Lin Shuang turned the delicately crafted music box in her hands, her movements gentle, before asking:
"Robin, do you know the hidden message behind the special invitation?"
The ship had already entered autopilot, gliding steadily along its route to Penacony.
A faint tremor, paired with a subtle push from behind, accompanied Lin Shuang's thoughts as she brought up the strange invitations.
At her words, Robin's face grew more solemn.
She gave Lin Shuang a small nod before replying:
"...Witness the impossible in the realm of dreams, find the legacy of the Watchmaker, Father of Penacony, and thus the answer to the question: Why does life slumber."
"Hmm..."
Lin Shuang vaguely recalled Himeko mentioning this phrase before, in a half-playful tone, but she hadn't paid it much mind. The wording had faded from memory.
Now, hearing Robin repeat it, Lin Shuang gave more attention to the first line.
"Seeing the impossible in the realm of dreams..."
She murmured it under her breath. If her memory served her right, death had no place in Penacony's dreamscape.
Though she couldn't quite remember where that conclusion had come from.
Could Firefly's death be the key to the Watchmaker's legacy?
It wouldn't be surprising.
As Lin Shuang pondered this, Robin continued, carefully choosing her words:
"It's a compelling premise. In Penacony's dream, anything can manifest. To many, it's another reality. The so-called impossible things..."
"Death."
"Yes. Death. The Family claimed that within Penacony's dream, she would be completely safe. If the dream ever became overwhelming, she'd be forced awake."
Robin's expression darkened slightly as she spoke.
"If someone cracked the code and is truly after the Watchmaker's legacy, then they'll likely seek death within the dream."
And if death actually occurred inside that dream—real, undeniable death...
Penacony's long-standing reputation for "absolute safety" would shatter in a single moment.
It would be a catastrophic blow to the image of Penacony, the star of this entire show.
Robin had a gut feeling. Whoever sent that message wasn't just chasing mystery—they were targeting the Family itself.
Lin Shuang gave a small shrug.
She still remembered how she died, but the real problem was figuring out how to find herself when it mattered.
"Don't overthink it. The message has a strangely poetic tone to it. Why else end with such a question?"
When thinking something through, assuming too many motives could blur the truth. Maybe it was aimed at the Family, or maybe it was just... collateral damage.
Getting lost in speculation would only steer them further from the truth.
"Huh...you have a point."
Robin shut her eyes, took a slow breath, and let her thoughts settle.
After a long exhale, she placed a hand over her chest and offered Lin Shuang a small smile:
"It's strange. But if it were you, Lin Shuang, I feel like you'd be the one to solve it."
Her gaze softened as it fell on Lin Shuang.
What resurfaced in her mind was the battle aboard the Luofu Immortal Boat—the image of Lin Shuang holding her own against the Lord of Extinction.
And Phantylia, wounded and fleeing.
That day had left a mark on Robin.
So much so that even she hadn't realized how deeply she trusted Lin Shuang.
But Lin Shuang waved it off, replying:
"That's kind of a stretch. I'm not even sure I'll figure it out."
She never imagined Robin trusted her that much. It felt like pressure more than anything.
This case was far from simple.
"Haha~ I'm just joking. It's not pressure—I just meant how I felt..."
Robin stretched herself across the couch, lounging suddenly, and said with a sigh:
"My feelings toward Penacony are... tangled. Every time I return, it feels like I'm stepping into a stage that never ends. Always a party, always a show. It leaves me exhausted."
"But still, my brother and I came here when we were young. The dreams are beautiful, and everyone in the Family works so hard to create them. I don't hate Penacony."
Lin Shuang couldn't relate to Robin's emotions.
But she knew how to listen.
Thankfully, Robin wasn't looking to vent—otherwise, Lin Shuang wouldn't have known how to respond.
"But this time, I don't know why… maybe because you're here, Lin Shuang, it doesn't feel as heavy. It's like we might really be able to do something, instead of being swept up in the chaos."
You trust me that much?
Lin Shuang pondered the thought, then casually replied:
"If your brother found out how much you trust me, he'd probably start keeping tabs on me."
"Haha~ Don't say that."
Robin laughed softly behind her hand. Lin Shuang made it sound like she was meeting the in-laws.
…
After two nights aboard the vessel, they reached the Asdena galaxy.
Lin Shuang had to admit, this ship was far more comfortable than hers.
Naturally, it also cost far more than hers.
Yet, as they entered a sector thick with memory matter, Lin Shuang began to feel a subtle discomfort.
As if she'd been dropped straight into a fabricated world.
With her sharpened mental resistance and the [Secret Pattern to Break Delusion], Lin Shuang could sense anomalies far better than most.
Was it possible she was simply too sensitive? Overreacting to the sheer density of memory?
She activated the [Secret Pattern to Break Delusion].
It responded properly. She felt its effect, unmistakably. But nothing around her changed.
That made Lin Shuang pause. Had she just torn through a simple memory illusion?
"Lin Shuang, are you okay? You don't look well. Want me to take you to the infirmary?"
Robin noticed her frown and assumed she was reacting to the environment.
Plenty of people suffered mild symptoms here. It passed with time.
But even so, early care was still recommended.
She rose and gently held Lin Shuang's arm.
"Thanks. I think I'll lie in the medical pod for a bit. I can't shake this strange sensation. Maybe I'm just too sensitive to dreams."
Lin Shuang didn't turn down the help—she appreciated it, truly.
There wasn't much else she could do. She lacked the ability to evaluate memory directly. Reading documents wasn't enough to give her clarity.
She'd have to wait.
For someone who could see through memories—Black Swan.
Lin Shuang didn't just want to meet her. She wanted something more: to gain memory-based abilities from her.