"Lucian again? Why does he always end up stirring up trouble for us, vidyadhara?"
Xuanquan rubbed her forehead before giving Glaciator Marum a strange look.
"Glaciator Marum... does he have a thing for you or something? Is he trying to get your attention?"
Hearing that, Glaciator Marum cast Xuanquan a cold, indifferent glance, her expression showing no trace of amusement.
She had always been an icy beauty who never concerned herself with romance or matters of the heart. Sentimental affection and fleeting desires between men and women had never held any meaning for her, so jokes like Xuanquan's were something she had always dismissed with nothing more than quiet disdain.
From her perspective, such matters were little more than distractions that had no place in her life.
"Be serious. Imbibitor Lunae has returned, yet Lucian somehow turned him into three identical copies. In other words, if Lucian wants to, he could mass-produce Imbibitor Lunae. No matter how I look at it, that's not a good thing unless everything remains under control."
Glaciator Marum's words struck directly at the heart of the issue.
If Lucian could produce three Imbibitor Lunae today, what was stopping him from creating ten tomorrow?
And if he could replicate a Vidyadhara High Elder, who was to say the other High Elders couldn't be duplicated as well?
However, the most troubling part was that such a power wasn't in the hands of the vidyadhara themselves. It was an uncontrollable variable that existed entirely outside their authority, one whose limits they could not even begin to determine.
Fortunately, Lucian wasn't their enemy, and for the time being, the current balance remained intact.
"Isn't that exactly why this is perfect? Seriously, didn't I tell you yesterday? We, the Arbiter-Generals, have been discussing whether we should arrange a political marriage with Lucian. Every Xianzhou would have him marry one wife. If that happens, he becomes the Alliance's greatest trump card instead of its greatest threat."
A meaningful smile spread across Xuanquan's face as she spoke, clearly taking some amusement in the idea.
"Honestly, I think you're a pretty good match. Your standards are way too high—you won't even look at anyone weaker than you—but you're so ridiculously strong that practically nobody qualifies. At this rate, you're going to stay single forever. Now that Lucian's here, he's strong enough that he might actually win you over."
Glaciator Marum merely gave Xuanquan another calm, indifferent glance, seemingly unmoved by her teasing.
"If strength alone were enough to conquer me, then you've underestimated me. No matter what, the only man worthy of my heart is one who can lead the vidyadhara back to the glorious heights at which they once stood. Can the man you speak of accomplish something like that?"
Hearing that, Xuanquan hesitated before thoughtfully rubbing her chin, her earlier confidence fading slightly.
"Uh... honestly, I'm not sure... but... what if he can?"
"In that case, we'll discuss it when that day comes." Glaciator Marum's expression remained unchanged as she quietly shifted the topic. "For now, he has interfered with the vidyadhara's inheritance to this extent. What exactly is he trying to accomplish?"
At her words, Jing Yuan's holographic projection spread his hands with a helpless smile.
"Lucian has always acted according to his own whims. He simply does whatever catches his interest. As for his motives... there's no need to worry. He genuinely just wanted to help those three."
Inside, however, Jing Yuan thought something entirely different.
'How should I know what he's planning? All I know is that hanging around him guarantees something entertaining will happen.'
Indeed.
In his eyes, someone with Lucian's overwhelming strength had no need to rely on elaborate conspiracies or complicated schemes. If he truly wanted to cause trouble, he could reduce the entire Xianzhou Alliance to chaos in a matter of minutes long ago.
"Acting on his own whims..."
Glaciator Marum quietly repeated those words to herself, her eyes narrowing slightly as she considered their implications.
"To possess such unimaginable power, yet maintain such a temperament... he truly is an unpredictable variable."
Xuanquan turned toward her, waiting for her conclusion.
"So, what's your plan?"
Glaciator Marum remained silent for several moments, apparently weighing the situation carefully, before finally answering in an even tone.
"We'll wait and observe. Let's first see whether Imbibitor Lunae Dan Feng can reclaim his rightful position."
As soon as the discussion reached that point, Jing Yuan immediately terminated the communication and slipped away.
He had already delivered everything he needed to, and there was no reason for him to remain and listen to their further discussion. As far as he was concerned, that fulfilled his responsibility, and he had absolutely no desire to involve himself any further.
===
At the same time, the Astral Express had just completed its warp jump and was now gliding steadily through the endless sea of stars within the Asdana star system.
Life aboard the Astral Express continued exactly as it always had, peaceful and routine despite the countless planets and dangers that awaited them beyond the train's windows.
In the Parlor Car, Stelle and March were enthusiastically arguing over whether they should eat the pancakes prepared by Pom-Pom or gather enough courage to sample one of the mysterious canned foods Welt had somehow 'acquired' from an unknown planet.
Dan Heng sat quietly reading a book as though nothing around him could disturb his concentration, completely detached from the argument taking place nearby.
Himeko leisurely savored a cup of fragrant coffee with her usual elegance, while Welt calmly polished his glasses with practiced familiarity.
Elsewhere aboard the train, Evernight was cleaning Lucian's room.
Meanwhile, Lucian himself sat alone in the Party Car, quietly enjoying a beverage.
Everything felt peaceful, ordinary, and wonderfully uneventful.
It was the kind of tranquility that made it easy to forget that the Astral Express was constantly traveling between worlds.
But then, without the slightest warning, a graceful figure quietly appeared in the middle of the Parlor Car. Long, pale purple hair flowed behind her like a shimmering river of stars, while an air of mystery and elegance spread throughout the surroundings the instant she appeared.
It was none other than Black Swan, a Memokeeper of the Garden of Recollection.
Oddly enough, Himeko, Welt, Dan Heng, and everyone else aboard the car continued with what they were doing as though nothing had happened.
It wasn't that they ignored her; they simply couldn't see her.
It was only natural, considering that, as a Memokeeper, Black Swan existed as a memetic entity whose existence transcended ordinary physical perception, so to ordinary people, her presence was no different from an invisible ripple passing through reality.
"Mmm... I can hear the echoes of memories..."
With her eyes gently closed, Black Swan wore an intoxicated smile, as though she were savoring an unimaginably precious vintage.
For a Memokeeper such as herself, the countless memories permeating the Astral Express were like an endless feast.
A moment later, her gaze abruptly opened and locked onto a single destination: the Party Car.
"Found you."
Saying that, the corners of Black Swan's lips lifted into a confident smile before her body vanished once again, effortlessly passing through the train's walls as she followed the strongest concentration of memories toward its source.
===
In the Party Car, Lucian sat alone upon a soft sofa beside the window.
Outside, an endless river of stars drifted silently through the cosmos, dazzling yet tranquil, while the faint glow of distant celestial bodies reflected against the window, casting a serene atmosphere throughout the otherwise quiet car.
In his hand rested an ancient wine flask containing a thousand-year-old vintage that he had 'borrowed' from one of the Xianzhou ships. Even before opening it, the mellow fragrance alone was enough to reveal its extraordinary quality.
He leisurely took one sip after another, quietly appreciating the rare moment of peace while considering an entirely different matter.
At this moment, Lucian was lost in thought.
Once they arrived in Penacony, should he deal with Sparkle first, or should he speak with Black Swan about more important business before anything else?
Just as his thoughts reached that point, a faint, elegant fragrance quietly drifted through the air.
Anyone who devoted themselves to the same pursuit long enough would eventually become exceptionally skilled.
Lucian was no exception.
Having spent enough time surrounded by beautiful women, he had developed an almost absurd ability to judge someone's appearance through scent alone. Hence, when that delicate fragrance entered his nose, it took him less than a tenth of a second to reach a conclusion.
A mature beauty.
At least a D-cup.
Sensing a beauty's arrival, Lucian slowly lifted his gaze.
Before him, Black Swan quietly materialized, standing silently while observing him with deep violet eyes that resembled a boundless sea of stars.
Lucian raised an eyebrow before casually setting down his wine flask, making absolutely no attempt to hide the fact that he was openly looking her up and down.
Black Swan possessed a tall, graceful figure wrapped in an elegant purple bodysuit that beautifully blended the refinement of formal evening attire with the flowing style of a ballroom dance costume, perfectly accentuating every breathtaking curve.
Her long pale purple hair drifted gently despite the absence of any wind, almost as though it possessed a life of its own. Her skin was as fair as freshly fallen snow, while every feature of her face appeared so flawless that it resembled a masterpiece painstakingly sculpted by a divine artisan.
Most captivating of all were her eyes.
Within them seemed to lie countless stars, countless stories, and an endless mystery that quietly invited anyone who looked into them to uncover their secrets.
Lucian recognized who she was immediately.
He had been planning to find her himself, yet she had unexpectedly come knocking on his door first.
Black Swan was undeniably beautiful, especially the mature elegance she naturally exuded—it made her exceptionally attractive.
"Drinking alone?"
Black Swan lightly rested a finger against her lips as she asked, her simple gesture effortlessly drawing Lucian's attention toward those soft, rosy lips, whose subtle charm carried an undeniable allure.
Lucian merely shook his head without offering a reply.
Black Swan responded with a dazzling smile before approaching with graceful, catlike steps, never allowing her gaze to leave him for even a moment. Stopping directly before him, she bent slightly in a refined gesture of invitation before extending one slender hand covered by a delicate purple glove.
"So... would you care to dance with me?"
Black Swan's voice was soft, soothing, and pleasantly magnetic, carrying a natural charm that made refusal surprisingly difficult.
Deep within those beautiful eyes, however, an almost imperceptible glimmer of curiosity quietly flickered, betraying the true purpose behind her invitation.
Lucian smiled inwardly.
'Dance? You want some physical contact so it'll be easier to peek into my memories, don't you? Well, that's a pretty obvious little scheme.'
Thinking that, Lucian's eyes lingered briefly on the hand Black Swan had offered before meeting those enchanting eyes that practically proclaimed, 'I want to uncover every secret you have.'
In the next moment, he smiled, set the wine flask aside, and rose naturally to his feet before taking Black Swan's offered hand without hesitation.
"Sure, but... dancing with me might cost you a little extra."
Feeling the warmth of Lucian's palm, the smile hidden within Black Swan's eyes deepened ever so slightly.
"I'll be looking forward to it~"
As soon as her words faded, invisible music seemed to fill the Party Car.
It wasn't something their ears could hear.
Instead, the melody resonated directly within their consciousness, bypassing their physical senses entirely.
In an instant, the surroundings gradually blurred as the stars outside twisted and stretched, transforming the world around them into a dreamlike realm woven entirely from memoria.
Black Swan gently rested her free hand upon Lucian's shoulder and guided the opening steps of the dance as the distance between them naturally disappeared. He smoothly followed her lead as their hands brushed against each other's waists and arms with every graceful movement.
Feeling the soft sensation beneath his palm, Lucian couldn't help but be amused.
'My, my, she's quite the dancer. And her waist... it's surprisingly soft...'
Meanwhile, Black Swan's smile grew increasingly captivating as a faint violet radiance slowly flowed through her eyes.
Her elegant steps carried her behind Lucian, her gloved hands lightly caressing his waist before gliding across his arms and finally resting upon his shoulders.
In that instant, tiny specks of violet light shimmered around them, blending seamlessly into the memoria that surrounded the two of them.
'Success...'
With such intimate physical contact, combined with the memoria she had quietly woven around them, Black Swan possessed absolute confidence that she could peer directly into the deepest reaches of this mysterious man's memories and uncover every secret hidden within him.
His overwhelming strength.
His real objective.
His relationship with the Aeons.
Why he alone could alter destiny so effortlessly.
Just as Sunday's memories had described him, Lucian was mysterious, refined, and almost impossibly noble.
As the dance reached its midpoint, Black Swan gently lifted the back of Lucian's hand and pressed a soft kiss against it.
People could lie, but memories never did.
Black Swan gracefully guided Lucian through one turn after another, their movements becoming increasingly fluid as their hands repeatedly crossed each other's waists, shoulders, and arms.
Finally, the dance had reached its perfect rhythm, and the surrounding memoria seemed to flow in harmony with every movement.
At last, fragments of memory began appearing before Black Swan's eyes.
A human living within a modern city.
A civilization that wasn't particularly advanced.
Being killed in an airplane accident, and then... the Aeon of Abundance.
Everyone possessed a past, and it was that past that shaped the person they eventually became. Some people held tightly to their memories, while others spent their entire lives trapped by them, unable to escape.
"So..."
Black Swan murmured softly.
"I want to know..."
"Which kind of person are you?"
Her arm gently wrapped around Lucian's waist as her fingertips applied the slightest pressure. Like countless strands of impossibly fine silk, the power of memoria quietly extended deeper into his consciousness, searching for the memories buried within.
'Spreading a meme across the galaxy... gathering the will of countless people... rewriting the fate of the past...'
'Lucian...'
'What exactly have you done?'
Looking directly through Lucian's eyes, Black Swan descended into the deepest reaches of his memories.
===
[A bonus chapter for reaching 400 Power Stones]
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