Caelus's greatest blessing for Firefly was this sentence. Saying goodbye wasn't enough to express how much he cared for her; only this felt just right.
Firefly nodded gently. She wanted to live too. She had been reluctant to die before, and after forming a bond with Caelus, she was even more unwilling to leave. The two smiled at each other, then held hands as they left the secret hideout and returned the way they had come to the Dreaming Border.
After passing through the special passage, Caelus returned to the Golden Hour dreamscape. After saying goodbye to Firefly on the street, he took out his phone before she had even gone far and found Robin in his friend list.
Robin's profile picture was a wing, though not one of her own. It was hand-drawn, beautiful at a glance, with her elegance fully on display.
Galaxy Youth: Robin, come hang out.
Caelus had no intention of acting like an outsider. Starting with "Are you there?" was loser behavior. He could just state his purpose and wait for a reply.
Robin was playing with her phone in a private dressing room when she suddenly froze at the overly familiar message. Only when she opened the chat and saw the contact name did she remember that she had added Caelus as a friend before.
Robin: I'm rehearsing for a concert right now. I don't have any spare time.
Galaxy Youth: Time is like water in a sponge. You know the rest.
Robin: Hard to squeeze out.
Robin couldn't directly say she didn't want to go out to an honored guest of the Family, so naturally, she had to make an excuse to politely decline. Usually, anyone with sense would have given up by this point, but even a Stellaron couldn't blast through Caelus's thick skin. Why would he be afraid of this?
Galaxy Youth: I have a question. Why is your username this?
Caelus smoothly changed the subject. Robin's appearance, temperament, and voice were all flawless, but that username looked a little bizarre. It sharply contrasted with the impression she gave people.
Robin: Because so many fans shout "Robin's moment of charm" whenever I sing. I thought it was a little long, so I abbreviated it.
Galaxy Youth: So that's why. You really are very charming.
Galaxy Youth: video.mp4
Caelus sent over the short video he had filmed with Firefly. Robin politely accepted it and watched it, a faint smile appearing on her lips. She was an actress too, so of course she could tell what Caelus was doing.
Galaxy Youth: How was my acting?
Robin: Pretty good. What happened next?
Galaxy Youth: If you want to know what happened next, tune in next time.
Galaxy Youth: So, are you interested in coming out now?
Robin: Hard to say.
Robin's reply had already changed. Caelus naturally knew that a little video couldn't change her mind, but it had shaken her resolve. Of course, he needed to add more fuel.
Galaxy Youth: video.mp4
This time, the video Caelus sent wasn't one he had filmed himself. It was Grand Duke of Fiery Nether's final playback, set in the Eternal Fire Manor. At the time, the Grand Duke of Fiery Nether had been nearly beaten to death, yet it still left behind a stirring speech.
What would catch Robin's attention, of course, was Grand Duke of Fiery Nether's invitation to Penacony, as well as its later declaration that it intended to use the invitation to come to Penacony and turn this place into a fiery hell.
Robin's expression gradually turned serious. Though Caelus hadn't said anything, his question was already clear: What was the Family trying to do? Why would they send an invitation to someone so dangerous? If it really came, how would they protect their guests' safety?
Watch closely, Clockwork Trick
Galaxy Youth: Do you have time now?
Robin: If I go out, I'll definitely have to report it. If you can get past my brother first.
Robin stopped making excuses. She knew she had to accept this open scheme. Otherwise, if Caelus released that video, the Family's reputation would be ruined. But she also knew he wouldn't do that. In truth, he had come for an answer.
Galaxy Youth: Send me your location. I'll be right there.
Caelus easily got Robin's location. He casually hailed a taxi on the street, hopped in, and had the driver take him to the theater where Robin was. This wasn't Penacony Grand Theater, but a concert venue Robin used to give back to her fans.
"Stop! Unauthorized personnel are—ugh, hahahaha!"
A Family member at the entrance reached out to stop Caelus, but Caelus used Clockwork Trick on him with a backhand gesture, making him burst into laughter. He no longer had the strength to stop Caelus.
After that, Caelus entered the theater without obstruction. Along the way, he left behind Family members who were either crying, laughing, or renouncing worldly desires, and successfully arrived at Robin's lounge.
When Caelus opened the door and entered the lounge, Robin had only just finished getting ready. She looked at him in surprise. She had informed the Family members that a guest would be visiting, but she also knew there would be plenty of obstacles along the way. For him to arrive so quickly could only mean he was truly capable.
"So soon?"
Robin asked in confusion, seemingly wanting to know how Caelus had managed it. Caelus also looked Robin over. She was dressed completely differently from before. She wasn't wearing a formal gown now, but a beige women's long coat that concealed her lovely figure. She also wore a baseball cap, and her long blue hair had been altered from long locks into shoulder-length hair.
The most eye-catching feature was still the little wings behind Robin's ears. They had originally been casually spread open, but now they were deliberately folded and hidden between her neck and hair. Most people wouldn't notice the pair of wings without looking carefully. She had also prepared a mask and sunglasses, making her look exactly like a criminal suspect.
"The thought of seeing you made me fly here. Your outfit is interesting, though."
Caelus said with a smile. A woman as beautiful as Robin looked good no matter how she dressed, and his eyes were practically glued to her.
"It's a little troublesome for me to go out."
Robin said with a smile. That was the inconvenience of being a major star. If she went out with her original appearance, fans would surround her after only a few steps.
"I understand, Cosmic Superstar." Caelus gave her a thumbs-up.
"Don't say that. I'm only an ordinary singer."
Robin shook her head. She wasn't being modest. Only by maintaining that original heart could she keep singing. If she saw herself as a super celebrity, perhaps she would no longer be able to sing songs like that.
"True, being an ordinary singer is better. That way, the distance between us is smaller."
Caelus said cheerfully. He didn't care what identity Robin had. This would only make it easier for him to grow closer to her. What wasn't to like?
"Brother."
Robin suddenly called out. Caelus turned around and saw the tall Sunday standing at the door, looking him over with icy eyes. Even without Clockwork Trick, he could feel Uncle's fury.
"Oh, isn't this Mr. Sunday? Hello, hello. What wind blew you here?"
Caelus chose to face his fear head-on. He stepped forward, grabbed Sunday's gloved right hand, and shook it as he spoke. He made it sound as if he were the host here and Sunday had come as a guest, causing Sunday's anger to surge. Caelus could see it rise with his own eyes because Clockwork Trick was already active.
"Why are you in my sister's room?"
Sunday asked in a low voice. This was the last shred of dignity he had as the head of the Family. He couldn't openly tear things apart and fight Caelus, but he was already close to his limit.
"We were naturally getting ready to go out and have fun. This dreamscape is so wonderful; we can't just stay in the room all the time, can we?"
Caelus replied with a perfectly serious expression.
"I will take my sister out."
"Fine, actually, I came here to file a complaint. There's a guy named Doctor Edward who takes advantage of customers because his shop has power. That's a store managed by your Family, right?"
"My spirit has suffered an enormous blow. I won't recover without Robin's singing. While we're at it, I planned to take her to see that shady shop. This is a guest's request. That's reasonable, right?"
Caelus immediately changed strategies, then began using his fingers to move Sunday's emotional pointer. He had originally wanted to push it toward happiness, but the pointer wouldn't budge. So he could only switch directions and force the anger toward calm. It was incredibly difficult, but he managed to move it over.
"That's right."
Robin stood beside Caelus and spoke as well. Her words became the last straw that crushed Sunday's state of mind. He looked at his sister in confusion, completely unable to understand what was so appealing about this Caelus brat that his sister was willing to leave with him.
Caelus watched as Sunday's emotions visibly turned sad and gloomy. But happiness could be transferred, and at that moment, Caelus smiled.
"Since Robin has said so, go and come back quickly."
Sunday sighed and moved away from the doorway. The instant Caelus stepped out, he waved at Robin inside as if he would lose his chance to escape if he didn't run now. Robin followed him out, and the two vanished from Sunday's sight together.
Sunday's lips twitched as every curse word he had ever learned ran through his mind. Then he raised both hands and slammed them hard against the wall. He couldn't understand it. Why had his perfectly good sister become like this? Why was his precious cabbage being rooted around by a pig? He had raised that cabbage so painstakingly. She was still so pure and innocent—she would definitely be fooled around by men.
After thinking for a moment, Sunday directly took off his costly Patriarch Set and changed into ordinary clothes. He used a hood to cover his halo and wings, then rushed out of the theater and stealthily followed behind Caelus and Robin. Now he felt much more at ease.
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Playing Games with the Little Bird
Sunday hadn't come out alone. He had brought along two Family guards, and when they left, he gave the two men a special instruction.
"If I can't help myself and rush out, you two are responsible for holding me down."
Sunday said through gritted teeth. He knew his own temperament. Seeing his sister strolling around with a man made him want to kill someone, but he also knew his sister wouldn't like him doing anything impulsive. He could only rely on outside help.
The two fierce-looking Family guards exchanged glances, then nodded. They were good at fighting, but they really weren't confident about restraining the head of the Family.
By then, Caelus and Robin had already arrived on the streets of Golden Hour. Robin's disguise kept anyone from recognizing her, while Caelus walked beside her with a delighted smile across his face.
"This is a wonderful dream world. How beautiful... Time forever remains in this Moment of Gold, a golden dream. The fools of the tavern and the Memokeepers of the Garden, wandering rangers and Company envoys, Robin... and me."
Caelus gazed at the streets that seemed paved in gold and sighed. Robin heard the deeper meaning in his words and gleaned quite a bit of information from them.
"For you to feel that way, you must have truly experienced the beauty of this dreamscape. I didn't expect you to be such a romantic person."
Robin said with a smile. However, her smile was hidden by her mask, and even her eyes were impossible to see clearly behind the sunglasses. Caelus found that quite regrettable.
"Yes, I'm a Dream Expert. I'm guessing you don't come here often."
Caelus had been in the dreamscape for less than a few hours, yet he still dared to say that. Firefly had taken him around earlier, so naturally, he had the confidence.
"I am busy, that's true, but this is your first time here too, isn't it?"
Robin knew Caelus was talking nonsense as soon as she heard it. He had come to the Penacony Hotel with an invitation, so how could he possibly visit this place often? In Robin's eyes, though, Caelus was simply someone with far too many tricks up his sleeve.
"Robin, someone over there says he likes you."
Instead of answering, Caelus patted Robin's shoulder and gestured for her to look to the side.
"Where?"
Robin asked in surprise. There were very few people who could recognize her in this outfit, much less confess their feelings for her on the street. She looked in the direction Caelus pointed, only to find nothing there but a wall.
Caelus walked over and stopped in front of the wall. Then he spread his hands toward Robin as if asking for a hug.
"Pfft, hehe."
The moment Robin saw what Caelus was doing, she understood. She couldn't stop herself from laughing. It was her first time encountering such a cheesy pickup line. Because it was so corny, it felt fresh instead. No one usually dared pursue her like this.
Robin was an exceptionally clever girl. How could she not understand Caelus's intentions? He wanted to say that he liked her, but that would be too abrupt and might have the opposite effect. So he used a small trick, letting a nonexistent person say it for him. That completely avoided any awkwardness. Robin had never dated before, but she was already sure that Caelus was an expert at flirting with girls.
"You look beautiful when you smile." Caelus praised her without holding back.
"How can you see it through the mask?" Robin asked skeptically.
"I have X-ray vision."
"That's a Hippolyte Alien ability, isn't it?"
"Hey, then what do those people do when they attend your concerts?"
"They use special light and shadow effects to cover their bodies."
"Aliens really are amazing."
Caelus and Robin continued down the street, stopping to look whenever they passed an interesting display window. Robin seemed to have forgotten why she had been invited out. She didn't mention Grand Duke of Fiery Nether at all, as if she had become immersed in the dreamscape.
"Patriarch, calm down!"
At a street corner not far away, two guards tightly held Sunday by the shoulders and waist, even covering his mouth with their hands. Sunday was about to grind his back teeth to pieces. Of course, he couldn't accept someone using cheesy pickup lines on his sister, much less watching his sister chat and laugh with Caelus. His heart was about to shatter just like his teeth.
After walking for some time, Caelus brought Robin into a restaurant. It was the very place Firefly had brought him to before. Caelus only knew this one restaurant, and since there was something to discuss, they naturally had to sit down and talk.
"The food here is delicious. Order whatever you want."
After Caelus and Robin took their seats, he picked up the menu and handed it to her. This wasn't Robin's first time here; naturally, she could experience the Family's dreamscape whenever she wanted. Still, she was now doing something that resembled a date with Caelus.
Robin quickly ordered a few desserts, though she didn't order an Oak Cake Roll. Seeing that, Caelus ordered one himself, as a way of commemorating Firefly bringing him here.
"All right, you've finished ordering. Now let's discuss who's paying."
Caelus played with a decoration on the table. It was a Clock Boy figurine. It was obvious that the kid was indeed a major star, though no one else could see him.
"You invited me out. Shouldn't you be the one paying?"
Robin had been staring at the Clock Boy figurine. Upon hearing Caelus's question, she looked at him and asked with some confusion.
"Of course not. Equality between men and women."
"Then shall we split the bill?"
"That seems like you'd be getting the short end of the stick. How about this? Let's play a game. We stare at each other, and whoever blinks first loses. The loser pays."
Caelus proposed a game, appropriately stirring Robin's competitive spirit. It would be best if she agreed, but even if she didn't, he had other methods.
"Okay."
Robin thought about it. She had never played a game like this before, and Caelus wasn't bad-looking either, so she agreed with the mindset of simply playing a game. There was nothing else to do while they waited anyway.
She gently raised a hand to remove her sunglasses and place them on the table. Then she tugged her mask down to her chin by its edge. It still hung from her ears rather than coming off completely. Robin briefly revealed her face in this way. Perhaps out of professional habit, she rested her elbows on the table, cupped her cheeks in both hands, and looked at Caelus with a faint smile.
"Wait, wait a second. My heartbeat is out of control. You're so beautiful."
Caelus clutched his chest and waved a hand at Robin. He wasn't pretending. Robin's charm really was too powerful. It wasn't some so-called idol aura; she herself was simply that beautiful, at least ten thousand times more beautiful than she looked on television.
Robin didn't urge Caelus. Instead, she waited for him to catch his breath. Caelus leaned closer and met Robin's emerald eyes. Her eyes seemed to contain the pattern of stars, but at that moment, they reflected Caelus's face even more clearly.
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