Robin didn't deliberately hide her expression, so naturally, Yun Fan noticed the young lady's distress. The boy's gaze subtly swept over the people around them.
In the depths of his pupils, the imprint representing the Path of Causality flashed and vanished in an instant.
"Ah?"
"What's going on? Where are the photos I took!"
"That's not right, I didn't delete them…"
"Damn it! Doesn't this mean we worked for nothing today?"
"…"
Sounds of surprise and bewilderment rose one after another. In that brief moment just now, Yun Fan had used the power of causality to completely erase all the images frozen in those cameras.
This way, there was no need to worry about any more "Robin scandal" headlines appearing on Interastral Peace broadcasts tomorrow… uh, although it couldn't really be called a scandal anyway.
Noticing the commotion around them, Robin—who had previously been burying her little head in her arms like an ostrich—couldn't help but lift her head and curiously glance at the wailing reporters, paparazzi, and tourists nearby.
"What's wrong with them?"
Robin turned her gaze to the handsome young man across from her, waiting curiously for his explanation.
"Haha, it's actually nothing."
Yun Fan simply smiled faintly and then explained, "I just used the power of causality to erase all the photos they secretly took just now."
"So you don't need to worry—tomorrow, there won't be any 'scandal' appearing on the front pages of Interastral Peace broadcasts or the Penacony Daily."
Hearing Yun Fan's caring words and sincere answer, Robin's small face flushed a little more.
At the same time, a wave of warmth and guilt spread through her heart.
Although her engagement with the young man before her was an arranged marriage, to be fair, she actually didn't dislike him at all.
Even heroes find it hard to pass the beauty test—and the reverse is also true; beauties find it just as hard to pass the hero test. Robin was no exception.
Though she was a world-renowned superstar, she was also a young woman in the prime of her youth. When facing a handsome and outstanding member of the opposite sex, it was inevitable that she would develop some good feelings.
In the days she had spent interacting with Yun Fan, she could clearly sense that he was absolutely sincere toward her.
Gentle, considerate, understanding—though these words weren't often used to describe boys, at this moment, Robin couldn't think of any better ones.
As for flaws… well, naturally there were some. Her future partner seemed, perhaps, possibly… a little bit of a playboy?
...
Daydream Hotel… Reality…
After a slightly awkward little interlude, the Astral Express crew took their room keys and headed toward the rooms on the higher floors.
It was worth mentioning that, thanks to Sunday's instructions and the Astral Express's own extremely high fame, the room keys issued to the three of them were all from the VIP area.
And besides them, the people staying in this area included…
"The Nameless of the Astral Express… I didn't expect to run into them so soon. By the way, according to what Topaz said, there should be an Emissary of Causality on the Express, right?"
Watching Himeko, March 7th, and Stelle each return to their rooms, a man dressed in luxurious attire with blond hair leaned against the wall inlaid with agate and crystal. A smile of unclear meaning played across his handsome face.
In the man's hand, three dice clinked and rubbed against each other with his movements, producing crisp sounds.
After lingering there for a short while longer, the man patted off nonexistent dust from his clothes, then used his room key to open a nearby VIP suite.
"The dice have been cast. In this grand festival about to unfold in Penacony, you and I are both actors, both spectators, and both… gamblers!"
Click—!
As the blond man closed the door behind him, the corridor in the VIP area became empty once more… no, not entirely empty.
After the sound of the door closing faded, in a small, dim corner of the corridor—where the light could not reach—
A woman with cool-toned blue-purple hair slowly stepped out from the shadows. She glanced at the door that had just been closed, then looked in the direction where the Nameless were staying.
She slightly lowered her head, appearing lost in thought.
— — — —
Following Stelle's perspective: after opening the door to the VIP room, Stelle was instantly stunned by the luxurious and high-end decor before her.
Mysterious blue-purple tones dominated the decorative style, soft sofas made of pure animal hide, guest tables crafted from premium marble, walls adorned with golden clocks and paintings that clearly held considerable value…
And at the center of the room, in front of a shimmering, radiant glass panel, a massive pearl shell sat like a treasure in the palm of the hand, surrounded and protected by a host of jewels and ornaments.
"Phew~ So comfortable…"
Tossing her luggage aside carelessly, Stelle immediately threw herself onto the soft genuine leather sofa. Feeling the plush sensation beneath her, this "baby" let out a comfortable moan.
Thinking back to her room on the Express, to the guesthouse she stayed in at the lower levels of Belobog, and to the Luofu Hotel she checked into during her time on the Xianzhou Luofu…
Wuwu… what kind of life had she been living in Belobog?
Like a little fly larva, Stelle wriggled around on the sofa for quite a while before reluctantly climbing off. Then she fished her Dream Passport out of her pocket.
Following the instructions in the Dream Passport, Stelle walked over to the large shell in the center of the room.
After staring at the pool and the Dream Passport for a good while, Stelle slowly took off her shoes. With a rustling sound, the Trailblazer shed her outer clothing and gently lay down in the Dream Pool.
Following the Dream Passport's guidance, Stelle softly closed her eyes and gradually relaxed her consciousness. Soon, the water in the Dream Pool did its job, drawing Stelle's awareness into the dream world.
Dream world… Golden Hour…
"Aaaaahhh…!!"
A piercing scream rang out from the sky. In the dream world, many passersby were drawn by the cry and instinctively looked up toward the figure of Stelle plummeting from the clouds toward the ground.
Feeling her body accelerating faster and faster under gravity, Stelle couldn't help but let out another scream. In just a few breaths, the gray-haired girl crashed heavily onto the ground.
With a loud bang, Stelle's body made friendly and intimate contact with the earth, sending dust flying everywhere.
Seeing this, some curious onlookers stopped to watch, while others stood on tiptoe and craned their necks in curiosity.
In the human-shaped crater, a snow-white arm suddenly reached out from within, startling some of the more timid spectators.