Firefly continued to press with a thoughtful expression, "What about you? This time, will you get the death you desire?"
"As always, a blank. It's not on this planet. Why ask that suddenly?" Blade retorted.
"Because I'm currently in a car with a tired driver... I hope it arrives safely." Firefly replied softly, her gaze fixed on the rapidly receding scenery outside the window.
"HuoHuo: Little Firefly isn't very friendly~"
"HuoHuo: Can be translated as: I haven't lived enough yet, unlike you."
"Sampo: Old Sampo will popularize some knowledge for everyone. The driver's name is Blade, also a member of the Stellaron Hunters, with a bounty of 8 billion credit points. He is also a blessed one of Abundance, possessing an immortal body and being mara-struck, while constantly yearning for death—though regrettably, he cannot die."
"Star: The person in the driver's seat: overly fatigued, mara-struck, with a severe death wish, and you're sitting in the passenger seat."
"Seele: That sounds terrifying."
"Jing Yuan: ..."
"Qingque: Strange... I feel like this guy looks familiar."
"Star: Maybe you've seen him on a wanted poster."
Blade was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "This car has an autopilot. I'm just resting my hand on the steering wheel, alright?"
Hearing this, Firefly breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted, and chuckled softly, "Just kidding."
"HuoHuo: Just kidding~"
"Silver Wolf: LOL, I didn't even notice such an interesting conversation at the time."
"Firefly: Blade can't die, but if it weren't for Sam, if we really crashed at this speed, I might not..."
"Kafka: You're much livelier on missions than usual."
"Firefly: Pam angry.jpg"
After another moment of silence, she continued:
"Elio always says there is only one destiny, and no one can avoid it. He can see the future, and we... also know our own 'predetermined ending.'"
"But before that moment arrives, people can still choose to do something for themselves... We all have that right, don't we?"
Blade did not directly answer Firefly's question, but continued to speak to himself:
"After today, Yepera's name will disappear from galactic history, and Eternal Fire Mansion will take its place, receiving an invitation in the near future..."
"That will be your next stop."
"Land of Dreams, Penacony." Firefly softly murmured the place name.
"I wish you find the answer you seek there... or, liberation."
"Yanqing: General! I've found the target."
"Jing Yuan: ?"
"Seele: So, this is that... 'slave of destiny's' prophecy? To have planned everything so many years in advance..."
"Sampo: Haha, yes, and what they've done has also led to these guys having extremely high bounties."
"Seele: Is it as high as yours, Sampo? Where did you run off to? The whole of Belobog can't find you."
"Sampo: Hey, Old Sampo, I'm just leaving for a short while, I'll be back~"
The screen suddenly plunged into darkness again, then the scene shifted to a dark, deep, narrow alley. Welt stood silently by the wall, having waited for a long time.
"Star, I'm glad to see you safe and sound."
"That voice just now..." Star murmured to herself, seemingly having heard Blade and Firefly's conversation through remembrance.
Firefly spoke, "Close your eyes... This is the answer. It's incredible, isn't it? The monster we always considered 'death' is actually the guardian of the Land of Exile. It follows a specific pattern, abducting people from their beautiful dreams and bringing them here."
Welt nodded slightly in agreement, then continued, "The question we've been puzzled by before, 'Does true death exist in dreams?', now seems entirely a thought trap set by the mastermind to conceal the truth of people's disappearances, and... this fortress named Dreamscape Reef."
"Every appearance of that meme is related to the Clockmaker. Since Dreamscape Reef is its destination for abducting people, many problems that have troubled us for a long time will surely find their answers here."
Star looked at the surrounding environment and said, "The environment here feels a bit... strange."
Firefly, standing nearby, explained:
"The atmosphere here is completely different from beautiful dreams. People live very loosely, there are no managers like the Family, and their mental state is subtly dazed."
"But from the scattered words of the residents, I got a familiar name... Gallagher."
Welt frowned, "It's that man again, always appearing at every critical location at just the right time... It saves us the trouble of searching for him."
"Himeko and March 7th have already set off. Star, adjust your state, we'll depart shortly."
Star nodded in understanding. Just as Welt was about to confirm the route, Firefly quietly pulled Star aside.
"I'm so sorry." She looked at Star with an apologetic expression, her eyes shining with self-reproach, "I could only tell you everything I knew until now."
Star frowned slightly, asking with confusion, "Why didn't you reveal your true identity?"
Firefly sighed softly and slowly said, "There are two reasons. One is the 'script'—in the future Elio saw, the opposition between Sam and the Astral Express is inevitable. I tried to break the shackles of the prophecy, but I could only do this much." As she spoke, she placed her hand on her chest, seemingly in some pain.
Then, Firefly took a deep breath and continued, "Besides that... it's my selfishness. I want to travel with you as 'Firefly'... not 'Sam.'" Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible.
Star gently shook her head and comforted her, "It's okay, I don't mind."
Firefly softly said, "Thank you."
"So what exactly is Sam?"
"Do you remember the 'medical capsule' I told you about? That is 'Sam'—the Glamoth Iron Cavalry of the Skyfront, Firefly IV Strategic Assault Armor."
"March 7th: Your medical capsule is really quite 'cold'."
"Qingque: The medical capsule is great, it can even set the ocean on fire."
"Ruan Mei: Firefly, you underwent genetic modification and developed Entropic Regression, right?"
"Firefly: Yes, is there a problem?"
"Ruan Mei: I am very interested in the genetic modification technology of the GlaMer Iron Cavalry. You can come find me. Perhaps, I can try to research Entropic Regression."
"Firefly: ..."
"Ruan Mei: Perhaps you need to consider it. When you've considered it, you can come find me anytime."