Sylvia arrived at the platform where the train was docked.
The fully restored train looked spectacular, its entire surface gleaming as if it had just been professionally polished and waxed.
Sylvia pulled out her phone, snapped a picture, and sent it to Acheron. Along with it, she attached a few photos of the train back when it was still a broken, dilapidated wreck.
[Sylvia: [Image] [Image] [Image]]
[Sylvia: Distinguished guest, congratulations! You have been chosen by the new Navigator of the Astral Express to become this very train's first passenger.]
[Sylvia: [Clapping Hands]]
[Acheron: ?]
[Acheron: Is that... the damaged train? Why does it look like it was chewed on by the Swarm?]
[Sylvia: Pretty good guess. How did you know I snatched it back from a bunch of bugs?]
[Acheron: ...]
[Acheron: Where is the Swarm? Are you hurt?]
[Acheron: Sneaking off on another adventure without telling me again?]
" Wait... is that what you're focusing on?"
Sylvia let out a helpless, bitter laugh.
I'm showing you our train and formally inviting you to be my very first passenger. And this is how you react?!
[Sylvia: ...Is now really the time to discuss that? Look at the train!]
[Acheron: I see it. But you are more important than the train. Whether you drive a train or a starship, I will always be your passenger.]
[Acheron: But I do not want you constantly running into danger. The horror of the Swarm is far beyond your imagination.]
[Acheron: Acting like this makes me truly want to keep you by my side, never letting you out of my sight.]
[Sylvia: ...]
[Sylvia: What's with the total yandere speech?]
Far out in the depths of space, Acheron couldn't help but chuckle at Sylvia's playful exasperation. Having spent so much time together, she knew exactly what Sylvia meant by that term.
Not that Acheron minded... she didn't exactly consider herself a normal person anyway.
After all, someone who had crawled their way out of IX the Nihility to become what she was now could hardly be called ordinary.
Then again, Sylvia was probably the only one who viewed her as a normal person. If anyone else found out about her true identity, they would either be deeply on guard, terrified, or driven by a dangerous curiosity.
No one would ever treat her like a regular human being. Treating her like a perfectly normal, beautiful young woman—the way Sylvia did—was a first.
Though she would never admit it aloud, Acheron thoroughly enjoyed their dynamic.
Lowering her head, Acheron typed out a reply:
[Acheron: First, tell me what you have been up to lately.]
[Sylvia: Alright, alright. Let me call you instead.]
A lot had happened recently—not too much, but certainly not a little either. It was much easier to just tell Acheron directly over a call; typing everything out would take forever.
Sylvia walked into the train cars, which were still undergoing interior renovations. The researchers repairing the train had all gone on break, waiting for the next shipment of materials before continuing the installation. The train was completely empty.
The moment Acheron's video projection materialized, Sylvia immediately noticed something strange. Why wasn't the background behind Acheron the usual wilderness?
"Mei, where... exactly are you?"
"Within the territory of the Annihilation Gang. It used to be the domain of the Jepella Brotherhood, but now it belongs to the Ever-Flame Mansion."
"Huh??? Why on earth did you run off over there??"
Sylvia froze.
Hold on, buddy. Isn't it a bit too early for this? Why did you rush over to the Ever-Flame Mansion already? Don't tell me you're planning to cut down Duke Inferno? The guy hasn't even crossed you yet.
"When I passed through a certain star system earlier, I learned that the Annihilation Gang had also received an invitation to Penacony. And that invitation happens to be held by the Ever-Flame Mansion."
Acheron casually brought it up, making it sound no different than mentioning a neighbor having a fancy new tool.
"And so?"
"And so, I came. The Ever-Flame Mansion seized the Jepella Brotherhood's territory, burning, killing, and plundering. Since I happen to be a Galaxy Ranger, it is entirely reasonable for me to demand an invitation from them, is it not?"
A rare, subtly triumphant smile graced Acheron's face.
If she was going to act under the guise of a Galaxy Ranger, she might as well do the things a Galaxy Ranger would do.
The Annihilation Gang were hardly saints to begin with, and under the leadership of Duke Inferno, the Ever-Flame Mansion had barely done a single good deed.
A passing Galaxy Ranger picking a fight with them made perfect sense.
Sure, it makes total sense, but is that really the issue here?!
Sylvia couldn't hold it back anymore and aggressively called her out:
"Hey, sister, you were just lecturing me about being reckless, and yet you're currently on your way to stir up trouble yourself?"
But Mei shook her head with absolute seriousness.
"I am not being reckless. The Ever-Flame Mansion lacks an Emanator-level combatant. To me, they are little different from a band of ordinary thieves, and they are far weaker than the Swarm."
In Mei's eyes, a Swarm that feared neither death nor numbers posed a far greater threat.
Since Sylvia's strength didn't match her own, Sylvia was taking a risk. She, on the other hand, was merely executing a standard operation.
Sylvia was left completely speechless.
Oh no, Mei found a loophole. No way, I have to double down and win this argument!
"Setting the facts aside, you didn't even notify me before going to pick a fight with the Annihilation Gang! As far as I'm concerned, you are taking a risk."
"..."
Mei didn't offer a rebuttal. Instead, she looked at Sylvia and smiled.
It wasn't the first time, but Sylvia was always incredibly endearing whenever she stubbornly refused to back down.
In moments like this, if someone were to playfully cover her mouth, Sylvia would deliberately puff out her cheeks, staring wide-eyed in silent condemnation.
And if you were just a little more assertive, gently pinning her down to tease her a bit, you could release her only after her face flushed completely crimson.
Then, you'd get to listen to her bashful, timid grumbling. And after that...
Mei forcibly reined in her racing thoughts. Thinking any further would take things into completely inappropriate territory.
It was a shame they were on opposite sides of a screen right now, rather than face-to-face.
"What is that look in your eyes..."
Mei's gaze was entirely devoid of concealment, prompting Sylvia to instinctively pull her collar tighter.
That look was like a hungry wolf—she was practically stripping her naked with her eyes.
You wouldn't even have to ask to know that this girl's mind was currently filled with things that absolutely couldn't be broadcasted.
"It is nothing."
A faint blush crept onto Mei's cheeks as she averted her gaze.
Even though they had already been intimate and this wasn't the first time she had looked at her that way, being called out by Sylvia in a public setting still made her feel a bit self-conscious.
"Ha, like I'd believe you..."
If they were back at home, Sylvia would definitely be standing on the moral high ground, lecturing Mei up and down. But since she was currently at the Space Station, she decided to exercise some restraint.
"By the way, why don't you send me your coordinates? This train will be completely fixed by tomorrow. When are you planning to make your move?"
The Astral Express's ability to pull off a silver rail warp was in a league of its own. If the distance wasn't too massive, she might even be able to catch a glimpse of Acheron in action.
And while she was at it, she could see what the deal was with the Ever-Flame Mansion. Surely Acheron wasn't actually about to single-handedly tear the entire place apart, right?
--+--
T/N: If you want advance chapters, you can find it at [email protected]/AspenTL