Chapter 228: Acheron: Am I really that scary?
"Miss Black Swan, we have fully understood the current situation. Returning to your initial proposal…"
"May I ask on what grounds the Garden of Recollection has chosen to cooperate with the Astral Express?"
Himeko stared at Black Swan, asking solemnly.
Black Swan nodded slightly.
She explained, "Hmm, please allow me to correct you… this is my personal request, and does not represent the Garden. The answer is simple, Miss Himeko, I simply wish to make an exchange… an exchange regarding memories~."
"Beyond my duties, I also have some… personal aesthetic pursuits. I am a Memokeeper, and also a collector. I, too, wish to witness those crystalline, brilliant, and precious memories—this idea is quite easy to understand, isn't it?-"
"And you, the Nameless of the Astral Express, the practitioners of the Path of Trailblaze… I believe in your potential, and I also believe in the… unique brilliance you will bloom with on this stage."
"This is the reason I wish to be friends with you all. The intersection of nightmares and sweet dreams… it couldn't be a more perfect cradle for memories."
Guinaifen quipped, "To put it bluntly, she's just craving our high-quality memories."
The Express team wasn't idle either.
They conducted an analysis and discussion among themselves.
Himeko speculated, "The person who sent the Nameless secret message and the mastermind behind the dream anomalies are in the same faction… perhaps even the same person."
And Old Yang released a communication.
The sender was… Silver Wolf.
On the interface was her personal emoji.
"Cough, cough, can you hear me? Astral Express, long time no see—is Penacony fun?"
"Let's get serious. I know you all are investigating the anomalies in Penacony everywhere; in fact, we are very happy to see this. Because the deeper you investigate, the more opportunities you have to learn the truth about the Sweet Dream."
"The Family is hiding something, aren't they? We have also obtained some first-hand intelligence. Now, I have decided to generously share it with you all. It's just, what a pity—your wonderful vacation is coming to an end."
"Input this code into your Dreampool, that device used for dreaming, and go take a look at the hidden map! The coordinates are all packed up for you, there, just one-click copy."
"And—I presume you have already heard about Sam. Look forward to it; that guy has a simple personality and likes fair and square duels. You will definitely get along. I hope you won't be crushed by his enthusiasm!"
"Oh, he asked me to pass this on to you: In the dream that cannot be reached, the play is about to begin—keep at it, all forces are in motion. Nameless, don't fall too far behind!"
Following Silver Wolf's voice.
The numerous Stellaron Hunter fans in the livestream were blown away.
...
"Wolfy!!"
"Seeing Silver Wolf feels so intimate, finally seeing a familiar face outside the Express crew."
"Sam is coming too!"
"Looking forward to Sam's skills!"
"Actually, the Stellaron Hunters are considered a trustworthy side for now; there are no conflicts of interest, and we've cooperated before."
"It feels like the Stellaron Hunters are like the Express's external friends helping out hhhhhhhh"
"May I ask what the requirements are to join the Stellaron Hunters?"
"Are you all coming to the Penacony Battle Royale?"
...
The true face of the dream.
Undoubtedly, this was a very mysterious statement.
After watching this communication.
The Express crew decided to cooperate with Black Swan.
After preparing everything.
They entered Silver Wolf's code into the Dreampool.
Entering the primitive dream.
During this process.
There was an additional conversation with Black Swan.
Guinaifen naturally didn't miss it.
"Can you confirm Firefly's safety?"
"Rest assured, that is a one-way door that only leads to the waking reality. Unless that girl harbors a strong desire and refuses to wake from the dream… how could that be? She must be rubbing her eyes somewhere in the hotel right now."
Lying down in the Dreampool.
After the animation of sinking into the deep sea.
They arrived at this dangerous primitive dream once again.
Black Swan appeared by her side.
She indicated that after stepping into the Memory Zone, everyone had dispersed.
Only she had found Stelle.
To rendezvous with the others, they needed to continue advancing in the Memory Zone.
Fortunately, as a Memokeeper, Black Swan was an excellent guide.
And along the way.
One could see some Dreamjolt Troupe members lying on the ground everywhere.
After passing through the corridor and arriving at a hall space.
Stelle and Black Swan stood on the stairs.
At a glance, they saw a woman confronting the monsters of the Dreamjolt Troupe in the center of the hall.
"Acheron!!!"
Guinaifen exclaimed directly!
"Finally saw her again!"
"I said, who is so powerful, clearing out these mobs for us all the way?"
Acheron was also slightly surprised, saying, "Huh? Why is it you?"
[ You… got lost again? ]
"I wouldn't put it that way, I just don't know where I am."
Black Swan said helplessly, "You two, let's end the pleasantries here for now… shall we work together to see off these hospitable children?"
[ Enter Battle ]
The interface displayed a prompt: [ For the next part of the journey, Black Swan will assist in battle ]
Black Swan's support technique appeared on the right side of the interface.
Guinaifen looked at it carefully.
She thought Acheron would also become a trial character.
But in fact, she didn't.
It was a pity not to be able to glimpse Acheron's skills.
After dealing with these Dreamjolt Troupe members.
Acheron suggested, "You two came at the right time; this dream is fraught with crises. Since we have the same goal, why not travel together?"
"I can protect you from harm. In the Memory Zone, I also need the assistance of a Memokeeper, and… if we encounter the Family, having one more person always provides an extra explanation."
Black Swan, however, hesitated, "This… what do you think, Stelle?"
[ Having more people isn't a bad thing. ]
[ We can trust Acheron. ]
[ Better not… ]
[ No, absolutely not. ]
Four options were placed in front of her.
Guinaifen knew.
In the game "Honkai: Star Rail".
Sometimes, choices are important.
"Right now, Acheron's identity is still unclear, and we still don't know why she came to Penacony…"
"And inside her body, there is also something suspected to be a second personality…"
"I think we better not."
[ Better not… ]
Acheron's reaction was unexpected, "Sorry… I didn't quite hear that, could you say it again?"
[ I mean, no… ]
Acheron repeated it again, "Sorry… I didn't quite hear that, could you say it again?"
Guinaifen was stunned.
She immediately realized!
"Threat!"
"This is a blatant threat!"
"I can already imagine the white-haired Acheron staring at us with indifference…"
"If we say one more word, she might just scatter our ashes directly, right?"
Sure enough.
In the subsequent dialogue options.
The two had become identical options.
[ I mean, no problem. ]
[ I mean, no problem. ]
The difference was.
The line of text below was bright red.
After choosing.
Stelle also muttered in her heart, "[ What's going on, that subtle feeling is back again… ]"
Acheron then said faintly, "Thank you, Stelle… really, thank you."
"And I'm very glad to be able to travel with you again, Miss Black Swan."
Black Swan whispered, "Hmm… I hope so."
...
"No way?"
"I have no choice!"
"This is a bit terrifying, can she even forcibly change our will?"
"Only after watching Eternal Dance do I know, Black Swan's inner thoughts at this moment: DON'T COME OVER HERE!!!"
"Black Swan: I am not happy."
"Can 'Old Goose' be happy after almost being slaughtered in a memory?"
"Not to mention why Black Swan can be a Memokeeper, having experienced such things, that she only showed faint wariness when seeing Acheron again, this kind of mettle is truly something else."
"Traveling with this lady, I'm really afraid she'll suddenly stab me in the back."
...
In Acheron's room.
Seeing that both the streamer and the viewers in the livestream were expressing wariness toward her.
Acheron shook her head, not quite understanding.
Pointing at her own face, she said, "Am I… that scary?"
Black Swan, who was on the side, nodded fiercely in her heart!
But on the surface, she still pretended to be lighthearted and said, "Miss Acheron, we are now on the same boat, I think I need to remind you of something."
"According to the plot and… and descriptions of some related content, you have already been regarded as the most threatening enemy by many people invisibly."
"Once your location is exposed, I fear many factions will choose to strike first because they are too wary of you."
Hearing this.
Acheron fell silent.
She looked at the Dreampool in the room.
Whispering, "Could it be… that this land of sweet dreams cannot even accommodate a… Nihility Ranger?"
"Miss Acheron, what are you saying?"
"Ah, nothing, let's continue watching the plot."
"Now, both inside and outside the game, we have formed a temporary alliance; this can be considered a kind of fate."
Black Swan sighed.
Yes.
What a fate… indeed….