Chapter 350: Penacony Arc 『 Part Forty-five 』, The Promised Neverland of the Penacony
「 Before answering Aventurine, Stelle decided to have a brief word with Black Swan.
"Have you been deceiving me?" Stelle asked, cutting straight to the point.
Black Swan did not deny it: "I admit I struck a bargain with that gentleman to bring you to his side. However… this place is equally safe. He requires your presence; it is an indispensable link in reclaiming Penacony. I sensed his potential—and his ability to help me harvest a singular memory—so I agreed to cooperate."
"In Penacony, everyone is capable of lying. Naturally… that includes me." Black Swan's voice softened. "I offer no defense for this, nor do I presume to ask for your forgiveness. But do you remember? I also said… 'I believe in your potential.' Those words were devoid of any falsehood."
"Then do you believe Aventurine is still worth trusting?" Stelle pressed.
"My perspective may surprise you. In my view, he is a man worthy of trust—not for any moral virtue, but simply because he is an exceptional businessman. In this vast cosmos, none value integrity and contracts more than a merchant."
"But you must remain vigilant, especially when signing their contracts. Beyond the letter of the agreement, they will not consider your rights… To maximize their own interests, they will stop at nothing." 」
「 ..... 」
〜Genshin Impact World, Teyvat〜
Inside the tea room of the Jade Chamber, the fragrance of tea drifted through the air.
Ningguang held her pipe delicately between her fingers. Having heard Black Swan's admonition to Stelle, she couldn't suppress a light chuckle.
"I had assumed those of the Garden of Recollection knew little of the IPC. It seems she not only understands the Company, but understands merchants even better."
"Surely you don't believe Aventurine is trustworthy as well?"
Keqing set down her teacup, her tone tinged with a hint of displeasure.
"That fellow… I feel as though he treats everyone as a mere pawn on a board."
"A pawn? Perhaps. But a player is only ever truly honest with their pieces."
Ningguang exhaled a thin plume of smoke.
"Think carefully. Since stepping foot onto Penacony, how many factions has Trailblazer encountered? The IPC, the Garden of Recollection, the Galaxy Rangers, the Masked Fools, the Family… and then there is Hotaru, whose background and motives remain a mystery."
"Among all these powers, it seems only Aventurine, representing the IPC, has managed to be candid with Stelle. Aggressive as he may be, he stated his objective from the very beginning: to reclaim something for the Company in Penacony. And the compensation for collaborating with him was laid out quite clearly."
Keqing paused. Upon reflection… it was exactly as Ningguang described. On this chessboard called Penacony, there were far too many players and far too few pieces.
With everyone harboring their own agendas and ulterior motives, Aventurine appeared almost honorable by comparison.
Ningguang narrowed her eyes.
"But if Acheron truly is an Emanator, she undoubtedly possesses a greater capacity to flip the table than Stelle does. If she can be swayed to the side of The 『 Trailblaze 』, what cards could the Family possibly play to counter her?"
—
「 "Then who do you think is the mastermind behind the scenes?"
Black Swan spoke without reservation: "I still believe the matter regarding Miss Hotaru… as we surmised, is more closely linked to the Stellaron Hunters. But you heard him; Aventurine has cast his accusations at that Ranger."
"Though I know not why he reached such a conclusion, he possesses the IPC's intelligence network; his view warrants deep discussion. Furthermore, I also believe Miss Acheron is hiding something… no, it would be more accurate to say she is hiding everything."
"This was a realization I stumbled upon during a previous encounter. Regarding the Annihilation Gang… I can confirm that what Aventurine said is true. Consequently, in this golden banquet… she is the dancer I am watching most closely."
Black Swan hoped Stelle would trust Aventurine—or perhaps trust her more—to see the 'truth' Aventurine spoke of. This would lead them toward the deeper secrets buried beneath Penacony.
Black Swan promised to protect Stelle, vowing to remain by her side in the form of a meme. Once Stelle had extracted more information from Aventurine, she would return her to her companions.
After careful consideration, Stelle decided to accept Aventurine's proposal. Aventurine was highly satisfied with her choice, though he expressed his hope that she would not disappoint him.
"Come—this way, please."
Aventurine led Stelle toward a small room nearby. In the corridor, he suddenly spoke up: "Ah, that's right. I think I said something else after that… what was it again?"
The two came to a halt before a door.
"We've arrived. It's just behind this door. Hold your breath, and see for yourself—"
Stelle slowly pushed the door open. With a heavy creak, a boundless darkness rushed forth like a tide. She instinctively tensed her shoulders, but from behind her came Aventurine's amused whisper.
"Oh, I finally remember… Friend! After that, we played a delightful little game." Aventurine spoke unhurriedly. "Look. This moment is just like that one… isn't it?"
The lights in the room rippled outward like waves. Aventurine gently brushed aside a Memory Bubble before his eyes.
"Look, friend. The game has already begun." Aventurine's voice was soft, like a gambler's sigh pressed against his lips as the roulette wheel spins its final circuit. "Make a deal with me. One you cannot refuse."
Arriving before the Dreampool, Stelle's body suddenly froze.
Her pupils trembled violently, like a candle flame being torn apart by a gale.
Robin lay in the Dreampool, her expression one of agony, her long hair splayed out like withered water-reeds.
The hideous wound on her chest bled a strange, purple mist, as if someone had brutally torn a hole through the most perfect tapestry.
"No reason… and no room for doubt." 」
「 ..... 」
〜Sword Art Online World〜
"How can this be… another one dead!"
Asuna covered her mouth, her chestnut hair swaying slightly as her shoulders trembled. She instinctively gripped Kirito's sleeve, her knuckles turning white.
Kirito's brow furrowed. He closed his eyes, trying desperately to recall any fragments regarding Robin—but unlike Hotaru, who had at least left behind broken clues to speculate upon, this Miss Robin…
"Did she also die at the hands of a Meme? But why would Robin appear in the Primal Dreamscape?"
There were simply too many doubts… It was understandable that Hotaru would venture into the Primal Dreamscape and be reluctant to leave, as her goal was the Watchmaker's legacy.
But would the world-renowned Robin also be after such an inheritance?
The biting night wind rattled the window frames, adding a chill to the evening. Asuna wrapped her blanket tighter around herself.
"Mr. Sunday's sister has been murdered; he certainly won't stand idly by. Did someone kill her intentionally just to provoke him? Or… is someone trying to sabotage the Charmony Festival?"
"We can't rule out those possibilities."
Kirito took a sharp breath.
"But the crux of the matter is, if it's confirmed that Robin died at the hands of a Meme, it's equivalent to hanging a blade over the heads of everyone in Penacony. If even a superstar like Robin can die… once this news gets out, the Family is finished."
—
( Translator-kun: RIP Hotaru and Robin... May this journey lead us starward. )