Chapter 320: Pinokangni Chapter Nine

"\"I don't recall the invitation having that part... you mean there's a cipher in it? \""

"\"That's the intriguing part. The family's invitation arrived as a music box; winding the spring makes it play a harmonious tune. But the one we received had a discordant background noise. After recording it, I found the sounds match exactly the gravitational-wave frequency when the train jumps, using the train engine's spatial curvature as the key—so I extracted the passage above. \""

"Wa'erte lowered his head in thought: \"…it's a distress method commonly used by the Nameless Guest. \""

"\"We can't draw a conclusion yet, \" Jizi's fingertip rested on her chin, \"It could be the work of the Masked Fool. Just by the technique, both the Riddler and the Curious Demon could have done it. \""

"\"When did you discover it? \" Wa'erte asked."

"\"When you were handling the Luofu Star Core, I immediately informed Pa Mu. \""

"\"No wonder you just now asked to intervene; that corporate envoy also mentioned the Clockmaker. He probably received an invitation with a similar cipher—and it was decoded as well. \""

"Wa'erte crossed his arms: \"…another point that concerns me. When the invitation was mentioned, the family's spokesperson replied: 'As the actual administrators of Pinokangni, the family ought to relieve your worries and solve problems.' Hearing it now, the words carry a certain implication. \""

"\"And the Miss Zhigengniao beside him... I may not understand singing, but I can hear something odd in her voice—how could a singer about to take the stage have a hint of strangeness in her tone? \""

"Jizi squinted, her fingertip unconsciously rubbing the rim of Su Le Da's cup: \"You suspect the family didn't send the invitation, and—are hiding something from us? \""

——

Zero Zone.

The piano music stopped abruptly.

Yi Feilin's fingers paused while she was arranging her schedule. The sudden halt of the piano was too abrupt—her usual playing is seamless, never stopping mid‑piece. She looked up and saw Yao Jiayin staring blankly at the keys, her fingertips hovering in mid‑air as if caught by an invisible force.

"Miss?"

Yao Jiayin blinked as if waking from a dream, but gave no immediate reply. Her gaze passed beyond the piano to the dazzling sky‑canvas outside the window. Yi Feilin followed her line of sight—on the celestial dome, Pinokangni shone especially bright, its magnificent scenery tinting the entire New Aili night sky with a dreamlike hue.

"\"Surely no one has done something bad to Zhigengniao... \" Yao Jiayin suddenly spoke, her voice as light as a whisper to herself, \"No wonder I feel a strange dissonance when I hear Miss Zhigengniao speak. \""

Yi Feilin set the documents aside, calmly walking to the piano. She noticed the Miss's left hand unconsciously pressed to her chest—a small habit she makes when uneasy.

The Miss has always placed great importance on music. Ever since hearing that a world‑renowned songstress would take the stage, she had been extremely eager. Unfortunately… accidents always arrive before expectations.

"\"Miss, there's no need to worry excessively; her brother is Pinokangni's spokesperson, \" Yi Feilin handed her a perfectly warm cup of tea, "\"Even if you doubt the family's strength, you should trust a brother's protective love for his sister. \""

"\"But... \""

Yao Jiayin took the teacup but didn't sip. Her fingertip traced circles on the rim, her gaze still fixed on the sky‑canvas: "\"Even I can see that Pinokangni is far from stable; everyone seems to have their own agenda. I'm afraid Miss Zhigengniao is caught in the middle, becoming a sacrificial victim... \""

Yi Feilin frowned slightly. She didn't want the Miss to be overly melancholy, nor to worry about those unattainable, cosmic matters. Yet when she saw the side profile illuminated by the sky light, revealing a tender worry, she couldn't bring herself to reproach.

"\"Miss... \" Yi Feilin chose her words carefully, "\"The Train Corps has saved countless people through repeated Pioneering, hasn't it? Trust them—if Pinokangni truly is brewing a plot to make Zhigengniao a sacrifice, they won't stand by idly. \""

——

"\"Wa'erte also mused that this grand event might not be as simple as imagined. He wondered why they hadn't told Xing and the others. \""

"Jizi shook her head: \"If this is merely an internal matter of Pinokangni or the family, we shouldn't intervene lightly. \""

"\"But you also said this might be related to the 'Pioneering'. \""

"\"I said that, so…\" Jizi gave a light smile, looking at San Yueqi and Xing walking slowly behind Wa'erte, \"... so before departure I told Little San Yueqi and Dan Heng. \""

"San Yueqi, hearing this, awkwardly scratched his head, while Xing beside him wore a sheepish expression."

"Wa'erte suddenly understood and couldn't help laughing: \"So I was the only one kept in the dark. \""

"The current issues are clear: we don't know which faction sent the invitation, what purpose gathering all the sects at Pinokangni serves, and why the family knows yet stays silent… Jizi suggested that until these questions are resolved, no rash action should be taken."

"Until then, everyone just needs to enjoy the pleasant dream."

"\"Who is this Clockmaker? \" Xing asked curiously."

"\"When speaking of the star of the event, one must mention the Clockmaker, Pinokangni's household-famous tycoon. Wealth, fame, status… he built the coveted enterprise with his own hands, becoming a symbol of dreams. \""

"Jizi patiently explained: \"But how many of those stories are true… they leave no trace. The Clockmaker's origins and past are riddled with rumors; some suspect he's merely a fictional image created by the family. His legacy… seems more like a flashy justification. \""

——

DC Universe.

Bu Lusi Wei En leaned against the chair back, his knuckles against his chin, his gaze fixed on Jizi's slightly furrowed brow when she mentioned 'Pinokangni's Clockmaker'.

"\"A household-famous tycoon, huh? \" he murmured softly, \"…what an interesting description. \""

A'erfuleide approached carrying a silver tray, placing a steaming cup of tea on the edge of the desk: \"You seem quite interested in this historical figure of Pinokangni from a thousand years ago? \""

"\"It's not interest, it's suspicion, \" Bruce said without shifting his gaze, \"A person called the 'Father of Pinokangni' could not, relative to the creator of this dream, be merely a simple tycoon tied to money and status. He might be one of the three pioneers who arrived here, and together they forged Pinokangni. \""

A'erfuleide raised an eyebrow slightly: \"Not one of the three? \"

"\"Pinokangni is vast; it's not a miracle that one person alone could create, and I lean toward the Clockmaker being an organization or codename. After all, over a millennium the family has had ample time to blur that historical notion. \""

Bruce paused, "\"I even have another conjecture… that the original Clockmaker who forged Pinokangni might still be alive—but was imprisoned by the family for some reason. \""

A'erfuleide squinted: "\"You derived this conclusion from that cipher? \""