Going by what Silver Wolf had said, Firefly should already have entered the dream by now.
The only question was what sort of identity she had used to get into Penacony.
Meanwhile, after cutting off Silver Wolf's connection to the dream, Kallen quickly moved on to her next step.
After all, things were different from the original course of events. With Cecilia's help, Firefly's Entropy Loss Syndrome had already been cured, so she no longer needed to rely on those special methods.
That said, the dreammaster's authority really was incredibly useful.
Kallen honestly had no idea whether the original dreammaster had genuinely been incompetent or just pretending. With a cheat like near-omniscience and near-omnipotence, how had he still managed to lose?
Before long, using her authority over the dream, Kallen locked onto her target.
In a back alley of Penacony's Golden Hour commercial district, a rather absurd scene was unfolding.
To call it a manhunt would have been generous.
"Don't think about running, you damned stowaway!"
Several Bloodhound Family members were surrounding a certain Stellaron Hunter named Sam.The lead officer held up an electric baton, while two teammates behind him aimed net-guns, the three of them forming a neat encirclement.
Their target, however, was a girl in a white-and-green dress.
At that moment, she was crouched behind a trash can at the end of the alley, peeking out with half her face visible, looking at them with complete innocence.
"I already told you, I'm not a stowaway," Firefly said helplessly from behind the trash can. "I entered legally. Your system just has a problem, that's why you can't find my records."
"Impossible!" The lead Bloodhound clearly didn't believe a word of it.
"The Family's system has never had a problem! You snuck in here, plain and simple!"
He signaled to the two men behind him, and both immediately raised their net-guns, aiming at the wisp of silver-gray hair peeking out from behind the trash can.
"Last warning. Come out."
Firefly sighed. She really didn't want to make trouble in Penacony, especially not now, with Silver Wolf out of contact and the designated contact missing.
Originally, this should have been a perfect start.
Now that her Entropy Loss Syndrome had been cured, she no longer had to risk death just to enter the dream. But unfortunately, when she'd tried to find the contact Silver Wolf had mentioned, all she got in return was the news that the contact had disappeared.
Ordinarily, that wouldn't have been too big a problem. With her strength, even if she just pushed straight through, there weren't many people in Penacony who could stop her.
But then things got even more troublesome.
It wasn't just the contact. Even Silver Wolf had suddenly gone silent.
And with that, things went downhill fast. Her entry records had been a last-minute hack job put together by Silver Wolf in the first place. The moment she ran into Bloodhound members doing stricter inspections, the flaws were exposed immediately.
"What, little miss, are you really forcing us to take action?" the lead Bloodhound demanded again.
Firefly let out another sigh.
She didn't want trouble in Penacony. Not now, not under these circumstances.
But the three Bloodhounds in front of her clearly weren't going to give her any chance to explain.
"All right," Firefly said at last, standing up and raising both hands in surrender. "I'll come with you. But let me say this again: I really do have legitimate paperwork."
The lead Bloodhound either didn't hear her or chose not to.
He waved to the others. The two subordinates advanced at once, net-guns still raised, clearly preparing to slap suppressor cuffs on this so-called stowaway.
And then—
"Hold it."
A voice came from the mouth of the alley.
All three Bloodhounds turned at once.
Kallen was leaning against the wall at the entrance, her terrifying Judas resting on her shoulder.
"This lady is my guest," Kallen said. "I can vouch for her innocence."
At that, the lead Bloodhound gave Kallen a slow once-over, his gaze lingering on the massive cross-shaped weapon on her shoulder before his face twisted with suspicion.
"Your guest?" he repeated. "And who exactly are you supposed to be?"
The other two joined in with mocking grins, one of them even lifting his net-gun slightly in Kallen's direction.
"Little girl, this is Penacony. Not just anyone gets to step in and vouch for strangers."
He smiled, and there was a clear edge of threat in it.
"I'd advise you not to meddle. Otherwise…"
He let the pause hang.
"Otherwise, we'll just have to bring you in for questioning too."
Kallen: ???
So much for keeping a low profile for a while. Sunday really was useless. These people didn't even recognize her.
Fine. If pulling rank wasn't going to work, then they could die.
Just as Kallen was preparing to act in deed rather than word, another voice sounded from behind her.
"That's enough."
The three Bloodhounds froze instantly.
A man in a Bloodhound Family uniform stepped out from behind Kallen. His insignia bore one more gold-edged stripe than anyone else present.
It was Gallagher, the current security chief of the Bloodhound Family.
"C-Chief?!"
The lead Bloodhound's voice cracked.
Gallagher ignored him and walked straight up to the trio, his eyes sweeping over their faces before landing on the one still holding a net-gun pointed in Kallen's direction.
"And just who," Gallagher asked quietly, "do you think you're pointing that at?"
The man's hand jerked. The gun almost slipped from his grip before he hurriedly lowered it, clutching it against his chest, face gone pale.
"Captain, I—I didn't know…"
"Didn't know what?" Gallagher asked, voice calm but every word heavy. "Didn't know who this lady is? Or didn't know what happens in Penacony when you point a gun in a guest's face?"
All three men lowered their heads at once. The leader already had a sheen of sweat on his forehead.
"We got a report, sir. Someone said there was a stowaway here…"
"A stowaway?" Gallagher glanced at Firefly behind the trash can, then at Kallen, and the corner of his mouth twitched. "You're calling the guest of this lady a stowaway?"
"But there really wasn't any entry record in the system…"
"The system is dead. People are alive." Gallagher cut him off. "If the record's missing, then manually add it. Were you really planning to wave your guns around in the street over this?"
He paused, and his voice grew colder.
"Or do you think the Bloodhound Family hasn't embarrassed itself enough already?"
The three Bloodhounds exchanged nervous glances. The leader tried to say something more, but one sharp look from Gallagher shut him up completely.
"Well? Why are you still standing there?" Gallagher said. "Dismissed."
"Yes, sir!"
The three of them all but scrambled out of the alley, stumbling over themselves and not daring to look back.
Silence returned.
Gallagher turned around, first glancing at Firefly, then at Kallen. The tiredness on his face seemed even deeper than before.
"Miss Kallen, the people under me were a little ignorant. Sorry for the trouble."
But Kallen waved it off. "Not bad, Gallagher. Looks like you've climbed pretty high after all."
Gallagher only sighed. "Please don't tease me, Miss Kallen. You know better than anyone what sort of situation I'm in."
He paused for a moment.
"My time is running out. The lie's almost expired."
Then he looked at Firefly again. "Is this young lady your friend?"
At once, Firefly tensed.
Kallen had just helped her, yes, but the two of them had literally just met.
Still, under normal circumstances, since this mysterious girl had chosen to help her, she ought to be willing to cover for her, right?
Unexpectedly, Kallen answered with complete bluntness, "Nope. Don't know her. I was just about to."
Then she looked straight at Firefly.
"Oh, right. Beautiful miss, what's your name?"
Gallagher and Firefly both fell silent.
The air in the alley seemed to freeze for a second.
Firefly's expression went from hope to blank confusion. "Uh… my name is Firefly. I'm… I'm a newly arrived singer from the Iris Family. And, um… thank you both for helping me just now…"
Gallagher, by contrast, didn't say anything. Only his scruffy jaw twitched once.
"So, Miss Kallen," he said at last, "you were planning to help her out first and only ask her name afterward?"
Kallen looked at him like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Is there a problem with that?"
"When you see injustice, you shout first. Then afterward you ask who the person was. Isn't that normal?"
Gallagher stared at her for two seconds and wisely decided not to pursue that topic any further.
"All right then," he said. "And what do you intend to do with your… with the friend you were just about to meet?"
Kallen tilted her head and looked at Firefly.
Firefly looked back at Kallen, clearly waiting for her answer.
Kallen seemed to say with her gaze alone, Don't worry. I have my own rhythm.
Gallagher pinched the bridge of his nose.
This Miss Kallen really was as erratic as ever.
Still, he hadn't come here merely to save his three subordinates from what had nearly become a very short lifespan. There were also a few matters regarding the Astral Express that he wanted to ask Kallen about.
So he glanced at Firefly, then back at Kallen, choosing his words carefully.
"Miss Kallen, there are some private matters I'd like to discuss with you alone."
As he said it, his eyes deliberately flicked toward Firefly, making his meaning obvious.
Firefly immediately understood.
"Then I'll be on my way first!" she said, the relief in her voice almost impossible to hide.
Even though Kallen had just rescued her, Firefly truly didn't want to linger around someone who could summon the chief of the Bloodhound Family with a flick of her finger.
Silver Wolf was out of contact. The designated contact had vanished. What she needed now was somewhere safe to reconnect with the Stellaron Hunters' channels—not to get involved in a conversation between major players.
She nodded politely to Gallagher, then gave Kallen a grateful smile before turning to leave the alley.
"Wait."
Kallen's voice stopped her.
Firefly froze. "Miss Kallen?"
In the next instant, Kallen hooked an arm around Firefly's and pulled her right back.
"Miss Firefly, you and I hit it off at first sight. We're practically sisters from another mother. How could you possibly be an outsider?"
After all, Kallen still had plans for Firefly. There was no chance she was letting her walk away now.
Then Kallen shot Gallagher a look. "Whatever you want to say, just say it. No need to make it sound mysterious."
Gallagher sighed, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a crumpled pack of cigarettes. He stuck one in his mouth but didn't light it.
"Fine. Since you've made up your mind, I'll be direct."
Leaning back against the alley wall, he fixed Kallen with a complicated look.
"Miss Kallen… you're the one who spoiled things for the Astral Express today, aren't you?"
"They came looking for me right after."
Kallen admitted it immediately. "Yep. That old man of yours still has half a breath left, doesn't he? Would've been a waste if he didn't get to see those Trailblazers."
At that, Gallagher's motion of holding the cigarette paused for a moment, something deeply complicated passing through his eyes.
"…Thank you, Miss Kallen."
Kallen waved it off. "Don't thank me. I just passed along a message."
"Passing along the message is already a favor." Gallagher slid the cigarette back into his pocket, both hands in his trouser pockets again, returning to his usual lazy police-chief posture.
"Those Nameless refused to tell me your name, so I had to come and ask you myself. I had to make sure they hadn't been fooled by some villain."
"All right then. Since the Nameless have already found me, I should go back and make some preparations."
He glanced off into the distance.
"The old man has finally gotten the people he was waiting for. I should at least make sure the stage is properly set."
With that, he nodded to Kallen, gave Firefly one last look, and turned away, walking deeper into the alley.
Only after he disappeared did Kallen finally release Firefly's arm.
She sat down on an empty wooden crate in the alley and patted the spot beside her, signaling for Firefly to sit as well.
After a brief hesitation, Firefly did.
By now, she was thoroughly shaken by what she'd overheard.
So that was why she hadn't been able to find the Astral Express. Someone had already intercepted them.
"You were talking about the Nameless just now?" Firefly asked carefully.
"Hm?" Kallen turned to her.
"N-nothing!" Firefly shook her head at once. "I was just thinking… you're really incredible."
"Haha. Haha…"
Kallen looked at her obvious attempt to sound casual and curved her lips slightly.
"Miss Firefly."
"Yes!" Firefly straightened up instantly.
"Do you know why I helped you just now?"
Firefly blinked, thought about it seriously, then offered, "Because you're a good person?"
"No."
"Because you thought the Bloodhounds were too arrogant?"
"Also no."
"Then…" Firefly swayed her head a little, looking genuinely puzzled. "Because you wanted to get some information out of me?"
"Because you're interesting."
Firefly stared blankly. "Interesting?"
"Exactly." Kallen nodded. "A Stellaron Hunter being chased into a corner behind a trash can, and then still trying to reason with the people chasing her. Who in the world would believe something like that?"
At once, Firefly's expression changed. "How do you know that?"
But then, as though a thought suddenly struck her, she reached out and seized Kallen's hand.
"Wait… could you be my contact?!"
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 155)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter200)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter110)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter230)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 200
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 180
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/5
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 230
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 220
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume4/30
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 120
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 135
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 110
I Can Copy Unique Skills 100
Summoning an Evil God, but the 70
Supernatural Multiverse 100
My Harem Is Indescribable 90
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 95
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 68
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 105
Still playing traditional Honk 69
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 80
What Should I Do After Switchi - Volume2/3
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 70
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 55
Transmigrated as Sukuna 75
Checking In in Demon Slayer 80
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 85
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 70
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 65
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel 70
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 70
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 65
Why did they assign me to Uma 65
MYGO Beauties 65
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 55
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 65
Honkai's Otherworld? Wait—Who Are You People?! 45
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 45
The Uma Musume Who Became 40
I'm Definitely Not the King of 45
After Maxing Out Every Class 45
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