To put it bluntly, Nero's way of doing things seemed somewhat crude, even shameless.
But there was no denying that this was a rather practical, even effective, debating technique.
As he spoke, Nero led the others to choose to have the stowaway brought to justice.
"So what happened to that guy in the end?" Nero asked.
Sunday was silent for a moment. He did not directly answer Nero's question. It was not because he did not want to answer, but because he really was somewhat afraid of directly "going head-to-head" with Nero.
This child did not even need to think when he opened his mouth to argue with someone, yet everything he said had its own reasoning. He was not simply talking nonsense.
Looking at these two debates from an omniscient perspective, Sunday even felt that the version of himself in Nero's eyes was almost no different from an underdeveloped infant.
After remaining silent, when Sunday spoke again, this was what he said, "...I also thought about whether such a choice could bring about a better ending..."
"Suppose he was never caught from beginning to end. Then he would certainly die from mental breakdown. Stowaways' methods of entering dreams are mostly extraordinary, and nowhere near as complete as the hotel's. Trying to live in a dream is simply impossible."
"If he was caught, would the Hounds let him off? The answer is impossible. They cannot bear the corresponding consequences, and naturally would not provide aid to such a risk."
"So I already said it, didn't I? The key is your subjective initiative. As for this outcome, if he really abandoned his children just to go into the dream, then all I can say is that he deserves it."
"After all, what you told us was only his side of the story. You didn't thoroughly investigate it like I said, did you?" Nero said with a shrug."
Sunday, "..."
The way Nero and he thought about problems was completely different. Sunday deeply realized this at this moment.
As fellow bystanders, Sunday placed himself in the position of a god who loved all people and thought from that perspective, hoping to save everyone, yet because he was too eager, his eyes were always obscured by various matters.
Nero's thoughts were simple, think about what I can, do what I can; his standards were also firm, help when you can, and if you make a mistake, you must answer for it.
The former's gaze was too limited to the goal, while the latter only looked at himself.
It could not be said that either person's perspective or way of thinking was right or wrong. After all, what each person could see and experience was different.
But there was one thing beyond doubt. With Nero's way of thinking, he absolutely would not become overly tangled or lost in confusion, because all his attention was on himself.
So when he needed to make a choice, he would definitely choose the one he wanted most, the one that would leave him with the clearest conscience.
Simply put, Sunday felt that he should be kind.
While Nero felt, 'so what if I am kind?'
Sunday found it difficult, and did not want to continue talking with Nero about this either. He simply said, "I deeply regret this choice once again. Next comes the third, and final, choice. And this time, the story... is about me personally."
"This story happened on the day I took over as the Oak Family's head. At that time, Mr. Gopher Wood had already become the Dream Master. At his request, we had a private conversation."
"To my surprise, the Dream Master only brought me a letter. He asked me to read its contents, and that letter... came from my younger sister."
"It contained nothing more than everyday greetings, along with various things she had seen and heard while traveling through the worlds. When I began to wonder what this letter had to do with our meeting, the Dream Master spoke."
"He asked me, 'Do you know whose hand this letter came from?'"
"I answered, 'Of course it was written by my younger sister. Why would the Dream Master personally visit me over the everyday trivialities between siblings?'"
"The Dream Master said, 'To help you gain a deeper understanding of this matter. Do you know where Robin is now?'"
"I said, 'Judging from the contents of the letter... it should be Casbelin Yat-VIII, right? She's traveling there...'"
"The Dream Master nodded, then suddenly asked me, 'Correct. Did she mention being hit by a stray bullet?'"
"I realized it only afterward, and became extremely flustered over the matter. A stray bullet... There was not a single word about it in the letter."
"The Dream Master told me that a war had broken out on that planet. That was precisely why Robin had chosen it as her destination... In order to spread Harmony and save the lives on the planet, she had personally gone to the front line."
"She hoped to ease people's suffering with her singing, and was also willing to use her own flesh and blood to provide support for the IPC's relief supplies... Unfortunately, stray bullets showed no mercy."
"I anxiously asked the Dream Master about Robin's condition at the time. Fortunately, her life was not in danger. The surgery had been successful, and she really needed to recuperate in a field hospital."
"The bullet went straight into her neck... Those damn savages!"
At this point, Sunday's voice became restrained. Even though he was recounting an old matter, his voice still seemed to be forced out from between his teeth with all his strength.
He spent more than ten seconds calming the anger that had stirred up before speaking to everyone again, "Now you know why she often wears such an elaborate neck ornament, right?"
"How could this happen... Miss Robin..." March, who was more emotionally sensitive, had already become saddened.
"It is already a thing of the past. There is no need for everyone to worry about it," Sunday said.
"I shared this matter only because I hope you can understand the limitations and predicament of Harmony. No matter how great the vision of the strong helping the weak is, most of the time it is still only wishful thinking."
"Likewise, I have prepared one final question for everyone, one final choice. But rest assured, this choice will not bring any heavy consequences."
"In fact, nothing will happen at all. Because this is only an empty fantasy, a nightmare that has haunted me for countless days and nights. If you had the chance to make the choice I did... would you still support Robin in embarking on the journey of Harmony?"
"Miss Robin actually went through something like that... Helping the weak with the strength of the strong is certainly great, but if it means paying such a price... I, I don't really know anymore..." March said gloomily.
July stood silently beside her. Judging from her slightly sad and confused expression, she seemed to share March's view.
Of course, this was only natural. The two of them thought in almost the same way, and their answers to the previous questions had always been the same.
Himeko murmured, "I somehow feel like I've dreamed of similar scenes on certain nights. In the dream, I saw a group of blurred faces. Although I didn't know who they were, we were as close as family. We were constantly fighting against some kind of transcendent existence..."
"I clearly remember their confusion and fear... But I also remember that in the dream, they never chose to give up, just like Miss Robin."
Himeko did not say it outright, but what she wanted to express was already very clear.
"Miss Robin's courage is admirable. I originally thought she was only a star who shone brightly on the stage..." Firefly said.
"But she is also Mr. Sunday's younger sister... No matter how great her ideals may be, he certainly wouldn't want his own sister to sacrifice herself for them, would he?"
"So... you already know this is an empty fantasy, so why are you asking us?"
Nero rolled his eyes. The boy frankly showed his speechlessness, "A bird that has always stayed in a cage doesn't know how wonderful freedom is, while a free bird also finds it hard to understand the worries of a bird in a cage."
"But no one can make a choice on behalf of another person. Everyone has to make their own choice, and everyone has to bear the consequences themselves."
"Rather than asking us, Sunday brother, if you really find it difficult to choose, why don't you ask Miss Robin and try to understand what she wants?"
"Shouldn't you siblings seek the answer through communicating and discussing it together? We can't make the choice for you, nor can we help you bear the consequences."
"Instead of this, Sunday brother, have you ever thought about this? If even you, the only family member she has left, are unwilling to open your heart to Miss Robin, then later, when she is tired, when she is worried, when she is frightened, when she is confused, when she is sad... where else can she go to find someone to lean on?"
"You imprisoned her for your own stubborn ideals. Is Miss Robin really important to you?"
Sunday, "..."
Nero continued, "Maybe you really did discuss it, and maybe you had arguments, but this kind of conflict is bound to go through countless arguments. When you ignore another person's wishes and thoughts, this question-and-answer session has already become meaningless."
"But what a coincidence. I'm also someone who doesn't really care about other people's thoughts. I had a lot of fun with this debate game with Sunday brother."
A smile appeared on Nero's face. He lightly waved his hand, and a black meteor descended from the sky. Black Cutter split the mental space created by Sunday in two, then was caught in Nero's hand.
The young man looked at Sunday's back and smiled before he could speak.
"You might want to say, 'I brought up these questions only to make one thing clear, Penacony's predicament cannot be saved by Harmony. The only thing that can truly establish a paradise of beautiful dreams is an order where the strong force the weak.'"
Sunday, "I brought up these questions only to make it clear!!!"
"I came here to vacation and have fun, so I don't feel like listening to you preach, much less getting involved in Penacony's historical problems."
Carrying Black Cutter on his shoulder, Nero spoke to Sunday in an unquestionable tone, as if making an announcement, "Based on your ideals and my own thoughts, Sunday brother, I'm only giving you two choices now."
"Either hurry up and give Mr. Yang and Miss Robin back."
"Or I'll smash this Planet of Festivities myself and find Mr. Yang and Miss Robin."
[T/N: 🥳 A new fanfic guys— "Honkai: Star Rail, I Am Done After Dying 47 Times". A must read. Its peak. Try it and enjoy~]