Mr. Zhongli, we can't slack off anymore!

In a daze, I heard Abel's voice.

Her voice was no longer her usual cheerful, lively, and childlike excitement; instead, it sounded somewhat stiff.

"Next stop: Fontaineville Terminal. Passengers, please take your belongings with you and be careful when disembarking, as the step is higher than the ground..."

The traveler slightly opened his eyes.

The view outside the window had changed from a wide-open coastline and mountains to a gradually approaching, large-scale and aesthetically pleasing complex of buildings. The cruise ship was slowly gliding into a huge and exquisite platform.

The platform itself is a work of art.

The towering arched dome is made of a pale gold metal frame and light blue glass, through which sunlight casts shimmering, water-like spots of light on the ground.

The supporting pillars are carved with intricate and elegant vine and wave patterns, each turn revealing the craftsman's meticulous attention to detail. Along the edge of the platform, a row of plain white vases are filled with fresh, dew-kissed purple flowers—a type of flower unique to Fontainebleau.

A faint floral fragrance filled the air, mingling with the platform's unique, clean, and slightly cool atmosphere. Rather than a transportation hub platform, it resembled the entrance to a top-tier art gallery, with every detail speaking to the people of Fontainebleau's pursuit of aesthetics and order.

As the traveler gazed at the exquisite carvings and ingenious structural designs, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind—if only he had come to Fontainebleau with Kavi, he could have talked excitedly about these buildings for three days and three nights…

Thinking of this, a sense of nostalgia quietly crept into my heart.

The journey is long, and every place you stop at will leave a unique mark in your memory.

The patrol boat docked steadily in the designated position, fitting perfectly with the platform.

The passengers began to disembark in an orderly manner.

After the awkward silence, everyone was now unusually "orderly." No one spoke loudly; they simply picked up their luggage and walked to the car door in order.

No one looked at Abel again, and no one mentioned the "good reviews" again, but a tacitly oppressive atmosphere still permeated the air.

On the platform, pilots in neat uniforms greeted disembarking passengers with standard smiles: "Welcome to Fontainebleau. Please watch your step. Have a pleasant time in Fontainebleau."

Faintly, the sound of music from a gramophone drifted from somewhere on the platform. It was the rich, mellow sound of a vinyl record, with a melodious violin tune mixed with piano accompaniment, flowing through the spacious platform and further easing the tension in the train carriage, pulling people back to the elegant and relaxed daily rhythm of Fontaine.

Travelers disembarked with the flow of people. The platform floor was paved with smooth, dark stone, reflecting the light and shadow of the dome and the hurried footsteps of people.

"Excuse me... may I ask..."

A faint sound came from beside me.

The traveler stopped and turned to look. It was Abel. She had also left the information desk and followed him to this side of the platform, her hands clasped nervously in front of her, her large eyes looking at the traveler with gratitude in them.

“Just now… I’m so grateful to you for getting me out of that situation…” Abel’s voice was soft, as if she was still shaken: “I… I know I shouldn’t have interrupted and violated the rules… but I’m really very grateful to you.”

"Excuse me... could you tell me your name?" She paused, as if gathering her courage, "I want to tell you all that I met a kind person today."

The traveler looked at her and replied, "My name is 'Traveler'."

“Traveler…” Abel repeated softly, tilting her head with a puzzled look on her face. “That name sounds familiar… I feel like I’ve heard it somewhere before. Maybe it’s the name of Miss ‘Traveler,’ which sounds similar to ‘passenger’ or something?” She quickly waved her hand, somewhat embarrassed. “I’m sorry, it was very rude of me to say that. I just felt that it shouldn’t be just like that…”

"Haha, that's exactly it." The traveler chuckled, his tone relaxed.

After all, I can't tell you my real name.

Abel nodded as if she understood, clearly this explanation had not completely dispelled her doubts, but she politely did not ask any further questions.

Then, as if remembering something more important, her eyes lit up, and she leaned forward slightly: "By the way, Miss Lü, are you really Lord Vilette's friend?"

“Yes,” the traveler nodded, “we used to be friends. But… that was a long time ago. He probably… doesn’t remember me anymore.”

“No way!” Abel shook his head vigorously, his tone unusually firm: “Lord Vilette never forgets anyone! His memory is excellent. He remembers the names and resumes of all the staff in Momang Palace, and even the details of many cases he has handled, all very clearly!”

She looked at the travelers with sincere eyes: "Since you are friends who haven't seen each other for so long, you must meet as soon as possible! Lord Vilette will be very happy to know that his old friends are visiting!"

Seeing Abel's confident expression, the traveler sighed softly.

Even if you say that...

I don't remember, or perhaps I simply don't remember.

Forgetting something is sometimes that cruel and real. It's unintentional, yet irreversible.

But so what? Even if we lose our past memories, can't we create new ones? Isn't the meaning of a journey about meeting, getting to know each other, and then writing new stories? Old chapters may have yellowed and blurred, but blank pages are always waiting to be written.

……

Shall we meet soon?

Travelers stand next to the sign in front of the elevator, which clearly indicates that "Mo Mang Palace" is on the fourth floor. They can reach it simply by pressing a small button on the elevator.

Anticipation, excitement, a touch of trepidation like returning home, and a vague tension about the unknown reunion.

My fingertips paused for a moment on the cool, smooth control panel before I pressed the button that led to the "fourth floor".

Ding.

The elevator doors slid open silently, revealing a spacious and bright interior decorated with metal reliefs featuring the national flower of Fontainebleau. The traveler stepped inside, and the doors slowly closed.

A slight feeling of weightlessness came over me as the elevator smoothly ascended.

Through the glass curtain wall on the side, you can see Fontaine's unique urban landscape, the spires of buildings of different styles, and the Opicclay Opera House standing in the distance like a giant seashell.

Soon, with a soft beep, the elevator doors opened again.

A wide, straight road paved with smooth stone slabs came into view.

Neatly trimmed green plants and elegant streetlights line both sides of the road.

The pedestrians were bustling about, mostly well-dressed citizens of Fontainebleau. They walked in elegant groups or hurried along, chatting in hushed tones, their faces displaying the composure and restraint unique to this city of law and art.

And at the end of the road... that solemn and majestic building is the Mo Mang Palace.

The main building is a combination of light gray and white, with clean and majestic lines. The huge arches and towering columns demonstrate the unquestionable weight of power and law.

Fragments of memories, mixed with excitement and anxiety about the upcoming reunion, flooded my mind.

Those shared adventures, conversations, and even debated ideas... separated by the vast expanse of time, they become both clear and blurred.

The traveler took a deep breath and stepped out of the elevator.

Just as his foot touched the stone slabs of the path leading to Mo Mang Palace...

Snapped.

A drop of icy water hit her forehead without warning.

The traveler paused slightly, then looked up.

Before I knew it, the once bright sky was now covered by a thin layer of leaden-gray clouds.

Fine rain began to fall silently, starting as just a few scattered drops, but soon it spread out, pattering softly and covering the world with a damp veil.

It's raining.

The rain in Fontainebleau seems different from anywhere else. The rain in Fontainebleau evokes a sense of... quiet sadness.

The air became moist and chilly, and the outline of the distant Mo Mang Palace was slightly blurred in the rain, adding to its sense of alienation.

Is Violet feeling the same way right now?

The traveler recalled the discussions among the passengers on the cruise ship, the questioning of the verdicts, the speculation about politics, and the criticism of Navelette personally.

Even knowing his high status and great power, the worldly pressures represented by those words, and everything he might be facing at this moment... Thinking of this, the traveler's unease intensified.

But then she shook her head, trying to dispel the inexplicable worry.

He's already a 500-year-old adult dragon... he should be able to handle these things on his own, right?

(Does five hundred years old really constitute "adulthood" for a dragon? This standard seems a bit vague...)

With these complex emotions in mind, the traveler did not shy away. Letting the drizzle wet his hair and clothes, he strode forward along the stone path, which was gradually dampened by the rain, and resolutely walked towards the silent palace.