Professor Ratio crossed his arms over his chest, frowned, and said, "Get to the point. What exactly is the solution to the problem?"
Aventurine shook his head and replied, "It's not yet time to explain everything clearly—we can't easily reveal our trump cards."
"You despicable gambler... The precondition for cooperation is mutual trust. Did your Tziganiapreschool education not include this?" Professor Ratioquestioned.
"Then do you trust me?" Aventurine did not back down from Professor Ratio's rebuke; instead, he met the challenge head-on and retorted.
"That depends on your future performance and attitude." Professor Ratio's tone softened slightly, but he still carried a hint of dissatisfaction.
"So you don't trust me either, isn't that just fine? Also, I haven't been to school, and my parents really didn't teach me that—unfortunately, they left before they had a chance to." A trace of sadness and helplessness appeared in Aventurine's eyes.
He realized his words might have been a bit hurtful: "I didn't mean to offend."
"Asta: Professor Ratio's eye twitched a few times, huh."
"Arlan: A single sentence that makes one feel guilty for a lifetime, waking up in the middle of the night to slap oneself, 'I'm truly despicable!'"
Aventurine shook his head, as if shaking off those weak emotions, and continued:
"Never mind. However, they taught me that friends are the Evians' weapon—with harmony lurking, the more friends we have, the better."
He pondered as he moved to the Dreamscape Pool, muttering, "Let me think, the Garden of Recollectionand the Astral Express have already dealt with each other. The Annihilation Gang... probably no chance. Whether the Knights of Beauty will arrive as promised is still unknown. As for those guys from the 'Tavern'..."
"Oh, speaking of that, I just met a woman who said she was a Sea Ranger. I feel like something's off. Go help me find out her background..." Aventurine turned his head, but the room was already empty.
"Hmm... Where is he?" Aventurine looked at the empty room, somewhat astonished.
"...He can't possibly dislike me that much... Sigh, it seems I'll have to rely on myself after all."
"Clara: Clara always feels like Mr. Aventurine seems to be disliked by everyone..."
"Seele: Don't say it so obviously..."
"Sparkle: Hehehe."
[Aventurine, watching the screen, narrowed his eyes at everything before him. A gambler... Heh heh, I am indeed a gambler—but I've never lost.]
The screen went black, and when the image reappeared, it was in a bustling, brightly lit city that never slept. The streets at night were bathed in dazzling golden light. Wide avenues were filled with a constant flow of traffic, and on both sides stood unique buildings and shops of all kinds. Neon lights flickered, and signs were eye-catching, a feast for the eyes; the streets and alleys were filled with a rich sense of life and a unique cultural atmosphere.
"Gallagher: This is the Golden Hour."
"Bronya: What a prosperous metropolis. I wish Belobog could become like this someday."
"Kekeliya: There will be a chance, I promise."
A twin-tailed girl wearing a fox mask, wooden clogs, and a vibrant red cheongsam-style dress strolled leisurely through the streets.
A moment later, she suddenly stopped, turned to look at someone not far behind her, and called out sweetly, "Hey, I'm talking to you... Your method of attracting girls' attention is too clumsy! Are you just going to openly follow people like this? It's been almost half a system hour!"
Before she finished speaking, a figure peered out from a nearby corner. It was Aventurine. He smirked, a playful smile on his lips, and slowly replied, "Hmm, strictly speaking, it's been exactly 45 minutes~ Happy times always pass in a flash, don't they?"
"March 7th: Wow! What did I just say? He's directly following girls now!"
"Sushang: If this were on the Xianzhou, I could already arrest him!"
"Sparkle: Hehehe."
"Heh... Little Peacock, you have a pair of beautiful eyes. Are you from Tzigania?" Although it was a question, the girl clearly believed it.
Aventurine completely ignored her words, instead smiling and saying, "Want a further hint? For example, I'm an Evian."
"Hmph... My eyes might not be as good as yours, but I'm not blind—who in the entire universe doesn't know that you Tzigania people are born liars, thieves, socialites, honey-mouthed and dagger-hearted, truly living up to your reputation."
"If you ask me, you're more suited for under a manhole cover than in a dream..." The girl turned to look at a nearby manhole cover and said, "Ah, there's one right there, go on~"
"Siluva: That sounds like someone teasing a dog."
"Yanqing: Saying that is completely insulting him, isn't it?"
"No need, dark corners don't suit my temperament. This beautiful dream is more fitting for my frivolous, vain, and superficial nature." Aventurine narrowed his eyes and continued, "And it won't rain! My outfit is very delicate and can't stand wind and rain."
"Put away that playful tongue, Little Peacock. Please leave. We are The Fool, not fools. We have no intention of playing 'friends' with the Company's lapdogs."
"Star: Lapdogs... friends' game..."
"Luka: Wow... That little girl's mouth is so venomous. Mr. Aventurine doesn't seem angry at all. If it were me, I would have already thrown a punch."
"Arlan: Perhaps he's already accustomed to such words."
"Asta: Sigh, he's a pitiful person too."
Aventurine said meaningfully, "Oh? Is that true? You've never been friends with anyone from the Company?"
"Do you think I haven't read Penacony's history?" Sparkle replied with disdain, "Don't give me that! Don't even think about dragging me into your utterly boring office politics!"
"The Fool," Aventurine's tone gradually rose, "From the moment you accepted the invitation to this banquet, you had no choice. Pick a side in time, don't let yourself lose everything."
Sparkle scoffed, "You sound very confident, as if you've already dealt with the Family's chicken-winged boy."
"Sparkle: The most handsome chicken-winged boy in Penacony, hahahahaha."
"Sunday: The Fool..."
"Sparkle: Oh, you're not angry, are you~"
Sparkle not only showed no fear but even taunted, "How did you do it, Little Peacock? Did you strip naked and kneel to him, promising 'Wuwuwu, the Company will absolutely not scheme against Penacony'?"
Then, she deliberately mimicked his way of speaking in an exaggerated and comical tone, continuing, and by the end, Sparkle couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Pela: Is this something I can watch for free? So exciting!"
"Gepard: That sounds a bit strange."
"Himeko: The Masked Fools' mouths are truly amusing."
"Sparkle: What~ Do you want to try it~"
[Welt in The Train pulled back Himeko, who was about to say more. Facing the Masked Fools, the more you respond, the more excited she will get. Ignoring her is the best approach.]
"Heh heh, friend, come on, you only see others as chips," Sparkle shrugged.
Aventurine asked sincerely, "Aren't chips good? At the gambling table, there are only chips; you won't lose yourself. You see, our friends from the Garden of Recollection and the Astral Express understand this principle; they are very smart."
Sparkle blinked and said, "But smart people wouldn't enter the game in the first place. See, aren't I a bit smarter?"
"Listen up, Little Peacock, you also received an invitation from the Tavern. If you want to invite The Fool to join, use your brain. What does the God of Amusement truly want?"
Sparkle said, putting her hands on her hips, "I'll give you a hint: Since you can't convince anyone, why not consider making friends with a mute? At least he won't argue with you, hahahaha."
"Goodbye~" Sparkle said, then turned and left.
Aventurine watched the departing figure of the girl, pondered for a moment, then spoke to her retreating back:
"Thank you, making friends with a mute—I'll keep that in mind."
"Ah... What a hassle," Aventurine looked at the departing Sparkle with some helplessness, muttering to himself, "It seems I'll have to meet the Family again."
"Black Swan: She considers herself neutral, unrelated to the current chaos, but after she truly said those things, does it still count as unrelated?"
"Jing Yuan: There's a beauty full of mystery."
"March 7th: What does 'making friends with a mute' mean? Is there... some special meaning?"
"Sushang: Is he hinting at something? Oh no, I need to use my brain."
"Topaz: Poor Aventurine, every time he talks to someone, he gets attacked. It's too tragic."
"Numby: Papa~"