Chapter 189

Amber: "These two are both so sharp!"

Amber: "Neither one is giving an inch to the other!"

March 7th: "The two of them really have hearts and minds growing all over their bodies!"

Hu Tao: "Topaz's plan does have a chance of succeeding."

Hu Tao: "It's just a shame it got ruthlessly backstabbed by Dr. Ratio!"

Ei: "Is there any chance... this is just an act?"

Yae Miko: "Hehe, since when does Ei use her brain too?"

Ei: "Miko, what do you mean by that?"

Yae Miko: "Nothing, I just meant I agree with your view."

Yae Miko: "What we're seeing may very well be... turning their scheme back against them!"

Kamisato Ayato: "Not bad, this is the truly brilliant part!"

Lumine: "Sure enough, only people with equally many scheming hearts can see the deeper intentions?"

Paimon: "Lumine, did you figure it out?"

Lumine: "I didn't, I just guessed there might be this possibility."

Stelle: "I can't figure it out — the cornerstone is such an important thing, why would Topaz lend it to Aventurine to use?"

Topaz: "I didn't want to lend it to him! But to repay a favor... I had no choice."

Stelle: "Hehe, Topaz, let's discuss something — could you lend me the cornerstone to play with for a couple days too?"

March 7th: "Goodness, you've already started scheming for someone else's cornerstone, haven't you?"

March 7th: "If it really got into your hands for two days, wouldn't you just rub it down to a patina for them!"

Stelle: "How could I? I'd take very good care of it!"

Topaz: "Uh... that won't do!"

Topaz: "The cornerstone cannot fall into the hands of anyone outside the company — that's company policy!"

Topaz: "Besides, even if I really did lend it to you, you wouldn't be able to use it."

Topaz: "This thing recognizes its owner too."

Dr. Ratio: "The Ten Stonehearts must carve the cornerstone with their own will, letting it bloom with a unique brilliance."

Dr. Ratio: "I think I've explained it clearly enough in the video."

Stelle: "Ah, so... does that mean I have to join the company?"

Stelle: "Then how about you ask your boss Diamond whether the Ten Stonehearts can be expanded to eleven, and let me join in 430."

Stelle: "That way, wouldn't I get my very own 'Star Stone'?"

Aventurine: "Friend, stop dreaming."

Aventurine: "You really think the Ten Stonehearts is that easy to become a part of?"

Stelle: "Pfft, boring."

Stelle: "Not letting me join is a loss of an incomparably outstanding super employee for you all!"

March 7th: "Oh give it a rest, just stay on the train and be a Nameless."

March 7th: "The company is simply not the place for you."

Silver Wolf: "You think she's after the company position?"

Silver Wolf: "What she's after is that cornerstone, that's all."

Stelle: "Ahem, stop blurting out such harsh truths."

Topaz: "........"

The video continues.

The scene returns to Sunday's negotiation with Aventurine.

【Thanks to your friend with such a discerning eye, I was able to add one thorough failure to your career.】

Sunday looks at Aventurine,

a victor's expression on his face.

【Ratio, you bastard.......】

Aventurine looks at Dr. Ratio,

fury surging, grinding his teeth as he curses.

Yet Dr. Ratio didn't pay him any attention.

【Heh, the true colors are showing.】

【By the way, your life has "temporarily" only seventeen system hours left.】

【Cherish this time and savor the aftertaste of failure well.】

Sunday watches Aventurine with a playful look.

【....... You might as well spell it out more clearly.】

Sunday's words

make Aventurine unable to stop frowning.

【What I just performed on you was the Harmony's Holy Baptism.】

【You should have shown loyalty under His light, but you stubbornly insisted, full of lies, turning the baptism into a trial.】

【I truly have no reason to undo it for you.】

Sunday explains calmly.

【Hehe....】

"So this is what you call Harmony?"

"... Built on confinement and coercion?"

Topaz could not help but sneer.

"You misunderstand, Mr. Topaz."

"Punishment is reserved for the irreverent, but I have seen your resilient heart, and so I wish to grant you the possibility of rebirth."

"During these seventeen system-hours, you cannot leave the dream, nor can you contact any companions."

"You have only two paths before you, depending on whether you can complete my trial within the agreed time limit."

"If you succeed, you will be able to merge into the Harmony, and be together with countless family members..."

"If you fail, you shall bear the wrath of the Infinite Proprietor, and fall into an abyss of no return."

"That is precisely why I deliberately emphasized the word 'temporarily.'"

Sunday's eyes were like a pitch-black abyss,

Topaz gazed at Sunday,

and only felt that her own thoughts had grown strangely unsettled.

"..."

"Damn it, sounds like my fate is the same either way."

Topaz's face turned ashen.

"I do indeed need a servant, to help me uncover the 'evil' lurking within the family from the outside."

"And I shall purge from the inside out, and bring the true culprit to justice within seventeen system-hours."

"When the time comes, we shall verify your findings against mine."

"If our two judgments align, or if you can bring me more..."

"Then He shall be able to truly bestow mercy and honesty upon you."

Sunday looked at Topaz,

and a smile appeared on his face.

"..."

"Shameless hypocrite — you confiscated everything I had, and now you want me to hand you the truth?"

"This isn't fair. In your amusement park reeking of money, nothing gets done without cash."

Topaz was thoroughly furious at this moment.

"This should be your personal act of righteousness, requiring no aid from the family."

"Your luggage bag is over there. Please, help yourself. I trust you can exchange this bag of cheap jewelry for everything you need."

"That's what gamblers do best, isn't it?"