Chapter 240: Old friend Sampo? It

Where the Astral Express crew is located.

March 7th looked at Stelle and laughed, "It seems you're quite lucky in the dreamscape, too. You've got a cute girl keeping you company."

Stelle reached out a finger to scratch her cheek and said, "Well, Firefly is indeed cute."

Welt Yang watched this scene and smiled gently, saying, "If it could really stay this relaxed and pleasant, that would be for the best."

However, Welt Yang also knew that all the current calm was only because the hidden undercurrents had yet to erupt.

【Because Firefly was treating, Stelle felt too embarrassed to order too much, and in the end, just casually ordered a Clock Pizza.】

【Watching Stelle confirm the order, Firefly smiled: "Ordered? Then I'll pay."】

【"I like the Oak Cake Rolls at this shop the best; I eat one every day."】

【Stelle looked at Firefly's budget just now and asked curiously: "Is your wallet okay?"】

【Firefly whispered sheepishly: "Ugh, that's why I can only eat one a day..."】

【However, Firefly shook off the low spirits in an instant, perked up, and said: "Let's eat while we walk; let's go to the next stop."】

【Following that, Firefly led Stelle to tour the luxury shops mentioned earlier, the plaza with the Clockie statue, and the best vantage point in the Golden Hour to view the Penacony Grand Theater.】

【Afterward, they arrived at the SoulGlad themed leisure area—the Aideen Park.】

【Firefly explained the legendary story of SoulGlad's birth to Stelle, took Stelle to play the arcade games there, and finally, tired from playing, Stelle and Firefly came to rest at the bar counter.】

【Firefly looked at Stelle and said: "This land of dreams—Penacony—the 【Golden Hour】, it's really great, isn't it?"】

【Stelle nodded: "Not bad, everything here is very dreamlike."】

【Firefly sighed: "Yeah, a loving and tolerant dream... just like the Family itself."】

【"It is vast and profound. Like an ocean, where even the most obscure little people can sleep peacefully within it."】

【"... I am truly grateful that you chose to help. And because of that, I was able to introduce this paradise to you—it is willing to accept me, even though I don't belong here. I love it too, so I wanted to... share it with others."】

Live broadcast room.

"Does this mean... Firefly isn't actually a member of the Iris Family?"

"Seems like it. Is Firefly really a stowaway?"

"No, please don't! Firefly is such a cute girl, she must not be a bad person!"

"Who says a stowaway must be a bad person?"

"But looking at it this way, I feel like Firefly approaching the Trailblazer has some kind of motive."

"No way, the conspiracy theories are coming out already!"

【Stelle heard this, and although it was a bit ill-timed, she still suggested: "Don't pin your emotions on things like this."】

【Stelle understood that although the dream was beautiful, it was not reality after all; one could enjoy it for a temporary rest, but one must never indulge in it.】

【Firefly nodded: "You're right... but when people have nothing to rely on, they will always want to find something to comfort themselves."】

【Suddenly, Firefly's expression changed, and she said to Stelle: "Stelle, can you come a bit closer? —A bit closer, I want to ask you a question..."】

【"... May I ask, did you come to Penacony alone?"】

【Stelle shook her head slightly and said: "My friends went to other dreamscapes."】

【"Oh, I see..." Firefly pondered, her gaze becoming solemn as she said: "You might have realized it, or maybe not, but I've been taking you on detours this whole time, going to all sorts of places. This is because..."】

【"... Because someone is following you."】

【Stelle was startled and instinctively wanted to look back, but was stopped by Firefly—】

【"—Don't look back. I'm certain their target is you; they haven't lost track of us since we parted ways with Mr. Gallagher."】

【"I wondered if this person was your friend, but my intuition tells me no."】

【Firefly whispered the information she had observed to Stelle: "He is about 1.8 meters tall, with a margin of error within two centimeters, physically robust, and clearly trained. His stride is long, but you can't hear his footsteps; he's very light. This kind of footwork doesn't leave footprints..."】

【"... It seems he is very skilled at combat—the stealthy kind. His palms are broad, but his fingers are long and nimble. I guess he is used to using a blade. A short blade, a dagger..."】

【"Do you know someone like this? A wine-red coat, green eyes, dark blue hair..."】

In reality.

March 7th slapped the table and said: "Isn't that Sampo? This guy really did come to Penacony."

Dan Heng said calmly: "We could already confirm this in the previous PV, but him following Stelle in secret shows he definitely has some kind of scheme."

Welt Yang saw more, thinking to himself: (Not just that, there's also this Miss Firefly. Being able to deduce a person's posture and their skilled weapon and combat style so concisely and accurately is not something an ordinary person could do.)

【In the live broadcast, following Firefly's description, that figure walked straight toward Stelle and Firefly's position; it was indeed Sampo.】

【"Yo, isn't this my loyal big customer—Stelle!"】

【Stelle looked at the newcomer in surprise: "Sampo?!"】

【Sampo nodded and said: "That's right, your old friend Sampo! Genuine and authentic!"】

【"Aren't you surprised to see me! This is all thanks to you—Jarilo-VI is wide open now!"】

【Firefly asked with some confusion: "Uh... who is this?"】

【Sampo said: "Hey, Miss March, you don't remember me? It's a pity I helped you guys so much in Belobog..."】

【Stelle said helplessly: "She is Firefly, my guide."】

In reality, where the Astral Express crew is located.

March 7th said with dissatisfaction: "This Sampo, is he doing it on purpose? How are this girl and I alike at all?"

Welt Yang smiled helplessly when he saw this, though he kept his guard up in his heart.

【Stelle clearly didn't want to communicate much with Sampo and was about to take Firefly away, but was blocked by Sampo.】

【Sampo seemed quite interested and intended to take Stelle and Firefly to play some novel "adult entertainment."】

Welt Yang subconsciously gripped the Star of Eden, and Dan Heng subconsciously circulated his dragon power. If they hadn't known Sampo wasn't actually in front of them, both would have likely unleashed their ultimate moves to teach this bad uncle who wanted to corrupt their child a lesson.

【However, Sampo clearly wasn't that malicious; after collecting some materials through some light games, he took Stelle and Firefly to the Dreamscape Sales Store.】

【Using Sampo's dream and the collected materials, he generated a dream bubble for Stelle to experience.】

【However, the moment Stelle entered this dream bubble, she was stunned by what she saw.】

Live broadcast room.

"It finally came, the Trashcan Man."

"This, this... I thought it was just a PV gag, there really is a Trashcan Man."

"Hahahaha, I can't take it anymore. Every time I see these Trashcan Men with sturdy limbs, I can't help but laugh. I can't, hahahaha..."

"What kind of brand-new language is this? The story in the dream is clearly quite serious, but why do I just want to laugh?"

Jarilo-VI.

Belobog.

Natasha looked at the Trashcan Man who called himself Satana, sighed helplessly, and for the first time, felt a strong urge to find Sampo and teach him a lesson.

【As Stelle followed the requirements to obtain the three proofs of trust, she arrived at a desolate place where a giant Sampo laughed wildly, throwing bombs, knocking the Trashcan Men and Stelle head over heels.】

【In the end, Stelle couldn't take it anymore, leaped high, and was about to smash down with a punch. Behind Stelle, a giant Trashcan Man emerged, making the same punching motion, and the giant Sampo swung his fist to meet it.】

【Just as the fists were about to collide, even Firefly couldn't stand this absurd dream bubble anymore and shut it down.】

【After Stelle left the dream bubble, Sampo sighed: "What a pity—I wanted to see how Stelle would deal with the King of Trash..."】

【"What a shame! Such a profound dream, yet it came to an abrupt end because of Miss Firefly's intervention..."】

【"... I was looking forward to seeing what expression you would make the moment you discovered the truth."】

【Stelle vaguely sensed that Sampo's words had a hidden meaning and said solemnly: "What are you trying to express?"】

【Sampo shook his head and said: "Express? No, it should be reveal..."】

【"Regarding the truth of the 【Sweet Dream】—isn't that what you are looking for? Don't be fooled by the beautiful scenery, my dear; a comfortable environment creates blind people."】

【...】

【"The dreamscape isn't your own bathtub, but a deep sea that changes unpredictably. If I have to be clearer—don't be fooled by the alluring fluorescence. If you were to fold in the hands of that kind of person... I would be very, very disappointed."】

【Stelle pondered, feeling that the "fluorescence" Sampo mentioned was pointing at something.】

【Sampo just reminded her: "—Look, is that little girl still there?"】

【Stelle looked back, only to see that the spot where Firefly had been standing was now empty.】

【Sampo mocked: "She keeps saying she's a local of Penacony, yet she doesn't understand the inner workings at all—she's got quite the talent for petty theft, what kind of person is she exactly? My dear, did you never doubt her for a second?"】

【"Take my advice, if you have anything to ask, go find that girl for a confrontation quickly. Don't let her tuck her tail and run away, haha."】

【"Goodbye, partner... you better not disappoint me."】

【After Sampo left, Stelle recalled Firefly's anomalies and Sampo's words, and decided to find Firefly to understand the situation.】