With 4 System Hours remaining until the Harmony Gala opened, aboard the Astral Express.
"How about this? Let me put a few holes in you first and see what exactly you're hiding inside. Then we can talk about trust."
The half-mechanical cowboy held a brass-colored revolver to Yomi's head.
Yomi seemed unconcerned by his threat. Her thin lips parted as she said:
"There's no need for that. I'll tell you everything you want to know, but not now... If my identity hadn't been exposed, perhaps we would have had more time. But as things stand, this is our only option."
"Our only option? What the hell do you mean, our only option?" The cowboy's mechanical finger, wrapped in a thick leather glove, remained on the revolver's trigger.
It seemed that at any moment, a silver bullet might burst from that dark barrel and blow apart her head.
But Yomi's calm composure left Bоthео at a loss.
He could tell that even at such close range, his shot would never harm this impostor masquerading as him.
"Only this way can I ensure everyone's safety." Yomi raised her eyes. Rather than explain herself further to Bоthео, she looked at the others aboard the Astral Express.
"Please have the Astral Express warp out of the Asdana System immediately."
Silence fell over the train.
Pom-Pom's large lake-blue eyes shifted between the people before it.
It could sense the gravity of the situation, and it could tell that this self-proclaimed "Aeon of the Hunt," Yomi, was not joking. Still, it asked:
"This passenger means...?"
At that moment, another uninvited guest seemed to have appeared aboard the Astral Express. His voice rang out:
"Time is tight, Conductor. Do as she says."
Pom-Pom felt like its head was about to explode.
The Astral Express welcomed every passenger,