Chapter 96: Sunday Judges the Entire Avgin Clan
[These two... either they're bickering with each other, or they're on their way to bickering... Yet it doesn't hinder their progress in the slightest as they navigate through traps, shrink down to enter the block city, and overcome obstacle after obstacle.
Finally, they open the door leading to the BOSS—Sunday. At the entrance, Aventurine and Dr. Ratio exchange one last plan before facing Sunday directly. ......
Sunday stands with his back to Aventurine, hands clasped behind him:
"It seems the puzzles I set were too simple, emissary of the IPC."
"Flattered, and thank you for going to such lengths to welcome me, Mr. Sunday. Though this hardly seems like the act of someone who extended a sincere invitation."
]
[Trailblazer]:"This is hilarious, absolutely hilarious. Is this the first time Dr. Ratio has ever talked this much? Aside from Blade's antics, this episode has given me the most laughs."
[Einstein]:"With traitors emerging within Harmony's domain, it's no wonder Sunday sought cooperation with the IPC. As things stand, the Family is no longer trustworthy in his eyes."
[Fu Xuan]:"To hide within the Family undetected... could they be remnants of 'Order'?"
[Robin]:"Dissonance within Harmony?"
Robin finds it hard to believe, yet this speculation comes closest to the truth.
[Aventurine and Sunday drop all pretense. Aventurine bluntly points out that Sunday's position has become shackles, preventing him from avenging his sister.
Moreover, he asks for nothing in return—only what rightfully belongs to him: his personal freedom and the belongings confiscated by the Family—the bag of ceremonial money, and... "The casket containing the cornerstone," Sunday cuts in. But Sunday firmly refuses; the cornerstone must remain under the Family's custody. Aventurine concedes, settling for just the bag of ceremonial money. Yet Sunday presses further—what exactly is inside that casket? Aventurine remains silent, prompting Sunday to invoke divine judgment: "O soul of threefold visage, I beseech thee—brand his tongue and palms with scorching iron, that he may neither weave lies nor swear false oaths."
"What did you just do?"
Sunday replies: "Under Harmony's light, no sin remains hidden. I have pleaded for its radiance and now act as its voice. You have 113 seconds to prove your innocence and earn my trust."]
[Sparkle]:"Oh my, the adorable chicken-wing boy is really worked up~ I thought you didn't care about your sister at all~"
[Sunday]:"Silence, Fool!"
[Qingque]:"Harmony can detect lies like this?"
[March 7th]:"Given how this is going, Aventurine's cornerstone definitely isn't in that casket, right? Maybe it's inside that bag?"
[Jing Yuan]:"A stratagem of deception—unfortunately uncovered."
[Silver Wolf]:"At this point, how's this IPC guy gonna turn things around?"
[Honkai Star Rail · Welt]:"Without his cornerstone, Aventurine's actions here are severely hindered. No wonder he's been seeking allies everywhere."
[Kiana]:"Wait, why would the Family confiscate his cornerstone in the first place?"
[Murata Himeko]:"Aventurine's stone contains the power of an Emanator of Preservation. Who would let someone wielding a weapon of mass destruction just waltz in?"
[Sunday begins his interrogation: "First question: Do you possess a cornerstone?"
"Yes."
Aventurine keeps his answers brief, knowing unnecessary words invite risk. "Did you surrender it to the Family upon entry?"
"Yes.""Was the cornerstone you handed over truly yours?"
"Yes.""Is your cornerstone currently in this room?"
"Yes.""Has your memory been altered or erased in any way—be it through the techniques of the Garden of Recollection or otherwise?"
"No.""Are you from the Avgin clan of Sigonia?"
"Yes.You even know that?"
"Do the Avgin possess any ability to read, alter, or manipulate their own or others' thoughts?"
"No. Is that relevant?""Do you love your family more than yourself?"
Aventurine hesitates briefly before answering firmly: "Yes."
"Did every last Avgin perish in that massacre?""No."
"Are you the sole survivor of your clan?""...Maybe."
"—Do you despise this world and wish to destroy it with your own hands?""I don't know."
Aventurine shakes his head in confusion. "Can you swear—here and now—that Aventurine's stone lies safely within this casket?"
After a pause, Aventurine replies: "Of course."
Sunday returns the casket to him, watching with a smile as Aventurine opens it—only to find it empty. "Looking for these?"
Sunday lifts the white cloth on the table, revealing two cornerstones—one gold, one emerald.]
[Trailblazer]:"Wait, everything Aventurine said was true? Then how does he turn this around? Only that last answer was a lie, right?"
[March 7th]:"The earlier questions were normal enough, but why did it suddenly shift to his past?"
[Honkai Star Rail · Welt]:"To ensure Aventurine hasn't been impersonated, self-hypnotized, or made to forget through any means."
[Mobius]:"He must be worried surviving Avgin might still exist—and that they could alter each other's identities."
[Sampo]:"How many orphans has Penacony taken in at this point? Let me tally them up: The entire Avgin clan, Glamoth's fallen nation, Izumo's ruins... Heh, who knew Penacony was big enough to house so many factions?"
[Sparkle]:"Oh dear~ You forgot about the last descendant of the puppet clan~"
[Sampo]:"Who knows if anything you say is true? We're both Masked Fools—who's fooling who here!"
[March 7th]:"Sampo... That joke was way too dark..."
[Fu Xuan]:"The Ten Stonehearts are this united? Topaz actually entrusted her stone to Aventurine? I see—the casket did contain a cornerstone, but it was Topaz's stone. The real Aventurine stone must be inside that bag of ceremonial money. An attempt to deceive... but..."
[Qingque]:"...But it failed. Now Sunday holds all the cards."
[Pardofelis]:"Um... Lady Eden wouldn't mistake this, right? That green stone should be Jadeite? Aventurine's stone resembles it, but even I wouldn't mix them up!"
[Eden]:"Pardofelis, that gem is indeed Jadeite. Normally one trades gold for jade... yet here he inverted the logic entirely."
[Trailblazer]:"So... the real Aventurine stone still hasn't been found? There's another twist coming?"
.........