The video continued.
Behind the Smiles — Unease Beneath the Surface
"We've finally made it. Everyone, go back to your rooms and drop off your luggage first."
After reaching the guest lounge, Himeko gave the order calmly.
Steluna and March exchanged glances, then nodded with bright smiles as they headed off together.
Meanwhile, Himeko and Welt stayed behind, watching them leave — a silent understanding passing between them.
A Quiet Conversation Between Veterans
"Care for a drink, Welt? Penacony's Soulglade is quite famous," Himeko said casually, gesturing toward the bar.
Welt didn't bite the bait.
"Just say it. We're thinking about the same thing, aren't we?"
Himeko chuckled softly.
"Do you remember the invitation the Express received?"
Welt replied without hesitation:
'We sincerely invite the honored guests of the Family to Penacony, to join other visitors in a grand celebration.'
"That invitation is what brought us here."
"Correct," Himeko said, her voice lowering.
"But that wasn't all."
She continued:
'To witness the impossible within dreams, seek the legacy of Penacony's Father — the Clockmaker — and answer the question: Why does life slumber?'
Welt's expression tightened.
"I don't remember that part… Are you saying the invitation contained hidden code?"
"Exactly."
She explained:
"The Family sent an ornate music box. When wound, it played a melody. But the one we received contained distorted harmonics hidden within the music. I extracted those irregular frequencies…"
"And discovered they matched the gravitational wave patterns produced during our warp jumps. Using the Express engine's spatial curvature as a decryption key, that message revealed itself."
Welt's eyes darkened.
"...A distress signal. A method used by Nameless in dire situations."
"Perhaps," Himeko admitted calmly.
"But it could also be the Masked Fools. Or even one of those infamous riddle-speakers."
"When did you notice this?" Welt asked.
"While you were handling the Luofu Stellaron," she replied. "I reported it to Pom-Pom immediately."
Welt slowly exhaled.
"That explains your earlier behavior… And why Aventurine mentioned the Clockmaker's name. He likely decoded a similar message."
Then he added quietly,
"There's another matter that troubles me. When we spoke of the invitation, Sunday said:
As the actual administrators of Penacony, the Family naturally will resolve your concerns.
That phrasing felt… deliberate."
"And Miss Robin's voice," he continued, frowning.
"Even to someone untrained in music, there was something off about it. A performer about to sing shouldn't sound like that."
The Unspoken Doubt
"You suspect," Himeko said carefully,
"that the Family may not be the true sender of the invitation… and they're hiding something from us?"
"It's possible," Welt replied.
"There may be a third party pulling strings. This so-called 'celebration' is anything but ordinary."
He sighed.
"Why didn't you tell the others?"
"If this is merely internal business of Penacony, we shouldn't interfere lightly," Himeko replied.
"But you said it might involve the Path of Trailblaze."
"Yes… which is why…"
Before she could finish, Steluna and March returned, cheerful as ever.
"So I told March and Dan Heng before we arrived."
Himeko smiled slyly.
March scratched her head, laughing awkwardly.
Welt blinked.
"So I was the only one kept in the dark?"
Steluna thumped her chest proudly.
"With the Galaxy Bat Hero around, whatever conspiracy it is will be smashed flat!"
March rolled her eyes.
Welt merely warned, "Penacony is complicated. Stay alert."
Himeko nodded.
"Until we uncover more, we act discreetly. Focus on collecting information — and enjoying our 'vacation.' Penacony is a dream destination many will never see in their lifetime."
The team agreed, dispersing to their own activities.
Chat Erupts
Steluna stared at the screen, her head spinning.
"Who am I? Where am I? What is happening?"
"Weren't we supposed to be on vacation?! Why are conspiracies already popping up?!"
March chuckled awkwardly.
"Yeah… I was gonna tell you later…"
Welt sighed.
"So the invitation really had hidden code? Himeko, you should've told me earlier."
She smiled.
"If I had, you'd have been worrying from the start. Now look — it revealed itself anyway."
Observers React
Hu Tao blinked.
"So… this is the adult world? Just a few lines and details, and you already unravel half a conspiracy?"
Lumine nodded.
"I didn't notice anything strange at all, but they'd already seen through each other's words…"
Yelan added calmly,
"Their counter-intelligence instincts are exceptional."
Furina raised her finger dramatically.
"Isn't the real issue the Family's potential scheme?!"
Aventurine smirked.
"She's right. The Family owes us an explanation."
Robin replied immediately.
"The Family would never harm its guests! There must be another reason! Please give us time!"
Sunday followed:
"We will provide a satisfactory answer. You have our word."
Paimon nodded enthusiastically.
"I believe them! They don't look like bad people!"
Gallagher sneered faintly.
"Appearances deceive, little one. Behind grandeur often lies ambition."
Sunday's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Oh? Are you implying something, Mr. Gallagher?"
Sparkle giggled.
"Hehehe~ Did Chicken Wing Boy get his feelings hurt again?"
A Storm of Opinions
Steluna stepped in firmly.
"All of you, calm down! With my bat here, any plot will be smashed to pieces!"
March raised her fist.
"I support that!"
Firefly: "+1"
Kafka: "+2"
Silver Wolf: "+3"
Elsewhere…
At the House of the Hearth, Arlecchino swirled her wine slowly.
"Interesting… The scent of conspiracy thickens."
Lyney asked softly:
"Father, do you think the Family is behind all this?"
"Not enough evidence yet… but one thing is certain — they are involved."
On Mt. Aozang:
"Master, do you think Sunday is a bad person?" Shenhe asked.
Cloud Retainer replied:
"That depends on how you define good and evil.
People show many faces. The most polite smile may hide the sharpest knife."
Shenhe nodded thoughtfully.
At the Kamisato Estate:
Ayaka turned to her brother.
"What do you think, brother?"
Ayato smiled calmly.
"The stage isn't fully set yet. The key players haven't acted.
But if I had to guess… Sunday and Robin sit close to the eye of the storm."
Ayaka nodded.
"Then we shall observe."
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