Compared to Sunday and Robin's initiative, Aventurine's expression grew heavy.
His original plan was to step in only when the Trailblazers encountered difficulties they couldn't resolve on their own.
But he hadn't expected Pei Guang's methods to be so clean and decisive, even directly using "leaving" as a threat, leaving him with no chance to act.
In that situation, even if he had stepped in, Pei Guang would not have given him any face. Pei Guang had already turned the conflict into one between the Trailblazing force and Penacony.
At most, if Aventurine intervened, it would only be Pei Guang giving face to the IPC by choosing not to leave temporarily, not him giving face to the Trailblazers by helping them resolve their problem.
As for whether Pei Guang would even give face to the IPC?
According to his intelligence, Pei Guang's attitude toward the IPC was very ambiguous.
The reports he had indicated that Pei Guang had more than once expressed the idea of blowing up the IPC headquarters.
When other people say they want to blow up the IPC, you can laugh it off.
When Pei Guang says it… you can't be so sure.
This was the same man who made the Annihilation Gang rack up astronomical debts, forced Topaz into "conceding defeat," and even managed to help the Astral Express crew take down a colossal True Sting bug that even the IPC had headaches dealing with.
And according to the information from the Xianzhou Alliance, when the Luofu was invaded by the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus under the Destruction's command, it was the Trailblazers led by Pei Guang who helped resolve the crisis.
The Alliance had even formed very close ties with the Trailblazers because of Pei Guang.
This was all Aventurine knew.
Topaz hadn't leaked any intelligence about Pei Guang, but with his own network, he had still managed to gather a few scraps.
By rights, it should have been enough. But Aventurine had a hunch: these chips alone would not be enough to make use of Pei Guang, nor to convince him to help.
He would need more leverage.
If Stelle, holding a Stellaron, had the power to overturn the table in Penacony, then Pei Guang had the power to smash the table into pieces and tie up everyone around it who didn't give him face before flicking them in the forehead.
But Aventurine wasn't about to give up on Pei Guang—especially since there was no direct conflict between them.
While he was observing Pei Guang, Pei Guang also looked over at him knowingly.
When Aventurine noticed Pei Guang turn his head, he politely greeted him.
March 7th noticed Pei Guang's reaction and curiously asked, "Huh? You know him?"
Pei Guang: "No. Someone just waved at me. But this guy looks exactly like the type who gives out quests!"
Pei Guang didn't know Aventurine's identity, but when he saw his flashy getup, he immediately concluded one thing: this man definitely had quests. Even if he didn't, he'd definitely drop gold.
The reasoning was simple: looking around, he was dressed the flashiest.
In games, the more extravagant an NPC looks, the more likely they are to give out good quests with great rewards!
March 7th: "Eh? You think so? But that guy doesn't look like a good person at all. Feels like he's smiling with a knife hidden behind his back. He could scam you and you wouldn't even realize it."
Watching Pei Guang and March 7th's exchange, Robin chuckled softly: "You all really do have such a close bond~"
Stelle put her hands on her hips: "Of course! Because we're a gang: burning, looting and plundering are our bread and butter! Taking whatever we see, smashing whatever we want!"
Pei Guang nodded as well: "That's right! We're the good guys of organized crime!"
Stelle turned toward him: "Ah Guang!"
"Stelle!"
Their eyes gleamed with the kind of wisdom only Trailblazers could understand.
Off to the side, March 7th rubbed her forehead. She wanted to argue, but after hearing their words, she didn't even know where to begin.
Because, truth be told, Stelle's summary was kind of accurate. Even if Pei Guang and Stelle only acted that way against enemies, the things they did… really were just that.
Listening to the two of them, Robin wore a polite but faintly awkward smile.
She didn't know what to say, realizing that only smiling seemed the safest option at the moment.
As they chatted, Sunday walked over: "Please rest assured, I have already instructed Miss Alley to resolve the 'system malfunction' as quickly as possible. As compensation, I've also arranged for your rooms to be upgraded. The hotel will soon prepare more suitable accommodations.
As an actual manager of Penacony, I would like to apologize to the Astral Express, and I look forward to working together with you all. We won't disturb you further. Should you need anything in Penacony, the Family will always be at your service."
Sunday handled everything impeccably.
Still, Pei Guang couldn't shake the feeling that this man's words carried hidden meaning. He even suspected that Penacony itself had major problems.
Not that it mattered.
For a player, running into trouble wherever you go was daily life. If trouble didn't show up, it could only mean one thing: the game was already cleared.
Robin also smiled as she spoke: "May you all enjoy a wonderful time~"
Once Sunday and Robin had left and walked some distance, March 7th whispered to Pei Guang: "Wait a sec, that's weird. Normally you'd have gone to grind favorability by now, right? That was Robin! You're not going to max her favorability while you have the chance?"
Pei Guang: "What's the rush? We'll grind favorability after we've properly experienced this world's features~"
March 7th: "Tch… You're not planning to sneak off and secretly grind favorability with cute girls on your own, are you?"
Pei Guang: "To correct your misunderstanding, besides cute girls, I also want the favor of boys, and I won't refuse the favor of strange intelligent beings either. I want it all~"
Himeko: "Alright~ let's talk about that later. There's no line in the lobby now, let's go find Miss Alley!"
This time, when they found Alley, her attitude had completely flipped.
"Honored guests of the Astral Express, your check-in procedures have been completed. I sincerely apologize for all the inconveniences earlier.
These are your Dreamscape Passes. They serve as your room keys for the Reverie Hotel, but also integrate all the functions and information you'll need during your stay, including smart assistance."
Alley handed over the Dreamscape Passes printed with the Watchmaker's insignia.
These weren't only hotel keycards but also souvenirs. With their stamp function, guests could record people and places from the Dreamscape, making a kind of travel log: it was quite the memorable keepsake.
After receiving the necessary items, under Alley's guidance, the group prepared to take the elevator to their rooms.
On the way, March 7th looked at Pei Guang expectantly: "The Dreamscape… I heard Penacony remodeled it into a dazzling metropolis. What do you think it'll be like? I can't wait~"
Pei Guang: "Since it's a dream, it'll definitely be things that don't exist in reality. Honestly though, I'm really looking forward to it, I have some bold ideas I want to try out."
When Pei Guang said that, everyone's expression changed, except Stelle, who looked at him with excitement: "Oh? Ah Guang, what ideas?"
Pei Guang smiled: "Let me keep it a secret for now. If I succeed, I'll definitely call you along."
As they chatted, the elevator brought them to the lobby. There, Himeko smiled at everyone: "We've finally arrived. But before we enter the dream, I'd like to assign a request and trouble you, Ah Guang, to investigate something."
Pei Guang had originally just wanted to enter the dream quickly and start exploring the new map, but hearing the word "quest" instantly lit him up.
"A quest? What is it?"
Stelle leaned over: "I want to hear too!"
Himeko: "Here's the situation…"
The Astral Express had been invited to Penacony's celebration, and the invitation came in the form of a music box. Himeko noticed that the music box had a discordant noise hidden inside, one that matched perfectly with the gravitational wave frequency of the Express during warp.
Analyzing the sound, Himeko discovered a peculiar message:
[Behold the impossibilities within dreams. Seek the legacy of Penacony's father, the Watchmaker. Then answer: Why does life slumber?]
Himeko: "So I'd like to ask you, Ah Guang—while exploring Penacony's dreams, if you come across any clues, don't overlook them. Whether or not you find anything, I'll reward you with coffee I brew myself. I promise it will be made with my whole heart~"
"Hss!"
Everyone except Pei Guang sucked in a sharp breath at the reward.
March 7th whispered to Himeko: "That's… a reward?"