In front of the bar, although Boothill had seemed unreliable the whole time, he still pulled Dan Heng over at this moment and decided to go over the current situation.
After all, no matter what you were doing, it was best to have a plan first. Even if that plan was extremely simple, the same applied to a Galaxy Ranger.
Dan Heng did not refuse and spoke first, "The current situation isn't very clear. Something must have happened at the City of Dreams, yet the public knows nothing about it. I assume someone with power and influence in the Family is covering it up."
"The Harmony inviting other factions is unusual in itself. What's more, the IPC and the Masked Fools are involved as well. If the Nihility Emanator you mentioned really exists, then the current situation in Penacony is a little too complicated."
"Actually, there's another thing about Acheron that's been bothering me," Boothill said. "You know it too, the factions that believe in the Hunt are some of the people you absolutely don't want to mess with in the galaxy. No sane person would dare pretend to be the Xianzhou Alliance or a Galaxy Ranger. That's just asking to die..."
"Don't the Xianzhou people have a saying? The Reignbow only uses light arrows to proclaim its wheelchair..."
"Edict," Dan Heng interrupted. "Proclaim its edict."
"Whatever. You know what I mean."
Boothill waved it off, but just as he was about to say something else, an arrow formed from blue energy, about the length of an index finger, suddenly went "biu~" and struck him, knocking the Interastral Cowboy head over heels.
"Mewny, mew!"
Little Lan glared fiercely at Boothill, its tail swinging restlessly. It looked as though it was about to jump over and beat Mr. Cowboy senseless.
But in the end, it did not do so. This little cat cake tapped the ground with its tail, opened its mouth, and spat out another blue arrow, knocking Boothill, who was just about to get up, head over heels again.
Little Yaoshi was silent nearby, but Little Aha was already laughing and helpfully translated, "Little Lan says you mispronounced two characters, so it hit you twice."
Dan Heng kept a straight face as he watched this scene, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
But, how should he put it? Hmm... If he had mispronounced the words, then of course it was Boothill's fault.
And Little Lan had already gone easy on him. Although saying this was somewhat hurtful, Dan Heng was certain that ordinary Pathstriders, let alone being able to fight Nero, could not even defeat these little pets that Nero had named after Aeons.
He had personally seen the light arrows spat out by Little Lan make a space beast cry out in pain, so the fact that these two hits had only knocked Boothill head over heels twice really was quite generous.
Boothill got up from the ground and looked unhappily at Little Lan on the floor.
"Goddamn it, this little cutie packs one hell of a punch!"
As he spoke, Boothill began reaching for his gun.
If it were an ordinary person, they probably would not pick a fight with such an adorable little cat cake. But he was Boothill. Let alone fighting back, it would not even seem strange for him to actually start a fight with a cat cake.
At least, after spending a short time with him, that was what Dan Heng thought.
Dan Heng did not know who would win if Little Lan and the shark-toothed cowboy really fought. He simply did not want Boothill causing some major trouble at this point.
Besides, if nothing unexpected happened, if Boothill and Little Lan started fighting, the other two cat cakes would probably join in too...
It was hard to imagine what expression this Galaxy Ranger would have after being subdued by three pets.
In any case, for Boothill's physical and mental well-being, Dan Heng advised, "Don't do it. This little one is Nero's pet, and this one's name is Little Lan."
Boothill's hand froze while reaching for his gun.
According to what Brother Dan Heng had said just now, the reason they had managed to get their room cards was because of the favor of that fellow called Nero. Looking at it that way, he really could not start a fight. And this little cutie was even called Little Lan...
From a certain perspective, could the fact that this little cutie was still alive mean that the Great Lan had tacitly approved of it?
If so, starting a fight now would be impolite.
"Tsk."
The cowboy curled his lips, and in the end, he did not draw his gun.
Speaking of which, just what kind of person was this Nero? Damn, it was one thing to give his pet such a name, but this little cutie could actually knock him head over heels with a single hit!
"Continue what you were talking about just now," Dan Heng reminded him when he saw that Boothill still seemed unable to let it go.
"Ah, right."
Boothill nodded.
"Anyway, don't think that just because the Galaxy Rangers have been out of sight for so many years, we've stopped watching this part of the universe. Plenty of idiots would rather offend the Annihilation Gang than mess with the Rangers."
"But that Acheron, at least judging by what she's done, doesn't look like a madwoman. Quite the opposite. She's very logical and methodical. When she should hold back, she does. When she needs to act decisively, she never hesitates to kill."
"You think someone like her is borrowing the name of the Galaxy Rangers for another purpose."
Dan Heng roughly understood what Boothill meant.
"I didn't make that conclusion. I just find it suspicious," Boothill said. "Maybe she really does know the Galaxy Rangers. Maybe she wants to draw us out for some reason... I don't know."
"I'm still more concerned about the Family's abnormal behavior," Dan Heng said as he thought.
"Because of this grand gathering, Pathstriders of more than a dozen Paths have been summoned to Penacony. No matter how tolerant the Family is, they wouldn't do something this unusual."
"Unless the invitations weren't sent by them. And if the Family still insists on holding the Charmony Festival under these circumstances... that's even more intriguing."
"Maybe all of this is the instruction of Xipe, the Aeon of Harmony. You think it's unreasonable because humans can't do it."
Boothill had plenty of thoughts on the matter.
"Humans will do stupid things because of irrational impulses. They'll abandon their principles when their own interests are involved, and they'll believe things they know they shouldn't believe. Goddamn it, humans will even break rules they just made themselves."
"But Aeons won't. Aeons will follow one road all the way to the end. They won't turn back until they hit a wall... and they won't turn back even after hitting it!"
Dan Heng frowned.
"If that's the case, then I should just ask Nero directly. That would probably get us an answer faster."
"Nero again. Just what kind of big shot is this Nero? What, are you saying this little guy can directly talk to an Aeon or something?"
Boothill was now both impatient and curious after hearing Dan Heng mention that Nero over and over.
"Probably."
Thinking about Nero's relationship with Aha, Dan Heng nodded.
"Goddamn it, are you screwing with me, you little cutie?" Boothill said.
"It's a fact," Dan Heng said. "I don't know about the other Aeons, but it's certain that Nero and that Aeon of Elation really do have a very close relationship. Hmm... judging by that one's way of doing things, maybe they're right here beside us right now."
"You're serious!"
Seeing the serious expression on Dan Heng's face, Boothill was starting to believe him.
Below, Little Aha raised its head.
Aha: 'Damn it. Kid, you actually guessed it.'