"However, the Astral Express has a new activity today, or so I think," Aidan said.
"What new activity?"
"There's a massive field of battleship or spacecraft debris outside the window—after identifying them, those battleships or spacecraft aren't registered models, so we can go explore."
"Battleship debris?" March 7th's attention was indeed diverted.
"Wow—there really is a lot! What are those? It's half a spaceship!"
Aidan walked to her side, his gaze passing through the glass and landing on the floating debris.
"It's been a long time," he narrowed his eyes. "At least several amber eras ago."
"Yay! I love exploring the most! Staying in the carriage all day, my bones are about to rust. Those pieces of junk outside look like they have stories to tell!"
She ran excitedly to the window, pressing her whole body against the glass to look outside.
"Don't get too excited yet," Dan Heng didn't know when he had walked over. "Unidentified battleship debris means unknown danger. Maybe there are still undestroyed defense systems inside. This isn't going on a picnic."
"That's true..."
...
"Dan Heng, how come you're coming with us?" March 7th's expression was a bit teasing.
"I'm worried about you two getting into trouble."
"Wow~ thanks a lot."
Is it really not that he wanted to come himself?
The three of them put on protective gear and entered the debris field through the Astral Express's hatch.
The sensation of weightlessness instantly enveloped them. March 7th was like a fish in water, happily floating between the debris, occasionally leaning in to examine a piece of wreckage closely.
The three of them entered the interior of the half-spaceship through a huge breach. The lights on the bulkhead had long since gone out, with only occasional electrical sparks illuminating the path ahead. The weightless environment made everything float—broken seats, scattered luggage, and miscellaneous items of unknown purpose.
"It's so eerie here..." March 7th lowered her voice. "Could there be ghosts?"
"No ghosts, at most you'll meet Wubbaboos."
"Storage area!" March 7th's eyes lit up. "Are there a lot of treasures?"
"There might also be a lot of human remains," Dan Heng said.
Aidan floated to the hatch and carefully studied the panel by the door.
"Did you figure anything out?"
"The door isn't locked."
"... That's it?"
"That's it."
Aidan reached out and pressed on the hatch, giving it a gentle push. The heavy metal door slid open slowly in the weightless environment, revealing a pitch-black corridor inside.
One really has to exclaim that the power of Trailblaze is truly magical; its powerful adaptability allows the three of them to survive in space for a very, very long time with just simple protection.
The three of them floated in a long, narrow corridor. On the bulkheads on both sides, there was a closed door every few meters, the markings on the doors already blurred, with only a few still showing recognizable symbols.
March 7th stopped to peer inside every time she passed a door; most of the cabins were a mess, with only miscellaneous items that couldn't be identified left behind—mostly because things were scattered everywhere.
"What... exactly happened here before?"
"I don't know," Aidan floated in front of a door, studying the markings on the side. "But looking at the situation, they must have suddenly encountered something. Many cabin doors are wide open, items scattered everywhere; it doesn't look like a normal evacuation."
A broken metal lunchbox.
Several space toothpaste tubes shriveled up like mummies.
A towel printed with an unknown cartoon pattern.
The flashlight beam swept inside, and Aidan's eyes lit up.
"March, Dan Heng, come over and look at this."
This room was much larger than the others, with rows of sturdy metal shelves fixed to the four walls. Although many shelves were deformed and the things on them were scattered everywhere, at the very back of the room, a square black metal box was fixed firmly in place.
"A safe?"
"You and Dan Heng go look around other places first to see if there are any other valuable things. Leave this safe to me."
"Can you handle it alone?"
"I'll give it a try."
March 7th hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded.
"Alright then. If there's any danger, call us, and we'll be back immediately!"
"I know."
Watching them float out of the cabin door, Aidan turned back and stared at the safe.
"Three turns to the left, two turns to the right, then one and a half turns to the left..."
The combination dial gave a slight jolt.
The first lock opened. Two more to go.
...
"There seems to be a cabinet over there!"
March 7th floated in front, with Dan Heng following behind. The two of them passed through the corridor and arrived at another relatively intact cabin.
Several rows of metal cabinets were fixed to the walls of this cabin. Although many cabinet doors were deformed and warped, some still remained closed.
"I'll open it, I'll open it!" March 7th floated excitedly to the first cabinet and reached out to pull open the door.
A pile of colorful fabric floated out from inside, hitting her in the face.
"Ooey, aa, ee—what is this!"
She scrambled to push aside the fabric, discovering it was a pile of neatly folded but now scattered... clothes?
"What exactly... was this ship used for before?" Dan Heng floated over, looking at the somewhat exaggeratedly gorgeous costumes, his brows furrowed slightly.
"It looks like..." March 7th grabbed a dress covered in sequins, "Could this ship be one of those touring spaceships?"
"It's possible."
Inside the metal cabinet, besides those costumes, there were also some dusty cosmetics, a few musical instruments that they didn't know if they could still be used, and—
"What's this?" March 7th pulled a palm-sized metal box from the bottom shelf of the cabinet.
The surface of the box was carved with exquisite patterns. Although it had gone through long years, one could still see the exquisite craftsmanship of the past. She tried to open it, but the box didn't budge.
"Let's take it back; maybe this will be useful."
March 7th tucked it into her bag.
...
"Click."
The third lock opened in response.
Aidan gently pulled open the safe door, the flashlight beam shining into the small space.
A few items were lying inside.
A coin that was likely pure gold, a luxurious blue gemstone brooch, and... a palm-sized diary.
He cautiously reached out and took out the diary.
"To those who come after: If you can see these words, it means we are no longer here. It's just that some journeys are destined for someone to stay behind. Most people got on the escape ships early. Only a few of us old folks decided to stay behind, guarding this ship until the very last moment. Don't feel sad for us; this was our own choice. Finally, if you are a good person, I wish you a safe journey, and feel free to take the things inside."