As Han Yun and his companions' ill-fated spiritual energy systems were still malfunctioning, they couldn't access any information about the Argon people from the database of the Spirit God Realm. Therefore, the three of them could only shake their heads to indicate their lack of understanding.
Daddy Cat then explained, "Argon is an extremely unstable and rare inert gas. Thanks to the ultra-high concentration of argon gas on Argon, we Argonians have super-stable gaseous bodies. This enables me to continue performing even if accidents occur, and to successfully complete every performance task."
"For example, the escape program you performed yesterday, 'It's sulfuric acid! Let's run!' was the first program I performed years ago. I remember that I had an accident in the first performance because of a clown's mistake and fell into the sulfuric acid pool."
"I thought someone would rescue me, so I foolishly waited in the pool for help. But in the end, even the clowns on stage couldn't move, and the audience in the stands couldn't shout anymore. So, I had to struggle to climb out of the pool myself. Then, as soon as I climbed out of the pool, I suddenly appeared here, and saw Countess Gogolnikyeva."
"Then," Daddy Cat continued after spinning around in the air for a few rounds, "because the Countess was very curious about my situation, she conducted many experiments on me. These included but were not limited to exposure to wind and rain, lightning strikes, fire roasting, and cursing. The Countess was very surprised by my exceptionally stable body, which could withstand all poisons, and even said that not even the mold spirit energy could affect me much. It was precisely because the Countess couldn't do anything to me that she considered me a rare and precious creature and decided to make me her assistant to help her manage various matters related to performances."
Upon hearing this, the three finally understood why Daddy Cat's level of ill fortune was only one. Dao Lao and Dream Jia also marveled at Daddy Cat's incredible resistance. In their long careers as clerics, they had encountered countless strange creatures in the mortal realm, but they had never heard of any creature with such a special ability that even the mold spirit energy couldn't affect.
"So, Daddy Cat, where are your kind? Why are you the only one here?" Dream Jia asked again.
Hearing Dream Jia's question, the lively Daddy Cat suddenly looked dejected and replied, "Dead. All the Argonians, except me, were destroyed along with Argon."
"Dead? Didn't you say you were born from extremely stable argon? And even the Countess couldn't do anything to you? If so, how could your race, your civilization, be extinct?" Han Yun asked incredulously.
"Ah! Although that's what I said, in this world, there is actually no such thing as absolute certainty, is there?" Daddy Cat retorted.
Then, without waiting for Han Yun's response, Daddy Cat continued, "Although we Argonians have exceptionally stable and extremely difficult-to-destroy bodies, if we encounter a double impact equivalent to super-galactic-level high temperature and pressure simultaneously, we will still be ignited and blasted into ashes. Although this condition is extremely harsh and the probability of it happening is extremely low. Unfortunately, the explosion caused by the divine war in this galaxy released enough energy to meet this condition. Plus, the epicenter of that explosion was not far from Argon, so the accident that we always thought was impossible happened."
"Ah! It was an indescribable, even completely hopeless, supermassive explosion. Argon was almost completely detonated in an instant, and I, who was running around the streets like a headless fly, thought I would soon detonate with the rest of my people and our planet. But unexpectedly, after I woke up, I appeared in a big tent. Then, I was inexplicably dragged out by a group of clowns to perform. Later, I learned that it was the Countess who happened to find me drifting along with the energy currents in this chaotic void and brought me here."
"And then, you became the operations manager here. Oh? By the way, Daddy Cat. Since you're in charge here, do you know the mechanisms of those performances? Can you tell us how to successfully complete those performances?" Han Yun saw that Daddy Cat was very talkative today, so he naturally shifted the topic to the performance projects.
Daddy Cat first showed a "I knew you would ask that" expression, then said straightforwardly, "Actually, one of the reasons I came here this time was to introduce the performance content of the Fragrant Nebula to you three. Since you've participated in two performances already, I think you should have accumulated many questions. So, feel free to ask whatever you want to know."
Hearing Daddy Cat's words, Han Yun directly asked his most concerned question, "Why do we encounter accidents every time? Are these accidents deliberately arranged to hinder us from completing the performances?"
After a little thought, Daddy Cat replied, "Actually, everyone encounters accidents during circus performances. This adds some excitement to the performances and increases the fun. Moreover, when everyone encounters accidents, it seems that a certain energy is generated. And all this energy is used to maintain the operation of the Fragrant Nebula."
"Although everyone gains some unexpected experiences during the performances. But if we think about it from another perspective, it's precisely because of these accidents that the Fragrant Nebula has gained enough energy, allowing us to survive here for a long time and stably, until the chaotic world outside calms down and we can go out and rebuild the world."
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"Although everyone encounters pain during the performance, this kind of pain is also for sacrificing oneself for the greater good, so that we can return to our world in the future and live our own happy lives, making the necessary sacrifices. Therefore, I think everyone should be more open-minded about the trials in the performance. After all, the hardships we experience today are for a better tomorrow." Daddy Cat said.
Watching Daddy Cat persuading everyone to accept suffering as a matter of course, Han Yun and his companions felt that this guy had either been completely brainwashed by that Countess or had completely succumbed to her tyranny, willingly becoming her puppet. Presenting the hardships in the performance as a means to create a space for survival and thinking about everyone's future? Anyone with a bit of brains should understand that this is a classic excuse used by rulers to whitewash their dictatorial rule and oppress the weak.
However, Daddy Cat's explanation about providing stable operation energy for the Fragrant Nebula did confirm Han Yun and his companions' previous speculation. The Countess did indeed use various performances to make the survivors encounter accidents, continuously generating negative energy from their ill fortune, which she fed on to continuously strengthen herself.
"So, does that mean we have no way to successfully complete the performance? If so, why bother performing at all!? Doing things for others, such a thankless task, I'm not going to do it!" Dream Jia said impatiently after hearing Daddy Cat's explanation. Of course, Dream Jia said this not because she lacked a spirit of dedication, but because she didn't want to become a tool for generating energy for the mold spirit.
"Hush! You can't say that, Miss. For the sake of our future, even if your performances never succeed, you must continue to persevere. Besides, the Countess loves watching performances and enjoys lively things. If no one performs, she will be angry. Trust me, no one here wants to see her angry!" Daddy Cat made a cautious gesture towards Dream Jia, indicating not to let the Countess hear her words, or else everyone would suffer.
"So, this place is not a refuge built for survivors, but a concentration camp ruled by the Countess, and we are actually slaves at the mercy of the Countess." Seeing Daddy Cat's somewhat panicked expression, Dao Lao said.
"Oh! What slaves! This is a world created by the Countess, and we are refugees who have to live under her nose. So, it's fair for everyone to pay a little price! Besides, nothing is absolute, and everyone still has a chance to successfully complete the performance, just with a very low probability." Daddy Cat bounced around in the air like a bouncing ball, rebutting Dao Lao's point of view.
"Are you saying—we have a chance to avoid those accidents and successfully complete the circus performance? Tell us, how do we do it?" Han Yun's eyes lit up as soon as he heard Daddy Cat's words and he immediately asked.
"As the manager of the performance program, I naturally can't reveal too many details about the performance. I can only say that nothing is absolute, it's just that the chance of success is extremely slim. If you three can encounter theoretically existing good luck, maybe you will have a chance to successfully complete a circus performance."
"Of course, I also want to remind you three that after so many years, among the millions of lucky survivors sheltered in the Fragrant Nebula, hardly anyone has encountered such good luck. So, I think you can keep this hope alive, but don't expect too much from it. It's most important to stay grounded, do your best in every performance, and make sacrifices for a better future, which is the most important thing you should do." Daddy Cat reminded Han Yun and his companions cheerfully as he bounced around in the air.
"Hardly anyone!? Do you mean that someone has successfully completed a circus performance?" Han Yun and his companions seized upon this key point in Daddy Cat's words in unison and asked.
"Yes, hardly anyone can do it, except for the legendary Valkyrie." Daddy Cat finally stopped jumping and, after somersaulting back to the ground, replied.
"Valkyrie?" Dao Lao repeated this title and signaled Daddy Cat to elaborate on how this Valkyrie succeeded in becoming a circus performer?
Daddy Cat swayed from side to side on the ground like a spinning top and answered while continuously spinning circles with his two cat paws, "I'm not too sure about the specifics of that Valkyrie. The Countess mentioned her to me in passing."
"So, what did the Countess say at that time?" Dao Lao asked further.
While swaying from side to side, Daddy Cat recalled, "Uh—, I remember the Countess marveling at the miraculousness of my rare species, so much so that she tried everything she could but couldn't harm me. Then, as she spoke, the Countess reminisced about a Valkyrie. She said that the Valkyrie was the only person besides me who made her feel helpless. It is said that because the Valkyrie's strength was too great, she could completely resist various accidents during the performance with her own powerful abilities to ensure that she could smoothly complete every performance. The Countess was finally forced to let her leave here according to the rules of the game."
Although they didn't know where this Valkyrie came from, Han Yun and his companions were still overjoyed after hearing Daddy Cat's explanation. Because, since there were cases of successfully completing performances and leaving here, it meant that there must be vulnerabilities to exploit. It also meant that when Han Yun and his companions' strength broke free from the masking power here and returned to its original level, they would have the opportunity to escape from here as well.
"So, as long as we can successfully complete a performance, we can leave this damn place?" Dream Jia restrained her excited emotions and asked again.
"According to the rules of the game here, as long as you can complete one performance, the Countess will fulfill one wish for each of you. As for this wish, naturally, it includes letting you leave the sanctuary and return to that chaotic void. However, once you make this choice, even if you are on the verge of danger due to the invasion of energy turbulence, the Countess will not come to rescue you." Daddy Cat replied.
Then, Daddy Cat raised his cat paw again to emphasize, "Of course, if you want to successfully complete a performance, you either need to encounter great luck and not encounter any accidents during the entire performance, or you need to have the strength of a Valkyrie to ensure that you can withstand various accidents and forcefully complete the performance task."