A year ago, when Zero boarded the Astral Express, they already knew each other's real identities. During this time, they never brought it up directly.
It was the first time Bacchus used the title "close friend," indirectly revealing his identity to Zero.
Zero was speechless for a moment.
He never expected that Aha actually knew something! The other party even seemed like he could really be useful.
Bacchus frowned. He seemed not to understand his own real thoughts. His tone sounded puzzled, and also hesitant.
"Isn't it good like this now?"
Their eyes met. Bacchus quickly looked away and muttered, "This really is… too boring."
He quickly forced out a smile, showing eight teeth.
"This place of yours is really boring, I'm leaving first."
Bacchus turned around and left Zero's room in a few steps.
The next day, he became lively again, moving close to Pom Pom and trying to pet the conductor's ears.
Pom Pom was prepared. While pushing the dining cart, they dodged.
The movements were practiced enough to make people feel sorry.
They had met all kinds of Nameless, and quite a few people like Bacchus wanted to touch their ears.
Unfortunately, only a handful ever succeeded.
Among them, Eric was one.
Thinking of this, Pom Pom could not help raising their head and glaring angrily at Eric, who sat at the water bar.
He was chatting casually with Akivili, looking extremely relaxed.
Not only did this guy touch their ears, he even tricked them.
Pom Pom had been shocked by the two choices Eric gave, completely forgetting they could refuse Eric at all! In the end they fell into his trap.
Compared to Akivili becoming an honorary director of the IPC… clearly one percent of shares was easier for an Aeon to accept, right?
By the time Pom Pom reacted, everything was too late.
But they had promised Eric to help keep the secret. How could they go back on it halfway?
So Pom Pom could only brace themselves and keep the agreement with Eric.
They originally thought Eric would reveal the truth completely on Akivili's birthday.
But they never expected that guy did not keep his promise.
Wait, Eric did not seem to promise them either, he only said he would consider the suggestion…
Pom Pom tilted their head slightly, dodged Bacchus's hand, and pushed the dining cart to the water bar.
They picked up a teapot and handed it to Akivili, then left without looking back.
The rest… would be left to Akivili.
Pom Pom did not want to be tricked by that guy again! If they got any closer, they might be led into saying something.
Akivili poured tea for their close friend with one hand, and with the other pointed at the photo on the device while asking for his opinion.
"Quick, close friend, help me pick the photo that best shows my elegance."
There was only one photo on the screen.
In the photo, Akivili wore the medieval captain's outfit Zero had given and smiled extremely brightly.
Out of concern for protecting his close friend's privacy, Zero asked, "Can I look through your album?"
Akivili thought that his close friend really respected personal boundaries…
They had clearly asked their close friend to help pick photos…
The Aeon nodded while pushing the tea toward Zero.
"Of course you can."
Zero carefully flipped through the album, seriously distinguishing the differences between each photo.
Akivili had a face that made people feel close to them, making others want to trust them the moment they saw them.
However… when the Aeon smiled, they looked especially easy to deceive.
Zero picked the one that looked the smartest and returned the communication device to Akivili.
"I think this one shows the captain's heroic bearing best."
Akivili smiled and took the device.
"Since my close friend says so, I'll change my avatar to this."
While staring at the jade abacus device, they observed their close friend from the corner of their eye.
Zero picked up the tea and took a sip, asking casually, "What is this? A new product developed by the conductor? The taste is a bit strange, and also a bit familiar…"
Akivili smiled and spoke from a prepared script.
"It has a bit of Xianzhou specialty added."
Trying to hide it from his close friend… was not easy.
Only by revealing part of the truth would the other side not become suspicious.
Akivili deliberately asked Guanliang and learned all the ingredients placed in the tea bag before giving the tea bag to Pom Pom.
They selectively mentioned the tea leaves Xianzhou people usually drank and several common ingredients on the market, then said, "Pom Pom knows you've been sleeping poorly recently, so they specially came to me. After learning you were from Xianzhou, they bought these ingredients."
"After brewing, they have a calming and sleep-aiding effect."
The close friend seemed somewhat at a loss and only said, "This really troubled the conductor."
Akivili pressed on.
"What's troublesome about that? The conductor is supposed to take care of every Nameless."
"You shouldn't waste Pom Pom's good intentions, okay?"
The close friend hesitated for a moment and finally nodded.
Akivili calmly changed the topic, and only after the person beside them finished the tea did they finally relax inside.
For now, they managed to fool him.
Hopefully things would go smoothly.
During the upcoming journey, besides leading the Nameless, Akivili would also have to carefully observe the close friend's condition and contact Zandar and Guanliang in order to replace the tea bags in time.
The Aeon could not give Zandar complete trust.
If it were Bacchus, they would not hesitate.
But when it came to their close friend, Akivili had to be cautious.
Not even mentioning the assassins that kept appearing before, just the food on the dining table and the goods bought from the star network had to go through layers of inspection.
Even an ordinary bottle of soy sauce had to be specially produced starting from growing soybeans.
Akivili would take the prescription given by Zandar to Guanliang and have him contact the Alchemy Commission of Xianzhou.
Only after doctors repeatedly reviewed and confirmed it was correct would they move to the next step.
The close friend's subordinates went to great effort to avoid making him suspicious. Besides tea bags, they would disguise medicine as soup packs and other items.
Fortunately their efforts were not wasted. The close friend's condition gradually improved.
At least he looked to be in a good mood?
After nearly a year of effort, the close friend was also willing to chat with the other Nameless.
Akivili felt extremely gratified.
Both Zandar and Guanliang said the close friend's illness had improved.
During this period, he never showed any physical manifestation symptoms.
If before he had been a critically ill patient who might die at any time even with constant care, now he was a mild patient who would be fine with just some attention.
Although he had not fully recovered… victory was in sight! No big problem.
The Aeon looked at their close friend like an old farmer harvesting crops.
Like seeing barren land finally grow wheat heavy enough to bend the stalks.
Akivili's gaze shifted slightly and fell on the Nameless surrounded by the others, and the smile on their face immediately disappeared.
This Nameless had met a person of unknown background through the star network, and the two quickly fell in love.
Normally they would give blessings, but this Nameless's lover really was not a good partner.
In just half a month, the two acted like protagonists of a melodramatic novel. They broke up and got back together repeatedly, sometimes sweet, sometimes cheating.
No matter how many fundamental mistakes the other person made, this Nameless seemed possessed and refused to break up.
Everyone took turns trying to persuade her.
Bacchus said bitterly, "Big sister, am I not good-looking enough? You have one hundred million credits, why give it to that person? You could give it to me! Or at least give it to Eric, you could keep him instead!"
The woman called "big sister" blinked slowly.
She first looked at Zero, then turned to Bacchus and said, "This face… if it's only one hundred million credits per hour… then he's the one losing out."
Zero, "..."
'Damn Aha! What exactly are you saying? How old are you already?'
Akivili, "..."
'It really is the close friend losing out… wait, why was I following Aha's line of thinking?!'
Bacchus tried persuading a few more times but still got nowhere.
Helpless, he urged, "Eric, quick, it's time to use you! Go use the Xianzhou magic you're best at!"
Zero thought about it and found Aha's suggestion quite reliable.
He said to the tearful Nameless, "How about this. Cut a lock of his hair, and give me his birth date and time."
"I'll calculate the direction. After that, go to his bedroom, find the right direction, burn the hair, then mix the ashes into water and drink it."
Akivili and Bacchus listened attentively.
The other Nameless wanted to speak but stopped.
Wasn't this supposed to persuade her to break up? Why did it turn into Xianzhou magic?
Trusting their companion, they continued listening.
The Nameless asked urgently, "If I do that, will he come back to me?"
Zero shook his head, "No, I made it up."
The Nameless could not believe it.
"Huh?"
Zero said calmly, "I just feel you'd rather drink that water than break up with him."
"Seriously, can you accept your future child having his flaws?"
The Nameless opened her mouth but said nothing.
"He brings you bad luck. Think carefully. When you're with him, doesn't everything go badly?"
After talking for a long time without persuading her, Zero finally used his trump card.
"He affects your financial luck. You'll lose money."
The Nameless completely stopped talking. While lowering her head to type, she said to everyone, "I understand. I'll block him now."
Akivili slowly raised a hand and gave a thumbs up.
'Amazing! Close friend! As expected of you!'
Bacchus was half doubtful and kept pestering Zero, asking whether the magic would work.
Zero had no choice but to brush him off with the words "You guess."
He casually picked up a wine bottle nearby.
Seeing this, Akivili immediately picked up a bottle of Xianzhou-produced liquor and handed it toward his close friend.
"Eric, Pom Pom bought this recently. Try this bottle."
Zero did not suspect anything. He took the liquor and poured a glass for himself and Akivili.
Bacchus curled his lips and was about to say something, but Akivili predicted it in advance.
After nearly two years of getting along with Bacchus, the Aeon had roughly figured out his personality.
On the train, in front of the Nameless, Bacchus was always the straightforward and offending minor.
Akivili said seriously, "Minors can't drink alcohol."
They automatically ignored Bacchus's dissatisfied grumbling and began discussing future arrangements with their close friend.
Next month was the birthday of the close friend and his successor, and also the annual meeting of Xianzhou.
Seeing no one paid attention to him, Bacchus sighed to himself.
His eyes turned, as if thinking of something, and he began looking around the structure of the carriage.
Because Aha was present, Akivili did not reveal other information.
They asked, "You should be having your annual meeting next month, right? Where is it being held this time?"
Zero thought for a moment and replied, "This time it's on the Luofu. Want to come with me?"
Akivili nodded vigorously.
"Of course."
That was the close friend's daughter's coming-of-age ceremony… how could they be absent?
Wait, since it was a younger generation's birthday… they should prepare a gift, right?
Akivili rarely met the child named Hua and felt troubled for a moment.
The Aeon's expression looked somewhat uneasy.
"But what should I prepare…"
Zero took a sip of wine. He put down the glass and smiled, shaking his head, "No need to prepare anything. Just come to Luofu and have a meal with me."
Akivili attending Hua's birthday would already be the best gift.
And with Lan there too, there would be two Aeons.
Akivili frowned tightly, "No, I have to prepare in advance."
Zero was about to persuade again when the jade abacus rang.
It was a voice call from Guanliang.
Akivili immediately waved their hand, starting to send him away.
'What should I give my close friend? What should I give that child?'
They sank into their thoughts, not noticing Bacchus wandering around the carriage, rummaging through boxes and cabinets.
Zero moved away from the crowd, walked to an empty corridor, and answered the call.
Guanliang asked, "How have things been recently?"
Zero paused and replied, "Probably… I can still take a few more months of annual leave?"
The Aeon did not need his mind, only needed him to travel with them.
During these nearly two years of vacation, he had done many meaningless but interesting things with the Nameless.
They once stayed by the seaside all night waiting for sunrise, but fell asleep just before it came.
When arriving on a new planet and landing, something went wrong and they accidentally fell into a ritual altar used by the natives and were caught on the spot, forcing everyone into a chaotic journey.
Of course, aside from some accidents, Zero still remembered many unforgettable sights.
They once reached a place forgotten by the world and quietly sat on a black sand beach waiting for the aurora.
Unfortunately, they came at the wrong time and missed the aurora season.
For example, he saw the first ray of light deep in a forest, a whale passing beside him while diving deep underwater, and a tornado barely missed in the desert.
What he remembered most clearly was a mist-covered mountain somewhere. When he looked down over the peaks, he could not help stepping forward.
Akivili had been both shocked and angry at the time and almost fell out with him. The next day they reconciled as usual.
Overall, these meaningless things made Zero feel very relaxed.
His current state of mind was like the capybaras recently delivered to Xianzhou by the IPC.
If he stayed on the train… living was fine, dying was fine.
Of course, he personally leaned toward the latter.
Guanliang understood the hidden meaning and said nothing, only, "The formal clothes are ready. Just come to Luofu when the time comes."
"Bring all your equipment. Marty is there too. Let him check you."
Zero neither agreed nor disagreed.
"Alright."
He hung up the call, and Bacchus drifted over like a wandering ghost.
The boy held his hands behind his back and said with a grin, "I heard that one month later is your birthday."
"I prepared a gift in your room. Want to go take a look?"