"Heh… You might as well speak more clearly, Oak Family Head."
Aventurine took a deep breath, simply closed his eyes, crossed his arms, and waited for the other party's answer.
"What I used earlier was the Holy Baptism from [Harmony]. You should have shown loyalty under His light. However, our Mr. Aventurine, you stubbornly went your own way and deceived [Harmony] with lies, turning the original baptism into judgment."
"Frankly speaking, Mr. Aventurine, I have no reason to remove it for you."
Hearing Sunday's words, Mr. Aventurine could not help but let out a scoff. It was a mocking laugh, as if mocking the injustice of the world or the hypocrisy of humans.
"Heh, is this the so-called [Harmony]? Built upon restraint and coercion. Such [Harmony] is even more nauseating than [Destruction] and [Propagation]!"
"Say whatever you like."
Sunday calmly shook his head and offered no rebuttal to Aventurine's words.
"Mr. Aventurine, just as I said earlier, you only have 17 system hours left. Of course, you are not without a way out."
At this point, Sunday paused slightly. After quietly glancing at Gopher Wood on the eaves, he continued.
"In the remaining 17 system hours, you cannot leave the dreamscape, nor can you leave Penacony. Only two paths now lie before you. Life or death depends on whether you can complete my test."
"If within these 17 hours you complete my test, then you will merge into [Harmony], exist together with countless family members, and share happiness and joy."
"If you fail…"
Sunday smiled faintly, but that smile was as cold as ice, causing anyone who met his gaze to feel a chill run through their body.
"If you fail, you will bear the wrath of [Harmony]'s incarnation and fall into an abyss of eternal damnation."
Aventurine: "…Heh heh heh. In that case, my outcome is the same either way. Why do you think I would complete your test?"
"I need a servant to do the things I cannot personally handle, and your identity is perfect for it."
Sunday spread his hands, as if speaking of something completely insignificant.
"Damn Oak Family, shameless hypocrites! What you are doing doesn't look like [Harmony] at all—it looks more like the long-destroyed [Order]! You confiscated all my things and still want me to help you?!"
Aventurine cursed with clean language. Not a single dirty word was used, yet his words were filled with ridicule and contempt everywhere.
Since the Aventurine Cornerstone in the gift money had already been discovered by Sunday, he had no reason to take back this useless gift money. The core key item of the plan was lost. Those beautiful scraps no longer held any use or value.
"Heh heh heh…"
After listening to Aventurine, Sunday covered his cheek and laughed softly. After a few seconds, he stopped laughing, raised his head again, and stared deeply at Aventurine before him.
"Mr. Aventurine, don't speak so harshly. Take those things with you. I believe they will be of some use to you. After all… you no longer have any choice now, do you?"
"You…"
Aventurine took a deep breath, then walked forward with a gloomy face. He picked up the bag of gems originally used to disguise the 'Aventurine Cornerstone,' gave a complicated glance at the silent Dr. Ratio beside him, turned around, and prepared to leave Dewlight Pavilion.
"Wait."
Just as Aventurine picked up the gems and was about to leave the Family's conference hall, Sunday suddenly called out to him again.
"Oak Family Head, what else do you want?" Aventurine asked with a cold expression.
"You forgot something."
In response to Aventurine's questioning, Sunday merely smiled faintly, then pointed at the box containing the Aventurine Cornerstone on the table.
"What do you mean by this?"
Aventurine's brows furrowed deeply. He did not understand what Sunday meant. Was he telling him to take the Aventurine Cornerstone away? Why? Hadn't this guy just said the Cornerstone must be kept by the Family? Wasn't this self-contradictory?
Moreover, Sunday surely knew the great power of a Cornerstone. Now handing it back to him—did he not fear that Aventurine would cause trouble in Penacony with it?
Perhaps seeing Aventurine's doubt, Mr. Sunday chuckled lightly and explained.
"Mr. Aventurine, I suppose you must be very puzzled. But it's fine—I am willing to clear up your confusion."
"With your intelligence-gathering ability, I believe you already know that on Penacony right now, there are no fewer than five Emanator-level powerhouses. And this does not even include the Family's own forces."
A playful smile appeared on Sunday's face.
"Although my words may sound unpleasant, as a high-level member of the company, you should understand that with only the Cornerstone in your hand—no, the damaged Cornerstone—do you think you can become a player on this vast chessboard?"
Sunday's words were indeed unpleasant and carried a hint of mockery, but they were the truth.
Compared to a Cornerstone that only possessed "one-tenth of Emanator power," those true Emanators were far more qualified to be players.
The reason Sunday returned the Cornerstone to Aventurine was that he wanted to see what kind of waves this emissary from the company could stir up on the chessboard.
"Tch… Arrogant guy."
Aventurine naturally saw through the other party's intentions. However, even though he felt very unhappy inside, he had to admit that the other party was right. In front of those true Emanators, his own strength was not worth mentioning.
Picking up the Cornerstone from the table, Aventurine vaguely heard a voice in his mind, and his thoughts became somewhat chaotic.
'Is this the aftereffect brought by that [Harmony] baptism?'
Shaking his head forcefully, Aventurine did not linger any longer and left Dewlight Pavilion directly.
Watching Aventurine depart until his figure disappeared from view, Sunday slowly closed his eyes. After about a minute, he opened them again and spoke to Dr. Ratio beside him.
"Professor, are you worried about that guy?"
"Hm?" Sunday's words made Ratio pause slightly. He then shook his head, a trace of complicated emotion flashing imperceptibly in his eyes.
"Everything he did was his own choice. As a person, he should bear the corresponding consequences."
"…Is that so?"
Sunday chuckled lightly, a trace of exhaustion seeming to enter his tone.
"Yes, everyone must take responsibility for what they have done. And I…"
At this point, Sunday paused slightly.
"Still have a price that has not yet been paid…"