Himeko asked, "I suppose now it's time for the story of Mikhail, isn't it?"
"You're very perceptive. The Astral Express also received that music box, didn't it? Do you know what secret it holds?"
"A message: 'Take in all the impossibilities in the dream, find the legacy of the Clockmaker, father of Penacony, and then answer: Why does life fall into slumber?'"
Gallagher smiled, "Word for word."
March 7th crossed her arms and said, "Hey, what are you smiling at? Did you write it? It's quite well-written."
He didn't answer, just smiled and shook his head: "I'm the security officer in charge of investigations, how could I not know? I assume you've also noticed that this message didn't come from the Family—or even that their relationship isn't that good?"
"Ruan Mei: From the perspective of life: The reason we enter a state of sleep is because sleep helps repair and maintain brain health. In a waking state, neuronal activity, radiation, oxidative stress, and other factors can lead to the accumulation of DNA damage. During sleep, the brain's DNA repair system is activated to repair this damage, reduce homeostatic sleep pressure, and promote neuronal recovery."
"Sushang: Stop! Stop! I'm getting dizzy!"
"March 7th: Wow, he changed the subject. Did I guess right?"
"Botio: My precious, the Clockmaker and the Family are at odds, that's truly amazing."
"Currently, it's just a guess. It's hard for us to believe that the father of Penacony and its actual administrators are so at odds," Himeko said.
"Now I can tell you, you are completely correct."
"The Family has long considered the Clockmaker an enemy, but because the latter is so elusive, only living in the commercial myth he created, the Hounds have been unable to catch him."
"So, I further ask you, have you ever wondered why the Family tolerates the Clockmaker sending out such a laughable message to the outside world, letting you come here by invitation, and even letting you mess things up?"
"You want to use this opportunity to make the Clockmaker reveal himself?"
"Now you can understand why the Oak Family authorized the Nameless to assist with the investigation, yet kept so much hidden from you," Gallagher sneered. "Because the Clockmaker is not some legend of the Land of Dreams, but the most unspeakable stain on Penacony's history of secession. He is the instigator of all the dream anomalies."
Star rubbed her head and asked, "What does this have to do with Mikhail?"
"Haven't you realized it yet? What I mean is... Mikhail, the traitor of the Family—he is the famous Clockmaker."
"Welt: The Oak Family authorized the Nameless to assist with the investigation. I probably understand why we are talking with this security officer."
"Bronya: Mr. Sunday's authorization?"
"Welt: It's highly probable."
After some time, they arrived in front of a magnificent theme park, filled with numerous decorations and dazzling lights.
"There—Clock Studios Theme Park, Penacony's most popular film and entertainment center," Gallagher said, pointing ahead.
"Aren't we supposed to talk about the Clockmaker? I thought we'd go to a data room or something, why here?" March 7th asked curiously.
Facing March 7th's confusion, Gallagher patiently explained, "The culture of a city is the most authentic footnote to its history. In your eyes, this is a place for fun, but in my eyes, it is a prison, used to confine the past of this planet."
"You must know that Penacony was once the Company's prison planet, right? Prisoners were escorted here to help the Garden of Recollection salvage the remembrance leaking from the large hole..."
"The prison, constantly exposed to high concentrations of remembrance, produced a special phenomenon. The dreams of countless individuals intertwined and overlapped, and people began to meet in dreams, living lives as real as reality."
"But everything comes at a price, and sweet dreams are no exception. In the end, dreams could not dissolve people's suffering in reality. Led by a prisoner, the frontier prison shattered the Company's shackles and began to fight for freedom..."
"...He is Hanu Brothers. The big brother of Beautique Town, the founder of peace, and the eternal companion of the weak."
"So Clockie is a documentary..." Star suddenly realized.
"History is always written by the victors, but setting aside the artistic embellishments, 'Clockie' is an animation created based on Penacony's history, which is an undeniable fact."
"These characters not only live in Beautique Town but also in the distant past. Understanding this... also explains why we are here."
As they conversed, the group slowly entered Clock Studios Theme Park. Upon entering, they were immediately drawn to the lively scene before them—in addition to the bustling tourists, there were also many Hounds in uniform, looking stern, moving through the crowd.
"There are so many people from the Hound Family nearby."
"We just received a lockdown order, said to be personally issued by Mr. Sunday. God knows what he's up to."
Gallagher led the group to a corner of the plaza, stopping as he looked at the Clockie statue in the distance.
"This spot will do. The view is good. We can see him perfectly... Clockie."
"If these animated characters all have real-life counterparts, then Clockie, without a doubt, corresponds to the Clockmaker."
"Fu Xuan: I think the voices crying out Mikhail's name in the dream might be the key to the problem."
"March 7th: Oh right, that crying voice sounds a bit familiar..."
"Qingque: Misha?"
"March 7th: That's right! Misha's voice! It really sounds like him! Speaking of which... where is Misha?"
"Seele: I remember during the last viewing, he said he wasn't feeling well, and then he never spoke again."
"March 7th: Eh... very suspicious."
"He was Hanu Brothers's companion, one of the first members of Beautique Town. Can this be understood as the historical Clockmaker also personally participated in that war and sided with Asdana?"
"It was a grand war of independence. The Masked Fools, Nameless, Imaginary Historians, Mourning Actors, Harbingers of Annihilation... Hanu, with the help of his companions and visitors from beyond, quelled the conflict."
"Naturally, the future Clockmaker was also among them."
March 7th said in surprise, "But if you calculate that... wouldn't the Clockmaker have lived for several hundred years?"
"I don't know. When I met Mikhail, he was already the Clockmaker. It's also possible it's an inherited title."