Chapter 257: Aventurine's childhood exposed!
While Old Yang, Black Swan, and Acheron were watching the PV for "Kyoden: A Cleave Across the Transient World," the livestream outside continued!
First, Black Swan arrived at the hotel in reality to investigate Acheron's room.
Through an invitation letter received from the Annihilation Gang—a music box—she learned about what had happened at the Ever-Flame Mansion.
And while in the midst of reading the memories.
She heard an unexpected voice!
"Oh… a Memokeeper. Do you serve the Garden of Recollection… or the Cremators?"
"My name is Constance… It is a pleasure to meet you. We were supposed to meet in Penacony, to spend some… unforgettable time together."
"But that seems impossible now. The Planet of Festivities does not welcome the Dahlia, and I do not need a coming-of-age ceremony… And you, I know what you are looking for…"
"Want her secrets? I can give them to you, and then… enjoy that grand celebration for me."
"I wish you unforgettable memories."
...
"The Dahlia!"
"She's still alive?"
"Great, just great!"
"In the PV, Constance's mission was targeting Black Swan. Now that the Duke is gone, she is still determined to carry it out."
"Sister Constance's ability and willpower are definitely not on the same level as the other three children."
"As expected of the Duke of Inferno's most excellent and ambitious child."
"She'll probably be a playable character in the future."
...
After the Dahlia's voice faded.
A phone ringtone rang in the room at just the right time.
Black Swan hesitated whether or not to answer.
A line of text appeared on the screen.
[ Meanwhile, a… ]
[ Switching to [Aventurine]'s perspective… ]
[ Aventurine already has a clue about the current situation. He decides to accept the invitation to meet with the Oak Family Head to retrieve his lost item and the power that matches it… ]
Hotel Cinema.
A cheer erupted instantly!
"Is it happening!"
"Director Aventurine, are you finally making a move?"
"Now that he has secured cooperation with the Astral Express, the next step should be to use the Express crew as his bargaining chip, right?"
"I've already got my notebook ready to take notes!"
"Everyone stand up, get ready to welcome Director Aventurine's operation show!"
The Reverie Hotel.
On-site.
Seeing the subtitles on the screen.
Sunday's eyes narrowed!
Finally, it's Aventurine's turn in the plot!
Let's see!
What kind of schemes and dirty tricks will he use in the plot?
Regardless of whether he succeeds…
The Family can use this as a reason to completely expel Aventurine.
Completely cutting off the possibility of the IPC reaching into Penacony!
Nearby.
Aventurine also realized this.
He couldn't help but reveal a wry smile.
Creating an opportunity for the IPC to reclaim Penacony… is definitely a one-in-a-million chance.
Once his "schemes" are exposed in the plot beforehand…
That's equivalent to revealing his own trump cards!
"This is bad…"
Feather Spirit!
Couldn't you have waited a bit longer to release this new plot!
Now all my cards are about to be exposed, how am I supposed to play this!
I don't even have the qualifications to sit at the gambling table anymore!
"Is this mission doomed to fail…"
At least in the game, I still have a chance to fight for it.
In reality, there's no chance at all!
Maybe.
I'll even be criticized by netizens because of this plot.
My reputation and credit will plummet…
Aventurine rubbed his forehead.
He looked troubled.
"Why does it feel like this game is targeting me?"
"When others appear in the plot, it's always their highlight moments… and their popularity remains high."
"And me?"
"Ran into walls everywhere last version! And now, in this version, I'm suspected of becoming the villainous boss?"
"This damn fate, it has truly never been fair!"
As the perspective shifted to Aventurine.
An Interastral Peace broadcast sounded.
"…Recently, the Interastral Peace Corporation officially announced—"
"Sigonia—under the guidance of the Marketing Development Department, in accordance with the 'Interastral Peace Charter,' has established an independent United Emirates and has obtained a legal seat at the Interastral Peace Conference—"
"The establishment of the United Emirates has significant historical meaning for Sigonia: this move puts an end to the planet's long and bloody history, and the sensational Katica-Avgin extinction case will become a distant past—"
"…"
Sigonia!?
Aventurine was stunned.
Why was his homeworld suddenly mentioned?
The screen suddenly cut.
A baby in swaddling clothes appeared on the screen.
Short golden hair had already grown on its head.
There was a hint of pain on its tiny face.
It looked like it was about to cry in the next second.
The users in the livestream room immediately started spamming the chat.
...
"What the f*ck?"
"Whose kid is this?"
"Actually kinda cute."
"Could it be Aventurine's illegitimate child?"
...
At this moment.
In the background.
A woman's voice sounded.
"Sigonia, Sigonia. The thirsty eye of the storm, the land forsaken by the gods…"
"With stone but no water, with thunder but no rain, with blood but no tears. You strike us with falling stars, temper us with wind and thunder, and chew us with cracked earth…"
"You promised us a land of honey [ Avgin ], yet placed us under the blade [ Katica ] of bitterness. O, Mother Goddess Giaithra Trioclops [ Fenge-Byos ], if you can hear me, I beg you to open up thy three eyes and gaze upon this child…"
Hearing this voice.
Aventurine felt as if he had been struck by lightning!
He showed an expression of disbelief!
This is…
His mother's voice!
What is going on…!?
Why would this scene appear in the plot!
That baby in the swaddling clothes.
Was clearly himself, not long after he was born!
For a moment.
Aventurine's breathing quickened slightly.
He had expected a battle of wits where every move was calculated.
But suddenly, this happened!
Even he himself almost didn't react in time.
Aventurine's eyes were fixed on the screen!
It wasn't that he cared about his childhood appearance being exposed, or that the whole internet saw what he looked like as a child…
But.
Looking at the woman's figure in the background.
His heart trembled slightly.
Aventurine didn't expect.
After all these years.
He could still hear her voice.
That title,
Uttered in his heart.
"Mom…"
Inside the livestream room.
Through the woman's words, many players finally realized!
...
"Ahem… well, little Aventurine is quite cute…"
"Good guy…"
"So Aventurine was this cute back then? Not like now…"
"When others have flashbacks, it's their younger years, but for Aventurine, it's a direct flashback to when he was born?"
"The woman's voice in the background feels so desperate… what on earth happened?"
...