[Before answering Aventurine, Stelle decided to talk with Black Swan first.]
["You deceived me?" Stelle asked directly.]
[Black Swan did not deny it: "I admit I made a deal with that gentleman to bring you to his side. But… this place is also safe. He needs you—this is a necessary part of reclaiming Penacony. And I believe he has potential and can help me harvest unique memories, so I agreed to cooperate."]
["In Penacony, anyone can lie. Of course… that includes me." Black Swan's voice softened. "I cannot refute this point, nor will I beg for forgiveness. But, do you remember? I also said… 'I believe in your potential.' That statement is absolutely without any falsehood."]
["Then do you think Aventurine is still trustworthy?" Stelle continued asking.]
["My view might surprise you. In my opinion, he is a trustworthy person. Not for anything else, but because he is an excellent merchant. In this vast universe, no one values integrity and contracts more than merchants."]
["But you should also be careful, especially when signing contracts with them. Pay extra attention. Outside of the contract, they won't consider your rights… To maximize their own interests, they can do anything."]
——
Teyvat.
In the tea room of the Jade Chamber, the fragrance of tea lingered.
Ningguang lightly held her pipe with her fingertips. After hearing Black Swan's warning to Stelle, she couldn't help but chuckle softly: "I thought people from the Garden of Recollection didn't understand the Company very well. It seems she not only understands the Company, but understands merchants even better."
"Do you also think Aventurine is trustworthy?" Keqing put down her teacup, her tone carrying some displeasure. "That guy, I feel like he's always treating others as chess pieces."
"Chess pieces? Perhaps, but only a chess player can be honest with chess pieces." Ningguang exhaled a thin wisp of smoke. "Think carefully. Since stepping into Penacony, how many factions has Stelle encountered? The Company, the Garden of Recollection, the Galaxy Rangers, the Masked Fools, the Family… and a Firefly with unknown background and origins."
"Among so many factions, it seems only the Company represented by Aventurine has been honest with Stelle. Although Aventurine appears very aggressive, from the beginning he stated his goal clearly: to help the Company retrieve some things in Penacony. And the reward for cooperating with him was also stated very clearly."
Keqing was stunned. Thinking about it carefully… it did seem as Ningguang said. In the chessboard of Penacony, there were too many players, but only a few chess pieces.
Everyone had their own agendas and hidden motives, which instead made Aventurine appear upright and honorable.
Ningguang narrowed her eyes: "But if Acheron really is an Emanator, then she undoubtedly has more ability to flip the table than Stelle. If we can win her over to the [Trailblaze] side, what cards would the Family have to contend with her?"
——
["Then who do you think the mastermind is?"]
[Black Swan spoke bluntly: "I still believe Miss Firefly's matter… as we speculated, is more closely related to the Stellaron Hunters. But you also heard it—Aventurine accused that Galaxy Ranger."]
["Although I don't know why he made that judgment, he has the Company's intelligence network. His view is worth discussing in depth. Also, I believe Miss Acheron is hiding something… No, she should be hiding everything."]
["This is something I accidentally gained from a previous encounter. Regarding the Annihilation Gang… I can also prove that what Aventurine said is true. That's why, in this golden banquet… she is the dancer I pay the most attention to."]
[Black Swan hoped Stelle could trust Aventurine, or trust her more, and go see the truth Aventurine spoke of. This could lead them to deeper secrets behind Penacony.]
[Black Swan promised to protect Stelle and would accompany her in the form of a Meme. After Stelle obtained more information from Aventurine, she would send her back to her companions.]
[After careful consideration, Stelle decided to accept Aventurine's suggestion. Aventurine was very satisfied with her choice, but at the same time he hoped Stelle wouldn't disappoint him.]
["Come—this way please."]
[Aventurine led Stelle toward a small room not far away. In the corridor, Aventurine suddenly said: "Oh, right, it seems I said something after that… What was it again?"]
[The two stopped in front of a door.]
["We're here, right behind this door. Hold your breath and wait and see—"]
[Stelle slowly pushed open the door. With a heavy "creak—", boundless darkness surged like a tide. She subconsciously tensed her shoulders, but behind her came Aventurine's smiling whisper.]
["Oh, I finally remembered… my friend! After that, we played a fun game." Aventurine said unhurriedly. "Look, at this moment, it is just like that moment… isn't it?"]
[The lights in the room spread out like ripples. Aventurine gently brushed aside the Memoscape bubble in front of him.]
["Look, my friend. The game has already begun." Aventurine's voice was very soft, soft like a gambler's sigh pressed against his lips on the final spin of the roulette wheel. "Make a deal with me. You can't refuse."]
[Arriving in front of the dream pool, Stelle's body suddenly stiffened.]
[Her pupils trembled violently, like candle flames torn by a gale.]
[Robin lay in the dream pool with a face full of pain. Her long hair spread out like withered water plants. The hideous wound on her chest was emitting an eerie purple energy, as if someone had brutally torn a gash in the most perfect brocade.]
["There is no reason… and no room left."]
——
Sword Art Online.
"How… another one died!"
Asuna covered her mouth. Her chestnut-colored long hair swayed gently with her trembling shoulders. She subconsciously grabbed Kirito's sleeve, her fingertips turning white from gripping so tightly.
Kirito frowned tightly. He closed his eyes, trying to recall fragments about Robin—but unlike Firefly, who still had some broken clues for speculation, this Miss Robin…
"Could she also have died at the hands of a Meme? But why would Robin appear in the Primitive Dream?"
There were too many doubts… It was understandable for Firefly to come to the Primitive Dream and be unwilling to leave, because her goal was the Watchmaker's legacy. But the world-renowned Robin—could she also have come for the legacy?
The chilly evening wind beat against the window lattice, adding more chill to the night. Asuna wrapped the blanket tighter around herself: "Mr. Sunday's sister was killed. He definitely won't sit idly by. Could someone have deliberately killed his sister to provoke him? Or… is someone trying to prevent the Harmony Ceremony?"
"These possibilities can't be ruled out." Kirito sucked in a breath of cold air. "But the key is, if it's confirmed that Robin died at the hands of a Meme, that's equivalent to hanging a blade over everyone in Penacony's heads."
"Even the big star Robin can die… Once this news spreads, the Family is completely finished."