Chapter 338

Kaitelin rested her chin and recalled, "To aid the Star God, the Fool borrowed a gondola from a performer, then gradually pulled in people from countless factions; the number on the ship grew, yet no one noticed that the original Fools had already slipped away."

"These days Pinokangni likewise gathers countless forces and factions; I don't know whether this Fool lass will stir up trouble… but after she gets what she wants for fun, she'll surely be the first to slip away."

——

""Oh? Is that really true?" Shajin said with interest, "You've never made friends with anyone from the company?""

"The girl gave a hehe laugh: "You think I haven't read Pinokangni's history? Don't try to drag me into your boring office politics.""

""Fool — from the moment you were invited to this gathering, you've had no choice. Pick a side promptly, or you'll lose everything.""

""You sound so confident~ it seems you've already dealt with that chicken‑wing boy from the family.""

"The girl's eyes suddenly brightened, as if someone had scattered a handful of stardust into her flower‑shaped pupils, a curious gleam appearing: "How did you manage that, Little Peacock? Strip naked, kneel before him to apologize, and promise 'boo hoo hoo, the company will absolutely not scheme against Pinokangni'?""

After saying that, the girl's soft voice suddenly changed, turning sharply cold: "Friends… give it a break, you only treat others as chips."

"What's wrong with chips? At the gambling table, only chips won't lose everything themselves. You see, the friends of Flowing Light Memorial Garden and the Astral Express understand this principle, so they're quite smart."

"But smart people never join the game from the start. Look, am I a bit smarter?" the girl said solemnly, "Listen up, Little Peacock, you're also someone who received an invitation from the 【Tavern】. Want to invite the Masked Fool to join? Go ahead, use your brain, what exactly does the God of Merriment want."

"Here's a hint: since you can't convince anyone, why not consider making friends with a mute? At least he won't argue with you, haha."

"Goodbye~"

After saying that, the girl laughed and left.

"Thanks! 'Making friends with a mute' — I'll keep that in mind!"

Watching the girl's bouncing figure fade into the distance, the smile that had just appeared on Shajin's lips gradually vanished, turning into a sigh.

"... What a hassle. Looks like I'll have to meet with the 'Family' again."

——

Jujutsu Kaisen.

"Teacher Kusakabe, making friends with a mute… what does that mean?"

Itadori Nijō couldn't make heads or tails of it, feeling that this ponytail girl was speaking in riddles.

"Not sure, does Pinokangni have any mutts?" Kusakabe Atsuya blew a smoke ring, "Or did some other astral deity faction appear at this gathering? Is this little girl rallying the company to join forces with them?"

"Hehe, Kusakabe, haven't you been out of combat too long, causing your brain to rust?" Mei Mei lightly brushed aside the white hair shielding her eyes, smiled with pursed lips: "Think about it, can a mute speak?"

"Nonsense, of course not." Kusakabe replied, somewhat annoyed.

"Then who else can't speak?"

"It's..."

Kusakabe Atsuya suddenly straightened his body, the half-burned cigarette between his fingers trembling, ash fluttering down onto his wrinkled trousers. His Adam's apple rolled up and down, as if he were forcing back some terrible thought.

"Wait… could it be… a dead person?"

"Hmm, looks like your brain isn't completely rusted yet."

"But the question is, has anyone died in Pinokangni right now?" Kusakabe's mind raced, recalling the faces of various factions since arriving in Pinokangni, yet none of them seemed like they would die.

"Just because no one has died now doesn't mean no one will die later." Mei Mei slowly opened her eyes, "Think about it, has the Duke of Netherfire arrived in Pinokangni yet? What time is it now, and he still hasn't shown up… you might as well guess what scheme this practitioner of 【Destruction】 is brewing."

"Who could guess that?" Kusakabe shook his head, looking bewildered.

"I can be certain that when the Duke of Netherfire descends upon Pinokangni, he will inevitably bring ineffable death and destruction. Surely this Foolish girl learned all this through some means, intending to use the company representing 【Protection】 to ally with other forces in advance to counter 【Destruction】; otherwise, these factions and groups would likely become mute 'mutes'."

"But why would the Fool do this? She has no reason to do this for Pinokangni, right?"

"Of course she does."

Mei Mei parted her crimson lips, exhaling a wisp of pale smoke. She leaned back on the leather sofa, crossing her long legs, "【Destruction】 and 【Protection】 are like the universe's strongest spear and strongest shield—don't you want to see what sparks fly when they clash? No matter which side loses… on this Pinokangni stage, there's bound to be plenty of fun."

——

"Come this way——"

After climbing out of the sewer, the two arrived at a high point, with Liuying pointing to the distant gleaming golden building and indicating that was the location of her secret base.

Since tourists are generally not allowed here, they needed to be careful not to be noticed by others.

However, before they could take a few steps, just as they were about to sneak in, they were discovered by someone from the Hound Clan; left with no choice, after using clockwork trickery to adjust the person's inner feelings, Xing then backhandedly used a ball club to 'persuade' them.

As a result, it was quite effective; they smoothly reached the construction zone, and using the mechanism left by the Dreamweaver, they ultimately arrived smoothly at Liuying's so-called 'secret base'.

This is a quiet rooftop.

Xing and Liuying stood side by side at the rooftop railing, the morning breeze of Pinokangni fluttering their hems.

In the distance, a new sun was rising, the horizon melting. The silken night was being drawn away thread by thread, revealing the gilded undertone beneath. A shooting star suddenly slashed diagonally across, plowing a silver-bright fissure at the junction of dawn and dusk.

Suddenly, Xing heard a beautiful melody.

(…A melody? Where is it coming from?)

"Have you heard this song? 'Let a Star Be Free from Sorrow,' a work by the Zhigengniao. The Harmony Grand Festival is imminent, and occasionally her music resounds in dreams."

The girl gently closed her eyes, her lashes casting faint shadows in the morning light. She lifted her face, letting the wind's fingers thread through her hair.

"This is the place closest to the sky in dreams, far from the city's clamor, and without the Dreamweaver's quarrels. One can be undisturbed by anyone, feeling the present—the present scenery, people, and dreams……"