Chapter 387

Li Xi's brows immediately knotted: "Huh? I still have three new songs to arrange?" She irritably scratched her head, "Are you trying to work me to death?"

Deng gently tugged at Aiyin's sleeve and whispered, "Li Xi, you've really been under a lot of pressure lately..."

Seeing Deng speaking up for her, Li Xi's attitude instantly softened, her voice unconsciously dropping an octave, "Well, well, it's not that tiring… uh, just… a normal workload…"

Aiyin seized the moment, lunging to put an arm around Li Xi's shoulders: "Then Rikki will handle composition~ I'll take care of the lyrics!"

"What!?" Li Xi gave her a disgusted glance, "Last time you wrote lyrics that were basically just stitching together idol drama lines—stuff like 'kiss the gears of fate before the meteor falls'… it gave me goosebumps."

"That's outrageous! Mine was just speaking from the heart!" She turned and lunged at Deng, "Tomori~ do you think my lyrics have improved?"

Deng was shaken left and right by Aiyin, yet still nodded seriously: "... Aiyin's lyrics are bright… let's give her a try this time?"

Since Deng had already said that, Li Xi finally gave in: "Do whatever you want…… but the theme of Shajin must be clear—not only should it highlight his background and sense of destiny, it also needs to match our band's style."

Li Xi sighed helplessly: "... Honestly, you jerk, if you don't write the lyrics properly, you won't get past me."

——

"At the lobby of the Daydream Hotel, the front desk found no information about Liuying."

"... That's to be expected. I'd like to ask further: what traces do people usually leave when they enter a dream?" Jizi asked.

"The front desk said the dream pool records some physiological indicators and then hands them over to the Family. All measures are meant to forcibly awaken guests in emergencies, with the goal of ensuring their safety. Moreover, the front desk's authorization does not support investigating through this avenue."

"However, before leaving, Jizi still managed to probe a bit about Miss Zhigengniao's situation through conversation; seeing the front desk's clueless expression, she became even more convinced that the Family had covered up Zhigengniao's death very well."

"\"Indeed, no one knows anything about Zhigengniao—no surprise there. \" Jizi frowned, \"But that Miss Liuying is truly mysterious; the hotel system can't find any information about her. Even if she were a stowaway… she should have a forged identity after entering the country, right? \""

"To slip into dreams unnoticed, there are only two methods now: one is the help of the Rememberers, who are like fish in water in the Realm of Memory, making dream entry easy; the other is the Silver Wolf of the Star Core Hunters, who can break the Dream Hotel's blockade with unconventional means, and Jizi also infers that behind the Liuying matter, the Hunters are actively pushing it."

——

Labyrinth Meal

"Those Star Core Hunters are too awful—using even a little girl like Liuying."

"The fire crackled as Malushier scooped slime from her bowl with a spoon, then snapped, 'Those Star Core Hunters are a dangerous bunch… Has Liuying never seen their wanted posters before? How dare she collaborate with them… sigh, she's so young.'"

"\"This isn't the point—\" Qierchake gulped down the slime in his bowl, wiped his mouth, and said, \"The point is the Star Core Hunters' goal; they always target Star Cores, so coming to Pinokangni this time is certainly no exception. \"

"\"In other words, Pinokangni actually hides a Star Core? \""

"Qierchake sighed helplessly: \"Malushier, you haven't forgotten what Xingqiri said, have you? If Pinokangni had no Star Core, where would he get the research funding he promised Professor Laatio? And if there were no Star Core, I can't imagine any reason for the Star Core Hunters to mobilize. \"

"And do you still remember Liuying's purpose in coming to Pinokangni? She also wants to pursue the 【Clockmaker's Legacy】. If the Star Core Hunters share her goal, could we conclude that the so-called legacy… is actually a Star Core?"

——

"As several people were discussing, suddenly a commotion came from nearby guests. A few fully armed company personnel arrived, preparing to carry out an armed evacuation."

"\"Armed, armed evacuation? Boss, are you drunk? \""

"The private beside him stammered that his year-end bonus had all been settled in Beiluoboge, and if they continued, he might end up with a serious disciplinary notice."

"Fortunately, Tuopa stepped forward in time, shouting a head-to-toe dressing-down at them and dragging that embarrassing squad leader off to a guest room."

"Upon seeing Tuopa, everyone from the train crew was glad—finally the company had sent someone familiar."

"\"Long time no see, everyone of the Astral Express—I've heard all about you from Shajin… huh? \" A message seemed to come through Tuopa's earpiece; she immediately put on a more serious face and instructed those inside: \"…No problem, just do as they request, try to avoid conflict with the Family… report to me before taking any action. Hmm, good. \""

"After speaking, Tuopa also let out a long sigh: \"Well… as you can see, the company isn't very popular in Pinokangni. The Family's show of hospitality is merely superficial—once a frontier prison, now they want to slap handcuffs on company staff. \""

——

Fullmetal Alchemist

"Ahhh, it's Miss Tuopa——!"

"Miss Tuopa, I have to file a report—boo hoo hoo, it's all because of that brat Shajin, who betrayed your trust and threw away your bright future!"

"Idiot, you're shouting at a curtain—who are you even reporting to? Can they even hear you?"

"……"

"Such noises filled the restaurant, causing Edward to burst out laughing."

"Indeed, at the moment he saw Miss Tuopa, he really felt that sense of 'meeting an old friend in a foreign land,' and even his mood, which had been somewhat spoiled by Xingqiri, recovered quite a bit."

"Brother, what are you laughing at?"

"Alphonse beside him looked at him quizzically."

"Edward speared a piece of steak and put it in his mouth, his words muffled: '…Nothing much, I was just imagining what expression Miss Tuopa would have if she found out her Foundation Stone and the Shajin Stone had both been thrown away…'"

"\"There probably wouldn't be any expression; she'd likely accept it calmly, \" Aerfonsi said."

"\"Huh? You have that much faith in Tuopa's mental fortitude? \""

"\"Well, it's not just Miss Tuopa…… mainly, I believe in the Stoneheart Ten. \" Alphonse's voice echoed from his empty armor, carrying a special tone: 'Those who can carve a Foundation Stone with their own will are surely those approved by the 【Preservation】—how could they be ordinary? If they can lift it, they can certainly set it down.'"

"\"Brother, you can't underestimate their resolve—since Miss Tuopa dared to entrust her 【Foundation Stone】 to Shajin, she must certainly be prepared. \"\"