Jarilo-VI, Aboard the Astral Express, in the Sky Above.
"Trailblazer, for this Trailblaze Mission, I want to entrust it to you, March 7th, and Dan Heng."
"The objective of the journey is clear: find the Stellaron—the culprit causing harm to this world and distorting space."
"Bring it back to the Express. We'll handle the rest."
Himeko said with a smile to the two before her.
"Aren't you all coming along?" The Trailblazer, confused by this, asked.
"The Express always needs someone to watch over it, otherwise Pom-Pom would get lonely," Himeko chuckled lightly before continuing. "Besides, we just caught the eye of Nanook the Destruction. If none of us were here and the Antimatter Legion set their sights on the Astral Express, we'd be in trouble."
(A/N: This happened after Clara left the space station, so it didn't appear in the main text.)
"The Antimatter Legion, huh…" March 7th couldn't help muttering.
"By the way…"
"Didn't Sparkle say she admired the Express, longed for it, and wanted to board it?"
"So why did she vanish completely after all the trouble at the space station was resolved…"
Just thinking about Sparkle's disappearance made March 7th grumble in complaint.
(A/N: It's been a while, so let's refresh your memory. The 'Sparkle' inside the space station was actually Clara in disguise, not the real Sparkle.)
"Didn't you see the Interastral Peace Corporation broadcast?" Dan Heng, standing beside her, gave March 7th a cool glance upon hearing her complaint. "That so-called 'Sparkle' wasn't any 'Galactic Ranger.' Her true identity is a Masked Fool."
"After leaving the space station, she went to the IPC headquarters and completely destroyed it."
"Com… completely destroyed the headquarters?!" March 7th's face was full of shock upon hearing this.
"So Sparkle is actually that powerful…"
If March 7th wasn't mistaken, the IPC headquarters should have at least one Emanator of Preservation stationed there, right?
If Sparkle could utterly destroy the IPC right in front of an Emanator of Preservation, then that would mean…
Seeing through March 7th's train of thought, Dan Heng spoke up calmly, "You're right. That Sparkle is at least an Emanator-level existence."
"As a Masked Fool, an Emanator, her admiration for the Astral Express, her desire to board it… it was probably all fake."
"Even her name, appearance, personality… all of that could be fake too."
Dan Heng shook his head. The words of a Masked Fool are not to be trusted—a truth universally acknowledged across the cosmos.
"So that's how Mr. Dan Heng sees me? Boo hoo~ I'm so sad, I might shed a few little pearls~"
Just as everyone was discussing, a voice quietly sounded from behind them.
"Who's there?!"
Welt was the first to react, a cane materializing in his hand as he pointed it towards the source of the voice.
Himeko followed close behind, a drone appearing in her grasp.
"Geez, no need to be so wary of me~"
Now, there was an additional twin-tailed girl dressed in red aboard the Astral Express.
The girl flashed a playful grin at the group.
"Allow me to introduce myself. Masked Fool, Sparkle."
…
Inside the Astral Express, Welt, Himeko, and Dan Heng held their weapons, their gazes fixed warily on Sparkle.
Pom-Pom, March 7th, and the Trailblazer hid behind the three of them, cautiously observing Sparkle.
"I told you, there's no need to be so on guard. I'm here to help you."
Seeing the group poised to strike the moment she showed the slightest hint of malice, "Sparkle" helplessly spread her hands and sighed.
"Your idea of 'no ill intent' involves barging onto the Astral Express uninvited?" Welt said, his voice low as he stared at the "Sparkle" before him.
"Um…"
"It couldn't be helped~."
"Sparkle" gave an 'ehe' laugh and lightly knocked on her own head, looking utterly adorable.
The Astral Express crew: …
If they didn't know this "Sparkle" was a genuine Emanator, they might have mistaken her for some naive little girl who had wandered in…
"Drop the act, Fool." Welt issued a warning, a powerful aura beginning to emanate from the cane in his hand. "The Astral Express does not require assistance, much less the help of a Masked Fool."
"Leave now, and we can pretend nothing happened."
Hearing this, "Sparkle" sighed helplessly once more.
"I already said, I mean no harm. I am here to help you."
"Otherwise…"
"You wouldn't even be standing here talking to me."
"Right?"
A surge of power radiated from "Sparkle," instantly suppressing the force gathered around Welt's cane.
Everyone's expressions changed drastically at the sight.
Himeko: …
"What exactly do you want to help us with?"
Himeko remained silent for a moment before addressing Clara.
She was right. Given the strength of the Express crew, they weren't enough to deal with her…
Of course, that was assuming they didn't utilize the [Astral Express] itself…
"Sparkle" smiled, not rushing to answer Himeko's question. Under the group's watchful eyes, she slowly walked over to the window of the Astral Express.
She looked through the window at Jarilo-VI, blanketed in ice and snow.
"Jarilo-VI, a world corrupted by a Stellaron."
"That's what you believe, correct?"
"What do you mean?"
Himeko didn't understand, completely unable to grasp the intent behind "Sparkle's" words.
"Sparkle" revealed a mysterious smile and slowly began to speak.
"Jarilo-VI, aside from the Stellaron, is essentially a backward planet, posing no real threat to the Astral Express."
"So you entrusted this Trailblaze Mission to three 'juniors,' right?"
"You believed their level of skill would be sufficient to complete this Trailblaze journey."
"Correct?"
Himeko: …
"Don't tell me… something has happened on Jarilo-VI?"
As the navigator of the Astral Express, Himeko was clever; she immediately grasped the hidden meaning in "Sparkle's" words.
"Sparkle" didn't directly answer Himeko's question. Instead, she posed a question in return.
"What if I told you…"
"That at this very moment, Jarilo-VI…"
"Is more dangerous than any top faction in the universe."
"Would you believe me?"
…
I have completed the author to TL pipeline, 2 chapters per day. Advanced chapters available on patreon.
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Give power stones please I survive solely off of number go up.