Chapter 294

"Sunday wants to see Aventurine? Won't he be asking for accountability?"

"Shouldn't be. Sunday doesn't look like such an irrational person. Perhaps he wants to hear what Aventurine, the eyewitness at the scene, has discovered."

"Speaking of which, Aventurine and Sunday, two people belonging to different camps and equally smart, I am also very interested in what kind of confrontation they will have."

"Aventurine also has Professor Ratio by his side. Although they don't seem to get along, they were both sent by the IPC after all, so they should be in the same boat and face the outside together, right?"

"Seems like it. Then wouldn't Sunday be facing two against one?"

【Dr. Ratio and Aventurine pass through one mechanism after another and arrive at the Dewlight Pavilion. Behind the door in front of them is the room where Sunday meets them.】

【Before the door, Dr. Ratio looks at Aventurine and says: "Tell me your plan."】

【Aventurine says unexpectedly: "No plan, adapt to circumstances. There are only two bargaining chips for dealing with people: benefits or fear."】

【Dr. Ratio satirizes: "It seems you really don't understand 【sincerity】."】

【Aventurine makes a wronged look and says: "Am I not sincere enough? No need to emphasize it specially. We must make good use of death. That man's sister is dead, he definitely can't sit still. This is 【fear】."】

【"And I will help him ferret out that murderer. Due to status and position, he can't do this himself, but I can. This is 【benefit】."】

【Dr. Ratio points out the problem: "Why do you think he can't do it and has to entrust an IPC person with an opposing position?"】

【Aventurine says leisurely: "Very simple—because that murderer is likely a *traitor* lurking in the Family."】

The location where the Astral Express crew is staying.

March 7th says in surprise: "So, Aventurine's accusation against Miss Acheron before was really..."

Welt Yang nods: "He was deliberately confusing our hearing."

March 7th says dissatisfied: "This Aventurine, sure enough, his head is full of bad ideas."

The Luo Fu Xianzhou.

In the teahouse where players gather.

"I knew it, Aventurine's words cannot be trusted."

"How could Miss Acheron be the murderer? Sure enough, it's all fake."

【And in the conversation later in the story, Aventurine also says the purpose of accusing Acheron, which is to let the people of the Astral Express hold her back.】

【Aventurine smiles: "... I still hold that view: there must be a problem within the Family. Otherwise, why would our Mr. Sunday arrange a private meeting? This is not an interrogation, but a secret negotiation."】

【"Watch it, with Robin's death as a bargaining chip, I will win back freedom and power for myself. Finally, I will subvert this sweet dream and create the grandest death."】

【...】

【Facing Aventurine's confidence, Dr. Ratio says in a low voice: "Why do you think you can win, you damn gambler?"】

【Aventurine still has that smile: "Three 【bargaining chips】 are enough."】

【"All, or nothing."】

Live stream chat.

"Three bargaining chips? What does it refer to?"

"Robin's death? Acheron and the Astral Express?"

"No, I feel it's not just that."

"I have a premonition that this meeting between Aventurine and Sunday must be very important."

"And currently, Aventurine seems to be at a disadvantage. Facing Sunday, who is on his home turf, will it really be as Aventurine wishes?"

"Everything can only wait until later to see the outcome."

【Entering the room, Aventurine and Dr. Ratio also see Sunday.】

【In the seemingly peaceful conversation between the two, it is actually a battle of wits, with neither side giving in.】

【Regarding what Aventurine said, that Robin's murder was because of a traitor within the Family, although Sunday didn't believe it on the surface, he already believed most of it in his heart.】

【Aventurine naturally sees this. Sunday's identity as the head of the Oak Family has instead become shackles that tie his hands and feet.】

【Wanting to investigate the inside of the Family, it is Aventurine, an outsider, who is more convenient to show his skills.】

【And Aventurine also expresses his willingness to investigate the mastermind behind the scenes for Sunday, but it requires some small price—】

【Personal freedom, the bag of gift money withheld by the Family, and...】

【"The box containing the 【Keystone】." Sunday says what Aventurine really wants.】

【It's just that this request is obviously rejected by Sunday, and Aventurine settles for the next best thing, asking to take back the gift money. However, Sunday seems to have seen through Aventurine's calculations long ago.】

【In an instant, with the ability of the Harmony Family, he forces Aventurine to tell the truth.】

【Aventurine's origin, his love for his family, and the self-destructive imagery lingering in his heart are all answered in this short and precise questioning.】

【It's just that, finally, on the question of the location of the Aventurine stone, Aventurine eventually falls into Sunday's calculations...】

【And all this is because of Dr. Ratio's betrayal.】

【Before this, Sunday had reached an agreement with Dr. Ratio, at the cost of the Stellaron research results.】

【And Aventurine is undoubtedly the one who was abandoned.】

【The Keystone in the box originally belonged to Topaz, who is also one of the Ten Stonehearts, while Aventurine's Keystone was placed in cheap jewelry and disguised as gift money. This is also the reason why Aventurine gave up taking back the Keystone so easily before and turned to asking for the gift money back.】

The Astral Express.

Stelle is somewhat incredulous: "This... aren't they companions? Why..."

Welt Yang sighs and says: "Not everyone values companions so much. It's not uncommon to easily betray companions for one's own interests."

"It's just..."

Welt Yang is a bit confused. Dr. Ratio is not a person who abandons his bottom line for interests.

He has also built the character of Dr. Ratio in the game. From his data, he shouldn't do such a thing.

On a planet in the galaxy.

Aventurine sits in a comfortable chair, holding his phone in one hand and extending a finger with the other, gently tapping the table, making crisp tapping sounds.

Subsequently, a smile appears at the corner of Aventurine's mouth, and he says: "Ha, interesting. Professor Ratio, I didn't expect us to have such tacit understanding."

Live stream chat.

"Holy crap, sure enough, something big is coming."

"So what Dr. Ratio said before 【who can guarantee I won't betray you】 was true."

"Good guy, can Aventurine still turn the tables?"

"Turn the tables? I think the hope is slim."

"This time he not only can't get back the Keystone, but he himself will also be trapped. Sunday used that ability before, it should be the Family's Harmony power, right? I don't know what impact Aventurine will have after telling a lie."

"Sigh, speaking of Aventurine, I feel a bit complicated now. Although his personality is a bit unpleasant, from that dream and Sunday's questioning before, he doesn't seem to be full of interest-first, and he has feelings for his family."

"And Aventurine becoming like this today is probably inseparable from his past experiences. After all, climbing from a slave to the status of the Ten Stonehearts, how many hardships and crises were there? We don't know."

"But Aventurine is indeed an extremely smart person. Who could have thought that he would swap the Keystone? If Dr. Ratio hadn't jumped ship, I'm afraid Aventurine would have succeeded."

"Now Aventurine is eaten to death by Sunday, right? The IPC's mission has failed?"

"It shouldn't end so simply, but in this situation, I really can't think of what else Aventurine can do to reverse his situation."

"Speaking of which, who could have thought that Dr. Ratio would suddenly jump ship? Although the Stellaron research results are indeed very precious."

【When everything is revealed, Aventurine turns to look at Dr. Ratio and says indignantly: "Ratio, you bastard..."】

【Sunday looks at Aventurine, who has lost his composure, and still has that polite smile: "The true colors are revealed. By the way, your *temporary* time is only seventeen system hours left. Cherish this time and savor the aftertaste of failure."】

【Aventurine says in a low voice: "... You might as well speak more clearly."】

【Sunday smiles calmly: "What I performed for you just now is the baptism of 【Harmony】. You should have shown loyalty under His light, but you went your own way, full of lies, and turned the baptism into a judgment. I really have no reason to untie it for you."】

【Aventurine satirizes: "Is this the so-called 【Harmony】?... Built on imprisonment and coercion?"】

【Sunday explains calmly: "You misunderstood, Mr. Aventurine. Punishment is prepared for those who are disrespectful, but I saw your tenacious heart, so I want to grant you the possibility of rebirth."】

【"This is within seventeen system hours, you cannot leave the dreamscape, nor can you communicate with any companions. You have only two paths to take, which depends 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 families; if you fail, you will suffer the wrath of the 【Infinite Centurion】 and fall into an abyss from which you can never recover. That's why I specially emphasized the word *temporary*."】

【Feeling the intense pain in his mind, Aventurine covers his forehead and says in a low voice: "... Damn it, it sounds like my end is the same either way."】 ===== CHAPTER 295 =====