Aboard the Astral Express.
Outside the window, a vast and bustling star rail stretched across the cosmos, like a slumbering steel dragon coiled in the universe.
Through the opposite window, the opulent gates of the Reverie Hotel stood in full view, its iconic clockwork disc rotating endlessly, its hands never pausing.
March 7th leaned against the window, her mouth slightly agape as she took in the dazzling scenery. Beside her, Stelle gazed out as well.
Though they had already warped to Penacony, everyone on the train had silently reached the same decision—
They weren't getting off just yet.
March 7th pressed her face against the glass, eyes wide at the spectacle before her.
Stelle, however, nudged her. "Stop staring."
"At the very least, now isn't the best time for a vacation."
"The upcoming plot includes [families turning on each other, homes destroyed, loved ones separated by life and death, and rivers of blood]."
March 7th immediately frowned in protest. "That was just something I casually mentioned in the story!"
"It doesn't necessarily mean it'll actually happen, right?"
"Yu Ling wouldn't go that far, would he?"
Stelle didn't answer.
She simply gave March 7th a look that spoke volumes.
Just then, Himeko's voice called out from nearby.
"Stelle, March… come here."
"There's an important plot development coming up."
The two quickly returned to their seats on the sofa.
On the projection screen, Stelle approached the Dream Pool—a structure resembling a bathtub—and cautiously lay down inside.
Though the pool was filled with some kind of liquid, it didn't behave like one.
A soothing narrator's voice echoed:
"Relax… feel the rise and fall of your body…"
"Focus on your breathing… imagine a paradise…"
"Imagine… a land of dreams."
Stelle stared at the ceiling, her vision growing increasingly blurred.
It was as if multicolored bubbles had begun floating around her.
The scene shifted.
A library-like space appeared, adorned with patterns of white whales.
And then—
A massive clock.
Himeko's eyes narrowed sharply.
She immediately noticed something—
A reflection in the clock.
The silhouette inside bore an uncanny resemblance to the hotel bellboy—Misha!
Truthfully, Himeko had found the bellboy suspicious from the very beginning.
And now, this small detail in the story only confirmed it—
Misha was far more than he appeared.
Suddenly, a voice seeped into the background.
"Mikhail…"
"Come back…"
"Mikhail…!!!"
The voice carried an indescribable grief, almost like a desperate wail.
Amidst the shifting imagery, the fleeting image of a blue-haired boy flashed by—
It was Misha.
March 7th, who had been lounging casually on the sofa, immediately scooted closer to Himeko.
Stelle turned to her. "March, did you hear that?"
"There was someone crying in the background!"
"Sounded really miserable…"
March 7th nodded, her expression uneasy.
"I… I'm starting to get scared now."
"That crying was terrifying…"
"Did I actually jinx it?"
"The Family said the dream was supposed to be completely safe, right?"
She looked to Himeko for reassurance.
At this moment, Himeko's presence felt like the ultimate safe haven.
But when March 7th glanced around—
She realized that aside from herself and a bewildered Stelle, Himeko, Welt, and even Pom-Pom all wore grave expressions.
It was as if the three of them had silently reached some unspoken understanding.
The air grew heavy.
After a moment, Pom-Pom was the first to break.
The conductor let out a small, choked sob.
"Pom-Pom… didn't mishear, right…?"
"That voice… it was calling… Mikhail's name… wasn't it?"
Pom-Pom's watery eyes turned to Himeko.
Himeko nodded.
"Yes."
"The former Nameless—Lugovok Shaer Mikhail."
"It seems the events on Penacony are far beyond what we imagined."
Pom-Pom's gaze sharpened.
"If… if Pom-Pom finds out that Mikhail suffered any injustice on this planet…"
"Pom-Pom… will ram the Express into those bad guys and send them flying!"
March 7th and Stelle exchanged glances, startled.
They weren't sure if Pom-Pom was serious or just venting anger.
"Wait."
"Can the Express really be used as a weapon?"
"Just plow straight into people?"
March 7th licked her lips nervously. "I-I don't know."
"But back during the Silver Wolf arc, didn't we get swallowed by that giant space worm?"
"Didn't Mr. Yang suggest accelerating the Express to burst through its stomach?"
Stelle's eyes lit up.
"Does that mean… we might actually see the Express ramming into someone in the future plot?"
"Why are you getting excited about that?!"
---
Penacony – The Family Estate.
Sunday and the Nightingale, representing the Dreammaster, were observing the unfolding plot.
The Dreammaster spoke first.
"Gambler… a mere hound sent by the IPC. You've already confiscated his Cornerstone. At present, he's no threat."
"But this self-proclaimed 'Galactic Ranger' woman…"
"Her existence may be a hidden variable."
Sunday shook his head.
"Galactic Ranger? No."
"She is an… Emanator."
His gaze remained fixed on Huangquan in the story.
Gambler had just left the room, leaving only Stelle and an behind.
Huangquanspoke.
"In any case, I'm glad you're safe. I should return to my own room now."
"But before I leave… may I ask you one more question?"
"It might sound strange, even impolite, but I want to know—"
"…Have we met before?"
[Such familiar dialogue…]
Huangquan's next words appeared in vivid red subtitles.
"I see. From the moment we met, I've had this inexplicable sense of familiarity… Perhaps this is what they call 'déjà vu.' Heh, call it fate."
"The Galactic Rangers call me 'Acheron.' You may use that name if you wish. I suspect we'll meet again."
"One last piece of advice… There are those in this world who possess unshakable will and conviction, yet choose not to wield them for good. And in that gentleman's face—"
"If one carries a blade, they must eventually draw it. And a gambler, before losing everything, will inevitably stake it all in one final throw."
"I can say no more. Before you make your choice… you should know this. Farewell."
Suddenly—
Sunday's eyes widened in shock.
Then realization.
And finally—uncontainable delight.
The Dreammaster tilted his head, clearly puzzled.
The usually composed, refined Sunday was now displaying an unusually exaggerated expression.
"What have you noticed?"
Sunday quickly composed himself, though the smile on his lips refused to fade.
"I've just realized something."
"Even we, the architects of this plan, were deceived by Yu Ling's narrative."
"But—"
"From the very beginning, the hints were there."
"These red subtitles, the anomalies in the dream… all of them were clues."
His expression grew solemn, almost reverent.
And his next words left even the Dreammaster stunned.
"The Dream of Taiji… has already succeeded."
"Whether it's the Astral Express, the IPC, or even this 'Galactic Ranger' Acheron—"
"They may seem to have just arrived in Penacony, but in truth… they have always been inside the Dream King's domain."
The Dreammaster's jaw dropped.
This revelation was too much to process immediately.
"So… it was like this all along?"
"Our plan… had already succeeded from the start?"
"What we could not yet achieve in reality… was unexpectedly completed within the game…"
"This… is nothing short of a miracle!"
"I see now… the familiar look in their eyes."
To be continued…
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