Chapter 370: An absolute information overload! Diamond intends to usurp the throne?!
At the performance venue.
In the guest seats.
Stelle's face lit up with sudden realization!
No wonder the IPC's bounty on the Stellaron Hunters always specified "dead or alive" for everyone else, yet Elio had to be captured alive…
So he actually walked upon the Path of Terminus the Finality!
And he was at least of the Emanator level of Finality!
Which meant…
The future Elio foresaw was actually the reality he saw by walking backward from the future?!
Then he recorded it down, and it became the so-called "script"?
An existence with such an ability—no wonder the IPC valued him so highly!
But…
Speaking of which.
The current Honkai: Star Rail seemed to be doing the exact same thing.
Did Feathered Spirit have some deeper meaning behind doing this…
Sigh,
She couldn't think about it anymore.
Her head felt so itchy; it felt like her brain was about to grow.
Stelle scratched her head.
She continued watching the plot unfold on the big screen.
***
Faced with Jade's direct exposure of her identity.
Firefly fell silent.
Jade smiled slightly. "If there is an opportunity, I hope you all can come sit in my pawnshop. And to see that day arrive, I am willing to wait patiently."
"May I understand this as… an invitation Diamond extended to the Stellaron Hunters behind the IPC's back?"
"If possible, I'd prefer you to treat it as my personal action. It represents neither the IPC nor the Strategic Investment Department."
Jade's words could be said to be extremely smooth and diplomatic.
Firefly replied, "The Stellaron Hunters have dealt with the IPC many times, but the Ten Stonehearts… we have had no intersection. I can convey your proposal, but before that, I have a question…"
A slight pause.
At the same time.
The camera perspective shifted to a top-down God's-eye view.
"You know my identity, so you must also realize that my partner [ Silver Wolf ] is very likely monitoring this room right now. If she wishes, in just a few seconds, the entirety of Pier Point will see this meeting."
…
"Holy crap?"
"How did I not think of that!"
"They're all testing each other."
"A duel between masters."
"Technical support Silver Wolf, your best backup~"
"Even though her in-game numbers aren't top-tier anymore, her abilities in reality are still bug-level!"
…
"What is it that makes you willing to bear the risk of becoming a discarded pawn, just to complete all this for Diamond?"
Faced with Firefly's question.
Jade was completely unfazed!
Yes,
Firefly was a Stellaron Hunter.
A wanted criminal of the IPC.
But,
So what?
That was Jade's attitude right now!
"Because, all in all… we are of the same kind."
"But unlike the Stellaron Hunters and the Astral Express, we gather together… only to get what we each need."
"The Ten have their own origins, and their own destinations. And on one segment of this road, we accepted Diamond's invitation to walk with him."
The background suddenly changed!
Behind Jade.
The silhouettes of the Ten Stonehearts appeared.
In the center, a massive diamond was shining brilliantly!
If it were before, the players seeing this segment would surely have felt that the remaining ten members were incredibly mysterious and brimming with style!
However, Feathered Spirit had just released a short film about the Ten Stonehearts not long ago—
The Stoneheart Oath, two ends of the scale.
Regarding the remaining members.
The players already had more or less a general impression of them.
"This road can be very short, or very long. Because each of us has an empty void [ ambition ] in our hearts, which can only be filled by constantly relying on external things."
"And Diamond, he made a promise—to divide the great power of the Emanator of Preservation into ten, using it as the cornerstone to fill that void."
"Flesh and blood are weak, but my heart is as solid as ambergris. Were it not so, the Path of Preservation would have no foundation to stand upon."
"So do you understand? This is not just an oath, but a pledge submitted by the ten of us. In exchange, we obtain opportunity, wealth, survival, tomorrow…"
"And everything that these things exchange for in turn will make the Stonehearts even more indestructible, to realize the grand undertaking of Preservation [ Diamond ] in the clash of gods that is bound to come."
The clash of gods!
The clash of gods again!
The real world was instantly in an uproar!
No one expected that,
This conversation between Firefly and Jade would actually reveal so many important pieces of information!
The real-time bullet comments on the screen were also continuous!
…
"Oh my god…"
"Jade really dares to say anything!"
"Seriously, stop talking, Sister Jade. I'm afraid the other Ten Stonehearts and Diamond will come to liquidate you in a bit!"
"Good grief, Diamond started preparing for the clash of gods so early. As expected of an Emanator of Preservation."
"It's similar to Qlipoth preparing for the [ Arch-Enemy ]…"
"Wait! Why was the [ Preservation ] Jade mentioned here directly labeled as [ Diamond ]?!"
"Does Jade acknowledge Diamond as [ Preservation ] itself?"
"Qlipoth: ?"
"Diamond wants to replace Qlipoth as [ Preservation ]!"
"Don't talk nonsense! Don't talk nonsense!"
"Could Diamond be an alt account of [ Preservation ]???"
…
Jade's words could be said to have stirred up a thousand waves with a single stone!
Without a doubt.
The pressure was put on the IPC!
The IPC was always adept at handling such matters, but this seed was thoroughly planted.
In the future, when plots regarding the IPC and Diamond appeared, the lore-masters would inevitably connect them to what Jade said in this scene!
"…I understand."
"Go on, child. You don't have to give an answer immediately. As I said, the thing I am best at is waiting."
Firefly: "If fate really turns to that page, we will naturally meet again."
"But I regret that this pawnshop cannot give me what I want. My last attempt in Penacony… can only end with hope."
With that.
Firefly left Bonajade Exchange.
And just as she left.
Another guest arrived as scheduled to deliver their pledge to Jade.
Firefly's perspective ended there.
It returned to the Trailblazer's perspective.
The information density of the conversation between the two just now was truly not small. This segment would definitely be rewatched and studied repeatedly by various factions!
And the upcoming plot might contain even more explosive content!?
***
[ Guinaifen's Live Stream Room ]
"As it turns out, the meeting determining Penacony's future went much smoother than expected… It ended with barely any arguments."
"The opening ceremony of the Charmony Festival should be starting soon. Let's go check out the venue."
"There are quite a few treasures on this airship too. A bountiful harvest…"
When the perspective returned, they saw Stelle talking to herself on the deck.
Guinaifen's mouth twitched.
She felt as if a line of text had appeared above Stelle's head.
[ Escaped Patient from the Mental Asylum ]
"Yo, has our MC's condition finally improved?"
Entering the cabin.
At first glance, they saw a familiar face in front of the bar—Boothill.
And in front of Boothill.
Was the projection of Aventurine!
As they drew closer.
They heard Boothill's signature catchphrase.
"…Don't forget, I can muddlefudger love you to death with one shot at any time."
…
"His baby!"
"Bro is here to love people again."
"Born with a body made for loving."
"Unlocked Achievement: [ Can't Stop Loving You ]"
"Wait, you two are that close now?"
"The duo that loves Oswaldo the most."
…
And the two of them also quickly indicated.
It was indeed because of Oswaldo Schneider that they had temporarily united.
Next.
They ran into Dr. Ratio and Topaz.
After greeting each other.
An option appeared on Stelle's side.
"I still want to ask you a question…"
"…Can you transform too?"
Topaz was instantly stumped by the question.
She froze for a moment, puzzled. "Trans… form? What are you talking about?"
Guinaifen's eyes also widened instantly!
If all of the Ten Stonehearts could transform…
Then this matter was simply too cool!
Topaz seemed to have noticed the players' thoughts and said, "Oh… I get it. You're talking about that guy Aventurine's cornerstone, right? I'm so sorry. Compared to him, my ability might not be that visually flashy."
"There's no harm in telling you. The cornerstone abilities of the Ten Stonehearts are all different. Some can even directly read through your thoughts and manipulate your desires… so be careful."
"Thinking about it now, back in Belobog, it's a good thing Bronya arrived in time—if she had been a step later, we might not even have been able to be friends~"
…
"Topaz might as well have just blurted out Jade's employee ID."
"Long live Lady Topaz."
"The 'Buy-out' Sister, buying out all enemies' strengths and weaknesses."
"Topaz: I will, buy out the sea!"
"Although Topaz can't transform, she didn't say her pig can't transform."
"Waiting for an SP Topaz."
"Grab Numby in one go, refine it instantly!"