[Aventurine held his forehead in pain, staggering as he walked down the streets of Penacony.]
["You look terrible. Or is this also part of your act?" Dr. Ratio couldn't help but mock.]
[Although his face was pale, Aventurine still forced a smile: "I didn't expect you to still have the face to meet me."]
["I thought this was the result you wanted. After all, I faithfully carried out my duties just as you said." Dr. Ratio said, "If you can't hold on, remember to notify me first."]
["The genius from the Intelligentsia Guild is planning to collect my corpse? Oh my… what an honor."]
["The people in the Strategic Investment Department must also be very eager to receive news of your death in time. Don't forget, you won't be able to see them again. This task now falls on my shoulders."]
[Aventurine switched to a more relaxed tone: "Sure, go ahead and report it now. Say 'Aventurine has made all necessary preparations and will enter in seventeen system hours.'"]
["Big words. How do you plan to complete the mission while being restrained by [Harmony]?"]
["My conversation with Sunday convinced me there is a traitor in the Family, and Penacony's secrets are in that person's hands… Through this opportunity, I've also placed all the Cornerstones where they should be."]
[Aventurine's tone was quite confident and cheerful. If one ignored his current exhausted and weak appearance, he would probably raise his voice even higher in triumph.]
["And now I've successfully retrieved the gift money. Ever since stepping into the doors of the Dreamscape Hotel, things haven't gone this smoothly… Just watch, victory is only one step away from me."]
——
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?
"Ah?? No way, Aventurine he… cough cough cough…"
Inside the tavern, upon hearing Aventurine say that victory was only one step away, Hestia nearly choked to death on her drink and began coughing violently. Bell gently patted her back, hurriedly advising the goddess to take it easy.
"H-h-he… has he gone mad? What kind of trump card does he have to say something like that? His own Cornerstone was confiscated, and so was Miss Topaz's. Where does he get this confidence from?"
She looked at the bag of gift money in Aventurine's hand with disbelief: "He's not seriously planning to go to the casino with that gift money, win hundreds of billions of credits, and just buy Penacony outright, is he?"
If it were anyone else, Hestia might not believe it, but with Aventurine… she couldn't say for sure.
In her eyes, Aventurine was far crazier than the gods of Heaven… No, to be precise, if any god had even half of Aventurine's mental state, they would be locked up as a lunatic.
Liliruca was equally curious: "Maybe he plans to use even more forceful methods? Like finding Stelle and asking her to send a message to Topaz outside, then having the Company fleet bombard Penacony…"
"The Family isn't a pushover either. That Sunday alone can directly wield the power of [Harmony]. It's hard to imagine the Family doesn't have other trump cards. If the Family has one or two Emanators hidden away, no matter how many fleets come, it'll be useless." Bell shook his head.
"I still think Aventurine won't use external forces—at least not right now. Once the Company fleet arrives, it's unclear if the Family will die, but Aventurine himself definitely won't survive."
——
["It sounds like you're just recounting your miserable situation, but in an extremely stubborn way."]
["That's all I can say. Have you forgotten? You've already betrayed me, Professor." Aventurine spread his hands. "Go where you need to go. I can't wait to see the Company fleet surrounding Penacony. You've also gotten what you wanted, haven't you?"]
[Dr. Ratio didn't deny it: "Indeed. So what? Don't tell me there's a beacon inside that bag of gift money calling for near-orbit support?"]
[Aventurine smiled meaningfully: "Who knows? Maybe that's why I'm still thinking about handing out money even when I'm on death's door."]
[Dr. Ratio gritted his teeth: "…You're completely insane, you damned gambler."]
["Maybe I went mad a long time ago. Who knows?"]
["..." Dr. Ratio took a deep breath, but soon he took out a sealed metal container from behind himself and handed it to Aventurine. "Forget it. Take this. Open it only when you're truly on death's door. You'll thank me."]
["What the hell is this… medical advice?" Aventurine curiously examined the small object in his hand, but when he looked up, Dr. Ratio had already vanished.]
[He always disappears like he evaporated from the world.]
[Aventurine tucked it into his chest: "…Heh, you really know how to be dramatic, Professor."]
——
Akame ga Kill!
"What is this? Medical advice? I think a secret plan would be more fitting."
Tatsumi found it a bit hard to understand Professor Ratio's actions. If he wanted to betray Aventurine, why help him? His stance was completely mysterious, making it impossible for Tatsumi to figure out what the man was really thinking.
What he found even more unbelievable was that even after such betrayal, Aventurine could still speak to him calmly. If it were him, he would probably transform on the spot and immediately send this traitor back to reality.
…Even if he didn't transform, he would at least punch that face hard a couple of times.
"Maybe the Professor didn't truly want to betray Aventurine?"
Mine looked worriedly at Aventurine, who was suffering greatly due to [Harmony]. Perhaps because of her own childhood experiences, she couldn't bring herself to hate this initially arrogant and domineering Company executive. Instead, she now felt disgusted toward the very handsome Sunday.
Najenda shook her head: "I'm afraid it's not that simple. If Aventurine dies, this troublesome task falls on him, and if he can't reclaim Penacony, he won't escape responsibility either, right? Or perhaps… he feels guilty for the betrayal and chooses to help Aventurine one more time?"
——
["Asking me to investigate but not giving any clues… You really are something, you winged-headed bastard." Aventurine pressed hard on his temples, trying to use physical pain to alleviate the effects of Harmony. "But the way you all are sitting on pins and needles over that stowaway really confirms my 'guess.' Next… let the Company's rain of wealth fall equally on everyone's heads."]
[Aventurine walked up to a stage. He found an ordinary-looking woman promoting pure beauty and unceremoniously stuffed a gem into her hand.]
[The woman's eyes immediately widened as she looked incredulously at the noble young man before her: "Wow, what a beautiful gem! But why give such a exquisite gift to a stranger?"]
["Because I… can't stand seeing anyone poor in a sweet dream."]