The Fool's gaze landed on the small group, or more accurately, on the white-haired boy who became the center of attention the moment he arrived.
Under Giovanni's mask, his face showed a helpless expression.
'The moment this child arrived, he immediately drew everyone's attention. Aha's sake, what a surprising child.'
'Sampo did not lied. He really is a beautiful child. No wonder that Knight of Beauty cared so much about him.'
Giovanni's eyes swept across Nero's smile and hair tips. He adjusted his mood a little before finally stepping forward.
As a polite Fool, he specifically waited until now to interrupt, without breaking up the earlier conversation among friends.
"Hello, Boss Nero." Giovanni came before Nero and said:
"My name is Giovanni di Giorgio da Epsilon, a small private merchant from Epsilon, and the sponsor of this year's Interastral Tournament Festival... Please take care of me."
Nero looked up at Giovanni and nodded. "Mm! I'm Nero, the... uh... I guess boss of Nero's Fragmentum Factory... I heard from Sister Topaz that you're starting work on the Aetherium Wars DLC, so hurry up and make it!"
"Uh..." Giovanni looked at the bright-eyed boy before him and was briefly speechless, then smiled and nodded. "Of course."
"You've generously lent me the venue and cooperated with me, so I should naturally produce some worthwhile results."
"Hehe... Look, Nero and that Giovanni are talking in such a proper way. So this is how rich people talk to each other. We should learn too!" March leaned toward Stelle and whispered.
"Isn't this just how Nero normally talks?" Stelle looked at March in confusion.
Qingque, standing nearby, shook her head. "Ah, you still don't get it. Once you really interact with those big shots, you'll know what it feels like to carefully watch every word you say."
Qingque spoke with the tone of someone experienced, then tugged Huohuo and Yanqing beside her. "We're all official employees now. Tell Stelle if I'm right or not."
"Eh... huh?" Huohuo let out two short cries of surprise.
Yanqing, after thinking briefly, seriously said, "Indeed. Especially when talking with outsiders, you really must pay careful attention, so you don't damage the Xianzhou's reputation."
Bailu listened from behind and also spoke up. "That's right, that's right. Especially when asking favors from others, people become even more careful. I've seen plenty of people like that during consultations."
Hearing everyone's words, Stelle thoughtfully nodded, then said to Qingque, "But I've seen you joke around a lot when talking to the Master Diviner too."
"Th-that's different! The Master Diviner and I are like sisters!" After saying that, Qingque suddenly changed topics. "Too bad the Master Diviner, as the older sister, has no intention of letting me, the younger sister, rest. Ah... tragic, truly tragic!"
While everyone chatted, an extremely eye-catching figure walked over.
Bright silver armor clinked with pleasant sounds. Fiery red long hair symbolized unwavering passion. The knight's eyes were firm, his face handsome, his posture elegant, and his manners proper.
Argenti slowly walked over, faced Nero, and lightly bowed.
"When Black Cutter suddenly left earlier, I thought you must have arrived. Looks like I was right."
"Mm! Argenti, thanks for helping me take care of Black Cutter."
"It was nothing, merely a small effort. Helping a lost weapon find its owner is also part of walking the path of Beauty."
"Besides, after spending these days together, I have realized that you manage it very well. It no longer carries the filthy aura it did that day."
The moment Argenti finished speaking, Black Cutter floated up and began making unhappy noises.
It was probably saying things like, 'Don't bring up the past.'
What Falling Star did has nothing to do with it, Black Cutter.
'You're talking bad about me in front of so many people, don't I have any dignity?'
And things like that.
March frowned nearby, then walked over and circled around Argenti twice. "So you're that Argenti!"
But in the next moment, the surroundings suddenly seemed to darken, leaving only Nero and Argenti glowing brightly.
Then, from somewhere unknown, a light sound suddenly rang out, followed by what seemed like a spotlight shining down onto March's head.
Argenti slowly turned around. Amid a strange holy humming chorus, he cast a passionate gaze toward March.
"Eh?"
March was startled by the sudden change.
Although this situation was pretty bizarre, in the Honkai: Star Rail universe, it somehow didn't feel that bizarre.
Things like Aeons and Paths already existed in this world, so saying this was an effect brought by the path this... uh... Argenti followed?
"A lady?" Argenti slowly stepped forward and bowed again. "Please allow me to sincerely praise you. You are like a flower blooming upon a winter snowfield."
After speaking, Argenti slightly raised his head, and his gaze landed on Stelle.
"Here is yet another beautiful lifeform."
The flashy lighting effects and holy choir seemed to disappear at that moment.
Stelle stood there, blinking blankly twice, then pointed at herself. "Huh?"
Without question, Argenti had now "entered the state."
March immediately dashed to Nero's side and looked at Argenti. "Nero... is he okay?"
"Mm... he's okay." Nero nodded. "Argenti's always like this. You'll get used to it. Actually, he's a really nice person."
March's eye twitched slightly as she watched Argenti praise every single person there one after another.
Even Mr. Giovanni, who wore a mask, acted mysterious, and clearly had high status, could not help taking a step back.
One could almost imagine how awkward the expression beneath that strange mask must be under Argenti's endless praise attack.
'Truly terrifying... the Knights of Beauty.'
When they got serious, even Fools had to avoid their edge.
If the conditions were right, they might be crazier than Aha's followers.
Nero, meanwhile, calmly watched the scene.
He was actually more used to praise like this. After all, Secretary Tong was always doing this sort of thing.
As long as it wasn't in front of a crowd, it was manageable.
Over there, Argenti waited until he had praised everyone before bowing once more and saying, "Ah, my apologies. Discovering so many seeds of beauty at once filled me with joy. Please forgive my abruptness.
"Although some friends here already know my name, please allow me to introduce myself once more.
"My name is Argenti, from the Knights of Beauty.
"Forgive my suddenness, but I wish to share the meaning of beauty with all of you. May I ask: as fellow lifeforms of the universe, do you know Idrila, the Goddess of Beauty?"