『 [ "I do not deny that." ]
[ "But what piques my curiosity is why a scam of such grand proportions…" ]
[ "Ended with not a single soul profiting from it—including the perpetrator himself?" ]
Aventurine's maneuver had clearly hooked Jade's curiosity.
[ "Madame, I have already obtained what I desired—to be brought before you, to commence the next high-stakes gamble!" ]
Aventurine replied.
[ "Then let us discuss this second wager." ]
[ "Tell me, what do you intend to stake this time?" ]
Jade asked with evident interest.
[ "My life." ]
[ "I bet that you will not send me to the gallows." ]
When Aventurine spoke these words, he seemed utterly certain.
[ "Hmm… then what is it you wish to gain?" ]
Jade countered.
[ "I want your Lanor(Chief) to meet with me. I have something to say." ]
Aventurine laid out his terms.
[ "And then what?" ]
Jade pressed.
[ "I want money." ]
Aventurine declared without hesitation.
[ "Surely it cannot be that simple?" ]
Jade felt Aventurine's request was almost too trivial.
[ "It is that simple. Thirty Tanbas(Red Copper Coins) —. The price of half my life—no more, no less." ]
[ "With that money alone, I can climb to a position higher than yours, grasping wealth far greater than yours…" ]
[ "I bet you wouldn't dare give it to me. So, call him over." ]
Aventurine employed a classic provocation.
[ "Heh, interesting." ]
[ "A pity that Diamond will not see you. No one sees him." ]
[ "Thus, in this moment, I act as Diamond's proxy to make the decision on his behalf." ]
[ "You are mistaken." ]
[ "Thirty Tanbas? I will give you that, and far, far more." ]
[ "Wealth, status, authority…" ]
[ "The Corporation will grant you everything you desire, and everything you do not." ]
[ "Kakavasha… is a good name. But alas, it is destined to be buried in the dirt." ]
[ "But you deserve to live, to create more wealth for us." ]
[ "Go. Pick out a set of clothes you like, choose an identity that suits you…" ]
[ "And then put them to good use, child." ]
[ "May your schemes remain forever concealed." ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Aventurine: "This is… Heh, to think it's the scene from when I first joined the Corporation."
Aventurine: "Looking back, I was truly green in those days."
Aventurine: "My vision was far narrower than it is now."
Stelle: "A scam involving the IPC and the Intelligentsia Guild?"
Stelle: "You tricked them into digging for the corpse of an Imperator Insectorum beneath an empty desert?"
Stelle: "Hey friend, I can't believe you pulled off something that huge!"
Stelle: "What's even crazier is that you actually survived!"
Stelle: "That is seriously badass!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Aventurine is clearly gambling with his life here!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Betting that the Corporation would value his abilities enough not to kill him."
Furina de Fontaine: "But thankfully, Aventurine won the bet!"
Boothill: "Not bad, kid. I gotta say, you're a real piece of work, you son of a nice lady!"
Boothill: "Tricking those brainless corporate suits is one thing, but the folks at the Intelligentsia Guild ain't exactly country bumpkins!"
Boothill: "For a local native to spin them around like tops…"
Boothill: "That really makes me look at you in a whole new muddle-fudging light!"
Dan Heng: "That is precisely the reason the Corporation valued him."
Dan Heng: "Likewise, this move by Aventurine was calculated."
Dan Heng: "Only by demonstrating his value to the Corporation could he possibly obtain what he desired."
March 7th: "Um, has anyone noticed?"
March 7th: "Aventurine actually killed the slave owner who bought him earlier."
Stelle: "What about it?"
Stelle: "We knew that guy wasn't gonna last."
Stelle: "Aventurine has clawed his way up to IPC upper management now; you think he'd be merciful enough to spare that guy's life?"
Stelle: "I'm just surprised Aventurine took him out so early on."
Himeko: "Speaking of which, the woman in the video seems to be a high-ranking Corporation executive as well?"
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "That woman is named Jade. She is also one of the Ten Stonehearts, and her seniority far exceeds that of Aventurine or Topaz."
Welt Yang: "Jade…"
Welt Yang: "It seems we are looking at another formidable elite of the Corporation."
Hu Tao: "The Corporation really lives up to its reputation as the most powerful faction in the universe. It's truly teeming with talent!"
....
『 [ "Life is like a long-term investment. Choose the right people, do the right things, arrive at the right results, and show the world your value." ]
[ "It is impossible for a person to make only correct decisions their entire life, but luck has always stood by my side." ]
[ "I have never lost." ]
[ "Is it because Gaiathra blesses me?" ]
[ "If that's the case, SHE must also be looking upon me right now. My success is inevitable." ]
[ "...But, what then?" ]
[ "If I successfully overcome this ordeal, what comes next?" ]
[ "Waiting for me after a grand gamble…" ]
[ "Is it just another, even grander gamble?" ]
[ "Is it to return laden with countless chips after victory upon victory, or after a single failure…" ]
[ "…To be gone forever?" ]
[ "…" ]
[ "Hahaha, don't you have a clue in your heart…" ]
[ "…You lowly gambler?" ]
[ "…" ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Xiangling: "This part… is this Aventurine's inner monologue?"
Xiangling: "But what's with that last voice?"
Stelle: "Good lord, sounds like schizophrenia!"
Stelle: "Could it be… that hex is starting to kick in?"
Hu Tao: "Is the hex Mr. Sunday placed really that wicked?"
Hu Tao: "What kind of technique is this anyway?"
March 7th: "I don't know, but it definitely doesn't look like anything good."
Nahida: "Mr. Aventurine's inner voice here… I seem to sense a feeling of being lost and exhausted."
Nahida: "Is my perception incorrect?"
Zhongli: "No, your perception does not deviate in the slightest."
Zhongli: "Mr. Aventurine is indeed lost in this moment."
Zhongli: "And perhaps this is because the power of Harmony has begun to affect his mind."
Zhongli: "Or perhaps Mr. Aventurine is…"
Zhongli: "Truly tired…"
Venti: "I feel it's a mix of both factors."
Venti: "Mr. Aventurine's situation is looking increasingly grim."
....
『 [ "What is happening?!" ]
Hearing the strange voice in his head, Aventurine's expression shifted violently.
[ "Hehehehehe…" ]
Suddenly, an inexplicable laughter rang out from behind him.
[ "Am I dreaming, or have I gone completely mad?" ]
Aventurine spun around in a panic, only to see another version of himself standing right before him.
[ "Maybe both." ]
[ "Forgotten me already?" ]
[ "When you were strapped to the electric chair by the warlords of the Ijmani, who gave you the idea?" ]
The other Aventurine spoke with playful mockery.
[ "Enough… I might be crazy, but I'm not stupid." ]
[ "Get out of my head, newborn of the Harmony." ]
Aventurine realized immediately. The Aventurine before him was a manifestation birthed by the power of Harmony.
[ "Heh, Harmony?" ]
[ "Don't be silly. It's not like this is our first meeting, no need to be so formal, right?" ]
[ "I am you. I know you better than you know yourself. I know exactly what you want." ]
[ "You're dying. And even at death's door, you want to drag a few unlucky souls down with you…" ]
[ "That's why you came here, isn't it?" ]
[ "…A grand unveiling performance. Do you really think you can pull it off?" ]
The Harmony-Aventurine's tone dripped with sarcasm.
[ "Why not?" ]
Aventurine looked impatient.
[ "Maybe you can fool everyone else, but you can't fool yourself." ]
[ "I can prove it to you…" ]
[ "Before you disappear completely, I'll walk with you for one last stretch…" ]
[ "Let's have a good talk on the way." ]
After speaking, the Harmony-Aventurine began to walk ahead of the real one.
[ "…Damn it, what the hell are you?" ]
Aventurine couldn't help but curse.
[ "Most people in this world spend their entire lives striving to reach a single result…" ]
[ "And I am that result." ]
[ "Kakavasha… I am your future." ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Holy crap, what kind of ghostly technique is this?"
Stelle: "It just straight up conjured a new Aventurine?"
Stelle: "Is he getting body-snatched by the Harmony?"
Guinaifen: "Oh my god, fam, why does this feel scarier than a ghost?!"
March 7th: "The Harmony… is this how they recruit believers?"
March 7th: "This can't even be called brainwashing anymore, right?"
Dan Heng: "Birthing a new consciousness to seize control of your body—that is possession!"
Aventurine: "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Unexpected. Truly unexpected."
Aventurine: "I didn't think the thing Sunday planted in my brain was actually a hex of this nature."
Aventurine: "So this is what it means to… join the Family?"
Aventurine: "Heh, how truly interesting."
Paimon: "Heavens principles, that's just too terrifying!"
Paimon: "If Paimon ran into something like this, Paimon would be scared out of her wits!"
Lumine: "This method is truly… eerie…"
Lumine: "From the looks of it, there doesn't seem to be any way to dispel it."
Hu Tao: "There must be a way, right?"
Hu Tao: "At the very least, Mr. Sunday should know how to remove it."
Hu Tao: "Though obviously, he won't be feeling charitable towards Aventurine."
Hanabi: "Hehe, two little peacocks. Now this is going to be a good show~"
Aventurine: "Just a counterfeit."
Aventurine: "I refuse to believe he can truly replace me!"
Hanabi: "Very confident, aren't we? Then let's see which little peacock comes out on top, hmm~"
....
『 [ "First I'm hearing things, and now I'm seeing them." ]
[ "Fantastic. Is my next step a promotion to Emanator of Harmony?" ]
[ "Why are there no guests here? What's that feather-head doing?" ]
Aventurine arrived at the entrance of Clock Studios Theme Park and began to walk forward.
[ "Only a Pepeshi…" ]
[ "No, a child?" ]
Aventurine spotted a child at the park entrance and walked over with a look of surprise.
[ "I recall that minors aren't allowed in the Golden Hour…" ]
[ "Hey, why are you here all alone?" ]
[ "—Urgh!" ]
Aventurine intended to warn the child, but as he spoke, a sharp pain shot through his brain. It forced a muffled groan from his throat.
[ "What's wrong, Mister…" ]
[ "You don't look so good?" ]
Hearing Aventurine's voice, the child turned around and asked with concern.
[ "Your… eyes?" ]
[ "…That's impossible." ]
[ "Who are you?" ]
Looking into the child's eyes, Aventurine's expression gradually shifted into shock.
[ "They're pretty, right?" ]
[ "Big sister said they were a gift from Mama Fenge(Gaiathra).." ]
[ "Colorful eyes bring people good luck." ]
[ "Ah, Mister… you have beautiful eyes too." ]
[ "So pretty!" ]
Seeing Aventurine's eyes, the child immediately broke into a happy smile. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Li Sushang: "…Isn't that!!"
Li Sushang: "Isn't that what Aventurine looked like as a child?"
Li Sushang: "Meaning, that's Kakavasha?"
Navia Caspar: "It looks like… Mr. Aventurine doesn't recognize his own childhood self?"
Qingque: "He probably didn't have the luxury, right?"
Qingque: "Back then, even drinking water was a struggle for him, let alone looking in a mirror."
Furina de Fontaine: "I suspect that when Aventurine saw this child, he likely mistook him for a survivor of his clan."
Furina de Fontaine: "Never imagining that it was actually himself…"
Stelle: "Incredible. First, it splits off a new Aventurine, and now it conjures a small Aventurine. Is the power of Harmony seriously this wicked?"
Stelle: "I'm scared to ever go to Harmony territory again! Otherwise, if they hit me with one of these, wouldn't I end up with schizophrenia too?"
March 7th: "Relax, with your constitution, I don't think you'd fall for it that easily."
Stelle: "True. I am a congenital Stellaron Saintly Body, not a pampered young master like Aventurine."
Stelle: "The power of Harmony might not even work on me."
Aventurine: "Friend, there's a problem with your statement. In what way am I pampered?"
Stelle: "Pfft, well, your physical constitution definitely isn't as tough as mine. Or do you want to try stuffing a Stellaron into your body too?"
Aventurine: "… If you put it that way, then I am indeed inferior to you."
Aventurine: "I must say, being able to house a Stellaron within one's flesh makes you a unique talent indeed."
Stelle: "Why does that sound so much like an insult?"
Aventurine: "Don't misunderstand, that is praise from the bottom of my heart."
Aventurine: "After all, can you find a second person under the heavens like you?"
Stelle: "Can't say that I can."
Aventurine: "See?"
Stelle: "Alright, I'll take it as a compliment."
....
『 [ "Are you… alone?" ]
[ "Where are your parents?" ]
Aventurine looked at Kakavasha and asked.
[ "They're both inside the amusement park. Papa and Mama went in first." ]
[ "I was just about to go find them." ]
[ "So I have to go now. Bye-bye, Mister." ]
[ "I hope you have fun too!" ]
After waving politely to Aventurine, Kakavasha entered the interior of Clock Studios Theme Park.
[ "Those eyes, and Mama Feline…" ]
[ "No, it's impossible…" ]
[ "There AREN'T any Avgins left in the universe…" ]
Watching Kakavasha's retreating figure, Aventurine hesitated for a moment before choosing to chase after him to investigate.
[ "Papa, Mama—wait for me—" ]
Kakavasha was fast, disappearing from sight in moments.
[ "…" ]
Aventurine stopped behind the curtain where Kakavasha had vanished, his steps faltering.
[ "Bottomless, just like Penacony, right?" ]
The Harmony-Aventurine appeared once more, smiling wickedly before him. 』
『 ....』