Professor Ratio crossed his arms and frowned, saying, "Get to the point. What exactly is the solution to the problem?"
Aventurine shook his head and replied, "It's not yet time to lay all our cards on the table—we can't easily reveal our hand."
"Damn gambler... The prerequisite for cooperation is mutual trust. Didn't they teach you that in preschool in Tzigania?" Professor Ratio questioned.
"Do you trust me, then?" Aventurine didn't back down from Professor Ratio's rebuke, instead challenging him with a question of his own.
"That depends on your performance and attitude from here on out," Professor Ratio's tone softened slightly, but still carried a hint of dissatisfaction.
"So you don't trust me either. There, isn't that settled? And for the record, I never went to school, and my parents didn't teach me that either—unfortunately, they didn't get the chance before they passed," Aventurine's eyes betrayed a hint of sadness and resignation.
Professor Ratio, realizing his words might have been hurtful, said, "I meant no offense."
[Asta: Did Professor Ratio's eye just twitch?]
[Arlan: One sentence to feel guilty about for a lifetime. Even waking up in the middle of the night, I'd have to slap myself. I really should die!]
Aventurine shook his head, as if shaking off those weak emotions, and continued:
"No need to mind that. However, they did teach me that friends are the weapons of the Evingers—in the face of Harmony's watchful eyes, the more friends we have, the better."
He pondered as he moved towards the Dream Pool, muttering to himself: "Let me think, Dreamscape and the Astral Express have already crossed paths, the Nihility Gang... probably won't work out, whether the Knights of Beauty will show up as promised is yet unknown, and as for those folks from the 'Tavern'..."
"Oh, speaking of which, I just met a woman who claimed to be a Sea-Roving Ranger. Something felt off about her. Could you help me investigate her background..." Aventurine turned his head, only to find the room empty.
"Hm... where did everyone go?" Aventurine looked around the empty room, somewhat bewildered.
"...They can't hate me that much, can they? Well, looks like I'll have to rely on myself after all."
[Clara: Clara feels that Mr. Aventurine seems to be disliked by everyone...]
[Seele: Don't say it so bluntly...]
[Aventurine, watching the scene, narrowed his eyes at what he saw. Gambler... hmph, I am indeed a gambler—but I've never lost.]
The screen went black, and when the image reappeared, it showed a bustling, brightly lit city that never sleeps. The night streets were bathed in dazzling golden light. The wide avenues were filled with a constant flow of traffic, lined on both sides by various unique buildings and shops. Neon lights flickered, signs stood out prominently, overwhelming the senses; the streets and alleys were permeated with a rich atmosphere of life and unique cultural ambiance.
[Gallagher: This is truly the Golden Hour.]
[Bronya: What a prosperous metropolis. If only Belobog could become like this someday.]
[Cocolia: There will be a chance, I promise.]
A young girl with twin tails, wearing a fox mask, wooden clogs, and a vibrant red dress reminiscent of a qipao, was leisurely strolling through the streets and alleys.
After a moment, she suddenly stopped and turned her head towards a spot not far behind her, calling out in a coquettish voice, "Hey, you... Your method of attracting a girl's attention is really quite clumsy! Do you always follow people so brazenly? It's been almost half a system hour already!"
Before her words had even faded, a figure peeked out from around a nearby corner. It was none other than Aventurine. With a slight smirk on his face, he replied leisurely, "Hmm, strictly speaking, it's been exactly 45 minutes~ Time flies when you're having fun, doesn't it?"
[March 7th: Wow! What did I just say? Now he's directly stalking a girl!]
[Sushang: If this were in the Xianzhou, I could have him arrested already!]
[Sparkle: Hee hee hee]
"Heh... Little peacock, you've got pretty eyes. Your hometown is Tzigania, isn't it?" Though it was phrased as a question, the girl clearly already believed it to be true.
Aventurine paid no attention to her words, instead smiling as he said, "Want another hint? For instance, I'm an Evinger."
"Hmph... My eyes might not be as fine as yours, but I'm not blind—everyone in the universe knows that you Tziganians are born liars, thieves, socialites, honey-tongued but black-hearted, true to your reputation."
"If you ask me, you'd be better off under a manhole cover than in a dream..." The girl turned her head towards a nearby manhole cover and said, "Ah, there's one right there, off you go~"
[Serval: That sentence feels like she's teasing a puppy.]
[Yanqing: Isn't that straight-up insulting him?]
"No need for that. Dark corners don't suit my style. This beautiful dream is more fitting for my frivolous, vain, and superficial nature," Aventurine said, narrowing his eyes slightly. He continued, "And it won't rain here! My outfit is quite delicate, you know. It can't withstand wind and rain."
"Put away that glib tongue of yours, little peacock. Please leave. We may be Fools, but we're not idiots. We don't intend to play friendship games with the company's lapdogs."
[Star: Lapdogs... friendship games...]
[Luka: Wow... this little girl's words are so harsh. Mr. Aventurine doesn't seem angry at all. If it were me, I would've already lost my temper and thrown a punch.]
[Arlan: Perhaps he's already used to such talk.]
[Asta: Ah, he's a pitiful one too, isn't he?]
Aventurine said meaningfully, "Oh? Is that so? You've never made friends with anyone from the company?"
"Do you think I haven't read the history of Penacony?" Sparkle replied disdainfully. "Don't try that with me! Don't even think about dragging me into your tedious office politics!"
"Fool," Aventurine's tone gradually rose, "From the moment you accepted the invitation to this banquet, you lost the right to choose. Pick a side while you can, don't let yourself end up with nothing."
Sparkle mocked, "You sound very confident. As if you've already won over that chicken-wing boy from your family."
[Sparkle: The most handsome chicken-wing boy in Penacony, hahaha!]
[Sunday: Fool...]
[Sparkle: Oh my, are you angry?]
Sparkle, showing no fear at all, instead taunted, "How did you manage that, little peacock? Did you strip naked and kneel before him, begging forgiveness and promising, 'Boo-hoo, the company will absolutely never set its sights on Penacony'?"
Then, she continued in an exaggerated and comical tone, mimicking his way of speaking. As she finished, Sparkle couldn't help but burst into laughter.
[Pela: Is this something I can watch for free? Such an exciting plot!]
[Gepard: Something feels off about those words.]
[Himeko: The Masked Fool certainly has an interesting way with words.]
[Sparkle: What~ Do you want to try it?]
[In the train, Welt held back Himeko, who was about to say something. When dealing with the Masked Fool, the more you respond, the more enthusiastic she becomes. Cold treatment is the best approach.]
"Hehe, friend? Come on, you only treat others as chips," Sparkle shrugged.
Aventurine asked with an earnest expression, "What's wrong with being chips? On the gambling table, only chips are at stake, you won't lose yourself. Look at our friends from Dreamscape and the Astral Express, they understand this principle. They're quite clever."
Sparkle blinked and said, "But the truly clever ones wouldn't enter the game in the first place. See? Aren't I a bit smarter?"
"Listen up, little peacock. You're also someone who received an invitation from the Tavern, wanting to recruit the Masked Fool to join. Think about it, what does the God of Revelry really want?"
Sparkle put her hands on her hips as she spoke: "Here's a hint for you: Since you can't persuade anyone, why not consider making friends with a mute? At least they won't argue with you, hahaha."
"Goodbye~" Sparkle said before turning to leave.
Aventurine watched the retreating figure of the young girl, pondered for a moment, then called out to her back:
"Thank you. Making friends with a mute—I'll keep that in mind."
"Ah... how troublesome," Aventurine looked at the departing Sparkle with some resignation, muttering to himself: "Looks like I'll have to go meet with the family again."
[Black Swan: She considers herself neutral, uninvolved in the current chaos, but after saying all this, is she really still uninvolved?]
[Jing Yuan: There's a beauty full of mystery.]
[March 7th: What does it mean to make friends with a mute? Is there... some special meaning?]
[Sushang: Is he hinting at something? Oh no, I'm starting to think too much.]
[Topaz: Poor Aventurine, he gets attacked every time he talks to someone. How miserable.]
[Peppy: Papa~]