Ironclad Group Chat: Red and Black Lists Engraved with Heroic Epics

After concluding that the Clock Boy might be a memory meme, Huang Quan did not linger any longer.

"Anyway, thank you all for your continued support. I hope you have a pleasant dream. I won't disturb your... date any longer?"

She seemed rather apologetic. Whether her eyesight had deteriorated or something else, she genuinely couldn't see any other possibilities.

Dating?!

These two words struck like a thunderclap.

Liu Ying immediately clenched her small fists into her chest, her tongue trembling slightly as she stammered, "N-no, it's not a date..."

[Fireworks: Now you're shy? Hehe~~ Denying it won't help anymore. Just admit it openly. Everyone in the universe, whether human or not, already knows! It's more official than an official announcement.]

[Silver Wolf: Finally, finally, I'm not pretending to be pitiful and weak anymore. This time it's for real!]

The incident was resolved perfectly, and no one was injured.

Misha, along with the watch boy, politely left after expressing her gratitude.

"See you again someday, tick-tock!"

Xing and Liuying finally had time to do their own things.

"Come with me, this time don't let your unseen friends call you away."

Along the way, Xing fully appreciated just how strong Liuying's observation and hands-on skills were.

The "commuting" on this route is too complicated!

Along the way, they rode bouncy balls several times, used clock tricks and fists to win over the roadside hounds, and then used a mechanism called the Dream-Building Eye to reshape the rooftop with its ability to create illusions. Occasionally, they had to use Dream-Building Puzzles to piece together paths that didn't exist originally. Even more extreme, there were nested puzzles where they had to find puzzle pieces from various eccentric characters first, and then use the Dream-Building Eye, unlocked after completing the Dream-Building Puzzle, to reconstruct the path.

Along the way, Xing really put her brain to work, enjoying all the unique facilities at Pinocchio and having a pretty good experience.

Of course, there are also the ever-present combat levels.

The Dream Troupe was guarding the area, and in utter helplessness, Firefly sighed, "...It seems there's no way around them; we can only knock them unconscious..."

Xing was very excited: "This baseball bat is finally useful!"

Under the shameless sneak attack of the Terrifying Batman and Sam Head Monster, the 17-minute cooked Iron Dinosaur and the Sorada Hounds fled in terror.

Firefly excitedly pointed to the steps leading to the rooftop: "We're here! We've got this!"

[March 7th: My goodness! How did Miss Firefly discover such a complicated route? How long did she lie in wait in Pinocchio?]

[Potio: Pinocchio's mechanisms are indeed fantastical, but damn, they're way too mentally taxing! Those owl-shaped mechanisms that treat buildings and staircases like building blocks almost wore out my last remaining human brain.]

[Fireworks: I guarantee that even if this part is recorded, Huang Quan won't be able to find this place. Is Firefly some kind of gaming genius?]

Silver Wolf: Tsk, ah... more than that.

[Star: Phew~~ Finally arrived? Firefly Baby's secret base. Come on, let me see!]

Fireflies carried stars up the stairs, and a soft, gentle song drifted through the air. The tinkling sounds were captivating, and with eyes closed, the musical notes seemed to outline the shape of the starry sky.

Xing looked around: "...Singing? Where is it coming from?"

"Have you heard this song, 'Save a Heart from Sorrow'? It's by the robin. The Harmony Festival is coming soon, and her music sometimes plays in my dreams." Firefly smiled knowingly, and the two stepped onto the last step.

Looking out, the entire cityscape at this golden hour unfolds before your eyes, with dappled lights flickering in the hazy dawn light. The city, like a giant gradually reviving, is vibrant and breathtakingly beautiful.

[Sunday: Yes, it's my younger sister singing the famous song that resonates throughout the galaxy!]

[Yao Guang: To spare a heart from sorrow... Hmm, is there a hidden meaning? But it is indeed a beautiful wish, a wish as beautiful as the song title.]

[Star: Of course! Previous adventures have proven that with me around, nothing unexpected will happen.]

[March 7th: Such an elegant venue, and such beautiful music to set the mood... So, I have to say it here. Miss Firefly must have something extraordinary to say, right?]

Looking out from the railing amidst fireflies and stars, the microscopic sunrise and the sight of countless shooting stars are beautiful and soothing. Compared to the ground, the sky seems more tangible.

The firefly's eyes reflected the starry sky as it softly murmured, "This is the closest place to the sky of my dreams, far from the city's hustle and bustle, and free from the arguments of dream architects. I can be undisturbed by anyone, experiencing the present moment—the scenery, the people, and the dreams..."

"How beautiful... Time stands still in this golden moment, a golden dream. The fool in the tavern and the reminiscencer in the Memory Court, the wandering knight and the company's envoy, the nameless passenger on the Starry Sky Train... and me."

My beloved is by my side, and his singing is melodious.

As Xingyao gazed at the starry sky, her face gradually relaxed. She looked at Liuying and met her iridescent eyes. The gentle atmosphere made her abandon all unnecessary words.

Liu Ying smiled faintly, her delicate face already filling Xing's entire field of vision before she even realized it.

"Everyone sleeps here equally, regardless of the reason, even though we all have our own purposes..."

"..." Liu Ying took a deep breath, finally made up her mind, and confessed the truth: "...I'm sorry, Xing, I am indeed a [smuggler]."

[Hanabi: I'm sorry, I'm just a beautiful and devoted illegal immigrant!]

[Star: Ah, right... oh no, that kind of thing is completely irrelevant. Let alone Star Core Hunters, who on this train doesn't have a criminal record? It's called being a good match.]

[March 7th: ...Were you really listening just now? You weren't completely absorbed in her beauty, were you?]

[Star: Oh, how could that be, hahaha... cough, don't make me repeat that, it's so disrespectful to Yingbao!]

[Su Chang: To be honest, the atmosphere just now was really great! After our senses synchronized, I really felt like I was in love!]

[Star: Huh? Everyone else, disconnect from the network. Don't look!]

[Fireworks: Tsk, stingy. No... no fake Sambo, do you think you'd have a chance to get Firefly to bring you to the secret base? How about letting us watch the show for a bit?]

Xing nodded: "I know."

Liu Ying smiled with relief: "I knew I couldn't hide it from you."

She leaned against the railing, her eyes filled with memories of the past: "My homeland was destroyed a long time ago, perhaps by the Legion, or perhaps by the Zerg... I am an interstellar refugee, just like many of the [natives] of Pinocene."

"【Harmony】encompasses all people, including those wanderers who have traveled from afar. The family accepts them, but they... ultimately do not belong here."

"In this magnificent metropolis, some people dream of Pinocchio, while others' dreams... are no different from reality, even though every ordinary person who comes here initially has the same purpose."

"Me too, in reality I have desires that I can't have—they're so strong that I turn to dreams..."