Insect Plague

Acheron said nothing. She merely opened her palm.

A bullet lay quietly in her fair palm.

It looked like an ordinary bullet, yet a halo of light flowed across its casing.

The instant Boothill's electronic eye saw the bullet, its red scanning beam abruptly contracted to a pinpoint.

Even the hand gripping his gun—a modified hand made of living tissue and a metal framework—began to tremble slightly.

"This bullet... where did you get it?"

Boothill's expression turned grave as he questioned Acheron.

"A Galaxy Ranger gave it to me. He entrusted this bullet to me."

Acheron explained in an even, emotionless tone.

"Do you know what this thing represents?"

Boothill took a deep breath and stepped forward, his gun barrel nearly pressing against Acheron's forehead.

Even though she was an Emanator, he did not retreat in the slightest...

The scent of motor oil and gunpowder emanating from him made the air inside the carriage even heavier.

"I don't."

"I only promised him that I would give it to another Galaxy Rang—"

Acheron withdrew her hand and held the bullet out to him.

Boothill did not take it immediately.

Instead, he studied Acheron's expression.

In the end, Boothill sighed, lowered his pistol, and accepted the bullet from Acheron.

"So... what exactly is going on now?"

Dan Heng looked at the inexplicable handover ceremony, then at Black Swan beside him, whose expression practically said, "I'm just watching, not saying anything," before finally speaking up. "Simply put, the Watchmaker's invitation was bait. It hooked everyone in the universe looking to make a profit, watch the show, or stir up trouble. The goal was to expose Penacony's secrets to the light... Mr. Aventurine of the Interastral Peace Corporation was the one who lit the fuse. He gambled with his own 'life' and dragged out