Penacony is facing a crisis of subversion?
Hearing these words, Sunday was struck as if by lightning.
My secret is out? Lord Su Mo told my sister?
"Hmm? You don't believe me, Brother?" Seeing Sunday's dazed look, Robin's tone became a little anxious.
"N-no!" Sunday immediately shook his head. Looking at his sister's clear eyes, he instantly realized. If his sister knew he was the mastermind, she wouldn't test him like this. Given Robin's character and the bond between them, she would have asked him directly.
So, the situation was not as bad as he had thought.
"If it's Lord Su Mo, it must be for a reason. Robin, did he say where the crisis is coming from, or who the mastermind is?"
After composing himself, he asked calmly.
"No," Robin shook her head honestly.
"Oh..." That's good.
Sunday's brow relaxed, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Whether Su Mo had seen through it and not said anything, or hadn't seen through it at all, the situation had not yet reached its worst.
Just as he was relaxing...
"But you don't have to worry, Brother. When I'm showing Lord Su Mo around Penacony later, I'll ask him if I get the chance!"
Robin's tone changed, and she clenched a fist in front of her chest, as if cheering herself on.
"Huh?" Wait, what did you say?
Sunday was completely dumbfounded. You're going to show Su Mo around Penacony? And you're going to get to the bottom of this with him?
What do you mean, "Brother, don't worry"? When you say that, I get even more worried!
He had never expected that after getting past this hurdle, his sister would actually invite Su Mo to meet. Thinking about the possibility of being exposed during that time, his vision went dark.
Especially seeing Robin's expectant look, he suddenly had the feeling of a father whose daughter was about to get married. Wasn't this happening a little too soon?
"Hmm? What's wrong, Brother? Don't you want to know who the mastermind is?" Seeing Sunday's troubled expression, Robin asked in confusion.
"N-no, of course I support you," Sunday said with a forced expression, then added, "But, the Charmony Festival is coming up. Shouldn't you be thinking about rehearsing your songs first, Robin?"
He tried to use the Charmony Festival to influence Robin's decision. However...
"No need!" Robin's lightning-fast head shake made her feel incredibly unfamiliar to him.
Wait, with my sister's level of respect for the Aeon of Harmony, she's actually giving up on rehearsing for the Charmony Festival for Su Mo? How could something so strange happen? Have I entered the Dream of Unity (Ena) early?
As Sunday began to doubt his own sanity, Robin explained excitedly, "I don't know why, but when I'm near Lord Su Mo, my voice completely returns to normal, and even reaches its peak. It only becomes hoarse again after I leave him."
"So, instead of rehearsing, I'd rather ask Lord Su Mo to stand by my side during the Charmony Festival... As long as he's there, I'm sure I can perform at my best!"
The speaker was unintentional, but the listener was not.
When she was with him, Robin's voice was hoarse. Only when she was with Su Mo could she maintain her clearest and most melodious tone. Hearing this, the light in Sunday's eyes instantly dimmed a little.
"So that's how it is... Lord Su Mo's power is truly amazing!" His expression became even more forced, even a little gloomy.
"That's right!" The excited Robin didn't notice this. She nodded immediately and added, "So, as long as I'm with Lord Su Mo, I don't have to worry about the Charmony Festival."
"With his help, we'll work together and definitely defeat the mastermind behind the scenes!"
Looking at Robin's joyful expression and serious tone, Sunday once again felt a sharp pain in his chest. Nothing could make a brother break down more than his sister declaring in his face that she was going to rely on a strange man's power to defeat him.
And what made him break down even more was that he actually didn't think his sister was doing anything wrong, and even wanted to support her.
"...Alright, then good luck! I'm sure you'll succeed!" With a slightly wishful attitude, Sunday's tone was a little weak.
"Thank you, Brother!" The clueless Robin nodded happily, accepting this incredibly complicated blessing.
After they finished talking, Robin glanced at the clock in the hall and suddenly remembered something.
She immediately slapped her forehead, said goodbye to Sunday, and, disregarding her etiquette, hurried away in a small run.
Needless to say, she was worried she would be late for her appointment. It would be wrong to make Lord Su Mo wait.
However, Sunday also looked at the clock. There was still an hour before their appointed time, yet Robin was afraid of making Su Mo wait too long.
Again, do you really have to be so humble, Sister?
Thinking this, Sunday still didn't stop his sister's steps. Standing in the shadows of the corridor, he watched his sister leave with happy, skipping steps like an elf, getting further and further away.
"Robin, she's really at that age, isn't she?" he sighed softly, then turned and walked in the opposite direction from Robin.
Unlike Robin, his expression was depressed and solemn, like a dignified martyr. "Mother of the Stars, if you still care for your singer, I hope this lord... is worthy of her trust."
Soon, his figure completely disappeared into the shadows, leaving only a slightly relieved wish.
---||---
In the most prosperous Golden Hour of Penacony's dreamscape, at the entrance, Robin, standing on her tiptoes in anticipation of her idol's arrival, soon spotted the figure she had been waiting for.
She immediately waved her arms and let out a happy sound.
Seeing the young girl's posture, although her face was hidden under layers of disguise, her youthful demeanor was too prominent. Anyone could tell she was a young girl.
Moreover, she looked like she had been waiting for a lover who had yet to arrive.
So, the people nearby all smiled like doting aunts, then left, giving the space at the entrance to the two young people.
Although the features of the two young people seemed familiar, like well-known figures, this was the Golden Hour, a dream where everyone could disguise themselves.
Who knew if they were the real deal under that skin?
So, the two did not attract too much attention.
Robin, who had long anticipated this, ran to Su Mo's side with small steps, holding down her skirt, and then removed most of her disguise.
Except for the raised collar that blocked the view of outsiders, she presented herself to Su Mo in her best state.
"If we're talking about Penacony's most famous product, it would have to be the SoulGlad sold at that shop over there. Are you interested in trying it, Lord Su Mo?"
She had just said that she would ask Su Mo about the mastermind's identity if she had the chance. But after meeting him, Robin had no such miscellaneous thoughts.
Like the most excellent tour guide, she immediately began to introduce Penacony's specialties to Su Mo.
Seeing the two of them walking arm in arm in harmony, in the distance, at the top of the tallest building, a purple crow sighed.
Even though he had said something close to entrusting her to him, creating an atmosphere of life and death, and had even made up his mind to part ways with his sister's path, he had still chosen to follow and observe out of worry right after he had spoken.
It seemed that the two of them, one in light and one in darkness, were drifting apart. In reality, they were both heading to the same place. It was just that Robin was going to be Su Mo's guide, while Sunday was there to watch over his sister and Su Mo.
Although he was mentally prepared, seeing his sister and Su Mo talking happily, Sunday still felt a dull ache in his heart. Fortunately, he was used to it now and could endure this feeling.
Thinking this, after sighing, he continued to track Robin and Su Mo.
Just then, a completely unfamiliar, crisp, and extremely joyful girlish voice suddenly sounded from behind the purple crow. "Oh my! Why the long face? Frowning like that will make you lose your hair, chicken wing boy!"
The girl's voice was incredibly sweet, as if she had an unmelted apple candy in her mouth. But within this enticing sweetness, there was a very unsettling dangerous aura.
"Who?" The purple crow flapped its wings and took off, turning around with extreme vigilance to look at the kimono-clad girl who had appeared on top of the building at some point.
The girl was wearing a red kimono, with a white fox mask hanging by her ear. There were two red dots under her clear eyes. She looked like a slightly mischievous and exceptionally beautiful girl.
But the gleam of joy and mockery in her red eyes, and the suspicious curve of her lips, made one raise their guard to the maximum.
Even as a crow, with Sunday's strength, he shouldn't have been approached so closely by a little girl without noticing. Yet, before she had spoken, he had not sensed any information about her at all.
And more importantly, her form of address.
Chicken wing boy... putting aside the malicious teasing in this name, the object it referred to didn't seem to be the crow he had created, but rather his true identity. To be able to see through his disguise, her strength and intelligence were not to be underestimated.
"Who are you?" Sunday questioned again, his gaze quickly focusing on the mask on the kimono girl's face.
"A Masked Fool?" he asked.
In this universe, the faction most closely associated with masks was undoubtedly the Masked Fools under the Aeon of Elation.
These people were neither good nor evil and would do anything for joy. Their reputation throughout the galaxy was among the most dangerous.
Sunday had long known about the invitations and knew that Penacony was currently in a state of turmoil, with people from all factions present.
Although he was not afraid, he did not want to be targeted by these people.
At least, not now.
"Bingo! You got it! I'm Masked Rider... ah, no, Masked Fool Sparkle!" the kimono girl said, her hands on her hips, proudly announcing her name.
After speaking, she began to mutter, "To be able to see that, although it's not difficult for you, chicken wing boy, I should still give you a reward!"
"A reward? I don't need it," Sunday shook his head cautiously. Few people in this world dared to accept a gift from a Masked Fool.
"Besides that, shouldn't you explain why you're here first... and what exactly do you want to do?" He was not in the mood for games and just wanted to get straight to the point and deal with this person.
Otherwise, what if he was delayed and couldn't find Robin and Su Mo?
"That won't do! The great Sparkle always repays her debts, I mean, rewards kindness, and always gives out rewards!" As if she knew his thoughts, Sparkle completely ignored him and, from some unknown spatial device, took out one item after another.
And she introduced them with great enthusiasm. "Don't be polite, chicken wing boy. It's not like I'm giving you anything good anyway! You don't have to thank me too much!"
"..." Sunday was at a loss for words. With his serious and proper personality, he really couldn't keep up with Sparkle's crazed mental state.
Before he could ask further, he saw Sparkle take out a beautiful and lively ponytail from her bag. "Ah! Found it!" Her eyes lit up, and with a strong pull, she actually pulled out a steed from it. No wonder the ponytail was so lively; it was a real, live horse.
"I'll give you this!" The steed snorted, its front hooves restlessly pawing at the ground. Its irritable personality seemed very dissatisfied with Sparkle for pulling it out so forcefully.
Faced with this absurd scene, even Sunday didn't know what she was going to do.
Then, he saw Sparkle, with her small and delicate girlish body, display the might of a conqueror lifting a cauldron. She grabbed the steed's tail and began to spin, faster and faster, like a tornado.
The originally irritable steed let out a terrified neigh, but was completely unable to break free.
Just then, Sparkle smiled joyfully and shouted, "Those who interfere with love will be kicked by a horse!"
The moment her voice fell, Sparkle let go. The steed shot out like a cannonball, along a tangent line, towards the purple crow.
Even though Sunday was on guard, he failed to dodge in time and was instantly hit by the struggling hooves. The crow's body was good for surveillance, but it was extremely fragile.
A single stomp from the steed made Sunday's vision go black, and he was instantly disconnected.
"Oh! As expected of me, a perfect hit!" Looking at the purple feathers scattered on the ground, Sparkle nodded in satisfaction.
"I never thought I had such artistic talent. I managed to recreate the legendary 'Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow' in one go. It's a pity no one is here to appreciate it, otherwise it would surely fetch a good price!"
Muttering this, she ignored the steed, which had fallen like a meteor and was still cursing on the ground, though uninjured. She looked towards the direction where Robin and Su Mo were.
"It's immoral to peep on people!" she said didactically to Sunday, who could no longer hear her, then proudly puffed out her chest.
"Only the great Sparkle can do that!"