Welt looked at March 7th:
"Setting aside extreme possibilities, the mastermind behind the dreamscape anomalies must stand opposed to the Family. That leaves only two possibilities..."
"Someone intends to bring in outside forces and use the opportunity to undermine the Family's control over Penacony."
"Or the Family, seeking self-preservation, has been forced to secretly ask the outside world for help."
"But judging from the cipher in the invitation and the Family's response, the former seems more likely."
Himeko nodded slightly:
"That would mean the person who sent the Nameless the cipher and the mastermind behind the dreamscape anomalies belong to the same faction..."
"They might even be the same person."
March 7th looked utterly confused:
"But... that still doesn't prove anything, does it?"
"Just in terms of methods, fools and riddle-makers could do it too. Didn't the company manage to decipher it?"
Himeko smiled faintly:
"Little March, don't be nervous."
"This is only one possibility."
"If this cipher wasn't merely a prank, but someone deliberately inviting [Trailblaze] into the game, then we have even less reason to stand by and do nothing."
Welt looked at everyone and said gravely:
"Let me share what I found. Unfortunately, it's bad news."
"According to reliable intelligence, some people have spotted a tall man in silver armor on Penacony."
"I asked the Hound Family for information and visited quite a few guests who claimed to have seen this intruder."
"...Then I received this."
"Yan Huan, I sent it to you. Open it and take a look."
"?"
Yan Huan took out his phone and opened what Welt had sent him.
It was a video, with a chibi Silver Wolf holding a little megaphone on the cover.
"Ahem, ahem. Can you hear me, Star Rail Express?"
"Long time no see. Having fun on Penacony?"
Yan