『 "Everyone, go back and rest for now. Enter the dreamscape once you're ready," Himeko said to the three.
Stelle nodded, walking up the stairs to find her room. Before heading to her own room, she first sought out March 7th.
After receiving a series of "prophet-like" remarks from her, Stelle finally arrived at her room. 』
『 ....』
〘March 7th〙: Oh man, the moment I hear "inheritance," those words just pop into my head.
〘Dan Heng〙: It's exactly what you said last time, word for word.
〘Elio〙: Honestly, I might as well just give my title to you.
....
『 Stelle looked doubtfully at the open door of her room. Walking inside, she saw Aventurine standing in the center of the room.
Seeing Stelle arrive, he greeted her: "What a coincidence, we meet again."
"This is my room. Why are you here?" Stelle asked, puzzled.
Aventurine replied calmly, "Don't be nervous, I just came by to soak up some of the good fortune. It's your room now, but half a system hour ago—it was mine."
"A lucky building number, a lucky floor, a lucky room number… I went to great lengths to book such a precious spot… and now I'm giving it to you. Cherish it, friend."
"You gave this room up for me?" Stelle asked Aventurine.
"Otherwise? You think the Family would give it away for free?" Aventurine let out a sneer at this point. "This Penacony is a genuine Land of Dreams. How many people in the galaxy are willing to spend half their lives just to get a ticket to the Reverie Hotel?"
"Think about it. What kind of people get to stay here? If it weren't for my maneuvering, would the Family dare offend those celebrities and big shots just to open a back door for an 'uninvited guest' like you?"
"So, let's sit down and chat—logically and emotionally, I've earned that right, haven't I?" 』
『 ....』
〘Topaz〙: Here we go again, the classic PUA(Pick-Up Artist) segment.
〘Aventurine〙: Don't tell me you've never used this trick?
〘March 7th〙: Stelle, you can't let this man lead you astray!
〘Stelle〙: Stop shaking me, the 'me' up there isn't the 'me' right now.
....
『 "What do you want to talk about?" Stelle looked at Aventurine and asked calmly.
"Smart people are so straightforward. Simply put, friend, I need your help. You might not know this yet, but Penacony is far from as simple as it looks. The Family's eyes and ears are everywhere. I don't want to spell it out, you understand," Aventurine turned to look at Stelle as he spoke.
"My goal is simple: help the IPC take back some things that rightfully belong to it. If you're willing to help me, once it's done, you'll receive a handsome reward, as well as the protection of Preservation." 』
『 ....』
〘Boothill〙: Son of a nice lady, IPC dogs… they've got their eyes on another big cake.
〘Fu Xuan〙: Penacony used to be the IPC's frontier prison, but the Family turned it into the most famous paradise in the galaxy. It's only natural the IPC wants to reclaim it.
〘Aventurine〙: But the Family certainly won't agree. That's where my methods come in. It's just a pity that after the light curtain broadcasted this, my method has become useless.
....
—✦In Between✦—
After sending the bullet chat, Aventurine looked at the Aventurine stone on his desk that he hadn't crushed yet and let out a long sigh of relief: "Luckily the light curtain was shown in time, or I would have crushed it."
"It seems your luck has saved your life once again," Jade laughed over the phone.
"Yeah, luck…" Aventurine looked at the light curtain and replied softly.
"However, since my plan can't be implemented, won't those board members be annoyed for a while? Making them worry because of a small fry like me… feels pretty good," Aventurine smiled.
"Indeed, the higher-ups are already fighting like cats and dogs, and here you are, leisurely watching the light curtain," Topaz's call suddenly patched through.
As soon as she joined, she started roasting Aventurine.
"Ha, that's for the people above to worry about. It has nothing to do with a small fry like me," Aventurine shrugged.
After saying that, he stopped replying and looked at himself in the light curtain.
"After all, you're different from the others. You're special—special enough to flip the entire card table. That power… don't you want to use it? Or… don't you want to be rid of it? Don't you want to use it to become famous throughout the universe?"
—
〘Stelle〙: Am I that powerful?
〘Herta〙: Hmph, it's my Stellaron that's powerful.
....
『 Aventurine crossed his arms and spoke to Stelle in an enticing tone: "That power that everyone fears yet craves is right there in the palm of your hands…"
"…Miss Stellaron, did I get that right?"
"How did you know?" Stelle asked in confusion.
"I know now," Aventurine smiled slightly. 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: You're playing dirty! You baited me!
〘Hanabi〙: Now we all know, little Stellaron spirit~
〘Herta〙: That was way too easy to bait out! If you're like this outside, you'll be sold and still be helping the person count their money.
〘Caesar King〙: Hahaha, true, being baited that easily won't do!
〘Luciana de Montefio〙: Caesar! You're the last person who should be saying that!
....
『 "You don't have to answer me now; thinking takes time. When the time is ripe, I will naturally come find you. Of course, you can discuss it with your companions, or even turn around and use me—I welcome it. Because that is also a way of showing me your value. I never make a losing deal. I hope you 'friends'… won't disappoint me."
Stelle shook her head decisively. "I can't make decisions on my own."
"I said, there's no rush to answer. Because no matter what… the result won't change."
After speaking, Aventurine walked toward the door. Before leaving, he looked back at Stelle.
"Oh right, before I go, let's play a game. It's simple. Guess which hand the chip is in—just to get to know me better, my personality, and my way of doing things…"
Ding—a chip was tossed into the air and disappeared in the blink of an eye, replaced by two clenched fists held out in front of Stelle.
"Left or right? Get ready—I'm about to reveal the answer."
"…Oh, it seems I haven't asked you which side you choose yet. But it doesn't matter, because—"
Aventurine walked toward Stelle, spinning the chip in his hand as he spoke.
"Friend, the game has already begun."
After putting the chip in his left hand, Aventurine walked step by step toward Stelle. He slowly opened his right hand, which was empty.
"Make a deal with me. You can't refuse, because—"
Then he opened his left hand, which should have had the chip, but it was also empty.
Stelle looked in shock at the chip that suddenly appeared in her right hand. 』
『 ....』
〘March 7th〙: So magical! How did he do it?
〘Aventurine〙: A simple sleight of hand. First, make the other person's attention stay on you, then use Path power to send the chip into their hand when they're not looking.
〘Dr. Ratio〙: A flashy trick, very fitting for a gambler like you.
〘Hanabi〙: Indeed~, it suits you, little peacock~
....
『 "There is no reason…"
Stelle shifted her gaze from the chip, only to see Aventurine standing right in front of her face.
Aventurine took off his sunglasses and stared at Stelle.
"And there is no room."
"Hey." A familiar voice reached Stelle's ears.
Aventurine and Stelle both looked toward the person who made the sound.
"What are you doing in my room?" Acheron asked, looking at Aventurine and Stelle. 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: Acheron, SAVE ME!!!
〘·HI3· Welt Yang〙: Generally speaking, neither of you have memories of that dream at this point.
〘Acheron〙: That's right. I probably just saw this scene and went to intervene, or…
〘Hanabi〙: Or what?
〘Acheron〙: Or I got lost…
〘Stelle〙: Ah…
〘Belle〙: Ah…
〘Kiana Kaslana〙: So the Mei of another world is Directionally challenged disorder? SO CUTE!!!
....