---o---
Hearing Fu Zhu's words, Robin and Sunday immediately took out their phones and began checking the news online. When the siblings saw the headlines about Sunday's "abnormal" behavior, the expressions on their faces were truly a sight to behold.
Sunday's face was especially colorful. Fu Zhu and Xing almost simultaneously whipped out their own phones and, with two sharp clicks, captured a photo of Sunday's spectacularly dark, multi-hued expression.
The sound of the shutters snapped Sunday out of his stupor. He quickly regained his composure, schooling the furious expression on his face. He then bowed slightly to the group with an apologetic look. "My apologies for letting you all see that. However, as you are all aware, at the time these news reports were published, I was on the Dream-Tide Reef. It is clear that the Masked Fool assumed my likeness. I hope that you will all help me attest to this fact later."
Himeko and the others naturally nodded in agreement, but Fu Zhu just smiled without giving a clear answer.
However, whether Himeko and the others helped or not didn't really matter. His actions had only been to give the Company an opportunity to make their entrance. A later clarification would be too late; the Company was bound to seize this chance to make their move.
"There is naturally no problem with attesting to that, however..." Welt pushed up the glasses on his nose and looked at Sunday. "Mr. Sunday, could you please tell us now where the Stellaron is?"
Sunday fell silent and swept his gaze over the crowd. Knowing he could no longer hide it, he sighed and answered truthfully, "The Stellaron is, in fact, the Grand Theater. However, the Stellaron has always been under the control of the Dream Master. I know you all wish to resolve this matter, but could you please give Penacony a chance? Allow me to go and communicate with the Dream Master first. It won't take long, just one night. After one night, regardless of the outcome, I will unconditionally support your decision."
Welt did not agree immediately. Instead, he turned to Himeko, seeking her opinion with his eyes.
Himeko thought for a moment before finally nodding in agreement.
"Very well. Then we hope that you will be able to persuade the Dream Master, Mr. Sunday."
"Yes, I will." Then, Sunday turned to Robin beside him and gave her instructions. "Robin, I'll have to entrust our guests to your care. I will go and discuss matters with the Dream Master."
"Of course, brother," Robin replied obediently.
Sunday then nodded to the group and asked Gallagher to release Meme to send him back to the Golden Hour.
After Sunday left, Xing finally couldn't help but rub the back of her head and ask with a worried expression, "Can Sunday really persuade the Dream Master?"
March 7th shared her concern. "I think it will be difficult, too. And just one night... we won't wake up to another backstabbing, will we?"
Hearing the two girls' words, Robin, standing nearby, looked like she wanted to say something but held her tongue. Himeko noticed and immediately shot a look at March 7th and Xing. Even if they were suspicious of Sunday, they couldn't just say such things in front of his sister before he had actually betrayed them.
Receiving Himeko's signal, March 7th and Xing immediately clapped their hands over their mouths and looked at Robin with apologetic expressions. Robin managed a faint smile.
"Everyone, please give my brother a little time. I believe in him."
Himeko walked over and gently patted Robin's shoulder, offering a soft word of comfort. "Don't worry. The Astral Express never interferes in the decisions of others. No one can use something that has yet to happen to question another person."
"Thank you, Ms. Himeko. Next, please allow me to invite you all to dinner."
Since her brother had specifically entrusted her with this, Robin was naturally going to be a good hostess to the Astral Express crew. Even though they were currently on the Dream-Tide Reef, which was not as prosperous as the Golden Hour, she would still do her best to fulfill her duties as a host.
Fu Zhu was about to join Robin and the others for dinner and then rest for the night while awaiting Sunday's news when he suddenly remembered that someone was missing from the scene.
Putting aside Black Swan and Acheron, who were just passing through, where had Firefly, who had been sent to the Dream-Tide Reef by Meme's stab, gone?
"Sis, wait a moment." Fu Zhu immediately reached out and stopped Xing, who was about to go for a free meal with Robin.
"What is it, big bro?"
Xing turned around and rolled her eyes in annoyance. Even if it was her dear big brother, interrupting her from getting free food was unforgivable! Unless he was offering to treat her!
"Stop thinking about food for a second. Let me ask you, where's Firefly?"
Hearing that familiar name, Xing gasped and slapped her forehead in dismay.
"Oh no! I was so busy investigating the legacy with Sister Himeko that I forgot about Firefly! I heard Gallagher say he sent her to the Dream-Tide Reef, and I was going to look for her..."
Seeing her like this, Fu Zhu couldn't help but shake his head, a mix of amusement and exasperation on his face. She could forget a whole living person just like that.
"It's fine. I'll go find her. You guys go rest."
With that, Fu Zhu opened his minimap, zoomed it out to its maximum extent, found Firefly's marker, and started walking in that direction.
Xing watched Fu Zhu's retreating figure, her expression one of suspicion. Just as she was contemplating whether to follow him, a small head popped up beside her.
"Hmph, when he comes back, he's not going to bring another beautiful girl with him, is he?"
March 7th peeked her little head out from beside Xing, her voice full of jealousy as she watched Fu Zhu's back.
Xing pinched her nose and, with a mischievous smile, poked March 7th's puffed-out cheek. She then brought her finger back to her mouth and licked it before smacking her lips.
"That's not right. There's no sour taste. It's more like the smell of makeup. Why do I smell something sour in the air then?"
"Xing!"
March 7th slapped Xing's hand away in embarrassment, but Xing dodged it with a giggle.
"Since you're so concerned, why don't you just go after him!"
With that, Xing took the lead and ran in the direction Fu Zhu had gone. March 7th tried to stop her, but she wasn't nearly as fast.
March 7th opened her mouth, then muttered to herself, "You're the one who wanted to go! I'm just keeping you company!"
Then, March 7th also quickened her pace, afraid that if she was a second too late, Xing would disappear from sight.
Back with the others, Welt saw the three youngest members of the team run off and couldn't help but frown. He was about to take out his phone to call them back to join the group, but Himeko stopped him with a hand on his arm.
Himeko smiled and glanced at Welt, pushing his outstretched hand down.
"Just let the young ones have their fun. Don't worry, Fu Zhu isn't like those two girls. Even though he can be a bit wild and crazy at times, he's a kid who knows his limits."
"...Alright. Then we'll have them regroup tomorrow morning."