Clang—
With a crisp, loud bang, Welt Yang's tablet fell to the metal floor.
What did he call me?
Captain!
This title, long buried by him, was now uttered casually by a fellow traveler whose identity was a mystery, in a familiar tone that made his soul tremble.
In that instant, Welt felt as if he wasn't facing Phainon.
But an old enemy returned from the Sea of Quanta.
He slowly straightened his body, his gaze behind his glasses dark and unreadable, with only Phainon's reflection clearly visible on the cold glass.
The air seemed to solidify.
Welt gripped the cane in his hand, the core at theirhead rotating.
The atmosphere in the observation car plummeted to freezing point.
"Phainon…"
Welt Yang's voice was terrifyingly low, "Or, should I call you… Kevin Khaslana?
No wonder you possess such strength. Tell me, what is your purpose for boarding the Astral Express? And what do you mean by our 'same goal'!"
[Collected Joy: 1]
The numbers flickering on the system panel clearly entered Phainon's eyes.
He ignored Welt's PTSD, instead developing a strong interest in this new source of power.
So… this is "Joy"?
Then this Old Yang, who was constantly tense and bore the name of the world, wasn't he just a… walking, renewable, endless Joy-producing machine?
A brilliant idea sprouted in Phainon's mind.
Beneath the mask, a slight smile played on his lips.
He met Welt Yang's chilling gaze, his tone still steady, without a ripple.
"khaslana…? No… I am not him."
Phainon shook his head slightly, his voice carrying a hint of just the right amount of confusion and weariness.
"I am just a… lost acquaintance."
He paused, his ice-blue pupils, through the mask's slit, precisely locked onto Welt Yang's eyes.
"Just looking for the way home. Speaking of which, Mr. Welt…"
Phainon's voice dropped even lower, yet it clearly and distinctly entered Welt's ears.
"The Star of Eden… is it still working well for you?"
The Star of Eden?!
These four words, like a clap of thunder, exploded in Welt Yang's mind!
If "Leader" was just a coincidence.
Then "The Star of Eden" was undeniable proof!
Coupled with a voice identical to Kevin's, that deepness, that heaviness of bearing everything… all the clues stacked together, leaving only one truth!
He is Kevin Kaslana!
"I don't care what you intend to do…"
Welt's cane struck the ground heavily, "You should be prepared to be torn apart by gravity."
[Collect Joy: 5]
[Collect Joy: 10]
Phainon watched the numbers on the panel wildly fluctuate, not expecting Old Yang to be on the verge of breaking down already.
That's enough, too much is as bad as too little.
After all, sustainable development is the hard truth.
Just at this tense moment.
"Uncle Yang! Phainon! What are you two doing?"
The car door suddenly pushed open, and March 7thwalked in, holding a glass of orange juice.
She took a big sip, her curious gaze sweeping back and forth between Welt and Phainon.
"Wow, the atmosphere is so scary, are you two going to fight? Aren't you afraid of making the Conductor angry and throwing you both off the Astral Express?"
The cold light beneath Welt Yang's glasses receded.
He took a deep breath, returning to his usual patriarch image.
He didn't want to reveal the heaviness of his past in front of the children.
"Nothing, March."
"Really?"
March 7th approached Phainon, standing on her tiptoes, scrutinizing him like a detective, as if trying to discern something from the mask's slit.
"Oh~ I know! Phainon, did you do something to upset Uncle Yang?"
Phainon calmly shook his head, "Absolutely… not."
He then looked at March 7th, his voice steady and certain.
"Why are you back?"
The topic was abruptly changed, and March 7thinstantly forgot her previous question. She shook the juice glass in her hand and replied proudly: "Oh, Sister Himeko asked me to call you, saying Ms. Herta wants to see you."
Phainon asked in return: "Why didn't she use a phone?"
March 7th gave him a look that said, "Do you think I'm an idiot?"
"Where would you get a phone?"
"Seems… that's true."
"Let's go, let's go!"
The next moment, March 7th, without any guard, grabbed Phainon's hand and pulled him out of the Astral Express.
The moment the car door closed, Welt Yang slowly sat back on the sofa.
He picked up the tablet from the floor, and in his mind, the face of Kevin Kaslana beneath the mask was already clearly outlined.
The strongest warrior of the previous civilization, bearing the mark of a Deliverer.
In his eyes, there was only the resolute determination to sacrifice everything for the survival of humanity, a suffocating sadness.
But upon closer thought, Phainon was somewhat different… Undeniably, what he bore was equally heavy, but beneath that heaviness, there was more of a madness, a frenzy… and even a faint, almost imperceptible joy.
"Phainon, who exactly are you?"
—
At the same time.
Phainon was walking side by side with March 7th in the Space Station's corridor.
Recalling Old Yang's expression just now, for some reason, Phainon found it amusing.
A very soft laugh escaped from beneath the mask.
"Heh heh…"
"Huh? What are you laughing at?" March 7th tilted her head and looked at him, "But your laughter now is much… more normal than when you were slaughtering the Voidranger in the Space Station."
Phainon's laughter abruptly stopped.
March 7th belatedly covered her mouth, "Ah, sorry, sorry! I didn't mean it!"
"It's fine."
Phainon's voice was devoid of emotion, "I don't… care at all."
He immediately changed the subject, "Where is Stelle?"
"I knew you cared about her the most!" March 7thpointed ahead, "Let's go, you'll see her soon."
Soon.
March 7th led Phainon to a platform in the Master Control Zone.
Himeko, Stelle, and Ms. Herta's puppet were all there.
"Sister Himeko, I've brought him~"
Everyone looked towards the sound, their gazes falling on Phainon.
Ms. Herta's puppet's lively eyes scanned Phainon up and down, "You are Phainon? The one who abused the Voidranger, slew the Doomsday Beast, and then even dared to swing a sword at an Aeon?"
However, Phainon seemed not to hear, completely ignoring this member of the Genius Society.
He walked directly to Stelle's side, his eyes, through the mask, revealing a concern he himself hadn't noticed.
"Are you alright?"
Stelle stared at him blankly.
This man, who had shielded her from a fatal blow with his back, his voice now showed no trace of madness, only calmness.
She didn't know how to respond for a moment.
"Hey?"
Completely ignored, Ms. Herta's puppet showed no annoyance, but instead became more interested.
She crossed her arms and continued with amusement: "I forgot to introduce myself, I am Herta."
"Along with the little one over there, would you like to join my research?"