Not long after. The two walked together, discussing countermeasures while looking for a suitable target.
"So, even you don't know where these Slumbernana Monkeys suddenly popped out from?" Boothill frowned.
"Yes, not long ago, a trend of wearing Slumbernana Monkey Toys suddenly spread in Penacony."
"At first, I didn't pay it much attention."
"But soon, even some people with tuning abilities became obsessed with it."
"While interacting with them, I heard some discordant noise. And even when I tried to use my tuning ability to eliminate that noise, it was very difficult." Robin said worriedly.
If even someone like her, a blessed of the Harmony, found it difficult, it was clear that this noise wasn't like before, something born solely from an individual's inner heart.
This noise had another force supporting it.
The two chatted as they walked.
Soon, they saw not far away a Slumbernana Association member standing there, observing.
Beside her were many dolls, seemingly used for giveaways to attract newcomers.
Such a member wouldn't be too vigilant. Perfect for gathering intel.
Boothill and Robin exchanged a glance, and both nodded slightly.
But before they could approach, that Slumbernana Association member noticed them first, greeting them enthusiastically: "Welcome, welcome! I'm Monella. A Slumbernana Monkey toy for you, mister? I made it myself. Don't worry, I'm not taking any money for it!"
Boothill grinned: "Do I look like someone who'd place that monkey beside my pillow?"
Monella sweetly praised: "Well, you never know! You look really cute, after all!"
Boothill: "I... You... What !?"
Monella finally noticed that the young lady beside Boothill looked very familiar.
"W-Wait a minute! Am I dreaming? A-Are you Miss Robin?"
Robin: "Hello."
"Oh, my! I was just listening to your newest album! What brings you to Dreamflux Reef?"
Monella covered her mouth, looking at Robin with delight, her face flushing red from excitement.
She never imagined she would meet a superstar like Robin here!
Robin smiled gently: "I've been frequenting this place lately actually. We just hadn't crossed paths until now. Don't worry, you'll be seeing me around these parts for a while more."
Then she put on a slightly dejected expression: "...After all, the Slumbernana Association's entrance test doesn't seem that easy."
If seeing Robin had already thrilled Monella beyond belief, then this response from Robin made her feel like she was living in a dream.
"Th-The Slumbernana Association? Are you planning on becoming a member?"
Monella was stunned: "I must be dreaming! Two of my favorite things together? I must be the luckiest fan alive!!"
Seeing Robin didn't look like she was joking,
She quickly added: "If it's you, Miss Robin, then of course we must make an exception and let you in!"
Robin immediately refused: "You don't have to give me special treatment. I'm just a normal person like every other Slumbernana Monkey fan out there."
Immediately, Monella pulled out a Slumbernana Monkey keychain and handed it to Robin, speaking excitedly:
"But you know what they say: Good things come in pairs! There's no harm in making a concession sometimes."
"Here, bring this with you the next time you head over. They'll know what to do once they see it."
"And don't worry, we're still playing by the book. This is just to keep them from making things difficult for you."
Before the overly enthusiastic Monella, Robin was one-sidedly forced to become a member of the Slumbernana Monkey Association.
This Slumbernana Monkey Association was essentially an insider's referral.
With it, sneaking into the Slumbernana Association would be much easier.
After receiving it, the two left the garden.
They continued toward the core place of the Slumbernana Association.
Next, they needed to find someone who knew the questions, and trick them into spilling information.
Luckily, before long, they saw a group of people gathered, apparently arguing.
Several unfriendly-looking Slumbernana Monkey Association members were clashing with three other groups.
It seemed the members going around promoting the Slumbernana monkeys had run into people who weren't too fond of them.
And the one leading them, the unfriendly guy, was someone familiar.
He was the same one who had previously clashed with Boothill. If Micah hadn't mediated back then, things might have already turned violent.
"Damn it, this is getting on my nerves." Boothill grinned, revealing his shark-like teeth: "Finally found you little cuties."
Robin's eyes lit up: "Those are the members promoting the Slumbernana monkeys, doesn't that mean…"
Boothill clearly misunderstood her meaning. Raising his brows, he said: "Heh, didn't think we'd be so in sync. I get what you mean."
Robin nodded softly and whispered: "Yes, we just need to approach indirectly, then…"
But before she finished, Boothill had already understood in his own way.
He drew his gun and fired a shot into the sky.
"Hey! You little cuties, look over here!"
Grinning, gun raised, Boothill said cheerfully: "I'm here to pick a fight, got it?"
"?" Robin stared in disbelief, a giant question mark practically floating above her head.
What she meant was, they'd finally found a group they could casually approach for conversation, to indirectly probe for information.
Why did Boothill suddenly start shooting?!
...
: Hahahahaha I'm dying, the way Boothill just stormed into there is hilarious!
: Robin: Boothill, what exactly did you understand?!
: Robin is still too polite LOL.
: All she wanted was for Boothill to say something, but he charged straight in instead.
: Looks like he only understood the words "shoot" and "strike."
: Well, shooting someone's head is technically a form of "knocking."
: Gotta love his straightforwardness!
: Being cultured really held her back here, lol.
...
Their clashing personalities made the whole situation ridiculously entertaining.
Robin didn't even have time to stop him.
She could only watch as Boothill charged straight at the group of Slumbernana Monkey Association members, glaring at them like prey.
Within seconds, he had the crowd screaming and sweating in panic.
The atmosphere turned chaotic.
"W-wait, this…"
"Bo…"
Robin raised her hand, trying to stop Boothill, but she couldn't even get a word in!
In barely ten seconds, the group was beaten down. Even the unfriendly leader now looked very friendly.
"S-sorry!"
"Please, don't hit us anymore!"
"I'll tell you whatever you want to know!" The man crouched on the ground, hugging his head, trembling.
Boothill whistled: "Alright, sis, your turn to ask."
"…" The Robin stepped forward, looking at Boothill with eyes as if seeing him anew, and said slowly:
"Sorry, Mr. Boothill, I think we'd better stick to some… subtler methods in the future."
Boothill froze for a moment, puzzled.
"Huh? I thought you meant I should just charge in from the side of the battlefield and blow their heads off. So 'indirect approach' doesn't mean that?"
Robin fell silent for a moment, then showed a relieved smile.
·····
: Words flowed as smoothly as water over the folds of Boothill's brain.
: Our Boothill isn't very educated, it can't be helped.
: Revolver replaces thinking, violence plugs straight into the brain!
: Hahaha, Boothill's communication skills: Step 1, draw the gun. Step 2, empty the clip. Step 3, and voilà, communication achieved.
: Robin finally understands. When teaming with Boothill, keep it simple: either fight, or don't fight.
: Robin: "I want to be civilized." Boothill: "No, you don't."
...
Although the process wasn't what Robin had imagined, the result was perfect.
Under Boothill's methods, this member of the Slumbernana Association spilled every piece of information he knew.
With that intel, infiltrating the Slumbernana Monkey Association was already a sure thing.
"Hoo…" Robin finally let out a breath of relief.
Together with Boothill, she prepared to join.
They returned to the Slumbernana Monkey Association's testing grounds.
Boothill pulled out the membership certificate he had prepared earlier and handed it to the gatekeeper.
"A genuine member's certificate, Talent No.124."
"Catherine Martha… is this you?"
The gatekeeper frowned, staring hard at Boothill.
The photo on the certificate and the man in front of him, not just different, but utterly unrelated.
Boothill's expression didn't change. Calmly, he said: "Yes. Why, do you have a problem with that?"
"Um… please wait a moment."
At that moment, Robin took out a Slumbernana Monkey keychain and handed it to the gatekeeper.
The gatekeeper weighed the trinket in his hand, his eyes darting back and forth between Robin and Boothill.
From the corner of his eye, he also noticed Boothill's hand openly reaching for the revolver at his waist.
His expression changed suddenly. He smiled and said: "No, no problem. They say your style doesn't match your name and is rather… hardline. Seems that's true. Impressive."
"In that case, I won't stop you two. I've got other matters anyway, so I'll step aside for now."
He left with a smile.
He had understood everything.
The Slumbernana Monkey trinket must have been secretly obtained by Miss Robin from a member.
The purpose: to join the Slumbernana Monkey Association.
But because of her identity, she needed discretion. So the certificate work was handled by the mechanical man instead.
And this explosive-tempered, ever-alert mechanical man was obviously her bodyguard.
In a place like Dreamflux Reef, she would indeed need one.
With the endorsement of two members, and even a Talent's recommendation, there was no need to worry about qualifications.
As for Miss Robin, there was no way she would ever resort to shady tricks. Impossible.
The gatekeeper left at ease, his meaning clear: I didn't see a thing. Please, join the Slumbernana Monkey Association without worry.
When these thoughts were revealed through his inner voice, the viewers burst into laughter.
...
: This episode isn't just abstract, it's progressive!
: All of them are top civil service candidates.
: Even the gatekeeper is way too "progressive."
: Everyone's just making up brain filler stories.
...
As the comments scrolled by, Robin, who had now successfully infiltrated the Slumbernana Monkey Association, refused the offer to continue partnering.
"...I'm afraid it won't be wise for us to continue our investigations together, Mr. Boothill." Robin spoke earnestly.
"What do you mean?" asked Boothill.
"If you're hoping to keep a low profile, my presence will only be a burden, Mr. Boothill."
"Moreover, if you intend to employ ... certain means of doing things, it'll be for the better if I'm not around."
Robin tried to phrase his words as tactfully as possible.
Boothill understood. Smiling, he said: "Hmph, as expected of one in a seat of power in The Family. You're a lot sharper than you let on."
Robin: "It's hard to tell what all of this is building towards. It'll be prudent for one of us to stay on the outside."
" Huh. Strange. They're linked, but this place... I don't detect any noise here."
Boothill didn't care much about the odd detail, replying flatly: "The answer's simple: the gun may fire, but it's the bullet that does the killin'."
"So... Mr. Boothill, I'm familiar with the Galaxy Rangers and their exploits, as well as with the entities they pursue."
"For you to stop here ... something must be happening in Dreamflux Reef."
At the moment of parting, Robin finally voiced her thoughts.
Like Micah before her, she knew that the appearance of the Galaxy Rangers was not a simple matter.
But Robin was more perceptive than Micah.
Boothill: immediately replied: "Hey, don't be a stranger. You can just call me "partner", yeah?"
After a brief silence, he continued: "Monkeys ... Monkeys ... And more monkeys. They're all muddle-fudgin' monkeys!"
"Evil Ninja Osaru, that doggoned muddle-fudger... This is way too familiar a sight for comfort. Things'd better not turn out the way Rappa feared they would."
"Monkeys? So they're the key?" Robin asked, confused.
"Exactly. But whether it's truly them, we'll need to investigate further."
"This isn't a joke. You're the Family's spokesperson. You'd better be careful." Boothill spoke seriously: "Because what you're facing… is a member of the Genius Club."
His words exploded in the audiences' minds like thunder.
Everyone was stunned. That abstract, ever-meme-like Slumbernana monkey, was actually connected to a member of the Genius Club?! Was this for real?