"Let's not think about these things for now."
Jade shook her head, her eyes filled with complex emotions. To be fair, Sparkle's actions were indeed something a Masked Fool would do—teasing opponents, toying with others.
Yet for some reason, she always felt that this matter wasn't quite so simple. There had to be some other hidden truth behind it that no one knew.
"Topaz, tally up the casualties and losses, then report them to the Corporation headquarters—include everything about this Masked Fool as well."
...…
"This should be enough, right? Surely those guys at the Corporation will now think twice before acting."
After leaving the Interastral Peace Corporation's embassy, Sparkle walked alone along the small paths of Belobog, gazing up at the starry sky and looking toward the approaching dawn.
Sparkle had no intention of killing Jade and Topaz, because her fundamental goal had only been to give the Interastral Peace Corporation a little warning.
For Belobog—for Jarilo-VI—the Interastral Peace Corporation still had a significant role to play. At the very least, in the current phase of construction, the resources the Corporation could provide were indispensable.
So, at least for the time being, it was not yet possible to truly push the Interastral Peace Corporation into outright opposition. As long as their true high-level figures were not touched, there wouldn't be any major issues.
As for those mid-level employees Sparkle had killed earlier... heh, honestly speaking, the Interastral Peace Corporation's influence spanned the entire galaxy. Mid-level staff at the P32 or P33 tier? There were probably millions, if not hundreds of thousands or tens of thousands. Losing a few here and there was hardly worth mentioning.
"Time to report back to Lord Yun Fan. Things on this side are temporarily settled for now, and I should head back to Penacony. After all, on this beautiful Festival Star, there's still a grand performance to come."
...
Penacony...
'Ding-dong!'
A notification chime sounded. Yun Fan, who had been leaning on the sofa reading a light novel, raised an eyebrow and pulled his phone out of his pocket.
"It's a message from little Sparkle. I didn't expect her to finish so quickly. This little girl's efficiency is pretty good—no wonder I gave her the strongest blessing below an Emissary."
Reading Sparkle's message, Yun Fan nodded in satisfaction. His thumb tapped a few times on the screen as he edited a reply and sent it.
[Yun Fan: Well done. Come back first. The grand ceremony on Penacony will begin soon, and moreover...]
As if sensing something, Yun Fan paused his typing. He glanced toward the nearby Dream Pool, then continued editing the message.
[Yun Fan: Moreover, your direct superior will personally attend this ceremony. He's already here.]
Watching the "Message Sent" popup appear on the screen, Yun Fan turned off the phone and tossed it back into his pocket. Then the boy stood up from the sofa and slowly walked over to the Dream Pool.
Looking at the pool of dreamlike liquid, Yun Fan crossed his arms and spoke calmly.
"Alright, come out. I know you're in there."
The Dream Pool seemed to show no reaction to the boy's words. Yun Fan wasn't in a hurry either. He simply continued staring at the pool of water with the same calm expression as before.
About a minute later, the water finally began to change. Small bubbles gradually rose from the depths. After another ten or so seconds, larger bubbles surged up like boiling water. Then, a moment later, finally...
'Pfft!'
With a splash, a figure suddenly burst out from the Dream Pool, gasping heavily for fresh air.
"Huff... Huff... I thought I was going to die just now... Huff... [Causality], you really aren't humane at all~"
"You..."
Staring at this striking figure, Yun Fan's brows furrowed slightly. Because the person now appearing before his eyes was none other than 'Miss Sparkle'—the one he had just been messaging. Of course, this was merely someone impersonating her.
The only ones who could directly address him as [Causality] were either Aeons on the same level as him—or, aside from Aha, probably no one else.
Yun Fan had not forgotten his agreement with Aha: the two of them had arranged to create a huge spectacle on this Festival Star. So Aha had come to fulfill the appointment. But looking at the graceful girl's body in front of him, the boy could only feel a slight headache.
"You... why did you take on Sparkle's appearance? And in this... completely unclothed state, no less."
Yes, the Sparkle appearing before Yun Fan right now was completely bare—utterly naked. And because the girl had just emerged from the water, some of the Dream Pool's liquid inevitably clung to 'Sparkle's' skin.
This was reality, not a 2D world—there was no such thing as 'holy light' for censorship. At this moment, 'Sparkle' was truly and completely baring everything to Yun Fan.
"Hm? Could it be that [Causality] doesn't like this look? Hehe~ I don't believe that. Back then, you personally asked me for this girl, didn't you~"
'Sparkle' playfully blinked her eyes, then stepped lightly out of the Dream Pool and walked right up to the boy.
"Mm, I won't deny that. If I didn't like little Sparkle, I wouldn't have asked you for her in the first place. It's just that... you're not her, after all, Aha."
"Not her after all? Hehe~"
Hearing Yun Fan's words, Aha—who had taken on Sparkle's form—giggled. The girl lightly waved her hand, and a surge of [Elation] power flowed. In the next instant, a red neon outfit identical to Sparkle's appeared and clothed her.
"Much better. Now this looks right."
Seeing Sparkle dressed, Yun Fan nodded in satisfaction. Only then did the boy calm down and carefully examine the 'Sparkle' before him.
The surging power of the Path of [Elation]—though still far from the level of an Aeon—was undoubtedly at the level of an Aeon's Emissary. The Aha standing before him, just like himself at this moment, was merely an energy clone projected from an Aeon.
"The power of an Aeon's Emissary should be more than sufficient on Penacony."
Acheron of [Nihility], Herta and Ruan Mei of [Erudition], Firefly of [Causality], Yun Fan of [Causality] (clone), Aha of [Elation] (clone), and March 7th who wielded the bow of [The Hunt].
Penacony was truly lively—absolutely bustling. Thinking about it this way, Sunday seemed a bit pitiful...
Facing so many Aeon Emissaries—or individuals with power comparable to Emissaries—all by himself. Tsk tsk, no matter how you looked at it, the plan for the Dream of the Harmony seemed impossible to complete.
But... this was still his big brother-in-law after all. The other party had already entrusted Robin to him. Once matters on Penacony were settled, he should step in and protect him.
On one hand, he was Robin's brother—Yun Fan didn't want to see Robin sad.
On the other hand, from the depths of the boy's heart, he wholeheartedly supported Sunday's proposed ideal: the concept of a "seven-day weekend."