Chapter 362: Penacony Arc 『 Part Fifty-seven 』, The Devil in Velvet part 1
「 "…My, my, friend, when I witnessed this scene myself, my expression was hardly any better than yours." Aventurine nodded. "You aren't seeing things. It is indeed her—the illustrious songstress, Robin."
"Robin… how could she also…"
Aventurine spoke with unhurried composure. "First of all, can I just say that this had nothing to do with me. I'm just an unlucky bystander here. The Family can testify for me. If you don't believe me, just ask anyone in the Bloodhound Family—they hate me, and they hate the IPC, so they'd never lie."
"This isn't the scene of the crime either. What I'm showing you is a memory—rendered through basic Light Cone projection technology, authorized by the Garden of Recollection and owned by the IPC." Aventurine watched the Memory Bubbles drifting from the nearby Dreamscape pool, his tone turning cold. "Even now, do you still believe that Galaxy Ranger is merely a bystander?" 」
「 ..... 」
〜One Piece World〜
"What a silver-tongued lad,"
Fujitora remarked, his brow furrowing slightly.
"However, his intent to drive a wedge between Trailblazer and Acheron is far too transparent. While Acheron is shrouded in suspicion, she has shown no ill intent toward Stelle thus far."
Ryokugyu leaned against the railing, gazing out at the scenery of Mary Geoise.
"…Aren't you being a bit too decisive? How can you be certain she lacks malice or some ulterior motive? A woman who speaks in nothing but riddles from the very start is hardly someone worthy of trust."
"If Acheron harbored malice, Stelle would likely have shared the same fate as Duke Inferno by now. Subtlety is a luxury reserved for those lacking strength. For an Emanator… in a Penacony where no other Emanator stands to oppose her, there is no need for such convoluted schemes."
Ryokugyu pondered this for a moment; it did seem logically sound. Yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that Aventurine was specifically targeting Acheron. Whether it was identifying the culprit or conducting his investigation, he seemed intent on isolating her from those around her.
"Do you think there's a possibility that Aventurine and Hotaru—"
"Those two have no connection, Initially, I suspected they were in league, but if that were the case, Aventurine couldn't possibly be ignorant of her death. He would surely know about that 'Meme.' Yet now… the way he points the finger at Acheron suggests he knows nothing of the creature's existence.""
Fujitora interrupted immediately, his cane-sword tapping lightly against the ground.
Ryokugyu's frown deepened.
"Then things get interesting. Just who is this Hotaru? She doesn't seem to belong to any faction. Could she be a guest of 「 Finality 」 or some other Path?"
"No, there is one other faction that might be possible."
Fujitora tilted his head, 'observing' the sky with his sightless eyes.
"Do you recall the scene when she first met Sampo? That meticulous level of observation… It's impossible for anyone but a highly trained combatant. It contradicts her self-proclaimed life story. A 'patient' confined to a medical cabin? Heh, a bedridden invalid would not possess such instincts. Given that Galaxy Rangers rarely associate with one another, I suspect she might be a Ranger herself, much like Acheron… though her reasons for concealing her strength and past remain a mystery."
—
「 "Penacony made a solemn vow: within the Dreamscape woven by the Family, the safety of every guest is guaranteed. Anyone facing danger is forcibly awakened, returning safely to reality."
"How can they speak with such absolute certainty? Because behind that promise lies the protection of The 『 Harmony 』. The Family's Dreamweavers knit thoughts into one, constructing an invulnerable line of defense."
Aventurine turned to look at the oil painting behind him—a passage leading to Penacony. "To breach that defense and create 'Death' within a dream… without the Family's permission, not even a Memokeeper could achieve such a feat."
"So, who could? My friend, it could only be her. That woman claiming to be a Galaxy Ranger… an uninvited imposter, an Emanator concealing her true identity…"
"Ifrit's death is a settled matter, and Robin… her tragic state is right before your eyes. Who will be the next victim?"
"In that case, I won't trust anyone," Stelle said, slowly shaking her head.
"That's fine. You're entitled to your own judgment. Building trust takes time, and I'm willing to wait." Aventurine shrugged, as if her reaction was exactly what he had anticipated. "I only hope you understand that beneath the surface of this so-called 'legacy,' Penacony is a roiling sea of hidden agendas. Everyone here has their own schemes."
"Don't choose the wrong side. If I were you, I'd keep my distance from Acheron. After all, a scheme laid out on the table is far better than a monster lurking in the shadows… wouldn't you agree?" 」
「 ..... 」
〜Honkai: Impact 3rd World〜
St. Freya High—
"People who try to sow discord like that are the absolute worst!!"
Kiana grew more frustrated the more she watched, yet she couldn't look away. She was terrified that Stelle might actually cut ties with Acheron because of Aventurine's honeyed words. At a time like this, she really needed Himeko and Mr. Welt to step in and expose his calculations!
"It's strange…"
Mei lowered her head slightly, her fingers unconsciously tracing the rim of her teacup as her thoughts drifted.
"I've noticed since a moment ago that they keep emphasizing the concept of 'Death.' It seems fundamentally different from a typical death in Penacony…"
"I noticed it too,"
Himeko added from the side.
"Death in Penacony likely involves two distinct concepts. If we use a gaming metaphor, a normal death is like a character being defeated and then respawning at a checkpoint to continue the game. But the 'Death' mentioned by Aventurine and Sunday… that's more like an account ban. You can't play anymore."
Bronya frowned.
"That is a cruel metaphor indeed…"
"If that's the case, does it mean Miss Hotaru can never enter Penacony again?"
Kiana looked at Himeko with a face full of worry.
"…Yes, most likely. Neither she nor Robin can re-enter the Dreamscape. They're probably wandering around the Reverie Hotel in reality right now. The bad news is that Penacony is about to fall into chaos; the potential good news is that they are likely both physically safe. However, the Family might find a way to bring Robin back to the Dreamscape. After all, the Charmony Festival can't proceed without her. But Hotaru… that girl might not be so lucky. Regarding the Watchmaker's legacy, she might be the first one out of the running."
—
「 "But who's to say there isn't a deeper conspiracy behind the schemes on the table?"
In the pause between their words, Black Swan arrived with an elegant grace. A tarot card danced between her fingertips before vanishing into thin air a second later.
Aventurine's expression darkened instantly. "…Memokeeper, I believe our transaction ended some time ago."
Black Swan ignored him, turning her gaze toward Stelle instead. "Aventurine is telling the truth. This Memory is authentic. There are no distortions or fabrications here."
Aventurine nodded. "The IPC isn't the Garden of Recollection; there's only so much we can do. Friend, let's stop beating around the bush—to put it bluntly, I wish to establish a partnership with the Astral Express in my own name." 」
「 ..... 」