"Take me to see that lord now!"
Aventurine took a deep breath. His eyes were filled with fervor and longing, but even more so with anticipation and apprehension.
"Hmm? Weren't you going to 'step onto the stage'?"
Sparkle raised an eyebrow slightly and looked at the blond man before her with a teasing expression.
"There's no need anymore."
Aventurine shook his head. Just as he said, there was no need anymore.
Yun Fan had not concealed his intentions. The letter clearly stated that he needed Aventurine to become the head of the Clover Family in the future. This was already an outright hint. Aventurine did not believe he could seize ownership of Penacony from a Causality Emanator.
With that, one of Aventurine's reasons for "stepping onto the stage" was gone. The second reason was his sister.
After realizing that Acheron's power likely came from Nihility, Aventurine recalled a rumor—one about the "Land of Nothingness."
By following this suspected Nihility Emanator to that "Land of Nothingness," to that "land after death," perhaps… he could meet the relatives and friends who had passed away.
Now that he knew Yun Fan could resurrect his sister, Aventurine had no reason left to step onto the stage. He was a mad gambler who often bet his own life in games, but he was not a reckless fool. He would not do something he knew was completely meaningless.
"Fine, fine~ Then I'll take you to see the boss. But before that, do you need to inform your companions first? I remember you brought three cornerstones when you came to participate in the festival~"
"This matter…"
Sparkle's words left Aventurine silent for a moment. The Corporation was indeed a problem. His rank in the Interastral Peace Corporation was already quite high.
If a P45-level Aventurine wanted to resign, the Interastral Peace Corporation would, aside from reclaiming the "strange Aventurine" cornerstone, most likely conduct a thorough investigation into the reasons for his resignation, digging to the very bottom.
Although this should not be an issue for a Causality Emanator, it would still be troublesome.
"I will contact my companions in the Corporation. After meeting Mr. Yun Fan, I will return the Aventurine Cornerstone to the Interastral Peace Corporation."
With that, Aventurine straightforwardly took out his communicator and dialed the emergency line to contact Jade.
'Beep… beep… beep…'
"What's going on?"
Aventurine frowned slightly, sensing something was off.
The communicator he held was Corporation-issued and could only be carried by employees at P40 level and above. Its signal wavelength was strong enough to cross multiple star systems. Yet now…
Seeing that Jade did not answer, Aventurine searched his contacts and dialed Topaz's number again. As expected, busy tones came from the communicator once more.
"What's wrong?"
Sparkle also noticed something. She tilted her cute little head and looked curiously at the Sigonian orphan before her.
"Communications with the outside have been cut off. It seems some special force is blocking the signal. I've temporarily lost contact with the other Ten Stonehearts."
Aventurine gripped the communicator tightly, a grave expression appearing on his face.
"Hmm?"
After hearing Aventurine's words, Sparkle also tried. The girl took out a phone fitted with a "Dreamjolt Troupe" shell from somewhere, found a contact named "Old Cold Legs" in her address book, and casually dialed it.
'Beep… beep… beep…'
As expected, busy tones came from the other end as well.
"Just as expected. The signal has been blocked by a special force. Looks like Chicken Wing Boy has already started taking action."
Compared to Aventurine's tension and gravity, Sparkle's tone was filled with excitement from beginning to end.
Yes, excitement!
Counting the time, several months had already passed since Sparkle arrived in Penacony.
During this period, Miss Sparkle had been bored out of her mind. As a Masked Fool who lived for fun and was either looking for fun or on the way to find fun every day, she had laid out plans for months just to cause a huge commotion at the end.
Judging from the current situation, it looked like this so-called "Harmonic Ode" was about to officially begin!
...…
Twelve system hours before the opening of the Harmonic Ode…
『This station's breaking news: The Penacony Harmonic Ode has entered its countdown phase. Accompanied by the ticking of the little clockwork boy, in twelve system hours, this grand celebration will usher in its magnificent opening…』
Inside the passenger car of the Astral Express, a tense standoff filled with gunpowder was currently unfolding. Standing on the left side of the train was the cold-faced little azure dragon Dan Heng, holding the Cloud-Piercer spear. Beside him stood the Train Conductor Pom-Pom, looking nervous.
Standing opposite them was none other than Mr. Boothill, the "Galaxy Ranger" dressed as a western cowboy and holding a revolver.
Dan Heng carefully observed Boothill before him, gripping Cloud-Piercer tightly with an icy expression on his face. How could he show a good face to someone pointing a gun at him?
If he had not sensed the aura of the Hunt Path on this "cyborg" and confirmed the other party held no malice, Mr. Dan Heng would probably have already mobilized the Vidyadhara Dragon Lord power within his body to deliver a thunderous strike.
"Let's talk things over nicely. Put the gun down first, pardner!"
Conductor Pom-Pom stood nervously between Boothill and Dan Heng, trying to mediate.
"Sorry about that, little furry guy. I really have something urgent and need the Astral Express's help, so I had no choice but to resort to this."
Boothill lowered the brim of his hat, his voice low as if he did not want others to see his expression clearly.
"Needing the Astral Express's help? Is this your attitude when asking for help?"
Dan Heng's face remained cold, his tone hostile.
"Hahaha, brother, why so tense? Pulling this thing out is just a way to say hello, right?"
Boothill laughed heartily and casually shook the revolver in his hand.
"S-Say hello?!"
Pom-Pom cried out in alarm. Did you hear what you just said? Say hello? Who says hello by pulling out a gun?!
"…Enough with the nonsense. This is your final warning. State your identity!"
Dan Heng no longer intended to drag this out. He secretly mobilized the dormant Vidyadhara Dragon Lord power within his body. In an instant, a dragon-shaped phantom appeared behind him, looking down at Boothill from above.