Chapter 81

Paimon: "Asking weakly. What is driving?"

Firefly: "A car is a vehicle, and driving is operating a vehicle."

Lumine: "Uh... I don't think that's what it means."

Firefly: "Then I don't know. (Pure.jpg)"

Kafka: "(Covering mouth and laughing.jpg)"

The video continues.

[It is my great honor that Mr. Aventurine is so thoughtful for me—then such a selfless and generous person shouldn't ask for a reward, right?]

Sunday doesn't seem surprised that Aventurine would say this,

and begins to place a "high hat" on Aventurine's head.

[Of course, you won't lose anything because of this. I just want to take back what belongs to me: personal freedom, and the personal belongings kept by the Family—that bag of gift money, and...]

Aventurine presses his advantage,

beginning to state his conditions.

However, before he can finish,

he is ruthlessly interrupted by Sunday.

[The box containing the Cornerstone.]

Sunday says unhurriedly.

[That's right.]

Aventurine nods.

[Cornerstone—I heard that it is a precious asset of the Strategic Investment Department, a holy stone that seals the great power of the Preservation Emanator, and each of the liquidation experts holds one.]

[...Such a precious item is probably more expensive than any other reward.]

Sunday shakes his head,

not approving of Aventurine's request.

[But you also know that if you want the truth to come to light, a little high risk is necessary.]

Aventurine retorts.

[Mr. Aventurine, when you go out, do you always pay attention to your appearance?]

[The tie should be on the center line, the shirt must not show from the vest, the trouser crease must be straight, and always aligned with the direction of the toe.]

Sunday looks at Aventurine's attire,

and asks abruptly.

[Of course I do.]

Aventurine replies as a matter of course.

[But I don't, because it's not "proper"—you should ensure everything is in order before you go out, never deviating.]

[I never take any risks.]

[The Cornerstone must be kept by the Family.]

Sunday's attitude is very firm.

[No room for discussion?]

Aventurine asks, testing him.

[Don't make me refuse a second time!]

Sunday's tone is slightly cold.

[...Sigh, fine.]

[Just taking back the gift money is fine; you should at least give me that.]

[If a businessman has no bargaining chips, he will probably have a hard time moving an inch.]

Aventurine doesn't continue to force it,

but makes a compromise.

Navia: "Unexpected!"

Navia: "Mr. Sunday wasn't threatened by this at all!"

Sucrose: "S-such a tough attitude!"

Aventurine: "He actually won't give an inch?"

Miss Ningguang: "Amazing, truly amazing!"

Miss Ningguang: "Mr. Sunday is undoubtedly a very qualified ruler!"

Diluc: "His beloved sister was killed, and he didn't even lose his composure."

Diluc: "Truly impressive."

Boothill: "What did I say?"

Boothill: "Don't think of the Family as too simple!"

March 7th: "Cornerstone... seals the great power of the Preservation Emanator; is this thing actually that powerful?"

Stelle: "May I ask, if I join the IPC and become an expert in the Strategic Investment Department, can I get this Cornerstone?"

Stelle: "Ahem, I don't have any other intentions, I just want to experience what it's like to be an Emanator."

March 7th: "Hey, are you trying to defect?"

March 7th: "Do you believe I'll clean house right now!!"

Stelle: "No, can't I have a side job!!"

Stelle: "Once I become a Preservation Emanator, I'll have to take you all out for good food and drinks!"

Paimon: "Good food and drinks...! Mmm!! Take me too!!"

Herta: "I think you all might have misunderstood something."

Herta: "This is just a part of the power that Diamond guy split off."

Herta: "It's nothing compared to a real Emanator."

Topaz: "That's right, even with the help of the Cornerstone, you can only exert a small part of an Emanator's power."

Welt: "But that's already quite a lot... isn't it?"

Welt: "After all, it is precisely because of this that you all are able to travel freely and unrestrainedly across the universe."

Dan Heng: "In this world, mortals are the majority, and the power of a small number of Emanators already surpasses most."

Guinaifen: "Wow, the IPC is truly rich!"

Guinaifen: "They can even share such precious things with their employees."

Guinaifen: "I wonder when we on the Luofu Xianzhou will have such treatment?"

Miss Sushang: "I advise you not to think about it; the Luofu Xianzhou doesn't have such weird things, right?"

Miss Qingque: "I think that whatever-lord the General summoned was very domineering."

Miss Qingque: "Why don't you go ask the General to lend it to you to play with for a few days?"

Stelle: "Good guy, that's a death wish!!"

Fu Xuan: "Little Que, shut your mouth! If you dare to talk nonsense again, I'll discipline you!"

Miss Qingque: "He... hehe, I was just joking, everyone don't mind, don't mind!"

The video continues.

[Your compromise was faster than I expected.]

[Unfortunately, compared to a businessman...]

[A gambler needs chips even more!]

[I can give you the gift money, but before that, I want you to tell me yourself—]

[—what exactly is stored in this box you so decisively gave up?]

Sunday stares fixedly at Aventurine,

his eyes suddenly changing.

[Soul of the Triple-Faced, please brand his tongue and palms with hot iron, so he cannot fabricate lies or take false oaths.]

Sunday recites a prayer with a pious tone. An inexplicable power begins to descend upon Aventurine.

[Ah..!]

[What did you do?!]

Aventurine senses something is wrong,

his expression changing sharply.

[Under the light of the Harmony, all evil has nowhere to hide. I implore Him to cast down His light and ask you questions on His behalf.]

[Next...]

[You have 113 seconds to prove your innocence and gain my trust.]

Sunday explains indifferently.

[What if I refuse to answer?]

Aventurine frowns.

[Then try it—see if the Harmony will refuse you.]

Sunday has Aventurine in his pocket and isn't afraid he won't comply.

[...]

Sunday's naked threat makes Aventurine's face look very ugly.

[Question: Do you possess the Cornerstone?]

Sunday doesn't care about Aventurine's feelings right now and starts asking directly.

[Yes.]

Aventurine doesn't dare to be careless and has to answer honestly.

[A very concise answer.]

[You also understand the principle that saying too much leads to mistakes.]

Sunday is very satisfied with Aventurine's attitude.

[When you entered, did you hand the Cornerstone to the Family?]

Sunday asks the second question.

[Yes.]

Aventurine answers without hesitation.

[Does the Cornerstone you handed to the Family belong to you?]

This is the third question.

[Yes.]

Aventurine admits.

[At this moment, is your Cornerstone in this room?]

Sunday follows up.

[Yes.]

Aventurine is a man of few words.

[Has your memory been tampered with or deleted in any form, including but not limited to the technology of the Garden of Recollection?]

Sunday's question is quite cautious.

[Yes.]

Aventurine nods.

[Are you from the Avgin Clan of Sigonia?]

Sunday asks a question that surprises Aventurine.

[Yes.]

[You even know this?]

Aventurine is very surprised.

[Do the Avgins have any ability to read, tamper with, or control their own or others' thoughts?]

Sunday asks the previous question from a different angle.

[No, does that have anything to do with it?]

Aventurine feels it's inexplicable.

[Do you love your family more than you love yourself?]

When asking this question, Sunday's expression is inexplicable.

[Yes.]

To this question, Aventurine doesn't hesitate for a second.

[All Avgins died in a massacre, right?]

[No.]

Aventurine shakes his head and denies it for the first time.

[Are you the only survivor of the clan?]

Sunday's tone is flat.

[...]

[Maybe.]

Aventurine cannot confirm this question. Nor does he want to.

[...]

[—Do you hate this world and want to destroy it with your own hands?]

Sunday ponders for a while and asks a somewhat absurd question.

[...]

[I don't know.]

Aventurine hesitates for a while,

not having come up with an answer.

[Interesting.]

[Then the last question...]

[Can you swear that at this moment—the Aventurine Stone is lying safely in this box?]

Sunday finally asks a crucial and, for Aventurine, fatal question.

[...]

Dr. Ratio hears this question and silently closes his eyes. He no longer looks at Aventurine.

[...]

[Of course.]

Aventurine is silent for a moment,

and utters these two words.

[It seems we can reach an answer.]

[Open it, Mr. Aventurine...]

[This is your last chance to defend your reputation.]

Sunday pushes the box on the table to Aventurine,

wanting him to prove that what he said is true.

Aventurine glances at the box,

and then looks at Dr. Ratio.

But for some reason, the latter

deliberately turns his head away,

avoiding his gaze.

[Please.]

Aventurine's small action is seen by Sunday.

So he urges him.

Aventurine, helpless,

can only open the box reluctantly.

However, inside the box, surprisingly!