"Have you reached a conclusion in your discussion? If not, I can offer some insights."
Lumina observed the brief exchange between Black Swan and Boothill without much concern, picking up where Black Swan had left off.
Upon hearing Lumina's words, Acheron, Black Swan, Dan Heng, and the others turned their attention to her.
After exchanging glances, Acheron spoke: "Impurities have infiltrated the radiance of Harmony. Through our discussions, we've narrowed the source down to Order."
"While we can't yet discern their exact motives, we're certain they intend to exploit the Charmony Festival for some purpose."
"This matter will affect the entirety of Penacony, and potentially... the entire Asdana Star System."
Acheron's tone was grave. Even though Black Swan and the others had heard this before, their hearts still tightened.
A power capable of influencing an entire star system would have to be at least Emanator-level...
"So, Miss Lumina, could you please share what you know with us?"
As Acheron spoke, all eyes turned to Lumina.
Under the collective gaze, the smile on Lumina's face gradually shifted into displeasure. Her gaze locked onto Acheron's face for a moment before she spoke, her tone tinged with girlish pique. "Acheron, have you forgotten something?"
"It's only been a few System hours since we last saw each other, and you're already calling me 'Miss Lumina'? Has our bond grown distant?"
Lumina's beautiful jade green eyes filled with a hint of sadness, which Acheron immediately noticed.
"...Right, Lumina, could you please share the information you mentioned?" After a moment of silence, Acheron realized her choice of address had been inappropriate and corrected herself, repeating her earlier request.
Herta: ...
Herta, who had been watching the drama unfold with amusement, clenched her fists. She wanted nothing more than to punch Lumina in the head, knock her unconscious, and drag her away...
"Of course~" Having achieved her desired outcome, Lumina's smile returned, radiant once more.
Under the gaze of everyone present, Lumina slowly opened her mouth and said, "You're right. The dissonance within Harmony is indeed Order."
"Their goal is to steal Harmony's power through the Charmony Festival."
"As for their ultimate motive, I don't know."
Lumina revealed all the information she was currently supposed to know, confirming Acheron and the others' theories.
"Hmm... Miss Lumina, do you happen to know about that... thing in Asdana?" Acheron played the riddler, asking a question that was deliberately vague and left unspecified what she was referring to.
"Yes, your guess is correct."
Despite the ambiguity of Acheron's question, two people in the room immediately understood her meaning.
As fellow Emanators, Herta and Lumina naturally sensed the unsettling anomaly within the Asdana Star System.
Unlike Acheron's mere speculation, Herta and Lumina could practically confirm the truth of the matter.
"I see... I understand now." Having received confirmation from Lumina, Acheron's expression remained largely unchanged. She nodded slightly, offering no further comment.
"..."
After revealing what Acheron sought to know, Lumina fell silent. Acheron, having obtained her answer, also lapsed into silence, leaving Dan Heng, Boothill, and Black Swan exchanging bewildered glances, unsure of what to say.
An unnatural silence descended upon the Observation Car.
The silence didn't last long, however. Boothill quickly shattered it.
"Dang-nabit! Are you two having some kind of encrypted conversation? I didn't understand a single word!"
Boothill glanced at Acheron, then at Lumina, scratching his head in bewilderment. He confessed that he hadn't understood a single word of their exchange.
"Miss Lumina, what's the situation with Welt and the others?" Dan Heng asked, his voice tinged with anxiety as Boothill shattered the strange silence.
"They were fine when I parted ways with them," Lumina answered Dan Heng's question with a smile. Then, just as Dan Heng began to relax slightly, she added, "But I have no idea what their current situation is."
"What makes you say that?"
"If they're following the expected timeline, they should have already located the remnants of the Order on Penacony and be confronting them."
Lumina didn't hold back, revealing the truth directly.
"!"
Dan Heng's heart jolted at this revelation.
Based on Acheron's earlier words, the strength of this Order remnant would undoubtedly be at least on par with an Emanator. Given Welt and the others' capabilities, facing such an opponent on their home turf, their chances of survival seemed grim.
Realizing this, Dan Heng finally understood just how urgent the "Time" Acheron had mentioned earlier truly was.
"Huff..."
Seeing that Lumina, Herta, and Acheron showed no intention of intervening, Dan Heng took a deep breath, retrieved the Jade Abacus of Allying Oath, and activated it immediately.
The Jade Abacus radiated a soft glow, and a colossal Xianzhou warship materialized out of thin air within the Asdana Star System.