Seeing that Su Mo and Topaz still had more to say, Sunday's heart was itching with curiosity, but he still couldn't get the key information.
He had never heard of Belobog, so it must be some unknown, ordinary world.
The wealth to book the entire Penacony for a period of time wasn't surprising either; an ordinary medium-sized economy could achieve that. Given the attitudes of the two from the IPC, it wasn't strange for Su Mo to possess such wealth.
The only thing that was puzzling was the so-called Stelleron King Project, and the matter Topaz wanted to discuss with Su Mo in private. Such a mysterious matter must be related to Su Mo's identity.
And most importantly, it was Topaz's incredibly natural attitude and wording.
*"Report to you in private"*—what kind of status would make her, one of the Ten Stonehearts, adopt such a purely subordinate posture?
Unfortunately, no matter how curious or concerned he was, Topaz had no intention of continuing. It was clear that the outsider she was wary of wasn't the Express Crew, but him.
Knowing his place, Sunday didn't wait meaninglessly. Seeing Topaz look at him, he immediately extended his hand in a guiding gesture. "Lord Su Mo, and the members of the Astral Express Crew, if you wish to check in, you can follow me to the VIP window. There will be dedicated staff to assist you, no need to queue."
Although he wasn't responsible for their reception, his rapid change in attitude was no less professional than a seasoned manager's.
Naturally, no one in the group refused and followed behind the guiding Sunday.
The gray-haired and pink-haired girls, seeing his change from arrogant to respectful, immediately began to whisper.
"Wow, he was ready to leave after just a brief chat, and now it's VIP treatment, with the head of The Family personally leading the way... Lord Su Mo's name is really useful!" March 7th secretly marveled. If it were just them, they probably would have had to queue up after talking to Sunday.
"This is the world of adults, right? Even though he doesn't know who Dad is, he still has to pretend to be respectful. He even changed how he addressed him, afraid of offending some big shot. It seems being a family head isn't easy!" Stelle, with her keen observation, also started to whisper.
Sunday had called him "Mr. Su Mo" before, but he had quickly changed it, following Topaz's lead.
As she sighed, she stole a glance at Sunday's profile. "His expression looks really stiff. He's probably wondering who on earth Lord Su Mo is, right?"
"..." Hearing this, March 7th also looked up at Sunday. Then, with an incredibly stiff expression, she lowered her head and whispered again, her voice extremely low, "No, I think he's wondering if you can speak a little softer... I think he heard you!"
"Ah, this!" The little gray-haired girl was taken aback.
"Smack! Smack!"
Before the two little ones could say anything else inappropriate, Himeko helplessly pressed down on their necks, making them behave like little kittens, instantly silent. "You two, mind your manners as Nameless!"
These two brats weren't being quiet at all, showing no respect for the adults. Even if they were speaking the truth, they couldn't just blurt it out!
As the eldest sister, like a mother, Himeko's words made the thin-skinned March 7th immediately lower her head in embarrassment, trying to put on a dignified appearance.
Stelle, however, after a second of serious thought, looked up at Himeko in confusion. "We Nameless have manners?" Aren't we just supposed to rummage through chests and find the best sword in the village to slay dragons?
"..." This time, it was Himeko's turn to have a stiff expression. Why does this kid make the Nameless sound like cavemen? If it weren't impossible, she really wanted to ask Su Mo if she could return this troublesome child.
Of course, she was just angry. This child was usually... ahem, occasionally quite cute.
Himeko sighed, but before she could say anything, Sunday, who was even more on edge than her, spoke up to ease the awkward atmosphere and draw a line. He turned to look at Topaz and Aventurine.
"There's no problem with checking in for Lord Su Mo and the members of the Astral Express Crew. But for the two of you from the IPC, I'm afraid not."
After clearly stating his refusal, he cautiously looked at Su Mo. "If this affects Lord Su Mo's vacation, I apologize profusely. We at Penacony will offer corresponding compensation and upgrade your rooms."
"Some of you here may not be aware of the friction between Penacony and the IPC. However, as the head of the Oak Family and a member of The Family, I cannot allow these two dangerous individuals, who seek to lay their hands on Penacony, to enter the dreamscape for the sake of its peace. I hope you can understand."
Before he figured out Su Mo's identity, he didn't plan to act rashly. He neither intended to hastily make an enemy of Su Mo, nor was he willing to make too many compromises for him. This naturally included Aventurine and Topaz's desire to enter Penacony.
To let them into the dreamscape without paying a sufficient price, just on the word of an unknown person? As long as he wasn't crazy, he wouldn't make that choice.
Hearing his words, Topaz and Aventurine were slightly taken aback. Sunday had thought they would try to bargain. Especially Aventurine, who he expected would be willing to pay a great price to enter Penacony, just like before.
But to his surprise, their reactions were quite strange.
"I understand," Aventurine said with a faint nod. "Mr. Sunday only needs to serve Lord Su Mo well. We can discuss our matters later."
It was clear that he hadn't given up on his plan, but had prioritized. Sunday saw this, which made him even more confused. It was normal to prioritize, but Aventurine's decisive decision clearly indicated that he believed the trivial matter of accompanying Su Mo to check in was more important than the IPC's grand scheme for Penacony.
So, Aventurine wasn't exaggerating before. He really thinks that a single word from Su Mo is worth far more than Penacony itself?
After Aventurine finished, Topaz also nodded and looked at Su Mo. "Our side doesn't matter. As long as things go smoothly for Lord Su Mo. As for the discussion, if Lord Su Mo doesn't mind, we can do it in his room. It's not a big deal." As long as there was a sufficiently private room, Topaz wasn't picky.
Hearing their statements, Sunday's confusion deepened. But he didn't say much more, as they had arrived at the VIP channel of the front desk.
Seeing Sunday arrive in person, the front desk staff immediately bowed in respect and swiftly handled the check-in process.
"Upgrade all the distinguished guests' rooms to deluxe rooms," Sunday said, not forgetting his earlier promise.
"Yes!" The staff member nodded immediately. After a series of operations, she suddenly showed a troubled expression and looked at the gray-haired girl who was looking around. "I'm sorry, but there is no Miss Stelle on the reservation list!"
Hearing this, everyone was slightly taken aback. Himeko finally realized. "Right, Stelle just joined the Express Crew not long ago. The management of Penacony might not know yet and missed her spot..."
If it were before, she probably would have had to seek the staff's help or try to vouch for Stelle in the name of the Astral Express Crew to get her a room in this competitive situation.
But now was different. With Su Mo here, and the head of The Family, Sunday, accompanying them, Himeko immediately looked at Sunday. A small problem like this couldn't stop the authority of the family head.
"Since she is Lord Su Mo's daughter, she is naturally trustworthy. Then, in my name, add a spot for this young lady. I hope she won't have an unpleasant experience due to our family's oversight—"
"Ah!" Just as Sunday was feeling relieved, thinking he could do them a favor, the front desk staff's sudden exclamation interrupted his social pleasantries.
Seeing the guests and the family head all looking at her, the staff member's face flushed red as she apologized. "I'm sorry, I was rude! But Mr. Sunday, you might not need to use your authority!"
Hearing this, everyone was a little surprised. "Did you find the child's spot now?" As a professional, she shouldn't make such a low-level mistake, right?
"N-no!" The staff member shook her head frantically, then looked at Su Mo with an expression of awe. "It's Lord Su Mo! I thought it was just the same name, but I didn't expect it to be him. Not long ago, the head of our Clover Family instructed us to add Lord Su Mo's information. If this lord were to grace Penacony, The Family would unconditionally meet his requests."
"Therefore, the hotel's top-tier Emanator suites, at least six of them, are permanently reserved for Lord Su Mo. If he is willing to share, he can bring his friends to stay at any time. In addition, all your expenses in Penacony will be covered by our family."
Not to mention Stelle, if Su Mo wished, he could even let the entire Express Crew enjoy the highest-level suite treatment. The upgrade Sunday had mentioned earlier was meaningless in the face of this top-tier treatment.
"What?!" Hearing this, the people from the Express Crew and the IPC were not surprised. Sunday was from the Oak Family, so it was normal for his information to be a bit behind.
If the Clover Family, which was in charge of commerce and economy, didn't know Su Mo's name, they wouldn't have been able to develop Penacony to its current state.
The only one surprised was Sunday.
Although he wasn't in charge of external economic management, he knew how exaggerated the authority the Clover Family had given Su Mo was.
Only the most distinguished guests in the entire galaxy could enjoy this super-high-level treatment of having rooms reserved for them year-round, even if they didn't stay.
And many of these guests actually looked down on Penacony.
Recording their names was more for the sake of adding to their own prestige, just in case. Some guests would see having been to Penacony as a highlight of their lives.
For other guests, their arrival itself was an honor for Penacony. Su Mo's treatment was the latter.
In Sunday's impression, only the generals of the Xianzhou Alliance or those confirmed Emanators had such treatment. But the treatment given to Su Mo even surpassed that of ordinary Emanators, on par with Marshal Hua of the Xianzhou Alliance.
So, who was this lord? A newly ascended Emanator?
He really wanted to ask the staff about Su Mo's specific deeds, even if it was just basic information. Unfortunately, it would be rude to do so in front of the guests.
So, he had to suppress his doubts and watch as the staff member excitedly checked in Su Mo and the Express Crew into the highest-level rooms.
After politely bidding farewell to Su Mo and his party, Sunday only turned to look at the staff member after their figures had completely disappeared up the stairs. "You know Lord Su Mo?"
"Of course! The whole galaxy, even the dream-chasers who stay at home all day or are lost in dreams, have heard of Lord Su Mo's name. Not to mention big figures like you and the family heads. How could anyone not know?" The staff member's expression was one of complete certainty, as if not knowing Su Mo was an impossibility.
"..." Sunday was speechless for a moment. So, what on earth happened in just a dozen days? Even a newly ascended Emanator shouldn't have such high recognition, right? This reaction is almost on par with an Aeon!
Just as he was about to ask for details...
"Brother, what are you doing here?" A slightly hoarse but still beautiful girlish voice sounded from not far behind him.
"Miss Robin!" Like seeing their favorite star, the staff member's eyes immediately lit up. If her expression when facing Su Mo was one of awe, now it was one of pure affection.
If it weren't for her duties and the fact that she was still in front of Sunday, she would have gone up to ask for an autograph.
"Robin?" Sunday turned to see a pure white girl, as light and beautiful as an angel. In the eyes of others, Robin was the most popular singer in the galaxy, but in his eyes, she was just the same little sister from his childhood.
So he just pondered for a second before asking his question. "Have you heard of... Lord Su Mo?"
"Lord Su Mo? Is he here? When? Where? Which room?!" Sunday had just asked a casual question, intending to get a general idea before searching for more information.
But he didn't expect that upon hearing Su Mo's name, his sister's eyes would instantly light up, the excitement in her turquoise eyes several times greater than the staff member's.
Seriously? Are you for real? Sunday was at a loss. You're a singer renowned throughout the galaxy. Although your strength is a bit lacking, your popularity is no less than an Emanator's. As the saintess who can welcome the incarnation of Harmony, what grand scenes haven't you seen? Is it really necessary to get so excited over an Emanator-level being?
"Lord Su Mo has just checked in. He's probably talking to someone right now, so it's not convenient to disturb him." Sunday nonchalantly put up a defense to prevent Robin from rushing over in a fit of excitement. Then, he voiced his doubts. "What, you're very interested in this lord?"
"Of course!" Robin pressed her hands to her chest, her face full of admiration. "Lord Su Mo personally led and completed the famous public welfare project with the IPC, creating the Stelleron King Project and saving countless small worlds from the Swarm Disaster! He is a hero!"
"Not only that, but together with the Aeon he personally created, he completely cured the mara-struck of the Xianzhou Alliance and even pioneered a method to balance the Abundance's blessings, giving the Denizens of Abundance, who have plagued the universe, hope of escaping the endless suffering of longevity. He is a wise man who has solved a problem that has persisted for thousands of Amber Eras."
"I have no intention of placing this lord in the position of a perfect saint! But in my heart, this senior is as worthy of respect as a saint... It's shameful to say, but my contributions to the galactic civilization over the years are not even one-ten-thousandth of Lord Su Mo's!" Like a fangirl, she excitedly listed Su Mo's many contributions to the interstellar universe.
She said she didn't see him as a saint, but from her attitude, it was clear that she revered him as a saint and an idol.
Seeing his sister's admiration for a young man, Sunday, as an older brother, subconsciously felt a headache. However, if what Robin said was true, he could understand why she was like this.
In his overly kind sister's heart, she had always cared more about public welfare than her singing career, even to the point of giving up the latter for the former.
You could say that if you sang better than her, she might not remember you.
But if you were involved in public welfare, even if you were a nobody, she would never forget you if she met you.
Now, with a senior whose contributions far surpassed hers by a hundredfold, the inspiration Robin received was naturally unprecedented.
But the question was, was what Robin said true?
"I've heard of the Stelleron King Project before..." Sunday remembered what Topaz had said earlier.
He hadn't expected a casual public welfare project of Su Mo's to have such a great effect, making his sister so excited. Ordinary propaganda wouldn't fool Robin.
Since it was recognized by both the IPC and his sister, the project was most likely real.
But...
"Creating an Aeon? Curing the mara-struck?"
Whether it was true or false, wasn't that a bit too outrageous?