March 7th: "It's a pity those three predecessors didn't get to see Penacony's future."
Stelle: "But we witnessed it all for them, didn't we?"
Gallagher: "That old guy Mikhail… he probably anticipated this scene before he left, right?"
Gallagher: "That's why he was able to leave so cleanly."
Gallagher: "I have to say, an old dog like me is lucky enough."
Gallagher: "To be able to learn about the outcome of Penacony's future through such a strange and bizarre method."
Gallagher: "I can truly die without regrets now."
Hanabi: "Good, good, good~ now everyone's happy, and a world where only the Chicken Wing Siblings are hurt is born~"
Hanabi: "But this isn't exciting enough yet~"
Hanabi: "Remember? The scene where blood flows like a river hasn't appeared yet~"
Hanabi: "Hee-hee~ next it's time for Hanabi-sama to show her strength."
Stelle: "Director Hanabi, are you serious?"
Hanabi: "Mm-hmm, what do you think?"
Hanabi: "I went through all this trouble to wade into the muddy waters of Penacony, what do you think I'm after?"
Paimon: "Uh… for… the Elation?"
Hanabi: "Exactly~"
Hanabi: "But right now, the fun isn't big enough. Don't you think I should add some fuel to the fire?"
March 7th: "Miss Hanabi, I beg you, please don't pull any more schemes or plots!"
March 7th: "Just let us have some peace and quiet!"
Hanabi: "Hey, you don't get a say in that~"
....
『 The scene shifts, arriving inside the hotel room where Aventurine is located in reality.
At this moment, Aventurine is on a phone call with Jade.
[ I'm glad to hear your voice again. Congratulations on becoming the biggest winner… behind the scenes of this grand festival. ]
Jade's lazy voice comes through the earpiece, offering congratulations to Aventurine.
[ You called specifically just to tease me? ]
Aventurine raised an eyebrow and chuckled.
[No, I'm just impressed at how you didn't manage to lose again. ]
[ Not only did you venture alone deep into the wolves' den and dig out the truth of Dreamflux Reef, but you also retreated unscathed with the help of that Knight of Beauty… ]
[ Remember the recording you received from your Trailblaze friend? It's now the most valuable chip in this game. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Furina de Fontaine: "Mr. Aventurine has appeared again, safe and sound!"
March 7th: "Becoming the biggest winner behind the scenes, retreating unscathed with the help of that Knight of Beauty…"
March 7th: "Ah… is this the luck of the King of Luck?!"
Stelle: "Good grief, we fought Sunday for so long."
Stelle: "And it turns out the winners behind the scenes are Aventurine and the IPC?"
Stelle: "It feels like we're just tools in this?"
Qingque: "What do you mean 'feels like'?"
Qingque: "Can we be more precise?"
Qingque: "You clearly are tools!"
Paimon: "It's not being a tool, right?"
Paimon: "It's clearly seeing injustice on the road and lending a helping hand."
Hu Tao: "But the nature of it seems barely different from being a tool."
Hu Tao: "Unless the members of the Express receive a corresponding reward in Penacony."
Lumine: "Penacony really owes the Nameless far too much. In all fairness, they should show some appreciation."
Fu Xuan: "Unfortunately, the Family might not have any time to consider that right now."
Fu Xuan: "Based on the current situation, the Family's focus should be on how to counter the IPC's upcoming offensive."
Seele: "Don't tell me Penacony is about to start a war?"
Aventurine: "That won't be necessary. Force has never been the IPC's first choice."
Aventurine: "There's no need to go through all that trouble for an opponent that can be taken down at the negotiating table."
Aventurine: "The 'me' in the video has finished his job. Next, we'll see my dear colleague's performance."
....
『 [ However, as the price for winning all this… losing a Cornerstone is still far too expensive. ]
[ Diamond just initiated a meeting—a meeting concerning you. ]
Jade's tone shifted, revealing some bad news to Aventurine.
[ As expected. ]
[ So, is Diamond planning to demote me, or kick me out of the Ten Stonehearts altogether? ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Hu Tao: "Oh ho, it seems Mr. Aventurine's situation isn't looking too good either."
Furina de Fontaine: "Actually, I find it strange too. Can something as precious as a Cornerstone really be used so recklessly as a gambling chip?"
March 7th: "I guess we'd have to see which is more valuable: the Cornerstone or Penacony?"
Stelle: "It feels hard to compare. As the Planet of Festivities, Penacony is certainly valuable."
Stelle: "And the Cornerstone, as a special treasure containing the power of an Emanator of Preservation, is even more of a heavyweight."
Stelle: "Anyway, if it were me, I couldn't use a Cornerstone as a chip."
Guinaifen: "If Mr. Aventurine loses his Cornerstone, does that mean he can't transform into that 'Eerie Aventurine' anymore?"
Guinaifen: "Does that mean the Stonehearts will only have nine members from now on?"
Li Sushang: "If you put it that way, the price is quite high."
Li Sushang: "No wonder Aventurine might be fired directly."
Paimon: "But if Mr. Aventurine gets fired, won't all of this have been for nothing?"
Paimon: "That's way too unlucky!"
Lumine: "I feel like Aventurine did this on purpose."
Lumine: "After all, he was always thinking about taking things to the extreme before."
Madam Herta: "That guy Diamond's stones aren't that fragile."
Madam Herta: "It's just broken. Can't it just be fixed?"
Qingque: "Can this thing… really be fixed just like that??"
Welt Yang: "Diamond is an Emanator of Preservation, after all. Based on the power of Preservation, perhaps the Aventurine stone really can be restored."
Amber: "By the way… why did Mr. Aventurine use the word 'Altogether' in his last sentence?"
Amber: "Could it be that before this, there was another member of the Stonehearts who suffered the same fate as Mr. Aventurine?"
Topaz: "Uh… well…"
Aventurine: "That would be my kind colleague Topaz, who suffered a demotion because of the Jarilo-VI incident."
Bronya Rand: "What? The Jarilo-VI incident actually caused Miss Topaz to be punished by the IPC?"
Topaz: "Ahem, no, no!"
Topaz: "Don't listen to Aventurine's nonsense. It wasn't a big deal."
Stelle: "Tsk, Topaz really is loyal!"
March 7th: "As expected… the IPC is never a place that warms the heart."
March 7th: "Miss Topaz clearly wanted to help Jarilo-VI, and yet she ended up being punished!"
Boothill: "What are you thinking?"
Boothill: "The IPC only has eyes for profit. They don't have time to chat with you about human sentiment."
Bronya Rand: "Jarilo-VI truly owes Miss Topaz a massive favor. Thank you very much!"
Topaz: "Sigh, helping you was my own choice. It doesn't count as a favor."
....
『 [ A rare opportunity. Why not place a bet? ]
Jade said in a low, suggestive tone.
[ Hmph, fine. Then I'll bet—that he's going to promote me to P 46? ]
Aventurine snorted and replied.
[ Mhm. And what are you prepared to wager? ]
Jade asked back.
[ A real wager or a fake one? I don't want to pawn anything to you, lest I be swallowed whole. ]
[ But if it's just for fun—then let's do it like when we first met. I'll bet my life, Ma'am. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Navia Caspar: "He still loves betting his life."
Navia Caspar: "Such a familiar Aventurine."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "Hmph, a leopard never changes its spots."
Stelle: "A what never changes its what?"
Stelle: "Professor, please be clear!"
Silver Wolf: "It's just 'a leopard never changes its spots.' Do you really not get it, or are you pretending?"
Paimon: "???"
Paimon: "What what… what are you all talking about??"
March 7th: "I get it!"
March 7th: "It's… uh…"
March 7th: "Forget it. Since none of you are saying such crude words, I won't say them either."
Boothill: "You guys want to say 'a dog can't stop eating filth,' right?"
Boothill: "How in the fork is that crude?"
Boothill: "If you really think it's crude, you could just say 'a Wubbaboo can't stop eating strawberry cakes!'"
Boothill: "Would that work?"
Yunli: "Straw… strawberry cakes?"
Yunli: "Oh no, now I'm hungry…"
....
『 [ Interesting. But since that is Diamond's decision, no one can guess the answer in advance. ]
[ I am on my way to Penacony. Once the remaining matters are settled, we will return to Pier Point together to see the cards revealed. ]
Jade's tone remained calm and unhurried.
[ Sounds like there's nothing for me to do for a while. Does that mean I can enjoy my vacation? ]
Aventurine showed a relaxed expression.
[ Leave it to Topaz and me, child. Thanks to you, the moment the Jade stone was sent into the Family's grounds, the IPC's arrangement was complete. ]
[ The seeds sown have already taken root and sprouted. And then… comes the time for harvest. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "Can someone tell me what the IPC's arrangement actually is??"
Stelle: "Those who know, know. Those who don't, don't need to know."
Silver Wolf: "Riddle-makers, get lost!"
Furina de Fontaine: "What is the function of the Jade stone?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Why is Ma'am Jade so confident?"
Hu Tao: "I don't know… I feel like my brain is starting to fail me again."
Lumine: "So… Ma'am Jade hasn't actually arrived at Penacony this whole time?"
Himeko: "Counting Ma'am Jade, there are even three Stonehearts gathered here in Penacony."
Himeko: "Plus Professor Ratio from the Intelligentsia Guild."
Himeko: "It seems the IPC really values this tempting cake that is Penacony."
Welt Yang: "The Family's management is already so corrupt. If the IPC joins to provide checks and balances, it might not necessarily yield bad results."
Stelle: "I think I am the legitimate heir to Penacony."
Stelle: "I hope the Family and the IPC can be reasonable and gift Penacony to me for free."
March 7th: "Stelle, I don't recall you entering Ena's Dream?"
March 7th: "Starting to talk nonsense already?"
Topaz: "…To be serious, the Nameless indeed made an indelible contribution to Penacony."
Topaz: "A share of the management rights here should belong to you, Nameless."
Furina de Fontaine: "I think Miss Topaz is right!"
Hu Tao: "Agreed!"
Paimon: "Seconded!"
Stelle: "Forget it. We, humble Nameless, wouldn't dare snatch food from the mouths of the Family and the IPC. (Scared.jpg)"
....
『 [ …Hmm? ]
[ Let's stop here for now. It seems a guest has arrived… ]
Aventurine, who was talking to Jade, suddenly heard a strange noise outside the room. He frowned and hung up the communication.
A moment later, Boothill walked in from outside the room.
[ Oh? There are quite a few novelties today. A Galaxy Ranger and a wanted criminal actually delivering himself to the door— ]
[ —and taking out two IPC employees right under the nose of the IPC fleet. Do you know what that means? ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Lumine: "The plot seems to be… suddenly heading in a strange direction."
Lumine: "Mr. Boothill, why go looking for Aventurine for no reason?"
Paimon: "Eek… was Mr. Boothill always this cold-blooded?"
Paimon: "To ruthlessly take out two employees guarding the door."
Stelle: "Good grief, is Boothill going to assassinate Aventurine?"
Stelle: "GOOD!! FIGHT!! I LOVE TO SEE IT!!"
March 7th: "It's over, Stelle. I think you've been infected by Miss Hanabi."
Hanabi: "Don't slander me. The little gray-haired's nature is just like that. How can you say I corrupted her?"
Boothill: "Forking Wubbaboo, I'm not some cold-blooded demon. I wouldn't bother with IPC small fry."
Boothill: "I just gave them a chance to claim for work-related injuries, that's all. Don't make it sound like I killed them."
Silver Wolf: "There are no holes in those two employees. Verified as still alive."
Hotaru: "…Silver Wolf, that verification is a bit too casual…"
....
『 [ Screwubbaboo, I just put them to sleep! Don't try to intimidate me with that nonsense. ]
[ Besides, I've taken down more IPC lackeys than the residual value you've squeezed, and I don't mind adding a few more zeroes to my wanted poster. ]
[ I have questions for you. Be honest, or I'll love you to death with a bullet right now— ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Navia Caspar: "Hahahaha… Mr. Boothill still loves to 'love people to death'."
Navia Caspar: "No matter how many times I hear it, it's still funny."
Stelle: "Ah~ the love between Boothill and Aventurine is truly epic!"
Boothill: "I'll be a forking Wubbaboo, stop disgusting me!"
Boothill: "I don't want to 'love him to death' either, but who told my mouth it can only say 'love him to death'?"
March 7th: "I get it. Yours is a 'profound love'."
Aventurine: "..."
Aventurine: "This cold joke is giving me goosebumps."
Yunli: "I'm curious, are all Galaxy Rangers as strange as you?"
Yunli: "Do they also like to love people to death?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Certainly not. Look at Predecessor Tiernan, wasn't he perfectly normal?"
Silver Wolf: "Boothill's personal behavior does not represent the Galaxy Rangers. Please be advised."
Boothill: "Meow! Truly Screwubbaboo!"
....
『 [ Tell me… where is Oswaldo Schneider? ]
Boothill pointed his gun at Aventurine and asked the question through gritted teeth! 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Aventurine: "Oh, friend, I was wondering why you were looking for me."
Aventurine: "So you want to find that guy's whereabouts."
Aventurine: "Honestly, friend, I highly support you loving that guy to death with a bullet."
Aventurine: "Unfortunately, that's not an easy thing to do."
Boothill: "Just because you can't do it doesn't mean I can't."
Boothill: "Just tell me where he is. I'll take care of the rest."
....