Rover thought for a moment and said: "Shorekeeper, you're still young and don't understand. You'll get it when you grow up."
Lucian raised an eyebrow, glancing at Shorekeeper's full chest, rubbing his chin thoughtfully: "She doesn't seem that young… Pfft…"
Rover pressed Lucian's head onto the table.
Shorekeeper glanced at Lucian, whose face was squashed against the table, and after a moment of thought said: "Mr. Lucian's gaze just now was strange, like…"
Rover's expression darkened: "Like what?"
She swore that if Lucian corrupted Shorekeeper, she'd make him understand why there are only exhausted oxen and no overworked fields.
Shorekeeper chose her words carefully: "…Like he saw delicious food…?"
Lucian, pinned to the table, strained to turn his head: "Yes, I, Lucian, love eating Jinzhou's little dragon buns the most… Pfft…"
Rover twisted Lucian's head to the side and puffed out her chest in front of him: "Are you craving those white little dragon buns, or my black little dragon buns?"
Though Lucian's fate was firmly in Rover's grasp by the scruff of his neck, he remained resolute, refusing to bow to destiny: "Rover, don't you know my nickname?"
Rover paused for a moment: "You have too many nicknames. How am I supposed to know which one you're talking about?"
"But I suppose you're referring to 'Rover's Husband,' right?"
Lucian's face was full of righteousness: "No, they call me the Black-and-White All-Take… Pfft…"
With a single press, Rover smashed a huge hole in the table, and Lucian's face was perfectly pressed into it.
Lucian was on the verge of tears: "I've suffered domestic violence three times…"
Before he could finish, Rover grabbed his neck and shook it vigorously: "Your delusions are getting worse. I need to crack open your skull and see what's inside."
Lucian cried out in terror: "I've suffered domestic violence four times! Shorekeeper, speak for me…"
Rover fiercely covered Lucian's mouth. Muffled in Rover's hand, Lucian stammered: "Feed me peanuts! Feed me peanuts!"
Shorekeeper asked, puzzled: "Peanuts? Does Mr. Lucian want to eat peanuts?"
Abby shook his head: "Why do you keep provoking her?"
…
The trio continued deeper and encountered many contaminated Tacet Discords.
Shorekeeper gave a complicated look at Rover, who was riding on Lucian's shoulders.
Then she explained: "Data-based Tacet Discords have already invaded this place, which means we're getting closer to the source of the Lament."
They arrived at a long corridor, flanked by bamboo groves and a pond, exuding an air of serene tranquility. But this was the final calm before the storm struck years ago.
At the end of the corridor, Shorekeeper said: "Beyond this point is the beginning of destruction."
"Or rather, ten minutes before the destruction…"
"At that time, the Black Shores had officially issued a Lament warning to Port City of Guixu."
"But the progression of this Lament far exceeded the Tethys System's original expectations."
"Even though Rover had dispatched all available guest warriors and Bloom Bearers from the Black Shores to assist with the evacuation of Port City of Guixu to the fullest extent…"
"In the end… some lives couldn't be saved."
Lucian struggled to shrug his shoulders and gave an awkward smile: "Rover, isn't it about time you got off my shoulders?"
Rover's lips curved into a smirk as she rubbed Lucian's cheeks with both hands: "Scared now? I still prefer the defiant attitude you had earlier."
Lucian's expression turned serious as he scolded: "Rover, don't force me to use my ultimate technique!"
Rover smirked, full of disdain: "Oh? I'd love to see what your ultimate technique is."
Lucian let out a cold huff and roared: "Since you're so heartless, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
With that, Lucian grabbed Rover's thighs, lifted her slightly, and spun her 180 degrees…
Lucian's head was now clamped between Rover's legs, and he mumbled: "This is my signature move: Total Bewilderment!"
Rover: "???"
Feeling a tickle beneath her, Rover bent down, her face flushed with embarrassment, and pounded on the back of Lucian's head: "Alright, alright… put me down already!"
Lucian raised his head and sneered: "Rover, I still prefer the defiant attitude you had earlier."
Rover: "…"
Shorekeeper: "…Are you two even listening to me?"
Lucian set Rover down and laughed: "We are, we are, my friend."
Rover's face flushed as she lightly punched Lucian's chest with her small fists: "Next time, do stuff like that at home, got it?"
Lucian responded coyly: "Actually, I have even more signature moves I haven't shown yet…"
Rover leaned close to Lucian's ear and whispered: "When we get home, I'll let you show me plenty…"
Shorekeeper asked curiously: "Can I learn too?"
Rover firmly refused: "No, these techniques aren't something you can learn yet."
Lucian looked Shorekeeper up and down, then said thoughtfully: "I suddenly thought of a question…"
Rover glanced over curiously. Lucian pondered for a moment: "Since Shorekeeper is a lifeform made of special crystals… is Shorekeeper… realistic?"
With that, the air froze for a moment. The next second, a crisp slap rang out, and Lucian instantly embarked on the road to paradise.
Rover princess-carried Lucian, who looked like a dead fish with a slap mark on his face, and continued deeper with Shorekeeper.
Rover asked: "That Bloom Bearer named Hoda…"
Shorekeeper's expression turned somber: "She was one of the countless victims."
"As a Bloom Bearer, she was among the first to participate in the evacuation and rescue efforts."
"But in the face of the Lament, humans… are just so frail and helpless."
Rover fell silent for a moment: "No one should die for no reason."
Shorekeeper nodded slightly, glancing at Lucian in Rover's arms: "…No matter the time, you and Mr. Lucian always hold this belief."
"The Black Shores also upholds this belief, and that Bloom Bearer… was no different."
Rover looked toward the depths: "Will she be recreated as well?"
Shorekeeper nodded: "Yes, just ahead. But I'm not sure… if seeing her is the right thing to do."
Before Rover could respond, she suddenly felt a tingling sensation in front of her black little dragon buns. Frowning, she looked down to see Lucian buried in her chest.
"?"
Lucian paused, then said seriously: "Rover, this is my second signature move: Face Wash!"
Rover was silent for a moment, then suddenly let go of her hands, and Lucian crashed heavily to the ground.
Rover said expressionlessly: "This is my signature move: Gravity Slam!"
Lucian: "?"