Chapter 87

[Let me see, what time is it now....]

[.....What, it's time?]

[Oh ho!! Off work!]

[None of you try to stop me —!]

[Hahahaha....]

This very principled member of the Bloodhound Family who previously said he wouldn't let Stelle and the others in,

just left laughing like this.....

[....]

This evil scene,

made March 7th and Himeko numb.

[Uh... Stelle, this Clockwork trick of yours is a bit.... dangerous.]

March 7th looks at Stelle,

only feeling that this kind of ability doesn't look like something a good person would use.

Stelle hears this, and scratches her head awkwardly.

Honestly, she also feels a bit like that.

[Ha.... at least he won't stop us anymore.]

[Let's go, let's go find that Gallagher and have a good chat with him about the case.]

Himeko smiles, and takes everyone to continue walking forward.

Furina: "Clockwork trick is back in the rivers and lakes!"

Furina: "Let's see who the victim is this time?"

Furina: "Ah! It's actually still..... that unlucky Bloodhound Family member from before!"

Hu Tao: "Too evil, too cruel, I can't bear to watch it anymore!"

Hu Tao: "Tsk tsk, aren't you guys bullying an honest person! (Funny.jpg)"

Firefly: "He actually remembers so clearly the time I fought him with Stelle...."

Firefly: "Did I hit too hard before?"

Firefly: "Suddenly feeling so guilty....."

Silver Wolf: "Aren't they all still alive and well?"

Silver Wolf: "Didn't lose any arms or legs!"

Silver Wolf: "This is also called hitting?"

Miss Qingque: "Truly a pitiful person."

Miss Qingque: "Actually let Stelle bully him twice in a row."

Lumine: "This Bloodhound gentleman is too principled, if he had loosened his mouth a little, he wouldn't be this miserable, right?"

Stelle: "First say, this incident has nothing to do with me, it was March who directed me to do this."

March 7th: "Hey.... what kind of shirking responsibility is that?"

March 7th: "The me in the video has never seen Clockwork tricks, so I didn't know this thing would be so evil, right?"

March 7th: "If I had known, I definitely wouldn't have let you do this!"

Stelle: "I don't care, it's your fault, I'm not wrong. (Innocent.jpg)"

March 7th: "Alright, alright, it's all my fault, it's my bad, are you satisfied now?"

Paimon: "Wow, such an indulgent feeling. (Covering mouth and laughing.jpg)"

Stelle: "Where is it indulgent, this is clearly perfunctory!"

Himeko: "(Helpless.jpg)"

The video continues.

[I said why it's so noisy.... it's you guys, welcome.]

[Found your way here, what's the matter?]

The three find Gallagher and come to his front.

[Mr. Gallagher, hello.] 5.9

[Judging from your tone, you knew we would come here?]

Himeko asks politely.

[Hahaha, Miss Himeko is too polite, no need to use 'you' for me.]

Gallagher waves his hand with a smile.

[....Mr. Gallagher also knows my name?]

Himeko is a bit surprised.

[Know, how could I not know?]

[You are the famous Astral Express, the honored guests of the Watchmaker.]

[I had a brief encounter with this young lady at the Moment of Golden, I remember that the silver-haired little girl was also there at the time......]

[....I express deep regret for that child's encounter.]

Gallagher looks at Stelle, his tone a bit sighing.

[We are also very sorry....]

Stelle says sadly.

[This is also the reason why we came to visit Mr. Gallagher.]

[The Express cannot sit idly by regarding that child's death, and has decided to assist the Family in finding out the truth, hoping to get justice for her.]

Himeko explains.

[The Nameless are actually mixed up with the Family.... Heaven's will makes fools of people.]

After Himeko finishes speaking, Gallagher sighs inexplicably.

[Family.... what's wrong with it?]

March 7th always feels that Gallagher seems to have some opinions about the Family.

[Nothing, don't mind it.]

[In Penacony, everyone likes the Family.]

[No matter how much one resists the beautiful dream, when the time comes, one will become reluctant.]

[Who would be willing to leave a warm nest?]

[Only fools, children... and drunks with unclear heads.]

Gallagher says indifferently.

[...Mr. Gallagher seems to be implying something?]

Himeko tastes these words and feels something is not quite right.

[You misunderstood, I didn't.]

[You want to talk about the case? Fine, follow me, this place is not suitable for talking, let's move to another nest.]

Gallagher shakes his head and denies it, then takes the three away.

Keqing: "Mr. Gallagher seems to have some prejudice against the Family?"

Keqing: "Is it an illusion?"

Hu Tao: "I noticed it too. Could it be that Mr. Gallagher has some conflict with the Family?"

Hu Tao: "But that shouldn't be, isn't he also a member of the Family?"

Furina: "Speaking of which, it's even stranger."

Furina: "As a security officer of the Family, why can't his subordinates remember his name?"

Xiangling: "Is it possible that Mr. Gallagher doesn't use his real name usually..."

Xiangling: "That's why these subordinates aren't familiar with it?"

March 7th: "Eh... that's actually a real possibility."

Stelle: "If that's the case, it makes sense."

Welt: "Is that really the case?"

Welt: "I always feel like something is still not quite right."

Dan Heng: "There's an indescribable sense of dissonance..."

Dan Heng: "This Mr. Gallagher... seems..."

Herta: "Heh, what a patchwork master of bits and pieces."

Stelle: "What does that mean?"

Herta: "Literal meaning."

Stelle: "Don't understand, translate it?"

Herta: "If you don't understand, then you don't need to understand."

Stelle: "Hmph, what a stingy person! (Angry.jpg)"

The video continues.

The scene shifts,

to Acheron and Welt.

[Even after such a shocking tragedy, this sweet dream is still operating in an orderly manner...]

[Apart from the Family of Harmony, it's hard to imagine any other force in the universe that could maintain such a massive structure.]

Walking on the street,

Welt couldn't help but sigh.

[The Family itself is also a huge, perfect structure, just like... a living idol.]

[Every member of the Family sees themselves as a piece of the divine body, revolving around the sole core and common ideal, faithfully performing their duties under His command, dedicating themselves, while being nourished by Him in return...]

Acheron shared her insights about the Family.

[A very interesting metaphor, perhaps this is the foundation for Penacony's sweet dream to endure.]

Welt thought Acheron's statement was very interesting.

[But the human body eventually has its time, and so does the divine body.]

Acheron added abruptly.

[...]

[This doesn't sound like a comment a Galaxy Ranger would make.]

Welt crossed his arms,

thinking that this kind of rhetoric is not a concept that someone who believes in The Hunt would say.

[Just pointing out a fact, Mr. Welt must be able to understand the taste of it better than I can.]

Acheron shook her head,

her words seeming to imply something.

[Why does Miss Acheron say that?]

Welt asked back.

[The sweet dream is collapsing, but not because of any Aeon, any faction, or any specific visitor.]

[Its collapse stems from a certain inevitability of human nature. The Family is unwilling to admit this, but invisibly it has become a catalyst...]

[When people indulge their spirits in a dreamscape that requires no cost, has no pain, and only has comfort and enjoyment, they get closer and closer to necrosis.]

[No matter what kind of bliss he thinks he is living in, death is an unchangeable ending.]

[Furthermore, this necrosis will spread and diffuse. The mutation of one puzzle piece will eventually lead to the shaking, shattering... and collapse of the entire structure.]

Acheron's tone was eerie,

expounding on the essence of the current Penacony sweet dream.

[In the end, the sweet dream built for freedom will turn into a cage that imprisons oneself.]

[I suppose Miss Acheron has gained a lot from this trip, would you be willing to share it with me?]

Acheron being able to say these words

made Welt interested.

[Of course... provided I still remember.]

Acheron nodded,

and immediately grasped the hilt of her sword.

And just for a moment,

she let go of her hand again.

[...?]

Welt noticed this scene,

and a look of confusion appeared in his expression.

[Don't mind it, it's just a habit.]

[Because of some past events, I have become very easy to... forget. Only when this sword is unsheathed do those hazy scenes gradually become clear.]

Acheron knew Welt would be confused,

so she explained.

[Mm... please feel free.]

Welt expressed understanding.

[That's enough, I remember what happened in Penacony very clearly.]

[Please ask.]

Acheron signaled that she was ready.

[Good...]

[First question, did you discover anything about the Moment of Dawn?]

[I heard that the Morning Dew Factory, which processes the dreamscape base, is located there.]

Welt didn't hold back,

and asked immediately.

[Behind the glitz and glamour of the dreamscape are factories of imagination.]

[Workers create various whimsical products in the dream day after day, and then return to reality to rest on beds far from luxury guest rooms.]

[They say this is enough, the bizarre dreamscape is already the best reward.]

[I met a young girl there, she had just come of age, the age when she should be indulging in the sweet dream.]

[Her biggest wish is to one day move to the Golden Hour and see the gorgeous clothes woven by her own hands...]

[Due to some reasons, her wish is hard to realize.]

[However, I found a way to bring a piece of clothing to her...]

Acheron talked about what she saw and heard in the Moment of Dawn.

Furina: "I suddenly realized..."

Furina: "Is Penacony's dream world... really a sweet dream?"

Furina: "If it really is a sweet dream, why are there still people who cannot satisfy their wishes?"

Paimon: "If even wishes can't be satisfied, Paimon feels this isn't a sweet dream at all."

Paimon: "Because when Paimon dreams, I can realize the wish of eating whatever I want!"

Paimon: "But that young girl couldn't even realize such a small wish..."

Paimon: "It sounds even a little bit pitiful."

Collei: "A sweet dream should be something that makes people happy, right?"

Collei: "But the feeling that young girl gives me is that she shouldn't be living happily."

Collei: "Because she is far from her wish."

Stelle: "Working as a laborer in the dream, and you Family call this a sweet dream?"

Stelle: "I'll just ask you all, who among you still works in your dreams?"

Stelle: "Isn't this nonsense?"

March 7th: "Also, listening to Miss Acheron's description, it seems the labor benefits aren't very good either?"

Aventurine: "Heh, I said it before, the so-called sweet dream of Penacony is only designed for the upper class."

Aventurine: "As for ordinary people..."

Aventurine: "The Family says!"