["…Oh dear, friend. When I witnessed this scene, my expression wasn't much better than yours." Aventurine nodded. "You didn't see wrong. It's her, the renowned singer [Robin]."]
["Even Robin actually…"]
[Aventurine said unhurriedly: "Let me make it clear first—this has nothing to do with me. I'm just an unlucky guy who unfortunately stumbled into the scene. The Family can testify. If you don't believe me, go ask someone from the Hound Family. They hate me and hate the IPC, so they definitely won't lie."]
["This isn't the crime scene either. What I'm showing you is a memory—the simplest light cone presentation technique, authorized by the Garden of Recollection and owned by the IPC." Aventurine looked at the memoria bubbles flying from the Dream Pool beside him, his tone indifferent: "At this point, do you still think that [Galaxy Ranger] is an outsider?"]
——
One Piece.
"What a sharp-tongued kid." Fujitora frowned slightly. "However, his intention to drive a wedge between Stelle and Acheron is too obvious. Although Acheron has many suspicious points, from what we've seen so far, she holds no malice toward Stelle."
Ryokugyu leaned against the railing, gazing at the scenery of Mary Geoise: "…Aren't you being too arbitrary? How can you conclude that Acheron has no malice or other schemes? A woman who speaks in riddles from the very beginning is simply not worthy of trust."
"If Acheron had malice, Stelle would have probably ended up like Duke Inferno long ago. Tricks are only precious when power is insufficient. For an Emanator… in a situation where there are no other Emanators in Penacony to oppose her, there aren't so many twists and turns."
Ryokugyu thought about it carefully and it did seem to be the case. But he always felt Aventurine was particularly targeting Acheron. Whether it was identifying the culprit or the investigation, it seemed like he was intentionally trying to divide the people around Acheron.
"You say, is it possible that Aventurine and Firefly—"
"Those two have no connection." Fujitora immediately took over his words, his staff blade lightly tapping the ground. "At first I also thought Firefly and Aventurine were working together, but if that were truly the case, when Firefly was killed, Aventurine couldn't have been unaware. He would definitely know about that meme. But now… he is pointing at Acheron like this, which means he knows nothing about the meme."
Ryokugyu's frown deepened: "Then it gets interesting. Just who is this Firefly? It seems like she has no connection with any faction? Could she be a guest from [Finality] or some other Path?"
"No, there's still one faction that might be possible." Fujitora raised his head, "observing" the Celestial Screen with his blind eyes: "You remember the scene when she first met Sampo, right? That meticulous observation ability… it's impossible unless she's a well-trained warrior. This is very different from the life story she told. A 'patient' lying in a medical pod? Heh, how could a patient who has been bedridden for years have such judgment?"
"Considering that Galaxy Rangers rarely interact with each other, I guess she might be a Ranger like Acheron… but why exactly she hides her strength and experiences remains unknown."
——
["Penacony has solemnly promised: In the sweet dreams woven by The Family, every guest's safety will be guaranteed. Those in danger will be forcibly awakened and safely return to reality."]
["What gives them the confidence to say this so definitively? Because behind this promise is the protection of [Harmony]: The Family's Dreamweavers connect thoughts into one, building an unbreakable safety line."]
[Aventurine turned back to look at the oil painting behind him—it was a passage leading to Penacony: "Breaking through this line and creating 'death' in the dreamscape… even a Memokeeper cannot do this without The Family's permission."]
["Who can do it? Friend, it can only be her—that woman who calls herself a Galaxy Ranger… an uninvited guest using a false identity, an [Emanator] who concealed her true identity…"]
["Ifrit's death is already a foregone conclusion, and Robin… her tragic state is right before our eyes. Who will be the next sacrifice?"]
["In that case, I won't trust anyone." Stelle slowly shook her head.]
["It's fine. You can have your own judgment. Building trust always takes time. I'm willing to wait." Aventurine shrugged, seemingly completely within his expectations of Stelle's attitude. "I just hope you understand that around that so-called legacy… undercurrents are surging in Penacony, and everyone harbors their own schemes."]
["Don't stand on the wrong side. If I were you, I would keep my distance from Acheron. After all, no matter what, open schemes on the table are far better than monsters hiding in the shadows… isn't that so?"]
——
Honkai Impact 3rd.
"Guys like this who sow discord are the most despicable!!"
Kiana got angrier the more she watched, and the angrier she got, the more she wanted to watch. She was afraid Stelle would cut off contact with Acheron because of Aventurine's sweet words. At a time like this, Miss Himeko and Mr. Welt were needed to thoroughly expose his schemes!
"Strange…" Mei slightly lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously stroking the edge of the teacup, her thoughts gradually spreading. "I noticed from earlier that they keep emphasizing the concept of 'death.' It seems this is different from normal death in Penacony…"
"I noticed it too." Himeko said from the side. "Death in Penacony might involve two concepts. If we use games as an analogy, normal death is like a game character dying and then respawning at the revival point to start the game again. But the 'death' mentioned by Aventurine and Sunday… is more like account banning, where you can no longer play the game."
Bronya frowned: "That's quite a cruel analogy…"
"Then according to that, doesn't it mean Miss Firefly can never enter Penacony again?" Kiana looked at Himeko with a worried face.
"…Yes, most likely. Both she and Robin cannot re-enter Penacony. They are probably both wandering around the White Day Dream Hotel right now? The bad news is that Penacony is about to descend into chaos. The good news that might happen is… the two of them are safe and alive."
"However, The Family might find a way to let Robin return to Penacony. After all, without her the Harmony Ceremony cannot proceed normally. But Firefly… that girl probably won't be so lucky. Regarding the Watchmaker's legacy, she might be the first one eliminated."
——
["But who says there isn't an even deeper conspiracy behind the open schemes?"]
[During a gap in their conversation, Black Swan elegantly walked over. She flipped a playing card between her fingertips, but it disappeared in the next second.]
[Aventurine's expression instantly darkened: "…Memokeeper, I believe our transaction ended long ago."]
[Black Swan ignored him and looked at Stelle beside her: "Aventurine is telling the truth. This [memory] is real. There is no distortion or splicing."]
[Aventurine nodded: "The IPC is not the Garden of Recollection. What we can do is quite limited. Friend, no more beating around the bush—let me say it directly. I want to reach cooperation with the Astral Express in my personal name."]