Chapter 318: Penacony Arc 『 Part Thirteen 』, The Final Curtain Call
「 "It's just a few stones. Why so pessimistic? What if they are gone?" Aventurine shrugged, his voice laced with a practiced nonchalance.
"Without that Aventurine stone, you are nothing but a Sigonian slave sentenced to death by the IPC—or are you going to tell me that the Serial Number branded on your neck is a blessing from the Amber Lord?"
Before Ratio could even finish his sentence, the smile on Aventurine's face vanished instantly.
He lowered his gaze, falling into a brief silence. Yet, the smile returned to his lips almost as quickly as it had faded, appearing even more radiant than before. "…Oh, I see. Very humorous! It seems our learned friend has certainly done his homework." 」
「 ..... 」
〜Genshin Impact World〜
Teyvat—
As the mists of Mt. Aocang drifted gently, three Adepti gathered around a stone table, watching the images unfolding across the celestial canopy.
Aventurine's demeanor caught Mountain Shaper by surprise.
"This young man has quite the iron will. To be insulted so brazenly by Dr.Ratio and still manage a smile…"
Cloud Retainer gave a soft huff, tapping the rim of her teacup with a slender finger.
"Heh, Mountain Shaper, do not underestimate the leaders of the IPC's P 45 rank. They are elites handpicked from countless worlds. Despite his youth, his mental fortitude is beyond reproach."
She narrowed her eyes.
"However, that 'Aventurine' stone…"
Moon Carver looked at her, puzzled.
"What of it?"
"It sounds like a treasure of immense importance to the Company, perhaps even the very thing that dictates the life of a P45 executive. If it is so vital, why was it not kept under heavy guard? Why allow Aventurine to bring it to Penacony?"
Cloud Retainer mused.
"The situation in Penacony is a tangled web—the Watchmaker's legacy, the Family's secrets, the friction between factions. This doesn't look like safekeeping. It looks like…"
"Bait."
Mountain Shaper spoke suddenly.
Cloud Retainer glanced at him.
"Direct as always, aren't you?"
"Using something so precious as bait? Would the Company truly be so reckless?"
Moon Carver's eyes widened. If the Aventurine stone was as significant as they suspected, then the IPC was undoubtedly gambling with the life of a high-ranking P45 official.
"Whether the Company is willing doesn't matter…"
Cloud Retainer chuckled.
"As long as Aventurine is."
—
「 "This is my job. How else is a gambler supposed to reclaim Penacony for the IPC?" Aventurine smiled with absolute confidence.
"Rest easy, Professor. I have my ways. The Family is terrified of the Company making a move, which is why they're being so antagonistic… If I didn't know better, I'd say Penacony has been a conspiracy of The 『 Harmony 』 from the very beginning."
"If you ask me, that invitation was nothing but a self-directed farce. Perhaps they want to pull something outrageous during the Charmony Festival…" Aventurine said slowly.
"…Or perhaps the inviter is someone else entirely, and the Family is simply playing along to set an even larger stage. No matter. Whether it's the Family or the Watchmaker's Legacy, as long as I can use it, it serves its purpose."
"Get to the point. What is your plan?" Ratio asked sternly.
"There's no need to be so specific right now—it's not time to show my hand just yet."
Ratio let out a sharp "Tsk."
"Damned gambler. Cooperation is built on mutual trust—did your Sigonian preschool education not include that?"
"And do you trust me?" Aventurine asked with a playful grin.
"—That depends on your attitude."
Aventurine spread his hands. "So you don't trust me either. There we go. Besides, I never went to school, and my parents certainly never taught me that—sadly, they left before they had the chance."
Ratio froze for a moment, letting out a slow sigh. "…I meant no offense." 」
「 ..... 」
〜Akame Ga Kill World〜
The fireplace in the Night Raid base crackled. Mine rested her chin on the coffee table, staring at the two men on the screen who clearly shared no love for one another.
"That Professor has a sharp tongue, but he's actually a softie at heart, isn't he?"
"Is this your first day realizing that?"
Najenda said calmly, tightening a screw on her mechanical arm.
"He and Aventurine have completely different operating styles. It's no wonder Aventurine doesn't trust him… Aventurine likely knows that if he revealed his entire plan to Ratio, the man would veto it immediately."
Mine frowned.
"Is his plan really that unreliable?"
"…Not necessarily."
Najenda shook her head.
"I don't know the details, but during my time as an Imperial officer, I saw many desperate gamblers. The more dire their situation, the more willing they are to stake everything on a single roll of the dice for a chance to flip the board. Just as Aventurine says… 'All or nothing.'"
"Given Aventurine's nature, his plan is likely fraught with immense risk. At this stage, such a risk would be utterly unacceptable to someone as rational and steady as Ratio. But when the situation turns critical, and only one chip remains in hand… the Professor won't have a choice."
Tatsumi held his warm milk, his eyes fixed on Aventurine's nonchalant expression, a faint worry gnawing at him.
"But if they do this, isn't the Company afraid of burning bridges with The 『 Harmony 』's Family and starting an all-out conflict?"
"Afraid?"
Najenda suddenly laughed.
"Duke Inferno isn't even an Emanator of 『 Destruction 』, yet he dared to set his sights on Penacony. Why would the IPC, backed by an Emanator of 『 Preservation 』, fear the Family? Unless the Family has an Emanator of 『 Harmony 』 sitting on their throne."
"…If anything, the Company probably hopes the Family strikes first. That would give them the perfect excuse to step in and 'reclaim' this Land of Dreams."
—
「 Aventurine waved it off easily. "Don't sweat it. But they did teach me that 'friends are an Avgin's weapons'—and with the 『 Harmony 』 watching us like hawks, the more friends we have, the better."
"Let me see… we've already made contact with the Garden of Recollection and the Astral Express. The Annihilation Gang… likely a dead end. The Knights of Beauty? Who knows if they'll show? As for the folks from the Masked Fools…"
"…Speaking of which, I ran into a woman earlier who claimed to be a Galaxy Ranger. Something felt off about her. Go and dig up some dirt on her for me…"
Aventurine turned around, only to find the space behind him empty. Ratio had long since vanished.
"…Where'd he go?"
Standing alone in the vacant room, the smile on Aventurine's lips finally withered, dissolving into a weary sigh. "…Is he really that fed up with me? Sigh, looks like I'm on my own after all." 」
「 ..... 」