"Uncle Yang, are you ready?"
"Coming, coming!" Welt stretched his somewhat stiff body and opened the door.
Originally, he hadn't planned to attend this Belobog festival, but after experiencing that bizarre exposure of his dark history, Welt felt he needed some light and cheerful atmosphere to help him forget those unpleasant memories.
Speaking of which, that strange space had vanished like a dream, leaving no trace. Since they left that haunted place, they couldn't find any clues about it.
During these three days, they had inquired with many forces friendly to the train crew, but the conclusion was always complete uncertainty.
This was troublesome...
However, Welt wasn't the type to obsess over something without leads to the point of losing sleep. Since he had decided to attend the festival, he might as well temporarily forget everything and fully immerse himself in the celebration.
Pushing up his glasses, Welt looked at the three waiting at the door and made a gesture to depart.
"Yay! Festival, here we come~" March 7th held up her camera and took a group photo of the four before they headed directly to Belobog.
"Ah~ It's been a while, Belobog!" Setting foot on this familiar land again, March 7th stretched lazily, feeling somewhat nostalgic.
"Come to think of it, so much has happened lately."
First, they were hijacked by Stellaron Hunters on their way to Penacony, then encountered the Destruction Sovereign in the Xianzhou. Just when they finally had time to relax and attend a festival, they were taken to that strange space.
"This... must be the fate of pioneers."
March 7th pretended to be profound, lowering her head and deliberately pushing up her non-existent glasses.
This was a small acting technique she learned from that viewing session. If it weren't for being unaccustomed to wearing glasses, she would have gotten herself a pair.
"March... ah, never mind. Do as you please." Looking at March 7th like this, Welt helplessly rubbed his temples.
"It's fine, Uncle Yang! To be honest, that world bubble version of you was really cool!" Stelle patted Welt's shoulder and said consolingly.
After returning from that space that day, Welt had already explained the situation to everyone, and of course, no one disbelieved him.
This was natural - compared to some inexplicable space, everyone was more willing to trust their daily companions.
"No, this isn't about being cool... it's another level of... embarrassment."
Welt was self-aware. After all, just because of these glasses, Tesla had criticized him countless times.
But coolness was a feeling, and men remain young at heart until death. Just like how he would still excitedly call out upon seeing an Arahato, despite being nearly a hundred years old.
However, self-entertainment was one thing, having someone show it off was another matter entirely...
Fortunately, March 7th's attention was easily diverted, so once she got over this phase, things should be fine... probably.
"By the way, how do people living in the snow celebrate festivals?" March 7th, who hadn't noticed the discussion behind her, came back from her thoughts and asked curiously.
"Don't know, but there must be good food!" Looking at the lively March 7th before them, Stella and Welt exchanged smiles before answering.
Thus, everyone walked cheerfully through the snowfield, adding a touch of vitality to this desolate wilderness.
Until a dark figure appeared before the group, breaking this pleasant atmosphere.
"Stelle, Dan Heng, am I remembering wrong? That person standing over there doesn't seem to be wearing a Silvermane Guard uniform."
"No, March, you're not wrong. That should be someone from the IPC." Dan Heng, who had been silent all along, stepped forward to shield everyone.
He actually hadn't wanted to come at first either. After saying goodbye to Jingliu and the others, Dan Heng had planned to stay on the train to quietly adjust his state.
But ever since that Gap of Destiny appeared, he had a constant uneasy premonition, especially after March almost got into trouble then.
These past few days, he kept thinking about what he would do if something really happened to Stella, March, Himeko, Uncle Yang, and the others.
Whenever he thought about this, he would feel a suffocating fear.
"Yingyue, you cannot escape your past." That woman's words kept echoing in his ears, making Dan Heng unable to let go.
"Why would IPC people suddenly come to Jarilo-VI?" Welt stepped forward, intending to investigate, but before they could get close, the words of the person before them reached their ears first.
"Boss, I've found a group of strangers here. Should we eliminate them?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, an emerald spear was already pressed against his neck.
"Say that again."
Dan Heng's eyes were filled with anger. This guy had immediately hit his trigger point repeatedly - the only reason he didn't strike instantly was out of respect for the company.
"You... what are you doing? I'm an IPC employee! Are you challenging the company's authority?" The man seemed frightened and threatened somewhat shakily.
"You're not worthy." Dan Heng kicked him to the ground, his tone growing increasingly cold.
"D-Dan Heng, calm down!" March 7th looked at the somewhat unfamiliar Dan Heng and said with a panicked face.
"Nice kick! Let me take a swing too!" Stella, watching from the side, waved her glowing bat and walked toward the trembling company employee with a fierce grin.
"Stella, you too... oh whatever, this young lady will join in too!" Seeing the situation out of control, March 7th simply dropped her act. Even beautiful girls have their temper, okay?
This guy immediately talked about elimination - clearly someone who abused the company's name to bully others. Running into their righteous train crew today was karma.
"Everyone, please-"
Just as Stelle was about to swing her bat, a girl with red highlights quickly arrived before everyone.
Glancing at the fallen employee, she paused slightly before introducing herself.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Topaz, an investment specialist from the Interastral Peace Corporation. I'm here in Jarilo-VI to discuss special business."
"This colleague of mine... isn't very good at communication. Please don't take it to heart."
Topaz wore a professional smile, her neither humble nor arrogant attitude leaving no room for criticism.
"Ms. Topaz, I don't believe your company employee's statement was merely poor communication." Welt, supporting himself with the Star of Eden in its cane form, also adopted a negotiating stance.
As Anti-Entropy's Sovereign, he was quite experienced in negotiations.
Although this was an accident, it was a good opportunity to sell the company a favor.
The train and the company were on good terms; neither side would tear apart their relationship over a small conflict.
Obviously, Topaz, as an elite from the Strategic Investment Department, understood this principle.
"You must be Mr. Yang from the [Nameless], right? It's a pleasure to meet you. I actually witnessed your strength firsthand in a certain mysterious place recently - what a coincidence."
"Mysterious place... you mean..." Welt's expression tensed. There was only one possibility for such a description.
"Fellow Nameless members, I happen to have an investment opportunity here. Are you interested?"