In the dimly lit room.
Sparkle was still sprawled limply on the bed, her posture anything but proper.
Catching her breath, she began talking about the intel.
And then, one name popped up so abruptly.
It even caught Sylvia a bit off guard.
"...I'm not even going to question why Silver Wolf's name showed up in all this."
Sylvia looked down at Sparkle, genuinely curious.
"So, just because of a random gamer friend you met, you decided to take on this huge gig and come all the way to Penacony for kicks?"
It wasn't the first time she'd thought it, but Sylvia had to say it again.
Masked Fools really are a bunch who'd do anything for a good laugh...
"Hehe~ Because it's just too fun! With a stage this big, how could anyone resist coming to play~"
Before she knew it, even though her body still seemed weak, Sparkle's expression and tone had already slipped back into their usual playful self.
But the flushed cheeks and quickened breath, the physical after-effects, hadn't quite faded yet.
So now, Sparkle looked like a bratty little gremlin who'd just been crying and was now trying to act tough.
It gave you that urge to really push her buttons, just to make her beg for mercy all over again.
"Mmm~"
Sparkle stretched languidly on the bed, arching her back and pointing her toes.
"That was nice~ Where did you learn that massage technique, Little White Hair?"
She still sounded utterly drained, but her mouth was already running again.
Hard to tell if she wasn't afraid Sylvia might go for round two, or if she was secretly hoping for it.
Sylvia deliberately ignored the question, steering the conversation instead.
"So, Silver Wolf showed you part of the script?"
"Yep, but only a part. Mostly stuff concerning that Miss Firefly."
Sylvia had already heard from Sparkle about what Firefly was going to go through in Penacony.
But that Silver Wolf...
She didn't even give me a heads-up about anything related to Firefly.
I'll have to find Silver Wolf to confirm things once I leave the Dreamflux Reef.
Wonder if Sparkle knows about my connection to the Stellaron Hunters.
Anyway, if I can get a definite answer from Silver Wolf, then maybe teaming up with Sparkle isn't a bad idea.
Quite a few factions are making moves on Penacony.
The two biggest ones on the surface are The Family and the IPC.
But honestly, Sylvia wasn't keen on siding with either.
Because of what happened in the Dreamflux Reef, Sylvia didn't trust The Family's Harmony. Not to mention there's a snake like Sunday in their ranks.
Who knows how messed up things are inside The Family.
And based on the original game's story, Sylvia didn't exactly hold the IPC in high regard either.
Besides, cooperating with a bunch of businessmen? You might think you're partners, but you could end up sold out before you even know it.
The Astral Express crew were potential allies, but it would be a while before they arrived in Penacony.
Black Swan was too mysterious; Sylvia hadn't had enough contact with her to gauge her intentions.
Relatively speaking, after hearing her out, Sparkle actually seemed a bit more trustworthy.
A thrill-seeker is genuinely passionate about finding thrills.
If she really did take on Silver Wolf's commission to come to Penacony for fun.
Then that would make cooperation even easier.
"Hehe, what's this, what's this? Got a crush on me now~?"
Using deliberately ambiguous words, Sparkle even rolled around on the bed a couple of times, not caring about her disheveled clothes or her long black hair spread out.
Propping her chin on her little hands, she grinned up at Sylvia from her position on the bed.
"...You can move that fast?"
More than what Sparkle was implying, Sylvia was more surprised she had recovered so quickly.
Someone like Acheron, a pure fighter by nature, that's one thing.
Someone like Tingyun would be paralyzed in bed for a couple of system hours before finally recovering.
Sylvia had initially pegged Sparkle as not being the physically strong type. Last time she'd taught her a lesson, she just left.
Now, it seemed Sparkle bounced back pretty fast.
"~"
Sparkle pursed her lips, her face flushed, putting on a pure, innocent look like she was happy to be praised.
Got to hand it to her, with that black hair and her naturally somewhat youthful face.
The expression was actually pretty convincing.
But unfortunately, Sylvia wasn't about to be fooled.
So, she answered Sparkle's earlier question instead:
"If everything you just said is true, then count me in on your firework plan."
"Oh my? For real~?"
Sparkle was a bit surprised, mainly because she hadn't expected Sylvia to agree so quickly.
Actually, she hadn't really thought Sylvia would agree at all.
"Provided what you said is true."
"Let me guess... could it be you're actually pretty close with Silver Wolf?"
Sparkle replayed their conversation in her head and quickly zeroed in on the most likely possibility.
Seeing Sylvia's non-committal reaction, she swiftly confirmed her guess.
This was intel Sparkle genuinely didn't have.
She never expected Sylvia to have connections with the Stellaron Hunters.
Just as Sparkle was mulling it over.
Sylvia suddenly asked, "So, what's your plan? Will bombs in a dream actually work?"
Because the sensations were so real, Sylvia sometimes forgot this was all inside a dream.
Setting bombs in a dream, or doing stuff in a dream, would that actually do anything to a Stellaron?
"No clue."
"?"
Sparkle's answer was so straightforward it took Sylvia a second to process.
When she looked over, Sparkle spread her hands in a gesture of helplessness:
"I just got to Penacony too, silly. How would I know the fun way to blow up this kind of dream?"
"Hey, we're in the Dreamflux Reef now, hardly anyone is around. You can run some experiments with me!"
A light bulb went off in Sparkle's head, and she immediately tried to drag Sylvia along to find some fun.
"No way..."
So you don't even know if it's possible, but you were going on with a straight face about all your big plans?
Sylvia started to refuse, but then thought again—this could also be a chance to study Memoria and the nature of dreams.
And she had just agreed to cooperate; joining in might be better.
So, after a slight pause, Sylvia's tone softened:
"I've got things to do today. Another time."
The shift in Sylvia's expression didn't escape Sparkle's notice. Her smile widened.
And she suddenly stretched both hands out towards Sylvia.
"What?"
"Business is over, time to head back, right? You've gone and made me all weak, so you gotta take responsibility~"
"..."
Sylvia looked at Sparkle, arms raised, and really didn't think she was incapable of walking.
But after a moment's thought, she reached down anyway.
And hoisted Sparkle up over her shoulder.
With her other hand carrying Sparkle's sandals, she left the dim room.
--+--
Finding Micah with Sparkle, both of them smoothly left the Dreamflux Reef and returned to the sweet dream.
Sylvia looked up at the sky. Sure enough, there was no trace of the Dreamflux Reef, nor the black hole.
"Hehe~ See you next time, Little White Hair!"
Back in the sweet dream, Sparkle hopped down from Sylvia's shoulder, waved cheerfully and then bounced away.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.