Chapter 398

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Jizi: "I guess, now it's time to talk about the story of that Mi Ha Yi Er, right?"

Jia Lahe nods: "You're very perceptive. The Astral Express also received that music box, right? Do you know what secret is hidden inside?"

Jizi memorized the sentence in full: "A message: 'Take in all the impossibilities of dreams, find the legacy of Pinokoni's father 【the Clockmaker】, then answer: Why does life fall asleep?'"

But need to keep quotes exactly? We'll keep double quotes.

Jia Lahe gave a light smile: "Not a word off."

Jia Lahe lightly smiled: "Not a word off." Or "Exactly." We'll translate: Jia Lahe gave a light smile: "Not a word off."

San Yue Qi suddenly became interested: "Hey, what are you laughing at... Could it be you wrote this? The writing is still quite good."

San Yue Qi instantly became interested: "Hey, what are you laughing at…… Could it be you wrote this? The writing is still quite good." We'll translate: San Yue Qi's interest was instantly piqued: "Hey, what are you laughing at…… Could it be you wrote this? The writing is still quite good."

Jia Lahe turned his head to look at the little girl: "I'm the sheriff in charge of investigations; how could I not know... I guess you must have also noticed that this message didn't come from the family—indeed, their relationship isn't that good, right?"

Jia Lahe turned his head to look at this little girl: "I'm the sheriff in charge of investigations; how could I not know… I guess you must have also noticed this note wasn't written by the family——even that their relationship isn't that good?" We'll translate: Jia Lahe turned to look at the little girl: "I'm the sheriff in charge of investigations; how could I not know… I guess you must have also noticed this note wasn't written by the family——even that their relationship isn't that good?" We'll keep punctuation.

Jizi said after thinking: "For now it's just speculation; we find it hard to believe that Pinokoni's father 【the Clockmaker】 and its actual manager (the family) are so at odds."

After thinking, Jizi said: "For now it's just speculation; we find it hard to believe that Pinokangni's father (the Clockmaker) and its actual administrator (the family) are so at odds." We'll translate: After thinking, Jizi said: "For now it's just speculation; we find it hard to believe that Pinokangni's father (the Clockmaker) and its actual administrator (the family) are so at odds."

Jia Lahe calmly said: "Now I can tell you, that's completely correct." "The family has long regarded the Clockmaker as an enemy, but frustrated by the latter's elusive nature—appearing and disappearing without a trace—he only lives in the business myth he created, and the hounds have long failed to catch him."

"Now I can tell you, completely correct." Jia Lahe spoke calmly, "The family has long regarded the Clockmaker as an enemy, but suffered from the latter's elusive nature—only existing in the business myth he created single-handedly, the hounds could never catch him." We'll translate: "Now I can tell you, completely correct." Jia Lahe spoke calmly: "The family has long regarded the Clockmaker as an enemy, but suffered from the latter's elusive nature—only existing in the business myth he created single-handedly, the hounds could never catch him."

"So, I further ask you all: have you ever wondered why the family can tolerate the Clockmaker sending out such joke-like information to the outside world, letting you come as invited, and still making a mess of this place?"

"So, I further ask you all: have you ever wondered why the family tolerates the Clockmaker sending out such joke-like information to the outside world, allowing you to come by invitation and still stir up chaos here?" We'll translate: "So, I further ask you all: have you ever wondered why the family tolerates the Clockmaker sending out such joke-like information to the outside world, allowing you to come by invitation and still stir up chaos here?"

Jizi guessed: "You want to use this chance to expose the Clockmaker?"

Jizi guessed: "You want to use this opportunity to make the Clockmaker slip up?" We'll translate: Jizi guessed: "You want to use this opportunity to make the Clockmaker slip up?"

Jia Lahe nodded: "Now you can understand why the Oak family authorized the Nameless to assist in the investigation, yet kept hiding things from you all along, right?"

Jia Lahe nodded: "Now you can understand why the Oak Family authorized the Nameless Guest to assist in the investigation, yet kept hiding things from you all along, right?" We'll translate: Jia Lahe nodded: "Now you can understand why the Oak Family authorized the Nameless Guest to assist in the investigation, yet kept hiding things from you all along, right?"

——

This line is just an em dash? We need to output translation. The line contains "——". We should translate as an em dash? Probably keep as "——". So output: 【12】 ——

Twin Cities War

Beside the fountain in Piiertewofu Central Park, Wei watched Jia Lahe's speech on the skyscreen, feeling it like a heavy punch hitting her, making her brain sound like rusty gears grinding with a "ka-ka" sound.

"Wait..." she rubbed her temples, "So the Clockmaker and the family aren't accomplices? Rather, they're mortal enemies? This..."

"Wait..." she rubbed her temples, "So the Clockmaker and the family aren't allies? They're actually the family's mortal enemies? This..." We'll translate: "Wait..." she rubbed her temples, "So the Clockmaker and the family aren't allies? They're actually the family's mortal enemies? This..."

Kai Te Lin beside her also felt incredulous; her initial guess was that the Clockmaker held a high position within the family, even having countless connections with the Dream Weaver, his status not below that of the Dream Weaver. But this twist was a bit too exaggerated, she didn't want to believe it... yet it was strangely reasonable.

Caitlyn beside her likewise found it hard to believe; her initial guess was that the Clockmaker held a high status within the family, even having countless connections with the Dream Master, his status not beneath the Dream Master's. But this twist is a bit too exaggerated, she doesn't want to believe it… yet it's oddly reasonable. We'll translate: Caitlyn beside her likewise found it hard to believe; her initial guess was that the Clockmaker held a high status within the family, even having countless connections with the Dream Master, his status not beneath the Dream Master's. But this twist is a bit too exaggerated, she doesn't want to believe it… yet it's oddly reasonable.

Xiao Dangao, saying that the watchmaker in Pinokangni is like a wanted criminal, but that's not right..." Wei said thoughtfully, "The watchmaker's deeds have been spread throughout Pinokangni for almost a thousand years; who could live that long as a human? Either he's a robot like the Gear Gum, or... he's simply not human!"

If not human, what would he be?" Kaitelin wondered.

An organization." Wei said firmly, "Only an organization can be passed down for a thousand years; an organization will have a structure, with generation after generation of members inheriting and promoting a certain mission. Among the people he is a spiritual leader, but in reality he is an organization resisting the 【Family】!"

Just like Zaun also has forces resisting Piltover's oppression! The watchmaker surely knows the Family's conspiracy and has always been devoted to resisting!" Wei said while happily putting his arm around Kaitelin's shoulders, "Xiao Dangao, don't you think such an organization is cool?"

Kaitelin gave a cold snort and shoved Wei's arm away: "Your analogy is good; don't use it again."

——

"... Because the watchmaker is not some legend of the Land of Dreams, but rather the most shameful stain in the history of the Pinokangni branch family. He is the originator of all dream aberrations."

"What does this have to do with Mikhail?" Xing asked.

"You haven't reacted yet? I mean... Mikhail, the Family's traitor—he is none other than the famous watchmaker."

After saying that, Jialahè led everyone away from the bar to an amusement park, where he began investigating the watchmaker. After popularizing some of Pinokangni's bloody and tearful history to the train crew, he told everyone that some of the animated characters here have real-world prototypes.

For example, the Hanu brothers—he was a prisoner who smashed the company's shackles, leading people to fight for freedom. Although the animation contains artistic embellishment, the adaptation is not random fabrication, the dramatization is not nonsense; they are all based on Pinokangni's history, which is an indisputable fact.

Because Xingqiri had just issued a lockdown, many members of the Hound clans loitered nearby, preventing visitors from entering.

Jizi gazed at the watchboy statue at the park's entrance and continued asking, 'If these animated characters all have traces in reality, then the counterpart of the watchboy is undoubtedly the watchmaker.'

"He was a partner of the Hanu brothers and one of the original members of Sweet Dream Town; does this mean that the historical watchmaker personally participated in that war and stood on the side of Asden?"

"That was a grand-scale independence war, with the Masked Fool, Nameless Guest, Fictitious Historian, Mourning Performer, Omen Vanguard… Hanu Nu, with the help of his companions and extraterrestrial visitors, quelled the turmoil. Naturally, the future watchmaker was among them."

——

Demon Slayer

"Why, in their mouths, does the company seem like an evil devil that does all kinds of wickedness?"

Mist Hashira Shitou Wuyilang scratched his head in puzzlement; although the company nowadays cannot be called very benevolent, at least it has given many opportunities for development to people in poor areas. Could it be that the company was this bad a thousand years ago?

"Shitou Wuyilang, you forgot what Mr. Jialahè just said?" Stone Hashira clasped his hands together, "History is written by the victors. Perhaps in the history known to Mr. Jialahè, the victors also did some beautifying."

"If one day our Demon Slayer Corps is wiped out by Muzan, then in the history written by Muzan, we might become the 'evil' side."

Yihei Xiaobane quietly watched the amusement park on the skydome: "But upon further thought, what independence war would actually attract the Masked Fool to join? I guess… a large part of the victory of this independence war came from the company's voluntary abandonment, when the company felt that the benefits of recovery were less than the war's investment, making it an unprofitable 'investment'."

"What a joke! The company now is too much of a bastard!" Bushichuan Shimí's fist slammed hard onto the floor, making a 'thud' sound, with veins bulging on his forehead, "Back then they just gave up, and now they see the Family making money, eyes red with desire to reclaim—where in the world is there such a good deal?"

"But the subtlety is, the Family also doesn't seem very clean." Insect Hashira smiled slightly, "Whether it's the company or the Family, they're just Pinokangni changing masters; whoever can keep the visitors safe here and whoever can develop this land better can take over."

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End of Chapter

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