Chapter 279: Aventurine: I Really Am a Villain, You Know! Acheron's Character Profile Unlocked!
"The villain ranking is definitely Gallagher!"
"Damn, this guy is too savage! In the story so far, without even drawing a blade, he's already killed three people just by relying on his pet!"
"Gallagher is on a killing spree; he's unstoppable now."
"At this rate, won't he be 'god-like' in the next version?"
"But wait, Firefly, who was killed by [ Death ], is still alive, right?"
"Firefly must have paid a heavy price to come back alive…"
"After two major versions of foreshadowing, he only appeared at the very end of the 2.1 storyline. If it weren't for that final post-credits scene, I never would have guessed the mastermind was him!"
"That creepy smile at the end of the story—even Phantylia would have to call him a pro!"
Watching the barrage of comments in the livestream, Aventurine felt terrible.
What about me?
Didn't I just take on the entire Astral Express crew plus Acheron in the 2.1 storyline?
Am I not a boss?
Am I not a villain?!
Why is no one mentioning me?
Aventurine immediately posted his own comment: "Everyone".
"I think Aventurine deserves a vote. He was willing to bet everything to oppose the Express crew in the story—he's an outstanding villain."
However, the players' reactions were completely unexpected.
"What villain! I advise you, kid, don't talk nonsense."
"Aventurine is my good brother; I won't allow anyone to slander him."
"Betting everything to fight for that sole hope! He is definitely the protagonist of the 2.1 story!"
"Aventurine has been [ Preservation ] from start to finish. He's not a villain, just a respectable opponent standing on a different side."
"Exactly! Villains should be those cunning, ruthless scoundrels who eat people without spitting out the bones. Aventurine definitely doesn't belong in that category."
Aventurine rubbed his forehead.
He didn't know what to say for a moment.
Under normal circumstances, he might have been touched by so many people speaking up for him.
But now!
This was the critical moment for the Villain Ranking election!
Those who make the list get a wish granted!
How could you guys just disqualify me from the competition like that?
Aventurine sat down.
He downed the wine in his glass.
He already had an idea in his mind!
Since the appearance of Honkai: Star Rail, the IPC could no longer manipulate public opinion as easily as before.
Now, the vast majority of people were more willing to believe what they got from the game.
However.
The IPC was still the IPC.
A massive economic system spanning the galaxy wasn't just for show.
Right now.
Aventurine needed the players to define him as a [ Villain ] within the game.
It was time for the power of public opinion to play its part.
Aventurine first sent a text message to Topaz.
[ Miss Topaz, I need to compete in this Villain Ranking. Help me buy some internet trolls. The content doesn't matter, as long as it proves I'm a [Villain]! ]
[ Topaz: Why ask me? ]
[ Aren't you nicknamed the 'Rank Buyer'? You should be good at this sort of thing, right? ]
[ Topaz: ... ]
[ Topaz: I'll give it a try. If it works, you owe me a big favor! ]
[ No problem. ]
Subsequently, Aventurine began to use his other connections within the IPC.
He did everything he could to add a few more chips to his chances of making the list.
......
Reverie Hotel.
March 7th's room.
Stelle and March 7th were sitting on opposite sides of the sofa.
Both were scrolling through their phones, paying attention to the current situation of the Villain Ranking.
March 7th suddenly giggled.
She seemed to have seen something interesting.
She read aloud what was on her screen.
"I [ Aventurine ] solemnly clarify: My actions in the game's story should be attributed to villainous behavior! I must have a spot on this Villain Ranking."
"I am Aventurine, and I just want to say one thing: I am a villain! I really am a villain!"
March 7th chuckled.
"Looks like our Director Aventurine really wants to be on this Villain Ranking!"
"He actually hired so many trolls."
"Well, it makes sense. After all, you get to meet Feathered Spirit and have a wish granted!"
"Say, if we made the list, what wish do you think we should make?"
Stelle scratched her head: "I think life as it is now is pretty good. I don't think I have any special wishes?"
"Then let's wish to never lose the 50/50! Ten-pulls with double golds every time!"
"That could work."
The countdown ticked away, second by second.
In Feathered Spirit's livestream, more and more players gathered.
The time for the results to be revealed was almost here.
But in reality, the results were already obvious!
Although Aventurine had successfully promoted his villainous positioning, it was clear that most players still considered Gallagher to be the true mastermind of Penacony.
It was just a pity that this was a Villain Ranking.
If it were a Character Development Ranking, Aventurine would definitely be firmly in first place.
At this moment, the person at the top of the list was indeed Gallagher.
Second place, Aventurine.
Third place was Sunday.
In the latest story, Sunday had become a victim, but some players still believed he might turn against everyone in the next version, thus earning him some votes.
When the results were revealed, Aventurine, in the end, did not surpass Gallagher.
It was time for the highly anticipated reward distribution.
The screen shifted.
Gallagher's figure appeared in the livestream.
His raspy voice spoke: "Live on, to witness the Trailblaze of the Nameless?"
"That's a decent choice."
"Since there's an opportunity, I should indeed strive for it."
After Gallagher finished speaking, Feathered Spirit's voice sounded in the background: "Reward granted."
Then, the screen faded and went dark.
In the livestream, many players were confused!
...
"???"
"Why are you rushing this? Is Gallagher's appearance fee that expensive?"
"Good grief, your victory screen is a bit too fast, isn't it?"
"What did Gallagher say? His reward is to 'live on'?"
"Isn't he the mastermind? Shouldn't the wish be to gain powerful strength or something!"
"Damn, I don't get it anymore!"
"Could there be a plot twist with Gallagher too?"
"But he really is in cahoots with [ Death ]!"
...
Before the players could finish their exclamations, a new line of text appeared in Feathered Spirit's livestream.
[ Final Ranking of this Issue ]
[ Character Strength Ranking ]
[ Character Strength Ranking Countdown: 11:59:59 ]
"Character Strength Ranking?"
"Jing Yuan!"
"Forget about 'Prisoner Jing', this is a character strength ranking, it only relates to the character's in-game performance."
"'Prisoner Jing' is really crashing this time!"
"Not last time in Pure Fiction, 'The Almighty' really hurt me."
"Hurry and summon the Destruction 3C!"
"If there are no surprises, the candidates for this list should fall between Dan Heng • Imbibitor Lunae and Jingliu."
"I personally still favor Jingliu, the strongest war god at E0S1!"
"You're right, but 'Azure Dragon's Torrent'!"
"I shall illuminate the ten thousand rivers!"
...
Guinaifen's livestream.
Although Feathered Spirit's 2.2 ranking was garnering a lot of attention, Guinaifen still kept her duties in mind.
She was a game story streamer.
"The 2.1 storyline from Acheron's perspective is done!"
"The thing I'm most curious about now is, who exactly was the old man standing by the sea with her in Acheron's flashback? And what was Acheron trying to do there?"
"I'm afraid the answer to this question will have to wait until the 2.2 story is revealed."
Guinaifen let out a long breath.
At this moment, a notification appeared on the game interface.
[ Character [Acheron] has been unlocked! ]
[ You can go to the [Warp] interface to try her out and obtain the limited-time character through Star Rail Special Passes! ]
"HOLY!!!"
"Acheron is here!"
"I said this version couldn't possibly have only Aventurine as a limited character!"
"Sure enough!"
"The big stuff is still coming!"
"Family! Let's see what Acheron's skills were designed like?"