like smoke.
The lead actors on the stage of destiny had already taken their places.
The curtain was about to rise.
(To be continued.)