Stelle silenced her footsteps and form, soundlessly scattering every thug surrounding Freesna and Misha.
"We meet again, honored guest! Did you resolve the crisis for us?" Misha looked at Stelle with overflowing gratitude.
"Tick-tock! Misha, what's wrong? You know this gray friend?"
"She's a distinguished guest—we became friends not long ago. I told you about her, remember?"
"Oh, that's her!"
"Anyway, thank you! If you hadn't arrived in time, this place would've turned into total chaos…" Misha didn't know what else to say—he just kept bowing in thanks.
Watching Stelle happily chatting with thin air, Firefly walked over to Freesna.
"Uh… hi, long time no see?"
"Lord Ite wasn't kidding—the Astral Express and the Stellaron Hunters really are family."
Freesna gazed at them with relief. She'd thought the two factions were opposites, like the Eternity Church and the Antimatter Legion.
...
"Hey, let me ask you something…" Sparkle stopped and turned to the blond man tailing her.
"Is tailing a girl so blatantly your way of getting her attention? Almost half a system hour now."
Aventurine stepped in front of her. "Precisely forty-five minutes. Pleasant times always fly, don't they?"
"Heh, little peacock… pretty eyes you've got. From Sigonia?"
"Want to take a closer guess? Like, I'm an Avgin?"
"Hmm… my eyes aren't as fine as yours, but I'm not blind…"
Sparkle planted her hands on her hips, acting deeply "annoyed" by the stalking: "Who in the universe doesn't know you Sigonians? Born liars, thieves, social butterflies… honey-mouthed with daggers behind your back. Name fits perfectly."
"Sharp tongue, Miss Fool. I can't out-talk you."
Aventurine spread his hands helplessly. Why was everyone he met so venomous? Fine… consider it payback for that [amber crystal]. There's gain, there's loss.
Oh, right—he still owed Miss Stellaron a reward.
"If you ask me, you belong under a manhole cover more than in the dream… Ah, there's one right there—go on~"
Sparkle kindly pointed the way, tone like teasing a pet.
"No need. Dark corners don't suit my vibe. This dream fits me better—frivolous, vain, flashy but hollow… and no rain. This outfit's delicate—can't handle wind or water."
"Put away that witty tongue, little peacock. Beat it. We're Fools, not idiots—we're not playing the friend game with the Corporation's lapdog."
Sparkle knew why Aventurine approached her—he thought she was from the [Eternity Church].
"Oh, really? You've never made friends with the Corporation? Then we have a lot to talk about."
Aventurine pulled out his phone and found the video from the anonymous contact.
"Remember this? The truth behind Marketing Development Director Oswaldo Schneider's murder. The higher-ups aren't as stupid as you think—tracing a Masked Fool's account… is pretty easy."
"So what if I sent it? You gonna play it for the comatose [Marketing Development] director? What's the point?"
Sparkle blinked innocently and continued: "And you think I haven't read Penacony's history? Don't drag me into your boring office politics."
Corporate infighting had zero fun—Masked Fools weren't joining that game.
"Fool… the moment you accepted the invitation to this festival, you lost the choice to sit out. Pick a side soon—don't go bust."
"Haha, funniest joke I've heard this Amber Era. Little peacock, you've got real comedy chops~"
Sparkle genuinely pitied this Corporation emissary. She couldn't wait to see his face when he learned [that one]'s true identity.
"Sounds like you're pretty confident~ Like you've already wrapped the Family's chicken-wing boy around your finger."
Sparkle launched into classic mockery, mimicking Aventurine's tone perfectly:
"How'd you pull it off, little peacock? Strip naked, kneel, and beg for forgiveness—promising [boo-hoo-hoo, the Corporation will never touch Penacony]?"
"Oh, right—that chicken-wing boy wasn't even focused on you. He was chatting with the Church's Pontiff the whole time~ And you just took it?"
In Sparkle's view, Aventurine's mental defenses were insanely strong—he definitely had his own plans. But what did that have to do with her?
"Friends… spare me. You people only treat others as chips."
Aventurine countered: "What's wrong with chips? At the table, only chips don't lose themselves. See—the Garden of Recollection and the Express crew get it. They're smart."
"Oh yeah~ That reminds me—couldn't this video work as my chip instead?" Sparkle grinned cheekily.
"Little peacock, you know better than I do how dangerous that video is. Leak it, and only the Corporation's lapdogs are in trouble. Then… aw, watch out—don't let that Pontiff turn you into a sausage dog."
Aventurine knew it. If the video got out, the Strategic Investment Department's cooperation with the [Eternity Church] would end.
IPC vs. Eternity Church—on the surface, the Corporation wins. Of course, that assumes the Eternity Church doesn't call THEIR Aeon.
"Smart people never join the game to begin with. See? I'm smarter."
Sparkle pulled out an incident log. "Actually, I've always wanted to join the [Genius Society]. As a Corporation emissary, got any connections?"
"[Genius Society]'s impossible. The Intelligentsia Guild, maybe."
Enough small talk—Sparkle got serious:
"Listen up, little peacock. You got a [Tavern] invite too. Want the Masked Fools on board? Sure—use your brain. What does the god of fun really want?"
"You're so pathetic, I'll throw you a few hints… but whether they're real or fake? You decide~"
"First: If you can't convince anyone, why not befriend a mute? At least they won't argue, haha."
"Second: Dry weather—drink more fluids. Good for the body~"
"Third: The [Eternity Church] is the breakthrough~"
Aventurine watched Sparkle leave, "sincerely" thanking her first:
"Thanks! [Befriend a mute]—I'll remember that!"
He ignored the last two hints. A Masked Fool being that helpful? Spelling it out instead of riddles? Obviously fake.
"…Troublesome. Looks like I need another meeting with the [Family]."