After chatting briefly with Robin, Adrian gave her a few more Church hot-spring vouchers before leaving.
Everyone HE needed to see had been seen. Time to clock out and head back to the milk tea shop for the "shift change."
...
Firefly had taken Stelle on a full loop around [The Golden Hour]. Saying they weren't tired would be a lie—they stopped at a bar for a quick rest.
"Stelle, having fun? This dreamland—Penacony's [The Golden Hour]—it's pretty amazing, right?"
"You sound a little sad… why?"
Firefly smiled faintly. "Not sad, exactly. It's just… this dream is too generous, too forgiving."
"It's vast and deep. Like an ocean—even the most insignificant nobody can find peace in it."
"…I'm really grateful you stepped in to help. That's the only reason I get to show you this paradise—it accepts me even though I don't belong. I love it, so I want… to share it with others."
Stelle frowned. Something wasn't adding up.
"So… you really are a stowaway?"
"I… I have legal status… now…" Firefly suddenly leaned close to Stelle's ear, voice barely a whisper:
"…Are you here in Penacony alone?"
"Not really. That guy passionately speechifying on stage earlier? He's my friend."
The moment the words left her mouth, Firefly's expression turned wary—she stared hard at something behind Stelle.
"Aww~ Can't slip anything past this young lady, huh?"
That familiar voice again. Stelle instinctively whipped out her bat and spun—only for it to be casually blocked.
"Stelle, full marks for vigilance, but attacking a friend? That's on you." Adrian gently pushed the bat back with one finger.
"Stalker."
Stelle rolled her eyes and continued, "Looks like your speech wrapped up… How many credits did you scam?"
"Sigh~ Penacony's full of skeptics. Not a single credit."
Around 180cm tall, muscular—clearly trained. Steps light as a feather, completely silent.
Footwork that left no prints… Firefly didn't dwell on it. He was an [Eternity] Emanator—probably ex-mercenary judging by his outfit. Superhuman combat skills were standard.
"Speaking of—this young lady is…?"
Adrian's gaze slowly shifted to Firefly, a cryptic smile on his lips.
"Ah, her name's Firefly. Performer from the Iris Family."
"Beautiful name… Miss Firefly, ever thought about visiting the Eternity Church?" Adrian casually pulled out two gleaming golden travel vouchers… and a bottle of milk tea.
The instant she saw the milk tea, Stelle connected the dots. The new milk tea shop at Oti Mall… Adrian, who couldn't live without milk tea…
No way. How could Adrian's milk tea shop not sell milk tea?
"Miss Firefly, pleasure. What did you think of my speech earlier?"
"Uh… very good! Mr. Adrian's style is unique—just a bit hard to follow."
In Firefly's experience, he was the second [Eternity] Emanator she'd met. Completely different from the last chuuni one. Adrian felt more like someone from [Elation]… or one of those [Enigmata] myth historians.
"Sigh~ Funny thing—earlier I ran into a silver-haired girl the Bloodhounds were after. Now here's another silver-haired lady. Is this what they call [fate]?"
This time, Firefly didn't answer. Instead she asked, "Mr. Adrian… what are you doing in Penacony?"
"What am I doing? Haha, good question. What else is there to do in Penacony? Wander around, daydream… vacation."
"Oh wait—did you see this ticket? Actually we're here to—mmph mmph!"
Stelle slapped a hand over Adrian's mouth. Don't just blab everything because you're an Aeon! We know [Eternity] answers every prayer!
"Whoops! My memory—almost spilled the real reason in front of Miss Firefly. You don't mind… right?" Adrian whispered.
"As Mr. Adrian says, everyone has secrets they can't share. I understand."
Stelle glanced at Firefly. There was subtext there… Her identity definitely wasn't simple.
Suddenly it clicked—Adrian was warning her! Damn it, she'd been so distracted sightseeing with a silver-haired cutie that her guard dropped. Her fault!
Back at [Herta] Space Station, Ruan Mei had already tricked her once with pastries.
A successful Galactic Baseballer never trips on the same stone twice! Though… Firefly didn't seem malicious…
Hmm, couldn't rule out Adrian just stirring the pot for fun. HE was tight with [Elation] Aha—watching drama fit perfectly.
"Hey! Speaking of—Miss Firefly… mind giving me and Stelle a moment? Just a quick word. Won't delay your Penacony fun!"
Without waiting for a reply, Adrian yanked Stelle aside:
"Listen up. The dream isn't your personal bathtub—it's a shifting, unpredictable deep sea. To put it clearer… Stelle, don't get fooled by pretty glowing lures."
"If you fold to someone like that… I'll be very, very disappointed. The Nameless HE chose can't be someone who loses their legs at the sight of a cute girl, right?"
Stelle looked up. "Huh? Who're you talking about?"
"Ahem… Who else? Akivili." Adrian coughed like he'd choked on milk tea, tone turning serious:
"Claims to be a Penacony local but doesn't know the insider routes at all—yet pretty handy at petty theft. You really think the Bloodhounds grabbed the wrong person?"
"Who is that girl exactly? You never suspected her once? Is the [hourglass] I gave you just decoration?"
"Take my advice—whatever you want to ask, confront her now. Don't disappoint me…"
In a blink, Adrian's figure faded from sight like morning dew.
When Stelle returned to the bar, Firefly was gone.
"Adrian… what did he mean? Is Firefly really hiding something from me?"
"No way. I need answers. Gotta find her first—she can't have gone far…"
Action time. Stelle switched her mimicry weapon to compass mode. No idea if it'd actually locate Firefly, but as they say—where there's a will, there's a way.