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The Reverie.
People continued attempting to dive back into the Golden Hour.
Some were members of the Harmony-aligned families, hoping to uncover the truth and reopen the Golden Hour as soon as possible to quell the unrest.
Some were enemies of The Family, eager to seize leverage and extract enormous benefits.
Some were bored, curious travelers who simply wanted first-hand gossip.
And then, all of a sudden, the Golden Hour reopened.
People with different motives flooded in together, yet none of them saw the scene they were expecting.
At the instant they entered, tens of thousands of beams of light descended from the sky.
Like a brilliant meteor shower, every single meteor found its destined host.
People nervously checked their bodies, only to find that aside from feeling warmer, nothing seemed to have changed.
Although they could see the unusual small sun in the sky, there was nothing they could do but look at it.
So, they temporarily set aside their curiosity about the small sun and turned their attention to the surrounding streets and shops.
Unexpectedly—
Aside from the lack of staff in the stores and the quieter streets, every facility looked exactly the same as before the closure.
The Golden Hour seemed as if something had happened, yet also as if nothing had happened at all.
Soon, Sunday—having received the news—ordered The Family to clear the area once more, personally investigated without finding anything amiss, and ultimately had no choice but to reopen it to calm external speculation.
[Due to an Interastral Peace Corporation P45-level Employee named: Aventurine, inadvertently carrying high-energy items into Penacony, Memoria fluctuations occurred within the Asdana Star System. The Family responded promptly and shut down the affected Golden Hour. No casualties occurred.]
[The Golden Hour has now been fully adjusted. All visitors may explore with peace of mind.]
Everything gradually settled down.
No one was injured in this incident.
Because of that dazzling small sun, the Golden Hour became Penacony's newest must-visit landmark.
Countless travelers rushed in, all hoping to receive the sun's blessing.
Except Aventurine.
No one doubted the credibility of the announcement. After all, the department under the IPC that is called the Market Development Department—but is effectively colonialists—has always been notorious for conspiracy and sabotage.
...
Dreamscape, Dewlight Pavilion.
Sunday stood inside the study.
On the desk lay Aventurine's leather bag and an ornate case, containing a translucent green jade and a multifaceted golden crystal.
"These are the Topaz Stone and the Aventurine Stone, gemstones that divide one-tenth of an Emanator's authority."
"It is hard to imagine such treasures being entrusted to you by your colleagues. Ms. Topaz's trust in you is truly surprising."
"You are also a gambler—staking two Cornerstones on a single wager. Unfortunately, thanks to a discerning friend, you lost completely this time."
Sunday stood with his hands behind his back, his suit immaculate without a single crease.
Aventurine glanced toward the blue-haired philosopher nearby and said unwillingly, "Ratio… you bastard…"
Ratio's expression remained calm, refined, and composed. "A necessary exchange. The moment you revealed your foolishness in the lobby; your plan had already failed. It was better to trade it for something of greater value."
"Professor Ratio, the items you requested will be delivered shortly by members of the Oak Family,"
Sunday said with a gentle smile.
"..."
Ratio gave a slight nod and stood aside to observe.
Tsk—how boring.
Even wagering three Cornerstones—why would it matter if you won?
Victory or defeat had nothing to do with him; he was merely acting out a role.
Aventurine looked at Sunday and said as if giving up, "Mr. Sunday, I concede defeat for the crude scheme you uncovered, but using the IPC's reputation to quell Penacony's turmoil seems rather disgraceful."
He had brought three Cornerstones with him: the golden Topaz Stone, the emerald Jade Stone, and the shattered Aventurine Stone.
By cooperating with Ratio in a staged act, each got what they needed. As long as he retrieved the shattered Aventurine Stone from the bag, his first-stage objective would be complete.
But he absolutely did not want to shoulder the blame for the Golden Hour!
He meant to use this against Sunday—not to sacrifice himself to fill Sunday's pit!
"Is that so? No one can deny that two Cornerstones possess immense energy. It is not impossible for them to exert influence on the Asdana Star System,"
Sunday replied with a modest smile.
To him, there was no more cost-effective choice than this.
It blocked the IPC's opportunity to attack and silenced internal dissent.
In the long run, it would not withstand the IPC's investigation—but he did not need a long run. The Dream of Ena was about to unfold.
"But you should also know that Cornerstones must be carved by the will of the Ten Stonehearts themselves before they can release their radiant brilliance!"
Aventurine clenched his teeth—he was truly angry now.
Being saddled with this blame for nothing meant that even if he reclaimed Penacony, it might amount to merits offset by faults, gaining nothing in the end.
Then why had he wagered three Cornerstones in the first place? For fun?
"That is merely your side of the story,"
Sunday shook his head slightly and said evenly. "If you can find another possibility, I can consider reducing your charges."
He, too, was searching for the mastermind behind the scenes.
He was accustomed to resolving all troubles before they arose.
With absolutely thorough preparation, he would accomplish the great undertaking of rebelling against Harmony and restoring Order.
As for Aventurine—already planted with power—this schemer could savor the aftertaste of failure.
"Mr. Sunday, if you want me to accomplish anything, at least give me some capital to work with,"
Aventurine said through gritted teeth, clinging to his last lifeline. "The Cornerstones are yours; the funds have been confiscated—I've lost all my power and means!"
"Using bribery as your go-to method—truly befitting a lackey of the Interastral Peace Corporation,"
Sunday said flatly, pointing at the bag on the floor. "Take these cheap jewels and go find the mastermind you believe in."
"..."
Aventurine grabbed the bag and walked out with a dark expression.
With the Cornerstones in hand, he was also aware of The Family's internal troubles.
Though a powerful third party had intervened, it might not be impossible to exploit.
If he could open Penacony's gates for the IPC and find what affected the Golden Hour, it would still be a great achievement.
Everything—or nothing at all!
I'm all in!
...
At the same time, elsewhere. At the Golden Hour.
Robin stood on the bustling street. With Harmony's power disturbed internally, she could not even use her abilities to conceal her appearance.
She looked up at the sky, also receiving the blessing of that small sun.
But the light that warmed her body was not what she was seeking—what she sought was the factor that made Penacony discordant.
And at that moment, a thirteen-year-old-looking middle-aged man in a burgundy suit slowly approached.
"Miss Robin, you look troubled."
Gallagher's gaze was melancholic, his voice deep and magnetic. "Perhaps dying once might help you find the answer."
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