Chapter 190

"Off you go, Mr. Sunday, you're 'free' now."

"I'll be right here waiting for your good news."

Sunday had begun seeing guests off.

"So, this meeting isn't an interrogation, but it's not really a negotiation either..."

"... It's a thorough, outright private punishment, isn't it?"

Topaz turned to leave,

but just as she was about to step out the door,

she couldn't help but press him with a question.

"Not at all, Mr. Topaz. I really just want to know what 'discovery' a 'passerby' who 'happened' to show up at the scene of her murder could possibly have made. That's all."

Sunday replied with an impassive expression.

"..."

Topaz fell silent.

"Oh, one more thing. Before you go, I have a rather personal question."

Sunday suddenly called out to Topaz.

"What now?"

Topaz turned back impatiently.

"You..."

"... truly want to destroy this world with your own hands?"

Toppa: "Topaz, is this your performance?"

Toppa: "You're about to become his servant!"

Furina: "Mr. Sunday's methods are actually this... uh... bizarre and terrifying?"

Furina: "After telling a lie, you can't even keep your life?"

Jean: "As expected of someone from a major faction—every trick is stronger than the last."

Hu Tao: "So... Topaz got caught in the crossfire of Mr. Sunday's anger over losing his sister?"

Xiangling: "What a poor unlucky soul..."

Nilou: "Mr. Sunday probably still suspects Miss Robin's death is connected to Topaz."

Nilou: "After all, right before Miss Robin died, Topaz happened to have arranged a meeting with her."

March 7th: "Exactly. We know from the video that Miss Robin wasn't killed by Topaz, but Mr. Sunday doesn't know that."

Stelle: "Topaz, my friend, stay strong! This pot, you'll just have to carry it on your back for now!"

Collei: "So after seventeen system hours, will Mr. Topaz really... die?"

Silver Wolf: "Not necessarily. Maybe he completes the task Sunday demanded and then becomes one of the Family's people?"

Miss Qingque: "Forcing someone from the Company to suddenly become one of the Family's people..."

Miss Qingque: "Why does that feel a bit like something a bandit would do?"

Miss Qingque: "Ahem, I'm just making a comparison—I don't mean to slander the Family!"

Stelle: "Young General Qing, you're done for. Get ready to become one of the Family's people! (Wait for death. jpg)"

Nahida: "Mr. Sunday ended with that question again..."

Nahida: "Why exactly?"

Alhaitham: "It feels a bit deliberate... a hint?"

Zhong Li: "During the negotiation between Mr. Sunday and Topaz, a bird resembling a purple raven kept appearing in the scene..."

Zhong Li: "This seems like... some kind of surveillance?"

Welt: "I noticed it too."

Welt: "Where is this surveillance coming from? Is it one of Mr. Sunday's own informants?"

Himeko: "I'm afraid... not."

Diviner Fu Xuan: "Then the meaning behind that final sentence... is rather worth pondering."

Sampo: "So many riddles."

Sampo: "Are these people really not riddle-lovers in disguise?"

Sampo: "Old Sampo here is getting dizzy trying to follow."

Paimon: "Listening to riddles is so tiring, Paimon's brain is about to stop working."

Lumine: "But I do feel I've learned a lot."

Lumine: "It might come in handy when thinking things through in the future."

The video continued.

The scene shifted,

arriving at another location.

"Kakavasha, where did you go..."

"You're hurt?!"

The young girl looked at her battered younger brother before her,

her eyes full of panic and heartache.

"I brought it back, Sister."

The younger brother opened his tightly clenched hand,

inside which lay an old, worn necklace.

"You went to find them...?"

"It was too dangerous!"

"This is just a necklace. It can't be eaten, it's not water, and we can survive without it."

"But I can't do without you, little brother..."

"Don't go near those Katicka people again, alright?"

Seeing the necklace in her little brother's hand,

the girl felt only terror and dread in her heart.

"Sister, don't be afraid."

"Katicka people are stupid, but I'm clever. If I play a game with them, the winner will definitely be me."

The little brother comforted his sister with a single line.

"Win? What on earth happened?"

"Tell me!"

The girl gripped her little brother's hand,

her expression somewhat agitated.

"I made a bet with them — betting on which would die first: the two little birds in the desert, or me."

"I won."

"They suspected me of cheating, but I didn't..."

"I won fair and square."

The little brother looked at his sister,

his tone calm and innocent.

"I knew you could win..."

"You've always been a very lucky child. Your good fortune is a blessing from the Earth Mother..."

"But that's no reason for you to go and clash head-on with the Katicka people. They're bloodthirsty, cruel, insatiable..."

"Don't forget about Mom and Dad..."

"This is just a necklace... but Kakavasha, you are my last family."

The girl gently caressed her little brother's cheek,

hoping he could understand her meaning.

"..."

"Sister, I'm sorry..."

"I thought you would be happy."