『 "When the time comes, verify your findings with me. If our judgments align, or if you can bring me more… then THEY shall truly bestow THEY benevolence and honesty upon you."
"…Shameless hypocrite, you've confiscated all my belongings, and you still want me to give you the truth?" Aventurine said, seething with rage, "This isn't fair. In this amusement park of yours, reeking of copper, nothing can be done without money."
Sunday smiled sardonically, "This should be your own act of righteousness; it requires no aid from the Family."
After saying this, he glanced at the luggage bag on the floor and continued, "Your luggage is right there. Please, help yourself. I trust you can trade this bag of base jewels for everything you need. That is what gamblers are best at, isn't it?"
A triumphant smile played on the corners of Sunday's mouth, and he sneered, "Off you go, Mr. Aventurine. You are 'free.' I shall be here, waiting for your good news."
Aventurine turned and walked toward the door. When he reached it, he stopped, his voice distorted by the effort of suppressing his anger.
"So, this meeting wasn't an interrogation, but it certainly wasn't a negotiation either…"
Aventurine turned his head, glancing sideways at Sunday to challenge him, "It was a full-blown lynching, wasn't it?"
"How could it be, Mr. Aventurine? I truly only wanted to know what 'discoveries' a 'passerby' who 'accidentally' appeared at the scene of her murder might have made—nothing more."
Sunday enunciated the words 'accidentally' and 'passerby' with heavy emphasis. 』
『 ....』
〘Hanabi〙: Poor little peacock, completely being used as a venting outlet by the chicken-wing boy.
〘Stelle〙: Who is he going to see Robin because of?
〘Hanabi〙: Eh? Me?! Hahahaha~
〘March 7th〙: Such a beautiful state of mind.
....
『 "Oh, right, before you go, I have one more rather personal question," Sunday called out to Aventurine, who had already started walking.
Aventurine sighed, "What is it now?"
His tone was heavy with impatience and a hint of gnashing teeth.
Sunday watched Aventurine take a deep breath, then slowly asked.
"Do you… truly wish to destroy this world with your own hands?"
The screen went black along with Sunday's words. When it lit up again, the scene was a desert. Red ripples echoed in the sky. A woman with long golden hair was crouching in front of a blonde young boy. In the boy's hand was a sparkling object, seemingly a necklace.
Around them was a tent simply constructed from cloth and sticks. In the distance was a clothes rack, but the clothes hanging on it were extremely tattered, heavily patched, and mended.
"Kakavasha, where did you go… You're hurt?!" the woman said, looking at the boy in front of her with concern. 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: Is this Aventurine's memory?
〘Qingque〙: Such a desolate planet.
〘Aventurine〙: Sigonia…
....
『 Kakavasha, ignoring his own injuries, held up the necklace in his hand toward the woman and smiled, "I got it back, Sister."
The sister looked at the necklace, but instead of being happy about what Kakavasha had brought, she scolded him.
"You went to find them…? That's too dangerous! It's just a necklace; it's not edible, and it's not water. We can survive without it."
"But I cannot live without you, brother… Please, don't go near those Katicans people again, okay?" The sister's words were filled with pleading.
"Sister, don't be afraid. The Katicans are stupid, but I am smart. When I play games with them, I am always the one who wins." Kakavasha gently comforted his sister, his only family.
"Win? What happened? Tell me?"
"I made a bet with them, betting on which one would die first: two little birds in the desert, or me. I won." Kakavasha's tone was full of triumph and pride.
"They suspected I cheated, but I didn't… I won fair and square." 』
『 ....』
〘Qingque〙: This bet… It's not what I think it is, is it…
〘Topaz〙: Combined with the injuries Aventurine suffered, I'm afraid it is…
〘Belle〙: What a disgusting group of people…
....
『 "I know you can win… You have always been a very lucky child; your luck is a gift from the Mother Goddess…"
"But that is no reason for you to go find the Katicans. They are bloodthirsty, cruel, and insatiable—don't forget Mom and Dad…"
When mentioning Mom and Dad, the sister seemed to remember something and choked up.
"This is just a necklace… but Kakavasha, you are my last family." The sister stroked Kakavasha's injured cheek, tears streaming from her eyes.
Kakavasha was stunned as he watched his heartbroken sister.
"Sister, I'm sorry… I thought you would be happy. Because this is the necklace Mom left for you…"
"…There won't be any more of these in the future." 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: Oh god, don't show me this, I can't bear it.
〘March 7th〙: Don't kill me with family angst.
....
『 The sister stroked Kakavasha's head, "It is important, but you are more important, my dearest brother."
"I won't blame you, but you must remember what Mom said…"
"Pain and poverty are the trials of Gaiathra Triclops. SHE has also granted us a chance, and that's your good luck, Kakavasha. Your good luck is the most precious wealth we— all Avgin have."
"You're a child blessed by Gaiathra Triclops and can lead the clan to happiness. So, always remember to protect yourself and never resent the pain and poverty you're going through... All right?"
Kakavasha fell silent. Looking at the silent Kakavasha, the sister said softly, "Be good, swear to the Mother Goddess."
Kakavasha nodded, "…Okay."
"I swear to the Mother Goddess that I will always protect this treasure…"
"But, Sister… if the Mother Goddess of the Triple Eye is truly watching us…"
Kakavasha's voice trembled, with a hint of a sob.
"Then why did SHE not protect Dad when he was swept away by the quicksand...? After all, Dad went to the Katicans' land only to prepare for Gaiathra Triclops' offerings..."
"And where was Gaiathra Triclops when Mom was shivering in our arms? Mom was still pleading for Gaiathra Triclops' forgiveness under her breath until the moment she closed her eyes..." 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: I'm going to die from this.
〘Kiana Kaslana〙: How hopeless…
....
『 "Sister, everyone says I'm smart, but I don't understand… If every rain is the Mother Goddess's forgiveness and gift…"
"Then how many mistakes must we have committed… to be born into this world just to die…?"
The screen went black, and Aventurine's voice-over came through.
"Suppose, just suppose, suppose there's a probability I can roll this result every time I cast the dice…"
"Then I would certainly be very willing to take that bet." 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: All or nothing!
〘Aventurine〙: That's right, friend! All or nothing!
〘March 7th〙: You're sitting at the same table as the Masked Fool, and she's still feeling sentimental.
〘Hanabi〙: Is there such a good thing?
....
『 When the screen lit up again, it showed the scene of the actual Reverie Hotel. Stelle and the other two quietly watched Alley at the front desk go through some operations.
After finishing the operation, Alley turned to the three and said, "I'm sorry…"
"In the archives of the Iris Family… there seems to be no information on this artist, and the photo you provided does not match…" 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: ? Silver Wolf, you're failing here. Shouldn't you hack into the Family's system and arrange an identity for Hotaru?
〘Silver Wolf〙: Go ask Elio yourself. If he didn't tell me to do it, it means the script doesn't need it, and it's not something the script requires.
〘Kafka〙: None of it matters.
〘Herta〙: Is that why you added a sweat drop to my portrait?
〘Silver Wolf〙: You have the nerve to say that! You, narcissistic old lady! Your portrait's firewall level is higher than the one on your space station!
〘Herta〙: That's called protecting portrait rights, kid.
....