"Although I don't know what exactly you are or what schemes you're plotting by using our identity…"
"But let me tell you, my bullet is about to land. Before that, you can enjoy the last moments of your remaining life, you despicable impostor pretending to be a Galaxy Ranger!"
Hearing the words from the phone, Black Swan understood something. The so-called impostor was referring to Acheron, and the identity she was impersonating was that of a Galaxy Ranger.
"Then who are you?"
Black Swan lightly covered her chin with one hand and spoke with a tone that was both questioning and certain.
"Huh?"
Boothill on the other end of the phone was involuntarily stunned upon hearing Black Swan's voice. He then double-checked the phone number on the landline.
"Son of a gun, did I dial the wrong number? But that can't be right. That lobby manager shouldn't have dared to lie to me."
Indeed, the phone number for Acheron's room had been obtained by Boothill from the lobby manager of the Dreamjolt Hostelry. In theory, there should have been no mistake.
After all, at that time, Mr. Boothill had pressed his revolver against the other party's head. The lobby manager might have had reason to lie, but he didn't dare.
"Son of a gun, who the hell are you?"
"I am a Memokeeper of the Garden of Recollection," Black Swan replied calmly.
"Huh? Someone from the Garden of Recollection? What's your relationship with that impostor? Her bodyguard, or her partner? Heh, son of a gun, let me tell you—no matter who you are, your ending will be the same as that impostor's!"
Boothill on the other end fiddled with his revolver, his fingers catching the grip as he spun it a few times like a juggler.
'Click! Click!'
The sound of loading bullets came through the phone into Black Swan's ear, causing the beautiful Memokeeper to raise an eyebrow.
"I don't know who you are, and I don't know what you're talking about. However, you know Acheron… which means you know her past? I need that information."
"Oh?"
Upon hearing this, Mr. Boothill also became interested. From what this Memokeeper said, it seemed she was also investigating the impostor's whereabouts. In that case, she could be considered a friend?
The enemy of an enemy is a friend—this was a truth that worked in any world.
"Heh, interesting. Garden of Recollection lady, you've successfully caught my interest. Go on, tell me—what exactly do you want to know?"
'There's a chance!'
Black Swan's eyes brightened imperceptibly. She then spoke with a smile.
"I want to know her past, and… how she became a Galaxy Ranger."
"That's all? That's not a problem. However… my information isn't free. If you want to get the information you desire from me, what can you offer in exchange?"
Boothill did not answer her question directly. As he said, everything had a price. If Black Swan wanted information about Acheron from him, she had to offer something of equal value in exchange.
"Price? I wonder what you want?"
"Let me set the terms. Haha, aren't you afraid I'll demand an exorbitant price?" Boothill laughed heartily, his words carrying a meaningful undertone.
"I'm not afraid. After all, you are a Pathstrider of the Hunt Path, a true Galaxy Ranger. Am I correct?"
Boothill: "...…"
"Garden of Recollection, you've got some skills. Not bad. I am indeed the real Galaxy Ranger, while Acheron is just a fraudster swaggering around under the name of a Galaxy Ranger!"
Black Swan remained silent, continuing to wait for Boothill's next words.
"Whatever. Some things can't be explained clearly over the phone. How about this—you go get a bottle of 'Asdena White Oak,' then wait for me in the lobby of the Dreamjolt Hostelry. I'll be there shortly."
After saying this, Boothill stood up and was about to hang up the phone. However, he suddenly paused and gave Black Swan one more piece of advice.
"Oh right, I should also show some sincerity. How about this, Memokeeper—I'll tell you one piece of information about Acheron. No one knows that woman's past, but there is one thing…"
"She is an Emanator who should not exist…"
'Beep beep beep…!!'
As Boothill's words fell, busy tones came from the other end of the phone. Clearly, the Galaxy Ranger had hung up on Black Swan.
"Emanator? An Emanator who should not exist? Could this Galaxy Ranger be referring to…"
Several weeks ago, as a representative of the Garden of Recollection, Black Swan had already arrived on this beautiful planet known as the star of the festival.
She remembered that shortly after her arrival, she happened to hear an interesting piece of news being broadcast on the Interastral Peace Broadcast.
It was about the marriage alliance between the Family and the Causality Emanator. The person in the alliance was none other than Miss Robin, known as the galaxy's top singer, the biological sister of Sunday, the current head of Penacony's Oak Family.
Insiders see the way, outsiders see the show.
To ordinary people, this was more of gossip or tabloid news than a political marriage.
But in the eyes of the major powers of the galaxy, this was a signal declaring sovereignty.
Robin's marriage alliance with the Causality Emanator meant that, on the surface, the Family had gained another Emanator-level combat power—and not an ordinary one at that. This was not difficult to see from the Xianzhou incident.
After arriving in Penacony, Black Swan did not immediately begin "forming factions." Instead, for a long period, she observed everything happening in Penacony like an anonymous traveler, silently watching from a third-party perspective.
Later, with the arrival of the Astral Express, the Nameless who had recently become popular across the galaxy entered her sight. Harboring the idea of making friends, Black Swan took the initiative to visit Himeko, March 7th, and the others.
The visit went surprisingly smoothly. After all, for the Nameless—who could be called the universe's good guys—as long as you held no hostility and did nothing that harmed the Nameless' interests, you could become their friend.
'It's still a little regrettable. At that time, the Causality Emanator was not in the hotel…'
Thinking of this, Black Swan sighed helplessly. From a personal perspective, the most important reason for her visit to the Nameless was to meet the Causality Emanator on the Express. However, as luck would have it, Yun Fan had gone out shopping with Robin and was not in the hotel.
Time continued to move forward. Soon, Acheron's figure gradually entered Black Swan's field of vision.
The first time she saw this woman, Black Swan sensed an aura on her that made her extremely uncomfortable—an aura that was decayed, broken, and instinctively repulsive…