"I have understood your true intentions... I concede!"
"Beautiful! Beautiful! What a thrilling match! It is all of you who have made me realize that I still need to hone my skills to uphold the glorious name of Idrila... What a beautiful lesson!"
"Go forth, my dear friends, my lovely ladies, the crown of the preliminary round belongs to you..."
"I will watch from here as you bask in the spotlight, joining the audience in offering the most sincere cheers and applause."
After Argenti's praise, he stepped aside to make way for the champions.
Cheers and applause rose and fell in waves.
In the air floated a multitude of orange-yellow Memory Bubbles, resembling gushing SoulGlad standing in mid-air.
And the falling streamers, the rising televisions...
It was truly the atmosphere of a championship!
However,
On the final stage ahead.
What awaited the main characters was not an award ceremony.
But the person everyone had anticipated.
—Sunday!
Little Gui immediately sat up in excitement!
Shouting at the screen, "Sunday! We're here!"
"What other schemes do you have? Lay them out now!"
...
"Ahhhhhhh!!!"
"It's here!!! It's finally here!!!"
"Oh no, why does it feel like he's about to betray us?"
"Brother Sunday, you promised to take me to that ideal new world! You wouldn't lie to me, would you?!"
"There's still one system hour left! If Brother Sunday has any schemes, we still have time to act!"
"Sunday is now under the gaze of the entire galaxy... If he really has some grand scheme, he will become the enemy of everyone!"
"I believe in Brother Sunday! Even if he deceives me, he wouldn't deceive his sister!"
...
The Reverie Hotel.
Hotel Lobby.
The number of guests arriving in Penacony had reached its limit.
The once spacious lobby now felt slightly crowded.
The Family had added several new sections for this.
At this moment.
All sections were fully occupied.
Many people were even forced to stand nearby.
The previously noisy voices gradually quieted down...
Because the plot was about to reach its most critical stage!
—Sunday's storyline!
Although there were many people here.
Most were still unsure about Sunday's ideals and thoughts!
They were all waiting for this part of the plot!
Suddenly.
The gradually quiet atmosphere became noisy again!
Under the escort of security personnel.
The "center of attention" Sunday... actually appeared on the scene!
"Huh?"
"Am I seeing this right?"
"Is that really Sunday, and not Sparkle or someone else disguised as him?"
"Daring to show up at such a time, that's so like you, Brother Sunday!"
"Such boldness, perhaps it also shows his confidence!"
Sunday walked to the front desk.
This spot allowed him to face all the guests.
He spread his hands, signaling for everyone to quiet down.
Then,
He spoke, "Everyone, I am Sunday, the head of the Oak Family of Penacony."
"As you can see, I have personally come to this venue..."
"To witness with all of you the upcoming plot of Honkai: Star Rail."
"If any of you have doubts or questions about my actions in the plot, you can directly ask me."
"If I am suspected of plotting against everyone, you can also immediately call for my judgment."
His voice was not loud.
But it clearly reached everyone's ears.
This composure and confidence left many in awe.
It further solidified their decision to stay in Penacony.
The large screen in the Hotel Lobby unfolded like a scroll.
The scene clearly appeared before everyone's eyes.
On the screen.
Sunday spoke: "Congratulations to both of you for becoming the stars of this Charmony Festival. Before entering the grand theater..."
"I, on behalf of the organizers, extend my sincere congratulations to you. May you find joy under His light."
[Why are you here?]
[Have you already reached an agreement with the Dreammaster?]
[Just sincere congratulations? What about my Stellar Jade?]
Among the three options.
There's always one that never disappoints!
Little Gui decisively chose the third one, marveling at how the protagonist was straying further down the path of Elation.
Sunday replied: "Your efforts indeed deserve more rewards, and I have prepared accordingly. However, these rewards are not material... but an opportunity for us to be open and honest with each other."
"As promised earlier, my sister, Mr. Welt, and I have met with the Dreammaster. We had an in-depth discussion with him about the truth of Penacony and the Stellaron, and we reached a consensus—"
"—The Oak Family and I cannot agree to your demands."
As soon as these words were spoken.
The room erupted in uproar!
This meant that Sunday had officially taken a stand against the Astral Express!
Of course, this was something everyone had anticipated.
Everyone continued to watch.
"We acknowledge the views of you Nameless. Penacony needs change, but not in the way you demand. The Planet of Festivities must not, and will not, revert to a chaotic, survival-of-the-fittest dream-chasing land."
"Through your trials, you must have felt, to some extent, the essence of that era: the weak were mercilessly eliminated, and equality was nowhere to be found. In the brutal competition, people lived in constant uncertainty, struggling to survive..."
"In the end, only heroes like you could succeed."
"But let me ask you—Stelle, if you didn't have the special status granted by the Stellaron, if you were just a fragile individual among the masses... which Penacony would you prefer?"
"A savage land where only the fittest survive, or a dream paradise where everyone can be happy?"
Sunday's questioning voice echoed from the game...
Reverberating through the Hotel Lobby.
As if,
This question wasn't just directed at the Astral Express Crew in the game.
But also at all the players present in reality.
"So the previous talent show challenges were meant to lead to this explanation?"
"Even Argenti was eliminated. We probably wouldn't even make it past the preliminaries."
"Suddenly, it feels like the roles have reversed. The Astral Express Crew are the villains, and Sunday is the protagonist!"
"If it really is a dream paradise where everyone is happy, then maybe it's not so bad."
"But the question is—is it really that perfect? Does it come without any cost?"
"Continue! Let's see how the Astral Express Crew responds!"
[Survival of the fittest isn't so bad...]
[A dream paradise does sound nice...]
[I don't know, why are you asking this?]
Little Gui thought for a moment and still chose the third option.
"That's not the point! Stelle, don't let him confuse you," March 7th reminded.
Himeko stepped forward and calmly said, "Mr. Sunday, even if the members of the Oak Family cannot fully agree on the arrangements regarding the Stellaron, now is probably not the time to pontificate about Penacony's past and future, is it?"
"The issue of the Stellaron concerns the life and death of everyone in Penacony. If any of you have a better proposal, the Astral Express Crew is willing to listen attentively. Why don't you tell us the full story of that meeting—"
"—so that we can also understand what exactly happened to Mr. Welt and Miss Robin, preventing them from arriving as scheduled."
Sunday smiled faintly, "Ah, Navigator, I was just thinking the same. Now that everyone is here, let's start from that meeting."
"Let's talk about our dilemmas and choices, our ideals and beliefs..."
"And the one and only path we should ultimately take."
On the left side of the large screen.
Real-time comments were scrolling rapidly.
...
"Wow! Sunday looks so confident!"
"This isn't the traditional struggle between good and evil, but rather a difference in chosen paths and ideologies."
"Guys, which side are you on?"
"I was definitely on the side of the Astral Express before, but now I'm a bit wavering."
"Keep watching, I want to see what exactly Sunday went through to become like this!"
"Everyone at The Reverie Hotel, can you see me?"
"I heard Sunday is watching the plot with you at the hotel?"
"Jarilo-Sampo here, who dares to act recklessly?"
"Herta Space Station staff member Rocky salutes everyone!"
"I'm from Belobog... our lower district finally has internet!"
"Master Du from Xianzhou Luofu welcomes everyone to come and taste..."
"Unrelated personnel, please refrain from spamming comments!"