『 "Naturally, among them was the future 'Watchmaker'."
March 7th showed a look of surprise, "But calculating it like that… hasn't the 'Watchmaker' lived for several hundred years?"
"I don't know. When I met Mikhail, he was already the 'Watchmaker'. It might also be a title passed down."
Hearing this, March 7th looked at the mature-looking Gallagher, scratched her head, and asked, "...How old are you now, Mr. Officer?"
Gallagher turned his head and looked at the three of them expressionlessly, "...I'm thirteen."
"There's no way that's possible!" March 7th shouted. 』
『 ....』
〘Boothill〙: Thirteen?!
〘Hanabi〙: Yes, I'm thirteen this year too, I just grew up a bit too fast.
〘Belle〙: He must have grown up eating Jinkela.
〘Stelle〙: I'm just barely one year old~
〘Pela〙: Some adults should stop pretending to be children.
〘March 7th〙: Wake up, you have amnesia, not an age reset.
〘Stelle〙: Tsk, boring.
....
『 Ignoring March 7th's complaints, Gallagher continued recounting the history of Penacony.
"Hanunue liberated the frontier prison, but he passed away before he could see peace. Barren resources, predatory outsiders, and divided major prison sectors… Asdana's future was still in jeopardy."
"It wasn't until the historical 'Watchmaker' extended an olive branch to the Family, attempting to turn this prison into a glitzy, star-studded banquet… that 'Penacony' finally got its current name and stepped onto the stage of the stars."
Himeko understood after hearing this, "So that's why he's called the 'Father of Penacony'."
"But, didn't you clearly say earlier that the 'Watchmaker' is a traitor to the Family? You also said you were his companion, so you too…"
The words March 7th left unsaid were self-evident.
"I am not his companion; I am one of his many 'children'." Gallagher shook his head slowly, "But I am indeed a traitor. Not to the Family, but to… Mikhail." 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: Great, another backstab. We're doomed.
〘March 7th〙: I'm not even surprised at all.
....
『 "Oh? What did you do?"
"I did nothing… and that is the greatest betrayal." Gallagher's tone became low, filled with sorrow and resentment, "Just like you, I once had companions with whom I was close. We poured our hearts and souls into Penacony, but the Oak Family… framed us."
"Mikhail grew old and could no longer protect his children. We left the Family to find our own way, and thus became traitors to the 'Harmony'…"
Gallagher paused here, a flash of endless anger crossing his eyes as he gritted his teeth, "Even though the real traitor is someone else."
"To the outside world, they still praise the great name of the 'Watchmaker', but in secret, they quietly nailed him to the pillar of shame."
As Gallagher spoke, his emotions became more agitated, and his voice involuntarily grew louder, "Even so, we still hope to clear his name. As long as we can root out the real traitor, the mastermind behind all of this, Penacony's 'Harmony' can return to the right track…" 』
『 ....』
〘Hanabi〙: Oh ho, things are getting big this time. He's not even acting anymore.
〘Stelle〙: What do you mean?
〘HSR · Welt〙: Someone within the Family of Penacony has strayed from the 'Harmony'.
....
『 "But… we lost. A long time has passed, and the Land of the Dreams has been too deeply affected. Under endless pursuit and suppression, I gave up… like a stray dog." At this point, Gallagher's voice gradually faded, and his head drooped, looking just like an old dog shivering in the rain.
"The Family took me back in and gave me the job of an officer. On the surface, it was forgiveness, but in reality, it was punishment. Since then, I have completely cut ties with my companions… and my past. As for Mikhail…"
"…I heard he died in a corner that nobody cared about, a place where no one could find him. I understand that from that moment on, the Penacony of the past would never return."
"We are deeply sorry to hear this story… but things are far from that simple, right?"
"Hmph… obviously, someone has inherited the name of the 'Watchmaker' and has been continuing to resist the Family in secret until now."
"Who is this person?" Stelle asked in confusion.
Gallagher shook his head, indicating he didn't know either, "Unfortunately, after all these years, I still don't know who that person is, or even if it's a person… or Mikhail's ghost wandering in the dream." 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: If you really are Mikhail, that would be fine too.
〘Kiana Kaslana〙: I know! It's Misha!
〘Misha〙: Eh? Me?
〘Himeko Murata〙: Congratulations to Kiana for ruling out an incorrect option for us.
〘Kiana Kaslana〙: Aunt Himeko! You're so discouraging.
〘·HSR· Himeko〙: What did you call me?
〘Himeko Murata〙: What did you call me?
〘Kiana Kaslana〙: Sister… Himeko.
....
『 "So do you understand now? Why am I willing to tell you so much… because that girl's death must be related to the 'Watchmaker's Legacy'. And at the end of the layers of mist…"
"…both you and I will get the answers we want."
Having said that, Gallagher turned his head to look at the Clockie statue and smiled self-deprecatingly.
"If that really is Mikhail's ghost causing trouble, then I'd quite like to meet him. The people who look down on me could circle the hotel three times, but those willing to look me in the eye… sigh, every time one dies, there's one less."
"I've told you everything I know; consider it a thank-you gift for you all being willing to spare a glance at this old dog."
"Hmm? There seems to be something happening over at the theme park… excuse me for a moment. Good luck to you all."
"How ironic. What difference is there between these stowaways shut out by Penacony today, and the dream-chasers who were revered as pioneers several Amber Eras ago?"
After leaving these meaningful words, Gallagher turned and left. 』
『 ....』
〘Hanabi〙: It seems this one is also a master of playing dumb.
....
『 After the familiar black screen transition, Welt and Acheron appeared on the screen. At this moment, they were in front of the gates of the Dewlight Pavilion.
Welt looked at the message sent by Himeko and put away his phone.
"Are your companions worried about you?"
Welt shook his head, "Just regular contact. They seem to have found something over on their end. Let's go and return quickly."
With that, he looked at the gate in front of him and said, "If we go further, we will enter the depths of the Dewlight Pavilion."
Acheron nodded, "It has been very smooth all the way… but too smooth. It's hard to imagine this is a heavily guarded Family stronghold."
"Let's first see if there is anyone we can report to."
After speaking, Welt and Acheron continued toward the gate. However, the Pepeshi man that Aventurine and the Doctor had met was not here, and the gate could be pushed open easily. 』
『 ....』
〘Aventurine〙: Ha, what kind of play is this now?
〘Stelle〙: Very simple, he's just targeting you.
....
『 When Welt and Acheron passed through the gate and entered the hall filled with statues, Welt looked at the quiet hall and the open doors, guessing that a sudden emergency had caused a shortage of staff.
He was about to enter the next door, but Acheron gestured for him to wait. Then, she was seen gently drawing her blade, her presence becoming almost imperceptible.
Afterward, the two continued forward and arrived at the second floor of the hall where Aventurine and Ratio had stayed. They stopped in front of two footprints, and Acheron asked Welt if he could distinguish who the owner of the footprints was.
Welt looked at the footprints and said, "Hmm… this pattern is unique and very showy. Judging by the size, they should be men's."
"I guess… eighty percent chance it's that IPC envoy, Aventurine."
"Aventurine… what about the other one?"
"The two sets of footprints are not one after the other. Judging by their almost parallel state, the companion shouldn't be his subordinate…"
"…The IPC is eager to reclaim Penacony. Their appearance here is within expectations." 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: Whoa! Mr. Yang, you even know how to do this?
〘·HSR· Welt Yang〙: Just a little, just a little.
....