Unbeknownst to them, Rappa had become the center of attention among the students.
Just then, the three little ones ran into their group chat friend Montana.
Through conversation, the three little ones also obtained information about the Sleeping Banana Club. With Montana's connections, March 7th could be recommended to join the club.
In the end, this glorious yet arduous task fell solely on March 7th.
[So that's why she ran into Boothill earlier.]
[Can March 7th handle this alone?]
[March 7th is connected to Remembrance after all—sending her to go undercover is actually pretty fitting.]
— —
Dan Heng watched March 7th's departing figure with some concern. "I hope nothing happens. Banana Professor was clearly deflecting earlier. Let's go back and find Rappa—see what insights she has…"
"Bana…"
"What was that sound?" Dan Heng looked over and saw a Sleeping Banana Monkey—but it looked rather dejected.
Dan Heng observed carefully. "…Sleeping Banana Monkey? There's a tag on it—'Wealth College, Bana Opens to Riches.' It's one of the dolls you bought. The design is pretty unique."
"It shipped that fast?" Unable to contain her curiosity, Stelle reached out to test its quality—but the Sleeping Banana Monkey seemed startled and suddenly bolted.
Dan Heng frowned. "It ran off. What now?"
"That's my new monkey!" Stelle didn't answer Dan Heng and immediately gave chase.
Dan Heng let out a helpless sigh. "Fine. Let's get the doll back first."
Not long after.
Stelle and Dan Heng chased it to a booth—and Rappa happened to be right there.
The two members of the Express crew exchanged glances. After long cooperation, they already had perfect mutual understanding.
Wherever Rappa was, there was bound to be trouble!
Coming closer, it really did seem like something was wrong.
The Sleeping Banana Monkey had stopped in front of Richie's stall, and Richie appeared to be hiding something.
Just as the atmosphere grew tense, a figure made a dramatic entrance: a body with only four mechanical arms at the base, upper body consisting solely of a huge TV screen head—an unprecedented horror dream troupe member.
[Scared the hell out of me.]
[This thing genuinely feels kinda creepy.]
[I swear I've seen something like this when I was a kid!]
— —
The newcomer called himself "Wealth Banana Instructor." Even Rappa couldn't help commenting on his appearance. "This evil spirit… body like an insect. Must be low-grade among evil spirits."
Stelle nodded. "Insect Monkey!"
Wealth Banana Instructor flew into a rage. "Huh?! What did you say? Say it again bana?!"
Fortunately, Richie reminded him from the side. "Banana Instructor—the customer is always right! The customer is always right!"
After calming down a little, Wealth Banana Instructor still sidestepped the issue, claiming that college students are all lonely and only Sleeping Banana Monkey can fill the emptiness in their hearts.
Finally, Wealth Banana Instructor glanced at the clock. "Oh! Look at the time—Dream Marketing class is about to start bana. Excuse me, students—if there's anything else, let's talk after class."
They still hadn't gotten the answers they wanted. Forcing the issue wasn't an option either.
Dan Heng suggested they follow along for now and observe.
Not long after.
This class was held in front of a massive screen, which was currently playing the "Sleeping Banana Monkey" song as background music.
"Pay attention, classmates—this is currently the most commercially valuable pop culture bana!" The earlier Wealth Banana Instructor shouted to the students.
The next moment, the TV speaker blared: "Eat banana then go to sleep—happy every day, no worries!"
"Come on—carefully savor this sentence. Why was Sleeping Banana Monkey able to spark a banana craze across Penacony? That gray-haired classmate—why are you here?! Never mind—you answer."
"The little monkey's life is really enviable." Stelle thought for a few seconds and answered directly.
"Correct! A happy life—that's the exact 'pain point' for Penacony users!
Whether poor or rich, most people come to Penacony for 'a more meaningful life.'
But after spending some time in the dream, they realize that's completely empty words. Dream chasers soon collapse from exhaustion, and tourists grow weary after round after round of revelry.
The legendary tycoons and festival superstars we chase after—their brilliant lives feel so distant, like they belong to another world…
But Sleeping Banana Monkey shows a brand-new attitude toward life! They sleep and eat bananas every day—nothing else on their mind, nothing else to do—just experiencing the purest happiness bana! To help everyone feel it more deeply, Banana Instructor has prepared a special Sleeping Banana Monkey doll. Wealth College students get extra discounts on purchase…"
Wealth Banana Instructor's every word and action resembled a pyramid scheme leader.
Suddenly Richie spoke up. "Banana Instructor—the last batch sold out."
"Excellent! Sleeping Banana Monkey's popularity far exceeds our expectations. Richie—come with Banana Instructor to pick up the new stock."
Dan Heng roughly understood the subtlety. "So selling these dolls is a task for Wealth College students. But why make students do this kind of thing?"
Stelle's Sleeping Banana Monkey seemed to want to express something, nonstop "bana bana bana."
"Too bad we can't understand its bana cries…" Dan Heng pondered for a moment. "I have an idea. Trailblazer—can you use 'Clockwork Trick' on it?"
Stelle immediately pulled out a pocket watch. "I'll try."
"Mmm, bana to you." Dan Heng furrowed his brows and fell silent.
[Oh no—he got hit!]
[Teacher Dan Heng nooo—uh, actually I'm kinda looking forward to it.]
[Same.]
— —
Sure enough, after using Clockwork Trick, Stelle, Dan Heng, and Rappa once again found themselves chasing a monkey.
At a corner, Rappa suddenly stopped. She quickly signaled the two behind her to be quiet. "It's the Department Store • Ninja Disciple and Insect • Evil Spirit."
The camera followed Rappa's gaze forward.
"Wealth Banana Instructor—didn't you tell me to come pick up stock? But there's nothing here." Richie glanced around—empty.
"Sigh—Dreamweaving Banana Instructor clearly said he'd handle the new batch. So unreliable bana." Wealth Banana Instructor seemed to ignore Richie.
"By the way, Banana Instructor…" Richie paused, then mustered the courage to ask, "The people who turned into monkeys… were they really willing…?"
[Ah???]
[Ah???]
[Very much like the audience's favorite line: "Ah???"]
[This isn't right.]
[I knew it—earlier I already felt these used to be people. Like zombies.]
[The plot suddenly turned horror.]
— —
"Of course, Richie. Can't you understand the happiness of being a little monkey?"
Richie's face darkened. "I… really don't understand."
"Looks like you didn't pay attention in class at all. Or did those auditors give you unrealistic fantasies again? But do you know the background of those Nameless Guests? You—a poor student who came all the way from a company-supported fringe planet to study here—want to compare yourself to them?"
"I know I can't compare to those big shots… but I have things I want to do too…" There was still a faint light in Richie's eyes.
"Of course I know—you want to make money, lots of money. After all, Origami University's tuition is an astronomical figure. Even for ordinary middle-class families, it's too much bana."
Wealth Banana Instructor seemed to recall something. "Oh, I heard your father came to Penacony too. He switched jobs and is working day and night at Dawn Factory. Truly touching bana."
"Y-you… how do you know?"
"Bana bana bana—because just a few days ago, he came here wanting to see how you're doing. I personally received your father. Poor man—at his age, having to leave behind half a lifetime of savings to work in a place where he knows no one. I felt his exhaustion and anxiety… so I performed banana studies and guided him to become a Sleeping Banana Monkey—right in the batch you just delivered. Surprised?"
"Wh-what?! How could you do that?!"
And the camera very timely cut to Stelle's Sleeping Banana Monkey.
Rappa and the two Express members exchanged glances.
They really had discovered something incredible!
[Holy crap—it really is like that.]
[Bro—no way!]
[Ah???]
[Holy—!!!]
[So disgusting? Can I interpret this as the son selling out his father and still helping Banana Instructor count the money?]
[This is straight-up heart-stabbing murder.]
[And this Wealth Banana Instructor keeps pua-ing him!]
[Truly horrifying.]
— —
Rappa took a deep breath. "Could it be… that is Department Store • Ninja Disciple's father—Department Store • Village Head?"
[HAHAHA—what the hell is Department Store Village Head.]
[Rappa's magical naming sense.]
Yet Wealth Banana Instructor continued with even more manipulative words. "Why? Because your father was too tired bana. I asked if he regretted it—he said no. But when I peeled back that banana peel disguise, what I saw was the dropout warning letter you hid.
Yes—how could I forget bana—you're an irredeemable failing student. Rather than waste teaching resources, better to turn you into a Wealth College commodity—at least then you'd have some value, bana bana bana.
I promised your father I'd give you the same happiness. Richie—it's time to rest bana."
[Veritas Ratio: A failed life is still a life. They have the right to taste it until the very end.]
[Such ironic exam hell education.]
[Honestly this kind of thing is super common now. Lots of teachers, counselors, professors use all kinds of methods to make students work low-pay jobs at their companies. Happens all the time.]
[I can only say Godfather's value is still rising.]
— —
Hearing these words, Richie instantly lost all spirit. "H-how… how could this be? Dad—if even you gave up… then what am I even staying here for…"
A tear rolled unwillingly down his face.
"Dad—I can't hold on anymore…"
"Bana!"
Dan Heng could no longer sit still. "Something's wrong with Richie—stop him fast!"
The three of them shot forward like rockets and appeared right in front of Wealth Banana Instructor.
Wealth Banana Instructor looked up—how did three more people suddenly appear?
Though surrounded, he remained completely calm. Facing their questioning, he still answered smoothly. "I only wanted to help these poor kids escape their pain—give them a new identity to enjoy happiness—and earn a little pocket money along the way. This isn't rare in Penacony.
After all, you have prestigious identities and endless credit points—but my students have nothing. So I offered them a better choice, and this father and son willingly accepted it.
A very fair banana transaction, isn't it?"
Since that was the case, Rappa felt—one willing to hit, one willing to take.
But Rappa had somehow learned the Sleeping Banana Monkey language—and with just one "bana" she analyzed motive, method, and aftermath truth.
With Rappa's help, they finally found a pretext to act.
Dan Heng grew more convinced these people were off. "These Banana Instructors are definitely not ordinary faculty… What exactly is your goal?"
"Bana bana bana—of course, using Sleeping Banana Monkey to bring people happiness bana!"
Looks like only beating them into submission would work. Stelle thought so in her heart, and her grip tightened.
"There's… a mole… banana transaction terminated…"
With those final words, Wealth Banana Instructor completely lost all ability to move—as if dead.
[Infernal Affairs, huh.]
[Made me laugh—after all this time, that line still shows up.]
— —
"To think he used evil arts to turn ninjas into evil spirits—how terrifying."
"He seems to have stopped functioning too." Dan Heng tapped Wealth Banana Instructor's screen and shook his head.
"This isn't normal. In the earlier ninja • battle, this one should have held back. Could there be someone else controlling these evil spirits from behind?"
Hearing this, Stelle scratched her head. "So we were supposed to hold back?"
"No matter—evil spirits must be executed on the spot. However, Department Store • Ninja Disciple…"
"Bana…"
All three instinctively looked toward the source of the bana cry.
Looking at the extra monkey on the ground, they realized—Richie had already turned into a Sleeping Banana Monkey during the intense confrontation.
The two Sleeping Banana Monkeys gathered together, emitting affectionate bana cries. No one had the heart to interrupt this heartwarming father-son reunion scene.
Dan Heng brought the topic back on track. "Miss Rappa—can we now talk about why a Ranger came to Penacony?"
"Has Flying Dragon • Ninja already noticed?"
"Though I had suspicions before, seeing this scene I can finally be certain. Your mortal enemy among the Galaxy Rangers—the terrifying scientist who turns humans into apes—'Imperial Monkey • Evil Ninja' in your words… could it be 'Dr. Primitive'?"
Rappa nodded solemnly and said gravely, "Precisely. Imperial Monkey • Evil Ninja… is indeed 'Imperial Monkey • Evil Ninja'."
Stelle suddenly pulled out her phone. She still remembered the last thing Sparkle said in their chat—and she had kept the message record.
It read: "Dr. Primitive loves bananas!"
At this moment, the designated think-tank expert Dan Heng gave Stelle a quick rundown.
"Genius Society #64 Dr. Primitive—no one knows his real name, but his crimes are infamous across the cosmos. The most horrifying among them is the 'Atavism Experiment.'
Dozens of worlds he visited were mostly thriving interstellar civilizations before his arrival. After he left, those planets were left only with devolved intelligence.
Intelligences turned back into machines, Zhazka back into birds—and the most common human civilizations, without exception, fell into the same tragic state: hundreds of millions of apes wandering the ruins once called 'home.'"