"To grant reality even to a lie... are you truly just a mere Nameless?"
Fu Zhu was just using his pickaxe to break down the anvil and put it back in his inventory. Hearing Gallagher's question from behind, he turned and shrugged.
"Well, my main job is being a Nameless. I just have a few too many side hustles—Masked Fool, Envoy of Finality, a regular of Erudition... but my status as a Nameless is, without a doubt, the real deal."
Gallagher nodded, not pressing further on the matter of Fu Zhu's identity, and instead turned to the business at hand.
"So what's your plan now? Should we proceed with my original plan, or should you just lay your cards on the table with your companions? The latter might attract The Family's attention, though."
Fu Zhu thought for a moment. He had finished all the preliminary setup, but he still needed to kill Firefly three times. He probably wouldn't have much time to meet up with his companions.
"You continue with your original plan. What I'm doing shouldn't interfere with you. As for Robin... as long as you can guarantee she stays out of the public eye, you can do as you please."
"No problem." Gallagher agreed immediately. His original plan was to hold Robin as a "hostage" and take her to the Dream-Tide Reef, hidden from everyone.
"Alright, I'll be leaving then."
After briefly discussing the plan with Gallagher, Fu Zhu left the rooftop. Members of The Family would sooner or later come here to search for clues about the serial killer, and he had to leave quickly.
Gallagher watched Fu Zhu depart, then clenched his left hand. The feeling of reality was something he was still getting used to.
"Well, let's give it a try. We'll see if a 'lie' that's become real can still be exposed."
Gallagher left via the rooftop access and made his way down. When he reached the floor where Robin's room was, he happened to see a group of Hound Family members investigating the guest rooms.
He immediately walked over and raised a hand in greeting. "Lads, found any clues?"
The Hound Family members turned, and upon seeing it was Gallagher, they immediately straightened up and saluted.
"Chief Gallagher! Apologies, but we haven't found any clues so far."
"Is that so? Keep up the good work."
"Yes, sir!"
Gallagher nodded and walked past the group of Hound Family members, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips. He could barely contain his elation.
That short exchange was all he needed to confirm it: his "lie" had become truth!
Previously, he had fabricated a lie to become an investigator for the Hound Family. But because it was a lie, the other members didn't actually know his name and could only recognize him through a few key features.
But now, after being granted reality by Fu Zhu's Name Tag, his lie had become truth in the minds of these Hound Family members.
He was now, in every sense, a genuine investigator of the Hound Family!
"Not bad, Mikhail. Your successors are truly a talented bunch. Maybe they can create a miracle, just like you did."
---o---
"Silver Wolf, how are our two little rabbits getting along?"
On a certain rooftop, Fu Zhu had a furnace set up and was passing the time by roasting potatoes. On the edge of the roof, Silver Wolf's projection was observing Trailblazer and Firefly as they enjoyed themselves at a distant amusement park.
Without taking her eyes off the two, she replied, "Thanks to you, the 'death' of that big star has spread, and most people are now on edge. The amusement park has at least half as many guests as usual. They managed to get on the Ferris wheel and are having a nice chat right now."
"Good, it seems they're having a great time. But killing Firefly in front of Trailblazer under these circumstances... she won't end up walking the Path of The Hunt, will she?"
Fu Zhu was suddenly a little worried that doing this might make his sworn little sister resent him.
Hearing Fu Zhu's concern, Silver Wolf turned to lean against the railing. With a look of exasperation, she glanced at Fu Zhu, who was squatting by the furnace in his Sparkle disguise, legs spread wide in a very unladylike manner.
"As long as you act a little more like a woman, how could Xing possibly recognize you?"
"Am I not feminine enough?"
Fu Zhu stood up and looked down at Sparkle's body, then reacted as if he'd had an epiphany. His right fist hit his left palm. "You mean, Sparkle is too flat? Should I change into someone with a bigger... figure? Who should I pick?"
Silver Wolf's mouth twitched, her face a mask of black lines. "Is that really important right now?!"
"No! This is very important!"
Sparkle suddenly appeared beside them, her face dark. She stomped angrily over to Fu Zhu, hands on her hips as she glared at him. "What's wrong with being small!"
Fu Zhu once again looked down at the slight curve on Sparkle's chest, then patted her on the shoulder. "If you squeeze, there's still a little something there."
"?"
Silver Wolf, standing to the side, facepalmed with a sigh. She suddenly felt that being Fu Zhu's companion was a truly grueling experience. She had no idea how the Astral Express crew managed to put up with him.
"Alright, Fu Zhu, it's time to make your move. There are other guests at the amusement park. It's the perfect chance to deceive fate. The lights are ready too."
"Got it."
Fu Zhu stopped teasing Sparkle. He stored the furnace and roasted potatoes in his inventory and stood at the edge of the rooftop. After confirming Firefly's location, he spoke to Silver Wolf beside him.
"I'm leaving the lights to you."
The appearance rate of the Apotheosis Mod's light pillar was too unstable. Furthermore, this time they needed a large audience who believed death was still possible in the beautiful dream to help them deceive fate. Thus, Fu Zhu decided not to use the mod's pillar for this final act, opting instead for artificial lights.
After giving Silver Wolf his instructions, he switched directly to Observer Mode and flew towards the amusement park. Silver Wolf, in turn, projected a virtual keyboard and began hacking into the park's system.
---o---
At the amusement park, below the Ferris wheel, Trailblazer and Firefly were chatting and laughing as they stepped off the ride. Despite the recent serial killings, it didn't stop them from having fun.
Neither of them thought the pillar of light would choose one of them.
However, the moment the two stepped out of the Ferris wheel cabin, a pillar of cerulean light descended upon Firefly. The sight stunned both of them.
The surrounding tourists waiting in line were also taken aback. A moment later, terrified screams erupted from the crowd.
"It's the light of the curse! That girl has been chosen! She's going to die!"
The surrounding tourists scrambled backward, their eyes fixed on Firefly as if looking at the plague itself.
Trailblazer, standing by Firefly's side, turned angrily and yelled at the surrounding crowd, "What nonsense are you all spouting!"
Firefly, however, shrank back in panic behind Trailblazer, her small hand clutching the corner of her clothes. She pursed her lips for a long moment, then raised her head to look at Trailblazer's profile.
"Xing, there's actually something I want to tell you..."
Firefly wasn't sure if this pillar of light would truly bring death as the tourists claimed. Although it sounded absurd, Elio had told her before she came to Penacony that she would experience death three times here.
She was worried she wouldn't have the chance to tell Trailblazer everything.
"What's wrong, Firefly?"
Hearing her words, Trailblazer turned her head to ask.
Just as Firefly was about to speak, a woman in red with a black-and-white mask on her face suddenly appeared before them.
The 'woman' curtsied gracefully to the two of them with a smile. "In the name of the God of Elation, the Masked Fool, Sparkle, is here to specially bestow upon you... death."
Seeing the 'woman' suddenly appear, Trailblazer immediately pulled out her baseball bat and charged, swinging it straight at her head.
The 'woman' swiftly sidestepped to dodge. Then, she raised a hand and gently slapped Trailblazer on the waist, sending her flying. Without paying her any more mind, she walked directly towards Firefly.
Seeing the 'woman' approaching, Firefly turned her head in concern to look at the fallen Trailblazer.
"Xing, are you okay?"
"Little girl, you'd better worry about yourself. After all, death is not a pleasant taste."
Only then did Firefly turn her attention from Trailblazer to the 'woman' walking step by step towards her. She gritted her teeth and pulled something from her waist that glowed with a pair of jade-green fluorescent "wings."
Just as Firefly was about to transform into Sam, a hand suddenly and without warning pierced through her body. Firefly looked down in disbelief at the arm, as white as jade, that had pierced her, then looked up at the 'woman's' face, her heart filled with shock.
So fast... just now, she was still at least two breaths away from me... why is it like this...
The 'woman' smiled faintly and withdrew her arm.
Firefly's body went limp and collapsed to the ground. Her eyes gradually lost their light, and finally, her body dissolved like a mirage of bubbles.
"FIREFLY!!!"
Witnessing this, Trailblazer's eyes turned bloodshot with rage. She grabbed her bat and charged at the 'woman'.
Seeing how furious Trailblazer was, the 'woman' couldn't help but sigh. She casually and continuously dodged Trailblazer's attacks while reminding her.
"Don't let rage cloud your judgment. Even if you want revenge, you can't be driven by anger alone."
Trailblazer didn't speak, only continuing to swing her bat wildly.
After dodging a dozen or so times, the 'woman' finally seemed to lose her patience.
"Let's put her to sleep. If this goes on, I'm afraid she won't be able to take it."
Trailblazer was confused by who this 'woman' was talking to, but in the next moment, she sensed movement behind her. She immediately spun around and saw another woman—identical to the one who had just killed Firefly—standing behind her. The only difference was that this newcomer wore a red-and-white fox mask.
Sparkle chuckled softly, then flicked her finger against the forehead of the unreacting Trailblazer.
"Hehe, time for you to take a little nap."