Chapter 76: Since It's Come to This, Let's Eat First!
The term 'Entropy Loss Syndrome' echoed in Dan Heng's mind, pulling a specific, obscure file from his vast mental archives. He remembered reading a fragmented entry about it in The Compendium. It was a cruel, chronic genetic defect, exclusively tied to the Glamoth Iron Cavalry.
To prevent the Republic's ultimate weapons from ever falling into enemy hands, the ruling powers of Glamoth had hardcoded a brutal insurance policy into their warriors' very DNA. That insurance was Entropy Loss Syndrome.
Dan Heng shifted his gaze toward Welt. The older man caught his eye, offering a slow, subtle nod.
No words were needed. They had both arrived at the exact same conclusion.
Among the high-profile bounties on the Interastral Peace Corporation's wanted list for the Stellaron Hunters, there was a specific, towering figure clad in heavy armor. A remnant of the Glamoth Iron Cavalry.
Sam.
The math was simple, yet staggering. This gentle, soft-spoken Miss Firefly standing before them was, without a shadow of a doubt, the destructive armored powerhouse known as Sam.
Welt adjusted his glasses, a sudden spark of intense curiosity breaking through his usually composed demeanor. How exactly did a girl like Firefly transform into a towering mechanical juggernaut?
He had always harbored a deep, almost boyish soft spot for mecha and complex mechanical creations. It was an instinct deeply rooted in his very core—a remnant of the Herrscher of Reason's endless pursuit to deconstruct and rebuild all things, perfectly blended with the lingering passion of a former animation storyboard artist. To create, to design, to witness a perfect machine in motion; it was his ultimate weakness.
Recalling the sheer, overwhelming firepower and sleek design of Sam's mecha form, Welt could hardly conceal the yearning shining in his eyes. If the current atmosphere and timing weren't so completely inappropriate, he would have asked Firefly to demonstrate her transformation on the spot just to admire the heroic posture of the armor.
"Miss March, please don't blame yourself," Firefly said, her voice soft and soothing as she noticed the lingering guilt on the pink-haired girl's face. "Actually, my Entropy Loss Syndrome was just cured by Leon."
"Cured?" March 7th's head snapped up, her wide eyes darting between Firefly and Leon. "But didn't Leon just say that Entropy Loss Syndrome is practically impossible to treat?"
Leon leaned back against the wall, a lazy, thoroughly amused smirk playing on his lips. He waved a hand dismissively. "It's impossible for others. But for me? A piece of cake."
March 7th froze. The gears turned in her head for a second before her cheeks puffed out like an angry blowfish. "Dammit! Then wasn't all my guilt just now completely for nothing?!"
Watching her stomp her foot in frustration, Stelle and Caelus exchanged a glance. Identical, mischievous grins spread across the twins' faces.
"Wow—" Stelle nudged Caelus with her elbow, dragging out her words with exaggerated awe. "Did you hear that? A. Piece. Of. Cake."
Caelus nodded in perfect synchronization, his expression shifting into one of deep solemnity. "Yeah. It looks like little March's conscience has been entirely misplaced once again. Tragic, really."
"You two!" March 7th lunged forward, her hands reaching out to pinch Stelle's cheeks. "How dare you make sarcastic remarks at a time like this!"
Stelle nimbly ducked out of the way, sliding behind Leon's back and using him as a human shield. She poked her head out from behind his shoulder, entirely unrepentant. "Oh my, I wonder who it was just a minute ago whose heart ached so much they almost dropped little pearls of sadness on the floor."
Leon chuckled, deciding to add the finishing blow. "From a dramatic structure perspective, this is a classic emotional upheaval. The narrative technique of suppressing the truth before releasing the twist is highly effective for audience engagement."
"Who wants that kind of participation?!" March 7th shouted, caught somewhere between genuine exasperation and bubbling laughter. "Leon! Give me back my tears!"
Watching the chaotic, warm scene of the Express crew bickering and chasing each other in circles, Firefly brought a hand to her mouth. A soft giggle escaped her lips, a gentle, genuine warmth rippling through her eyes.
Leon watched the group play around, the corners of his mouth curling into a satisfied, handsome arc. To take this chaotic group of personalities and make them get along so harmoniously—as expected of his own brilliance. He rested his hands on his hips, thoroughly enjoying his own handiwork.
Standing a few steps back, Welt pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, a fond smile softening his features. On this eternal, unpredictable journey through the sea of stars, this vibrant clamor, this unburdened laughter... it was perhaps the most precious scenery of all.
"Dan Heng, if you have something on your mind, just say it," Leon spoke up, his sharp eyes catching the lingering hesitation on the archivist's face. "Silver Wolf and Firefly aren't outsiders."
"Exactly, exactly." Stelle nodded repeatedly, stepping out from behind Leon. "How could my aunt and my sister-in-law be outsiders?"
"Exactly, exactly." Caelus flawlessly entered repeater mode, crossing his arms with a sagely nod. "How could my aunt and my sister-in-law be outsiders?"
Silver Wolf blew a bubble with her gum, her mouth twitching in annoyance as it popped. "Hey. I told you an hour ago, I'm not your aunt."
"I-I'm not a sister-in-law either..." Firefly protested, though her voice came out as a squeak, a furious blush creeping up her neck.
Unfortunately for them, protests were entirely invalid against the combined thick skin of Stelle and Caelus. Firefly lowered her head, hiding her burning face. She had just become a sister-in-law, just like that?
"If it's about Belobog, you don't need to guard your words around them," Leon continued smoothly, steering the conversation back on track. "The Stellaron Hunters are not enemies of the Astral Express. They're friends. Besides, whatever you want to say, they probably already know."
He offered a knowing smile. "After all, Elio is the leader of the Stellaron Hunters. The 'Slave of Destiny' holds the script to everything that unfolds."
"Alright..." Dan Heng conceded, his tense shoulders relaxing slightly. He turned his attention to the pink-haired archer. "March, back then in Qlipoth Fort..."
"Stop!" March 7th threw her hands up in an 'X'formation. "I know exactly what you're going to say.'March, you talked way too much back then.' 'March, you shouldn't have revealed our entire goal to someone you don't completely trust.' I get it!"
She huffed, crossing her arms defensively. She was already far too familiar with Dan Heng's cautious lectures, and she absolutely needed to save some face in front of their new friends.
"I know, okay? But it's your fault for always speaking in riddles instead of just talking properly!" March 7th pouted, tilting her chin up. "And look at the results! Isn't everything great right now? We got VIP treatment, a super luxurious hotel room, and the full support of the local military forces. If you ask me, this Trailblaze mission is going incredibly smoothly."
Listening to March 7th's blissfully optimistic summary, both Dan Heng and Welt felt a simultaneous twitch in their eyes. Had she completely forgotten the rather crucial detail Leon had dropped earlier? The part where the Stellaron had already deeply bewitched the Supreme Guardian of this entire nation?
"No, what I want to say is actually not about your talking." Dan Heng sighed, a sound heavy with the exhaustion of being the crew's only voice of reason. Seeing that Leon was perfectly content to lean against the wall and watch the show, Dan Heng continued. "At Qlipoth Fort... did you notice the Supreme Guardian's behavior?"
"Of course I did!" March 7th puffed out her chest, her confidence returning in a flash. "After adventuring with you guys for so long, my observation skills have been polished to perfection. They're exceptionally sharp!"
"Oh?" Caelus leaned in, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Then what exactly did your exceptionally sharp eyes notice?"
"Well, nothing super special. Just a fairly normal lady," March 7th admitted, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "She was a bit hard to communicate with at first, kind of strict, but she got quite gentle after we talked some sense into her. It's just... I felt like her gaze had this weird, piercing quality to it."
She tilted her head, her brow furrowing as she tried to recall the exact feeling. "Even though she was looking right at us, talking to us, her eyes seemed like they were staring at something else entirely. Something far away."
"Yes. I had a very similar feeling," Dan Heng agreed, his tone dropping into something far more serious. "It felt as if... there weren't just the few of us standing in that room."
March 7th rubbed her arms, a sudden chill running down her spine. "Ugh, hearing you say it out loud like that makes it sound super creepy."
"It's an invisible man," Stelle whispered, intentionally dropping her voice an octave and leaning close to March's ear.
"Impossible!" March 7th shrieked, jumping a foot in the air before glaring at the gray-haired girl. She immediately looked toward Welt for adult supervision. "If there was really a ghost or something invisible in there, it definitely wouldn't escape Mr. Yang's eyes!"
Welt adjusted his glasses, the light catching the lenses and obscuring his eyes. His tone was grave. "It seems, March, that you truly have forgotten. Didn't Leon explicitly state earlier that the Supreme Guardian of this country has already been bewitched by the Stellaron?"
"Eh?" March 7th blinked, the gears finally clicking into place. She turned to look at Leon, her expression a mix of confusion and dawning horror. "Wait, it seems he did say that, but..."
"Well..." Leon pushed himself off the wall, stretching his arms above his head with a thoroughly unbothered yawn. He waved a hand, dismissing the heavy tension in the room like swatting away a fly. "There's no rush to figure all these things out right this second. We've been busy all day, aren't you guys tired? Let's go eat something first."
March 7th stared at him, completely speechless. She always knew she was a bit unreliable when it came to the serious stuff, but Leon seemed to operate on an entirely different plane of unbothered chaos.
They were talking about a brainwashed world leader and an invisible cosmic entity, and his priority was dinner?
Her stomach let out a sudden, traitorous rumble in the quiet room.
March 7th flushed, clutching her stomach. She looked at the amused faces around her and finally let out a defeated sigh.
Whatever. Since it's come to this, let's eat first!
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