Dan Heng tapped rapidly on the virtual keyboard of the main console. The data on the screen was dizzying, yet arranged in an orderly fashion.
"It's certainly useful, but are some of the records in here actually true?"
"The data source is reliable."
March 7th elbowed Aidan.
"Can you change the voice pack?"
"Sure, I'll just have Ai-chan import two voice packs over."
Stelle looked at the tall, white-haired man projected before her.
"Who is this guy?"
"An old acquaintance of Uncle Yang's. Uncle Yang hisses whenever he sees him."
"You think Uncle Yang is some ancient fossil? No way."
"Of course, this man's strength far surpasses Uncle Yang's. He's the type who could pin Uncle Yang down and beat him."
"Really? Such a thing exists?"
"Hey, let the old senior keep some dignity. After all, Uncle Yang being able to stand up to an enemy like this is already very brave. He was the final boss of Uncle Yang's hometown, you know."
"Final boss?"
Stelle's eyes lit up. She leaned into the projection, carefully examining the holographic image of the white-haired man. The man had a cold, stern face, wore a sleek combat suit, and was faintly surrounded by an icy blue glow.
"This guy really does look powerful." She waved her hand through the projection, but of course, she couldn't touch anything. "What's his name?"
"Kevin," Aidan crossed his arms. "Kevin Kaslana."
"Not a good guy?"
"Not a bad guy either." Aidan thought for a moment. "It's just... their stances were different, and there wasn't enough time."
"And then?" Stelle pressed. "Who won?"
Aidan was silent for two seconds.
"This question is a bit complicated. In terms of the outcome, Uncle Yang's side won. But in terms of raw strength, Uncle Yang and him—"
He made a gesture, moving his palm up and down to indicate a "huge gap."
"So Uncle Yang was carried?"
"You can't say that. Uncle Yang was a hard carry."
March 7th looked at the projection thoughtfully.
"So you're planning to use this voice pack to scare Uncle Yang?"
"Scare him?" Aidan raised an eyebrow. "I'm giving him a chance to face his past. Look, he usually can't see him even if he wanted to, but now he can hear him talk every day. Isn't that great?"
"You just want to see him bristle."
"How could I?" Aidan looked righteous. "Am I that kind of person?"
March 7th and Stelle exchanged a look and nodded simultaneously.
"Yes."
"You dare say you don't want to see it?"
"I do," March 7th replied.
"Me too," Stelle nodded cutely.
Dan Heng didn't hear them; he was looking at the Data Bank.
— — —
At noon, Welt came to the Astral Express's Data Bank, preparing to look something up.
"You've come."
Blocked at the door by a white-haired, blue-eyed man, "Old-Yang" immediately had a stress response.
"Ah! Scared me to death!"
A black Quasi-Black Hole instantly formed at the Data Bank's entrance, its violent gravity pulling at everything nearby. The white-haired man's figure distorted under the black hole's pull, then—flickered a few times, turned into static, and vanished.
"..."
Without a doubt, it had to be the work of the innately evil Aidan!
Welt nearly snapped the Star of Eden in his hand.
He had to let that brat know the meaning of "education"!
The Star of Eden in Welt's hand was already itching to spank someone's backside.
"Gua! Uncle Yang, I was wrong! Stop chasing me!"
"Stop right there! Aidan! Don't you run!"
Aidan ran ahead while Welt chased from behind, holding two canes.
However, Welt wasn't wearing Speed Boots, whereas Aidan was.
But the strongest "man" of our Astral Express was naturally very capable.
Gravity Suppression!
But Aidan was on the Path of Erudition today.
Anti-Gravity Device!
"Uncle Yang! Let me explain!"
"Explain what?! You even used Kevin's voice pack! What's your deal?!"
"Uncle Yang, if you don't like it, I can change it to Bishop Otto's—"
"Go Uncle Yang!" Stelle suddenly shouted at the top of her lungs, pumping her fist. "Catch him!"
Aidan's brain didn't even need to think actively; his hands were constantly crafting a golden ring-shaped device, seemingly subconsciously creating some magical gadget to help him temporarily escape his predicament.
"Go Uncle Yang! Go Aidan!"
"Whose side are you on anyway?"
"I'm cheering for both sides," Stelle said righteously. "The Runner is good, and the Chaser is good too."
March 7th facepalmed.
In the corridor, the golden ring in Aidan's hand spun faster and faster, the patterns on its surface gradually glowing with a blinding light.
"Directional Space Displacement Ring, activate!"
A flash of golden light streaked by.
Welt's vision blurred for a moment. The wildly sprinting Aidan in front of him had vanished instantly, replaced by a bewildered Stelle.
"Uncle Yang... you're running pretty fast," Stelle said blankly.
Welt took a deep breath, trying to calm his blood that was surging from the sudden stop. He looked at Stelle and shook his head helplessly.
"That kid..."
"Uncle Yang! I'm sorry! I was wrong!"
Aidan's voice came from the other end of the corridor. He had his hands pressed together in a sincere apology.
"I just wanted to make a joke to liven up the atmosphere. Please don't be angry; I'll change the voice pack right now! I'll change it to one you like, I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"
Welt turned around, looked at Aidan in the distance, and sighed heavily.
"Fine, since you've recognized your mistake, I'll let you off this once."
Aidan walked over with relief, only to be "cared for" by Welt's cane.
"The e... evil cane... The evil and despicable Herrscher of Reason is indeed cunning..."
Aidan rubbed his swollen backside and stood up.
He actually used a ruse!
So despicable, so cunning.
A refreshed Welt left the Party Car.
"What's the principle behind that thing that went 'whoosh' and swapped Uncle Yang over?" Stelle reached out and poked the cold metal surface of the ring. "Can I play with it?"
"It's called a Directional Space Displacement Ring. It achieves teleportation by instantaneously warping spatial coordinates."
"Oh~"
Stelle nodded, then asked again.
"How many of these rings do you have?"
"Two. One is in my room."
"Have you tried putting two of them together?"
Aidan froze.
"Two... together...?"
A spark of wisdom erupted in Aidan's mind.
"That's right, two of them together!"
Aidan's eyes lit up.
"I really haven't tried that. I'm going to go try it right now."