"Sparkle, are you still wasting time?"
After getting her answer, Leon extended a hand to her.
"The top-tier carry you took out a loan for is right in front of you. It's time to prepare for boarding."
Leon made his move right in front of the Board of Seven Directors, as if he didn't even see them.
This disregard was, without a doubt, the ultimate humiliation for the Corporation!
"Hahaha!"
Sparkle roared with laughter, clutching her stomach.
"The Astral Express? A Nameless? My god, is the God of Jest choosing his own successor?"
After a moment of laughter, a hint of fanaticism entered Sparkle's eyes as she looked at him.
The Masked Fools were, of course, aware of all of Aha's past romantic escapades.
The strongest Nameless in history and the worst Nameless in history.
Both were the same person: Aha, slumming it on the Astral Express using a smurf account and a disguise.
Countless people had wanted to retrace the God of Jest's path, but were forced to give up when the Astral Express was stranded.
But now, the Astral Express had set sail once more.
And the one who brought it back into the world—would you believe he's an Emanator of The Elation?
This was just too much fun.
Not only was he recreating the most thrilling and joyous masterpiece of the God of Jest's long life, but he was also taking it to a new level.
The Path of the Trailblaze had never had a Navigator of Elation.
Perhaps Leon could fill that vacancy!
Although he was a turncoat who'd served three masters, that didn't stop him from being an Emanator of Elation. And who could say Aha didn't pick a masterpiece performer in his own image?
With that thought, the corner of Sparkle's eye deliberately glanced at the all-gold train ticket on his collar.
In an era when 'The Trailblaze' had declined and the Astral Express's whereabouts were unknown, what channels could an ordinary person possibly have to obtain this symbol of a Trailblazer?
Not to mention, Leon's debut was during the Third Abundance War.
There were no traces of him before that, so how could he possibly know any senior Trailblazers?
Combined with the tale of Aha selling a dog to get on the train, the answer was obvious.
It seemed it wasn't just 'Lan'; 'Aha' also held him in high favor.
"My dear Ranger, are you inviting me aboard?"
Sparkle tilted her head up slightly; only then could her gaze barely meet his.
"You're strong enough. Barely a 'large cup', but it'll do. Come on if you want to."
Meeting her gaze, Leon didn't deny it.
"You said it."
Sparkle giggled, completely unconcerned about the shackles on her hands as she walked towards him.
"Then Sparkle won't be polite. You have to take responsibility for whatever happens, okay~!"
Her words were clearly referring to the Corporation.
"Ranger Leon, you've come uninvited, and you treat the great Pier Point as if it were deserted."
And indeed, the Corporation did intervene.
"Doing whatever you please, isn't that putting the Corporation beneath your notice a little too much?"
Zaitian said with a grim face.
This was too much. Not only did he crash his vehicle in here.
But he was acting completely on his own terms. The dignity the Interastral Peace Corporation had built over many Amber Eras, its reputation across the worlds, was utterly destroyed by his actions!
"I still prefer the arrogant look on your faces when you called me Arbiter-General Leon."
Leon showed no reaction, simply stating this.
Zaitian fell silent.
They called him Ranger, not Arbiter-General, of course, for fear of escalating things to the Xianzhou Alliance.
Since he was using a different identity, why not take advantage of it?
"Of course it's because they're afraid of you as the Arbiter-General, my dear, good Ranger~!"
Sparkle said in an ambiguous tone, completely tearing away the Corporation's fig leaf.
What was all that about seizing the opportunity to gain an advantage? In the end, wasn't it just fear?
Taking advantage of a weakness is only natural. That kind of talk could only fool themselves.
Leon glanced at her but said nothing.
The strong always had privileges with him, so letting her run her mouth a bit was fine.
"I will not get involved in your grudges."
Leon had no intention of explaining, simply declaring to the Corporation.
"I only want the intelligence. After I have it, what happens to her has nothing to do with me."
He didn't know Sparkle well, and she didn't seem like someone being oppressed.
The only reason they were connected was because of Black Swan.
After all, she was his friend, so Leon would definitely help.
But Sparkle wasn't.
She wanted to trade intelligence for his arrival. He came. It was a fair and equal exchange.
After the exchange, there was naturally no need to help her further.
"Whether you can get your face back after this is all up to your own abilities."
Keeping her safe on the train was the greatest privilege Leon could grant her based on her strength.
"Ranger Leon, do you mean we're to watch with our own eyes as you take the Corporation's mole away?"
Yasarli asked in a low tone.
"Pretty much," Leon replied, just as he had expected.
He had driven the train straight in because walking through the front door would lead to a lot of talk, with the Corporation dragging its feet and refusing to hand Sparkle over, eventually leading to a fight.
This way was much better.
He had picked up Sparkle and instantly saved a ton of time on pointless procedures.
If the Corporation wanted to fight, they could fast-forward straight to the battle. If they didn't, he could just leave with Sparkle.
It was all up to them.
If they wanted a fight, Leon would oblige.
Truth be told, a bunch of capitalist dogs all deserved to be strung up on lampposts.
It's just that Leon hadn't met any victims of these particular executives yet, so he didn't feel like bothering for now.
But if a fight really broke out, he would never back down.
Of course, you could say the Corporation has saved many people too, but that's just how conflicts of ideology are.
Even 'Aeons' can't avoid it, let alone them.
In this world, there is no right or wrong, only the size of one's fist.
And speaking of the size of one's fist, Leon had to demonstrate what it meant to have:
A right fist with high stats, and a left to suppress even higher stats.
"Today, Ranger Leon, you probably won't be able to leave as easily as last time."
As Opal spoke, the executives present gradually gathered together.
"We, the Interastral Peace Corporation, cannot tolerate you trampling on 'The Preservation' a second time."
As if a decision had been made, Opal spoke seriously.
"At this moment, the Interastral Peace Corporation officially declares wa—"
Before the declaration of war was finished, a faint voice echoing throughout Pier Point interrupted him.
[Let him go.]
The voice said.
Opal's pupils contracted sharply, and the others, without exception, showed expressions of surprise.
Upon hearing this voice, the Board of Seven Directors.
These six individuals, second only to one and above all others, holding the greatest power and profit in the universe.
All wore a look of astonishment not seen in several Amber Eras!
This voice, without a doubt, was the strongest lingering soul currently existing within the Corporation!
—Louis Fleming!
One of only two P49s, a founder of the Corporation, an ancestral figure who has existed for over seven hundred Amber Eras. Many even jokingly called him the Aeon who commands 'Wealth'.
On the day he announced his retirement, Fuli, the Aeon of 'Remembrance', even came personally to record it.
One can imagine just how significant he was.
Since this old gentleman retired, no one had seen him even once.
Even they, the top executives of the Corporation, only knew that he had existed, and still existed now.
As for where he was, or what he was doing.
They knew nothing, or rather, no one but the man himself could know.
And today, he had actually emerged once more!
Thinking of this, the executives simultaneously cast their gazes upon Leon.
An existence that could startle Louis Fleming was a rare sight in the world.
If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, probably no one in the entire Corporation would believe it.
Sparkle had been here for so long without any reaction.
Excluding her, there was only one variable present. Did the answer even need to be stated?
Without a doubt, this founder of the Corporation had come for this Galaxy Ranger!
"Mr. Fleming, this is the man who made the Corporation lose all face. Letting him go, doesn't that mean the Corporation is completely submitting to him?"
Having finally found a backer to lean on, Madam Scar-Eye spoke boldly.
"At that point, wouldn't 'The Preservation' become a joke?"
Madam Scar-Eye's words, in and out, implied that 'The Preservation' could not be insulted and hoped Louis Fleming would step in to resolve the matter.
It had to be said, the appearance of this P49 superior.
Immediately brought a great sense of security to the Corporation; even Arbiter-General Leon was no longer so frightening.
Louis Fleming and Dongfang Qiming.
It was impossible for these two P49-level Corporation founders not to be Emanators of 'The Preservation'.
After all, the next level up was the Amber Lord himself.
An Emanator of 'The Preservation' who has survived for over seven hundred Amber Eras—it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him the Corporation's greatest trump card, would it?
The entire Corporation, keep your pants dry!
[On the path of 'The Preservation', he is far superior to the Corporation.]
Louis Fleming's response far exceeded everyone's expectations.
No one could have imagined that he would give such an answer.
As a founder of the Corporation, he personally acknowledged the purity of an outsider like Leon, while denying the purity of his own, the orthodox followers of 'The Preservation'?
What was going on?
Weren't we promised that the Interastral Peace Corporation might go bankrupt, but it would never lose its principles?
[We are Qlipoth's support team. We need only 'Preserve' what is worth 'Preserving', while he has 'Preserved' the entire world.]
Louis Fleming's vague yet clear voice gave no hint of his tone.
[Including all of you, the entire galaxy owes him a life.]
What did he mean by 'preserved the entire world'? And what did 'the entire galaxy owes him a life' mean?
What did that have to do with me?
These words were all very cryptic; the Corporation could only glean that their old boss held Leon in very high regard.
[Let this farce end here.]
Louis Fleming said no more, only signaling that the Corporation could stand down.
The executives remained silent.
They exchanged glances, the same expression on each of their faces.
The confusion of not having an answer.
Why would Louis Fleming, the one most qualified in the universe to call himself the agent of 'The Preservation', act as if he were inferior to Leon?
What secret was hidden here?
And what reason could there be for a founder of the Corporation to choose to publicly admit the Corporation's defeat?
The executives said nothing.
Since Louis Fleming had spoken, the Corporation certainly had nothing more to say.
P49, an existence of this level, no one except Dongfang Qiming was qualified to question anything.
They would officially respond to the confrontation.
Whether it was the heavy losses suffered under the gaze of the Amber Lord, or today's unscathed retreat from Pier Point, it was all true.
Once Louis Fleming spoke, there was no longer any possibility of war.
The conflict between the Corporation and Leon would also truly end with their show of weakness.
Leon won, the Corporation lost. It was that simple.
No more trying to salvage any dignity from this stain. If Leon took a captive, then he took a captive.
The president himself has acknowledged him, what else is there to say?
Of course, if anyone thought this made the Corporation a pushover, then the unvented anger towards Leon...
...would fall entirely upon that provocative faction.
[Leave.]
Louis Fleming's words were clearly directed at Leon.
"Not making an enemy of me is a wise choice."
Leon could feel that the speaker was also a top-tier 'Emanator' level powerhouse.
He enjoyed dealing with the strong, evaluating the strong.
When the Corporation has a change of heart and wants to fight.
Or the next time he comes to cause trouble for the Corporation, he would very much look forward to Louis Fleming coming out to save the day.
"If you want to fight, I'm always ready."
With that, Leon turned and walked towards the train entrance, which had been open all this time.
"Wow, the legendary boss of the Corporation actually came out."
Sparkle exclaimed cheerfully, completely surprised.
"To think I'd get to see this legendary existence so soon."
And all of this 'Elation' was brought by one person.
"My dear Ranger, Lady Sparkle is liking you more and more."
Sparkle shifted her gaze to the back in front of her, skipping to keep up with his steps.
Say what you will, the God of Jest's taste is truly excellent.
A temperament that knows no fear, combined with immense power, created a strange chemical reaction.
Facts have proven that the fun Leon could bring to Aha...
...was a threshold a hundred Masked Fools could never reach.
"I'd rather not."
Standing at the door, waiting for Sparkle to enter, Leon's reply was concise and clear.
"You'd really rather not?"
Sparkle echoed his words, giggling as she walked into the train.
Listen!
After Sparkle entered the train, Leon closed the door.
"Start it up, start it up, start it all up!"
Then, some commotion came from inside.
"Stop it, pa! I'm definitely revoking your Navigator qualification, pa!"
Accompanied by a heart-wrenching sound.
With a bang, the train, which had been stuck against the wall, went full throttle, smashing through the wall it was stuck on and thus regaining its freedom to set sail.
[A variable in the Iron Tomb's game...]
Louis Fleming watched the train's departing silhouette, muttering words only he could hear.
Besides the 'Remembrance' faction, few in the galaxy knew the truth about 'Fuli'.
He was one of them, and he had deep connections with 'Remembrance'.
Thanks to this connection.
Louis Fleming could sense from Leon a memory of 'Finality' that did not belong to the present time.
Although he couldn't sense the specifics, he could perceive a crucial cause.
The Iron Tomb!
Louis Fleming certainly knew the terror of this Lord Ravager.
But it was unstoppable; its birth was inevitable.
Because this was a moment anchored by 'Nous'. No one could change it. Once the Iron Tomb descended, it would be a catastrophe for the entire galaxy.
And now, a variable has appeared.
If nothing unexpected happens, Leon will stop everything, just as he changed the 'Finality' of other timelines.
This was also why Louis Fleming said:
When it comes to 'The Preservation', the Corporation is far inferior to Leon.
It was also the reason he chose to show himself this time.
Everything the Corporation protects will dissipate in the aftermath of the 'Iron Tomb'. How can they still talk about defending 'The Preservation'? If they really want to defend 'The Preservation', they should go fight the 'Iron Tomb' later!
Could they even last a single blow from Lord Iron Tomb?
They don't have the ability to fight but still want to make noise. In the end, won't they have to rely on a variable like Leon to fight?
They're going to have to rely on someone to save them, and they still want to declare war on him?
What more is there to say? Just quietly accept the loss of reputation from this incident and admit defeat.
Even setting aside the fact that Leon will soon save the Corporation from peril in passing.
If a real fight broke out, the Corporation would probably fall to him, if not to the Iron Tomb.
Louis Fleming was very clear on the greater good.
Just as he had said earlier, everyone in the galaxy would definitely owe Leon a life.
Of course, Leon wouldn't actively save the world—
Because for him, saving the world is just something he does along the way.
Authority!
...
The Astral Express, having already left the territory of Pier Point.
Inside the passenger car.
"Wuwuwu, Pom-Pom just got a new train!"
Pom-Pom was pounding the floor and weeping, strongly protesting the new Navigator's rough treatment of the train.
"Don't cry, Conductor. Aren't trains meant to be driven?"
To this, the culprit, Leon, had only one reply.
The Astral Express that the Conductor was so reluctant to see harmed... is standing tall again!
____
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