Marry Acheron - 421 - 430

Marry Acheron - 421

--+--

“So soft…”

The inside of Silver Wolf’s thigh was warm and soft, and since she wore shorts every day, Sylvia’s face had landed right against it.

For a moment, Sylvia couldn’t tell whether this counted as punishment or an unexpected reward.

Then Silver Wolf’s Affection suddenly rose by one point.

--+--

[Target: Silver Wolf (Corrected)]

[Affection: 71 (Embarrassed)]

[‘A girl who says one thing but acts another always shows her displeasure through her actions. You’ve got this in the bag!’]

--+--

“…”

That could raise her Affection too?

And what kind of ridiculous comment was that?

Sylvia briefly considered grabbing Silver Wolf around the waist and teasing her back. But when she looked up and saw that Silver Wolf was close to overheating, she abandoned the idea and hurriedly pulled herself free.

She struck first instead, stepping forward and wrapping both arms around Silver Wolf.

“Duckie, if you wanted a hug, you could’ve just said so. Smacking me on the head hurts.”

“Ha. That’s just one of life’s three great delusions. Now get off me!”

Silver Wolf said that, but once she buried her face in Sylvia’s arms, Sylvia’s familiar yet strangely distant scent filled her senses. A faint blush crept across her face, and most of the strength drained from the hands she’d raised to push Sylvia away.

Then—

--+--

[Target: Silver Wolf]

[Affection: 72 (Embarrassed)]

--+--

Her Affection had risen again after only two sentences.

“…”

Sylvia was stunned.

Was Silver Wolf actually that easy to win over? One direct show of affection had earned her two points.

With that thought, Sylvia raised a hand and gently stroked Silver Wolf’s head.

“Fine, fine. It was all in my head. I’m the one who wanted to hug you, okay? Let me hold you for a while. It’s been ages, Duckie. Want to hang out together today?”

“Hmph… Hmph!”

Silver Wolf made two muffled noises from inside her embrace. She sounded like she was declaring, ‘Fine, I suppose I’ll indulge you this once.’

Firefly tilted her head beside them and stole a glance at Silver Wolf’s face. By pure accident, her gaze met Silver Wolf’s soft, almost melting eyes.

Firefly then had the privilege of watching Silver Wolf’s expression shift from surprise to shock, then embarrassment, before finally collapsing into complete confusion.

“Hehe…”

Firefly covered her mouth and giggled behind them. Silver Wolf only showed this side of herself when Sylvia was around.

But Firefly’s laughter drew Sylvia’s attention and snapped Silver Wolf back to reality. Silver Wolf immediately began struggling to escape Sylvia’s arms.

“What’s wrong? Couldn’t breathe?”

Sylvia hadn’t noticed Silver Wolf’s rapidly changing expression. She simply let go and found herself staring at Silver Wolf’s bright red face.

“…”

Silver Wolf opened her mouth, but her mind was too muddled to answer at once. By the time she recovered, she’d already missed her chance to agree, so she stayed silent.

She turned around instead, putting her back to both Sylvia and Firefly before leaning against Sylvia again. Sylvia couldn’t exactly force her to turn around, so she looked toward Firefly.

“Right, you said you planned to enter the Synesthesia Dreamscape through a smuggling route. Why?”

“Um… It’s because of my condition. I was born without the ability to dream, so I can’t enter through normal means.”

Firefly spoke calmly about her own situation. Sylvia frowned as she listened, though she didn’t interrupt.

“Is that why Silver Wolf came with you? She can get you into the Synesthesia Dreamscape?”

“Yes. We only need to find a stowaway hideout somewhere in Penacony.”

“…”

Sylvia stroked Silver Wolf’s head as she thought.

“But there’s no need for that. Even if Silver Wolf has to help you enter, you don’t need to sneak in. I can register you properly. Penacony’s security has been tight lately.”

Over the past few days, the Alfalfa Family had been spreading rumors on purpose. With the Charmony Festival drawing closer, the number of stowaways had shot up, and the Bloodhound Family had become far stricter when screening visitors.

“Um…”

Firefly tilted her head and blinked.

“What’s been happening in Penacony lately?”

“…Neither of you knows?”

Sylvia froze at the question. Those rumors had spread everywhere, so how could Firefly not have heard them?

Firefly hesitated before shaking her head. She hadn’t contacted Kafka or the others in the past few days, so she truly had no idea what had happened.

Silver Wolf’s voice came from against Sylvia’s chest.

“I know, but it’s all fake, so I didn’t bother telling Firefly.”

Still resting her head against Sylvia, Silver Wolf turned to glance at Firefly.

“Let’s just do what Sylvia said. I checked a moment ago, and Penacony’s been catching a lot of stowaways lately.”

Silver Wolf kept shifting around, so Sylvia poked her in the stomach.

“Are you staying for a few days too?”

“I’ll pass. There’s no way I can check in normally with this face.”

Silver Wolf shook her head. Firefly always operated outside while SAM drew everyone’s attention, so almost no one recognized Firefly herself.

Silver Wolf’s face, however, was known across the galaxy.

“All right, then.”

Sylvia shrugged.

Penacony had never lacked wanted criminals and other troublesome visitors. Anyone who put in enough effort could find a way around its checks, so Silver Wolf probably had another mission to handle.

Sylvia didn’t press the issue.

After getting to know the Stellaron Hunters, she’d learned that their lives outside the main story she remembered weren’t filled with endless vacations. Beyond the events she knew, the Stellaron Hunters remained active across the galaxy, planting one hidden thread after another for the future.

All they had to do was wait for the right moment to pull them.

--+--

Before long, Silver Wolf altered the course of the ship that had originally planned to slip quietly into Penacony. Instead, it sailed openly into Penacony’s spaceport.

Sylvia held Firefly’s hand and looked back at Silver Wolf, who remained aboard the ship.

“Firefly and I are heading down.”

“Go on, go on. Call me once you reach the room.”

Silver Wolf tossed aside the two-player controls and sprawled across the sofa again. When she heard Sylvia, she waved them away without looking up.

“Fine, fine.”

That tone told Sylvia everything. Silver Wolf wanted to focus on her game.

Sylvia smiled and led Firefly into The Reverie.

“Wow…”

Firefly’s eyes widened as she followed beside Sylvia and looked around. The hotel was crowded, and far more Bloodhound Family officers were patrolling than before.

With Sylvia accompanying her, Firefly’s registration went smoothly. The arrangement wasn’t exactly standard, but after Sylvia contacted Sunday, the remaining paperwork was completed without trouble.

“I never thought I’d get the chance to come here through the front door.”

Firefly sighed with emotion as she and Sylvia stood inside the elevator. Since she couldn’t dream, she’d assumed this land of beautiful dreams would remain forever beyond her reach.

She’d never expected to enter so openly.

“Then take some time to explore while you’re free. This place may be decadent, but it’s certainly interesting.”

“Mm-hm!”

Firefly nodded with an eager smile. She was clearly excited to explore, though she was even more excited about doing it with Sylvia.

Sylvia led Firefly into her room, only to find that Silver Wolf had somehow arrived before them. A large device resembling a stasis pod had also appeared in the room.

Silver Wolf sat on the sofa and put away her handheld console. Then she glanced at Sylvia and Firefly’s joined hands.

“Well, look who finally showed up.”

Sylvia had long since grown used to Silver Wolf appearing and disappearing without warning.

“What’s this?”

She walked to the center of the room and touched the device Silver Wolf had brought. Several cables ran from the back of the pod to the Dreampool.

“It’s obviously Firefly’s dream pod.”

Silver Wolf hopped off the sofa, opened the glass hatch, and gave Firefly a thumbs-up.

“I made a few modifications. Once she enters the dream, The Family’s system will register the Dreampool’s IP address. That way, she won’t attract attention.”

This hadn’t been part of the original plan. Since Firefly had initially intended to enter through a smuggling route, she would’ve appeared in the system as an unregistered intruder.

But now that Sylvia could provide her with legitimate registration, Silver Wolf had put in some extra work to keep Firefly out of trouble after she entered the dream.

“Thank you. I know this took a lot of work.”

Firefly walked over to the pod and smiled at Silver Wolf.

“Enough with the formalities. Get inside. I’ll send you in.”

Firefly nodded and lay down inside the dream pod. Sylvia watched Silver Wolf close the hatch.

“Does Firefly need you every time she enters the dream?”

“Of course not.”

Silver Wolf looked at Sylvia as though she’d just asked the dumbest question in the universe.

“For the first activation, I need to make sure the program runs properly and that Firefly’s condition stays stable. After that, it won’t matter.”

Sylvia wasn’t bothered by the look. Instead, she grinned.

“You don’t show it, but you really care about Firefly.”

“?”

Confusion appeared on Silver Wolf’s face.

“Firefly didn’t tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“…”

Silver Wolf studied Sylvia’s expression and realized she truly didn’t know. She frowned, torn over whether she should explain.

But since Sylvia was already standing there, keeping quiet would be pointless. Silver Wolf sighed and continued making the final adjustments for Firefly’s body.

“For someone who can’t dream, entering the Synesthesia Dreamscape comes at a cost comparable to ‘death.’”

“What?!”

Sylvia’s voice shot up. She grabbed Silver Wolf’s shoulders without thinking.

“What does that mean?”

“It means Firefly will experience something like dying. And if anything goes wrong, she could actually die inside the dream.”

Forcing the consciousness of someone who couldn’t dream into the Memory Zone would make Firefly endure mental agony on the level of death. Both her body and mind would face the crushing pressure of Memoria, as though she were diving into the deepest part of the ocean.

If Firefly lost hold of herself before reaching the Synesthesia Dreamscape, then her death wouldn’t be symbolic. She’d truly die.

Silver Wolf gave Sylvia a brief explanation of the danger. As she spoke, her hands never stopped moving, and she activated the dream pod.

Water from the Dreampool flowed through the cables and into the pod, submerging most of Firefly’s body.

“Ugh—!”

Not long after the device started, pain twisted Firefly’s face. Her limbs trembled and twitched as though she were fighting against something invisible.

“…”

Sylvia clenched her fists. She drew a deep breath before speaking.

“Why does Firefly have to come? Neither you nor Kafka has trouble entering dreams.”

Silver Wolf noticed the edge in Sylvia’s voice and gave her an expression that said she’d expected this reaction. She grabbed Sylvia’s wrist and looked straight into her eyes with rare seriousness.

“Have you misunderstood something? We’re the Stellaron Hunters. Following Elio’s Script is the one rule we must obey.”

Outside the Script, they could do whatever they pleased. Inside it, they had to follow its instructions.

That was Elio’s only absolute rule.

Silver Wolf wondered whether Sylvia had spent so much time around them that she’d forgotten who they were. Perhaps she’d started thinking of Firefly as some helpless girl who needed protection.

“Besides, Elio’s Script brought Firefly here, but so did your choice.”

Silver Wolf pulled Sylvia’s hand away from her shoulder.

Sylvia had been the one who wanted to bring Firefly to Penacony and fulfill the promise made in their agreement. She hadn’t known that entering the dream would cause Firefly such pain, but that didn’t change the choice she’d made.

Silver Wolf lowered her gaze toward Firefly’s tightly furrowed brow. Then she kicked Sylvia lightly in the leg.

“Stop saying pointless things. Take her into the dream and make sure she enjoys herself. She’s been looking forward to her date with you.”

“...I understand.”

Sylvia nodded and swallowed everything else she’d wanted to say.

Firefly would be fine.

According to Elio’s Script, Firefly would experience three deaths in total. This was, at most, the first.

It might not even count, since the experience was only comparable to death.

Silence spread between them.

After a while, Silver Wolf checked the stable readings and knew Firefly had made it through the worst of the process. She relaxed inwardly before flashing Sylvia a grin.

“Everything’s working properly, so I’m heading back. You should hurry into the dream and welcome your ‘princess.’ Have fun on your date with little Firefly.”

Firefly’s situation was different from Silver Wolf’s own experience. Both had started from an agreement, but Firefly’s feelings for Sylvia were clearly deeper.

Silver Wolf could understand why. If someone had given her an entire box of Oak Cake Rolls, she would’ve been touched too.

At that thought, Silver Wolf reached up and touched the jewel on her ear. Compared with Firefly’s gift, the earring Sylvia had given her carried little more than sentimental and decorative value.

Silver Wolf still hoped Firefly could enjoy one happy journey beyond the boundaries of the Script.

With that, she ended her holographic projection and vanished from the room. Sylvia locked the door, moved over to the Dreampool, and lay down.

--+--

Golden Hour.

Unless newcomers deliberately chose another destination or encountered an accident, they usually entered the dream through Golden Hour. Firefly was no exception.

The white-haired girl dropped from the sky and landed in the plaza in a surprisingly stylish pose. She looked around, planning to explore the nearby streets first.

Before she could leave the plaza, however, she spotted Sylvia hurrying through the crowd toward her.

“Sylvia! I’m over here!”

Firefly raised a hand and bounced in place, trying to make herself visible above the crowd.

--+--

Marry Acheron - 422

--+--

The plaza was so loud that Sylvia didn’t hear Firefly calling her. What she did catch was the flash of Firefly’s long hair as the girl bounced up and down twice above the crowd.

Once Sylvia pushed through the throng and reached her, she said nothing. She simply reached out and pinched Firefly’s cheek.

“Mmph... What’s wrong?”

“Why didn’t you tell me beforehand?”

Sylvia looked Firefly straight in the eyes as she asked. Firefly blinked, then realized what she meant.

She’d only wanted to keep Sylvia from worrying. Yet when Sylvia showed her concern so openly, Firefly couldn’t stop the sudden rush of joy in her chest, and a bright smile spread across her face.

“Because I didn’t want you to worry too much. The script already says what happens afterward, so that means nothing could’ve gone wrong when I entered the dream, right?”

“...That’s not the same thing.”

Sylvia sighed. She didn’t even know what to say.

“All right, all right. Could you walk around with me for a while first?”

Firefly was happy, but she didn’t want the mood to stay so heavy. She took Sylvia’s hand and led her away from the crowded plaza.

“Let’s find somewhere quiet, okay?”

It wasn’t that Firefly hated crowds. She’d only just arrived on Penacony, and what she wanted most was to wander around in peace with Sylvia. Put more plainly, she wanted to cling to Sylvia a little, and she’d be too embarrassed to do that with other people watching.

“Whatever you want.”

What objection could Sylvia have? She hadn’t even explored all Twelve Hours herself yet.

“Would you mind meeting a few of my friends, though? Or would it be better for you to act alone?”

Sylvia meant Robin and Mei, along with the Astral Express Crew they’d meet later. Firefly would be joining them as herself, not as SAM of the Stellaron Hunters.

Sylvia didn’t mind traveling together, but she didn’t know whether Firefly’s script required her to operate alone.

Walking ahead, Firefly gave a small shake of her head. “Let’s not. You’re getting ready for the auction next, aren’t you? I’ll work alone for now.”

The Stellaron Hunters weren’t planning to take part in the auction, and they didn’t want to appear too close to Sylvia’s group in public. Still, Sylvia’s goal involved a Stellaron, so even without joining the auction, they’d be involved in what happened behind the scenes. In the end, they’d simply be splitting into two teams.

Besides, there were enemies Firefly would need to handle while Sylvia carried out her own part of the plan. Firefly tilted her head and glanced at Sylvia from the corner of her eye, saying nothing.

“All right.”

She’d already made up her mind, so what else could Sylvia say? She’d heard the same rebuke from Silver Wolf before: Firefly might look sweet and fragile, but she couldn’t be treated like an ordinary girl. When it came to sheer will and conviction, Firefly was far stronger than Sylvia.

“Sylvia, what’s that over there?”

She’d spotted several strange vehicles parked nearby. One of them resembled a huge wheel.

“Transportation. Want to try one? I’ve got a rental membership.”

The vehicles could be bought or rented, but Sylvia only wanted to try one for fun. She didn’t intend to buy one.

She pulled Firefly over to an empty vehicle, climbed aboard, swiped her card, and guided it onto the road. The wind rushed past them as they picked up speed.

“Want to get some cake? They’ve got all kinds here that can only exist inside a dream.”

“Sure, sure~”

“After that, we could visit a museum in Moment of Sol, sunbathe in Moment of Oasis, and—oh, right—Moment of Dusk’s a huge shopping paradise...”

Sylvia wanted to show Firefly as much of Penacony as she could. She also wanted to take her to Blue Hour and dance with her, though she didn’t know whether Firefly knew how.

“Hehe~ That’s too many places. How long would it take to visit all of them?”

Firefly wrapped one arm around Sylvia’s waist and rested her chin on Sylvia’s shoulder, laughing softly. Sylvia was still as easy to read as ever.

More than any of those places, however, Firefly was looking forward to the deal Sylvia once made with the Stellaron Hunters—the relationship contract that would make them partners.

A quiet, ordinary happiness like this once lay far beyond anything Firefly dared hope for, but Sylvia’s arrival somehow turned that impossible wish into something real.

Firefly knew it was only part of a transaction. Kafka’s registration on The Blue hadn’t changed anything between them, and Silver Wolf was much the same. Silver Wolf hadn’t crossed any boundaries with Sylvia either.

Even so, Firefly couldn’t help looking forward to her own turn. Even if it was only a beautiful dream, she still wanted the moment when she’d finally step onto the stage.

She just couldn’t bring herself to say it outright. Silver Wolf would tease her about it for an entire Amber Era.

--+--

Sylvia found a café and sat down with Firefly for afternoon tea. As Firefly happily placed their order, Sylvia wondered when she should take her somewhere on Penacony to register their marriage contract.

Penacony naturally offered such services, with the Family issuing the official certificates. Since everything took place in a dream, the Nightingale Family could recreate almost any wild wedding a person could imagine. Plenty of wealthy visitors spent fortunes just to hold the perfect ceremony on Penacony.

With Kafka and Silver Wolf, they’d all treated the arrangement as a simple transaction, making it easier to accept. But Firefly was different.

While ordering, Firefly looked up, leaned close against Sylvia’s shoulder, and asked what flavors she liked. Sylvia answered while turning to look at Firefly’s smile.

Maybe appearances really did change how things felt. Firefly looked far more innocent and well-behaved than Kafka or Silver Wolf, and every smile she gave Sylvia seemed so open and sincere that Sylvia suddenly felt too embarrassed to bring up the contract.

“All right, let’s start with these~ Ah, sorry. I might’ve ordered a little too much.”

Firefly checked the order and gave an embarrassed smile. Since she couldn’t get full inside a dream, she’d gotten carried away.

“It’s not that much. Here, food’s mostly about enjoying the taste anyway. Most people do the same thing the first time they enter a dream.” Sylvia smiled to reassure her, then asked, “Where would you like to go after we finish?”

Golden Hour was perfect for revelry, but it wasn’t a good place for a quiet stroll. Firefly thought for a moment, then tapped her fingertips together with a shy look.

“Um, I’d like to visit Moment of Dusk first. Kafka asked me to buy her a few coats and some jewelry.”

“Sure! I might as well pick out gifts for everyone while we’re there.”

Sylvia hadn’t spent much time in Moment of Dusk. She’d only looked around once when she first arrived, so she decided she’d buy small gifts for all her friends and hand them out once the trouble on Penacony was over.

--+--

On the way to Moment of Dusk, Sylvia asked how much money Firefly had. After all, buying even a few small cakes had been a struggle for her in the game, and Sylvia couldn’t help worrying.

“Um, Kafka gave me her credit card. That should be enough, right?”

Firefly wasn’t sure. She rarely bought things for herself, since Kafka usually handled her clothes, and she didn’t know much about prices.

“That should be plenty. I’ll cover the rest if it’s not.”

With Silver Wolf around, Sylvia couldn’t imagine the Stellaron Hunters ever running short on Credits. She still couldn’t understand why Firefly seemed so broke in the game.

Once Sylvia knew Firefly could afford to shop, she stopped worrying and led her through the stores with abandon. They started by buying the coat Kafka wanted, then picked out gifts for Sylvia’s friends along the way.

Despite the fun, Firefly couldn’t stop a mix of disappointment and hope from creeping into her heart.

Sylvia still hadn’t mentioned their earlier deal. Had she forgotten, or were Kafka and Silver Wolf enough, leaving no need for Firefly to complete the third contract?

Either possibility made Firefly feel a little hurt—and, though she barely admitted it to herself, envious. ‘Should I take the initiative? Sylvia probably wouldn’t mind something this small.’

Firefly could set the seas ablaze without a flicker of fear, but private matters like this still made her shy. ‘What if Sylvia turns me down?’ Just imagining it made her chest ache.

She kept smiling despite the knot in her heart, and the two of them wandered from shop to shop until they passed a massive billboard while walking hand in hand.

It advertised formal wedding attire, and its shifting display showed around a dozen styles, some beautiful and some downright strange.

Sylvia slowed to a stop as she watched. One of the designs looked familiar: a spotless white bridal gown. Another was a deep red wedding dress.

Without meaning to, she pictured the people closest to her wearing them. Her ceremony with Mei was simple, and now she wanted to see Mei in a formal red-and-gold wedding dress at least once. Mei’s hair and eyes were already so dark, and with her East Asian features, the style would suit her perfectly.

The white gown, meanwhile, would look wonderful on Robin. She was already as pure as a white dove. Sylvia could imagine her in that flawless dress, holding a bouquet and waiting for Sylvia to take her hand.

It was a beautiful thought. Then Sylvia remembered Firefly, who was standing right beside her.

Still, Sylvia’s arrangement with the Stellaron Hunters was a transaction. Even her registration with Silver Wolf was casual. They’d grown much closer since then, and Sylvia could sometimes steal a hug or ruffle her hair, but she didn’t think Silver Wolf felt that way about her.

Sylvia wanted to see Firefly in a wedding dress too, but she didn’t know whether Firefly wanted anything beyond friendship.

If she didn’t, there was no reason to push her toward clothing with such strong meaning. A beautiful outfit she could wear every day might be a better gift.

They could always do what she’d done with Kafka: dress up nicely, register the contract, and leave it at that. Sylvia considered it, but she didn’t plan to bring it up right away.

She’d only just arrived on Penacony, and the process of entering the dream had hurt. It was only right to help her relax and rest for a couple of days before mentioning the deal. Even if it was a transaction, they were still friends, and Sylvia wouldn’t rush Firefly through it like a task that needed checking off.

--+--

Firefly noticed Sylvia stop and followed her gaze. The moment she read the slogan on the billboard, her cheeks turned red.

‘Why’s Sylvia staring at that ad? Is she trying to hint at something? Why be so roundabout, though? Is she embarrassed? Still... she remembered after all.’

Firefly lowered her head, a contented smile curling across her lips. Their time to investigate Penacony was tight, and she’d rather not delay if she could help it. If they kept putting it off, they might lose the chance entirely.

No one knew whether tomorrow or disaster would arrive first. Since she’d stopped here of her own accord, wasn’t this the perfect moment?

Firefly was still shy, but she gathered her courage. Then she called out, “Sylvia—”

“Hm? Oh, sorry. I stopped so suddenly that I must’ve confused you.”

Sylvia snapped back to herself and scratched her head. Stopping in the middle of the street without a word really was strange, and the thoughts she’d just been having weren’t the sort she could share with Firefly.

She was about to laugh it off when Firefly raised a hand and pointed toward the huge billboard.

“Do you like the clothes in that shop? I-I’d like to try one on and see how it looks...”

Firefly still couldn’t bring herself to say, ‘I’ll buy that one, so you can marry me.’ But a blushing girl was tugging Sylvia by the hand, pointing at wedding dresses, and asking Sylvia to come watch her try one on. The scene wasn’t much different from such a bold confession.

“Ah... okay.”

Sylvia couldn’t deny that Firefly’s move struck her like a critical hit. Dazed, she nodded before she even knew what she was agreeing to.

A phantom chime rang in her ears, followed by the familiar system display.

--+--

[Target: Firefly]

[Affinity: 72 (Touched and Expectant)]

[Relationship: Friend]

--+--

Firefly’s affinity rose by one, and the sudden system message left Sylvia baffled. After that critical hit, shouldn’t Sylvia’s affinity for Firefly have gone up instead?

She’d been so dazed that Firefly could’ve swept her into the bridal shop and married her on the spot before she caught up. Yet all Sylvia did was nod, and somehow Firefly’s affinity rose instead.

‘Haven’t you mixed up the count?’

Sylvia watched Firefly pull her forward with eager steps.

She’d looked happy before, but now her excitement seemed to have climbed even higher. She looked as though she might start skipping at any moment.

‘Could Firefly actually love wedding dresses?’

--+--

Marry Acheron - 423

--+--

The formalwear shop wasn’t far away. Once Firefly and Sylvia arrived, they didn’t even ask for a clerk. They shut themselves inside a private room and browsed the store’s catalog alone.

Since they were in the Dreamscape, there weren’t any problems with sizes or stock. Once they picked something from the menu, they could change with a single tap. Anyone who wanted a more realistic experience could still put it on by hand.

“Which kind do you like, Sylvia?”

“…You’re asking me?”

Sylvia had only just sat down when Firefly shoved the display panel into her arms.

The first item on the home page was a wedding gown with a rather daring design, and Sylvia tapped the screen without thinking. A full display stand carrying the dress appeared before them.

The gown had bare shoulders and a plunging neckline. Diamond-shaped cutouts beneath the bust were covered with lace, while more lace ran upward and joined a bow at the neck.

Whoever had designed the waist had cut out the midriff too, then covered it with such sheer fabric that it barely counted as cover at all.

The skirt was long, but one side had been cut much shorter and paired with clever white stockings and high heels. Apparently, the wearer’s legs had to be shown off too.

It was a little suggestive, and it demanded the right figure. Firefly could probably carry it off, though. Sylvia glanced at her top. Her current outfit hid it well, but Firefly was far more full-figured than she looked.

Sylvia was about to switch to the next design when Firefly seemed to misunderstand her. She stood, reached over, and selected the instant-change option.

In the next moment, the full wedding ensemble replaced her clothes.

The fitted bodice brought out Firefly’s curves, while the seemingly modest skirt had a high side cut that left her long, lovely legs in full view. Her black gradient thigh-highs had become white stockings, and the finer heels gave her a little more height, making her look even taller.

A delicate bouquet appeared in Firefly’s hands. She held it over her exposed navel, then seemed to remember the open neckline and moved it upward.

Sylvia watched her shift the bouquet up and down several times before she finally chose to cover her chest.

With such an unusual design, Firefly was glad she only had to show it to Sylvia. Thank goodness nobody else was there. How had this thing made it onto the front page?

She complained in silence, then asked Sylvia for her opinion.

“Um… d-does it look good?”

“You look beautiful! And very charming!”

Sylvia didn’t hold back. She openly admired Firefly’s beauty, whether the gown made her look alluring or pure. The two moods blended together and brought out her charm.

The glimpses of skin through the cutouts and the uneven skirt pushed the dress right to the line between modest and revealing. It felt less like something for a public ceremony and more like something meant for one person in private.

Still, who cared? There wasn’t anyone else here.

Firefly’s face lit up under Sylvia’s endless praise. Much of her shyness faded, and she cried out in her heart, 'I don’t know anything about design. This dress really does deserve to be on the front page!'

Sylvia carefully took Firefly’s hand and led her to the mirror.

“Look. You’re beautiful, and you’ve got so much charm.”

“Mm… The chest and stomach are a little too exposed.”

After seeing herself in the mirror, Firefly still felt sure the designer had been up to no good.

“It’s not that bad. Doesn’t it look pretty? I’m more worried about the skirt. That slit goes way too high.”

“Huh? Really? I think it’s convenient. I’d be scared to walk if the whole skirt dragged across the floor.”

“Wait, really?”

Sylvia and Firefly stared at each other, each confused by the other’s strange standards.

Sylvia thought the high slit was too much, yet Firefly had accepted it at once. Meanwhile, Sylvia thought the cutouts on top were fine, but Firefly found them far too suggestive.

Maybe people were simply built differently.

“Shall we look at the others?”

Sylvia had no plans to debate their tastes. She called the menu back and started browsing other styles instead.

Every gown had its own appeal. Some were traditional, while others were bold and open. After looking through enough of them, Sylvia guessed the designs were meant to suit customers from different cultures, customs, and tastes.

She even found one that used about as much fabric as a swimsuit. Somehow, it still counted as wedding attire. At least it broadened their horizons.

Sadly, Firefly was too shy to try that one on, no matter how Sylvia asked. Sylvia couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed.

They spent a long time choosing outfits, but Firefly’s excitement never faded. When she tried on a red bridal robe, Sylvia quietly added that set to the cart as well.

Then she spoke without warning.

“Firefly.”

“Mm? What do you think of this one? Isn’t it closer to the customs of your homeland?”

Firefly spread her arms to show off the robe. The golden embroidery wasn’t quite the same, but it was one of the closest designs they’d found.

“Yes. It’s beautiful too.”

Sylvia nodded, then walked up to her.

“Firefly, the deal the Stellaron Hunters made with me… are you willing to accept it?”

Firefly’s face went scarlet in an instant. She shot Sylvia a wounded look. Why would she bring that up now, after waiting until Firefly had nearly forgotten about it while trying on dresses?

Still, they’d come this far. Firefly met Sylvia’s eyes despite her burning cheeks and gave a firm nod.

“Of course! And… I’m serious about this. You gave me hope. You made my life into something more than a medical pod.”

Firefly took Sylvia’s hand and continued.

“I don’t know how to put these feelings into words. Even if it’s only an ordinary contract, I still want to show you that I mean it.”

“…Ah. Right.”

When had Firefly become this direct? Sylvia covered her warming face with one hand, but there was no hiding her embarrassment from Firefly.

“Oh? Are you blushing?”

Firefly laughed, tugged on Sylvia’s hand, and leaned closer on purpose. Sylvia glared back at her.

“…How could I not blush when you say something like that out of nowhere? Aren’t you embarrassed too?”

“A little, but I still have to say it.”

Firefly shook her head and smiled.

“Someone like me can’t keep putting things off. If I don’t say what I want to say, there might come a day when it’s too late.”

Three deaths were written into the script. By the end, she might truly die.

The script didn’t say how Firefly’s trip to Penacony would end or when she’d leave the stage. That meant every day here could be her last.

Well, based on the script, the first few days should be safe. After the auction, though, there were no guarantees.

Neither Firefly nor Silver Wolf had told Sylvia any of this.

--+--

On Firefly’s first day in Penacony, she’d struck Sylvia with several brutally direct confessions. Even so, they didn’t rush straight off to register their marriage.

Just as Sylvia had expected, Firefly was thrilled, but the struggle of entering the dream had left her drained. By dinner, once her excitement began to settle, even Sylvia could see the fatigue on her face.

“…Let’s find somewhere to rest for the night first, all right?”

Firefly could tell Sylvia’s concern was real. She wanted to fulfill their promise at once, but she didn’t want Sylvia worrying too much, so she nodded and accepted the offer.

“All right… You’re right. I probably do need a proper rest.”

As soon as Firefly agreed, Sylvia thought of something and hurried to ask.

“Wait. Let me check one thing first. You can sleep inside the dream, right? You won’t have to leave the Dreamscape before you can rest?”

Firefly covered her mouth and laughed at the way Sylvia suddenly looked ready to face a great enemy. Still smiling, she shook her head.

“There’s no need. Don’t worry. I can rest perfectly well inside the sweet dream.”

“That’s good. Otherwise…”

Sylvia almost said she’d send Firefly home and tell her never to come back. Halfway through, she remembered she couldn’t change the Stellaron Hunters’ decisions.

Forcing Elio to revise the script had only ever been a passive ability. Sylvia couldn’t make the script unfold according to her wishes. Any promise or threat she made on that level would only sound childish.

“Otherwise what?”

“Nothing. Let’s find somewhere to rest.”

“Speaking of good places, I heard about one~ It should be perfect for relaxing.”

As Sylvia tried to change the subject, Firefly put one hand on her hip and raised a finger with a proud little grin.

“Where? The Moment of Oasis?”

“Nope. Just follow me~”

Firefly shook her head and refused to reveal their destination. She only took Sylvia’s hand and started walking.

They returned to Golden Hour first, then twisted through so many streets that Sylvia lost all sense of where they were. Before she knew it, Firefly had led her onto the rooftop of a tall building.

“This is Dream’s Edge. Look over there. Those areas are still unfinished, so The Family hasn’t opened them to the public.”

Dream’s Edge was much quieter than the rest of Penacony. Most people who came here were Dreamweavers or workers tied to the construction. Ordinary tourists had little reason to visit.

Compared with the heart of the sweet dream, the area felt barren. There were no shops on every corner or lively crowds, only plain rooftops beneath a sky forever frozen just before dawn, when the first edge of the sun had begun to rise.

Sylvia remembered the place now. She’d seen it in the game, but this was her first time visiting it in reality. There wasn’t much here, and little news ever came from it.

If Firefly hadn’t brought her today, Sylvia might’ve forgotten the whole district existed.

“This place… I’ve been in Penacony for so long, but I’ve never heard anyone mention it. Who told you about it?”

Firefly casually studied the Bloodhound guards stationed around the restricted zones. When Sylvia questioned her, she jumped and answered with obvious awkwardness.

“Huh? Oh, um… Silver Wolf told me. We originally planned to sneak into Penacony, remember? She said places like this would make good hideouts.”

“Uh… You don’t need to sneak in anymore, so why come here?”

“Hmm…”

Firefly tilted her head and thought for a moment before turning back.

“Maybe I just like the view.”

Through the gaps between the towers, they could glimpse the instant dawn had been frozen in place, with the sun only just peeking over the horizon.

“The problem is, we’ll have to get past those Bloodhounds if we want to reach the outermost edge.”

Firefly memorized every path and every guard position she’d seen along the way. It didn’t take her long to find a route they could slip through unnoticed.

“Follow me. This way~”

The Family had closed the area only because construction wasn’t complete and tourists could easily get lost. There weren’t any secrets inside, and it wasn’t especially dangerous, so the guards were sparse.

The Family had also pulled many of its people away to investigate stowaways and deal with security problems. That made slipping inside even easier.

As Sylvia followed Firefly, she felt as though they were strolling openly into an abandoned zone. They made it all the way to the outermost rooftop without anyone stopping them.

Once every wall and tower had fallen behind them, the frozen dawn finally spread before their eyes in full. Unlike the dim instant before sunrise, this moment was brilliant and overflowing with light.

“Wow—this is perfect! After I heard about Golden Hour, I started wondering whether a place like this might exist at the edge of the sweet dream. I was right!”

Firefly braced both hands on the rooftop wall and leaned forward to gaze into the distance. Then she turned back and delivered her victory speech to Sylvia.

Bathed in the rising light, Firefly seemed to shine with the dawn.

“It’s beautiful.”

Sylvia stared at the girl before her and let the words slip out.

“Right? Isn’t it wonderful~?”

Firefly thought Sylvia meant the scenery behind her. She nodded eagerly and moved aside to make room.

Sylvia only smiled. She was too embarrassed to explain the misunderstanding, so she stepped forward and leaned against the rooftop edge beside her.

Sylvia raised her phone, aimed it at the view, and pressed the shutter. Firefly seemed to remember something and brought out her own phone.

“I want a picture with you too, Sylvia. I’ve got group photos with everyone else. You’re the only one missing.”

As she spoke, she naturally linked her arm through Sylvia’s. They turned their backs to the dawn and fit both their faces into the frame.

The shutter clicked, preserving their smiles.

After Firefly sent the picture to Sylvia, she quietly opened her gallery and set the image of Sylvia as her wallpaper.

When Sylvia glanced over in curiosity, Firefly darted into another app and covered the screen before the embarrassing sight could be discovered.

--+--

Marry Acheron - 424

--+--

Sylvia couldn’t understand why Firefly wanted to live out here in Dream’s Edge. Her identity was completely legitimate now, but Firefly insisted, and Sylvia couldn’t exactly object. The place was deserted anyway, so she could pick any room she liked.

Before leaving, Sylvia used the techniques Black Swan had taught her to shape a few pieces of furniture for Firefly. A simple bed, table, and chairs soon took form under her hands.

“Wow, Sylvia, you know how to do Dreamweaver stuff too?”

“I only learned recently, so I’m still not very good at it.”

Sylvia studied the simple bed, table, and chairs, then pressed a hand against the mattress. At least she’d managed to recreate the right texture. It was usable, and that was good enough.

“This is already great! The mattress is so soft. Hehe~”

Firefly picked up a pillow and flopped onto her back without a shred of concern for appearances. The soft mattress swallowed her whole.

“Get some rest, then. I’m heading out. Remember to contact me right away if anything happens.”

“Mhm, I’ll be sure to.”

Firefly nodded and waved with a smile, watching Sylvia teleport away.

“Haaah—hehehe~”

Once Sylvia was gone, Firefly kicked off her shoes and rolled across the bed before throwing herself into the mattress.

She covered her face with the pillow, replayed everything that had happened that day, and let out another giddy laugh.

--+--

Sylvia hadn’t actually gone far. She’d only teleported to the open section of Dream’s Edge because she wanted to find an old man.

Unless she remembered wrong, there was a missing genius around here whose consciousness had been kept inside the Dreamscape by the Family. He was an old man with some memory problems, but what was his name again...?

Sylvia scratched her head. He was an NPC disconnected from the main story, and to make matters worse, his name was foreign. With every possible memory debuff stacked against her, remembering that he existed at all was already impressive.

The genius had plans for a weapon in his head that could devastate an entire star system.

In terms of raw destructive power, he’d probably rank pretty high even among Emanators. Helping him would earn her a favor from Herta.

Of course, the real reason was that Sylvia wanted to meet Screwllum. She’d tested several versions of the Simulated Universe by now, yet she still hadn’t met him once. Somehow, she missed him every single time.

Even Sylvia thought it was getting ridiculous. It was one thing for the game to keep teasing Screwllum without delivering, but surely reality wasn’t going to leave him trapped in preview limbo too.

She hadn’t expected to remember this little side story, but now that she did, she might as well use it as a chance to meet Screwllum and make herself known. Maybe one day, once she found the time, she could even visit Planet Screwllum.

As she was thinking this, a tall young man with blue hair appeared from who knew where. The moment he spotted Sylvia, he called out, “My friend!” and strode over.

Sylvia nearly attacked on reflex, but when she turned and looked, she recognized him. Well, would you look at that. It was Sampo.

Hadn’t Sparkle said he was busy arranging the auction? What was he doing here?

“Sampo?”

“Shh! Shhh! Oh, come on, keep your voice down, my friend. You can’t let anyone hear you!”

Sampo’s face fell the moment she said his name. He hurriedly shushed her and waved for her to lower her voice.

“...What’re you doing? Why’re you sneaking around like this? Sparkle said you were handling the auction. Don’t tell me you cheated the Family and plan to run off with the money.”

“Hey now, don’t believe Sparkle’s slander! Your old pal Sampo has always lived an honest, upright life. When have I ever done anything so rotten?” Rubbing his hands together, Sampo walked closer with a cheerful grin.

“Well, at least we can skip the introductions. Hehe, my friend, you’ve no idea how hard I worked to find you. I searched all Twelve Hours, only to discover you’d run off to a forgotten corner like this. Though, hey, it’s a pretty good place to hide someone.”

“What’re you here for?”

Sylvia took a wary step back. Her impression of him from the game had followed her into reality, and that smiling face always made her feel as though he was seconds away from scamming her.

“My friend, did you seriously just take a step back?”

Sampo put on a wounded look, but he quickly moved on. “Fine, fine. Let’s get down to business, my friend. Just don’t panic when I tell you.”

He bent forward like he was about to share some juicy underground gossip and lowered his voice on purpose. “I, Sampo, am being hunted by unknown assailants! Can you believe it? I’m an honored guest of the Family right now, yet someone has the nerve to hunt me on the Family’s own turf!”

“...”

Sylvia had listened seriously through the first half, but by the end, her eyes had gone flat. “Considering the things you do, it’s perfectly normal for someone to come after you.”

“My friend, my dearest comrade! A man’s life is at stake here. Don’t scare your old pal Sampo like that. Heaven and earth are my witnesses—I’ve always treated everyone I meet with kindness.”

“Are you sure you don’t act kind to their faces, then cheat and swindle them behind their backs?”

“Outrageous! What a false accusation! I knew Sparkle never had anything good to say about me!”

Still wailing, Sampo rummaged through his pockets, found a small box, and shoved it into Sylvia’s hands.

“What’s this?”

“Why, it’s the grand prize of our little event.”

“Huh?”

Sylvia opened the box. The mask that should’ve been with Sparkle was lying inside.

More importantly, perhaps because Sylvia had once given it away, its energy fluctuations had grown much clearer. She could almost feel the mask calling to her, urging her to put it on right now.

“My friend, you’ve no idea what I’ve been through. Plenty of people have been coming after this mask lately. Your old pal Sampo fought tooth and nail to break through their encirclement, all so I could deliver our merchandise safely!”

Sampo wore the proud look of a man who’d performed a great service for the organization. He even seemed ready to keep boasting until Sylvia understood just how hard he’d worked to protect the mask.

“I don’t know where those people came from, but they already knew I was a Masked Fool. They charged straight at me without saying a word. If only I’d had my own mask, I’d never have needed to trouble you, boss.”

Snap.

Sylvia shut the box, cutting off the aura leaking from the mask, then gave Sampo a strange look. “...You didn’t bring this to me just to redirect all the trouble my way, did you?”

“Oh, listen to you! How could I ever do such a thing? Does your old pal Sampo look like that sort of man?”

Sylvia didn’t answer. She simply stared.

It didn’t take long for Sampo to crack.

“Don’t look at me like that! I didn’t have a choice. Who knows who those people are? If I get beaten up, that’s one thing, but if we lose the merchandise, then we’re really in trouble.”

“Did Aha alter the mask somehow? Otherwise, why would anyone care enough to steal a mask that only exists in a dream?”

“Oh, that sharp eye of yours never misses a thing! The mask has become a memetic entity now. You can wear it inside the Dreamscape!”

Sylvia wanted to retort, but in the end, she decided it wasn’t worth the effort. “So Aha manifested again?”

Sampo hadn’t expected that to be her main concern. He spread his hands helplessly.

“Yep, and THEY did it right in front of the Family’s senior members. Otherwise, the Family wouldn’t have cooperated with me so readily. I’m guessing that’s also where the news leaked.”

“...Does the Aeon of Elation have nothing better to do? Why would THEY bother watching something this minor?”

“Ahaha~ Well, THEY wouldn’t be the Aeon of Elation otherwise.”

With that said, Sampo was already preparing to leave. Before he could slip away, however, a faint hum of steel rang from another rooftop nearby, followed by several muffled impacts.

“Oh no. Don’t tell me those people caught up with me! Boss, you’ve got to save your old pal Sampo!”

Despite standing a full head taller than Sylvia, the man was completely useless in a crisis. He ducked behind her at once, boldly protecting Sylvia by placing her in front of himself.

Sylvia raised a foot as though she was about to kick him in the rear. Only then did Sampo retreat with an awkward laugh and stand off to the side.

A few seconds later, a familiar figure walked out from behind the building. She looked as calm as ever and had even put away her long blade.

If Sylvia couldn’t faintly see the people sprawled in a heap behind Mei, she might’ve thought Mei had wandered over during a casual stroll.

Before Sylvia could speak, Mei hurried closer and asked, “What happened?”

“...”

Sylvia stared at her in confusion. Wasn’t that supposed to be her question?

“You suddenly knocked out a whole crowd, and now you’re asking me what happened?”

“I heard them talking about a ‘mask’ and an ‘auction.’ They also mentioned your name, so I assumed it had something to do with you.”

Mei had only been passing through on her way to find Sylvia, but she’d stumbled onto the scene by chance. To save herself the trouble, she’d simply taken everyone down first.

Sylvia immediately turned and glared at Sampo, who was already edging away. “Sampo! Did you bring them here?”

“Ahaha... Of course not—”

Clang.

The Subspace Lance emerged from the void and aimed straight at Sampo’s head, cutting off his laughter.

“Hey, mercy! Show a little mercy! I’ll talk. I’ll tell you everything!”

Sampo carefully leaned away from the Subspace Lance. Mei, meanwhile, looked at Sylvia with curiosity.

“Who is he?”

“Sampo. He’s the Masked Fool Sparkle brought in to coordinate with the Family.”

“Ah, my noble heroine, you heard what those people were saying just now. You must know this has absolutely nothing to do with your old pal Sampo.”

“...”

Mei neither nodded nor answered. Those people had indeed been pursuing Sampo and had only happened to spot Sylvia, but he was still a Masked Fool. Who knew whether he’d deliberately led them here to shift the trouble onto someone else?

“Please say something, my noble heroine! I really only came to deliver the mask. Too many people were looking for me today, and I was worried something might go wrong.”

You only needed to believe half of anything Sampo said. Sylvia wasn’t too concerned about that part, though.

“Then why didn’t you go to Sparkle? She appears and disappears whenever she likes. Wouldn’t she be a better choice?”

The moment Sampo heard that, he shook his head over and over, his face turning miserable.

“Absolutely not. If this mask fell into Sparkle’s hands right now, I couldn’t even imagine how much chaos she’d cause. Boss, the fact that you dared to leave it with her in the first place means I’ll have to buy you a drink at the Tavern someday.”

Wasn’t the boss being far too biased this time? Surely Sampo’s moral standards were higher than Sparkle’s.

How could she trust Sparkle so much, yet treat Sampo like a criminal the moment she saw him? Was it only because Sparkle was pretty? Sampo wasn’t bad-looking either!

Sylvia fell silent for a moment. In truth, she’d given the mask to Sparkle partly because she wanted to see whether Sparkle would stir up some chaos.

The auction was one plan. Letting Sparkle run wild with the mask had been another backup option. Sylvia had fully expected her to cause trouble.

Who would’ve guessed that Sparkle really was bored, yet instead of making trouble herself, she’d called Sampo over and dumped every bit of work on him?

“I actually did expect Sparkle to go looking for some fun... but when it comes to being unexpected, Sparkle somehow never surprises me.”

“...”

Sampo was speechless. Then, right in front of Sylvia, he raised a thumb.

Now that was impressive. No wonder she got along with Sparkle. She was another person who loved watching chaos from a safe distance.

The Aeon of Elation really hadn’t chosen wrong this time. Their new boss looked respectable on the surface, but deep down, she’d gladly watch the whole world descend into mayhem.

After listening to their pointless exchange for long enough, Mei couldn’t help poking Sylvia in the shoulder. Once Sylvia turned toward her, Mei addressed Sampo.

“Do you know which faction those people belong to?”

“Uh, no. They broke into my room and came straight at me. They didn’t exactly give me time to ask questions. I was too busy running.”

Sampo shook his head again and again, but his answer made Sylvia frown.

“There’s actually a faction willing to carry out a terrorist attack in Penacony?”

“Come on, boss. Didn’t you and Sparkle blow up the Penacony Grand Theater a few days ago? Uh, I’ll shut up. Hehe~”

Sampo’s complaint died halfway through when Sylvia threatened him with a look. Grinning, he mimed zipping his mouth shut.

Mei didn’t seem too bothered. “Let the Family investigate. We can wait for their report.”

“Good point. I’ll contact Gallagher.”

Sylvia sent Gallagher a message. Not long afterward, several members of the Bloodhound Family arrived and carried away everyone Mei had knocked unconscious.

“Well, if there’s nothing else, your old pal Sampo will be on his way. Boss, keep that mask safe. We’re counting on this auction to make us a fortune.”

With that, Sampo slipped away. Sylvia knew his abilities went far beyond what he’d shown here. If he’d taken those pursuers even slightly seriously, there was no chance they could’ve kept up with him.

“Mei, did you come looking for me for some reason?”

“...You haven’t heard the rumors today?”

Mei wondered where Sylvia had been all day. She seemed as though she’d lost access to the entire network.

“What rumors?”

“The Xianzhou Luofu and the IPC have both sent people to Penacony. There’s also a rumor that a Lord Ravager has set their sights on this place.”

“Huh? They aren’t coming after me, are they?”

Sylvia froze and looked at Mei, clinging to a faint hope. Mei only smiled and patted her on the head.

“Stop dreaming. They’re coming for you. To a Lord Ravager, death would be far more dignified than being imprisoned by you and used as a battery.”

At least death could still count as carrying out the destruction of the self. Being sealed inside one of Sylvia’s Fullbottles and turned into an on-demand, Emanator-grade power bank was nothing less than a complete humiliation of the forces of Destruction.

Of course they wanted revenge.

--+--

Marry Acheron - 425

--+--

Or rather, Mei was surprised that a Lord Ravager had taken this long to realize Sylvia needed to be dealt with. By all rights, their forces should’ve come after her long ago.

“…”

Sylvia fell silent. She really hadn’t considered that.

“Which one’s coming? Have you heard anything?”

“No. All I know is that a Lord Ravager has set out.”

“Whoa. Penacony’s really going to get lively now.”

Sylvia clicked her tongue. If she counted the Lord Ravager and the Family’s own representative, Penacony already had three Emanators gathered in one place. Sylvia herself could perhaps count as half of one.

She’d never seriously fought another Emanator, so Mei was her only point of comparison. If they fought for real, Sylvia could probably hold out until her transformation ended. Once it did, she could only guarantee that she’d escape.

Then there was the Fool’s Mask waiting for someone to put it on. That’d bring the total to four Emanators.

Surely no more would come.

The lineup was terrifying enough already. If they really started fighting, could Penacony even survive a single blow from an Emanator?

It was only an auction for a Fool’s Mask. There shouldn’t have been any reason for an Emanator to come in person. Gathering enough of them for a game of Celestial Jade was already ridiculous.

“You’ll need to be careful for a while.”

Even though Sylvia could pull people to her side in an instant, Mei still thought it’d be better to avoid unnecessary risks. She’d spent the past two days gathering information around Penacony, and she’d learned about as much as she could.

From now on, protecting Sylvia took priority.

“Okay, okay. I’ll be counting on you, then.”

As she spoke, Sylvia took a wrapped gift box from her pocket and handed it to Mei.

“What’s this?”

“Just a little gift. It’s eye shadow and lip gloss. The advertisements reminded me of your homeland.”

Sylvia decided against mentioning that Robin was the product’s spokesperson. Bringing it up out of nowhere would’ve felt strange.

“Thank you. You put a lot of thought into this.”

Mei didn’t open it right away. Instead, she carefully stored the gift together with its box.

“The delivery in reality should arrive today too. I’ll bring it over when it does.”

Thinking about it made Sylvia want to complain. Penacony could sell the same product twice: one version for the Dreamscape and another for reality.

Apparently, taking a customer’s money once wasn’t enough. They had to do it twice.

It was a shameless trick, but Sylvia wasn’t short on Credits. She’d bought two copies of every gift so Mei could use them both inside and outside the Dreamscape.

“You bought two? Wouldn’t buying one in reality have been enough?”

“But I want to see you use it in the Dreamscape too. You’ve barely left lately, haven’t you?”

Mei nodded, then asked with some curiosity, “What brought you here today, anyway?”

“Firefly just arrived in Penacony. I showed her around and helped her settle in here.”

“Here?”

Mei froze for a moment. Since Sylvia had personally gone to welcome her, the Stellaron Hunter clearly hadn’t entered Penacony illegally. If she’d come through legitimate channels, why would she choose to stay in a place like this?

“She wanted to come here herself. There wasn’t much I could do about it. She probably thinks it’ll make moving around easier.”

“…That does make sense.”

“There’s something else too.”

Sylvia raised a finger. Once Mei’s attention returned to her, she continued, “I’m looking for an old man with amnesia.”

“?”

“He’s a member of the Genius Society. He made a terrible decision, got used by the IPC, and met a miserable end. Even death didn’t free him. He’s been trapped inside the Synesthesia Dreamscape ever since.”

The moment Mei heard the words “Genius Society,” she knew Herta would somehow become involved.

Still…

“Where did you get this information?”

“Hehe.”

Sylvia blinked and gave her a mysterious smile.

“Anyway, I didn’t have anything else to do while passing through today, so I thought I’d look for him. His name’s Chadwick.”

On the way there, Sylvia had taken the time to search for information on members of the Genius Society. Some of the records were vague, but most members at least had a name attached to them. Luckily, Chadwick’s name had sounded familiar, so she’d managed to identify him as Genius Society member #79.

--+--

Finding him went smoothly. Dream’s Edge had few visitors to begin with, and most of the people there worked in fields connected to dream construction.

Elderly men were rare, so a little asking around soon led Sylvia and Mei to the old man sitting in a daze on a bench.

He sat there staring into the distance like a statue. He didn’t even appear to breathe, though there wasn’t any need to breathe inside a dream.

Just as in the game, Sylvia walked over and struck up a conversation. Once Chadwick confirmed that Sylvia and Mei were Nameless, he directly brought up the Genius Society.

Unfortunately, they’d barely exchanged a few sentences when a grim and openly hostile member of the Bloodhound Family arrived. Claiming someone was harassing Chadwick, he drove Sylvia and Mei away.

The two retreated for the moment, but even that brief conversation had been enough for them to sense something extraordinary about the old man. Whatever else he might’ve been, he definitely wasn’t an ordinary elderly man.

Mei had expected Sylvia to either fight the Bloodhound or pull rank to solve the problem.

“I thought you’d attack him.”

“…Why would I waste my energy? A genius’s problems should be left to other geniuses.”

As she spoke, Clockie appeared from nowhere at the edge of Sylvia’s vision and stood beside her.

“Tick-tock! My friend, it looks like you’re in trouble. Do you need my help?”

“What’s this little thing? A memetic entity?”

Mei could see Clockie as well, and she studied the unfamiliar cartoon character with curiosity. Of course, the Dreamscape already contained plenty of figures like him.

“Probably…”

Sylvia shrugged, then lowered her head toward Clockie.

“It’s fine, Clockie. I already know who that old man is, and I know who can solve this problem.”

“Tick-tock! Really?! But you haven’t done anything yet! Tick-tock?”

“Just watch. I’m going to call in the cavalry!”

Sylvia chuckled and gestured to Mei. They took a longer route around, moving beyond the Bloodhound’s line of sight.

“Are you planning to go straight to Herta?” Mei asked.

Sylvia was more surprised that Mei even needed to ask.

“What else would I do? I’ve got a record of our conversation. That’s enough for Herta to verify whether it’s real.”

She opened her conversation with Herta.

[Sylvia: I met someone named Chadwick in Penacony.]

[Herta: What.]

[Herta: There are plenty of people with that name in the universe.]

[Sylvia: He said he was a member of the Genius Society.]

[Sylvia: [Pom-Pom Heart]]

[Herta: ???]

[Herta: I don’t have time for your jokes. Stop wasting it.]

[Herta: You’re joking, right?]

[Sylvia: …]

[Sylvia: When have I ever come to you with a joke?]

[Herta: So you’re serious… Get back to the space station. Now!]

[Herta: And keep your mouth shut. Don’t tell anyone.]

“See?”

Sylvia passed her phone to Mei. Everything had gone even more smoothly than expected.

“You’re going to the space station now?”

Sylvia nodded eagerly. “Yep. I’m guessing Screwllum might be there too. I’ve spent so much time in the Simulated Universe, but I’ve never met him.”

Mei hadn’t intended to say anything. After all, Sylvia had already befriended two geniuses.

Still, the Genius Society was filled with eccentrics and madmen. Screwllum, the ruler of Planet Screwllum, might’ve looked like a gentleman, but countless people across the universe remained wary of whether he’d become the central figure in a Third Emperor’s War.

“You seem to like Screwllum.”

“I wouldn’t say I like him. I’m curious. Four geniuses worked on the Simulated Universe project. One of them never appears, but out of the other three, Screwllum’s the only one I haven’t met.”

There wasn’t much difference as far as Mei was concerned. Sylvia’s words showed no trace of caution toward the mechanical genius, and Mei couldn’t help sighing to herself.

The IPC had once planned to exterminate inorganic life across the universe. They’d abandoned the plan only after Screwllum emerged and became a member of the Genius Society. The IPC had even created something called the Mechanical Cuckoo Clock as a gift to express its goodwill toward him.

The records available today made the entire affair sound peaceful, almost like an inspiring story. But had the IPC’s change in attitude truly been that harmonious?

Considering everything the IPC had done and the way it handled its affairs, Mei didn’t believe it for a second.

“Let’s go. I’ll come with you.”

The words of warning reached the tip of her tongue, but she ultimately swallowed them. There wasn’t any reason to burden Sylvia with more worries.

Besides, those suspicions were only speculation. If Sylvia hadn’t been involved, Mei wouldn’t have liked judging someone she barely knew.

“Sure.”

Sylvia accepted without protest. She took Mei’s hand, and together they logged out of the Dreamscape.

--+--

Herta Space Station.

Sylvia chose the room Asta had assigned her as their destination. Nothing inside had changed since her last visit.

There wasn’t time to greet Asta. Sylvia immediately led Mei toward Herta’s office.

The moment they entered, Herta planted her hands on her hips and spoke in a flat tone.

“That was fast. Why’d you bring someone else with you? Oh, forget it. You’re already here.”

Herta glanced at Mei. She knew the woman wasn’t ordinary, and even a brief investigation revealed that her origins were anything but simple.

As long as she wasn’t with the IPC, Herta didn’t care.

Beside Herta stood a mechanical gentleman dressed in an immaculate formal suit. He greeted Sylvia and Mei with practiced elegance.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Sylvia and Ms. Acheron. I hadn’t expected our first meeting to take place under these circumstances.”

“Hello, Mr. Screwllum.”

“Hello.”

Screwllum greeted them both with flawless courtesy. Herta was already growing impatient beside him, but when it came to patience and logic, Screwllum had her thoroughly beaten.

At least in this matter.

He patiently explained Chadwick’s life to Sylvia, including his field of expertise, his accomplishments, and the tragic experiences that had shaped his fate.

As for what they intended to do next, there wasn’t much to discuss. A genius would have to visit Penacony in person.

Screwllum was the obvious choice, especially since Chadwick had once asked him for help.

“Herta, aren’t you coming?”

“What would I do when Screwllum’s already going? He’s perfect for confronting the Family. I’m not suited for that sort of thing.”

With her hands still on her hips, Herta openly admitted she wasn’t the right person for the job.

Sylvia shrugged and turned toward Screwllum.

“Then I’ll go back to Penacony and wait for you.”

“Of course, Ms. Sylvia. I won’t keep you waiting long.”

Meeting Screwllum had fulfilled one of Sylvia’s wishes. Still, she’d barely been back in Penacony for a few minutes when she received word that Screwllum had already arrived.

She and Mei found him waiting in the lobby of The Reverie.

“You got here that fast? I thought it’d take at least a full day.”

Herta Space Station was nowhere near Penacony. The Astral Express could cover vast distances through its rapid warps, but an ordinary ship would’ve taken much longer.

“The matter required immediate action, so I borrowed Madam Herta’s Phase Flame.”

“Oh. I’d completely forgotten about that.”

It was a genius invention capable of spatial jumps, though for reasons Sylvia didn’t know, it’d never entered widespread use.

“Then let’s proceed, ladies…”

Screwllum was about to approach the front desk when a familiar figure entered the hotel lobby.

“Topaz? Why would she show up now of all times?”

As Sylvia looked toward Topaz, Topaz noticed her as well.

Then she saw Screwllum standing beside her.

The smile on Topaz’s face gave way to shock. She seemed unable to understand how the farce unfolding in Penacony had managed to draw a genius into the conflict personally.

“Mr. Screwllum, you can go ahead. I’ll distract Topaz for you, though she probably isn’t involved in this.”

“There’s no need, Ms. Sylvia. I prepared to face the IPC before I came here. Conclusion: there’s no cause for concern.”

Screwllum had no intention of avoiding her. Perhaps that confidence came naturally to a genius.

Either way, he walked openly toward the front desk and showed no concern as Topaz approached. From the moment he arrived in Penacony, he’d never believed his actions could remain hidden from the IPC.

If Chadwick had been imprisoned in Penacony and placed under the Family’s direct supervision, then the Family must’ve reached some form of agreement with the IPC. Whatever Screwllum did today would inevitably reach the IPC.

That didn’t matter.

Screwllum knew Topaz had come for an unrelated matter, so he wasn’t worried that the IPC could organize any further response in such a short time.

The two groups gradually converged, almost as though they were waiting in line to register at the front desk. Topaz stood behind Sylvia and greeted her with a silent smile and wave, then listened without a word as Screwllum spoke with the Family’s representatives.

The exchange even included a confrontation with members of the Bloodhound Family.

Chadwick…

Topaz vaguely remembered the name. He’d been a genius, after all.

With Screwllum appearing in person, she quickly pieced together part of the truth. Even so, she said nothing and merely watched as Sylvia and the others followed the Bloodhound Family members into the distance.

Topaz herself remained at the front desk and registered for her room.

“Chadwick… Let’s see what’s so special about this man.”

--+--

Marry Acheron - 426

--+--

After consulting their Family Head, the Bloodhounds soon relented and escorted Sylvia and Screwllum to Chadwick’s room.

There weren’t two humans inside who’d already been at death’s door two Amber Eras ago. Instead, there was only a Dream Bubble resting inside a Dreampool.

“Hypothesis: The Memoria within his brain was extracted and sealed inside a Dream Bubble so they could search it for whatever they wanted,” Screwllum said.

Thanks to Black Swan’s lessons, Sylvia might not have known how to perform the technique herself, but she’d grown much better at recognizing it. “It’s a method used by the Garden of Recollection. Penacony’s probably the only place where they could preserve his consciousness indefinitely.”

“Oh? Have you studied Memoria, Miss Sylvia?”

“I learned the basics from a Memokeeper. Plenty of people on Penacony have lost their physical bodies but chosen to keep existing within dreams. I’d guess they’re all using something similar.”

“In that case, conclusion: The IPC wished to find something hidden within Chadwick’s consciousness. Evidently, they failed.”

Sylvia turned toward Screwllum without saying a word. Her meaning couldn’t have been clearer.

What else could they have been looking for besides that absurd weapon of mass destruction?

“Miss Sylvia, I’d like to make a request. Please deliver this to Dr. Calderon Chadwick, who remains trapped within the Dreamscape. I believe it’ll help him regain his senses.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll attempt to negotiate with the Family’s upper ranks and secure permission to remove Chadwick’s Memory Bubble from Penacony. Until then, I’d like you to learn the full truth from Chadwick, including everything that happened afterward.”

Once Screwllum had finished, he and Sylvia went their separate ways.

--+--

Not long after Sylvia returned to her room, she found Topaz waiting outside.

“Hey. This is our first time meeting face-to-face, isn’t it, Miss Sylvia?”

“Senior Manager Topaz? What’re you doing here? I thought you’d go looking for Screwllum.”

Sylvia opened the door and invited Topaz inside. She wasn’t in any hurry to deliver the medicine to Chadwick because she’d already handed that job to Mei.

Sylvia didn’t understand how it worked, but Mei could see Clockie too. Besides, the rest of the story was slowly coming back to her, so there was no need to watch the whole thing again and send her blood pressure through the roof.

“Of course I came because you’re my friend,” Topaz said with a smile as she sat on the sofa. “Isn’t visiting a friend the first thing I should do?”

Numby wandered over to Sylvia’s feet and sniffed around, as though trying to memorize her scent.

“So, you found Chadwick’s records?” Sylvia sat across from Topaz. “Did you come here to stop me?”

“Why would I? I’m not planning to pass judgment on any of this. Chadwick’s tragedy and the Technology Department have nothing to do with me.”

Topaz had certainly learned some juicy secrets, but she had no intention of getting in Screwllum’s way. If anything, she wanted to support him.

“If you’ve still got urgent business, go ahead. I can also help if you need it, though only with documents that aren’t too highly classified.”

“Chadwick’s records… You can show them to me?”

“Strictly speaking, I’d like you to pass them on to Mr. Screwllum. What happened to Chadwick was tragic. At the very least, I think someone should remember the truth.”

Topaz didn’t seem concerned about the rules at all. Sylvia fell silent and thought for a while before a possibility suddenly struck her.

“Don’t tell me you’re planning to use this as leverage too. Won’t that put you at odds with the other departments?”

“Mhm.” Topaz smiled. “The IPC’s departments have always competed with one another. If the rules didn’t hold them back, plenty of them would openly come to blows.”

Topaz had already read the files Jade had helped her uncover. The IPC hadn’t found what it wanted after two Amber Eras, and another two probably wouldn’t make any difference.

If Screwllum insisted on taking Chadwick away, neither the Technology Department nor the Family would put up much resistance. Still, that was a separate matter.

The IPC had poured an enormous amount of money into the project all those years ago, and now every hope of success was gone. Their only remaining option was to have the Technology Department reverse-engineer the technology from scratch.

Without a doubt, the project was dead.

Worse, the IPC might’ve offended the Genius Society. They’d trapped one of its members until his death, then tormented what remained of him for two Amber Eras afterward. If that story got out, the Technology Department would be in for a world of pain.

The Family and the Technology Department’s senior leaders would have to take the blame. Had no one else learned the truth, both sides could’ve exchanged a few empty smiles and quietly buried the matter.

But Topaz knew now.

More importantly, she belonged to the Strategic Investment Department. She wasn’t on their side.

Wouldn’t it be a waste if she didn’t make good use of this?

It was an unexpected windfall.

“You people at the IPC really are something…” Sylvia couldn’t find the words.

She could more or less guess what Topaz was thinking. Groups that grew too vast probably couldn’t avoid this kind of internal struggle.

That might’ve been for the best. If the IPC were truly united, there’d be little room left in the universe for any other faction. Controlling the entire cosmos’s credit system was terrifying enough already.

“Hey, Sylvia,” Topaz said, her voice suddenly earnest. “Before he leaves, could you let me meet Dr. Chadwick? At the very least, I’d like to see him off as a representative of the IPC.”

Sylvia suspected she only wanted Screwllum to see her doing it.

Had Topaz truly pitied Chadwick and believed the IPC had wronged him, Sylvia wouldn’t have minded putting in a word with Screwllum. Judging from Topaz’s attitude, though, there was some pity, but not much.

Topaz cared far more about how she could use the situation.

Sylvia didn’t judge people for feeling indifferent. The universe was full of tragedies, and no one could care about all of them. Still, if Topaz didn’t feel strongly about this one, there was no reason to stage a pointless gesture.

“Sorry, but I can’t help you with that. It’s Screwllum’s decision, and I won’t make it for him. You’ll have to ask him yourself.”

Sylvia wasn’t about to overestimate her own importance before a genius. Several members of the Genius Society treated her well because she could participate in the Simulated Universe and possessed certain unusual qualities.

That didn’t mean she could truly consider herself their equal. She’d at least have to become a genuine Emanator first.

“Hmm…”

Topaz understood Sylvia’s meaning. She tapped away at her terminal for a moment, then sent Sylvia a file.

Sylvia looked down at the long string of identification numbers and opened it, only to find that the contents were encrypted. “Are these the files you mentioned?”

“That’s right. They’re encrypted, but I’m sure Mr. Screwllum can unlock them with ease. Consider them my personal greetings to that genius.”

Since she couldn’t meet Chadwick herself, Topaz wasn’t going to force the issue. There was no point fighting over something that wasn’t essential. It’d be better to use Sylvia as an intermediary and show Screwllum some goodwill instead.

It was only one encrypted file. As long as neither of them said anything, it hardly counted as a problem.

“Understood. I’ll pass it on to Mr. Screwllum.”

“Then I won’t bother you any longer. Once you’re finished here, let me buy you a drink. I’ve only just arrived, and you’re the only person I know.”

Topaz stood, opened the door, and waved to Sylvia as she stepped into the hallway. She’d only taken a single step when she turned around and winked.

“I hope we’ll work well together in the future.”

With that, Topaz walked away without looking back.

Sylvia shrugged and locked the door. Whether working together would be pleasant remained to be seen.

Come to think of it, had the IPC only sent Topaz?

Sylvia recalled the scene in the lobby. There hadn’t been many people following Topaz when she arrived.

Was Topaz really handling everything alone? Or would representatives from other departments arrive on Penacony at different times?

Sylvia couldn’t view the IPC as one united entity anymore. Judging by Topaz’s behavior, the fighting between its internal factions was every bit as fierce as its conflicts with outsiders.

Could Topaz’s department really be the only one coming to Penacony? It was hard to say.

Sylvia shook her head and set the speculation aside. She could ask Topaz about it later.

For now, she needed to visit Dream’s Edge and see whether Mei had finished dealing with Chadwick.

Clockwork seemed rather amazing, but the game had already shown how chaotic a person’s inner world could become. Sylvia had found it annoying enough while playing. The real thing would only be worse.

Just thinking about it made her head hurt.

She’d rather not get involved if she could avoid it. She especially didn’t want to solve any puzzles. Mei could handle it this time, and once March 7th and the others arrived, Stelle could take over.

Hopefully, Mei hadn’t gotten lost.

Sylvia allowed herself a slightly wicked smile at the thought, then lay down in the Dreampool.

--+--

At the edge of a deserted rooftop in Dream’s Edge, Sylvia found Chadwick standing motionless. Mei stood beside him with her eyes closed.

“Tick-tock! You’re here too, my friend!” Clockie jumped down from a nearby bench and hurried over. “We’re at the most important part! Did you come to help?”

“Uh… How far have you gotten? Do you still need me?”

“Tick-tock! A robot connected from somewhere else and is helping untangle this old gentleman’s heart. Your friend doesn’t talk much, but she’s very good at untangling people.”

“Well, that’s Mei for you. From the sound of it, you don’t need me anymore, so I’ll wait out here.”

“Tick-tock! You’re slacking off, my friend!”

Clockie crossed his arms, tilted his head back, and wagged a finger at Sylvia. She didn’t mind in the least.

“Listening in on someone else’s private thoughts isn’t exactly a good deed. One person’s enough to solve the problem. There’s no need to drag in another.”

“Tick-tock—”

“Hey, hey, that’s enough ticking. They’re coming out.”

Before Clockie could keep protesting, Chadwick’s image shattered like a cluster of bubbles and faded into the Dreamscape. Mei slowly opened her eyes.

“You’re back?” Sylvia raised a hand in greeting.

Mei ignored it and stared at her with a strange expression. “I nearly got lost in there. My instincts are telling me you did that on purpose.”

“Hey, accusations need evidence. I was dealing with Topaz, all right? How could you call it deliberate?”

Mei gave her a look.

They knew each other far too well. Mei could tell exactly what Sylvia had been thinking, so there was no point in pretending.

Sylvia grew awkward under her gaze and cleared her throat. She was about to offer another weak excuse when a message from Screwllum arrived at the perfect moment.

[Screwllum: Thank you, Miss Sylvia and Miss Acheron. You uncovered the mystery surrounding Chadwick and helped him find release.]

In the end, Chadwick had been imprisoned by his own unresolved guilt. He believed the weapon he’d created in pursuit of a genius’s fame was a terrible sin.

After sealing away his memories, he’d willingly allowed the IPC and the Family to keep him trapped there and subject him to endless torment. With Mei and Clockie’s help, he’d finally reconciled with himself.

Screwllum had witnessed everything. He might not have understood many of the emotions felt by organic life, but he understood how important that reconciliation was.

Sylvia held out her phone to Mei and smiled. “See? Screwllum’s thanking you.”

“He’s impressive.”

Mei nodded, offering her assessment of Screwllum. If anything, meeting him had only made her more certain of it.

“That’s not what I asked…” Sylvia pouted, then turned away and typed a reply.

[Sylvia: Chadwick disappeared. Did your negotiations succeed?]

[Screwllum: Correct. I persuaded the Family and have already returned to the space station with his Memory Bubble.]

[Screwllum: As the final witnesses to his life, I invite both of you to attend his farewell, provided you wish to do so.]

“We should go,” Mei said. “Dr. Chadwick deserves our respect.”

She’d witnessed most of Chadwick’s life. In her eyes, the choices the old man had made afterward were worthy of respect.

[Sylvia: We’re on our way. Topaz also asked me to deliver a file to you.]

[Screwllum: Miss Herta and I will await you in the Seclusion Zone.]

After sending the message and saying goodbye to Clockie, Sylvia and Mei left the Dreamscape.

--+--

After regrouping aboard Herta Space Station, they walked through the corridors of the Seclusion Zone. Mei glanced at Sylvia with curiosity.

“What was in the file Topaz gave you?”

“Probably records of Chadwick’s cooperation with the IPC. It’s encrypted, so I couldn’t read it.”

Mei thought for a moment. “What position was she taking when she offered Screwllum that gesture of goodwill?”

“Her own. She plans to use this as one of her bargaining chips. I just don’t know what she intends to do with it.”

This one piece of leverage alone wouldn’t amount to much. Still, judging from Topaz’s behavior, Sylvia had a feeling she was preparing something far bigger.

Mei was more worried about the chaos Sylvia might create by getting caught between the Family and the IPC.

Topaz had approached Sylvia the moment she reached Penacony. She’d clearly come to recruit her.

She might even have been sending the Family a deliberate message:

‘Sylvia has close ties to the IPC’s representative.’

Sylvia also had the Astral Express behind her and was close to Robin. Watching her court both sides at once, Mei could only shake her head inwardly.

Sooner or later, this was bound to blow up in her face.

--+--

Marry Acheron - 427

--+--

Whatever Mei had thought of, Sylvia had naturally considered as well. Still, no matter how she turned it over, even the closest personal relationship shouldn’t be enough to push things to that level.

The Family had ruled Penacony unchallenged for far too long, and the changes Robin wanted clearly couldn’t happen without outside pressure. The Interastral Peace Corporation was the best source of that pressure.

As for the three-way balance Mei was worried about, Sylvia thought the Astral Express Crew was less likely to claim a place at the table than the Xianzhou Alliance or some other major faction.

Putting the Astral Express’s position aside, it simply didn’t have enough people. It had no known Emanator among its ranks, and even its Aeon was gone.

Under those circumstances, the Astral Express could use its reputation to serve as a witness or mediator at best.

Otherwise, why would anyone hand over a share of the profits for no reason? Who did business like that?

Mei, however, thought Sylvia was being far too optimistic. With Penacony’s situation growing more chaotic by the day, the odds of the two of them staying out of the fighting were slim.

There was also the Lord Ravager who’d soon arrive. Even if another Emanator agreed to fight them, Mei wouldn’t feel at ease unless she personally erased him with the power of Nihility. Unless the Antimatter Legion learned that Sylvia wasn’t someone to provoke, it’d only cause them more trouble later.

Besides, the Astral Express’s name and credibility carried far more weight across the universe than Sylvia imagined.

It wasn’t Sylvia’s fault that she didn’t understand that yet, since she hadn’t been with them for long, but Mei knew how valuable the Astral Express’s reputation could be.

That was especially true now, with Stellaron disasters breaking out one after another and only two Astral Express trains left. To put it bluntly, the Astral Express was the only group willing to shoulder the burden of reopening routes across the galaxy without asking for payment.

Before Mei and Sylvia joined, the Express had lacked enough top-tier strength to draw the attention of major powers. Now that it had the force to back up its reputation, its value was entirely different.

--+--

The two of them talked the entire way and only stopped once they reached Herta and Screwllum.

“You’re here.”

Herta nodded to them. Sylvia had handled things well this time, and for once, Herta thought she deserved some praise.

“Mr. Screwllum, these are the files Topaz asked me to pass on to you. Take a look.”

Sylvia uploaded the files to the laboratory’s terminal. The encryption wasn’t complicated, and Screwllum broke through it in moments, revealing a dense collection of documents and records.

“These contain a far more detailed account of the incident, including the experiments conducted after Chadwick’s physical death. Please pass my regards to Ms. Topaz. I’ll handle these files with care.”

The scenes they’d witnessed in the dream had only shown the broad outline. Screwllum now had access to the fuller truth. It didn’t differ much from what they already knew, but it filled in many missing details.

“As Ms. Sylvia suspected, the IPC extracted Chadwick’s memoria after his death and sealed it inside a Memory Bubble. The operation had been planned for years before it was carried out, which allowed them to preserve even Chadwick’s consciousness.”

“They then cooperated with The Family, allowing Chadwick’s memoria to remain active and continue existing within the dream.”

Herta clicked her tongue in contempt.

“The Family and the IPC are enemies. There’s no way cooperation that deep could’ve succeeded without some ugly exchange of interests behind the scenes.”

Screwllum nodded.

“Deduction: Ms. Topaz likely realized the same thing, which is why she chose to keep this information as leverage. She may possess even more precise intelligence.”

“That’s got nothing to do with us. You, though—”

Herta turned toward Sylvia. She’d heard all about how Sylvia had stirred up trouble over there.

“Don’t let yourself get dragged too deep into it.”

“Whoa, Herta. Caring about someone else? That’s rare.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? You’re one of the few decent Simulated Universe test pilots I’ve got. I won’t stand by while you waste your time on some ancient, rotten mess.”

Sylvia grinned. Mei, meanwhile, was staring at the device beyond the glass partition. A mass of thick, viscous memoria floated inside.

“Is Chadwick’s consciousness still awake?”

Screwllum gently shook his head.

“Chadwick had only retained a tiny fragment of himself. After this transfer, it’s unlikely he’ll be able to preserve his sense of self.”

“...I see. May you rest peacefully in the waking world.”

Mei whispered her farewell to the mass of memoria.

The process of seeing Chadwick off was simple. Once the device containing the memoria shut down, what remained would quickly lose its activity and disperse.

Yet at the very last moment, the consciousness that should’ve fallen silent stirred once more. Chadwick entrusted all his knowledge to Herta, hoping that if the IPC ever recreated that terrifying weapon, the knowledge within Herta’s mind could become the force needed to keep the corporation in check.

The dormant memoria slowly lost its remaining activity, and Chadwick finally fell into a true sleep. The knowledge he’d left behind, however, plunged Herta into deep thought.

Just as Sylvia turned to leave, Screwllum stopped her.

“Ms. Sylvia, Madam Herta previously asked me to remind you to test the Simulated Universe in case she forgot.”

“Did the Simulated Universe get an update?”

“No. The next update hasn’t been completed yet.”

Screwllum shook his head before explaining Herta’s reasoning.

“However, your power has recently passed another threshold. Perhaps this time, you’ll allow us to observe something new.”

The moment Screwllum finished, Herta’s voice came from beside him.

“Also, Stelle drops by every few days to run a couple rounds. You never come unless someone calls you over. Take a page from Stelle and show some initiative!”

Stelle treated the Simulated Universe like a full-dive video game, didn’t she?

In old games, plenty of scenes had been nothing more than black screens and lines of text. Inside the current Simulated Universe, those same scenes were fully rendered. Everything looked far more real, especially events involving the Aeons.

“Fine, fine. I’ll go test it now.”

Sylvia waved and pulled Mei out of the Seclusion Zone.

Testing the Simulated Universe was no big deal. Sylvia rarely came because she couldn’t be bothered to keep running back and forth. Besides, all they’d been testing lately was the Swarm Disaster.

Every run forced her to look at the Swarm blotting out the sky and the Imperator Insectorum looming behind them. It wasn’t exactly a pleasant sight.

Still, they didn’t have much choice. Because of the Permanence within Sylvia, she triggered events connected to Propagation far more efficiently than Stelle could.

--+--

With those thoughts in mind, Sylvia entered the Simulated Universe. Before the scene had even finished loading, a grinning mask appeared before her amid a burst of giggling laughter.

A strange sensation swept through every inch of her body.

“Aha—”

Sylvia couldn’t stop herself from laughing along. A white cat mask then appeared without a sound, covering half her face.

[Aha grants you their power. You become an insect, then their Emanator.]

[You stare blankly at the segmented limbs growing from your body and feel the power churning within you. Shrill laughter pours endlessly from your mouthparts.]

[An insect has become an Emanator of Elation. Such a strange existence draws the Imperator Insectorum’s gaze.]

[Are you my offspring, or a traitor to Elation?]

When Herta noticed those lines, she nearly blacked out.

“That bastard! What’re THEY trying to do now?!”

Sylvia could still maintain her awareness, but she could no longer answer Herta from within the Simulated Universe. Standing before the Aeon of Propagation, she opened her mouthparts and released another piercing laugh.

At the same time, the power pouring from the mask grew stronger. It quickly surged beyond heights even Emanators couldn’t reach, approaching and nearly matching Tayzzyronth.

[Tayzzyronth has discovered you, a traitor to the Swarm. They realize another Aeon has set their sights on them, so they attempt to devour you and make an example of you before the universe.]

[Countless members of the Swarm descend from the heavens, blotting out the sky, all to bury your existence.]

Oddly enough, Sylvia wasn’t overwhelmed by the Aeon’s power this time. When the endless Swarm rushed toward her, even her mad laughter finally stopped.

Then—

“Herta.”

“Sylvia?! You’re still lucid? I was just about to force-disconnect you!”

“Uh, strictly speaking, I can only talk. My body’s completely on autopilot.”

Her transformed insect body was tearing through the battlefield. A single flap of its wings sent mocking laughter rolling across the entire star system.

Sylvia could only watch as her body moved on instinct. She couldn’t control a shred of the absurd power coursing through it.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

As Herta voiced her confusion, Screwllum connected to the simulation as well.

“Deduction: Aha has poured ninety-nine percent of THEIR power into your body. An Aeon’s power can’t be controlled through human will.”

“Screwllum, you’re here too? Yeah, that sounds about right. I’m stuck watching from the sidelines.”

“Madam Herta intended to force-disconnect you, but there’s something I find more concerning. In previous simulations, an Aeon’s power nearly smothered your consciousness. This time, you remain fully awake.”

For the first time, a hint of puzzlement entered Screwllum’s elegant voice.

He and Herta both knew Sylvia had been chosen and had almost become an Emanator of Elation. Even so, the gulf between an Emanator and an Aeon was an uncrossable chasm. That Sylvia had reached this point in such a short time was almost impossible to explain.

“Uh, I’m not sure, but my mental resistance has gotten stronger.”

Sylvia remembered the mental-resistance ability she’d drawn earlier. She couldn’t tell whether it was truly this effective or whether some other factor was involved.

Maybe Aha was secretly playing the run for her. With that Aeon, even a ridiculous explanation like that seemed possible.

Herta’s voice rang beside Sylvia’s ear.

“Still, this is a good opportunity. They say Tayzzyronth was brought down by several Aeons working together, and Aha was among them. Maybe this time we’ll pull off something incredible and witness the battle between Aeons more directly.”

Usually, all they could capture was the aftermath of the battle and the fallen Aeon left behind once the dust had settled. This time, Sylvia was showing them the powers of Elation and Propagation through her own eyes.

At that moment, a figure appeared in the void. They seemed suspended by countless threads and wore an enormous golden halo and flowing headdress, their form ethereal yet imposing.

“Ena the Order is making a move? Wait—the Preservation’s here too!”

Ena appeared first, followed by the Aeon of Preservation. Sylvia, standing in for Elation, somehow pulled in a body that looked like Stelle’s from nowhere.

Herta froze.

This was turning into an Aeon reunion. Why had Sylvia dragged Stelle’s data into it?

Then Herta realized that wasn’t Stelle.

That was freaking Akivili!

Five Aeons began battling inside the Simulated Universe. Aha—or rather, Sylvia—fought harder than anyone else.

Ena and the Preservation both cast Sylvia strange looks. They were probably wondering whether Aha held some personal grudge against the Propagation, considering how viciously they were attacking.

Sylvia answered them with nothing but a shrill laugh. Somehow, that raised the difficulty for everyone, and the battle exploded into even greater violence.

At that instant, everything went black.

Before Sylvia could react, her consciousness jolted. When her vision returned, she was back inside Herta’s office.

“...What happened?”

Sylvia rubbed her arm as feeling returned to it. She hadn’t finished watching the movie yet.

The battle between Aeons had been abstract, carrying the strange feeling of a clash raging to the end of time while reality itself was ground into dust. Still, it’d looked incredible.

The figure wearing Stelle’s form had been the only humanoid one. Sylvia had spent most of the battle watching them.

“The Simulated Universe crashed.”

“What?”

Sylvia turned in surprise and saw Herta approaching with a deep frown. She didn’t look pleased.

“It wasn’t your fault. The system encountered an unknown error, and the simulation was forced to stop. Screwllum’s already checking it.”

“Well, uh...”

“More importantly, did anything feel strange?”

Herta tipped her chin as though she were hinting at something. Sylvia assumed there was something on her body and looked herself over, earning a stare from Herta that suggested she was looking at an idiot.

Sylvia cleared her throat.

“Ahem. I think I’m fine. Nothing feels wrong.”

“You weren’t expecting that mask to crawl out of the Simulated Universe, were you?”

“Don’t say things like that!”

Sylvia shuddered, afraid the mask might truly appear in the next second.

“Tch. Look at you. Aha’s an Aeon, sure, but you think THEY’ve got nothing better to do than watch you all day?”

Herta gave Sylvia a sidelong glance. She could barely be bothered to mock her.

Besides, Sylvia had already rejected Aha to their face once. Would Aha truly try the same thing again? Didn’t THEY have any pride?

“Enough. Stop jumping at shadows.”

Herta rolled her eyes. Far too much had happened today. First there’d been Chadwick, and now the Simulated Universe had encountered a bug.

Both she and Screwllum would be busy for a while.

“Go on, get out of here. If you feel sick, head to the medical bay. If you’re fine, go back and sleep. Come test it again once the Simulated Universe’s fixed.”

Sylvia shrugged, knowing a technical problem like this had nothing to do with her. When Herta didn’t say anything else, she left.

The moment Sylvia stepped out of Herta’s office, she spotted Mei sitting nearby and talking with a little girl. When Mei saw her emerge, she said goodbye to the girl and walked over.

“Finished?”

“All done. Let’s head back.”

--+--

Marry Acheron - 428

--+--

Aboard the Astral Express, Sylvia handed out the gifts she’d bought in Penacony to the rest of the crew.

She stayed for a while to chat with Himeko and the others, and she also warned them about the Lord Ravager, telling everyone to remain on guard.

Himeko told her that they’d probably be setting out for Penacony within the next day or two.

--+--

By the time Sylvia and Mei returned to the Reverie, they’d barely set foot inside before an invitation from Topaz arrived. Sylvia didn’t enter the Dreamscape right away. Instead, she went to Topaz’s room.

“Come in. I brought this wine from Pier Point. I’m quite fond of it, so give it a try.”

Topaz swirled a glass bottle whose label was written in a script Sylvia didn’t recognize. Whatever it was, the wine had a rich aroma.

“Thanks.”

Sylvia accepted the glass, took a moment to smell it, then sat down on the sofa. Topaz settled beside her without hesitation.

“I thought you’d come with Ms. Acheron.”

“Why?”

When Sylvia gave her a puzzled look, Topaz seemed just as confused.

“Haven’t you heard the news about the Lord Ravager?”

Sylvia understood at once and smiled.

“I’ve heard. But we’re not so far apart that we need to go everywhere together.”

When Acheron had suggested that they stay together, she hadn’t meant that they needed to remain joined at the hip. She only meant that the distance between them couldn’t exceed the width of a single planet.

To Mei, there wasn’t much difference between Sylvia standing in front of her and Sylvia standing on the opposite side of the planet. Their unusual mental connection would tell Mei the instant anything happened to her.

“Then I suppose you still don’t know which Lord Ravager is coming.”

Topaz crossed one leg over the other and relaxed against the sofa. Beside her, Numby quietly stole a few sips from her glass.

Sylvia paused with her own drink halfway to her lips and stared at Topaz in surprise.

“The IPC’s intelligence network can even track the movements of a Lord Ravager?”

An Emanator wasn’t like an ordinary target. Once one ventured into an uncharted region, anyone trying to follow or investigate them would be left wandering blind, forced to take long detours.

That was simply how unreasonable a universe divided by Imaginary energy could be.

Topaz only smiled at Sylvia’s surprise. She neither confirmed nor denied anything.

In truth, luck had played a large part in obtaining this particular piece of intelligence.

Under normal circumstances, tracking a Lord Ravager would’ve been almost impossible, but Topaz saw no reason to explain that.

There wasn’t any point in advertising the IPC’s weaknesses.

“Would you like to know?”

“…Are you going to charge me Credits?”

“Of course not. I’m a member of the Strategic Investment Department, not someone who thinks about nothing but Credits.”

Topaz tilted her head back and took a generous drink.

“Investment, returns, and mutually beneficial cooperation. That’s the purpose of investment.”

She wiped the corner of her mouth and got straight to the point.

“According to the IPC’s intelligence, the one heading for Penacony is most likely Zephyro.”

“The one who’s supposed to rival an entire army by himself? I thought it’d be Celenova. Why him?”

Sylvia didn’t know much about Zephyro. She’d only read the few brief records preserved by the Xianzhou.

Celenova served as a vanguard who led the Antimatter Legion into battle, while Zephyro was clearly the type who functioned as an army by himself. At least according to Xianzhou records, Zephyro preferred to act personally rather than let the Antimatter Legion sweep everything aside.

There was one other detail. Welt had once mentioned someone capable of setting whole star systems ablaze, and he might’ve been referring to Zephyro.

Whatever the truth, they were both Lord Ravagers, but Zephyro was undoubtedly stronger than Phantylia.

“I’m not sure why,” Topaz said, shaking her head. “If it were Celenova, we’d expect a huge force from the Antimatter Legion to be heading for Penacony as well.”

That went beyond what even the IPC could discover.

“Hmm…”

Sylvia thought it over. She wasn’t sure which of the two was stronger, Mei or Zephyro.

Would they be able to kill him when the time came?

Back on the Luofu, if Phantylia had been more cautious and fled sooner, Mei might not have managed to cut her down so thoroughly.

Seeing Sylvia frown as she sank into thought, Topaz smiled.

“Would you like some help? Diamond, the head of the Strategic Investment Department and my direct superior, is every bit as formidable as Zephyro.”

Sylvia gave her an unimpressed look. Diamond’s actual strength wasn’t even the main issue.

“…You think I can casually summon the head of one of the IPC’s largest departments?”

“That’s because you don’t understand how we operate. We’re the IPC. We’re the Strategic Investment Department. Unlike the Xianzhou’s generals, our department head would gladly act in person if the deal were worthwhile.”

Topaz was exaggerating, but she wasn’t exactly lying. The IPC was still the IPC. If a sufficiently valuable opportunity appeared, there was a real chance Diamond would personally take action.

Sylvia’s current value simply wasn’t high enough to justify it. Topaz was making an attractive promise that she couldn’t yet guarantee.

She also knew that Sylvia had a good relationship with the Xianzhou, so she’d deliberately used its generals as a comparison. The previous crisis had occurred on the Luofu, which was why the General of Divine Foresight had joined Sylvia in fighting the enemy.

This time, however, the crisis was unfolding in Penacony. Given the Xianzhou Alliance’s circumstances, it clearly wouldn’t send one of its generals to provide free assistance.

From Topaz’s perspective, the arrival of a Lord Ravager was also an opportunity she could exploit. Whether the Family could stop him or not, one careless mistake might leave Penacony in ruins, and the Family wouldn’t even have anywhere to go and cry about it.

If the IPC could intervene somehow, it wouldn’t need to accomplish much. Simply entering the Asdana star system with a military force would create a breach in the Family’s defenses.

All in all, Topaz was extremely pleased with the chaos surrounding Penacony. The Family still had a firm grip on the situation, and it had kept opportunistic bounty hunters and terrorists outside, preventing any serious unrest.

Even so, Penacony would clearly become much livelier in the near future. That would give her the perfect chance to fish in troubled waters.

Topaz could tell that Sylvia wasn’t especially interested in forming an alliance and probably had plenty of secrets she had no intention of sharing. Still, the thought that Sylvia had helped create the current situation made Topaz extremely fond of her.

An alliance would be ideal, but it didn’t matter if Sylvia refused. As long as she kept doing what she was doing, Topaz would eventually find an opportunity she could seize.

Besides, Sylvia was even cuter in person than she’d appeared in the recordings. Topaz almost wanted to pull her into a hug and ruffle her hair.

Sylvia couldn’t possibly guess everything going through Topaz’s mind, but it wasn’t hard to tell that Topaz’s proposal had to benefit the IPC. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be promoting it so eagerly or borrowing Diamond’s reputation to make the offer sound more convincing.

Topaz’s pitch was built on two assumptions: that she didn’t know the true extent of Sylvia’s forces, and that Sylvia was genuinely worried about handling the Lord Ravager.

In reality, Sylvia wasn’t in any hurry to devise a plan against Zephyro. No matter how appealing Topaz made the offer sound, Sylvia gave her no commitment.

There was no chance she’d use those terms to establish cooperation with Topaz. She’d immediately place herself in a weaker position, and the IPC’s interests would inevitably take priority.

Clink.

Their glasses met in the quiet room.

“Cheers.”

Despite everything running through their minds, the two of them drank together quite happily.

After seeing Sylvia’s reaction to the news about Zephyro, Topaz realized that she must still have another card to play. She simply couldn’t tell what it was.

The IPC wasn’t all-powerful. Sylvia tended to appear in places like the Xianzhou Luofu and Penacony, neither of which the IPC could infiltrate at will.

Topaz knew that Sylvia seemed to be involved in a major project at Herta Space Station and had dealings with several members of the Genius Society. What she didn’t know was that Ruan Mei was currently conducting research on Sylvia’s planet and had even modified Sylvia herself.

“Come to think of it, you’ve been in Penacony for quite a while,” Topaz said as she drank. “Have you solved the mystery of the Watchmaker's Legacy yet?”

She’d nearly forgotten about that particular puzzle.

Some people outside Penacony had connected the recent chaos to the Watchmaker's Legacy, but Topaz knew those stories were only rumors. No one had yet uncovered what the legacy actually was.

“Hmm…”

Sylvia had heard about it from Micah. Once he’d learned that she was a member of the Astral Express, he’d told her that the Watchmaker's Legacy lay behind the cemetery in Dreamflux Reef.

Sylvia simply hadn’t gone there yet. She intended to wait until Himeko and the others arrived.

After all, Himeko was the Astral Express’s navigator in this generation. Both sentiment and reason suggested that she should be the one to witness it.

“I’ve found a few clues, but I haven’t uncovered it yet,” Sylvia said, shaking her head. “I’m planning to wait until Himeko and the others reach Penacony. Right now, I’m more interested in the auction.”

“The auction…”

Topaz gently swirled the wine in her glass. Even now, she still couldn’t figure out what Sylvia was planning.

Surely she wasn’t doing all this just to hold an auction.

Was it some grand gathering for the Masked Fools?

Given the Masked Fools’ usual behavior, that wasn’t impossible. Still, as far as Topaz could tell, Sylvia wasn’t the sort of person who’d willingly sit at the same table as them.

--+--

At the same time, a starship built in the distinct style of the Xianzhou entered the Asdana star system.

“Ugh…”

The moment they entered a region saturated with Memoria, one of the passengers pressed a hand to her forehead as discomfort swept through her body.

Yukong, who represented the delegation on this trip, glanced toward an elderly man beside her. Despite his perfectly ordinary appearance, he showed no signs of discomfort.

The young girl he’d brought with him wasn’t doing as well. She held her forehead and looked as though she might be sick.

“Ha ha, Yunli, there’s no need to force yourself if you’re feeling unwell. You can return to your room and rest.”

“I-I’m not—ugh! I’m fine! I just need a moment.”

Yukong pressed her lips together to hide a smile as she watched the child stubbornly endure it.

She was rather cute.

“Oh, so this is the Asdana star system? Yunli, come over here and let me have a look at you.”

Bailu had been leaning against the observation window, staring outside. She hurried over to Yunli in a few quick steps and raised her gourd, ready to examine her.

“Ah… Thank you, Lady Bailu.”

Despite Bailu’s small size, Yunli showed her no disrespect.

Yukong watched Bailu’s tail sway from side to side. The young Vidyadhara was clearly in an excellent mood.

What Yukong couldn’t understand was how Jing Yuan had managed to persuade the Vidyadhara Preceptors to let Bailu leave the Xianzhou alone. Not a single Vidyadhara attendant had accompanied her.

There was only a Vidyadhara woman from the Zhuming. Since she also studied medicine, she’d grown close to Bailu over the past few days.

To be honest, Yukong had felt from the beginning that Jing Yuan was deliberately removing Bailu from the situation on the Luofu. Her instincts told her that he was probably planning something.

Bailu, as usual, hadn’t given it a second thought. The moment she heard that she’d be allowed to leave the Xianzhou and even visit Sylvia, she’d been beside herself with joy.

Yukong watched Yunli’s symptoms ease and silently sighed.

Whatever Jing Yuan was planning had nothing to do with the Helm Master of the Sky-Faring Commission.

What troubled her more was whether the current situation was truly serious enough to require the personal presence of a Xianzhou general. Weren’t they only answering Sylvia’s invitation and traveling to Penacony to join the festivities?

That was what Jing Yuan had told her at the beginning.

Yukong had prepared accordingly. She’d only brought a handful of people Sylvia already knew, intending to travel under the Luofu’s banner and enjoy a quiet vacation in Penacony.

Then Jing Yuan had introduced the unassuming elderly man accompanying them.

He was the general of the Zhuming.

The revelation had nearly made Yukong jump out of her skin. He didn’t look anything like the recordings she’d seen.

He claimed that he was merely taking his granddaughter out to see the wider universe. But if sightseeing was really all he wanted, why would he choose an event like this?

Why had he also joined the delegation anonymously?

Whenever Yukong remembered that she was somehow supposed to lead a group containing someone like him, her head began to ache.

Her concern only deepened after they heard that a Lord Ravager intended to cause trouble in Penacony.

Surely two Emanators weren’t going to start fighting there.

Probably not…

The Xianzhou had countless delves separating its spaces, yet the sudden eruption of the Ambrosial Arbor had still nearly torn the Luofu apart. Yukong couldn’t imagine what Penacony would look like if a Lord Ravager arrived with an army.

The Xianzhou delegation itself was small. Even including the three people from the Zhuming, they numbered fewer than ten.

That was mostly because the Xianzhou didn’t share the IPC’s long history of conflict with the Family. Bringing a few extra people shouldn’t cause any problems.

Once they reached Penacony, Yukong planned to speak with Sylvia first and learn what was really happening. Rumors had been spreading everywhere lately. One claimed that an Emanator had descended, while another claimed a battle had already begun.

Some people said a Stellaron would soon appear in Penacony and cut the planet off from the rest of the universe. Others claimed that the Family had betrayed its principles and become followers of Order.

Yukong could dismiss some of those stories, but others were impossible to judge. She couldn’t tell how many had been spread by the Family and how many had come from people with their own agendas.

Even the story Jing Yuan had told her about the mask of an Emanator of Elation being placed up for auction sounded absurd.

Would anyone truly believe something like that?

Then again, if it was true, Yukong didn’t dare imagine what they might encounter during this trip to Penacony.

--+--

Marry Acheron - 429

--+--

Inside the dream—

Sylvia was on her way to meet up with Mei when something unexpected stopped her in her tracks. Nine parts out of ten, she was stunned.

“Duke Inferno???”

Sylvia stared wide-eyed at Duke Inferno, who’d appeared out of nowhere. She must’ve gotten up too fast—she was seeing dead people in Penacony now, even if this was only a dream.

Sure, it might be possible to survive as some lingering consciousness here, but Duke Inferno had been cut down by Mei in a single slash. If he was still alive, then ghosts really did exist.

Sylvia tried opening the Truth-Seeking Sigil, but even through its sight, the figure before her still looked exactly like Duke Inferno. This wasn’t the kind of illusion Sparkle used.

“Am I really seeing a ghost? Or is this one of his kind pretending to be him?”

While Sylvia was still thinking, the false Duke Inferno raised a hand. Flames bright and fierce as daylight burst forth.

“Sylvia, I’ve returned from purgatory! As promised, I’ll bring a glorious destruction to Penacony, and the flames of that destruction will begin with you!”

The fire swallowed the entire street in an instant.

Clang—!

Sylvia drew her greatsword and split the wall of flame like a parted sea, blocking the iron-hard cane that came crashing through it. She kicked Duke Inferno back, flipped through the air, and drove forward with another slash.

The greatsword dragged the surrounding fire into its wake and came down amid a rolling shriek. It missed Duke Inferno’s chest by a hair, but the blade tore open the ground and blasted the flames away in a pillar of fire.

Sylvia arched a brow. He was a little weak—not helpless for a Pathstrider, but nowhere near the real Duke Inferno.

She’d been there when Mei cut him down, and she’d felt his presence before he died.

The man in front of her had his appearance and nothing else. He was probably one of Duke Inferno’s kin, but where had he come from, and why was he pretending to be Duke Inferno?

Sylvia had finished testing him and was about to end the fight when nearly a hundred people poured in from every side of the street. They shouted a mess of slogans and opened fire.

“That’s her! Once we take the mask, we’ll have everything!”

“Don’t let our leader fight alone! We must rebuild the Ever-Flame Mansion!”

Sylvia’s face filled with question marks. She switched her core over to the Herrscher of the Void, opened dozens of spatial gates, and swallowed every bullet into subspace before sending them all back to their owners.

“That’s strange. The Ever-Flame Mansion was wiped out, so who’s still using its name for this nonsense?”

Sylvia shook her head. In the time it took to trade a single blow, every last one of them had gone down.

The fake Duke Inferno had clearly lost the will to fight. Even the flames drifting around him had begun to tremble, which only made Sylvia more certain that he was an impostor.

The real Duke Inferno was the kind of man who could say, “Destruction is a glorious instant,” and walk calmly toward his death. Even as an enemy, he’d carried himself like a Pathstrider worthy of respect.

“Impostor, Duke Inferno may have been my enemy, but he was still worthy of respect.”

Sylvia raised a hand and pointed at him. A Subspace Lance appeared beside her, followed by several layers of spatial gates that stretched it through warped space and built crushing pressure around it.

“Since we’re in a dream, all I can give you is a lesson. Next time, though, I’ll send you to your death.”

BOOM—!!

The Subspace Lance shot forward with a roaring gale. The impostor didn’t even have time to beg before it struck him.

The impact churned his Memoria into chaos. The instant he felt death, the dreampool forcibly severed his dream.

--+--

Inside a guest room at The Reverie, a Fire Demon who looked almost identical to Duke Inferno thrashed his way out of the dreampool.

“Aah—!!”

Wild flames spread from his body, scorching the floor and walls black. He gasped for air and stared around in panic.

“Hah... hah... How was that woman so strong? Was I tricked?”

He belonged to the same Fire Demon clan as Ifrit. His faction had never amounted to much, but he happened to look almost exactly like him.

After Ifrit’s death, someone had found him and backed his attempt to gather the shattered Ever-Flame Mansion again.

The rebuilt group was weak, since all its elites had died in that disaster, but they’d received one vital piece of information: whoever took Penacony’s mask could become a top power known across the cosmos.

So they’d come to Penacony under the name of Duke Inferno. Somehow, they’d even managed to check into The Reverie after losing their invitation, and they’d all assumed the real threat was the Galaxy Ranger, not Sylvia.

“No... Why did I throw everything away just to attack Sylvia?!”

The more he thought, the more he realized something was wrong. Even if Sylvia had truly been weak, how could they have been sure the Galaxy Ranger wouldn’t come after them?

He’d never planned to make such a loud attack. His original plan had been to hide, learn the situation, and decide what to do afterward.

So why had he done it?

“My, my~ You actually noticed? I suppose you weren’t completely worthless after all.”

Thump. Thump.

The dull tap of high heels sounded against the carpet. A black-haired woman in a white dress appeared as though she’d stepped out of thin air, a devil’s tail swaying behind her.

“You... It was you?!”

He remembered her now. Constance had been a member of the Ever-Flame Mansion, one of Duke Inferno’s children who should’ve died with him.

She was the one who’d found him and coaxed him into posing as Duke Inferno.

“You controlled me. You pushed me into rebuilding the Ever-Flame Mansion, then forced me to attack Sylvia. What are you trying to do?”

“Hehe~ Nothing much. I only wanted to say hello, and entering Penacony alone would’ve drawn too much attention.”

Constance walked toward the dreampool one slow step at a time. Each step sounded like the next tick of his death sentence.

“So I’m useless to you now?”

“Oh? I thought you’d beg. You’ve got more backbone than I expected.”

Constance lifted a hand. Deep blue flames carrying a soul-gripping force pressed toward the false Duke Inferno.

“Woman, even if I die, I’ll make you pay!”

The impostor spat out the curse in a rush. His instincts as a Fire Demon drove him toward the glory of mutual destruction.

Flames erupted from inside him. Light and heat twisted into a violent reaction as he burned all his remaining power for one glorious instant, all to make the woman before him pay.

Boom—!!!

The blast of fire tore apart the doorframe, but The Reverie’s safety systems triggered almost at once. Before the blaze could spread, fire-suppression devices activated throughout the room.

White foam sprayed from every direction, and strange machinery joined in. Within seconds, the flames had been crushed, leaving behind a ruined room and a blackened hall.

The fire hadn’t spread more than ten meters down the corridor. Even so, several guests in nearby rooms and a few of the Family’s attendants were caught in the blast.

“Heh~”

A soft laugh vanished beneath the alarms and cries for help. The woman in white was already gone.

“Sylvia, Sylvia~ I’ve come for you. You’ll make the finest piece in my collection~”

--+--

Sylvia heard about the incident later in Golden Hour, from people talking as they passed by. The Ever-Flame Mansion had launched a terrorist attack on The Reverie, Ifrit had died at the scene, and the Family had detained every surviving member.

The Family had also compensated all affected guests with extra dream time as an official apology. Sylvia and Mei exchanged a look.

“That’s it? It feels far too deliberate,” Mei said with a frown.

One moment, the Ever-Flame Mansion had been surrounding Sylvia. The next, Ifrit was dead and the rebuilt faction had been taken into custody by the Family.

The remnants really were insignificant, and the false Ifrit had only been an impostor, but being weak didn’t mean they had to be stupid too. Losing to Sylvia wasn’t reason enough to blow himself up.

Something was clearly wrong.

Sylvia nodded. “It’s too deliberate. It’s almost as though someone wanted to tell me there was something wrong with the Ever-Flame Mansion.”

“Could this be the work of a Lord Ravager? Maybe one of them came to Penacony to greet you?” Mei didn’t sound convinced, but anyone capable of gathering the Ever-Flame Mansion’s remnants would’ve needed some status and influence. Could one of Ifrit’s kin really have commanded that much loyalty on his own?

“...Zephyro doesn’t seem like this sort of person. Isn’t he more of a musclehead who’d charge straight at me and throw a punch?”

“That’s true.”

Mei agreed at once. Zephyro wasn’t the type to wander around much, but when he did act, he was always blunt and brutal. This didn’t feel like his style.

Sylvia thought for a moment, and the image of a woman in white drifted through her mind. Her brows drew together.

“Mei, could it have been Constance? The one we met at the Ever-Flame Mansion that day?”

“Constance? That strange Pathstrider of Remembrance?”

“Yeah. From what I know about those Remembrance types, it’s possible. You weren’t taking your swing that seriously, so she might’ve escaped the aftershock.”

Mei’s slash back then had already been restrained enough that even Jepella hadn’t been erased by Nihility. Constance had also acted strangely from the start, so if anyone present could’ve survived, she was the most likely one.

Mei considered it. “It’s possible. Her identity would’ve been enough to rebuild the Ever-Flame Mansion, and memory manipulation could’ve made the false Ifrit do all those senseless things.” The impostor’s death had been far too strange to dismiss as chance.

“Either way, both Remembrance and Enigmata are good at tampering with memories. Who the hell knows which one we’re dealing with?” Sylvia clicked her tongue. People on those two Paths were troublesome because they appeared and vanished without leaving a trail.

At least neither Sylvia nor Mei was vulnerable to that kind of mental attack. Whatever scheme was at work, it wouldn’t catch both of them without either noticing.

“Tch. I knew Sampo was up to no good. He’s dragged every kind of nonsense toward me.”

Mei laughed. Sampo was still helping with the auction, after all. If people tried to kill him every day, he wouldn’t get any work done.

“Fine, whatever. Sparkle vanishes all day and never tells anyone what she’s doing, but at least Sampo’s a little more reliable.”

Sylvia sighed and walked with Mei toward Yukong and the others.

--+--

“Bailu? You really came. And... who’s this?”

“I’m Yunli, from the Xianzhou Zhuming. I came to ask you for guidance in swordsmanship.”

Yunli crouched barefoot on the sofa with both hands gripping the backrest. She stared at Sylvia with such bright intensity that she looked ready to pounce at any second.

Bailu, meanwhile, held a fork in one hand and stuffed herself with cake. She only spared enough time to lift her other hand and wave twice at Sylvia.

As for how Bailu had made it here, Sylvia decided not to think too hard about it. Jing Yuan had probably arranged something again.

Bailu soon noticed Mei. With her cheeks still puffed full of cake, she hurried over and offered to examine her for free.

Mei didn’t mind. She sat calmly in front of Bailu and held out her wrist, while Sylvia glanced over once and left them to it.

That left the young girl named Yunli. Her lips were pressed into a tiny W as she watched Sylvia with open expectation, while Sylvia studied her in return.

So this was the style of the Xianzhou Zhuming: a short top that was almost a vest, a short skirt, bare feet, and a striking headdress. The details were different, but the outfit reminded Sylvia of something from an old historical drama with a far-western flair.

Was the Zhuming so hot because it specialized in forging?

“Swordsmanship? Why did you decide to ask me? Aren’t there enough sword users on the Xianzhou for you to challenge?”

“Because you defeated Phantylia! And Grandpa—I mean, the general of the Zhuming said you’re good with a greatsword, just like me!”

Yunli’s eyes went wide and seemed to shine. If she’d had a tail, it would’ve been spinning like a propeller.

“Uh... Sure. We can try it if you really want.”

Sylvia couldn’t bring herself to admit that she’d learned most of her swordsmanship in a hurry. In most fights, she relied on hitting hard enough that technique stopped mattering.

The moment Yunli heard her agree, she pushed off the back of the sofa and sprang down in front of her. Her skirt fluttered with the jump, and Sylvia politely shifted her gaze away.

Clang—!

Yunli pulled out something huge, black, and heavy enough to look like a slab of iron.

“Whoa—now that’s the Heavy Xuan Ruler!”

Sylvia stared in shock. The broad, door-like blade, the hilt, even the apparent weight—it looked exactly the same.

“What Heavy Xuan Ruler? This is a sword—” Yunli started to protest, but her eyes dropped to the blade. Her attitude changed at once. “Hmm. You like that name? Fine. Once Old Mettle’s fully forged, maybe I’ll use it as a nickname.”

“Heh~”

Sylvia laughed. At this rate, Yunli might as well rename herself Xiao Yan too.

Yunli didn’t know why Sylvia was laughing and assumed she’d found it strange that she talked to her sword. She pursed her lips, then settled into a fighting stance.

--+--

Marry Acheron - 430

--+--

Yunli wasn't pleased, but she knew other people truly couldn't hear a sword's voice. She decided not to argue and raised the greatsword, which was as broad as a door, before settling into a defensive stance.

“Yunli of the Zhuming. Please instruct me.”

“All right, all right. I don't even know how old you are, but you're somehow more impatient than I am. Come on. We'll fight in the courtyard.”

Quite a few people had come from the Xianzhou, and The Family had treated them well. They'd been given a luxurious villa to stay in, complete with a courtyard large enough for a practice match.

Tingyun hadn't even had the chance to greet Sylvia before the two of them started heading outside to fight. She could only give Sylvia a meaningful look before answering her earlier question.

“Miss Yunli is still quite young. She should be around the same age as you, Benefactor.”

“You're that young?”

That age wouldn't have been considered old even among ordinary people. Among the Xianzhou's long-life species, who could easily live for centuries, it was downright tiny.

“What's wrong with my age? Don't underestimate me!”

Yunli bared her teeth at Sylvia, making her laugh again. The girl was rather cute, with round cheeks that looked perfect for pinching.

As that thought crossed Sylvia's mind, flames rose around her body. Armor replaced her everyday clothes piece by piece, and her loose hair drew itself into a neat tie. A crimson greatsword was then born from the fire.

Clang—

Once she stepped outside, Sylvia held the sword in one hand, gave it an easy swing, and drove its point into the stone floor.

Those two casual movements were enough to make Yunli realize that there was something unusual about her.

Sylvia's sword couldn't have been as heavy as Old Mettle, but it was still far too heavy for anyone to wave around one-handed as though it were a toy.

“Watch yourself!”

Yunli considered herself the challenger, so she took the initiative. She dragged Old Mettle behind her, charged forward, and used her momentum to swing the massive blade at Sylvia.

Sylvia didn't dodge the first attack. She raised her own sword and cut diagonally toward the huge black blade.

Boom!

Instead of the clear ring of colliding steel, the impact sounded like a hammer smashing into the ground. Sylvia twisted her waist and stepped back, letting her arm follow the force as she swept her blade aside and shed the weight behind Yunli's strike.

Yunli spun in a full circle with Old Mettle, using the greatsword's momentum to steady herself.

'She's strong.'

That clash had given Sylvia a clear sense of Yunli's raw power. The blow had been heavy, and so was the sword itself. Had Sylvia faced that strength when she'd first arrived on the Xianzhou, she might not have been able to handle it.

Yunli stared at Sylvia, who'd regained her footing after taking only one step back. Her surprise only strengthened her belief that she'd chosen the right person.

Sylvia was truly strong.

“Again!”

Yunli became far more focused this time. She dragged Old Mettle around Sylvia, took several running steps, then flipped through the air and brought the greatsword down toward Sylvia's head. Her movements were much faster than before.

Sylvia had no intention of meeting this attack head-on. She stepped sideways while swinging her own sword, striking Old Mettle from the flank.

The tremendous force altered the heavy blade's momentum and sent it veering off course.

“Whoa!”

Yunli cried out as the twisting sword dragged her off balance. She began falling to the side and quickly released the hilt, rolling across the ground to recover. Old Mettle crashed beside the path.

Sylvia wasn't surprised. A greatsword had overwhelming power and weight, but if that weight couldn't suppress the opponent, a fighting style that let the swordsman follow the weapon's momentum became a huge weakness.

Once Yunli committed to a swing, it was hard for her to change her move. When something unexpected happened, she even had to release the sword to keep herself from being dragged down with it.

--+--

Watching from inside the villa, Mei smiled faintly. Yunli reminded her of Sylvia when she'd first started learning the sword.

Sylvia's style had been similar back then. Her control over her weapon had been average at best, and while her sword wasn't as heavy as Yunli's, she'd had the misfortune of training against Mei.

That only made Sylvia's flaws stand out more.

Under such relentless pressure, Sylvia had been forced to wield a greatsword as though it were a swift blade.

Whenever she moved even a little too slowly, the sword would be knocked from her hands and Mei's scabbard would strike one of her vital points.

Looking at Yunli, Sylvia remembered those painful days as well.

'I really was forced to improve.'

Anyone trained like that by an Emanator who'd practiced the blade for who knew how many Amber Eras would make rapid progress. Mei had only become busier recently. Otherwise, Sylvia would probably still be getting beaten around during training.

--+--

Yunli crouched beside Old Mettle and gripped its hilt again. She watched Sylvia carefully, seeming to consider her next move.

Inside the villa, a tiny old man noticed the commotion and emerged from one of the inner rooms.

“Oh?”

The first person Huaiyan noticed was Acheron, seated beside Bailu. Then he glanced through the window and saw Yunli hurling Old Mettle at Sylvia.

“Heh...”

Huaiyan shook his head with a smile. That troublesome child hadn't even told him guests had arrived before running off to bother them.

A single glance was enough for him to see that Sylvia was no ordinary fighter. Her match with Yunli was little more than an adult playing with a child.

Mei seemed to sense something and turned around. The instant she saw Huaiyan, a trace of surprise crossed her face.

When Huaiyan noticed Acheron looking at him, he walked over with a genial smile.

“Miss Acheron, I'm Huaiyan. Please accept my apology on behalf of my unruly granddaughter.”

“There's no need to apologize, Mr. Huaiyan. Your granddaughter is very talented. To possess such skill at her age gives her a promising future.”

Mei wasn't offering empty praise. Yunli was only around ten, yet she'd already reached an impressive level. Like the young boy who stayed beside Jing Yuan, her talent was extraordinary.

As long as she survived the next century or so, her achievements were sure to be remarkable.

--+--

The sparring match continued as they spoke.

After hurling the door-sized greatsword, Yunli burst forward the moment it blocked Sylvia's view. She shaped one hand into a claw and tried to catch her opponent off guard.

Sylvia swept Old Mettle aside with her sword, but Yunli was already in front of her. The girl's cute, round face was fierce with determination, and she seemed intent on wrenching Sylvia's weapon away.

Unfortunately for her, Sylvia's keen senses had also been beaten into her by Mei. She'd prepared herself the moment Yunli came close.

In that split second, Sylvia even had time to smile at her. She turned sideways, reached out, and gently caught Yunli by the wrist.

With only a slight pull, she changed Yunli's path through the air. Yunli's eyes widened in alarm as the hand that should've caught Old Mettle's hilt missed it by inches.

Boom!

The greatsword crashed into the courtyard. Yunli lost her balance and nearly landed headfirst, but Sylvia caught her by the ankle before she could hit the ground.

The girl ran around barefoot, yet her feet were surprisingly clean. Sylvia briefly wondered whether the power of Abundance preserved the bodies of long-life species to an even greater degree than she'd thought.

“Mmph...”

Left hanging upside down, Yunli hurriedly pressed her skirt back into place. Her cheeks reddened as she turned to stare at Sylvia, but she didn't seem embarrassed or discouraged by her defeat.

Instead, her eyes shone with excitement.

Yunli considered herself a genius, but she hadn't expected her limited skill to stand against a Xianzhou general in a serious fight. She hadn't thought she'd win in the first place.

Besides, if she could become as strong as Sylvia, subduing cursed swords would be easy.

“That was amazing!”

“...Uh.”

Sylvia had never been good at dealing with such direct enthusiasm. It was even more awkward while she was still holding the girl's ankle.

She released her, letting Yunli turn over and land safely. Sylvia then dismissed her armor and greatsword.

By the time she finished, Yunli was already standing in front of her with her phone held in both hands. The glowing screen displayed a friend request.

“Can I come find you again when you're free?”

“When I've got time...”

Sylvia didn't refuse. She accepted Yunli's request and added her to her circle of friends.

“Thank you, Big Sis Sylvia!”

“Huh?”

Hearing Yunli call her that, Sylvia couldn't resist smiling and rubbing the girl's head.

She really was adorable.

“Here, have a snack.”

Sylvia reached into her supplies by habit and pulled out a Berrypheasant Skewer. She'd only meant to see whether Yunli wanted it, but the girl's entire face lit up the moment she saw the treat.

She opened her mouth and took a huge bite.

“Mmm—thank you! It's delicious!”

Yunli chewed with her cheeks puffed out, mumbling her thanks between bites. She finished the entire skewer in moments, making her already round face look even rounder.

--+--

“Hehe... Miss Sylvia is every bit as kind as the rumors say. It seems I've been rather narrow-minded.”

Huaiyan stroked his beard and murmured the words with a smile. No one else heard him, but Acheron caught every word.

He'd meant them for her.

During their brief conversation, Huaiyan had recognized that Acheron was far from ordinary and explained why he'd come. He was here on behalf of the Xianzhou Alliance to form an appropriate judgment of Sylvia as an individual.

So far, however, everything he'd seen spoke in her favor.

Jing Yuan trusted Sylvia enough to leave the Healer Lady in her care. The two Foxians from the Sky-Faring Commission trusted her as well, and her brief interaction with Yunli showed that she treated others with genuine kindness.

Then there was the “Galaxy Ranger” who remained constantly at her side.

This young woman named Sylvia had earned the deep trust of everyone around her.

Huaiyan nodded slightly to Acheron.

“I'll leave the young people to their gathering.”

Yukong saw him preparing to leave and couldn't help speaking up.

“Mr. Huaiyan... Are you heading back already?”

Yukong knew exactly who Huaiyan had come to evaluate. Sylvia was right there, so why was he going upstairs to avoid meeting her?

“Hehe. My granddaughter would feel restrained with an old man like me around. I'll take a walk by myself.”

Huaiyan looked at Sylvia and Yunli as they finished their conversation and returned to the villa. He chuckled and walked away, leaving Yukong thoroughly confused.

She couldn't tell what General Huaiyan intended to do.

Did he plan to let Miss Yunli make the judgment for him?

Wouldn't that be inappropriate? This was an official task from the Xianzhou Alliance, after all.

Still, Huaiyan was a veteran senior with far more experience than she had, and Yukong didn't know him well enough to question him to his face.

--+--

Once Sylvia and Yunli returned, Sylvia finally had time to speak with Yukong and Tingyun.

After a brief conversation, she learned that the Xianzhou wasn't especially concerned about what was happening on Penacony. Compared with the IPC, they were taking a far more relaxed approach.

They'd mainly come because they'd been invited to attend the Charmony Festival. Their goals were to support Sylvia and see what would ultimately become of the mask.

Even so, news of an approaching Lord Ravager hadn't persuaded the Xianzhou delegation to leave.

Phantylia had fallen on the Xianzhou Luofu. If Zephyro encountered people from the Xianzhou, they probably wouldn't simply ignore them.

Sylvia couldn't tell whether the delegation trusted The Family's strength or her own abilities.

“Benefactor, let me tell you a little secret. There's a very important person traveling with our group. That's the real reason Helm Master Yukong can remain so calm.”

After Yukong walked away, Tingyun leaned close to Sylvia's ear and whispered. Her gentle voice sent a faint tingle across Sylvia's skin. They hadn't seen each other for some time, and Tingyun somehow sounded even more soft and alluring than before.

An important person...

Sylvia blinked but didn't press for details.

Anyone who could remain calm despite the threat of an Emanator was probably a general as well.

But which one?

Aside from the few people Sylvia knew, several others had accompanied the delegation. None of them looked especially remarkable, so the person was probably hiding their identity on purpose.

Still, why had a Xianzhou general come to Penacony?

The news about Zephyro shouldn't have reached them before the delegation departed, yet they'd secretly sent an Emanator along anyway.

Sylvia was curious about the general's purpose, but since they clearly didn't intend to reveal themselves, she couldn't force them out.

Bailu had finally eaten her fill by then and had even given Yunli a quick examination. She strutted toward Sylvia with an air of confidence.

“Hehe, Sylvia. The general said I'm supposed to stay with you for a while. You don't mind, do you?”

Bailu had been stunned when Jing Yuan first told her. He'd even said with a cheerful smile that he hadn't discussed the decision with Sylvia beforehand and that Bailu would have to tell her in person.

Bailu had almost lost her composure.

Could that Xianzhou general be any less dependable? What was she supposed to do if Sylvia refused?

Despite her complaints, this was Bailu's first chance to leave the Xianzhou and see the outside world. She'd packed her luggage with great excitement and departed alongside Yukong.

She'd finally met Sylvia today, but she hadn't greeted her right away because she'd been racking her little brain for a way to bring up the arrangement.

Seeing Bailu's anxious expression, Sylvia reached out and patted her head.

“Jing Yuan mentioned it to me before. I just didn't expect you to arrive this soon. Of course I don't mind. This is perfect, actually. I'll be able to... make sure you practice your cloudhymn arts.”

Sylvia had gained real results from Ruan Mei's experiments, so her trust in Ruan Mei had grown recently.

Seeing Bailu again reminded her that, as an artificial High Elder, Bailu had several inborn problems. She couldn't grow up, struggled to control her power, and hadn't inherited the High Elder's legacy.

Sylvia wanted to ask Ruan Mei to take a look at her.

Just then, Sylvia received a message from Gallagher.

Gallagher had been attacked by enemies of unknown origin, and he wasn't in a position to investigate them himself.

The Family held the greatest influence on Penacony, so Sylvia contacted Gallagher to ask about the situation and find out what the Bloodhound Family's investigation had uncovered regarding the Ever-Flame Mansion incident.

--+--