Chapter 45: Is the Family Brewing a Earth-Shaking Conspiracy?

The video continued.

【Himeko: Finally arrived. Everyone, go back to your rooms and put down your luggage first.】

After arriving at the rest area, Himeko spoke to the group.

Stelle and March 7th exchanged a glance upon hearing this.

They smiled and nodded in agreement.

They left together.

Himeko and Welt merely watched them depart,

Staying behind in silent accord.

【Himeko: Welt, shall we have a drink first? "Su Leda" from Penacony is quite famous.】 Himeko glanced at the bar in the distance and joked with Welt.

【Welt:... Speak. We're probably thinking of the same thing.】 Welt knew Himeko had deliberately sent Stelle and March 7th away to speak with him privately.

【Himeko: Do you remember the "invitation letter" the train received?】 Himeko didn't beat around the bush and asked Welt directly.

【Welt: "We cordially invite distinguished guests of the family to Penacony to join other attendees in a grand celebration." — It was because of this invitation that we are here.】 Welt had an excellent memory and immediately recited the invitation's contents.

【Himeko: You remembered correctly — but the invitation letter had more to it.】 Himeko nodded,

Then changed tone:

【... Witness all the impossible things within the dream, uncover the legacy of Penacony's father, "The Clockmaker," and then answer: Why does life sleep?】 Himeko spoke a passage Welt had never heard before.

【Welt: I don't recall this passage being in the invitation... Are you saying there's a hidden code?】 Welt was startled by these words.

【Himeko: That's the intriguing part. The "invitation letter" delivered by the family was a music box — turn the winding key and it plays a melody.】

【But the one delivered to us is strange... Its background melody contains dissonant tones.】

【I recorded these dissonances — they perfectly matched the gravitational wave frequencies during the train's jump, and using the train engine's spacetime curvature as the key — I decoded the passage above.】 Himeko explained to Welt the origin of the message.

【Welt:... It's a common distress signal used by the Nameless Guests.】 Welt's expression gradually became solemn as he analyzed it.

【Himeko: We can't conclude yet — it could also be the work of the Masked Fool. By technique alone, the Riddler or the Strange-Questioning Demon could achieve this too.】 Himeko voiced her suspicions.

【Welt: When did you discover this?】 Welt asked, puzzled.

【Himeko: While you were handling the Luo Fu Star Core, I informed Pam immediately.】 Himeko replied.

【Welt: No wonder you insisted on taking the lead just now — the company envoy also mentioned the name "Clockmaker." He likely received an invitation with similar hidden text — and it was decoded too.】 Welt recalled Himeko's earlier behavior and suddenly understood.

【Welt:... There's another thing that troubles me. When the invitation letter was mentioned, the family's spokesperson responded: "As the actual administrator of Penacony, the family should resolve any difficulties for you."】

【Now that I hear it, there's more beneath those words. And the Young Lady beside him... I don't understand singing, but I could hear something odd in her voice — how could a singer about to take the stage have a voice tinged with strangeness?】

Welt recalled the scenes from earlier and felt something was off.

【Himeko: You suspect the family isn't the sender of the invitation letter — and that they're hiding something from us?】 Himeko caught the implication in Welt's words.

【Welt: It's possible. The family extending invitations to other factions is already unusual. Your discovery confirms a third party may be involved... I take back my earlier words — this "grand event" is far from simple.】 Welt let out a quiet sigh.

【Welt: Why didn't you tell the children?】 Suddenly, Welt asked Himeko.

【Himeko: If this is merely an internal matter of Penacony or the family, we shouldn't interfere casually.】 Himeko explained.

【Welt: But you yourself said this might be connected to "Exploration."】 Welt countered.

【Himeko: I did say that, so...】 Himeko began to explain further.

But at that moment, Stelle and March 7th, having put away their luggage, returned before them.

【Himeko: So before we set out, I already told March 7th and Brother Dan Heng.】 Himeko met March 7th's gaze and smiled with a hint of mischief.

March 7th, seeing this, chuckled sheepishly and scratched the back of her head.