Chapter 306: Penacony Arc 『 Part 1 』
She suddenly leapt onto Araragi Koyomi's back, her chilled chin grazing his burning earlobe.
"In my estimation, it's quite possible a game of 'murder by a borrowed blade' is afoot~"
"Hey, hey!"
Araragi Koyomi swayed his body, unable to shake off the girl who clung to him like stubborn taffy.
"Shinobu, isn't that a bit too cynical? Besides, Duke Inferno looks far more dangerous than any blade. It's hard to say who would be doing the killing."
"Alas, you remain far too naive."
Oshino Shinobu flipped gracefully back to the ground and let out a sigh.
"Threats that float upon the surface are rarely worthy of the name. A true menace never reveals its fangs prematurely."
—
「 Stelle suddenly received a message in the Express crew's group chat. Pam announced that the train's warp drive was ready and they would soon depart for the next station. However, there would be a brief meeting before departure; the Conductor requested everyone to assemble in the Parlor Car.
Upon arriving at the car, March 7th, Dan Heng were already present. Pam arrived last, indicating there were some important matters to prepare.
"All passengers should be aware by now, Pam? The Express's destination this time is the 'Planet of Festivities,' Penacony. While the Conductor knows everyone has long anticipated that world-renowned interstellar hotel, there are three things I must remind you of before we depart."
"First, the Asdana system, where Penacony is located, is a galaxy overflowing with 'Memoria'. Historically, it was one of the 'Macro Voids' where the Memory Zone leaked. Despite thousands of years passing, the concentration of Memoria ahead remains higher than average."
"Generally speaking, it shouldn't pose a major issue. However, everyone's constitution is different. Should you experience dizziness, hallucinations, or memory distortion, do not take it lightly!"
"Second, Penacony is the territory of the 『 Harmony 』 Family. This marks the first time the Family has publicly extended an invitation to other factions. Remember, the Express travels as a guest. The rules must be observed."
"Finally, the third point… rather than a requirement, Pam has a humble request. If possible, I hope that amidst your vacation, you can spare some time to inquire about the news of several Nameless."
Himeko explained that thousands of years ago, Penacony was a frontier prison belonging to the IPC. It was the 『 Trailblaze 』 that connected it to a thousand stars, and the Astral Express had visited even then. Just as every journey has its meetings and partings, a few Nameless chose to stay behind, making Penacony their final stop. 」
「 .....」
〜Marvel Cinematic Universe〜
On the terrace of the Wakandan Royal Palace, the setting sun painted the Vibranium spires in hues of gold. Steve Rogers had just raised his teacup when Pam's words nearly made him choke.
"Is he saying… the entire planet is a hotel?"
There was a slight pause of disbelief in his voice, as if he had to let the concept roll around in his mind before he dared speak it.
Bucky leaned against a nearby railing, his metallic arm reflecting the last rays of the sun. Watching Steve's exaggerated reaction, he arched an eyebrow, his expression caught between a smirk and a laugh.
"Honestly, the world in the sky has shattered our common sense so many times already. You still find this strange?"
"Of course it's strange,"
King T'Challa said, walking slowly from behind them with a faint smile playing on his lips.
"By Earth's standards, hotels are associated with the tourism industry. But if an entire planet is a hotel, what do the guests actually see? Do they just frolic inside the hotel from morning till night?"
"Maybe it's some kind of interstellar sightseeing?"
Bucky guessed.
"I think your imaginations should be a bit bolder,"
T'Challa said, shaking his head gently.
"That furry rabbit mentioned 'Memoria .' Combining that with the methods of the Garden of Recollection, I suspect the Family might have turned 'memories' into a tourist attraction."
"Traveling through memories?"
Steve and Bucky exchanged a glance, both seeing the same "Brooklyn boy" bewilderment in each other's eyes.
T'Challa didn't answer directly, but instead posed a question:
"Do you remember when March 7th and Fu Xuan went looking for their memories? If you could immerse yourselves in someone else's recollections, to experience events they once lived through—don't you think that would be novel, even fascinating?"
"The key is that traveling in memories isn't like reality. In reality, even the most magnificent landscape can become tiresome, but the universe holds so many memories; there is always something newer and stranger waiting for you."
—
「 "According to the passenger list, the three passengers who disembarked back then were Tiernan, Legwork, and Razalina. They were the Express's guard, mechanic, and surveyor, respectively. Beyond that, there is no other information."
March 7th wore a troubled expression, scratching her head. "Only names and occupations? And those might not even be their real names… isn't this like looking for a needle in a haystack?"
Himeko smiled gently. "Just let fate take its course. Considering the diversity of the Nameless… we might find their descendants, or even—by some slim margin of probability—meet the individuals themselves."
The meeting concluded there. With some time remaining before departure, everyone began to pack their luggage.
Suddenly, Stelle noticed that the latest Interastral Peace Broadcast had been updated and decided to listen to pass the time.
"The Interastral Peace Corporation and the Xianzhou Alliance have once again signed a reciprocal trade agreement, benefiting both economies. At the signing ceremony, the spokesperson for the IPC's Department of Expansion and Madam Yukong, Helm of the Luofu's Sky-Faring Commission, cordially exchanged views and reached a consensus on numerous issues."
"For ages, Emperor Rubert I left behind many terrifying ruins across the cosmos. Among them, the 'Mechanical Emperor's Tomb' has drawn significant attention since its discovery. Led by Allen Drake One-Armed Jones, Chief Scholar of the Intelligentsia Guild's Armed Archaeology School, and in collaboration with Screwllum, a member of the Genius Society, the formal excavation of this steel ruin—rated as a Potential Hazard Level Ω(Omega)—has begun to unveil its mysteries."
A spokesperson for the Intelligentsia Guild stated: We cannot know what startling discoveries Scholar Jones will make, but we hope his findings will allow us to further understand the Emperor and spare the universe from enduring the terror he brought during his advent once more. 」
「 .....」
〜Dragon Raja World〜
"If I remember correctly, Emperor Rubert is a figure from the Genius Society, isn't he?"
Caesar vaguely recalled hearing the name somewhere, but the specifics eluded him.
"Yes, though he is apparently deceased. Like Screwllum, he was an inorganic lifeform,"
Chu Zihang said.
"Why do I get the feeling from the IPC's tone that this 'Genius' wasn't exactly a good person?"
Caesar felt this genius belonged less to 『 Erudition 』 and more to 『 Destruction 』. Not only was the IPC wary, but even a fellow inorganic lifeform like Screwllum treated the matter with gravity.
"A genius isn't necessarily on the side of justice or morality,"
Chu Zihang remarked flatly.
"Nous, the 『 Erudition 』 doesn't look at moral standing when choosing candidates. As long as one reaches His standards on the path of wisdom, He will cast His gaze upon them—regardless of whether that individual has brought profound disaster to the universe."
"You say disaster… just how disastrous could it be?"
Caesar frowned.
"Could it possibly be worse than the Swarm Disaster?"
—