"You know the consequences of doing this better than anyone. Do you think the Company will let you off after you've desecrated the Holy Body of Preservation?"
However, facing the Phantom's questioning, Aventurine showed no fear or hesitation.
He straightened his back and replied, "Diamond has always valued results.
As long as the value I can create far exceeds the cost... the process and means are not an issue."
"How can I deceive the Family without paying a price?" Aventurine took a deep breath and continued, "It's fine, even if the stones of Preservation shatter into pieces, they can still function, though their efficacy will be greatly reduced, but it's enough for me." After saying these words, a barely perceptible bitter smile appeared on Aventurine's face.
"I'm truly curious now," the Phantom pursued, full of doubt, "Why is every step you take so risky, and why are the options you prepare for yourself always accompanied by a strong self-destructive impulse?"
"Do you really believe 'the greater the risk, the higher the reward'? I didn't realize you were so loyal to the Company."
Hearing this, Aventurine merely snorted coldly, responding with a dismissive expression: "There's a lot you don't see... so you also don't see how I'm going to win everything."
"Provided you can actually do it," the Phantom's lips curved slightly, revealing a mysterious smile, and it said softly.
Its eyes revealed an elusive light, as if hinting at something.
"We shall see."
As the last word fell, the stones before him gradually dissipated like smoke, eventually completely merging into the illusory image, leaving only an empty carpet.
The stones had vanished into thin air... Undoubtedly, all of this was just part of the illusion.
Aventurine was looking around, trying to find clues, when suddenly, he noticed a familiar small figure not far away.
Hmm? Is that... Thinking this, he unconsciously took a step in that direction.
Upon closer inspection, it was the child he had seen before.
At this moment, the child was looking up at him, his small face full of innocent smiles, and he happily called out, "Hello, sir with the beautiful eyes, we meet again!"
A hint of imperceptible tenderness appeared in Aventurine's voice: "Yes, it's you again.
Have you found your mom and dad?"
"Of course I did! And my sister is here too, the four of us just played hide-and-seek together, it was so much fun!" the child replied excitedly.
"That's wonderful.
By the way, did anything interesting happen on your way here?" Aventurine asked with a smile.
"Yes, yes! Dad took me to see something called 'banana peel movies,' it was super magical!" The child gestured excitedly.
Aventurine chuckled softly, gently correcting him: "You mean film movies, right?"
The child's eyes were full of curiosity and excitement: "Mhm, yes, that's it! So many, many paper drawings put together, and then they turned into moving murals, it was just incredible!"
"Putting me, Dad, Mom, and Sister together, we became a family."
"You should try it too, sir! You've been looking so gloomy, you should be happy at the amusement park."
Hearing this, Aventurine's expression became somewhat complex, but he still nodded slightly in response: "Okay, I'll try to be happier."
[Sushang: Aventurine's face always seems to have a smile, but he can't fool the Old Woman as a child.]
[March 7th: Ugh... After seeing the previous content, this scene makes me feel a bit sad.]
[Himeko: Little March, on the path of Trailblaze, the people and events we encounter are just a tiny fraction of billions. As a Nameless, you will encounter more stories later, perhaps some of them will also include tragedies.
But you must maintain an optimistic mindset and always move forward.]
After watching a film movie with the child on a nearby machine, the child suddenly seemed to hear a strange sound, shouted something, and then, like a playful pony, eagerly galloped out of the room.
Aventurine was about to call out to the child, but seeing his joyful appearance, he swallowed the words that were on his lips.
After a brief thought, Aventurine was still uneasy, so he followed closely behind him.
When Aventurine arrived at the plaza outside the Movie Park, the child's figure flashed in the distance, and only his happy voice came from afar: "Wow, it's so high here—it's even much higher than the tallest sand dune we've seen in the desert!"
The last place the child appeared was the entrance to a maze made of bushes and stone bricks.
Aventurine was heading in that direction.
However, just then, the Phantom suddenly reappeared, but it did not stop Aventurine's steps.
Instead, it stood quietly to the side, carefully scrutinizing Aventurine's figure, with a faint smile on its face, as if finding the scene somewhat amusing.
"Why aren't you talking?" Aventurine couldn't help but turn his head and curiously asked the Phantom.
The Phantom smiled slightly and replied, "You have indeed piqued my interest... I admit there are still some things about you that I don't fully understand."
Hearing this, Aventurine's lips curved slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smile.
He responded, "You're quite sincere this time."
The Phantom snorted lightly, its tone carrying a hint of confidence: "Sincerity is one of my few precious qualities, no need to emphasize it.
See that maze? I'll fully understand you before you come out of there."
"Our movie studio journey is not over, and your life flashing before your eyes continues... And I don't mind making this process very, very long."
The Phantom disappeared again, and Aventurine clutched his head, as if hearing voices muttering, which caused him some pain, and the audience also heard these whispers.
"You cannot escape from the past!"
"You... cannot... escape... from the... past!"
"You... cannot... escape... from the... past!"
...
"Your future will never exist!"
[March 7th: Ugh... Such a brainwashing voice, it feels annoying to listen to.]
[Herta: What is this, brainwashing? I'm very curious about these self-Phantoms, I want to study them.]
In the scene, he continued to chase to the vicinity of the maze, and three-dimensional text floated in the air again.
(There is no water here, only stones)
(There is only wind, sand, and sadness here)