Chapter 77

The video continues.

[We are here.]

[Dewlight Pavilion, the fortress of the Oak Family, the place where all the heads of the family discuss the great plans of Penacony.]

Dr. Ratio brings Aventurine to the place where Sunday is.

[Fortress?]

[That's a good metaphor.]

[Not long ago, I dealt with the warlords of the Iimanika star system, and their synchronous orbit manor wasn't this heavily guarded.]

Aventurine scans the surroundings, opening his mouth with a light laugh.

[It suits its owner very well; this mansion nominally belongs to Sunday, and without his invitation, ordinary guests would never have the chance to set foot here.]

[Take a few more looks, while you still have a moment of freedom.]

Dr. Ratio says calmly.

[Hey, Professor—saying that, whose side are you on?]

Aventurine looks at Dr. Ratio,

only feeling that this person's words are really unpleasant.

[Who can guarantee that I won't betray you?]

Dr. Ratio asks back with his arms crossed.

[Then let's wait and see.]

[Once I see that Oak Family head whose desire for control is overflowing, I have my own way to pry the answer out of his mouth.]

Aventurine doesn't care.

[Follow me, I'll take you to his reception room.]

[Don't say unnecessary words, leave the Family's people to me to deal with.]

Dr. Ratio reminds Aventurine, and then leads him forward.

[Hey, you two!]

[Ahead is the important place for discussion, no entry without invitation.]

The two walk to the door and are stopped by a bodyguard.

[I brought the suspect here at Mr. Sunday's request.]

[Ratio, he should have mentioned this name.]

Dr. Ratio explains.

[Oh, I remember you... Veritas Ratio, your Punch Virtual Particle Clock is impressive.]

The bodyguard hears Dr. Ratio's name and shows an expression of sudden realization.

[...What are you talking about?]

Dr. Ratio doesn't know what strange things this person in front of him is saying.

[Just the one on your head!]

[Although it can't compare to mine—the Mobile Knight's All-Area Annihilation Power Armor.]

The bodyguard explains, his expression a bit proud.

[I reminded you last time that your fantasy battle suit doesn't exist at all.]

Dr. Ratio shakes his head.

[It's just that you can't see it!]

[I said, only family members can see the glory of the Mobile Knight—alright, hurry over, don't keep Mr. Sunday waiting.]

The bodyguard waves his hand and lets the two pass.

[Sigh... the idiot index here is no better than outside.]

Dr. Ratio takes Aventurine forward, and can't help but complain on the way.

Stelle: "Uh... what Punch Virtual Particle Clock, what Mobile Knight?"

Stelle: "What are they talking about?"

March 7th: "Sounds like they are all fantasy things..."

March 7th: "It feels so chuunibyou..."

Aventurine: "Laugh to death, Professor, you actually corrected him seriously there."

Aventurine: "Aren't you the one who hates such idiots the most?"

Dr. Ratio: "Reasoning with idiots is indeed my problem..."

Dr. Ratio: "I'll be careful next time."

The video continues.

[...Where is the road?]

The two come to a wall, and Aventurine can't help but ask.

[The door is closed, it seems we have to do it ourselves.]

Dr. Ratio says calmly.

[I mean... there isn't even a door here.]

[How did you get in before?]

Aventurine looks at the wall in front of him, a bit dazed.

[For safety considerations, the Family built the administrative location in the depths of the dream, and the mechanism is in these Night-Thrush statues: the orientation of the statues can be controlled.]

[Last time, that attendant named Kanna specifically went to the side room to confirm something before the statues were arranged in place.]

Dr. Ratio points to a room and says.

[Maybe we have to do it once, let's go see.]

[Of course, exhaustive enumeration is also a way.]

Aventurine shrugs,

and then goes to the room with Dr. Ratio to check.

[Six Night-Thrushes with different orientations, an obvious hint.]

The two come to a painting,

Dr. Ratio looks at the painting and knows the answer.

[Hmm... but is this really a Night-Thrush?]

Aventurine looks at this painting, always feeling it's a bit abstract.

[Yes. What's wrong?]

Dr. Ratio frowns.

[Where is such a big Night-Thrush?]

[In my opinion, this should be an Annihilation Eagle.]

Aventurine touches his nose and says slowly.

[The five families have no eagles, only Night-Thrushes—why am I arguing with you about this?]

Dr. Ratio shakes his head,

and then takes Aventurine back to the place just now.

[Sure enough, this is the correct answer.]

Aventurine turns the Night-Thrush mechanism to the correct direction,

the wall in front disappears, revealing a passage.

[What a great discovery—why don't I give you the opportunity to join the Genius Society.]

Looking at the triumphant expression on Aventurine's face,

Dr. Ratio can't help but mock.

[Really?]

[I thought you had let it go long ago.]

Aventurine is a bit surprised.

[This is a damn joke, can't you hear it at all?]

Dr. Ratio is speechless at Aventurine.

Afterwards, the two begin to walk along the passage.

[It's quite grand in here.]

[It seems Mr. Sunday doesn't intend to establish a noble image for himself at all.]

After coming to a luxurious hall, Aventurine can't help but tease.

[Do I need to remind you?]

[This is a dream, no matter how luxurious the decoration of this mansion is, it won't affect Penacony in the slightest.]

[Don't look for trouble with the Family in boring places.]

Dr. Ratio feels that Aventurine really talks too much.

[Hmm, you're right, the Family's flaw can only be death, Sunday must think so too.]

[Let's go downstairs.]

Aventurine nods,

and then goes downstairs with Dr. Ratio.

[Wait.]

Coming to a door, Dr. Ratio suddenly stops.

[Why, did we take the wrong road?]

Aventurine asks suspiciously.

[Didn't take the wrong road, but this door is locked.]

Dr. Ratio stares at the big door in front of him and shakes his head.

[Friend, did you really make an appointment with him?]

Aventurine looks at Dr. Ratio, a bit suspicious.

[...Oh, this is a test.]

[Before the formal conversation, you have to prove your value to Sunday first.]

[If I didn't guess wrong, we have to find a way to open the door in this hall, otherwise this place will be a prison for you and me.]

Dr. Ratio understands Sunday's intention.

[Oh, escape room, I like it.]

Aventurine's mouth reveals an interested smile.

[Be serious, no one is playing with you.]

[Turn back first, the hint is likely in that conspicuous sand table.]

Dr. Ratio turns around,

and then walks towards the sand table.

[Yo, what a big sand table...]

[Wait until I save enough money, I also want to build such a tall building for myself.]

Aventurine jokes while,

coming to the sand table.

[Look here, there is a very obvious gap in the model, I boldly guess you are right.]

Aventurine observes carefully for a while,

and immediately discovers the flaw.

[There was no gap when I came last time, obviously that man arranged it intentionally.]

Dr. Ratio ponders.

[Then your genius brain must still remember what was originally placed here, Professor?]

Aventurine asks.

[Of course.]

[Search everywhere, as long as I see it, I can recognize it.]

Dr. Ratio is clearly very confident in his memory.

[Good, good, why do I feel like we are studying for a degree in burglary?]

Paimon: "Aventurine and Dr. Ratio are really a strange combination."

Paimon: "Clearly they are on the same side, but they keep bickering."

Lumine: "But it's so interesting to listen to them bicker!"

Furina: "Yeah yeah, Aventurine's playful and unserious appearance, paired with Dr. Ratio's serious appearance, really has a good program effect."

Aventurine: "I say Miss Furina, where am I unserious?"

Aventurine: "I just feel the atmosphere is a bit stuffy, so I'm just joking."

Aventurine: "Not unserious at all!"

Dr. Ratio: "But those damn jokes of yours only make you look stupid!"

Kaveh: "Come to think of it, in the universe, is there actually a degree in burglary?"

Zhongli: "Although it is an improper means, generally speaking, perhaps it can really become a discipline."

Hu Tao: "Ah this... is the thinking in the universe so open?"

Hu Tao: "Even thieves can go for advanced studies??"

Navia: "Haha, I have to say, this is really 360 lines, every line has its champion!"

March 7th: "Ahem, this should just be something Aventurine said casually, right?"

March 7th: "We haven't heard of any burglary degree."

Stelle: "It's okay, wait until Aventurine finishes his degree, then let him open a training class."

Stelle: "Wouldn't it exist then?"

Aventurine: "Heh, I admire everyone's sense of humor, clearly, you are all better at joking than me."

The video continues.

[Found it, it's this.]

In a maze-style room,

the two find the missing part of the sand table.

[The nameplate says: Gulliver Arch.]

[You can remember such a small thing clearly?]

[The appearance of this thing reminds me of a tunnel that makes people shrink when passing through...]

Aventurine looks at the miniature arch model in front of him, saying novelly.

[If I were you, I would shut up immediately.]

[Don't say what shouldn't be said.]

Dr. Ratio feels that Aventurine is really a bit noisy.

Hearing this, Aventurine pouts.

Afterwards, the two take the arch,

and return to the sand table.

[It's just like building blocks.]

[I've never built blocks, I don't know which is more interesting compared to stacking chips...]

[Look, it's seamless, it's perfect—uh, what's next?]

Aventurine puts the arch on the sand table,