Star Rail, Single Draw Acheron at the Start

Acheron didn't seem to mind, and walked straight towards the carriage ahead. Caelus quickly figured it out: since his relationship with Acheron was so good, why bother caring whose room it was? They could even sleep together every day without any issue.

Upon entering the lounge car, Pom-Pom had already prepared breakfast for the day. It had to be said, having such a Station Master was truly a blessing for the Nameless. No wonder March 7th liked Pom-Pom so much, and Caelus was growing to like it more and more as well.

Himeko turned on the radio. Although it seemed a bit unusual to see such a device in this universe dominated by high technology, its function was quite good, allowing them to receive broadcasts from the entire galaxy.

[The Planet of Festivities, Penacony, has announced that it will invite the renowned singer, Miss Robin, to perform at the Grand Symphony.]

"Oh, Miss Robin is coming," March 7th couldn't help but exclaim upon hearing the news. Caelus chimed in after hearing it.

"That name sounds familiar."

"She's that big star. She's probably a household name on planets with less advanced civilizations," March 7th said. As a girl who chased fashion, listening to music was essential. She often wore headphones in her room, so she was naturally familiar with Robin's singing.

"Ah, I remember now! I saw her advertisement yesterday. So, we'll be able to see her in person in Penacony," Caelus said, patting his head. He was a little surprised that the big star he had casually mentioned wanting to marry yesterday was actually invited. What a coincidence.

"Yeah, what's up?" March 7th asked.

"It would be great if she could be my wife."

"Dream on."

"Hey, why are you being so rude?" Caelus looked at March 7th displeasantly. It was normal for him to have expectations for the future, yet she was pouring cold water on his hopes.

"I'm just stating facts. Look at yourself. What kind of man can a big star like her not find? Why would she want you?"

"Am I not handsome enough?"

"You're good-looking, but your personality is terrible. A big star can find any kind of man. Why would she want to be your little wife?" March 7th never attacked Caelus's appearance because he was indeed good-looking. The problem was his terrible demeanor. He chased after any pretty woman he saw, wanting them to be his wife. A big star would never suffer such indignity.

"Well, if I try hard enough, there might be a way," Caelus really couldn't refute March 7th on this point. If Robin refused to associate with him because he already had a wife, then there was nothing he could do. He couldn't exactly tie her up and bring her home, could he? That would require a rather elaborate birdcage.

Time passed, and Caelus's time on the train was far from boring. When he was free, he played games with Silver Wolf and Samo. When he wasn't playing games, he was being affectionate with Acheron, taking care of her as if she were his wife. Otherwise, he would tease March 7th, visiting her room more often than the pantry, treating it as his own home.

After waiting for about 60 system hours, the Star Rail Express smoothly docked. After getting their exclusive parking spot, everyone disembarked and took the elevator to the hotel above. This was Penacony's most famous grand hotel – the Daydream Hotel.

PS: Please collect, recommend, and vote for monthly tickets.

PS: Some people asked if Bronya and the others had recovered their memories. There aren't that many twists and turns; these are all implied. This is just connecting to the prequel.

Chapter 26: My Wife's Colleague

"The Family's entry procedures are too troublesome. They've searched my luggage four or five times. I suspect they wanted to dig out the Stellaron inside you for inspection."

By the time March 7th arrived at the hotel lobby with the red carpet, she looked much thinner, at least in terms of her mental state. She felt like she had gone through more than the raw meat inspected at the store.

"Hmph, if they dared to dig it out, I'd scare them to death," Caelus said proudly, hands on his hips. It was indeed the truth. It was a grand celebration, with so many cosmic celebrities attending. If they found out a Stellaron had infiltrated, they would surely cry loudly.

"That doesn't sound like a good thing. What a shame. Dan Heng doesn't like crowded places, yet he voluntarily gave you his room. This isn't like a brotherly relationship; it's more like paternal love..." March 7th complained. Then, she looked up at the circular hotel floors before them. There were about a dozen floors, each with hundreds of rooms. This wasn't due to the vastness of the floors, but because the rooms were very tightly spaced. This fit the prison setting perfectly. Prison cells were only so big, and it felt like they had paid money to be imprisoned.

As Caelus and March 7th were chatting, a male server with light blue curly hair approached them. His left eye was covered by his hair, while his right eye was lively. He spoke to Caelus with a friendly expression.

"Hello, my name is Misha. I'm a server here in Penacony. If you need any help with your luggage, feel free to ask me."

Server Misha said kindly to Caelus and March 7th. Judging by his uniform, which matched the hotel's colors, he was indeed a waiter.

"Okay, thank you," March 7th replied politely. She didn't actually need such service, as her luggage was stored in a device with storage space. Misha smiled upon hearing this and then went to attend to other guests.

March 7th looked around and noticed that Welt and Himeko, who had arrived earlier, were already checking in at the front desk. So, she quickly hurried over, pulling Caelus along with her.

"Caelus, hurry up and go to the front desk."

As Caelus was being pulled along, he didn't forget to pull Acheron, who was beside him, as well. She had been looking around since they arrived. Caelus was afraid she would get lost. With so many rooms that looked identical, if she went to the wrong one, it would be hard to find her again.

"Miss Elara, please check our registration. We are passengers from the Star Rail Express."

Welt was negotiating with the receptionist. Elara was a young woman wearing glasses. She looked honest and had a good attitude.

"Okay, I see your registration in the system, yes. However, the registered number of people is four: Mr. Welt, Miss Himeko, Miss March 7th, and Mr. Dan Heng. The number of people who have arrived doesn't match, and the names are different too."

Elara said hesitantly to Welt. As a junior server, she couldn't afford to offend the Star Rail Express, but she also didn't dare to break the rules. A stalemate had ensued.

"It's like this, Dan Heng couldn't make it this time due to some matters. Could you allow this child to take his room? As for the extra person..."

Welt said in a pleading tone. Although his status was not ordinary, he was still very polite to this junior server, speaking in a gentle tone. As he spoke, he glanced at Acheron.

"The two of us can share a room."

Caelus shook Acheron's hand, indicating that their relationship was very close, so close that they could sleep in the same bed.

"It's not about the room; I don't have the authority to make such exchanges."

Elara said with some difficulty, "Actually, any hotel can handle this kind of minor room change, but the hotels in Penacony can't. The rules are so strict because they're afraid someone might try to cause trouble. The Grand Reverie is the most important celebration, so they guard it as closely as they would against thieves."

"Ah Quan, where's your invitation?"

Caelus pulled Acheron aside and whispered to her. The invitation wasn't really important; she had gotten in without one. The main issue was that the invitation was linked to a registered room at the hotel. If she had it, she wouldn't be wasting time here.

"I haven't picked it up yet,"

Acheron said calmly, as if she could retrieve it at any moment. Caelus scratched his head, feeling stuck.

"Everyone from the Star Rail Express, please don't make it difficult for them."

A voice abruptly interjected. Caelus turned to look at the speaker, his first glance falling upon a pair of purple eyes. There was something indescribable about these eyes, very much in an alien style. The outer iris was purple, the inner iris was blue, and the center was a deep black. The person's appearance was human; only these eyes were unusual.

"We encountered some issues during check-in, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you. May I ask who this gentleman is?"

Welt and Himeko exchanged a look and spoke. They both felt that the person who had arrived was not simple. Judging by his aura alone, he was no ordinary individual. However, in Penacony nowadays, you could throw a stone and hit a king somewhere. Meeting someone simple would be strange.

"Forgive my presumption, I am Aventurine, from the Strategic Investment Department. I'm the expert in liquidating non-performing assets under Diamond. I was invited here by the Clock Keeper. I am also a tourist who has been waiting behind you for a long time."

Aventurine was a man who appeared somewhat frivolous, and his speech was highly persuasive. His last sentence, for instance, garnered the support of many people behind them. Because Caelus's check-in process was stalled, others couldn't check in either, and a long queue had formed.

Facing this pincer attack from front and back, Welt and Himeko felt that things were not looking good, so Himeko prepared to act.

"Strategic Investment Department? You're my wife's colleague!"

Caelus suddenly pointed at Aventurine and said. Then, to Aventurine's bewildered expression, he stepped up to him and patted the shoulder of this "Stoneheart Ten Master."

Chapter 27: The Little Bird Who Stole Hearts

"May I ask who your wife is?"

Aventurine's train of thought was truly interrupted. He was rarely thrown off track by something so unexpected. His carefully planned speech was put aside, and he looked at Caelus quizzically.

"Topaz, you must know her, right? Is she here?"

As Caelus spoke, he looked around, eagerly anticipating seeing her stunning figure. He genuinely liked Topaz and had long wanted to take her home as his wife.

"No, no, when did Topaz get married? How come I don't know?"

Aventurine's expression gradually turned astonished. Topaz was indeed his colleague. The fact that Caelus knew Topaz's name meant he probably wasn't just making things up. But was it possible? It wasn't completely impossible; it was just that Caelus was talking nonsense.

"What if your relationship is just that bad?"

Caelus said confidently, as if Topaz were truly his wife. Aventurine raised his hand to cover his head and began to think.

"This... we have some differences in commercial opinions, but it's not to the point where she wouldn't tell me if she got married, is it?"

Aventurine said with a wry smile. He genuinely couldn't be sure of Topaz's personality. Whether that woman would tell him if she got married was indeed a question. Caelus had now cornered him.

"Do you remember that time she went to Jarilo-VI to collect bad debts?"

"I remember. I spoke with her."

"It was then. We fell in love at first sight, pledged ourselves to each other in secret..."

Caelus began to bombard Aventurine with four-character idioms describing mutual affection. The more Aventurine listened, the more his head ached. He really didn't want to know how Caelus had fallen for Topaz.

"You have no evidence for what you're saying, and I can't possibly tell you where Topaz is just because of your words," Aventurine said helplessly.

"As Topaz's colleague, if you see your colleague's husband in trouble, wouldn't you help? What if it's true? If Topaz finds out you stood by and watched, she definitely won't give you a good look."

Caelus said righteously. He was skilled at moral blackmail, and Aventurine, being a person with morals, was indeed blackmailed.

"What you're saying makes a lot of sense. I'm not sure how I can help you?"

Aventurine thought about it and decided to help Caelus. He was a man who enjoyed a gamble, and this time he was betting that Caelus really did have a connection with Topaz. His luck had never failed him.

"The company's influence spans the universe, so its words carry weight. We hope to leverage your status to provide a guarantee for these two individuals."

Himeko saw that the time was right and offered her suggestion. The Star Rail Express alone might not be enough to change the rules, but with the Interastral Peace Corporation, it would be different, especially since the latter had sponsored the Grand Reverie.

"This is quite interesting. What can these friends offer me in return?"

Aventurine nodded and began to negotiate for his own benefit. Since he was being asked to help, he naturally expected compensation. As for Topaz's share, he would just assume it existed.

"That's a topic worth discussing further. As guests of the Clock Keeper, why don't we first take our seats in Penacony and then take our time getting to know each other?"

Himeko smiled. Her voice was equally captivating. She and Aventurine were at an impasse, neither revealing the benefits, but everything hinted at the unknown.

"I particularly like the second half of what you said! Friends, yes, there's nothing more precious than friends, especially trailblazers as upright as the Nameless."

Aventurine smiled and agreed with Himeko. His gaze fell on Caelus, and as he looked, he happened to catch sight of Acheron, who was standing behind Caelus eating a white peach. At that moment, his pupils trembled for about ten frames, but his smile remained unchanged.

March 7th felt that Aventurine spoke very well and was about to put her hands on her hips to show her appreciation, but seeing Caelus already doing so, she couldn't help but pat his arm.

"I have an appointment with Mr. Sunday of the Family. I can ask him to handle this matter later. Don't worry, I won't make Miss Elara have a difficult time."

Aventurine explained where his help would come from. This was quite reasonable; he wasn't gambling the company's reputation but was calling upon a high-ranking hotel official, someone who could change the rules.

"Thank you for waiting, Mr. Aventurine."

A harmonious voice came from behind. Caelus felt like he was experiencing déjà vu. Every time, people would interrupt as they were talking, just like that intrusive monster during a hunt.

When Caelus turned his head, his gaze was as if drawn by a magnet, falling upon a girl in a purple and white dress. She was incredibly lovely and beautiful, with emerald-green eyes that seemed to speak. What was unforgettable were the pair of bird wings behind her ears and a floating halo above her head, adorned with three small flowers. These striking features instantly captivated Caelus.

"Speak of the devil, look who's here—Sunday, the most handsome man in Penacony. And the universe-renowned singer—Robin."

Aventurine smiled and waved hello. He was referring to the person accompanying Robin, but Caelus paid no attention to what that person looked like, his eyes entirely focused on the beautiful Miss Robin.

"You're Robin? Isn't Robin supposed to have black hair?"

Caelus interjected at an inopportune moment. The Robin before him had light blue, slightly purple hair, completely different from what Caelus had seen in advertisements, which was why he asked out of curiosity.

This disrupted Aventurine's prepared speech. He didn't even know how to process Caelus's question. If only Caelus said something more normal, Aventurine could have responded. Why did Caelus not know what Robin originally looked like, yet still dared to approach and speak first?

Hearing this, Robin's emerald green eyes fell on Caelus. She had met plenty of people who tried to strike up a conversation, but this was the first time someone had approached her with such a remark.

"Heh, sir, you must have seen my lip gloss commercial, right? I only dyed my hair that color for the ad, and then I dyed it back."

Robin chuckled softly, explaining to Caelus in a gentle voice. She didn't seem like the renowned interstellar superstar at all; her demeanor was very approachable. Caelus felt as though his heart had just been stolen by her, and he needed to find a way to get it back.

PS, please collect, recommend, and vote monthly.

PS, Topaz's story is also recorded in chapter 158 of the prequel (:∠)

Star Rail: The First Encounter with the Lost Acheron

Chapter 28: You're the Songstress, Right?

"Everyone from the Star Rail Express, please come this way to rest for a bit."

Robin gestured an invitation. The people from the Star Rail Express knew it was rude to continue occupying others' seats and chatting, so they followed Robin to the hotel lobby's lounge area and continued their conversation in the seating area surrounded by sofas.

"Um, excuse me, are... no, are you perhaps..."

March 7th was practically out of her body. She wanted to greet Robin, but felt there was too great a gap between them, so her words got stuck. This was a real galactic superstar, alive! It was unavoidable that she would stammer.

"You're the songstress, right?"

Caelus butted in from the side. Upon hearing this, March 7th no longer stammered and immediately looked at Caelus with a meaningful gaze. Aventurine covered his face with his hand, and Sunday, standing beside Robin, his eyes gradually grew cold. Although human emotions were complex, at this moment, they all shared the same thought: Is that something a person would say?

"Is 'To Protect a Heart from Sorrow' one of your works?"

With Caelus's interruption, March 7th's stammer disappeared. She looked at Robin with sparkling eyes and said, "How famous is this song? It's probably sold on planets that have made contact with interstellar civilizations. She's not called a galactic superstar for nothing."

"I didn't expect such a cute young lady to be my fan too."

Robin said with a smile. Her words were gentle and amiable, completely lacking the arrogance of a big star. Even though Caelus had said something nonsensical, she just laughed it off.