The Chains of Heaven?
Evan opened his inventory and took a closer look.
Before him appeared a long, golden chain.
If he remembered correctly, this thing came from the Fate universe.
Legend said that after Gilgamesh enraged the goddess Ishtar, she unleashed the Bull of Heaven upon the earth, plunging the world into seven years of famine as punishment.
Gilgamesh and Enkidu had joined forces to capture the Bull of Heaven using these very chains.
In that world, Enkidu himself was essentially a hero whose body was formed from the Noble Phantasm known as the Chains of Heaven.
Its purpose was simple:
A divine restraint.
The greater the target's divinity, the stronger and more unbreakable the chains became.
Conversely, against ordinary beings lacking divinity, it was merely a somewhat sturdy chain.
It was one of the few true anti-divine weapons in the entire Fate setting.
According to legend—
During the Fourth Holy Grail War, it was used against Rider, binding him firmly in place before Ea pierced through his chest.
During the Fifth Holy Grail War, it restrained Lancer before finishing him with a spiraling sword strike.
Good grief.
Even the treasure-hunting system seemed convinced that Sunday possessed divine qualities.
No wonder Evan had never misjudged the man.
Not bad.
Not bad at all.
Some would return.
Others were preparing to depart.
But what exactly was divinity?
Divinity...
Wisdom and spiritual clarity.
The authority to distort reality itself.
Omniscience.
Omnipotence.
Eternal life.
Perfection beyond flaw.
Freedom from the constraints of time and space.
The embodiment of absolute truth and virtue.
The ability to leave behind heroic legends and fully unlock one's potential.
Sunday had come frighteningly close to becoming the incarnation of Order itself.
Although he had fallen from that position—
The Treasure Hunter System still acknowledged him.
That alone was remarkable.
After leaving the holding room, March, Stelle, and the others noticed Evan standing there in a daze.
They assumed he was contemplating something important.
Only after he finally returned to normal did Robin step forward.
"Mr. Evan... Miss March... Miss Stelle..."
"Thank you."
"Thank you for protecting my brother during the negotiations with the IPC."
"Oh, that's nothing."
Evan waved casually.
"Besides, we weren't the ones negotiating."
"Exactly!"
March immediately chimed in.
"That was Mr. Yang and Himeko doing all the talking!"
"We couldn't be bothered arguing with corporate people!"
"That's right!"
Stelle nodded enthusiastically.
Robin couldn't help smiling.
Then Evan continued.
"Besides... your brother's ideals weren't wrong."
"The conflict was never about right or wrong."
"It was a conflict between Harmony and Order."
"He simply chose the wrong road."
"And our enemy was never your brother."
"It was Gopher Wood."
"The man who erased all of Mikhail's accomplishments."
"Mr. Gopher Wood..."
Robin's expression became complicated.
"What exactly happened to him?"
"What made him become the person he was?"
"No idea."
Evan shrugged.
"But one thing is certain."
"Mikhail's dream never belonged to Order."
He looked directly at Robin.
"You and your brother both possess admirable ideals."
"Sunday was simply a bird trapped inside a cage."
"And now..."
"It's your turn to help him fly."
Robin lowered her head.
Her face turned bright red.
"M-Me?"
"I have to help my brother?"
"And... do I really possess ideals that admirable?"
Her voice became softer and softer.
Evan smiled.
"Of course."
"Among the Twin Children of Order, you were the first bird to leave the cage."
"You flew into the sky."
"You walked among ordinary people."
"Meanwhile, Sunday stood too high."
"Too far away."
"He lost sight of his original dream."
"He wandered deeper and deeper into Order."
"But you came from below."
"You walked through the world yourself."
"The scar around your neck proves it."
"Robin."
"You've done far better than your brother ever did."
"The weak may be fragile."
"But that is never an excuse to deny them choice."
"They deserve the right to decide for themselves."
"Not to be dragged into the same dream."
"Sunday can't make those choices for them."
"You can't either."
"No one can."
"No one has the right to decide another person's future."
Evan gazed beyond Dreamflux Reef.
Toward the vast world outside.
The people who remained here in exile had done so by their own choice.
They could stay and build Dreamflux Reef.
Or they could leave for Golden Hour.
No one stopped them.
No one chose for them.
That was freedom.
Radiant Feldspar — VIP Lounge
Inside a luxurious private lounge sat a woman dressed in elegant black attire.
A black-and-purple hat rested atop her head.
Beside her sat a younger woman maintaining impeccable posture.
Nearby, a small Warp Trotter snuffled around happily.
Across from them sat an elderly Pepeshi man.
His eyes narrowed as he observed the two women.
"Hohohoho!"
"Welcome aboard!"
"My apologies for keeping you waiting outside."
"If those two women weren't Jade and Topaz, then who else could they possibly be?"
Two members of the IPC's Strategic Investment Department.
Two of the Ten Stonehearts.
And sitting before them—
The man who now held the greatest influence in Penacony after the collapse of the Oak Family.
Old Oti Alfalfa.
"Hohohoho!"
"Being able to meet you is an honor, Mr. Oti."
Jade smiled elegantly.
"After all, your biography is required reading for every Strategic Investment Department employee."
"In many people's eyes, you're the man who single-handedly built Penacony's economic system."
"Hohohoho!"
"As expected of a Stoneheart."
"You certainly know how to flatter people."
"I like speaking with smart individuals."
"It saves time."
"Let's skip the pleasantries."
"You both already know why I invited you here, don't you?"
Old Oti stared directly at them.
Jade merely smiled.
"Penacony's future."
"I assume that's what you wish to discuss."
The old Pepeshi laughed loudly.
"Exactly!"
"Just a few words."
"But they contain a tangled web of interests."
"Take that blond boy, for example."
"He nearly got himself killed."
"And for what?"
"To create an opportunity for the IPC."
"To give your corporation a reason to reclaim the Asdana System."
"Hohohoho!"
"Your reputation truly isn't exaggerated."
Jade's expression never changed.
Calm.
Unshaken.
"Assuming your assessment is correct, Mr. Oti."
"How exactly do you intend to respond?"
The old man nodded approvingly.
"As expected of Jade."
"Penacony is deeper than you realize."
"Hohohoho..."
"When faced with a hungry wolf."
"I have no intention of sitting still."
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Even Topaz glanced toward Jade.
Working alongside her senior was always a learning experience.
"I'll continue listening."
Jade remained perfectly composed.
"Then I'll be blunt."
"I invited you here before the official negotiations for one reason."
"To convince the Strategic Investment Department to give up on Penacony entirely."
"If you retreat now."
"You can still leave with dignity."
"Rather than losing face at the negotiation table."
Topaz immediately frowned.
"A P45 executive was nearly killed inside the dream."
"The IPC cannot ignore that."
"And after everything that happened during the Charmony Festival..."
"Penacony's credibility has reached an all-time low."
"No matter how determined you are, the real-world dilemma still exists."
"Doesn't it?"
Old Oti simply laughed.
"Miss Topaz."
"You used an interesting phrase."
'Real-world dilemma.'
"But don't forget."
"This is the world of dreams."
"If you want success here."
"Your ambitions must be bigger."
"Bolder."
"You want to know my solution?"
"Very well."
"Penacony will take a historic step."
"We will independently list ourselves on the interstellar market."
Topaz froze.
"Go public?"
Even she hadn't anticipated that answer.
Before she could respond—
Jade calmly continued.
"If I understand correctly..."
"You intend to bypass the IPC entirely."
"And offer shares directly to the entire universe?"
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