[Acheron mentioned that her memory wasn't very good. After a simple self-introduction, she prepared to leave, but before going, she gave one piece of advice: "There is a type of person who possesses an unwavering will and conviction to the death, yet has no intention of using it for the right path. On that gentleman's face, I saw a familiar expression."]
["If one carries a blade, one must use it to cut down something. And a gambler, before losing everything on the table, will certainly burn their boats and stake everything on one throw… I can only say this much. Finally, we should meet again soon."]
[After saying this, Acheron turned and left.]
[Stelle watched the direction she departed in, always feeling there was something subtly off about the earlier moment…]
[But it didn't matter. Although there had been twists and turns, they could finally enter the dream normally… Hm?]
[Stelle saw Acheron turn back again.]
["…"]
[Stelle: "The reunion came really fast."]
["Mm…" Acheron carefully chose her words. The atmosphere instantly became somewhat awkward. She remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking: "Sorry, could you tell me how to get back to the lobby? The corridors around here look way too similar…"]
——
Honkai Impact 3rd.
"Puhahahaha—!"
Kiana suddenly clutched her stomach on the sofa and burst into laughter. Her silver-white twin tails swung back and forth with her movements: "Mei, look! That 'you' actually gets lost!" She pointed at Acheron, who had returned to Stelle's room on the Celestial Screen, laughing so hard tears formed at the corners of her eyes. "So your counterpart has such a cute side too?"
A small tic mark appeared on Mei's forehead: "Kiana… I've said it many times. That's Miss Acheron, not me."
She sighed helplessly and reached out to press down on the white-haired bundle still wriggling on the sofa.
Himeko held her coffee cup and watched the two girls' interaction with amusement: "But seriously, Miss Acheron's memory… It's hard to imagine how she has traveled alone all these years as a Galaxy Ranger."
"Maybe she has Galaxy Ranger companions?" Kiana suddenly had a flash of inspiration. "Ah! Right! I had a question I wanted to ask earlier! Currently, the Family has invited various factions to visit Penacony. The people invited all seem quite famous, right?"
["The [Trailblaze] Express crew, the [Preservation] company, [Destruction]'s Duke Inferno, [The Hunt]'s Galaxy Rangers… Since Miss Acheron can represent the entire Galaxy Rangers and come to Penacony, does that mean she is also quite famous within the Rangers?"]
Himeko nodded in agreement: "It's possible. The slash Miss Acheron displayed in the dream is enough to prove her extraordinary strength — she is probably one of the top powerhouses among all the Galaxy Rangers."
"Ah! As expected of Mei! So amazing!" Kiana suddenly flipped over and sat up, hugging Mei's neck.
"K-Kiana! What are you suddenly saying!" Mei's face instantly turned red as she frantically tried to push Kiana away, but the other girl clung to her like an octopus.
"—That's Miss Acheron! Not me!"
——
[After sending Acheron off, you lay down in the center of the Dream Pool. The cold fluid submerged her waist. A gentle female voice whispered softly beside her ear, accompanied by the sound of evening bells, the rustling of wild winds sweeping across the plains, and the recitative of robins, seagulls, swans, and ravens…]
[The gentle female voice rippled like water waves beside her ear. Stelle felt her thoughts gradually turn into countless sparkling bubbles, lightly floating in the void. Each bubble refracted different lights and shadows—]
["Mikhail…"]
[A sobbing call suddenly appeared, carrying choked sobs and sorrow: "…Come back."]
[The bubbles began to burst one after another. Stelle felt herself falling rapidly. The image of the library stretched into distorted color bands, and a pod of whales fled in panic. The crying voice grew increasingly distant until it disappeared.]
[…]
[On the other side, Aventurine returned to his room and looked at the displeased professor: "What's wrong, Ratio? Stop looking so gloomy… Hey, I just noticed, where's that handsome plaster head of yours?"]
[Ratio couldn't be bothered to banter with him and said seriously: "You're late by exactly 4 minutes and 16 seconds. You'd better have used this time to solve the mystery of Akivili's fall — if not, I will advise you not to go looking for trouble with the Nameless."]
——
Fullmetal Alchemist.
Roy Mustang propped his chin on his hand, his military boots casually resting on the desk. "Interesting." He stared at Aventurine and Ratio arguing on the Celestial Screen. "The Interastral Peace Corporation actually sent these two people with completely opposite styles to partner up. Aren't they afraid these two will hinder each other when dealing with Penacony's issues?"
Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye neatly placed a stack of documents in front of him and casually knocked his boots off: "Colonel, please maintain basic military etiquette."
"Don't be so serious." Roy chuckled lightly and snapped his fingers. "I bet that within three days, this gambler called Aventurine will drive the professor crazy."
"If Aventurine were an idiot like you, it probably wouldn't even take three days. But the problem is… Aventurine isn't." Riza said calmly. "The company's arrangement isn't without reason. In my view, this arrangement at least proves one thing."
"Oh?"
"As a gambler, he is very likely the type of person who will do anything to achieve his goal. Those means may very well include his own life, the company's reputation, and so on… The company sending him here both acknowledges his methods and fears them."
Roy rubbed his chin thoughtfully: "Fears them? That seems unlikely. No matter how capable he is, there are still P46s and P47 Diamond above him."
"This is just my speculation." Riza spread her hands. "To me, Aventurine is like a wild horse that is untamable yet full of explosive power. He needs a rein — and Mr. Ratio, as a leading figure of the Intelligentsia Guild, is undoubtedly the best rein. When the wild horse gallops wildly, someone has to pull the reins at the right moment to prevent him from losing his mind and falling off a cliff."
——
[Aventurine smiled: "Looking for trouble? Even you say that? Does no one believe I really just want to make friends with them?"]
[Ratio snorted coldly: "Noisy people can't make friends. A little piece of knowledge: The Attini peacock is one of the birds with the most unpleasant calls in the universe, and your outfit looks exactly like a flashy peacock…"]
["…It looks like this peacock's feathers have been plucked clean — your luggage was confiscated by the Family?"]
[Aventurine shrugged his shoulders somewhat aggrievedly: "Yeah, that guy in the gray suit took everything. All the gift money, and the box containing the [Cornerstone]… Hm? Where are you going?"]
[Ratio, who had reached the door, paused, slightly turning his face to the side: "Heading back to report that an idiot has ruined everything."]