Chapter 172

Sandgold: "Something like that… after all, I don't gamble… I can't even survive…"

Sandgold: "Bah, why am I telling you this?"

Sandgold: "I don't need any comfort."

Sandgold: "Now, I'll never repeat my past mistakes!"

Sandgold: "Too bad… they can't see it anymore… can't see it…"

Stelle: "……"

Flowing Firefly: "……"

Robin: "……"

Truth Doctor: "Sigh… this damned world…"

The video continues.

【You should wake up, Gambler.】

The Truth Doctor's deep voice suddenly sounded.

【…Oh!】

【Heavens, I must've been drunk on Su Leda… Didn't expect you back so soon—any findings?】

Sandgold rubbed his slightly dizzy head,

then looked at the Truth Doctor.

【Just as you guessed: no one outside knows Robin was murdered—not even a whisper.】

【The TV is still broadcasting her rehearsal for the ceremony—probably a stand-in—people are still dreaming.】

The Truth Doctor relayed what he had discovered.

【Of course.】

【Who could imagine death would truly strike within the dream the family built—especially the lead actress of the Harmonic Grand Ceremony?】

【To be honest, I didn't believe it at first—I even tested it myself several times.】

【Until I realized I simply couldn't die.】

【Whenever danger came, I'd be forcibly awakened by the Dream Pool, as if I'd just had a nightmare.】

【That's why I'm certain something far greater is hidden behind this.】

Sandgold explained.

【You've probably heard of that memory-domain meme too…】

【When I went to arrange things with the Oak Clan, they were already in chaos.】

【Besides Robin, there was another victim.】

【Details are unclear, but I know he was a smuggler.】

The Truth Doctor told Sandgold the other piece of intelligence he'd uncovered.

【Two murders?!】

【I told you the Unknown Guest's reaction was off—she must've witnessed the other one…】

【This killer's a madman…】

【But I have to say, the murders are a perfect opening—we can accuse the family of negligence and let the company use this as grounds to intervene.】

【But their methods are even stronger than I imagined—they already have Robin's stand-in ready…】

【These two cases will definitely be buried.】

【What should we do?】

【Let me think… this is a rare chance—I can't afford to fail. I must be extremely careful…】

For his next move,

Sandgold fell into deep thought.

【Impressive, Gambler.】

【You're already out of ideas again so fast?】

The Truth Doctor looked at Sandgold,

his tone teasing, laced with faint mockery.

【There are many chips—but you must choose them wisely.】

【The most straightforward one… is still Robin.】

【Remember, that Masked Fool told me to "find a mute as a friend."】

【Robin was the mute she meant.】

【She lost her voice—most people wouldn't notice, but not yours or mine. It wasn't her vocal cords producing sound—it was Harmonic resonance.】

【If that girl hadn't strained her voice singing, there's only one possibility…】

【Either the family has a problem—or Robin herself does.】

【To find out, I went to great lengths to meet her…】

【…But she died—right before my eyes.】

As he said the last sentence,

Sandgold's face darkened.

【You've lost everything—and got yourself sent to interrogation.】

【There were witnesses. The family reluctantly accepts your alibi—but from now on, you'll be under the Watchdogs' surveillance.】

The Truth Doctor spoke calmly.

【Things look grim, Professor—I'm already sweating.】

"What do you think... is there still any chance of turning this situation around?"

Topaz spread her hands,

then asked with a relaxed expression,

"If you're asking me about the odds — there is one, but it approaches zero — to put it in a way more fitting for Penacony's local parlance, it's a pipe dream."

"But if you simply can't keep your hands to yourself and want to find someone to test your luck, then it just so happens there's a suitable candidate..."

"That man wants to see you one more time."

Dr. Ratio said, raising an eyebrow.

"Who?"

Topaz asked back.

"Sunday."

Dr. Ratio replied.

"..."

"... Is it a public courtroom confrontation, or a private interrogation?"

Topaz was a bit speechless.

"If it's the former, there's no need for me to pass along the message."

Dr. Ratio said as a matter of course.

"Alright..."

"Then that's right, everything's right."

"You see, the dead can't speak, but the living can —"

"Ratio, I can now confirm that there's definitely a problem 'within' the family."

"Just wait and see, that man's sister is dead... he won't be able to sit still."

"There's no time to lose, let's set off right now — lead the way!"

"The good show... is about to begin."

Stelle: "Topaz and Dr. Ratio have teamed up again to be up to no good?"

Stelle: "I thought they had already gone their separate ways long ago!"

Brother Dan Heng: "After all, they're both emissaries of the Company, they wouldn't be so hot-headed."

Brother Dan Heng: "It's just that next, Mr. Topaz seems to be in trouble!"

Furina: "Because Mr. Topaz accidentally knocked over the scene where Miss Robin was killed, he became the unlucky one."

Furina: "Now he's already become a key suspect of the family."

March 7th: "Who told him to listen to that Fool and insist on going to find Miss Robin?"