"Wow... you're really popular. But everything is about first come, first served. Help me settle things with the baby first, then I'll take you two to the Grove, okay?" Cipher suggested.
"By the way, what do you need so much money for? Are you planning to go somewhere fun?"
Cipher chuckled, "You're really Curiosity... You think I'd squander money like that? Ha, I don't go treasure hunting for that."
"Don't forget, I am also a demigod, and I share in that foolish prophecy: 'You will walk with greed, and you will perish for a penny'..."
"But I don't believe in that. As long as I keep amassing treasures, I won't end up penniless."
Cipher analyzed, "As long as your desires don't harm others, it doesn't count as 'greed,' right? It's that simple."
"As long as I keep running down this path, no prophecy or destiny can catch up with me."
"Ugh, I've almost worn my lips out from talking so much!"
Cipher clicked her tongue. " Styxia's treasure is still waiting for us underwater. Let me see the power of ' Years ' quickly, Huizi?"
Xing shrugged helplessly and brought up Mimi: "You've got the wrong person."
"I'm here!"
Xing wasn't the one who participated in the "Trial of Years " with March 7th, but she could wield the divine power of " Years " at any time if she wanted to!
Ah, provided that she can Church on March 7th.
Several days later, Janusapolis, the " Abyss of Fate," is located at the site of the train crash.
"... So this is the section of the ' Astral Express ' you mentioned. My memory bank has gained another interesting anecdote. Thank you for your guidance, Lord Dan Heng."
Having deliberately changed his appearance, ' Lygus ' pretended to be deep in thought as he looked around the temporary carriage.
"I never expected that you, a member of the Senate, would be willing to travel such a long distance to inspect the train."
"The people of Okhema respect wisdom and crave knowledge. If all the citizens of the city knew the origins of the three of them, many more would likely become interested in ' Trailblaze' —unfortunately, the discussion of ' the World Beyond the Sky ' remains a taboo."
"But it has been quite some time since the three of you first arrived in Okhema. I suppose you have been searching for a way to leave?"
Dan Heng nodded. "I have indeed been continuously gathering clues and making various attempts. Unfortunately, the more I learn, the stronger my sense of powerlessness becomes."
"You need not blame yourself. The problem that has troubled so many scholars in Amphoreus for thousands of years cannot be solved overnight, even with your exceptional talent."
"In the Grove, I found many studies on the Sky Titan, and also learned that most scholars of Amphoreus attributed the taboo of the ' World Beyond the Sky ' to the curse cast by Aegle."
"Indeed. Of the twelve Titan of Amphoreus, Aegle is the most unpredictable."
' Lygus ' raised his head and looked at the perpetually dark, gloomy sky:
Its joys and sorrows manifest in the celestial phenomena: calm in sunshine, melancholy in rain. Its breath is a sharp breeze, its whistle a startling thunderbolt.
"It is also one of the two Titan whose Core Flame has not yet been returned."
"The sky above us is closely related to every citizen. Saving the campaign against Aegle for the very end of the Journey of Flame-Chase must have been a well-thought-out strategy by Ms. Aglaea."
"If returning the Core Flame to Aegle can break the curse of the sky, then we won't need to go to such lengths to find our way back. We can just focus on helping the gold merchants."
" Lygus's tone suddenly turned somber, " The Antikythera have no home to return to, so I can understand your concern for your old friends and homeland."
"Just now, I 'scanned' this carriage using Antikythera's technical expertise—or, in more familiar terms."
"Assuming my judgment is correct, perhaps I can conduct a more thorough overhaul of its 'power equipment'."
"Of course, that's on the condition that Lord Dan Heng allows me to contact it."
' Lygus ' is a very polite Intellitron.
"... It's alright, please give it a try. But please be very careful, the train's propulsion system is a very precise device."
"Thank you for your trust, I will certainly be extremely careful."
' Lygus ' stepped forward and carefully scanned the damaged carriage propulsion system, then began to methodically inspect its components...
Dan Heng, standing nearby, was stunned. "This... it's unbelievable. You seem to know its structure perfectly. Have you ever repaired anything like this?"
"No. But the Antikythera have always been sensitive to machinery— Kephale endowed us with a unique advantage when he created our people, making us extremely adept at deconstruction and learning."
' Lygus ' explained that Dan Heng could not find any flaws in its words.
Perhaps Dan Heng's earlier guess was correct: Amphoreus may seem like a backward civilization, but their technology is by no means inferior.
The precedent is right in front of Dan Heng; even a Intellitron from the Senate was able to search the carriages of the Astral Express.
According to Xing, this planet's technology tree is probably maxed out...
"If you give me some time, perhaps I can completely repair this damaged carriage and restore it to its original condition. That way, you and your companions can begin your journey home sooner."
Dan Heng pondered for a moment, "But... isn't the key to the problem with Aegle?"
"Suppose, Lord Dan Heng, I can open a path for you two to escape Amphoreus, and bypass Aegle's divine punishment..."
Would you be willing to cease your support for the Journey of Flame-Chase?
' Lygus ' changed the subject, sounding as if he was testing Dan Heng.
"I don't understand... Does the Senate possess some secret means to circumvent divine punishment?"
"Please do not delve into the details. You only need to know: I can accomplish this."
Dan Heng remained silent. Was it not the Senate's decision, but rather Lygus's personal wish...?
He could understand the Senate's opposition to the Chrysos Heirs and the Journey of Flame-Chase, but the actions of ' Lygus ' were highly suspicious.
"The key point is that if you and your partners are unwilling to cease your support for gold traders... that might infringe upon the interests of some individuals."
Dan Heng did not directly answer ' Lygus ', but instead said, "Um... please forgive me, Lygus, what I am about to say may be somewhat offensive."
"During my visit to Dawncloud Cliff, I reviewed the files of many Senate..."
"Among them, your background is almost entirely blank. I would very much like to accept your kindness, but faced with such a mysterious background and motive, anyone with a modicum of caution would inevitably become suspicious."
"As expected of Lord Dan Heng. Your prudence is truly admirable..."
call out!
Before he could finish speaking, a silver starlight flashed past.
Dan Heng instantly summoned the Cloud-Piercer Spear, a unique zero-frame starting move from the older generation of Nameless.
"An ambush...?"