Chapter 265: We Shall Meet Again Beneath the Aurora of

【Because only in this way can you reach that secret far more unspeakable than the serial murders.......】

【Only then can you borrow death within a dream to go there — to that promised land people ceaselessly seek in this Changsheng Society.......】

【..... The Watchmaker's legacy, the true Penacony.】

Huang Quan spoke her reason.

【.....】

【.... How did you find out?】

Huang Quan had spoken her purpose correctly,

which made Topaz quite curious —

how on earth did she come to know it?

【I too did not expect that something I happened to learn would become the key linking everything together.】

Huang Quan said softly.

【It's that person's identity, isn't it?】

Topal cut in.

【It seems you are also in the know.】

Huang Quan nodded.

【I cannot be certain, but I am willing to gamble on that possibility.】

【...... The murders are a fine pretext, but far from enough.】

【Even if Penacony truly had one or two murders, it would affect only a very few people and could not stir up much.】

【This land of sweet dreams is not a vast ocean, but an isolated island.】

【The Family uses Harmony to build embankments and high walls, cutting off the outside world, protecting people from drowning in the sea......】

【..... And at the same time, by means of this barrier that cuts off death, they bury unknown secrets deep within the sea.】

【In a sweet dream without pain or casualties, those secrets will never see the light of day.】

【Unless......】

Topal paused here.

【Unless someone goes to the other side of the barrier......】

【.... and comes back alive.】

Huang Quan took up the line.

【Someone has already done it.】

【I received a hint long ago: if the mute does not point to one who cannot make sound, then it can only be one who cannot speak.......】

【That person who has already returned alive from the deep sea, yet can no longer step forward and speak — I am glad to learn she is still in Penacony, and safe and sound.】

Topal said with a smile.

【A hint.... is not evidence, is it?】

Huang Quan countered.

【Unfortunately, I have no evidence.】

【The only thing that can corroborate these conjectures is the Family's candor in the face of death.】

【They are far too generous to outsiders, which only makes them seem to be hiding something.】

【But suspecting something needs no evidence; only uncovering the truth does — for me, the former is already enough.】

【Nor do I need to find that Memory Zone Meme; so long as someone can kill me the same way it does, that will suffice.】

Topal laid out her entire plan.

【In my view, you actually don't have full confidence.】

【Deliberately broadcasting to the whole city, trying to pull more people into the game.....】

【is also because you are gambling on the possibility that someone can break the barrier.】

【You are indeed very lucky — fate made our paths cross, and I happen to carry a blade sharp enough to slash through the curtain of the sweet dream, and at the same time sever the Harmonic Mark upon you in one stroke........】

【You are also very cunning — deliberately arranging for us to stand on opposing sides, constantly repeating the script of an Emissary before others, leaving me no room to retreat, so that I had no choice but to draw my blade.】

【That is how you could win.】

【Luck and stratagem — neither can be lacking.】

【And in your scheme, the Company is always the winner — even if in the end you lose your gamble....】

【For the Family, the life of an Emissary is expensive enough.】

Huang Quan was somewhat impressed by Topal's stratagem.

【A great gamble, isn't it?】

【But allow me to point out one error: the Company is not guaranteed to win — on one crucial matter, I truly have no fallback.】

【Detonating a Stellaron.... I cannot do it.】

【Topaz has already shattered too badly; it cannot even protect me in withdrawing safely from the stage.】

【If you had never drawn that blade in the end.... it would have been my total defeat.】

Topal corrected an error in Huang Quan's words.

【Discussions of 'what if' are meaningless.】

【It is you who won — you have won yourself a ticket into that deep sea.】

【And after this, whether you can return from the abyss..... is another great gamble of yours.】

【...... Did you never hesitate?】

Huang Quan asked curiously.

【Hesitation... of course.】

【But I can only trust my luck.】