Star Rail, Single Draw Acheron at the Start

"Caelus, I thought you'd keep those women around."

Acheron spoke on the way back. Upon hearing this, Caelus almost twisted his ankle and then looked at her resentfully.

"What do you take me for, a pervert?"

"Aren't you?"

"Of course not! While I might be a bit of a lecher, I have my principles. Those people were raised by Afleet. Their father was killed by you. Any normal person would want revenge, right? Someone with a bit of brains would thank you for sparing them, then lie low and stab you in the back at the most unexpected moment. You want me to gamble my safety, and Asta's safety, on an enemy's thoughts? I'm no gambler."

Caelus said earnestly. He wasn't afraid of retaliation, but Asta managed such a large space station. How could she not be afraid of bad guys retaliating? Even for Asta's sake, he had to cut the weeds and remove the roots to sleep soundly.

A faint smile appeared on Acheron's face. While she wouldn't say anything if Caelus had let those people go, it was comforting that he thought things through before acting. Since they had already made enemies, it was best to finish them all off without holding back.

"Besides, Constance might be a bit attractive, but there are plenty of beautiful women out there. Isn't my Mei beautiful? They aren't even comparable. You are the most beautiful woman in my heart."

Caelus held Acheron's hand and spent the rest of the time praising her. Not only was she beautiful, but she was also incredibly strong, capable of letting him roam the galaxy with impunity. Could any other woman do that?

Acheron felt a bit uncomfortable being praised by Caelus, mainly because his words were too mushy. Fortunately, they were close to their destination. She quickly walked out of the spatial rift and appeared inside the space station with Caelus.

"I'm going to tell Asta the good news."

After returning, Caelus ran into the infirmary. Asta was still resting there. She was a bit surprised to see Caelus return.

"Where did you go?"

Asta asked, puzzled. She was bored in the infirmary, unable to do anything the doctors told her not to. All she could do was sleep. Only chatting with Caelus could distract her.

"I went to get revenge on the Grand Duke of Fiery Nether," Caelus said with a serious expression.

"Ah?"

Asta's expression suddenly became very interesting. She stared blankly at Caelus. She had indeed thought about retaliating against the Eternal Fire Manor. Her family was a shareholder of the Interastral Peace Corporation. If they couldn't handle such a matter, they shouldn't be shareholders. She hadn't expected Caelus to act first and return so quickly.

"He bullied you so much, could I stand by? I went straight to his lair and took care of his whole family."

Caelus said righteously and then started telling Asta a story. However, he replaced Acheron with himself as the protagonist, turning it into a story where he fought the Grand Duke of Fiery Nether for five hundred rounds with his katana before finally killing him.

"That amazing, just as I expected from you, Caelus. My investment paid off."

Asta nodded. She didn't suspect Caelus was trying to cheer her up. Asta was willing to believe anything he said he could do. Who could doubt someone who had risked their life to save them? Moreover, what Caelus said matched Asta's understanding of the Destruction's madness, especially their dialogue, which perfectly fit Asta's impression of a madman.

"I went through so much trouble to get revenge for you, won't you give me a kiss as a reward?"

After saying that, Caelus leaned his face close to Asta's, trying to find an opening. He felt he deserved credit for his actions. If he did something and said nothing, wouldn't it be for naught?

"It wasn't me who asked you to go."

Asta pushed Caelus's face away with her hand. Even though there was soot from the burns on his face, the station master didn't fall for it. She had decided not to date Caelus for now, and that was that.

"Then let's hold hands. Holding your hand makes me feel at ease."

Caelus extended both his hands. This time, Asta didn't refuse and placed her palm into his. Caelus held Asta's fair and smooth palms with both of his hands, caressing her palms and fingers, holding them preciously.

Asta's cheeks visibly flushed. No matter how much she denied it, their relationship had become intimate enough for them to hold hands casually. They were beyond friends but not yet lovers. She didn't want to date, but she didn't object to Caelus pursuing her either. Occasionally, she would respond with shy maidenly blushes, which made Caelus very satisfied. He felt like he was playing a simulation game, nurturing a rich girl into an even richer one, securing his future.

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PS, I've been busy lately, so updates are quite late. My apologies (:∠)

Chapter 38: Entering the Dream

"Asta, get some good rest. I've dealt with the bad guy, so you and the space station are safe."

Caelus placed Asta's hand back under the covers and then gently touched her forehead, wanting her to have a peaceful sleep.

"Are you leaving?"

Asta looked at Caelus with her bright eyes. She had indeed worried about retaliation from the Grand Duke of Fiery Nether, but Caelus had resolved her worries. At least she wouldn't be thinking about it when she slept.

"Yes, I have to go back to Penacony. I wish I could take you with me."

Caelus nodded. Asta wasn't very interested in Penacony. Otherwise, with her status, she would definitely have received an invitation. She preferred staying on the space station and watching the stars.

"Then have fun. Tell me your stories when you get back."

Asta said with a smile. Caelus nodded and left the infirmary. Soon after, he returned carrying Peppy. He placed Peppy on the sickbed, letting it accompany Asta in his place.

"Brother Dog, I'm leaving Asta in your care."

Caelus stroked Peppy's fluffy head. Peppy nodded intelligently and even raised its paw. Caelus raised his hand and touched its paw, their brotherhood evident.

"If you're brothers with Caelus, won't our seniority get messed up if we're together in the future?"

After Caelus left, Asta poked Peppy's head with her finger and chuckled. Caelus was just outrageous, becoming sworn brothers with a dog for no reason, without considering how seniority would work out in the future.

"Woof!"

Peppy barked, meaning they would each have their own way of addressing each other. Caelus called it Brother Dog, and it called Caelus Master. Wasn't that enough?

"You're being corrupted by Caelus. You're not allowed to play with him anymore."

Asta said, suppressing her laughter as she pinched Peppy's cheeks with both hands. With the space station's crisis resolved, her mood had also become much more relaxed. She secretly took a selfie with her phone and sent it to Caelus. She didn't usually wear patient gowns like this.

Caelus and Acheron returned to the vicinity of the Realm Anchor. As passengers of the Star Rail Express, he could activate this anchor at any time, while others could only watch helplessly. After activating the anchor, a trail of pioneering light enveloped them, and in the next moment, they were back in the carriage of the Star Rail Express.

"How did things go, Pam?"

Pom-Pom asked as soon as Caelus returned, seemingly already very familiar with the use of the Realm Anchor.

"I'm done! This feature is so convenient, Station Master. Next time, install one on my Belobog too."

Caelus happily picked Pom-Pom up. The Station Master was truly useful; no wonder March 7th liked it so much. Caelus would have to rely on it if he wanted to get intimate with his wives in the future.

"I can't do anything about you. If you bring back special products from Penacony when you return to Penacony, then I'll agree to it, Pom."

Pom-Pom seemed accustomed to being held. It didn't refuse Caelus's request, as it could create Anchors anytime anyway.

"No problem. As everyone knows, I'm so poor I only have money left."

Caelus patted his chest and promised. March 7th would also bring back souvenirs for Pom-Pom, but little March had limited pocket money. Caelus was different; he could buy one of everything he saw and would never disappoint Pom-Pom.

After bidding farewell to Pom-Pom, Caelus and Acheron left the Star Rail Express and returned to the Daydream Hotel in Penacony. The receptionist was still Elara. Caelus actually felt uneasy at this moment. It had been difficult enough for him to check in using Dan Heng's identity before; Acheron had just committed murder and robbery. Would she even be allowed to stay here?

"Your invitation is in order, and the keepsake is also in order. Here is your room card. Please keep it safe."

After Elara took a look at the invitation and the music box, she handed the special Penacony room card to Acheron without saying a word. Caelus's eyes widened. It was the first time he felt he was being treated unfairly.

"How could this be?"

Caelus couldn't figure it out. Acheron also didn't know the reason. She only knew that she could come and stay if she had the invitation. The room and guest issues were not within her consideration.

Since almost all the buildings here looked identical, Acheron's tendency to get lost reached its peak. If Caelus hadn't held her hand to find the room, she would have definitely walked into someone else's room.

The design of the doors in the Daydream Hotel was very peculiar. This place was originally a prison, but the door frames had now been modified to resemble keyholes. The main door was a wooden plank blocking the keyhole, which looked quite distinctive.

Acheron opened the room with the room card. Unlike traditional hotels, even after renovation, the internal space had not expanded. Therefore, the luxurious suite did not have a kitchen, bathroom, private cinema, or master and guest bedrooms. The first thing they saw upon entering was a large, pearl-colored shell that looked like a bed. However, the shell was filled with liquid. To the left of the room was a sofa, and to the right were a television and a record player. Apart from these, everything else was visible at a glance.

"What a strange place," Caelus commented. Anyone who entered for the first time without knowing the situation would definitely be confused. However, unlike Caelus, who was born with a golden star core, other tourists visiting Penacony had spent half their lives, or even more, of their savings to get a ticket. They had already memorized all the guides before coming here.

"I have traveled all over the universe for many years, and this is the first time I've seen a room like this," Acheron also stated. At first glance, there wasn't even a place to sleep in this room. The most peculiar thing was actually the liquid inside the shell.

Before coming to Penacony, Pom-Pom had mentioned Memory Matter and the many problems of this star system. However, a genius had combined these problems and turned waste into treasure, creating what was now called the Dream Pool.

As long as a person lay in the shell, immersing most of their body in the liquid, they would fall asleep and begin to dream. In the dream, they would experience the true grand world of Penacony. Everyone's dreams were connected. The dream world was a magnificent metropolis of Penacony, where people could only experience one thing: joyful revelry. They didn't need to think about anything or worry about anything. The dream world would bring guests an unforgettable experience, and there were countless people who were unwilling to wake up from their dreams.

That's why Robin had told them to have sweet dreams when she bid farewell to Caelus earlier. There was no possibility of having nightmares in Penacony.

Caelus took out his dream handbook and began to read it. Acheron did the same. The two of them roughly understood what the Dream Pool was. Theoretically, this thing could only be used by one person.

Chapter 39: Doesn't Seem Like a Good Person

"I don't trust you. Let's use it together," Caelus said, reaching out to hold Acheron's hand. He couldn't leave her at this moment, or they might not be able to meet in the dream. Given the splendor of the dream world, he didn't know how he would find Acheron if she got lost.

"Mhm."

Acheron responded. She knew Caelus wouldn't leave her. Since Caelus cared about her so much and always chose to be with her, although she didn't say it, her heart was already entirely devoted to him.

"There are those who possess the will and conviction to die for a cause, yet do not intend to use it for righteous purposes. And on Mr. Aventurine's face, I saw a familiar expression."

Acheron suddenly spoke. Caelus was stunned, realizing she was warning him not to trust Aventurine.

"If one carries a sword, they must use it to cut something down. And a gambler, before losing everything, will always go all-in and bet it all."

Acheron continued to look at Caelus, her words emphasizing Aventurine's dangerousness. If Acheron had previously suggested that Aventurine might be a con artist, then now he was practically a madman.

"I understand. You're saying Aventurine isn't a good person, right? It's okay. I have you by my side. If he dares to cause trouble, I'll cut him."

Caelus nodded. Of course, he unconditionally trusted his girlfriend. As he spoke, he hugged Acheron and kissed her firmly on the cheek.

"Mhm."

A faint smile appeared on Acheron's face. She liked feeling cared for by Caelus. She was also happy to accept his kisses. Their feelings were rapidly heating up through their experiences, though they hadn't explicitly confessed their affection for each other yet.

Meanwhile, in another room, which should have belonged to Caelus, Aventurine stood motionless, his smile becoming somewhat stiff. He glanced at his pocket watch, wondering where the Stellarons had gone.

Caelus and Acheron walked into the Dream Pool together. He had initially said he would go in naked, but Acheron picked up the dream handbook and flipped to a page, handing it to Caelus. Caelus's expression changed dramatically when he saw it. It stated that if one entered the dream naked, they would also be naked in the dream, running around the streets nude. He had almost become a pervert.

The Dream Pool was designed to be entered with clothes on. Upon entering, their clothes and shoes were disinfected and cleaned, so there was no risk of dirtying the water and turning into a pickled vegetable.

After entering the Dream Pool, sleepiness overcame Caelus. Just as he was about to complain that the sleeping pills must be very popular, his consciousness sank into slumber. Acheron was the same. Their heads leaned against each other as they gradually drifted off to sleep.

When Caelus regained consciousness, he found himself falling, as if from a hundred-meter height. The world below gradually became clearer. It was an incredibly magnificent city, gilded splendor not even describing one percent of it. The streets were filled with pedestrians of various races, and countless luxury cars sped by. The people who came here seemed to be all cosmic celebrities, dressed in opulent clothes, throwing Credits around like waste paper. Caelus watched from above, suddenly feeling like he understood the true meaning of "living a life of debauchery."

Then Caelus realized a problem: he didn't seem to have wings. How was he supposed to land?

"Man!!!"

As the Penacony Plaza drew closer, Caelus only had time to shout before crashing heavily into the ground, landing in a curled-up, side-lying position, his fate unknown.

"Are you alright?"

A gentle voice, warm like a hot spring, woke Caelus. He patted the dust off his clothes and sat up, seeing Robin standing beside him, looking at him with concern.

"As soon as I wake up, I see the woman I've been longing for. Is this a dream?"

Caelus stared blankly at Robin. He had just been thinking about the little bird, and now they had met so soon.

"This is indeed a dream. Welcome to Penacony."

Robin didn't get angry at Caelus's slightly offensive words, as he was clearly dazed from the fall. But even without the fall, Caelus would have behaved this way.

"It's you guys. What a coincidence?"

After Caelus got up from the ground, he saw the siblings Robin and Sunday. It was quite a coincidence; he'd just landed face-first somewhere and managed to run into these two important figures.

"We were discussing concert matters here, and we didn't expect you to fall from the sky."

Robin said with a smile. Caelus thought about it; he seemed to recall March 7th mentioning that before the Grand Gala began, Robin would hold a concert in the dreamscape for her fans.

"Is it like this for other guests entering the dreamscape?"

Caelus asked, a bit confused. Although he wasn't injured, the process was still quite peculiar. Caelus could fly using the power of the Stellaron, but when he tried earlier, he found he couldn't mobilize his strength. This might be related to certain rules.

"It's normal to experience this when you first arrive. It's like someone learning to swim for the first time; they often sink because they can't quite adapt to buoyancy. But once your body gets used to the water flow, you'll be able to float freely on the surface."

Sunday said, spreading his palms. The white gloves on his hands were spotless. Caelus wondered what would happen if he dripped some ink on them.

"The beautiful dreams of Penacony are essentially worlds made of Memory Matter. Only by grasping its nature can you move freely within it."

Robin added. The two of them cooperated, explaining the rules of the dreamscape.

"So that's how it is. Thanks, Uncle... Brother Sunday."

Caelus nodded. He was about to thank his brother-in-law, but Sunday suddenly exuded a killing intent, so Caelus obediently changed his address.

"Please enjoy the dream paradise that the Family has prepared for everyone. We'll take our leave now. Have a pleasant time."

Robin said with a smile. She wasn't some naive little princess; of course, she could tell Caelus was interested in her and was constantly testing her brother's limits. The situation was actually quite amusing. Robin didn't mind such blatant pursuit, as she couldn't control others' feelings. What she hated were people who were polite on the surface, praised her beauty and grace, but secretly wanted to get their hands on her.

"Having you here makes me happy."

Caelus said with a chuckle. Sunday finally couldn't help but glare at him. Caelus, with his hands behind his head, whistled nonchalantly, acting as if he wasn't afraid of his brother-in-law. Pursuing his future wife from her brother, who was a siscon, was a near-death experience, but Caelus wouldn't retreat.

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Chapter 40: Sweating Bullets, Aren't You?

After Robin and Sunday left, Caelus patted his pockets and found that his phone had been brought into the dreamscape. He even received a message from March 7th.

Ice-elemental beauty: So cool, you can send messages in dreams too!

Ice-elemental beauty: Did you arrive?