Bleach.
"A tall figure using thermal energy to kill opponents… This style of killing is either Duke Inferno or SAM."
"SAM?"
SAM, one of the Stellaron Hunters. According to Welt, he is definitely a top-tier powerhouse. Kyoraku Shunsui was not surprised that he dared to trespass into the Primitive Dream, but what really piqued his curiosity was why SAM was interested in Firefly.
"Byakuya, aren't you mistaken? The Stellaron Hunters are interested in the Watchmaker's legacy, but Firefly is just a little girl who just died. Why would they be interested in her?" Shunsui shook his sake gourd, his voice carrying a lazy smile.
"There is one possibility." Byakuya gently placed the teacup on the table. "Firefly discovered the truth about the Watchmaker's legacy while investigating in the Primitive Dream. SAM wanted to get clues from her, so he chased her… But everything happened too fast. Perhaps at this moment he doesn't even know that Firefly has already died at the hands of the Meme."
"So Firefly was being chased by both the Meme and SAM at the same time? What a pitiful little girl…" He sighed softly, his tone unusually losing its frivolity and instead carrying a trace of melancholy.
Byakuya lowered his eyes. His fingertip gently traced the edge of the teacup, causing faint ripples on the tea's surface.
"Life and death are fated. If she can still wake up, I hope she doesn't obsess too much over the dream."
"You're quite open-minded about her." Kyoraku turned his head, his gaze under the straw hat carrying some amusement. "Then what do you think is the probability that the one who acted was Duke Inferno?"
"Thirty percent."
Byakuya frowned: "Duke Inferno is too patient. I don't know what timing he's waiting for. Now the various factions have shown their edges, yet there are very few clues about him…"
"I don't rule out the possibility that he's playing a big game behind the scenes. If that's the case, then making a move now to completely disrupt Penacony's situation would definitely be wise for the [Destruction] he aspires to."
——
[Black Swan brought the group to a room full of televisions.]
["Come—I can perform a little magic trick for you. Get ready, and try not to cry out in surprise."]
[Black Swan lightly flicked her fingertip. Several semi-transparent phantoms suddenly appeared in the room—all without exception were Firefly's appearance.]
["This is… Firefly?" Acheron frowned.]
["Correct. These are memories left by this room about her. The slight tremors on the ground, the reflections flashing on the screens, the flow of Memoria… I gathered them and reproduced them in fragment form."]
[One of the Firefly phantoms said: "That thing I encountered with Stelle back then… If I'm not mistaken… it must be related to the [Watchmaker]."]
[Acheron looked at Stelle: "She mentioned your name."]
["Calling you that even behind your back. Looks like your relationship is indeed quite good." Black Swan chuckled softly. "She seems to be sharing her discovery with someone, and… it's related to the Watchmaker."]
[Acheron lowered her eyes: "She still didn't know she would become a victim…"]
[The group continued investigating the other Firefly phantoms. One phantom was staring at the screens and saying: "If… I could do it again…"]
["She's staring at the screens. Is she looking in a mirror… What does 'do it again' mean?"]
[And a phantom advancing toward the corridor said: "Let's set off…"]
["'We'? Is there someone else with her?" This detail actually interested Black Swan. She pointed to the exit on the other side of the room and speculated: "Combining this information, Firefly entered this corridor together with a companion—there should be only one."]
——
One Piece.
"Hmph." Crocodile exhaled a smoke ring. "That girl was still cooperating with someone right before she died in the dream. It's most likely someone from the Company. Only the Company would cooperate with a woman who is seriously ill and has no combat power… The goal is the Watchmaker's legacy. Heh, Aventurine really played his cards well."
"Mihawk, who do you think Firefly was cooperating with?"
Mihawk sat inside the cabin, savoring a piece of roasted meat. He took a small sip from his red wine glass. A trace of displeasure flashed in his golden hawk-like eyes: "I have no interest in guessing."
"Heh, I think you're angry, right?" A mocking smile appeared on Crocodile's sinister face. "Just because in that extreme situation, Acheron still didn't choose to draw her sword?"
Mihawk did not answer. He was not angry, but disappointed. Until now, Acheron still refused to truly draw her sword once and kill once, even when facing such a beast…
What was she hesitating about?
Could she be an indecisive person?
If it were Jingliu, she would have drawn her sword without hesitation back then…
Thinking of this, Mihawk felt a bit irritated inside.
Crocodile noticed Mihawk's displeasure and stopped bothering him. Instead, he glanced sideways at Buggy beside him: "Hey, clown, what do you think?"
Buggy trembled all over. The roasted meat skewer in his hand fell to the ground with a "plop." He swallowed and laughed dryly: "Ahahaha… Maybe she was cooperating with that SAM?"
"SAM? How could that woman cooperate with SAM? SAM was clearly chasing her too, right? Boring…" Crocodile snorted coldly. His golden hook flashed with cold light under the sunlight. "Only an idiot like you would think of such an answer."
——
[The three continued forward. At a turn in the corridor, Firefly's tone was extremely panicked: "You…?! This isn't what we agreed on…"]
["The situation has started to change. It seems that companion… deviated from the original plan." Acheron said.]
[Black Swan nodded: "Or, in terms of the result… this was that person's real 'plan.'"]
[Following the corridor forward, Firefly's phantom was running toward the door at the bottom of the stairs: "Mecha…?! Why…"]
[Acheron moved a bit closer and carefully observed the phantom's panicked expression: "She was forced this way by someone, and…"]
[Black Swan pondered: "[Mecha]… an intriguing term. I remember the Hound Family is pursuing a criminal—'a tall male wearing silver armor.'"]
[And Firefly's phantom, arriving at the lowest room, said in a somewhat despairing tone: "The door… won't open… This is a dead end…"]
[Acheron analyzed: "From these fragmented words, Firefly's companion betrayed her midway, locked her alone in this room, and disappeared… Why?"]
["She said this deal was related to the 'Watchmaker'—involving the Watchmaker would touch many people's bottom lines."]