"Yeah, the train clearly has plenty of cars. Before, each of us had a whole one to ourselves, and now that you're joining, we can open up the second residential car."
March 7th said with a smile. Aside from the engine, the first car behind it was the observation car, where the crew usually gathered to chat. The rest were residential cars. However, March 7th knew those spaces had been reserved for future companions. If they only added more cars after finding new companions, it would seem rather stingy.
As the doors to the observation car opened, March 7th stepped aboard first, then stood inside and invited Caelus and Acheron in.
"Welcome aboard the Trailblaze train. I'm sure life here won't disappoint you."
March 7th held out her hand. Caelus reached out and clasped her soft palm. Acheron followed behind him, and he took her hand with his other hand, leading her into the train with him. Dan Heng brought up the rear.
After entering the car, Caelus felt as though he had stepped into a house. Beneath his feet was a spotless, polished floor, while before him was an observation deck made up of several enormous glass panels. There were two long curved sofas in the car, enough to seat more than a dozen people, along with several individual seats and tables, perfect for sitting alone and watching the universe drift by.
"Welcome to the Star Rail Express, pa."
An androgynous voice suddenly rang out, startling Caelus. He looked around, but no one had spoken. Yet the voice sounded incredibly close.
"Who's talking? Let me tell you, don't play tricks on me. I don't believe in ghosts. I believe in science."
Caelus spoke with a stern expression. He refused to believe that he would be haunted by a ghost the moment he boarded the train. Before a ghost could scare him, he chose to scare the ghost first.
"Your existence is already far from scientific, okay? Look down."
March 7th chimed in with a timely jab, then pointed below Caelus. He lowered his head and saw a strange creature standing before him. It was about fifty centimeters tall, like a plush toy, with a Station Master's hat on its head. It looked rather odd.
"How rude, pa. How could you mistake me for a ghost, pa?"
Station Master Pom-Pom looked up at Caelus with watery eyes. He resembled a gray long-eared rabbit, his ears nearly dragging on the ground but stopping at a safe distance.
"Looking closer, you're actually pretty cute. It'd definitely be nice to hug you to sleep."
Caelus bent down and patted Pom-Pom on the head. Though his behavior was somewhat rude, Pom-Pom, as the Station Master, still forgave the new passenger.
"You'll be new crew members from now on. Here are your room cards, pa."
Pom-Pom pulled out two black cards from the brim of his hat. The numbers five and six were written on them, representing their room numbers. Each train car was spacious, but there were only four rooms, granting everyone plenty of personal space. Caelus and Acheron would need to find their rooms in the second residential car.
"Thank you, little bunny."
Caelus patted Pom-Pom's head again, then handed the room card for number six to Acheron. She accepted it and tucked it into her sleeve. That sleeve seemed like another dimension, capable of holding anything, making Caelus really want to play with it.
"Station Master, may I ask if this train can go to Penacony? Acheron wants to go there."
Once Caelus had gotten friendly with Pom-Pom, he turned serious. He had always remembered Acheron's destination. Although he really wanted to travel with her, Caelus wasn't selfish. He still wanted to help her.
Acheron glanced at Caelus when she heard that. This had originally been something she should have brought up herself, but she wasn't good at communicating and hadn't found an opening. She gladly accepted Caelus speaking for her.
"Of course it can, pa. We can go anywhere the train has been before."
Pom-Pom said proudly with his hands on his hips. He remembered every place the train had visited, so he would know a destination as soon as it was named. Once the coordinates were set, they could warp there. It was quite impressive.
"Oh..."
Caelus had just wanted to scoop Pom-Pom up and give him a good squeeze, but Himeko had already walked over, so he gave up on that thought and looked toward the woman who seemed almost motherly.
"Using warp would get us there quickly. I've heard Penacony is territory of the Harmony Family, and this is also the first time the Family has openly sent invitations to other factions."
Himeko naturally joined the conversation. Her gaze settled on Acheron with an inquisitive glint as she spoke words Caelus couldn't understand at all.
"I can provide an invitation."
Acheron answered with certainty. She understood what Himeko meant. Without an invitation, she would be an illegal entrant and could be arrested and deported. Helping her sneak in would also be a crime.
"Then there's no problem. Our Trailblaze journey has no fixed destination, so going anywhere first is the same. And, as it happens..."
The smile on Himeko's face remained gentle. She deliberately left them in suspense, drawing out her words before finally revealing the rest.
"Before you joined us, the Harmony Family had also invited us. And the Star Rail Express shares some history with Penacony."
Himeko's words surprised Caelus. He had only tried asking the train to help give someone a ride, but he hadn't expected them to share the same destination. There seemed to be an Aeon's influence behind this so-called Family as well. Before Caelus had even been born, it had sent invitations everywhere. The Star Rail Express also seemed to be a famous faction, which was why it had received one.
"Acheron, did you hear that? What a coincidence."
Caelus looked shocked after hearing Himeko's words. Penacony was actually the Star Rail Express's destination as well. If not for that, he and Acheron would probably never reach it even if they spent their lives crossing ten thousand light-years.
"Mm."
Acheron rarely smiled. She didn't like troubling others, but if they were all heading there anyway, then this ride was very welcome.
"Thousands of years ago, Penacony was still a prison. Trailblaze connected it to the Thousand Stars, and the Star Rail Express once arrived there. A group of Nameless from the train chose to remain in Penacony. For us now, it would be like returning to an old place and tracing the footsteps of our predecessors. That in itself would be an adventure."
Himeko recounted a story from the Star Rail Express's past. Other than understanding that the train beneath his feet was an antique, Caelus understood nothing else. He exchanged looks with Acheron beside him, asking if she understood.
Acheron tilted her head. A streak of white-dyed hair by her cheek swayed slightly, making her look especially lovely. Caelus nearly fell for her, but as the saying went, rabbits didn't eat grass near their burrows, and katana wielders didn't prey on fellow katana wielders. Better to look at distant Asta instead.
"We're changing course to Penacony? Think about me, the Station Master, too, pa. Changing warp coordinates takes time. You're all so willful, pa."
Hearing that they wanted to change the coordinates, Pom-Pom couldn't help complaining on the spot. March 7th went over to sweet-talk the Station Master, which really just meant hugging him and rubbing against him.
"Fine, I'll listen to you all. Changing the warp coordinates to the Penacony system."
After being tormented by March 7th, Pom-Pom came around. He waved at the passengers, then headed toward the engine to adjust the coordinates. Only he could do that; everyone else could only watch even if they wanted to help.
Caelus felt surrounded by a kindhearted family. They had only just met and become companions, yet they were willing to change their destination for him. Although Penacony had already been somewhere they intended to go, they probably hadn't planned to go so soon. His request must have moved up the schedule. He would remember this kindness well.
After Pom-Pom left, a brown-haired man with long bangs walked over to Caelus. He smiled politely, wearing the kindly expression unique to an elder.
"Himeko has already told me about you two. Welcome aboard the Star Rail Express, new passengers. I'm Welt Yang."
Welt Yang naturally welcomed Caelus and Acheron, then held out his right hand. The glasses on his nose reflected Caelus and Acheron's figures, giving him the air of a wise man skilled at thinking with his head.
"Got it. I'll call you Uncle Yang from now on."
Caelus casually shook Welt Yang's hand. Welt Yang merely smiled, not minding the old-sounding form of address. His gaze fell on Acheron, and for a moment, he seemed lost in thought.
"Being stared at like this makes me uncomfortable too."
Acheron said softly. Welt Yang immediately looked away. After adjusting his glasses, he seemed to bury his thoughts deep inside.
"My apologies, Miss Acheron. Welcome to the Star Rail Express."
Welt Yang repeated the same words, but this time he didn't shake Acheron's hand, as though something were preventing him from doing so.
"As an elder, I'll give you a gift."
Like a magician, Welt Yang flicked his right hand, and two phones appeared in his palm. They were identical in both design and internal construction.
"These are the train's dedicated communication devices. With them, you can contact your own people anytime. This also means you're one of us now."
Welt Yang explained. After accepting the phone, Caelus felt he had scored again. It wasn't as good as a Star Destroyer, but anyone who gave him a gift had to be a good person. Grinning happily, he put away his phone and handed the other to Acheron.
"Thank you, Uncle Yang."
Caelus thanked Welt Yang sincerely, then began wandering around the train car curiously. Other than the engine, every area was open to him. Naturally, he wanted to see his room.
"Acheron, let's go take a look at our rooms."
Caelus took Acheron's hand. Before she had time to object, he was already pulling her toward the rear of the train. After leaving the observation car, they entered the first residential car. Caelus counted four rooms there, which likely corresponded to the four passengers he knew.
Room one belonged to Dan Heng, room two to March 7th, room three to Himeko, and room four to Welt. Beyond that was the rear door. Caelus opened it and entered the next car without ever coming into contact with the outside. Naturally so—the Star Rail Express traveled through space. It would be ridiculous if visiting a neighbor meant stepping into a vacuum.
After reaching the new car, Caelus used his room card to open room five. He entered and carefully examined his room. From the doorway, he could immediately see the large glass window at the far end. It was probably designed for passengers to enjoy the view of space, but the privacy was worrying, so Caelus picked up the remote from the bedside table and drew the curtains over the window.
Beside the window was a large double bed, covered in white sheets and bedding. The clean whiteness made it feel comfortable. Opposite the bed was a desk in the corner. There was nothing on it, making it suitable for reading. The rest consisted of an ordinary sofa and tea table. The entire room was around fifty square meters, more than enough space for one person.
Finally, Caelus approached a conspicuous metal door in the room. After pressing the switch, the door slid aside, revealing a bathroom that wasn't large but was certainly sufficient.
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What a Coincidence
"What a great place. Though it's a little wasteful for me to sleep in a double bed alone."
Caelus carefully inspected his bedroom. As he spoke, he walked over to Acheron and looked at her earnestly. Acheron's lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but Caelus darted away in a flash.
"I'm going to ask Asta for her contact information."
Leaving those words behind, Caelus vanished from sight. While the Station Master was still preparing, he couldn't waste time here.
Acheron fell silent for a moment. After glancing in the direction Caelus had run, she returned to her own room number six and began a simple meditation.
Caelus ran all the way to the Space Station's master control zone, only to see that Asta now had a dark-skinned boy and a white puppy beside her. Their colors formed a striking contrast, and Caelus's arrival immediately caught both human and dog's attention.
"Woof woof!"
The white dog seemed interested in Caelus. After barking twice, he ran to Caelus's feet and circled around them. Caelus was full of schemes at the moment. He knew this dog must belong to Asta, and becoming friends with it would be like gaining a wingman. So he bent down, scooped up the dog, and acted as though he adored him.
"Peppy, why are you barking at him?"
Asta asked in confusion. At first, she thought her pet dog disliked Caelus, but seeing that he didn't struggle in Caelus's arms, she no longer thought so.
"Awoo."
Peppy raised his head and howled. To someone unfamiliar with advanced technology, animal language was just meaningless chatter. But for technologically advanced civilizations, translating animals wasn't difficult.
There was something called a Synesthesia Beacon. As long as one carried it, it could translate what another being wanted to express into language they could understand, making the meaning immediately clear in their mind. It was practically standard equipment for advanced civilizations. In this age of the universe, countless people traveled between stars every day, and alien languages came in every imaginable variety. Naturally, no one could learn them all. That was why members of the Genius Society had created this device for communicating with any race without barriers. It was an incredibly convenient invention.
"He says I look friendly and he wants to be friends with me."
Caelus naturally had a Synesthesia Beacon. It was part of the default setup his aunt had given him; he had been born with it. So he could easily understand what Peppy meant.
Asta could understand what Peppy was thinking too. She merely gave Caelus a strange look and said nothing more.
"Dog bro, help me win Asta over. Once I make it big, I'll split the world with you."
Holding Peppy, Caelus turned his back to Asta and whispered secretly. Peppy also wore a Synesthesia Beacon. Upon hearing this, his gaze instantly sharpened, then gradually became comical.
"Woof."
Peppy barked once, roughly meaning, Leave it to your brother. That made Caelus a little curious. Logically, a dog's intelligence shouldn't match a human's, but he felt this dog was about as smart as an ordinary person.
"Everything's going according to plan."
Caelus made a twisted expression, the corner of his mouth curling all the way toward his nose. Only then did he turn around and look at Asta with a solemn expression.
"Finished with work? Let's talk about our future together."
"What is there for the two of us to talk about?"
Asta said with a smile. She normally didn't interact with strangers, but Caelus's identity was special, and Herta valued him. That was why this little rich girl thought chatting with him might yield something.
"Of course there is. Grandma Herta has already approved our marriage."
Caelus said, patting his chest. Asta's reaction was calm, but the dark-skinned boy beside her wore a stunned expression, looking as though he were starting to doubt life itself.
"You mean Madam Herta wants to marry me to you?"
The smile on Asta's face remained mild. She had seen plenty in life. Leaving aside the Anti-Matter Legion's attack on the Space Station, she had been born into such a distinguished family that she had weathered great storms since childhood.
"You don't seem surprised at all?" Caelus asked in confusion.
"Mm. Madam Herta seems like the kind of person who would make that decision, yet she also isn't. She's decisive, but she wouldn't force others to do things they don't want to do. At the very least, she would ask me first."
Asta explained why she wasn't surprised. Although Herta was a hands-off boss, she had always treated Asta well. She didn't use her merely as a tool, so naturally she wouldn't casually decide Asta's marriage.
"You're so smart. Just as expected from a girl I like. Grandma approved our future."
Caelus gave Asta a thumbs-up, then explained further. Honestly, his starting point was far higher than that of ordinary people. Other people could at most interact with Asta over work, but because Herta backed him, he could use many excuses to get close to Asta. It was all thanks to Grandma's influence.
"She said that once I win you over, she'll handle your family behind you. You can just marry me without worries."
"You're that sure you can win me over?"
Asta looked at Caelus curiously. Even she didn't know what kind of man she would like. Her mind was filled with work, and she had never considered dating anyone. Wasn't the difficulty sky-high?
"What else would happen? We're a talented man and a beautiful woman, made for each other. Anyone who opposes us being together is a monster."
Caelus nodded with absolute certainty. The dark-skinned boy, who had just wanted to object, looked as though he had swallowed a fly. Caelus's preemptive strike was truly vicious; he had directly sealed the mouths of all opponents.
"You've only been alive for so long, and you're already thinking about chasing girls? Who taught you that?"
Asta said with a smile. After learning Caelus's background, she found this Stellaron interesting. He had only just been born—did he even know what liking someone meant? Rather than a pervert, he seemed more like an ignorant child.
"Who... My aunt!"
Caelus paused. No one had really taught him about these things. He simply wanted to pursue pretty girls, and pursuing them to the end meant marriage, didn't it? Thinking carefully, it had to be Silver Wolf's fault.
"Then your aunt really isn't a good person," Asta remarked.
"That's true. There are enough wanted posters of her to wrap around this whole Space Station."
Asta couldn't even be bothered to complain anymore. Caelus's mother and aunt were both thieves. If—she meant if there was even a one-in-ten-thousand chance—she actually got together with Caelus, wouldn't that mean recognizing two thieves as elders? Absolutely not.
"Uncle Yang gave me a phone. I want to exchange contact information with you, so we can chat while I'm on the train."
Caelus took out his phone. Seeing that he had explained his purpose, Asta realized he had specifically run back from the train for this. All she could say was that he was rather thoughtful.
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