Chapter 83

Tighnari: "I have to say, Mr. Aventurine's methods are indeed brilliant."

Tighnari: "Hiding his Aventurine Stone in an inconspicuous place and swapping it with Miss Topaz's Topaz."

Tighnari: "He was betting on Mr. Sunday's carelessness."

Tighnari: "It really fits Mr. Aventurine's personality."

Diluc: "Similarly, this also reflects Mr. Sunday's caution."

Diluc: "Aventurine's approach didn't escape his notice; instead, it was anticipated by him."

Amber: "These two are so shrewd!"

Amber: "It feels like neither of them is losing to the other!"

March 7th: "They both have hearts full of schemes!"

Hu Tao: "Aventurine's plan had a chance to succeed."

Hu Tao: "It's just a pity that he was ruthlessly backstabbed by Dr. Ratio!"

Ei: "Is there a possibility... that this is just acting?"

Yae Miko: "Hehe, since when did Ei start using her brain?"

Ei: "Miko, what do you mean by that?"

Yae Miko: "Nothing, I just meant that I agree with your view."

Yae Miko: "This scene we're seeing might not be... playing along to deceive!"

Kamisato Ayato: "Not bad, this is the more brilliant part!"

Lumine: "As expected, only those with many schemes can see the deeper meaning?"

Paimon: "Lumine, did you see it?"

Lumine: "I didn't, I just guessed that there might be such a possibility."

Stelle: "I don't understand, why would Topaz lend such an important thing as the Cornerstone to Aventurine?"

Topaz: "I didn't want to lend it to him! But to return a favor... I had no choice."

Stelle: "Hehe, Topaz, let's discuss something, can you lend me the Cornerstone to play with for two days?"

March 7th: "Good guy, you're already plotting against someone else's Cornerstone, right?"

March 7th: "If it really got into your hands for two days, you'd probably wear it out!"

Stelle: "How could that be? I'll take good care of it!"

Topaz: "Uh... that won't do!"

Topaz: "The Cornerstone cannot fall into the hands of anyone outside the company; this is the company's rule!"

Topaz: "Besides, even if I lent it to you, you wouldn't be able to use it."

Topaz: "This thing also recognizes its owner."

Dr. Ratio: "The Stonehearts need to carve the Cornerstone with their own will, making it bloom with unique brilliance."

Dr. Ratio: "I think I explained it clearly enough in the video."

Stelle: "Ah this... so does that mean I have to join the company?"

Stelle: "Then why don't you ask your boss Diamond if he can expand the Stonehearts to eleven and let me join."

Stelle: "That way, can I have my own 'Star Stone'?"

Aventurine: "Friend, stop dreaming."

Aventurine: "Do you really think it's that easy to become one of the Stonehearts?"

Stelle: "Tsk, boring."

Stelle: "If you don't let me join, you've lost an incredibly excellent super employee!"

March 7th: "Forget it, just be a Nameless on the train."

March 7th: "That place, the company, is not suitable for you at all."

Silver Wolf: "You think she's craving the company's position?"

Silver Wolf: "She's just craving that Cornerstone."

Stelle: "Ahem, stop telling the truth."

Topaz: "..."

The video continues.

The scene returns to Sunday and Aventurine's negotiation.

[Thanks to you having a friend with a discerning eye, I was able to add a complete failure to your career.]

Sunday looks at Aventurine,

a look belonging to a winner appearing on his face.

[Ratio, you bastard...]

Aventurine looks at Dr. Ratio,

cursing through gritted teeth with rage.

However, Dr. Ratio doesn't pay him any mind.

[Heh, showing your true colors, huh.]

[By the way, your life "temporarily" only has seventeen system hours left.]

[Cherish this time and savor the aftertaste of failure.]

Sunday looks at Aventurine with a playful expression.

[...You might as well speak more clearly.]

Sunday's words

make Aventurine frown.

[What I performed for you just now is the Baptism of Harmony.]

[You should have shown loyalty under His light, but you insisted on your own way, full of lies, turning the baptism into a judgment.]

[I really have no reason to undo it for you.]

Sunday explains indifferently.

[Hehe...]

[Is this the so-called Harmony?]

[...Built on imprisonment and coercion?]

Aventurine can't help but mock.

[You misunderstood, Mr. Aventurine.]

[Punishment is for the disrespectful, but I saw your tenacious heart, so I want to give you the possibility of rebirth.]

[In these seventeen system hours, you cannot leave the dream, nor can you communicate with any companions.]

[You only have two paths to take, depending on whether you can complete my test within the agreed time limit.]

[If successful, you will be able to integrate into the Harmony and be with thousands of family members...]

[If you fail, you will suffer the wrath of the infinite and fall into the abyss of no return.]

[That is why I specifically emphasized the word "temporarily".]

Sunday's eyes are like a dark abyss,

Aventurine looks at Sunday,

only feeling a strange sensation in his thinking.

[...]

[Damn it, it sounds like my end is the same either way.]

Aventurine's face is livid.

[I do need a servant to help me find the "evil" lurking in the Family from the outside.]

[And I will purge from the inside out, capturing the true culprit within seventeen system hours.]

[When the time comes, verify your findings with me.]

[If our judgments match, or if you can bring me more...]

[Then He can truly bestow love and honesty upon you.]

Sunday looks at Aventurine,

a smile appearing on his face.

[...]

[Shameless hypocrite, you confiscated all my things and still want me to give you the truth?]

[This is unfair; in your amusement park full of the smell of copper, nothing can be done without money.]

Aventurine is very angry right now.

[This should be your personal righteous act, no need for the Family's assistance.]

[Your luggage bag is there, please go ahead; I believe you can exchange this bag of cheap jewelry for everything.]

[This is what gamblers are best at, isn't it?]

[Set off, Mr. Aventurine, you are "free".]

[I will wait here for your good news.]

Sunday begins to see his guest out.

[So, this meeting was not an interrogation, but it wasn't a negotiation at all...]

[...But a full-blown lynching, right?]

Aventurine turns to leave,

but just as he is about to go out,

he can't help but question.

[How could that be, Mr. Aventurine? I just really want to know what "discoveries" a "passerby" who "accidentally" appeared at the scene of her murder case could have, that's all.]

Sunday replies with a flat expression.

[...]

Aventurine is silent.

[By the way, before you leave, I have a more personal question.]

Sunday suddenly calls out to Aventurine.

[What now?]

Aventurine turns back impatiently.

[Do you...]

[...really want to destroy this world with your own hands?]

Topaz: "Aventurine, is this your performance?"

Topaz: "You're about to become someone's servant!"

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

Furina: "After telling a lie, even your life is at stake?"

Jean: "As expected of people in big factions, their methods are truly more powerful than the last."

Hu Tao: "So... Aventurine was caught in the crossfire of Mr. Sunday's rage over losing his sister?"

Xiangling: "Truly an unlucky guy..."

Nilou: "Mr. Sunday should still suspect that Robin's death is related to Aventurine."

Nilou: "After all, before Robin died, Aventurine happened to meet her."

March 7th: "That's right, we know from the video that Robin wasn't killed by Aventurine, but Mr. Sunday doesn't know that."

Stelle: "Aventurine, my friend, be strong! You'll have to carry this pot for a while!"

Collei: "Then after seventeen system hours, will Mr. Aventurine really... die?"

Silver Wolf: "Not necessarily, maybe he completes the task Sunday requested and becomes a member of the Family?"

Miss Qingque: "Forcing a company person to become a Family person..."

Miss Qingque: "Why does it feel a bit like robbery?"

Miss Qingque: "Ahem, I'm just making an analogy, I don't mean to smear the Family!"

Stelle: "General Qing, you're done for, wait to become a member of the Family! (Wait for death.jpg)"

Nahida: "Mr. Sunday asked this question again at the end..."

Nahida: "Why exactly?"

Alhaitham: "It's a bit like... a deliberate... hint?"

Zhongli: "During the negotiation between Mr. Sunday and Aventurine, a purple crow-like bird appeared repeatedly in the scene..."

Zhongli: "This seems like... a form of surveillance?"

Welt: "I noticed it too."

Welt: "Where does this surveillance come from? Is it Mr. Sunday's own eyes and ears?"

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

Fu Xuan: "Then the meaning of this last sentence... is quite thought-provoking."

Sampo: "So many riddles."

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

Sampo: "I, Sampo, am getting confused listening to this."

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

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

Lumine: "Maybe I can use this when thinking about problems in the future."

The video continues.

The scene shifts,

to another scene.

[Kakavasha, where did you go...]

[You're hurt?!]

The girl looks at her brother, who is covered in scars,

her eyes full of panic and heartache.

[I got it back, sister.]

The brother opens his clenched hand,

inside is an old necklace.

[You went to find them....?]

[Too dangerous!]

[This is just a necklace, it can't be eaten, and it's not water; we can live without it.]

[But I can't live without you, brother...]

[Don't go near those Katikas again, okay?]

Seeing the necklace in her brother's hand,

the girl only feels terror and lingering fear.

[Sister, don't be afraid.]

[The Katikas are stupid, but I'm smart; playing games with them, I'm sure to win.]

The brother comforts his sister.

[Win? What exactly happened?]

[Tell me!]

The girl holds her brother's hand,

her expression somewhat agitated.

[I made a bet with them, betting on two little birds in the desert, and me, which one would die first.]

[I won.]

[They suspected I cheated, but I didn't...]

[I won fair and square.]

The brother looks at his sister,

his tone steady and simple.

[I know you can win...]

[You've always been a lucky child; your luck is a gift from the Mother Goddess...]

[But this is no reason for you to go head-to-head with the Katikas; they are bloodthirsty, cruel, and greedy...]

[Don't forget Mom and Dad...]

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

The girl gently strokes her brother's cheek,

hoping he understands her intentions.

[...]

[Sister, I'm sorry...]

[I thought you would be happy.]