"Judging from the memories in these remnants... the person is tall, much more robust than an average adult male, and their methods are swift and decisive—always a one-hit kill. Perhaps a mercenary or an assassin."
Black Swan analyzed the traces left at the scene.
"He entered through the door on the hall side and headed deeper into the hotel. If that's the case... he must have witnessed everything that happened earlier..."
"Retracting my earlier statement. We need to hurry to the memory zone imprinted with Miss Firefly's presence. Given this friend's modus operandi..."
"If his destination is also there—there won't be any clues left at the scene."
Through Black Swan's description.
In the live stream.
Little Gui showed a look of realization.
"I take back what I said earlier..."
"Duke Inferno has already been reduced to fragments of Relics. How could he possibly come back from the dead?"
"Based on this description, I think [that person] is most likely Sam!"
"But here's the question—"
"Why would Sam head to the place where Firefly was killed?"
"Could there be some connection between her and Firefly?"
The live stream chat was abuzz with discussion!
...
"Sam read the script and came to vent her anger."
"Sam and Acheron are both in position..."
"They were the ones fighting in the OP of Sleepless Night."
"I feel like there's a connection between Sam and Firefly!"
"Maybe Firefly was once part of the Stellaron Hunters, so Sam came for revenge."
"Sam, go kill them!"
...
Some perceptive players had already sensed that there was some kind of connection between Sam and Firefly.
However.
Almost no one suspected that the two were the same person!
Even Black Swan here used the pronoun "he."
Players had also assumed that Sam was male.
Naturally, it was impossible to associate Firefly with Sam.
As they continued forward.
Black Swan gathered some of Firefly's memories from before her death.
They were replayed in fragments.
In the room.
An image of Firefly, composed of memory essence, appeared.
Little Gui and the many players in the live stream all became serious and focused!
They wanted to see what Firefly had experienced before her death!
Only intermittent words from Firefly could be heard.
"That thing Stelle and I encountered back then..."
"If I'm not mistaken... it must be related to The Watchmaker."
"If only I could do it all over again..."
"Calm down, Firefly... stay calm..."
"Let's go..."
This segment.
Seemed to be Firefly sharing her discovery with someone.
But without context.
No one knew what "that thing" Firefly was referring to.
Moving forward.
Firefly suddenly uttered a thought-provoking statement!
"You...?! This isn't what we agreed on..."
"Mecha...?! Why..."
"The door... won't open... this is a dead end..."
Acheron analyzed, "From these fragments, it seems Firefly's companion betrayed her midway, locking her alone in this room while disappearing themselves... Why?"
Black Swan replied, "She mentioned that this deal was related to The Watchmaker—touching upon The Watchmaker would cross many people's bottom lines."
"Perhaps it was to seize the inheritance, or to reduce the number of people in the know, or... because there's a deeper secret hidden in this memory realm, and to catch the big fish... bait is needed."
"This is just the worst-case assumption. But let's consider, if the mastermind behind all this is nearby, why would they allow us to search freely? Unless..."
"Unless there's something even more important to them, something they need—or are currently confirming."
...
"Keyword: Mecha."
"Now we can confirm Firefly is related to Sam, right?"
"So... that companion was Sam?"
"Sam schemed to have Firefly killed to monopolize the inheritance!"
"Case closed!"
"Is Sam really that ruthless?"
"I think Sam was actually protecting Firefly."
...
Inside the hotel room.
Seeing the players' speculations in the live stream.
Firefly couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.
"According to these netizens' theories... I killed myself?"
She shook her head.
Firefly didn't know what to say.
The plot had become so convoluted...
Perhaps the impression she left in the previous storyline was too profound.
So much so that no one connected her with Sam.
From her own perspective.
The companion on this journey should have been the virtual image of Silver Wolf.
She usually wouldn't use the term "mecha."
More often, it was Sam or Firefly-type.
"If the plot wasn't deliberately shaped this way..."
"Then this memory must have been tampered with by Black Swan?"
At this moment.
After a long pursuit.
They finally reached the exit.
The location of the Hotel Lobby!
Firefly immediately felt a bit nervous.
As expected!
Next would be her appearance in Sam's form, right?
Would she confess?
Or,
Would a battle inevitably break out here?!
And also...
She wondered how her skills would be designed!
As they entered the corridor.
Acheron's voice slightly changed!
"Everyone, over there—"
Black Swan also spoke gravely, "It seems someone has been waiting for us. Finally stepping into the spotlight, are we..."
"Stellaron Hunter: Sam."
At this moment, the perspective was clear.
Near the railing of the grand hall.
It was none other than herself, now in Sam's form!
Even the position was exactly the same as before!
Firefly could easily imagine the scene—
After being taken away by Something Unto Death.
After some twists and turns.
She had finally returned to the Dreamscape hotel.
To quickly get back to this place.
She had cut through countless obstacles along the way!
Every monster that stood in her path was obliterated in a single strike.
Finally, she could stop pretending.
Finally, she could reveal her true self!
To be honest.
Seeing herself constantly hiding her strength in the storyline, Firefly had felt somewhat suppressed and frustrated.
But now, she was finally flipping the table!
At this moment.
Firefly felt as if she had reached a consensus with her in-game self!
"Although it's Sam's form..."
"Now that I've reappeared in this place."
"Surely, everyone will realize the connection between me and Sam..."
"Isn't this already a clear hint?"
"Doesn't this count as revealing my identity to everyone?"
Firefly let out a soft sigh.
A bit helpless.
But more than that, she felt a sense of relief.
Not just as Firefly, but also as Sam of the Stellaron Hunters.
Both were her.
And now.
She was about to show her complete self!
She wondered how Little Gui and other Star Rail players would evaluate her after seeing this part of the story.
However!
The development in the game seemed slightly different from what Firefly had anticipated.
Instead of immediately revealing her true form.
She first scanned Acheron and Black Swan.
"A Galaxy Ranger..."
"And... a Memokeeper."
"Leave now, and no one gets hurt."
"Otherwise..."
"You will all die."
With a firm clench of her fist.
A wave of fire instantly spread out.
Countless sparks floated in the air.
Firefly was momentarily stunned.
Then, a look of realization dawned on her face!
This must be part of the script.
She was warning Black Swan and Acheron!
Urging them to leave immediately.
To seek shelter!
This was the simplest and most efficient way she could persuade them in Sam's form.
However.
Unexpectedly.
In the game.
It directly entered combat!
And the players in the livestream instantly erupted!
...
"Holy crap!"
"It really is Sam!"
"So intimidating!"
"The powerhouse of the Stellaron Hunters!"
"Damn! Sam is this aggressive?"
"So arrogant!"
"Starting a fight without even talking?"
"Sam: Come at me all at once."
"The ground is littered with wreckage, has Sam gone berserk!?"
"Just now, Sam was holding a monster in his hand, you can tell he's really furious!"
"So why did Sam come back here?"
"Just straight into a fight? We haven't even said anything yet?"
"Fight! Fight!"
"Acheron has also drawn her sword!"