In the image, Robin's corpse gradually dissolved into bubbles and vanished within the Dreamscape Pool.
"Calmed down?" Aventurine glanced at Stelle, whose body was no longer trembling. "...Oh, friend, when I witnessed that scene, my expression wasn't much better than yours."
"You didn't see wrong; it was indeed her, the renowned singer Robin."
"This... how is that possible?" Stelle swallowed. "In a dream, can one die?"
"Let me state first, this has nothing to do with me. I was just an unlucky fellow who stumbled into the scene. The Family can testify. If you don't believe me, go ask someone from the Hound Family; they hate me, they hate the Interstellar Peace Corporation, so they would never lie," Aventurine explained. "This isn't even the crime scene. What I'm showing you is a 'Memory'—the simplest Light Cone presentation technology, authorized by the Garden of Recollection, owned by the Interstellar Peace Corporation."
"Aventurine: See, the Hound Family can prove my innocence, so don't direct any meaningless anger towards me or the Interstellar Peace Corporation. We might even become partners."
"Now, do you still think that Sea Ranger is an outsider?"
Aventurine walked to the Dreamscape Pool, gently touched its edge, and said,
"Penacony solemnly promised that in the beautiful dream woven by the Family, every guest's safety would be guaranteed. Those in danger would be forcibly awakened and safely returned to reality."
"What gives them the confidence to speak so assertively? Because behind this promise is the 'harmony' of The harmony: The Family's Dreamweavers interweave their thoughts into a single fabric, constructing an unbreakable line of defense."
To break through this incredibly solid defense and create death within the illusory and ethereal dream... Such a thing, even for a Recollector with powerful Memory, would be absolutely impossible without the Family's permission. So, who could be so incredibly powerful?
The answer is obvious—only she, that mysterious woman who calls herself a Sea Ranger... an uninvited guest masquerading as someone else, an envoy who hides her true identity and keeps her abilities concealed...
Afrit's fate is already sealed for destruction, and poor Robin... her tragic and desolate appearance is right before us. Next, who will be the next victim in this cruel game?
Aventurine's words successfully stirred anxiety and fear in most Penacony citizens.
"Dreamseeker A: In a dream... people can actually die?"
"Dreamseeker B: How is this possible! What exactly did your Family do? If the Family can't even protect its own, how can it protect us!"
"Sunday: Please do not panic, the loyal and courageous Hound Family will certainly investigate the situation as quickly as possible and provide an explanation to everyone."
[Sunday also felt a wave of helplessness. This was a bit troublesome. Although everything had not yet happened, Penacony was now in a state of panic after this matter was made public.]
Stelle cupped her chin, vigilantly looking at Aventurine, and replied, "If that's the case, I won't trust anyone."
"It's fine, you can make your own judgment. Building trust always takes time, and I'm willing to wait."
Aventurine appeared completely unconcerned:
"I just hope you understand that around that so-called 'legacy'... Penacony is rife with undercurrents, and everyone has their own hidden agendas."
"Don't stand on the wrong side. If I were you, I'd keep my distance from Acheron. After all, open schemes are always better than monsters hidden in the shadows... aren't they?"
Black Swan elegantly entered the room, speaking as she walked,
"But who says there isn't a deeper conspiracy behind overt schemes?"
"...Recollector, I believe our transaction has long since concluded," Aventurine said with a somewhat stiff tone.
Black Swan ignored him, instead turning to Stelle and patiently explaining, "Aventurine is telling the truth. This 'Memory' is real, with no distorted or fabricated parts."
Aventurine made no attempt to hide his thoughts, looking at Stelle with a frank expression and speaking directly,
"Friend, let's not beat around the bush—to be direct, I want to establish a cooperation with the Astral Express in my personal capacity."
"I've told you before, I'm not interested in the legacy dispute. I'm only in Penacony for work. I need to reclaim some lost assets for the Interstellar Peace Corporation, you know... the ownership of the Border Prison."
His words revealed a hint of helplessness:
"Thanks to the Cancer of All Worlds, this thing has long become a bad debt. The Interstellar Peace Corporation tried to sit down and talk several times, but the Family wouldn't even open the door."
Frowning, Aventurine said with a worried expression, "You don't know how difficult these people are to deal with. Let's put it this way, if they could hide the existence of 'death' before, they can certainly cover up Robin's death this time."
"Just like that, quietly dissolving into foam, with no one ever knowing in the end..." His words were filled with regret and helplessness, as if he felt indignant about such injustice.
Aventurine looked at Stelle sincerely and said,
"This isn't fair, is it? So, friend, I need your help."
Stelle merely shook her head: "I have my own plans."
"But I don't ask for much. Why not hear me out first, okay?"
Glancing at Black Swan, Stelle replied thoughtfully, "Speak."
"I only have one goal."
Aventurine paused, then stated his request:
"The Family's door is a high wall. To push it down, I need to carve a few holes first. Once there's a flaw, the Interstellar Peace Corporation has plenty of ways."
"Now, the opportunity has come. As long as we can uncover the truth behind 'Robin's death,' we can give justice to the deceased and also gain leverage for negotiations, forcing the Family to the table."
"A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity... I've been investigating Penacony and making friends everywhere for this very moment."
"This bad news is extremely detrimental to the Family, so they will spare no effort to prevent outsiders from intervening, especially the Interstellar Peace Corporation."
"But I believe there are also a few factions that are exceptions, and that's why I need you all. The Astral Express has a reputation, and The harmony will give you the fairest assessment."
"Are you using our Nameless's reputation?" Stelle retorted.
"No, no, no, it's a win-win," Aventurine explained. "You can uncover the truth and uphold justice, and I can use this to complete the Interstellar Peace Corporation's mission... That's what you call a win-win."
Stelle also felt it made sense, but it wasn't appropriate for her to decide this alone.
"I can't make this decision alone."
Aventurine looked overjoyed, as if her words meant success. So, striking while the iron was hot, he continued,
"Don't rush. You can go talk to your companions first. That Navigator Miss is a smart person; she'll surely understand the value of this deal. Here, my contact information. Contact me when you have a conclusion."
Aventurine added Stelle as a friend.
"Oh, and... take this! To conduct an investigation, you always need some spare cash. Don't be shy!" As he spoke, Aventurine transferred 50,000 credit points to Stelle's account.
"Well then, good luck," Aventurine left.
The screen went black again. Those watching were stunned, thinking it would be another cliffhanger, but unexpectedly, what followed was a broadcast with only sound.
"Recently, the Interstellar Peace Corporation officially announced that Tzigania-IV, under the guidance of the Market Development Department and in accordance with the 'Interstellar Peace Charter,' has established an independent and autonomous United Emirate, securing a legitimate seat at the Interstellar Peace Conference."
"The establishment of the United Emirate holds significant historical meaning for Tzigania: this act puts an end to the planet's long and bloody history, and the sensational 'Katika-Evians Extinction Case' will become a distant past—"
"Tzigania-IV is located in the unclaimed zone at the junction of the Dnes-Prut-Danube star systems. The planet's surface climate is known for its extreme harshness, constantly facing the threat of impacts from small celestial bodies."
"Consequently, the intelligent species settled on this planet are now few and far between. They have fragmented into several clans, mostly nomadic, struggling to survive in the arid and rain-scarce desert wilderness, and have developed folk beliefs completely independent of the Aeon system..."
"Fu Xuan: I heard this content in a broadcast more than a decade ago."
"Qingque: Eh, Tzigania, isn't that Mr. Aventurine's hometown? But what does this Katika-Evians Extinction Case refer to?"
"Jade: The Evians race is almost extinct, except for their only survivors."
"Sushang: So Mr. Aventurine was once a slave... I see."
The screen gradually brightened, revealing a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, held in an embrace. He had short golden hair.
"...Tzigania, Tzigania. Thirsty eye of the storm, land forsaken by the gods..." A desolate female voice emerged from the image.
"There is stone but no water, thunder but no rain, blood but no tears. You strike us with falling stars, temper us with wind and thunder, chew us with cracked earth. You give us the name of honey, yet place us under the bitter blade. Triple-eyed Earth Mother, if you can hear, please open your eyes and look at this child..."
"When you took his father, my child was still sleeping in the amniotic fluid. And now, where my husband is, I am also about to go..."
"I do not ask for a peaceful departure for myself, I only wish you could tell me, the child sleeping soundly in the swaddling clothes... Does he dream of his mother's heartbeat, dream of the sound of rain falling on the earth? Please tell me, is life merely a fleeting dream...?"
"...Otherwise, why is this child born to face death...?"
Accompanied by rumbles of thunder, raindrops fell more densely. "Rain, it's raining!" A cry filled with surprise and excitement came from beyond the screen.
"Rain... rain!" Followed by several more excited shouts: "It's raining! It's real! Those outsiders didn't deceive us, they really succeeded in summoning the rain... Mama, we can finally leave here... We can go home..."
"Baby, listen quickly..." The mother gently said to the child in her arms.
This is the sound of rain falling. On the day you were born, the sky also bestowed the Mother God's grace just like this.
"You are an incredibly fortunate, blessed child... Just like your name, you are a precious gift from the gods to the Evians... My dear child..." The mother gazed lovingly at her flesh and blood.
"You are a lucky child, a blessed child... just like your name, a gift from Him to the Evians... My child..."
"May the Mother God close her eyes thrice for you."
"May your bloodline always pulsate."
"May your journey always be smooth."
"May your Trick never be exposed."
"Welcome to this sorrowful world, Kakavasha."
The screen went black again, only a familiar male voice sounded.
"Hey, you should wake up, gambler."
The scene switched again, revealing Aventurine slumped over the bar counter, rubbing his head and sitting up, still half-asleep:
"Oh! Heavens, I might have had too much surlada... I didn't expect you to be back so soon. Well, what did you find?"
Professor Ratio, standing beside him with his arms crossed, said,
"Just as you guessed, no one outside knows Robin was killed. There isn't even a hint of a rumor. The TV is still broadcasting her ceremony rehearsal, probably a stand-in. Everyone is dreaming."
Aventurine said, as if it was expected, "Of course. Who would have thought that death would truly descend upon the beautiful dream established by the Family, and the victim is even the Family's leading lady?"
"To be honest, I didn't believe it before, and even personally tested it several times," Aventurine said calmly. "Until I found that I truly couldn't die. Heh, as soon as there was danger, I would be forcibly awakened by the Dreamscape Pool, as if I had just had a nightmare."
"Qingque: He tested himself to see if he would really die? Calling him a gambler is indeed well-deserved."
"Dreamseeker A: If that's the case, then why did real death occur?"
"Fu Xuan: I suspect it might be internal strife within the Family, after all, they said, 'under the Family's protection, true death will not occur.' So what if the Family abandoned its protection?"
"Herta: Internal strife? That's indeed a very common reason."
Professor Ratio said, "Then you must have heard about that Memory Zone Meme—when I went to smooth things over with the Oak Family, they were in a complete mess."
"And besides Robin, there was another victim. The specifics are unclear, only that it was a stowaway."
Aventurine was somewhat surprised, but then thought of something and said,
"Two murders?! I knew that Nameless's reaction was off; she must have stumbled upon another one..."
"This killer is truly a madman... But I have to say, the murder case is a very good breakthrough point. It can accuse the Family of dereliction of duty and give the Interstellar Peace Corporation a reason to intervene."
"Stelle: Eh? I stumbled upon a murder case?"
"Qingque: This person is really a diligent workaholic. You should slack off when you can, why work wholeheartedly for the Interstellar Peace Corporation? Work isn't labor, slacking off is creating your own value~"
"Fu Xuan: Qingque, look behind you."
"Qingque: ..Ah! Fu Xuan, how are you here?"
"Fu Xuan: I already expected you to be slacking off. Sure enough, you're slacking off here again. Have you finished this year's report?!"