Regarding Su Mo's reappearance, the Stellaron Hunters had, naturally, grown numb to it. After having their scripts thwarted by Su Mo three times in a row, even the densest among them should have realized that a similar situation was likely to occur again.
If it were any other script, they could improvise based on intelligence about Su Mo. But the Penacony script was of great importance. Even knowing that Su Mo might appear, they had to rehearse it seriously.
Fortunately, the mission this time primarily involved only one person, Sam—or rather, Firefly. Silver Wolf was merely assisting her.
Firefly had a conscientious personality. Even knowing that Su Mo might appear and that her practice might be in vain, she still reviewed the script multiple times with utmost seriousness to prevent any unexpected situations.
Of course, her script wasn't very long. After all, the girl was incredibly straightforward. If they told her the entire script, someone could easily coax it all out of her, which would be far too risky.
After practicing many times, before she could even figure out how she might try to rewrite the script or how she should meet with Stelle, she heard the news of Su Mo's arrival.
Hearing this news, the first emotion that welled up in Firefly's heart wasn't frustration over wasted effort, but overwhelming joy.
This joy was, firstly, for safety. With Su Mo around, the Express Crew, and especially Stelle, would be absolutely safe.
Secondly, it was because she truly wanted to meet Su Mo in person, just as she was doing now.
And at this moment, hearing Su Mo's question, she had no intention of being coy. She looked up at him, her eyes full of anticipation. "To be honest, Lord Su Mo, my true identity, besides being a Stellaron Hunter, was once a member of the Glamoth Iron Cavalry. I was born as a weapon from a young age, and due to genetic modification, my body suffers from an almost incurable disease called Entropy Loss Syndrome."
"I have sought out various channels, but I have found no cure. If this continues, in a few years, I will probably begin a slow process of chronic dissociation and eventually disappear from this world." She laid out her personal situation with complete honesty. "So, I would like to ask you, Lord Su Mo, is it possible to cure the Entropy Loss Syndrome I have?"
A young girl suffering from a terminal illness would naturally not give up any chance for survival. Especially now that Firefly had shed her identity as a machine and become a person, she could not bear it.
When she first learned of Su Mo's name, she hadn't had this thought. At that time, she only knew he was a genius, but no one knew he was a genius in the field of life.
It wasn't until Su Mo personally created the Aeon of Life that Firefly suddenly realized that Stelle's "dad" seemed to be an incredibly powerful figure to rely on.
Not to mention how skilled Su Mo himself was in the field of life, even setting that aside, the Aeon of Life he created was the most authoritative expert on life in the entire universe.
If there was any existence in the world that could solve Entropy Loss Syndrome, the Aeon of Life would surely be one of them. If even Ruan Mei, the Aeon of Life, couldn't solve it, then the disease was likely incurable.
Therefore, filled with hope, Firefly took this opportunity to seek an audience, hoping for a definitive answer.
"Entropy Loss Syndrome..." Su Mo lowered his gaze and looked at Firefly. With a single glance, he saw her body's composition with perfect clarity.
If the Glamoth Iron Cavalry itself was a mecha force developed to fight the Swarm Disaster, then Firefly was a clone developed to pilot the Sam armor, a product of genetic engineering.
For her, Entropy Loss Syndrome wasn't strictly a disease or an abnormal condition, but a normal phenomenon. Just as humans were born with the concept of death, this was Firefly's factory setting at birth.
"It's a bit like the NOFORM under the rule of the Dystopian Demon Lord," Su Mo subconsciously thought of the setting from Little Garden.
The humans raised in the world of Little Garden were the same: without any distinguishing features, without the consciousness of being human, and destined to eventually exhaust their spiritual power and lose their existence entirely.
In a sense, Firefly was indeed very similar to Canary and the others. They had all developed self-awareness in an environment devoid of individual consciousness, transcending the collective will.
"Dystopian... Demon Lord?" Hearing Su Mo's words, Firefly tilted her head, her eyes filled with confusion. That's a name I've never heard before!
"Don't mind it. It's just a condition similar to Entropy Loss Syndrome," Su Mo shook his head. "As for your problem, strictly speaking, Entropy Loss Syndrome isn't a disease. Conventional methods aim to restore you to a normal state, so naturally, they are ineffective."
"...What do you mean?" Firefly's eyes dimmed slightly. She bit her lip, unwilling to give up. "Does that mean even you can't do anything?"
Hearing this, Su Mo gave her a strange look. "Of course, there's a way! While conventional methods are ineffective, there are countless unconventional methods."
At his words, the silver-haired girl's eyes widened, an unbelievable joy blooming in her expression. "You mean... I can really be saved?"
"Mm." Su Mo nodded casually. "Entropy Loss Syndrome is troublesome, but it's just a backdoor intentionally designed by genetic engineering. It was never an incurable disease."
"For one thing, even Ruan Mei before she became an Aeon, or Herta, could have easily solved your problem if they were willing to invest the effort."
Firefly's problem was neither simple nor difficult. Even though it stemmed from her own genes, if a genius-level existence or an Emanator with the corresponding power were to intervene, there would be a solution.
Hearing Su Mo's confident words, Firefly stared at him without blinking.
Although she had long thought that Su Mo's power might be able to solve this problem, actually hearing his relaxed answer filled her with the joy of being reborn.
But when she heard the latter part of his statement, a wry smile appeared on her face. "You're right, Lord Su Mo... but geniuses of that level aren't so easy to ask for help."
The people Su Mo could casually interact with were not so easily accessible to her. Even with the capabilities of the Stellaron Hunters, the most they could do was get an audience with these geniuses.
As for getting them to do something, let alone invest a great deal of effort in research... forget the Stellaron Hunters, even the IPC didn't have that much pull. And neither of the two geniuses was known for their altruism.
"Besides them, there are other ways. The Garden of Recollection's technology can allow you to abandon your body directly, and the blessings of Life can reshape it... but these methods have significant side effects. You probably haven't made up your mind to go that far, have you?"
"Mhm." Firefly nodded honestly. "I want to live more authentically in this world, with my own body. If I abandon my body or become one of the Life's followers, it's no different from being confined to a medical pod."
"Besides, the Path of Remembrance and the miracles of Life are both extremely rare in the universe." The organizations that held no mystery for Su Mo were still quite inaccessible to Firefly.
"Wanting to live in your own body isn't that difficult either." Under Firefly's expectant gaze, Su Mo nodded again. "A problem with genes can be solved by rewriting them. Coincidentally, that is the domain of the Path of Propagation."
"You mean?" Firefly's eyes instantly lit up as she looked at Su Mo. Who didn't know that Ruan Mei, the Aeon of Life, was the master of the Path of Propagation?
"That's right. I can solve your problem perfectly, and even make you stronger." Su Mo nodded, meeting the silver-haired girl's gaze, and then asked, "So, what's the price? What are you willing to pay to receive the boon of life?"
Hearing this, the silver-haired girl didn't hesitate for a second. She said with determination, "Everything! I am willing to give my everything!" This was a question she had long considered. At this moment, she would not back down.
"Deal."
Unexpectedly, Su Mo's reply was even more concise than hers. He didn't even ask what she was capable of.
"Eh?" Firefly was momentarily stunned. When she came to her senses, she hesitated before adding, "Lord Su Mo, I am indeed willing to give everything. But I have one condition. I will not harm my companions, and... Stelle." She was not the type to do anything to survive; she had her own bottom line.
However—
"The contract has been made. It's too late to say that now," Su Mo shook his head and extended a hand. "You are mine now."
Only then did Firefly realize how naive she had been, to agree to any condition. She wanted to say something more, but seeing Su Mo's gesture, she couldn't help but extend her own hand and place it in his palm.
It was only then that she belatedly realized what it meant to become Su Mo's possession. It wasn't an employer-employee relationship, but she had truly become a possession that had to obey his commands unconditionally.
But before she could protest, she suddenly felt a warm current flow from Su Mo's palm, filling her entire body.
Behind Su Mo, the phantom of the Pantheon activated. Ruan Mei's vivid divine image gently plucked a string on her instrument.
A red and green gradient of Path energy was poured into Firefly's body. The immense Imaginary energy was countless times stronger than the power of Destruction she had previously wielded.
Firefly could only feel her body undergoing a fundamental, transformative change. The Entropy Loss Syndrome was completely cured in the first tenth of a second. What followed was a leap in her level of existence.
After a full ten seconds, the immense Path energy was finally infused.
Even though her physical constitution had been elevated to a superhuman level capable of easily destroying a star, Firefly couldn't help but feel her legs go weak. She had to hold onto Su Mo's arm tightly to keep from collapsing.
A dozen or so seconds later, the reborn Firefly finally came to her senses. Feeling the surging power within her, she looked up, her shining eyes filled with gratitude and disbelief. "Lord Su Mo, this power you've given me is..."
Before, she had thought she had been tricked into giving her entire being to Su Mo. But now, she felt not a shred of resentment. Instead, she felt that Su Mo had been too lenient, too generous to her.
Because this boon was something that would be coveted by everyone in the entire galaxy. If her senses were correct, what Su Mo had just given her was not just a new life, but something even more precious and rare—
"Your senses are correct. This is the power of an Emanator. From now on, you are an Emanator of the Path of Propagation." Su Mo nodded calmly, speaking words that would make anyone envious.
"Lord Su Mo, this grace is too profound... I... I'm not good with sentimental words. But I will fulfill my previous promise and offer you everything."
Confirming this, Firefly bit her lip, a shimmer of light trembling in her eyes.
Feeling clumsy with words, she thought for a long time and finally could only kneel on one knee in a knight's salute, pledging her allegiance to Su Mo.
"Whatever your will, whatever your command, I will carry it out!" She had never expected happiness to come so easily, nor had she ever expected Su Mo to be so generous.
Awkward as she was, she didn't know how to express her gratitude, but she could clearly state her resolve. Since Su Mo had given her everything, she was willing to give everything in return.
"Mm, I have received your will." Su Mo did not refuse Firefly's oath and accepted it calmly. An Emanator was meant to obey their Aeon. Although Firefly's gratitude was stronger than that of a typical Emanator, it was still within the normal range. He was entitled to accept this gratitude.
"But for now, there's not much you need to do. Rise!"
"Yes!" Firefly immediately stood up obediently. But her clear eyes remained fixed on Su Mo. The feelings in her heart for this benefactor who had completely illuminated her new life were difficult to describe.
All she could show was an incredibly fervent reverence and love.
"Since your problem is solved, let them come back!" Su Mo, long accustomed to such gazes from Jibril's constant surveillance, paid no mind to Firefly's ardent stare.
Solving Firefly's problem and granting her Emanator-level power was no big deal for him. Coincidentally, the newly created Path of Propagation didn't have many Pathstriders, nor were there any notable figures below the Aeon level. Making Firefly, a life born to fight the Swarm Disaster, an Emanator of Propagation was naturally very fitting.
With her original combat power, stacked with the power of the Path of Propagation, she would be the perfect tool.
Having resolved the issue here, he immediately waved to the gray and pink-haired girls who were peeking at them from a distance, signaling that their private conversation was over and they could come over.
"You came to see her this time, didn't you?" Seeing the little gray-haired girl run over cheering, Su Mo looked down at Firefly, intending to let her have a one-sided reunion with her old friend.
But to his surprise, after giving Stelle the same gentle look as before, Firefly turned to Su Mo with an incredibly bright gaze. "She and I were indeed good friends before, although she doesn't remember... but now, I... ahem!"
Halfway through her sentence, Stelle and March 7th had arrived. Firefly subconsciously cut herself off guiltily and changed the subject.
"I have a secret base I want to show to someone important... If you have time, Lord Su Mo, would you be willing to come see it with me and Stelle?"
Seeing her expectant look, Su Mo, having nothing else to do, did not refuse.
"A secret base? Where is it?" Stelle asked with great curiosity.
"In the Dream's Edge. I'll lead the way for you and Lord Su Mo... oh, and Miss March!" Seeing Su Mo agree, Firefly's face lit up with even more joy, almost forgetting the third person.
"Yay! I want to see Miss Firefly's secret base too!" March 7th, with her curious nature, naturally wouldn't refuse, but she wasn't completely oblivious.
"But... I feel like I'm just tagging along. After you talked with Lord Su Mo, Miss Firefly, the atmosphere seems different. Is it just my imagination?"
"I-It's your imagination! It must be, Miss March... Um, this way, please!" Firefly immediately waved her hands in a fluster, then hurried forward a couple of steps to lead the way.
"Hmm? A little suspicious..." March 7th's gaze darted back and forth between Su Mo, Stelle, and Firefly.
What's with this atmosphere where I'm the only one who doesn't fit in?