["It's just a few stones. Why so pessimistic? So what if they're gone?" Aventurine shrugged, speaking in a nonchalant tone.]
["Without that [Aventurine Stone], you are nothing but a Sigonian slave sentenced to death by the company — or are you saying that string of [commodity codes] on your neck is also a blessing from the Amber Lord?"]
[Before Ratio finished speaking, the smile on Aventurine's face instantly disappeared.]
[He lowered his eyes and remained silent for a moment. The smile quickly returned to his face, even brighter than before: "…Oh, nice one, humorous! It seems our erudite friend has done his homework well."]
——
Teyvat.
Clouds and mist gently drifted around Mt. Aocang. Three adepti gathered around a stone table, watching the scene on the Celestial Screen.
Aventurine's attitude surprised Moon Carver somewhat: "This young man is quite composed. Even after being ridiculed by Ratio like that, he can still smile."
Cloud Retainer snorted lightly and tapped the rim of her teacup with her fingertip: "Heh, Moon Carver, don't underestimate a P45 leader of the company. They are all elites selected from countless planets. Despite their young age, their mentality is naturally impeccable." She narrowed her eyes. "However, that 'Aventurine Stone'…"
Mountain Shaper looked at her in confusion: "What about it?"
"It sounds like an extremely important treasure to the company, one that can even determine the fate of a P45 executive. But if it's so important, why wasn't it strictly guarded? Why let Aventurine bring it to Penacony?" Cloud Retainer pondered. "The current situation in Penacony is complicated, with the Watchmaker's legacy, the Family's secrets, and friction between factions. It doesn't look like safeguarding — more like…"
"Bait."
Moon Carver suddenly said.
Cloud Retainer glanced at him: "You're quite direct."
"Using something so important as bait? Is the company willing?" Mountain Shaper widened his eyes. If the Aventurine Stone was truly as important as they guessed, then this was undoubtedly gambling with the life of a P45-level high executive.
"Whether the company is willing or not doesn't matter…" Cloud Retainer chuckled. "As long as Aventurine is willing."
——
["This is my job. Otherwise, how is a gambler supposed to help the company reclaim Penacony?"]
[Aventurine smiled confidently: "Don't worry, Professor. I have plenty of ways. The Family is afraid the company will cause trouble, so they're opposing us at every turn… Who knows, maybe Penacony has been [Harmony]'s conspiracy from the very beginning."]
["If you ask me, that invitation letter is just a self-directed smokescreen. Perhaps they want to do something outrageous at the Harmonious Concert…" Aventurine said slowly. "…Or maybe the inviter is someone else, but they tacitly approved it and want to turn the tables and set up something even bigger. It doesn't matter. Whether it's the Family or the [Watchmaker's legacy], as long as I can use it, it's fine."]
["Get to the point. What's the plan?" Ratio said seriously.]
["There's no need to explain it so clearly right now — it's not time to show my hand yet."]
[Ratio made a "tch" sound: "Damned gambler. The premise of cooperation is mutual trust — wasn't this taught in Sigonian preschool education?"]
["Do you trust me?" Aventurine asked with a smile.]
["—That depends on your attitude."]
[Aventurine spread his hands: "So you don't trust me either. See? It works out. Also, I never went to school. My parents really didn't teach me this — unfortunately, they left before they had the chance to teach me."]
[Ratio was momentarily stunned and slowly sighed: "…I didn't mean to offend."]
——
Akame ga Kill!
The fireplace in the Night Raid base crackled. Mine rested her chin on the tea table, staring at the two distrustful people on the Celestial Screen.
"That professor has a pretty sharp tongue sometimes, but he's actually quite soft-hearted."
"Have you only just realized that?" Najenda said indifferently while tightening screws on her mechanical arm. "Their working styles are quite different, so it's no wonder Aventurine doesn't trust him… He probably knows that if he fully told Ratio his plan, the other party would likely reject it immediately."
Mine frowned: "Is his plan that unreliable?"
"…Not really." Najenda shook her head. "I don't know Aventurine's plan, but when I was an officer in the Empire, I saw many crazy gamblers. The more critical their situation at the gambling table, the more willing they are to stake everything they have for one big gamble, betting on a chance to turn things around. Just like Aventurine said… 'All, or nothing at all.'"
"With Aventurine's gambler personality, his plan probably comes with enormous risks. In the current situation, such risks are completely unacceptable to the always rational and steady Ratio. But when the situation becomes critical and he has lost all but one chip… then the professor will have no choice."
Tatsumi held a cup of hot milk, his gaze falling on Aventurine's calm and composed expression, feeling faintly worried: "But if he does this, won't the company be afraid of completely falling out with the [Harmony] Family and triggering direct conflict?"
"Afraid?" Najenda suddenly smiled. "Duke Inferno isn't even an Emanator of [Destruction], yet he dares to set his sights on Penacony and wants to occupy it. With an Emanator of [Preservation] in the company, why would they fear the Family? Unless the Family also has an Emanator of [Harmony] stationed there."
"…Rather, it's more likely that the company actually hopes the Family makes the first move, giving them sufficient reason to step in and reclaim this beautiful dreamland."
——
[Aventurine waved his hand casually: "Don't mind it. But they did teach me that 'friends are the weapons of the Avgins' — with [Harmony] watching covetously, the more friends we have, the better."]
["Let me think. The Garden of Recollection has already contacted the Astral Express. The Annihilation Gang… probably no chance. The Knights of Beauty are still unknown whether they will attend. As for the guys from the [Tavern]…"]
["…Speaking of which, I met a woman earlier who said she was a Galaxy Ranger. I feel like something's off about her. Go help me check her background…"]
[Aventurine turned around and found no one behind him. Ratio had already disappeared without a trace.]
["…Where did he go?"]
[Standing alone in the empty room, the smile on Aventurine's lips finally slowly faded, turning into a sigh: "…Am I really that disliked? Sigh, looks like I still have to rely on myself."]