"It seems he doesn't really intend to imprison us. If it's just a question-and-answer game, it wouldn't hurt to play along," Himeko said first. "Back to the question itself, I personally would choose to build a birdcage for Little Melodi-Dove. There's no particular reason; I just feel that every fledgling has the right to fly... but if it doesn't live to see that day, then it's pointless to even talk about it."
"I think if we set aside this inherent definition, I would prefer to build a birdcage," Yan Bai stated. Although he cannot tolerate the path of " Order," he believes that building a birdcage is indeed the most beneficial way for birds to survive in the present day.
"If it were me... I'd probably build a cage for the little Melodi-Dove, right?" March 7th chimed in, "After all, if we leave it where it is, it'll definitely get hurt by wild animals... That would be too pitiful for the little bird."
"I'll probably choose to build a cage for Little Melodi-Dove too," Firefly said, making her decision. "Even if we release him back into the sky, he has to be able to spread his wings and soar. If we leave him here... I'm afraid he'll never have the right to fly again."
"My words might be a bit sharp, and I sincerely apologize if they offend anyone," Hanxing said last, addressing Qiong. "If we can protect it at all times, even if it's just a bird's nest, as long as we help it get through this period, the little Melodi-Dove can fly freely, while a birdcage will only deprive it of its right to fly... In short, it's a matter of whether we're willing or unable, but nothing can be perfect... The decision now is in your hands."
Qiong hesitated for a moment, then finally walked towards the screen where a birdcage was being built for the little Melodi-Dove. "I'm glad to see that you've made the same choice as we did back then. Now that you've made up your mind, let me reveal the result of this choice." Sunday's voice echoed across the stage:
"We raised it with care, preparing exquisite food for it every day and preening its feathers. Later, on the day the Robin left Penacony, we opened the cage door and let it return to the sky."
"I watched it from the window for a long time, about three days. During those long three days, the little Melodi-Dove tried again and again to spread its wings, fly into the sky, and fall back to the ground... over and over again. Finally, on the 143rd attempt, it succeeded. But this attempt was not successful... After flying unsteadily for a while, it crashed to the ground because it could not accurately judge the direction of the airflow."
"This fall completely broke its wings. It struggled desperately in my arms, but to no avail, and ultimately met a painful death. Our meticulous care, the love and high hopes we gave it, in that instant became the catalyst for its demise. I deeply regret the choice we made."
The silence on the field was eerie. Little did Hanxing know that his words would come true; this was precisely the meaning of natural selection: to exterminate the majority and leave behind a small minority that adapts to nature. The world is not an ideal paradise, but a cruel place where the strong prey on the weak.
"Next, let's move on to the second choice, this time... the story of a Dream Chaser. This story takes place during my time as a 'Duoyin' (a special position within the Oak Family), responsible for listening to the confusion and bewilderment of the dream's inhabitants and providing them with appropriate guidance."
"It was during that time that I was able to hear voices from all sides of the dream world: joy, sorrow, arrogance, regret... The complexities of human nature weave together the world, and I was fortunate enough to glimpse a part of it. He was a Dream Chaser, and also a stowaway. Like everyone else, he came to Penacony with a longing for a better future. But the price he paid was enough to be called 'giving everything' for a mortal."
"He told me, 'Sell everything you can in the house—the house, the land, and the two children...' He said he couldn't support them, and being a slave would at least provide them with food. He had a plan to redeem the children after he became rich and share in Penacony's dream. Unfortunately, his smuggling plan was a bit clumsy, and those stubborn hounds caught wind of it."
"Upon hearing the story of this Dream Chaser, I immediately requested the Hound Family to cease the pursuit so he could live in peace. Unfortunately, my vision was too limited; I never imagined that this self-righteous act of kindness would later bear bitter fruit... The answer will be revealed later. Now, I hope you will make your choice—"
"Will you make the same decision as me, persuading the Hound Family to stop the search so that the Dream Chaser can survive and fulfill his wish? Or will you remain silent, letting him eke out a living under the hounds' pursuit until the inevitable verdict arrives? I look forward to your choice; perhaps it can avert that tragedy."
"The story of the Dream Chaser... Out of goodwill, I will ask the Hound Family to stop the pursuit and lend him a hand." Himeko spoke first as always, "However, what kind of bitter consequences will this choice ultimately bring? I think Sunday must have deeply realized the limitations of 'helping the weak with the strong' through this incident."
"Looks like stowaways are really common in Penacony... But this guy in the story, I don't think he deserves any sympathy at all." March 7th said indignantly, "He even sold his child to pursue his dream... Even if he intended to redeem him, it's still incredibly irresponsible. Thinking about it this way, there's only one option: have the Hound Family send him back! This man must be punished!"
"As a political commissar, I'm clear-headed when it comes to the law." Yan Bai looked at the screen, reminiscing about his past. "The law has the highest authority and status; such behavior is tantamount to desecrating the authority of the law! Let the hounds send him back; people who sell their own children don't deserve sympathy!"
"In my opinion, I have an idea," Hanxing also expressed his view. "Since he has shown contempt for the authority of the law, why not transfer him to our command and observe his every word and action? If he is inherently evil, we can report him to the Hound; if not, we can provide him with some financial assistance. The main point is that in this cruel universe, a person without children, a house, or land is no different from a slow death."
"... I should probably ask the Hound Family to stop the hunt." Firefly concluded, "This is the same issue as the previous chick's question, focusing on the merits of ' Order ' and ' Harmony.' The purpose of his question to us is now quite clear."
Qiong sighed. This time, the narrative was much more chaotic than last time, and he still had to make the decision himself. After much deliberation, he finally headed towards persuading the Hound Family to stop the pursuit.