Chapter 399

「「If we calculate it that way… isn't the watchmaker alive for several hundred years? 」 March 7 asked. 」

「「I don't know. When I met Mikhail, he was already a 【watchmaker】; it could also be an inherited title. 」」

「「…Sheriff, how old are you? 」 March 7 widened her eyes curiously. 」

Galahad slowly turned his head; his stubble-covered face showed no expression: "... 13 years old."

「「No way it's possible no matter how you look at it! 」」

——

Honkai 3

「Hahaha, a thirteen‑year‑old bartender? Your imagination is richer than Paduo's—could it be… that he's mature beyond his years? Hmm, I didn't expect this sheriff to be such a humorous person。」

The crystal chandelier in the conference hall shed warm light on Ailixiya's pink long hair; she had originally planned to drink and watch the sky with Yīdiān, but after just a few drinks Yīdiān got drunk first, leaving only her still in the conference room.

The door was pushed open gently, as if a gust of wind had blown in. Only when the sofa beside her sank did she turn to the white‑haired man beside her and say softly: "Qianjie, it's been a while since I've seen you here—would you like some of Yīdiān's treasured…?"

"It's me, Ailixiya."

Kǎiwén's voice sounded like a chunk of ice falling into warm tea.

Ailixiya's eyelashes trembled imperceptibly; even though she was usually eloquent, she couldn't help but lose her words for a moment.

She turned her head, her gaze beginning to trace his brows and eyes—stern brow ridges, icy‑blue eyes… Fifty thousand years of time had left marks on him, yet they could not erase the familiar outline she knew.

Not a Memory Unit from Paradise, but… the real Kǎiwén.

"I wished yesterday to meet the real you, and I didn't expect it to actually work—if I'd known, I'd have wished for more." Ailixiya suddenly laughed, reaching out to poke his cheek; the warmth of her fingertips was real and vivid.

"After all these years, Kǎiwén, don't you have anything to say when you see me?" The girl puffed her cheeks, a little angry.

"Before pushing open this door I had a lot I wanted to say to you all, but just now… sorry, I can't remember a single word."

"I thought when we met you'd say something like 'Ailixiya, you've gotten prettier again'—I love hearing that. Ah, well, I'll just chalk it up to you being overexcited and forgive you."

The girl's tone was light, as playful as ever. For a moment he seemed to see again that dusk fifty thousand years ago—Ailixiya laughing just like that, spinning on the base's rooftop, pink hair flying as specks of light fell.

Kǎiwén looked around the empty conference room, curious, and asked: "What about the others?"

"They all have their own things to do, and besides… you showed up out of the blue without a word—of course no one would have prepared in advance."

Ailixiya gently stroked Eden's hair beside her, saying: "Here it's just me and Eden, but she's drunk now. When she wakes up you can greet her. By the way, what would you like to drink? We can provide anything here… except noodles."

"Um…" Kǎiwén lowered his head, embarrassed. "…Then I guess I'll pass."

——

"Hannu freed the frontier prison, but Aster remains poor and backward until the historical watchmaker extended an olive branch to the family, trying to turn this frontier prison into a star of bustling festivities… Pinokangni finally gained its current name, stepping onto the stage facing the stars."

「"But you just said the watchmaker was the family's traitor? You also said you were his companion, so you too…" March 7 wanted to speak but stopped. 」

「"I'm not his companion; I'm one of his many 【children】." Galahad shook his head, denying it, "but I am indeed a traitor—not betraying the family, but betraying… Mikhail。」」

"Jizi froze: "…What did you do?""

「"I haven't done anything—this is the ultimate betrayal." Galahad's tone carried a faint sorrow, "just like you, I once had a close‑knit companion. We poured our hearts into Pinokangni, but the 'Oak Lineage'… dragged us into injustice。」」

「"Mikhail is old and can no longer protect his children. We left the family to find our own way, thus becoming traitors of 【Harmony】…" Galahad gritted his teeth, "…even though the real traitor is someone else。」」

「"They still praise the watchmaker's reputation outwardly, yet secretly they've nailed him to the pillar of shame. Even so, we still hope to clear his name. If we expose the true traitor—the mastermind behind all this—Pinkangni's Harmony can return to the right path。」」

「"But we lost. After a long time, the influence on the Land of Dreams has become too deep; under endless pursuit, I gave up… like a stray dog. Later, the family took me back, giving me the job of sheriff—nominally forgiveness, actually punishment. From then on… I and my companions… completely severed ties with my past. And Mikhail…」」

「"I heard he died in an unnoticed corner, a place no one could find. I realize that from this moment on, the former Pinokangni can never return。」」

——

Fullmetal Alchemist

"This uncle is way too heavy… In his thirteen years of life, just how many ups and downs, how many facets of life has he witnessed?"

"Brother, are you serious? Don't say thirteen—I'd believe it even if he were thirty‑three…"

Alphonse was momentarily at a loss; there was no doubt that Mr. Galahad was a very tragic figure, yet the harshness in his speech was sharp as a blade. He undoubtedly possessed very sharp claws, ready to unleash his burning fury at any moment upon the traitors.

"The watchmaker is dead—who could be the one writing the cipher? The next watchmaker? Brother, I feel Pinokangni is a huge trap, dragging people of different factions into the dream under the guise of an invitation, when the real goal is to assimilate everyone into a part of 【Harmony】."

Just thinking about it made Alphonse feel a chill.

"Don't overthink it." Edward waved his hand, "Didn't you hear what Mr. Galahad said? The family's target is only Mikhail. But I'm curious—if he's the creator of this dreamscape, why would he betray the family? A disagreement over the split? …Surely it can't be for such a petty reason."

"Brother, your idea is completely wrong. Whoever created this dreamscape must have firm convictions. As I see it, the family definitely betrayed Mikhail… but they found an excuse and turned the tables—this also happens to match the traitor within the family."

Alphonse said word by word: "…Mikhail is both the creator of this beautiful dream and its victim."