Xingyue, is Xiaokai also considered Kai?

After the conversation, the two groups went their separate ways, one continuing on to the Himalayas and the other heading to Antarctica.

"Should I say, Dad, this is the romance of a rebel...?"

On the Himalayas, Fran couldn't help but say this.

"Even though he writes letters every year, he's still as stubborn as a rock."

"I've already said I didn't write it! I don't know anything about things that suddenly appeared!"

"It's precisely because you, Dad, love to say things like this, shirking responsibility, that's why it won't work. You're digging your own grave..."

"Hehe, but with Fran here, I'm at ease as your father."

Moriarty grinned broadly, revealing his teeth, then looked up and gazed into the distance.

"By the way, Fran, how about we go and meet Edmund?"

"Edmund disappeared decades ago, after avenging Grandpa... Dad, you're really useless. Not only are you no match in combat strength, but you're also incapable of providing financial support."

“If Fran says that about me, I’ll cry.”

Then, James Moriarty said with genuine relief.

"Fine, since that's the case, let's go to Antarctica! Antarctica is amazing! The penguins are cute, though not as cute as you, Fran!"

No news? That might be true for Fran, but not for Moriarty.

"Oh, Dantes, hahaha, congratulations on finishing! It must have been quite unexpected for me to be here. Hey~ say something to me!"

Many years ago, after the Count of Monte Cristo had accomplished everything, many of the men involved appeared before him.

"Oh, it's Moriarty. What's wrong?"

The Count of Monte Cristo turned to the professor and said.

"Judging from your expression, are you planning to leave?"

"Yes, it's all over now."

"Really? Where are you going? Will you come back?"

"Mexico, I don't know."

"...Hmm? If that's the case, then why go to Mexico?"

Edmund simply smiled and shook his head at Moriarty's doubts.

"...The shipyard that built the new Pharaoh for me, one of their captains apparently went to Mexico, no, back then it should have been called the Aztecs."

"Does it matter?"

"There shouldn't be any..."

Edmond Dantès walked away step by step, leaving only one sentence echoing in Moriarty's heart.

"I will continue to wait with hope, and that is the wisdom that belongs to everyone."

“Is that so? Then so be it, ‘Wait and hope, and we shall meet again, but don’t be scared away, Edmond Dantès.’”

Moriarty kept waving at Edmund.

“That’s what I hope for too, James Moriarty.”

And so, the Count of Monte Cristo disappeared from Europe.

.........

Even in this dreamlike scene, he never let his thoughts wander to dreams; his eyes always focused only on reality.

Looking up at the sky, it is a vast, clear blue expanse, unchanged since time immemorial.

Favia walked through a world that seemed unchanged until she finally arrived at an incredibly bustling city.

On the stone-paved streets, people dressed in their finest attire thronged together, and the pavilions and terraces facing the river were decorated with vibrant flowers, seemingly celebrating a festive occasion.

That said, this city is truly incredible. From the way people dress to the style of the buildings, it always evokes a sense of nostalgia in men.

However, he quickly realized that the arrangement of the walls, the surrounding scenery, meant that this place was—

The capital of the Aztecs, the floating city of Tenochtitlan.

The point where "human reason" brought peace and prosperity to mankind has come to a close, after countless years and tremendous changes.

The streets were bustling with people, all laughing and enjoying the festival. The comings and goings were so noisy that Tlaloc felt overwhelmed.

Such radiant smiles and such a lively atmosphere made Favia curious: what festival was being celebrated?

"This festival is to commemorate the sun god who saved us."

The child who was questioned by Favia said, "The sun god ascended to the sky to defeat the water monster Mipaktri, and then he never returned."

Upon hearing this, Favia nodded thoughtfully.

This is not the real end, but a false one, yet a very small, very grand, very important fairy tale of love and courage.

But after the child finished speaking, he continued:

"Grandpa, aren't you from our area? We've known this since we were little. We even thought you were asking me on purpose because you were wearing the mask we like to wear during our festivals."

"Haha, I just wear it casually, I don't really know much about it."

At this moment, Favia was still wearing the same half-leopard mask he had worn before.

"Alright then, after all, we all have a lot of respect for this half-leopard man mask."

"Is that so? But wouldn't it be inconvenient to cut it in half?"

"But this is a symbol of the sun god, that's why it's like this."

"Is the sun god Tonatiu?"

“That’s right, that’s right. Tornatiu is our sun god, always watching over us in the sky. I heard the lord say that it was because everyone trusted Lord Tornatiu that we were able to overcome countless hardships and drive away those damned Spaniards.”

Hearing this, Favia understood something. The Central and South American world did not fall apart because of his departure, and was not defeated one by one by the invading Spanish and destroyed. On the contrary, they did a good job and sacrificed a lot for the land beneath their feet.

"Grandpa, you don't know much about our things? That's alright, I can show you around. It just so happens that today is the celebration of the Tonatiu festival, and I have plenty of time..."

"There's no need for an old man like me to keep you company. You go and have fun. I'll just look around."

"Oh well...."

Favia smiled and patted the child's head, then walked slowly along the bank of Lake Moon.

He saw a statue, a statue erected by people for the 'sun,' and saw the words located beneath the statue—

"Fellow countrymen, children of the sun god, and believers of God in the Andes, after centuries of arduous and unyielding struggle, we have finally broken free from the shackles of the Habsburgs and stood up."

For centuries, the Habsburgs have not been invincible. We will become one with this land, and even if our bones are stripped away, our pure souls will never perish. The sun shines in our arms and in our hearts, and even if we sink to the bottom of the sea, we will surely rise again. Death is not invincible!

He glanced at Lake Moon and noticed that his face was indeed aging. But that was only natural; he was nearing the end, and now he was simply fulfilling a promise he had made long ago.

I will return.

In the distance, the sound of drums could be heard.

The thumping sound kept going on and on.

This wasn't the first time Favia had heard this sound; he had heard it many times before. Even so, he walked slowly with a sense of nostalgia, for it was an activity held by the people living here to celebrate the future.

At the same time, it is everything he cherishes, and seeing these things naturally makes him feel very warm in his heart.

Originally, with proper development, Moon Lake would have dried up and never regained its former beauty, but it has continued to this day.

The music of the ceremony gently enveloped Favia, while white confetti and colorful paper scraps drifted down like snowflakes.

Just as he was immersed in the joy of knowing the happiness of the people in the ceremony, he suddenly noticed that a flower was drifting along the surface of Lake Moon.

Perhaps out of curiosity, Favia walked to the riverbank and saw many wet flowers on the water. As if accepting the flowers' invitation, he walked upstream from where the petals had drifted and eventually came to an ordinary riverside chair.

He remembered that this was the chair he had sat in with Tralock and Bavan Shi back then.

So the man sat down with a smile, closed his eyes, and in the hazy light, recalled the days of the past.

At this moment, though no one knows it, dreamlike lights slowly rise over Lake Texcoco.

Beside the silver-haired man, still existing today, yet renamed Tenochtitlan in Mexico City as times have changed.

Because he crossed the world of Central and South America, the hopes of people destined to perish rose from the cities.

People have succeeded in their own way, people have existed in their own way, people have fought in their own way, and people continue under the protection of the sun.

After more than three hundred years of fighting and a long and arduous perseverance, this man finally bid farewell to annihilation and stood once again in Tenochtitlan.

As the sound of receding water faded into the distance, he raised his head, witnessing the light they had prayed for depart until the last glimmer disappeared.

Favia shook her head, smiled, and whispered goodbye:

"I didn't break my promise, right?"

He opened his eyes, placed the now-perfected silver key on his chest on the chair, and went to the shore of Lake Moon.

Life is unpredictable, and disputes are hard to resolve. The Moon Lake, which can swallow them all, exists here. No matter how many years pass, the world will continue. However, for now, let's rest for a while and enjoy a brief moment of peace.

Favia's body swayed, a gentle, intoxicating drowsiness descending from the sky, and the Fifth Sun softly closed its eyes.

Thus, the era of legend came to a complete end, becoming a distant past.

His body fell, towards the deepest part of the lake—

The waters of Lake Moon weren't much colder, but he could no longer hear the rising and falling of the tides.

A few seconds later, he was lifted up by a stream of water from the depths.

Without saying a word, the girl, carried by the current, simply opened her dark eyes with a hint of helplessness.

...You...are back, but I'm late.

"Because you are here, I have begun to feel that this world, which has lost the practice of human sacrifice, can indeed live a better life."

Tralock felt tears welling up in his eyes.

"Because of you, everyone I protected was able to survive... Waaah... Waaah..."

Tears fell, and sobs flowed.

How long ago did these transparent tears lie dormant within the girl's body?

Why can't I protect you? A wave of sorrow and despair washed over the girl's heart.

Time can make people confused.

Things you swear you'll never forget will gradually fade with time.

Conversely, time can also fade the pain and sorrow that seem unforgettable.

But he still came back, just as she had hoped, and just as he had promised to return.

"I want to show you everything about Tenochtitlan, to see things we've never seen before, to see the same scenery with you, to stay by your side, to spend my life with you... I love you."

These words flowed smoothly into her voice, even though he could no longer hear them. These were the words Tralock wanted to convey, the words she felt she had to convey. If she couldn't even say these words at this point, then the words would be meaningless.

Would he be willing to respond to such a wish?

The black-haired girl spoke of these things now, even though they had terrified her hundreds of years ago.

However, there was no response, which is to be expected, because there will be no more responses, and it is no longer possible to respond.

Tralock was deeply distressed by this, so she embraced his rapidly dissipating body.

A thousand words are contained in silent actions.

The emotions that welled up were not simple enough to be given a name, so Tralot expressed them directly through his actions.

She channeled that emotion into action, focusing it on this one act.

He won't respond, but she will, and she must.

As if driven by this emotion, her body moved first, tightly embracing Favia, gazing at his weathered face now devoid of the leopard mask, at his deathly pale lips—

She held him, and though he could no longer respond, she still gently kissed him as he was about to disappear.

The budding urban dream did not end; the sun set and returned to the Lake of the Moon.

........

"I think I saw a priest."

At the same time, Edmond Dantès, who had arrived in Tenochtitlane, Mexico, suddenly spoke up.