[I feel like a lot of things are still unresolved.]
[Yeah, exactly! What about Sparkle's foreshadowing? And it just ends like this? Feels kinda unreal.]
[I'm also feeling like something's stuck in my throat—not quite satisfying!]
[So many earlier plot points weren't used.]
[Not thrilling enough.]
Accompanied by Black Swan and March 7th, Caelus arrived at the bar counter, where he spotted Dan Heng and Boothill.
"Look, he's still chatting with that cowboy!" March 7th nudged Caelus's arm.
Dan Heng turned at the sound of March 7th's voice. "You're awake. How do you feel?"
Before Caelus could respond, Boothill stepped forward. "Ha, well, damn, sugar! You must be that Stellaron they're talkin' about, right?"
Caelus eyed Boothill suspiciously. "Who're you? Why're you calling people 'sugar'?"
Black Swan cleared her throat lightly. "Let me introduce. This is Boothill, a Galaxy Ranger.
We met while pursuing someone and happened to uncover Mr. Sunday's grand conspiracy…
So we sought you out to assist the Astral Express crew in saving the world."
Boothill patted his chest. "No need for thanks! We Galaxy Rangers live by 'helpin' the helpless with a drawn blade'—that's the Xianzhou saying, right, Dan Heng, my brother?"
"More or less."
March 7th suddenly interrupted. "Wait, hold on. 'Pursuing someone'? This is the first I'm hearing of it… Who'd you chase onto the Express?"
"Haha, good question! That'd be…" Boothill scratched his head, his expression growing more tangled. "Who was it again? Uh, Dan Heng, brother, you remember?"
Caelus's eyes widened slightly. "Pretty suspicious…"
"No, no, I swear I can't recall. Weird, my brain chip ain't malfunctionin'…"
Dan Heng: "I don't seem to remember either."
March 7th: "What the… What's going on?"
[Something's definitely off here.]
[Boothill was chasing Acheron. Why doesn't anyone know? Is it because of The Nihility?]
[Did it block out anything related to The Nihility?]
[Something's super fishy, like 12 out of 10 fishy.]
[I don't think it's that weird. Acheron's The Nihility—it's normal for others to forget, right?]
[I'm not doubting it; it's just a trait of The Nihility.]
Boothill: "Uh… whatever, forget it! If we all can't remember, it's probably some petty thief, no big deal. Doesn't change the fact we've got the full picture."
Black Swan sensed something amiss. "Hmm, once the dust settles, I'll try tracing back through the memory domain.
For now, shall we find Miss Himeko? Our little sleepyhead's the star of Penacony, and the whole hotel's worried about his safety."
[Even Black Swan forgot? Now that's a problem.]
[No issue here. Didn't Acheron pluck Black Swan's feathers? With Acheron's strength, making her forget something's no big deal.]
[Black Swan's a Memokeeper. Making a Memokeeper forget? You're dreaming.]
— —
Soon, the trio spotted Himeko, Welt Yang, and General Jing Yuan conversing in the hotel.
Jing Yuan was discussing future plans, then turned his attention to Caelus behind him.
"Look, here comes our great hero!"
"I don't deserve that."
"Hahaha, as expected of the Galactic Baseballer—a true hero, humble to the core!"
Welt Yang then explained how he escaped Sunday's control.
But the main goal this time was Jing Yuan mediating between the Family and the IPC through the Xianzhou Alliance, hoping to leniently protect Robin.
After all, Robin was innocent from start to finish.
…
Not long after, the group gathered at the hotel's front desk.
The audience, seeing Aventurine alive and well, breathed a sigh of relief.
[Yay, Aventurine didn't bite the dust!]
[Didn't they say Argenti saved him when he was barely alive?]
[Argenti said he was on death's door and hadn't woken up, but now he's bouncing around like nothing happened?]
— —
"Long time no see, Astral Express crew." Aventurine waved to the group and Jing Yuan. "My sincere thanks to you as well, General of the Luofu. With everyone here to witness, I'm sure these negotiations will conclude to everyone's satisfaction."
Jing Yuan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? Sounds like you've got expectations. Care to share?"
"Of course!" Aventurine glanced at Topaz. "Your turn, Topaz."
"Leave it to me. Good news—after deliberation by the Strategic Investment Department's Major Affairs Committee, the following resolution passed with an overwhelming majority:
'In consideration of long-term interstellar peace, authorized by Pier Point headquarters, the Strategic Investment Department will represent the IPC in permanently relinquishing claims to Penacony's sovereignty and unconditionally support the Family's reconstruction efforts.'"
Himeko gasped. "This…"
Jing Yuan nodded approvingly. "Interesting."
Caelus's expression mirrored the audience's. "What's in it for you?"
Aventurine smiled faintly. "Honestly, nothing for the IPC… but it's immensely beneficial for the long-term development of the cosmos."
[???]
[???]
[Is this what you call a cop-out ending?]
[This can't be real, right?]
[Something's seriously off. Either the writers lost it, or they're setting up something huge.]
[Haha, this is fantasy hour now.]
[What the hell is this? I've followed four seasons, and now you're telling me the IPC's supporting the Family for cosmic justice and peace? Fooling ghosts!]
[This ain't how you wrap up a story!]
[Could it be everything's wrong?]
— —
At that moment, Dr. Ratio approached the Express crew. "Done discussing the IPC's stance? Now it's our turn.
The Intelligentsia Guild and the Genius Society are highly concerned about Penacony's recent disaster.
Ultimately, we've decided to collaborate fully, providing technical support for Penacony's reconstruction…
For specifics, let's hear from this genius. Your turn, Mr. Screwllum."
The next moment, Screwllum's holographic projection appeared before everyone.
[Did I wake up too fast? How's this scene happening?]
[What's off? Screwllum and the Crown of the Mundane and Divine know each other, don't they?]
— —
Screwllum elegantly praised Penacony, then announced a temporary halt to the Simulated Universe project to serve as a technical advisor, supporting the Intelligentsia Guild's research into dreams and the memory domain to better serve humanity.
Dr. Ratio added, "Not only that, we've also contacted the Garden of Recollection through the IPC. They've promised to assist with the research…
Heh, Penacony's dreamchasers should be thrilled—the universe's wisest and most foolish minds are now at their service."
Caelus's brow furrowed into a deep crease.
"It all feels… a bit too perfect to be real."