The average age of the guests was impossible to estimate, so even though some of them had never met before, they still chatted enthusiastically.
Ignoring a few minor interruptions, the meal could be considered enjoyable for both hosts and guests.
Before parting, Zero endured Matthias's burning gaze, rubbed his head, then watched him leave together with Zandar.
Akivili stayed at his house for the night.
Zero's home had many empty courtyards. Since the attendants still needed time to clean them, the god and the two humans casually found a pavilion to drink in.
The night scenery of the Luofu was no different from Xuling.
The temperature and humidity were always kept at the most comfortable levels.
Akivili sat across from the two of them.
Watching his close friend and wife sitting shoulder to shoulder, occasionally pouring wine for each other, He said with emotion, "This really is unexpected..."
Zero put down the wine jug.
"Unexpected in what way? Unexpected that I'd get married?"
"I mean the way you two get along." Akivili shook His head. "Lan and I talked about this kind of thing in private."
Zero froze for a moment.
'Who? Lan? They actually discussed this sort of topic?'
"What exactly were you talking about?"
Akivili shrugged.
"We were talking about what you'd be like after falling in love."
Hearing this, Jingliu set down her wine cup and looked at the Aeon with interest.
"Oh? What did you think he'd be like?"
Akivili hesitated for a moment before turning to Zero.
"Can I say it?"
If it had been Lan, Zero would have refused immediately.
But since it was Akivili, he said, "There's nothing that can't be said."
Hearing that, the Aeon, who had been lounging lazily, instantly sat up straight.
"Lan and I both agreed that he'd provide his lover with the best material conditions and give them all kinds of priceless treasures..."
Akivili paused.
Marrying first and divorcing later just to give the other person a bigger share of his property...
How could He possibly say that out loud?
The Aeon polished part of the guess.
"As long as you're loved by him, you'll never have to worry about money."
Zero's expression stiffened.
Jingliu let out an almost imperceptible sigh.
She reached out beneath the table, intertwined her fingers with her lover's, and nodded to the Aeon.
"Yes. That's exactly the kind of person he is."
Akivili continued polishing Lan's original words.
"He'll fulfill every wish his lover has and keep them happy forever."
As long as the one he loved could be happy, even if it meant breaking up or getting divorced... his close friend wouldn't refuse.
Akivili met Jingliu's gaze, and the two sighed at the same time.
"Someone like my close friend, such a grea..." The Aeon suddenly stopped, then changed His words midway. "Such a true gentleman is really rare."
Zero guessed the title the Aeon hadn't said and smiled as he poured Him another cup of wine.
Jingliu was silent for a moment.
'A true gentleman? Why does that sound so awkward?'
She didn't think much of it and echoed the sentiment.
"Yes. He's a gentleman, the perfect partner."
"After getting married, we argue sometimes and get upset with each other. The way we get along now isn't much different from ordinary people."
Hearing that, Akivili instantly relaxed.
"Ordinary people? That's... really good." He picked up His wine cup and emptied it in one gulp before joking half-seriously, "If someone could still stay perfect in front of the one they love... then they wouldn't be human. They'd be a god, wouldn't they?"
After several cups of wine, Jingliu fell into thought.
When she reunited with Baiheng, they had endless things to talk about.
Now that her lover and old friend had met again, they surely had a lot to say as well.
Jingliu looked up at the sky, estimated the time from the moon's position, then asked, "Where's that crate of wine?"
"It's still early. They're not asleep yet. I'll have someone deliver it."
Zero slowly let go of their clasped hands.
"The crate Jing Yuan gave us? I left it by the door."
"All right."
Jingliu stood up. Since Akivili was present, she only reached out with one hand to straighten the hair by Zero's ear and quietly reminded him, "Don't drink too much."
After Jingliu left, Akivili poured Himself another cup of wine.
He could tell what Jingliu intended.
The Aeon had no desire to be a third wheel.
But He no longer dared to pretend to be drunk.
Back in Xuling, He had thought Lan could persuade His close friend.
What happened in the end?
When He woke up, His close friend's face was pale. The needle mark on his arm was still bleeding, and it took a long time to finally stop it.
Akivili took His close friend to many different places to relax. After they returned to the Astral Express, the other man said, "I'm sorry... I've changed my mind."
The Aeon had thought there was still room to turn things around.
If He brought His close friend back to the Xianzhou, perhaps He could stop him.
But what happened?
When Akivili woke up again, all He saw was the Nameless badge His close friend had left behind.
He went to the Imaginary Tree and learned the truth of the world...
And at the same time, lost the only real thing in this world.
Aha had known from the very beginning.
They knew His close friend would die.
Before leaving the Express, Aha attacked Shuhu and even said to His close friend, "Your goal is destined to fail."
Were They trying to stop him? Were They trying to save him?
Perhaps even Aha didn't know the answer.
Akivili lowered His head.
Zero stood up, picked up his wine cup, and sat beside Him.
There wasn't the slightest trace of drunkenness on the Aeon's face. He was staring blankly at the wine cup before Him.
After a while, He asked, "My friend, do you know what caused the wars across the universe?"
Without thinking, Zero answered, "The Aeon of Propagation and Rupert."
Akivili forced a smile.
"Actually... there's another answer."
"Me."
"Akivili, the Aeon of Trailblaze."
"What are you talking about?" Zero raised a hand and pressed it onto the Aeon's shoulder. "If you're guilty, then every intelligent lifeform that has earned Credits by using the star rail is guilty too."
Akivili covered His forehead with one hand.
"All right. That's not actually what I wanted to say..."
Zero gently patted Akivili's shoulder before withdrawing his hand.
He didn't press the matter. Instead, he began telling the Aeon about the strange stories and unusual events he had missed over the centuries.
As they talked, he brought up the unexpected incidents that had happened while traveling with Jingliu.
For example, tasting terrible local specialties.
Or accidentally taking the wrong road.
Akivili couldn't help recalling past journeys.
He would bring unpleasant snacks back to the Express and share them with everyone else.
He would excitedly admire scenery with His companions that hadn't been part of the original itinerary.
Zero said softly, "Everything in this world benefits me."
"Akivili, you're the one who taught me that."
Akivili fell silent.
"Even a ship opening a new route has to dock at the shore sometimes." Zero picked up Akivili's wine cup and handed it to Him. "Take a little rest."
Akivili didn't accept it.
His lips trembled. After a long while, in a voice so quiet it was almost impossible to hear, He asked Zero, "...Did everything I and the Nameless did have any meaning?"
Zero set the wine cup back on the table, looked directly into the Aeon's eyes, and said word by word, "Of course it had meaning."
He roughly understood what was troubling the Aeon.
Could it be that the stellar supercomputer had deliberately limited the scope because it didn't want people to learn the truth of the world?
If people learned that the world they lived in was false, and that their joys, anger, sorrow, and happiness were false as well...
The entire universe would fall into chaos.
After thinking for a moment, Zero said, "I can't give you an exact time yet."
"But I can promise you that we'll make it real."
Zero's gaze shifted to the system interface floating in the void.
Akivili was the most suitable person to inherit his system.
With a thought, he opened the module page.
The number was close to six digits.
There was no way to round it off.
Zero could only say, "There are still many worlds waiting for the Aeon of Trailblaze to save them."
Akivili closed His eyes.
When He opened them again, He suddenly stood up and drained the wine in one gulp.
Turning to the side, the Aeon spoke as if talking to Himself, "I almost forgot something..."
Zero remained seated, looking up at the Aeon.
"What is it?"
Akivili pretended to think, crossing one arm over His chest while holding His chin with the other hand.
"I told Pom-Pom before."
"The next time I saw you, I'd definitely punch you as hard as I could."
Zero: "???"
'Why punch me?'
Akivili shook His head.
"No, that's not right."
He stepped forward, clenched one hand into a fist, grabbed Zero by the collar with the other, and slowly added, "I was supposed to beat you up properly."
Akivili lowered His eyes.
His close friend was still sitting there.
Perhaps the Aeon had moved too quickly for him to react.
Or perhaps he trusted the Aeon and didn't think He would really strike.
Akivili fell into thought.
His close friend's constitution was unusual. After getting hurt, he recovered very slowly.
How much strength should He use? Where should He hit?
It seemed like nowhere was suitable...
Wasn't it a bit too much to attack the former Marshal on the Xianzhou?
After thinking for a long time, Akivili finally let go and lightly bumped Zero's shoulder with His fist.
Zero smiled and said softly, "Welcome back, Akivili."
Akivili smiled as well.
"Mm."
Soon, the attendants finished preparing Akivili's courtyard.
The Aeon felt as though a burden had been lifted.
At last, He didn't have to be a third wheel anymore.
Before they parted, Zero called out to Akivili.
The Aeon looked puzzled.
"Hm? What is it?"
Zero's eyes shifted away for a moment.
"Remember to check up on the IPC when you get on the star network."
Akivili was confused.
Had something happened to the IPC over these centuries?
Following the attendant's guidance, He arrived at His courtyard.
Akivili entered the bedroom, lay down on the bed, took out the jade abacus Zero had temporarily prepared for Him, logged onto the star network, and searched for the IPC.
The results were filled with news about the IPC.
It looked no different from centuries ago.
The IPC hadn't gone bankrupt.
Since His close friend had mentioned the IPC specifically... there had to be a reason.
Akivili had no idea how many pages He flipped through before finding the largest data website in the universe. It contained extensive information on companies, including their organizational structures, intellectual property, and legal cases.
He entered the site, searched for the Interastral Peace Corporation, and first opened its organizational structure.
As He looked at the publicly listed former shareholders, Akivili's expression gradually went blank.
'What the hell?'
'What kind of language is this?'
How did He become a shareholder of the IPC?
Akivili pressed the screen lock button, then unlocked it again.
He repeated this several times, but His name was still on the shareholder list.
Akivili muttered, "...My friend, I really want to punch you now."