"If you wish, you may call me by the more familiar name—[ the Clockmaker ]—that is also acceptable."
"So, you are the [ Clockmaker ] himself?!" March 7th exclaimed in surprise.
"It's a pity that the dream tycoon everyone admired is long gone; I'm just a microcosm of his life."
"And the child who has accompanied you all this time is the best friend of [ The Clockie ], the innocent protagonist of your childhood dreams, a young apprentice, and a future train mechanic..."
"At the same time, it was also the starting point of his life's [ Trailblaze ] endeavors."
Misha stepped forward, her voice carrying an aged and deep echo.
"At the end of my journey through life, I leave this precious spark in the deepest part of my dreams, hoping to pass it on to the Nameless of future generations."
"But somehow, he actually ran away from the dream bubble on his own, and completely forgot his mission. Sorry, you all had a laugh."
Himeko's gaze held understanding; everything was clear:
"Because he was born wanting to [ Trailblaze ], wasn't he?"
"I think Little Misha hasn't forgotten her mission as a guide, which is why she mistook herself for a hotel doorman and appeared at the very first moment of Xingru Meng."
"He must have been the one who brought the unconscious Hoshino here," Himeko, glancing at Misha with a hint of gentle teasing.
"So it seems we missed out on the ' Clockmaker's legacy' from the very beginning?"
"Haha~ I have a mischievous friend who always says that my life is full of twists and turns, but in the end I'm back to where I started... Maybe that's just a stage that every Nameless goes through."
Misha gazed at the Astral Express Crew, their reflections shimmering in her clear eyes. "But in the end, you still found me."
"Getting back to the point, you've all come this far, so I imagine you're all curious about what exactly the ' Clockmaker's' legacy is. My hounds have mentioned the Stellaron and the tycoon's fortune..."
"I apologize, the Stellaron is indeed real, but Mikhail's wealth is nothing more than gossip and rumors."
"I left my hometown as a child and embarked on a journey of [ Trailblaze ], passing through station after station, finally stopping in Asdana. My friends and I built the original Penacony, and we continue to strive for its future to this day..."
"I've spent my whole life moving forward, doing my best to overcome any obstacles in my path. But in the end, my journey has come to an end, my body like a broken-down locomotive, leaving behind no worthwhile possessions..."
Misha looked around the familiar outline of the room, her gaze lost in distant memories.
"So, if you were to ask what remains in this dilapidated locomotive that could be called a 'legacy'... I think it would only be the things still burning in the engine's furnace."
"You are already aware of Penacony's current situation. Of course, I hope someone will help get the world back on track."
"But this decision should be made by you, because the path of [ Trailblaze ] is never paved by others."
"So, I'll leave you with a story and two gifts—"
Misha first presented a pocket watch bearing the marks of Years.
"I want to give this to you: my [pocket watch]."
"It has accompanied me on a long journey, guiding that clueless, foolish child forward, and has given me the privilege of walking alongside so many great people to this day."
"And my hat. The one who guided me put it on my head, and from then on, he instilled in me an unrealistic idea: the journey of Trailblaze will never end."
Misha suddenly remembered something and took out the bottle of milk tea that Ye Yan had given her, but unfortunately, he had already finished drinking it.
"The Eternity Trailblaze spirit... Please convey my regards to Mr. Ye Yan."
"Now, it's your turn to make a choice. If you've made up your mind, push open that door and step into an old man's long dream."
"I will be waiting for you all at the end of this corridor of time."
As Misha and the Clockie faded from view, March 7th sighed softly:
"Ah... as expected, Teacher Ye Yan... knows everything."
"Alright, everyone," Himeko's gentle yet firm voice rang out, her duty as navigator evident at this moment, "Let's make a decision."
"But I think there shouldn't be any objections."
Welt adjusted his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses calm and resolute. "Having come this far, the answer is already self-evident. We have no choice but to move forward."
"Unanimously approved." Himeko smiled. "Then let's journey together to the end of this dream... and tell Mikhail our choice."
Meanwhile, at the [ The Reverie ] Hotel - Dreamland, a particularly interesting drama is unfolding.
"Backbone?"
[ The Dream Master ] The voice, composed of countless thoughts, buzzed. He tried his best to maintain his composure, and the tiny body of the Hidden Night Thrush appeared even more hunched under the invisible pressure.
"Faced with something that can annihilate concepts, survival itself is the greatest dignity," said [ the Dream Master ].
" Lycurgus, you sent those two children away not merely to enjoy my current predicament?"
He deliberately pointed out the other party's act of giving someone away to test their true intentions, while switching back to the slightly distant "Your Excellency" in an attempt to save face.
' Lycurgus ' did not respond. He paced slowly around the [ Dream Master ], the metallic footsteps of the Intellitron echoing crisply in the silent space, each step seeming to tread on the [ Dream Master's ] taut nerves.
" Little Hermit Thrush, before I deal with you... remember my face, so I can use it for revenge later." ' Lycurgus ' chuckled, changing the subject:
"Hmm... let's talk about the two little birds that were given away first."
"The little bird that loves to sing has a nice voice, and it's had some good stuff—the [ Eternity ] that countless people crave but can't have. Even someone Penacony's [ Dream Master ] couldn't have missed it, could he?"
' Lycurgus ' glanced disdainfully at the Night Thrush, "Tsk... that fellow's taste is as worrisome as ever, but it's certainly delicious."
Upon hearing this, the Dream Master dismissed the idea that the Intellitron before him was the Eternity Emanator; it seemed that it was not the one who had given the Robin that cup of milk tea.
So... there are still experts?!
"As for that rather stubborn... or rather, the little bird who believes in [ Order ]?" ' Lycurgus ' let out a string of cold, synthesized laughter.
"I'm kind-hearted and can't stand seeing siblings turn against each other, Aha ~ so I won't comment."
He abruptly stopped, his gaze behind the mask seemingly piercing through the myriad wills condensed by the [ Dream Master ], reaching its very core.
"What... exactly do you intend to do?"
The Dream Master's voice trembled slightly, revealing a deeper tremor than he had imagined. The other party knew far more than he had imagined, far exceeding the scope of an ordinary Emanator. This Masked Fools knew far too much!
He felt like a specimen stripped naked and thrown onto an autopsy table, all his secrets vanished before this ' Masked Fools '.