Chapter 215

Aventurine didn't quite understand Firework's riddle.

【You know better than anyone—who watched helplessly as the little bird that couldn't sing died right before their eyes?】

【Of course it was you, little Kong Que~】

Firework said with a grin.

【I'm asking you... what does it mean to become mute?】

Aventurine asked, face pale with anger.

【Hehehe, you know full well—it's because you're about to become just like her, forever unable to speak.】

Firework laughed with cruel delight.

【.....】

Aventurine fell silent.

【But then again, to me this isn't such a bad thing, because....】

Firework changed tone, hesitating as if about to say more.

【Because I'm about to touch the truth, isn't that right?】

Aventurine already knew the answer.

【... Oh?】

Firework was slightly surprised.

【Fool, do you really think I'm wandering the streets handing out cheap jewels in this ragged sack for no reason?】

【I'm doing all this just for you.】

【The more desperate I appear, the more likely I am to lure you out...】

【I've been waiting for you so long—won't you reward my efforts with an answer?】

Aventurine stated his purpose for all this,

which was simply to draw out Firework.

【What reason do I have to help you?】

Firework gave no reply.

【Aren't you hoping for Pinocony to descend into chaos?】

【I can make it happen—on one condition: when you asked me to find the mute back then...】

【.... was "the Robin" really who you meant?】

Aventurine asked, frowning.

【....】

【.... What if I say no?】

Firework said softly.

【Thank you.】

【I've never heard that word sound so familiar.】

Aventurine had received the answer he wanted.

【Alright, I underestimated you.】

【But what good does it do?】

【Let me tell you—the term "mute," as defined, originally applied to two people.】

【But the Robin is dead, and the other... she's still in Pinocony, but you'll never find her again.】

Firework provided more detailed intelligence.

【Fool, I can now be certain—I've been on the right path from the very beginning, never deviated.】

【I only lack two things now: first, the meaning behind the truth; second, the method to reveal it.】

Aventurine now seemed certain of victory.

【Hahaha, wonderful!】

【Here comes my favorite part—the stubborn duck refusing to admit defeat—you still know nothing!】

Firework laughed uncontrollably...

【No no, I've already proven through all these signs that it truly exists—that's enough...】

【As for the answers to those two questions, seventeen... no, sixteen system hours will be enough to solve everything.】

Aventurine appeared highly confident.

【Sixteen system hours? Really enough?】

【Then let me add a little more fuel.】

【Here.】

【This is my prized mutual assured destruction button—I have an identical one myself.】

【If either of us presses it, the other will instantly explode along with the entire Pinocony.】

【If you truly want the Company to occupy Pinocony, to the point you can't bear it anymore...】

【Then blowing up the table isn't such a bad option.】

【We can always start over!】

【Isn't that exactly what the Company excels at?】

【Hehehe, when you're truly cornered, press it.】

【Of course, you can also contact me—consider it my final act of mercy!】

Firework gave Aventurine a delicate button.

He said that as long as he pressed it, Penacony would be blown to smithereens.

【That's so dangerous...】

【I bet the family didn't take your words seriously at all, did they?】

【Otherwise, how did you smuggle it in?】

Topaz looked at the button,

and couldn't help but mutter a complaint.

【Hehe, you just need to know that I have the ability to do it.】

Sparkle said with a hehe laugh.

【I'm afraid I'll have to refuse your proposal—who knows if your little toy actually works?】

【Also, I don't plan to go find the other mute friend you mentioned, but I'm very glad to hear this person is still in Penacony.】

【I'll handle the rest myself: I'll prepare a grand unveiling performance for the family's downfall.】

【When it reaches its climax, the high walls will collapse, people will wake up, and those who couldn't speak will speak again—】

【—When that time comes, please press the button and set off a big firework to celebrate for me.】

【See you later, Fool.】

Topaz bid farewell to Sparkle and strode away.

【Haha, at this point you still have the nerve to talk big... But, it's a deal.】

【You'd better not, don't let me down, okay?】

Furina: "Wait a moment, this segment feels like it has a lot of information!"

Furina: "Topaz handing out money all over the streets was actually just to lure out Young Lady Sparkle?"

Hu Tao: "Looks like it, but Young Lady Sparkle, why do you always keep impersonating other people?"

Hu Tao: "Wouldn't it be better to just be yourself?"

Sparkle: "You wouldn't understand, ba."

Sparkle: "If I don't do this, how can I muddy the waters~"

Paimon: "Mmm, but they've started speaking in riddles again."

Paimon: "Paimon really can't understand!"

Paimon: "Is there any kind soul who can explain it to me?"

Lumine: "Although this time it's also riddles..."

Lumine: "But combined with some things that happened before, I can still understand some of it."

Lumine: "For example..."

Lumine: "The mute that Young Lady Sparkle previously mentioned waking Topaz up to find wasn't Young Lady Robin, but Young Lady Firefly."