"Shares?"
Upon learning the person before her wasn't Mikhail, Himeko's attitude noticeably cooled. Without the filter of being an Express senior, this man was just a greedy capitalist.
And a capitalist coveting Mikhail's inheritance, no less.
So, Himeko had little patience for him. "Since the Astral Express was reactivated, we haven't received any so-called shares."
"That's because I altered part of the transfer contract," Mick said candidly. "After Mikhail's death, I tried to modify the contract before it reached the corporation, but the other meddlesome incarnations caught me. With no choice, I had to delay things and come up with another plan."
"By my calculations, that time is about now, these past couple of days. So, I need to find the Nameless of the Astral Express—that's you. I want you to voluntarily give up the transferred shares and return them to me."
Mick gently swirled his wine glass. "That's the main reason I invited you here."
"Oh, and by the way, I've known about your companion's situation for a while. If you cooperate nicely, I can bring her back before she's stuck in Penacony forever. Otherwise…"
Mick didn't finish, but the implied threat was clear.
Himeko paused. "…Pardon my bluntness, but I'm curious about something: if I refuse your request, what will you do?"
"Me?" Mick smiled. "Miss Himeko, I hear your Express crew is like family. You wouldn't want to lose a companion, would you?"
"Even if you don't agree, I can just take you down and negotiate with the other Nameless. You're all on my turf—none of you can escape."
Boom! Boom!
As he spoke, two massive figures landed behind Himeko—Capitalist Bird and Clockie, Mick's most capable underlings.
The icy room suddenly filled with tension, the air crackling as if a fight could break out any second.
"…Hmph, you're probably one of Senior Mikhail's negative incarnations, aren't you?"
Himeko slowly stood, her golden eyes radiating a calm before the storm. "I'm sorry, Mr. Mick, but I refuse your request."
"The wishes of a Nameless senior will not be altered on my watch."
"But there's one thing you got wrong."
Mick snorted. "What's that?"
"You said, 'You wouldn't want to lose a companion,' right?" Himeko cracked her wrists, completely ignoring the two massive figures closing in behind her.
"What's wrong with that?"
Mick smirked dismissively as Clockie's fan-like hand reached for Himeko's shoulder.
"The problem is, that line should be mine."
Himeko said, "Mr. Mick, you wouldn't want my companions to go missing on your watch, would you?"
Whoosh—
Her fair fist sliced through the air with a sharp whistle. Ignoring the enemies behind her, Himeko aimed straight for Mick, targeting the leader first!
Bang!
Unexpectedly, when her fist struck Mick, his body warped like rubber, caving in strangely. The next moment, it recoiled, sending him flying far away—
"Hahahahaha! This is my escape route, Miss Himeko!"
Mick laughed wildly in midair. "I observed your abilities during the trials. You're just brute strength! For someone like you who only relies on force, I have a hundred ways to deal with you!"
"Big' bold! How dare you attack my master?"
Clockie roared in fury, its muscles bulging as it swung a fist with all its might. "You don't know the difference in power, yet you dare challenge me, Clockie?"
"You don't even have a one-in-a-million chance of winning! Take my Clockwork Fang!"
Bang!
The punch was lightning-fast, too quick for even Himeko to react. It landed squarely on her.
Crack—
The terrifying force shattered the floor beneath Himeko into dust, mixing with the room's icy mist, obscuring her figure…
"Hmph, no matter who you are, as long as you're human, this punch is enough to send you to Dreamflux Reef!" Clockie sneered. "Once you're there, the power of [Order] will teach you a lesson… huh?"
As the dust settled, Himeko stood unscathed, the only sign of damage being her loosened red hair.
Her hair flowed freely, her presence heroic, her golden eyes gazing down like a queen. A searing heat began radiating from her, countering the room's chill.
"Nani?!"
Clockie's eyes widened, clutching its head dramatically. "That punch could crush any carbon-based lifeform! How are you completely fine?"
"Because there's smoke," Himeko said.
She reached toward her chest. "You are enemies of [Trailblaze]."
"I will melt you all down!"
Whoosh—
As if responding to her words, brilliant flames erupted from her body. She gripped a sword hilt, and a crimson greatsword slowly emerged from her chest…
This was Himeko's true power as the Navigator of the Astral Express.
She hadn't used this move before because its power was too great, guaranteed to cause countless casualties. But in a dream, she had no such reservations.
"With this blazing fire, nothing remains uncut!"
Himeko took a deep breath, spinning her greatsword at high speed. She transformed into a flaming tornado, its sharp blade aura slicing everything in its path in two!
"Such… such immense power!"
Clockie stared in shock, its instincts screaming that without its trump card, next year's today would be its first memorial anniversary.
"Bird!"
Clockie reached out to Capitalist Bird. "We have to use that move!"
Capitalist Bird: "What? Which move?"
Clockie: "That move! The ultimate combo only we can pull off! Think about it—what else could defeat a monster like her?"
Capitalist Bird thought for a moment, then had a realization. "I got it! Son, come!"
"Bird, come!"
"Son—"
"Bird—"
"Come!!"
Amid their shouts, both executed a forward somersault, their bodies colliding in midair, bursting into a dazzling light. Their voices overlapped:
"Combo Ultimate—"
"Hidden Back Energy!"