Collapse Iron Live Broadcast Connects All Worlds, Scares Away Wuzhan at the Beginning

"Of course~" Star-Lord took out a palm-sized box from behind him, and everyone present fell silent instantly, as they all knew what was inside.

——The Power Gem.

"Gamora, don't worry... We have this." Star-Lord proudly waved the box in front of Gamora. "We're not going to do anything bad, but with this thing, we can't kill the Herald, but at least it can save our lives in times of crisis, right?"

"Critical moment... do you mean the universal locust plague or the battle between the Heralds?" Gamora glared at him unhappily. "Do you think you'll have a chance to pull this thing out if the 'critical moment' you're talking about really comes?"

-

"Let me start with the conclusion: Based on the clues our family has, this Liuying is indeed not a local, nor is she an invited guest. In other words... she's a genuine stowaway."

Gallagher sighed helplessly. "I was also deceived by this girl. She's really old. But on the Gala Star, smuggling is not uncommon and not difficult to investigate. Afterwards, we tracked her both in dreams and in reality, but the result... was only bad news, and it was also the most troublesome news."

"This little girl disappeared without a trace in my dreams, and her body couldn't be found in reality, as if she had never been to Pinocchio."

March Seven covered his mouth in surprise: "Ah? Doesn't this mean..."

“Death completely destroyed her…”

"Impossible," Gallagher shook his head. "The question isn't 'she's dead,' it's 'she's never been here.' Let me be frank: this girl's situation...not only you, but even the Hound family has never seen anything like it."

"Himeko keenly sensed the clue in the words: "[First time]... So, [death] really did happen in Pinocchio, right?"

"You've seen it all, so what's there to hide? A city with a glamorous facade must also have a dark underbelly. I don't need to explain adult matters."

Gallagher shook his head. "But to question the family based solely on this is naive. Even dreams can lead to unexpected deaths, so what? Such extremely rare events... affect only a very small number of people."

"If you really want to get to the bottom of this case, you must first understand the family's true difficulties."

-

Gintama.

“Nooo ...

A wailing sound that did not sound like a human voice came from the Wanshi House again, startling a few birds perched on the eaves. Although passers-by were frightened, they had become accustomed to it recently.

"If she's gone, who's going to fill in for me when I need a girl from the sky? She and Xing are in a great position right now!"

Kagura calmly chewed some vinegar kelp beside her: "Gin-san, she's not dead, she just disappeared completely, Aru."

"Hey, hey, listen to what you're saying, are you even talking? It's worse than being dead than disappearing completely." Gintoki jumped up from the sofa. "If she died, at least she'd have a chance to be resurrected in Pinocchio's dream. But if her body disappears, doesn't that mean... not even ashes will be left?! Ahhh, memory domain meme, give me back my firefly!"

Shinpachi adjusted his glasses. "If the Sky-drop Type like Firefly disappears, does that mean... the Ome Type has won a complete victory?"

"Who is Qingmei?" Gintoki looked at Shinpachi in confusion.

"A slightly... uh, slightly more eligible... maybe March 7th?"

Gintoki desperately shook Shinpachi's shoulders, trying to shake his brain: "Asshole! Sanyueshi is Xing's good sister and brother! What are you thinking!"

"Gin-san, but at this point, Ryuuga's Skyfall identity is completely incapable of protecting her, right?" Kagura spread her hands. "Unless she can obtain that identity that's unstoppable in all the anime about factional warfare, a sure win as long as she possesses it—a Skyfall Green Beauty!"

Chapter 398 Pinocchio (Seventy-seven)

"Himeko: "I guess it's time to talk about the story of Mikhail?"

Gallagher nodded. "You're quite perceptive. The Sky Express also received the music box, right? Any idea what secrets are hidden inside?"

"A message: 'See the impossible in dreams, find the legacy of Pinocchio's father, the watchmaker, and then answer the question: why does life sleep?'" Jizi memorized the entire message.

Gallagher smiled softly: "Exactly."

Sanyueqi suddenly became interested: "Hey, what are you laughing at... Did you write this? The writing is quite good."

Gallagher turned to look at the little girl. "I'm the sheriff in charge of the investigation. How could I not know... I suppose you must have noticed that this message didn't come from the family—or even that the relationship between them is not that close?"

"Himeko pondered this and said, 'This is just speculation. It's hard to believe that the father of Pinocchio (the watchmaker) and the family that actually manages it (the family) are so at odds with each other.'"

"I can tell you now, absolutely," Gallagher said calmly. "The family has long considered the watchmaker an enemy, but he's so elusive, living solely in the business legend he created, that the hounds have been unable to catch him."

"So, let me ask you further: have you ever considered why the family tolerated the watchmaker sending such a ridiculous message to the outside world, allowing you to come and mess up this place?"

"Jizi speculated, 'You're trying to use this opportunity to expose the watchmaker's true identity?'"

Gallagher nodded. "Now you understand why the Oak family authorized the Nameless Guest to assist in the investigation, yet kept everything hidden from you."

-

Battle of Two Cities.

Next to the fountain in Piltover Central Park, Wei watched Gallagher's speech on the sky screen. It felt like he was hitting her with a heavy punch, making her brain make a "clicking" sound like rusty gears.

"Wait..." She rubbed her temples, "So the watchmaker is not in the same group as the family? Instead, he's the family's mortal enemy? This..."

Caitlin, standing by, was equally incredulous. Her initial guess was that the watchmaker held a high position within the family, perhaps even having a close connection to the Dream Master, making him no less influential. But this twist was a bit too exaggerated, and she didn't want to believe it… yet it seemed entirely plausible.

"Little Cake, so the watchmaker is like a wanted criminal in Pinocchio, but that doesn't make sense..." Wei thought seriously. "The watchmaker's deeds have been spread throughout Pinocchio for almost a thousand years. How could a human live that long? Either he's a robot like Screw-Gum, or... he's not human at all!"

"If it's not a human, then what is it?" Caitlin asked puzzledly.

"An organization," Wei said firmly, "only an organization can last for thousands of years. It will have a structure, with generations of members inheriting and carrying forward a certain mission. Among the people, he is a spiritual leader, but in reality, he is an organization that resists the [family]!"

"Just like Zaun has its own forces fighting against Piltover's oppression! The Watchmaker must also know about the family's conspiracy and has been committed to resisting it!" Vi said as she happily put her arm around Caitlyn's shoulders. "Little Cake, don't you think this kind of organization is cool?"

Caitlin snorted coldly and pushed Wei's arm away. "Your metaphor is very good, but don't use it next time."

-

"…Because the watchmaker is not a legend in the Land of Dreams, but rather the most unspeakable stain in the history of the Pinocchio family. He is the instigator of all the changes in the Dreams."

"What does this have to do with Mikhail?" Xing asked.

""You haven't realized it yet? I mean... Mikhail, the family's traitor—he's the famous watchmaker.""

"With that, Gallagher led everyone out of the bar and to a film park, where they began their investigation into the watchmaker. After explaining the bloody history of Pinocchio to the train crew, he explained that some of the animated characters here have real-life prototypes."

"For example, the Hanu brothers are prisoners who break free from the shackles of the company and lead the people in their fight for freedom. While the animation contains elements of artistic processing, the adaptation is not random fabrication, and the parody is not nonsense. They are all based on the history of Pinocchio, and this is an indisputable fact."

"Since the lockdown was just announced on Sunday, there were many members of the Hound family hanging around, preventing guests from entering."

"Jeko looked at the Clock Kid statue at the entrance to the park and continued, "If these anime characters have traces in real life, then the Clock Kid's counterpart is undoubtedly the Watchmaker."

"He was a companion of the Hanu brothers and one of the original members of Dream Town. Does this mean that the historical watchmaker also personally participated in that war and stood on Asdena's side?"

"It was a massive war of independence. With the help of his companions and visitors from outer space, Hanunu, the Masked Fool, the Nameless One, the Fictional Historian, the Mourning Actor, and the Herald of Doom, quelled the conflict. Naturally, the future Watchmaker was among them."

-

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.

"Why do they say that companies are like evil monsters that do all kinds of evil?"

Kasumiru Tokito Muichiro scratched his head in confusion. While today's companies couldn't be considered entirely benevolent, they at least gave many people from underprivileged areas opportunities for development. Were all companies from a thousand years ago so bad?

"Muichiro, have you forgotten what Mr. Gallagher just said?" Rock Pillar clasped his hands together. "History is written by the victors. Perhaps in the history Mr. Gallagher knows, the victors also embellished it to a certain extent?"

"If one day our Demon Slayer Corps is destroyed by Muzan, then in the history written by Muzan, we may be the 'evil' side."

Iguro Obanai quietly gazed at the movie theater on the sky screen. "But if you think about it, what kind of independence war would actually attract the Masked Fool to participate? I guess... a large part of the victory in this independence war was due to the company's voluntary surrender. When the company feels that the benefits of recovery are less than the cost of the war, it becomes an unprofitable 'investment'."

"You're kidding! Aren't these companies such assholes these days?" Fuzukawa Shima slammed his fist down onto the floor with a thud, and the veins on his forehead bulged. "They gave up on us all at once, and now they're jealous of their family's profits and want to take it back. How can such a good thing happen in this world?"

"But the subtle thing is, the family doesn't seem to be so clean either." Shinobu Kocho smiled slightly. "Whether it's a company or a family, it's just a change of owner for Pinocchio. Whoever can ensure the safety of tourists here and whoever can make this land better will be in charge."

Chapter 399 Pinocchio (Seventy-eight)

"But if that's the case... doesn't that mean the watchmaker must have lived for hundreds of years?" asked March Seven.

"I don't know. When I met Mikhail, he was already a "Watchmaker." Maybe he inherited the title."

"…Mr. Sheriff, how old are you?" March Seven's eyes widened with curiosity.

Gallagher turned his head slowly, his stubbled face expressionless: "... thirteen years old."

“It’s impossible no matter how you look at it!”

-

Honkai Impact 3rd.

"Hahaha, a thirteen-year-old bartender? His imagination is even more vivid than Pardo's. Could it be that... he's mature beyond his years? Hmm, I didn't expect this sheriff to be such a humorous person."

The crystal chandelier in the conference room cast warm light on Alicia's long pink hair. She had originally planned to drink with Eden while watching the sky, but after a few drinks, Eden got drunk first, and she was the only one left in the conference room.

The door opened gently, and a gust of wind seemed to blow in. It wasn't until the sofa beside her sank that she spoke slowly to the white-haired man beside her: "Qianjie, it's been a long time since I saw you here. I need some of Eden's treasures..."

"It's me, Alicia."

Kevin's voice was like a piece of ice falling into warm black tea.

Alicia's eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly, and even though she was usually good at speaking, she was speechless for a moment.

She turned her head and began to carefully trace his eyebrows and eyes - the cold brow peaks, the ice-blue eyes... Fifty thousand years of time had left marks on him, but had not been able to erase the outline that she was familiar with.

Not the memory in the paradise, but... Kevin in reality.

"I made a wish yesterday that I wanted to meet you in real life. I didn't expect it to come true. I should have made more wishes earlier." Alicia suddenly laughed. She reached out and poked his cheek. The warmth of her fingertips was real and distinct.

"After so many years, Kevin, don't you have anything to say to me when you see me?" The girl puffed up her cheeks angrily.

"I have a lot more to say to you before you push open this door, but just now... I'm sorry, I can't remember a single word."

"I thought you'd say something like 'Alisa, you've become more beautiful again' when we met. I really appreciate those words. Oh, let's just assume you were too excited. Forgive you, okay?"

The girl's tone was cheerful, as playful as ever. For a moment, he seemed to see that dusk fifty thousand years ago again—Alisaia, smiling just like that, twirling on the base's rooftop, her pink hair flying, casting tiny specks of light.

Kevin looked around the empty conference room and asked curiously, "Where are the others?"

"They all have their own things to do. Besides... you showed up so suddenly without saying anything. Of course no one would have prepared for it."

Alicia gently stroked Eden's hair. "It's just Eden and I here, but she's drunk now. You can say hello to her when she wakes up. By the way, do you want anything? We can provide anything here... except noodles."

"Uh..." Kevin lowered his head awkwardly, "...then forget it."

-

"Hanunu liberated the border prison, but Asdena remained impoverished and backward. It wasn't until a historical watchmaker extended an olive branch to the family, attempting to transform this border prison into a star of grand celebrations...that Pinocchio finally earned its current name and stepped onto the stage facing the stars."

"But, you clearly said earlier that the watchmaker was a traitor to the family? You also said that you were his companion, so you also..." Sanyueqi hesitated.

"I'm not his companion, but one of his many children," Gallagher said, shaking his head in denial. "But I am indeed a traitor. Not to my family, but to Mikhail."

"Himeko was stunned: "...What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything, and this is the ultimate betrayal." Gallaher's tone was tinged with sadness. "Like you, I once had close friends. We worked so hard for Pinocchio, but Oak Line...took us in vain."

"Mikhail is old and can no longer protect his children. We left the family and sought our own way. We became traitors to the Harmony..." Gallagher gritted his teeth, "...even though the true traitor was someone else."

"They continue to praise the watchmaker's reputation publicly, but secretly they are secretly nailing him to the pillar of shame. Even so, we still hope to clear his name. If we can find the true traitor, the mastermind behind all this, then the harmony of Pinocchio can return to the right path..."

"But we lost. A long time passed, and the impact on the Dreamland was too profound. Under the endless pursuit, I gave up... like a lost dog. Later, the family accepted me back and gave me the job of sheriff. It was a veneer of forgiveness, but in reality it was punishment. From then on... my companions and I... and my past were completely severed. And Mikhail..."

"I heard that he died in a corner where no one cared, a place where no one could find him. I knew that from that moment on, the former Pinocchio would never come back."

-

Fullmetal Alchemist.

"This uncle has such a heavy heart... How many ups and downs, how many different aspects of life has he witnessed in his thirteen years?"

"Brother, are you serious? I'd believe this guy is 33, not 13..."

Alphonse was momentarily at a loss for words. Mr. Gallagher was undoubtedly a deeply tragic figure, but the ruthlessness of his words was sharp. He undoubtedly possessed sharp claws, a rage filled with anger ready to unleash on the betrayer at any moment.

"The watchmaker is dead, so who will be the one who wrote the secret code? The next watchmaker? Brother, I feel like this Pinocchio is a huge trap. They drag people from different factions into the dream world, saying they're inviting them as guests, but their real goal is to assimilate everyone into becoming part of Harmony..."

Just thinking about it gave Alphonse a chill.

"Don't let your imagination run wild." Edward waved his hand. "Didn't you hear what Mr. Gallagher said? The family's only target is Mikhail. But I'm curious, since he's the creator of this dream, why would he betray the family? Was there a disagreement over the division of the money? ... It can't be such a lowly reason, right?"

"Brother, you're completely wrong. The person who created this dream must have very firm beliefs. In my opinion, it must be the family that betrayed Mikhail... but they found an excuse to shift the blame—which also happens to correspond to the traitor in the family."

Alphonse said word by word: "…Mikhail is both the creator and the victim of this beautiful dream."

Chapter 400 Pinocchio (Seventy-nine)