『 Aventurine offered his exposition.
[ This Duke Inferno is a fire demon from Fetora, an elemental lifeform. It is said his origins are even somewhat related to a certain Genius… ]
[ He and his clique formed the Ever-Flame Mansion, claiming to view Nanook as their savior—but in reality, they are led by this Duke, burning, killing, and looting everywhere, executing the Will of Destruction. ]
[ They don't even spare other factions of the Annihilation Gang. ]
[ I don't know what kind of brain rot afflicted the Family, or perhaps someone is obstructing things from the inside, but these guys actually received an invitation. ]
[ The Ever-Flame Mansion naturally wouldn't refuse. They came with aggressive intent, swearing to burn the Planet of Festivities into a sea of fire… ]
[ But worry not, they won't be attending the appointment. ]
[ Do you know why? ]
[ ——Because Ifrit is dead. ]
Aventurine turned, delivering the Duke's finality with an inscrutable tone.
[ What happened? ]
Stelle was somewhat astonished.
This Duke Inferno sounded like such a big deal, threatening to incinerate Penacony into a sea of fire before he even arrived.
How did he die before even getting here?
[ They were eliminated while on their way. ]
[ The culprit slaughtered Ifrit in a manner bordering on the divine and stole the invitation received by the Annihilation Gang. ]
[ The Ever-Flame Mansion fell apart, scattering like birds and beasts— ]
[ And after that, a mysterious Galaxy Ranger arrived at Penacony, checking into the hotel with a music box… ]
[ Need I continue, friend? ]
Aventurine smiled.
[ Is there any other evidence? ]
Stelle wasn't ready to buy Aventurine's one-sided story.
[ Galaxy Rangers appear and vanish unpredictably, and they rarely interact with one another. That identity is too convenient a cloak to wear. As long as she doesn't confess, there's absolutely no proof. ]
[ The IPC has ways to trace it, but that requires time. ]
[ So, friend, it is time for you to choose… ]
[ You can leave now, immediately, without looking back, and forfeit the chance to approach the truth forever. ]
[ Conversely, you can accept my invitation, and learn a fact, a fact sufficient to overturn Penacony! ]
[ I need your help, so I will wait for you—but I won't wait too long. ]
[ When you are ready… follow me. ]
[ As for whether to cooperate with me, it won't be too late to decide after you've seen that fact… ]
After finishing these words, Aventurine left Stelle 31 system seconds to think.
He walked to a different location. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Furina: "SHOCKING!!"
Furina: "Another earth-shattering SECRET!!"
Furina: "Miss Acheron… is actually an Emanator?!"
....
—✦In Between✦—
In the Palais Mermonia, Furina listened to Aventurine's words, feeling absolutely thunderstruck!
Originally, it seemed like just a group of people invited to a festival.
But as things developed to this point, it had simply exceeded everyone's imagination!
Not only were various factions appearing one after another, but their identities were more terrifying than the last!
Now, even an Emanator had appeared!
—
Hu Tao: "Aventurine is a merchant. It's hard to say how much water is mixed into a merchant's words."
Hu Tao: "Miss Acheron does look very mysterious…"
Hu Tao: "But to call her an Emanator, isn't that a bit far-fetched?"
Venti: "Indeed, from the previous lore videos, we know…"
Venti: "Emanators are usually directly selected by an Aeon and granted immense authority. They possess might unimaginable to ordinary people."
Venti: "For such an existence, if they do not act, fine; but once they do, it should be earth-shattering! Yet Miss Acheron hasn't shown the power of an Emanator thus far."
Zhongli: "However, from beginning to end, this Miss Acheron has not truly 'acted'."
Zhongli: "Even when engaging SAM, she only used the scabbard against the enemy, showing no will to draw the blade. From this, we can see… this Miss Acheron… is concealing her true strength!"
Clorinde: "Do you remember Miss Acheron previously explaining why she didn't save Miss Hotaru?"
Clorinde: "It was because the meaning and price of drawing the blade would be profound, leaving her no choice."
Clorinde: "Does this imply that if she draws her blade, it will cause incalculable consequences?"
Dan Heng: "It is not impossible…"
Dan Heng: "If she really is an Emanator, then the power of that single slash could be enough to shatter the entirety of Penacony's sweet dream."
Dan Heng: "At that time, she would be the Family's mortal enemy."
March 7th: "But I still find it hard to believe. Miss Acheron is actually an Emanator?"
March 7th: "If it's true, she hid it way too deep, right?"
Jing Yuan: "I didn't expect Penacony's festival to attract powerful figures from all sides, and now even a suspected Emanator has appeared."
Welt: "General Jing Yuan, you are an Emanator of The Hunt. In your observation, is Miss Acheron truly an Emanator?"
Jing Yuan: "Well…"
Jing Yuan: "In my humble opinion, there is indeed a high probability that Miss Acheron is an Emanator."
Jing Yuan: "But she absolutely does not belong to The Hunt."
Jing Yuan: "Judging by her aura… perhaps… she is an Emanator who subverts human cognition."
Madam Herta: "Oh? As expected of the Xianzhou Alliance General, you have a keen eye!"
Madam Herta: "Correct, she can indeed be counted as a very unique Emanator."
Stelle: "Two big shots have come out to confirm it!"
Stelle: "So it's basically a done deal?"
Jing Yuan: "Hey now, can't say for sure. I've been busy with official duties lately, my eyes might be dim."
Madam Herta: "I also take no responsibility for my previous comments."
Sampo: "Hey sis, did you really chop Duke Inferno? Acheron"
Acheron: "Sorry… I don't remember clearly…"
Paimon: "Eh?!"
Paimon: "What's with that confused tone?"
Paimon: "You don't remember if you chopped someone or not?"
Lisa: "My, looks like he was an insignificant little character."
Lisa: "That's why Miss Acheron didn't take it to heart."
Aventurine: "Hehahaha, if Duke Inferno knew after his death that his killer didn't even remember his face, he'd probably rise from the dead out of anger!"
Dr. Ratio: "You overthink it. I don't believe Duke Inferno could escape the hands of an Emanator."
Dr. Ratio: "No matter how great his skills, he likely left no contingency for resurrection."
Lumine: "Listening to Aventurine's introduction earlier, this Duke Inferno was a thorough thug."
Lumine: "For such a person to die, it should be a great thing for the universe."
Seele: "Exactly, that kind of trash deserves to die!"
Ganyu: "Miss Acheron has done the people a service."
Ganyu: "Although Miss Acheron's original intent might not have been so…"
Boothill: "What the fudging fork, that Duke Inferno probably didn't even last one slash before dying."
Boothill: "What a piece of fork!"
Stelle: "You mean to say you could last longer than him?"
Boothill: "Hey, I didn't say that!"
Boothill: "But I don't care if she's an Emanator or not, impersonating a Galaxy Ranger is a no-go!"
Furina: "Listening to Mr. Boothill, are the Galaxy Rangers also very powerful?"
Furina: "Not even afraid of Emanators!"
Navia: "Maybe among the Galaxy Rangers, there are Emanators too?"
Charlotte: "That is very possible."
Boothill: "Tch, so what if it's an Emanator?"
Boothill: "It's not like we Galaxy Rangers haven't killed an Emanator before!"
Boothill: "Back in the day, that Lord Ravager Zulo was mobbed and killed by us Galaxy Rangers!"
Mona: "Wow, sounds amazing!"
Mona: "So how many Emanators did you dispatch?"
Boothill: "How many Emanators?"
Boothill: "Heh, we Galaxy Rangers ain't that fudging rich."
Boothill: "Not a single Emanator. We just piled on lives."
Lumine: "Piled… piled on lives?!"
Boothill: "How else? What could we do?"
Boothill: "You think these Emanators are easy to deal with?"
Nahida: "But… why did you have to do that?"
Boothill: "Why? For justice, of course!"
Boothill: "Those Lord Ravagers are animals, recklessly executing the Will of Destruction across the universe, causing charcoal and ruin in countless galaxies!"
Boothill: "As a righteous organization, the Galaxy Rangers naturally can't watch these animals live peacefully in this world!"
Diluc: "Willing to sacrifice themselves to oppose a powerful Emanator for the sake of cosmic justice?"
Diluc: "Truly a great organization…"
Zhongli: "Mr. Boothill's understated words allow me to imagine the tragedy of that war back then."
Zhongli: "By universal rationality, they are all heroes!"
Venti: "Indeed, incredible heroes! Their deeds should be compiled into majestic poems and sung across the universe!"
Acheron: "Pity… their deeds are little known now, and their traces have nearly vanished."
Boothill: "So you rely on that to impersonate a Galaxy Ranger? Think no one will come to settle the score with you?"
Boothill: "Listen up! We Galaxy Rangers might be down on our luck now! Since we took down one Emanator, we can definitely take down another!"
Boothill: "Do not doubt the Galaxy Rangers' resolve. You should know what the true 'Hunt' implies!"
Acheron: "Sorry, I have always held respect for the Galaxy Rangers. They are heroes, and I will never deny that."
Acheron: "As for why I impersonate a Galaxy Ranger… you will know the reason, I promise."
Boothill: "Heh, fine. Let's see what medicine you're selling in that gourd!"
....
『 [ (Acheron is the Emanator of a particular Aeon? Can I really believe Aventurine...?) ]
[ (But he gave me a choice... Maybe I should talk to Black Swan again.) ]
Stelle hesitated in her heart.
After weighing the options repeatedly, she decided to find Black Swan to probe for intelligence.
[ My… you look like a wounded little animal. ]
[ Are you still willing to talk to me? Of course... I'm still willing to be your psychotherapist. ]
Black Swan saw Stelle approaching, her face still wearing a gentle smile.
[ You deceived me before? ]
Stelle followed up on her previous interrogation.
[ I admit I made a deal with that gentleman to bring you to his side. ]
[ But… this is also a safe place. ]
[ He needs you; this is a necessary link to reclaiming Penacony. And I believed he had potential, and could also help me harvest unique memories, so I agreed to cooperate. ]
[ In Penacony, everyone might lie. Of course… including me. I cannot refute that, nor will I beg for forgiveness. ]
[ But, do you remember? ]
[ I also said… I believe in your potential. That statement contained not a shred of falsehood. ]
[ The Garden of Recollection wishes to witness the future of the Astral Express trailblazing the cosmos, and I will treasure these memories one by one. ]
[ So I have no reason to harm you all; on the contrary, I will continue to help you—provided you are still willing. ]
Black Swan looked at Stelle, offering a sincere and lengthy explanation.
[ Then… is Aventurine trustworthy? ]
Stelle hesitated before asking this question.
[ My view might surprise you. ]
[ In my opinion, he is a trustworthy person. Not for anything else, but because he is an excellent merchant. ]
[ In this vast cosmos, no one values integrity and contracts more than a merchant. ]
[ But you must also be careful, especially when establishing a contract with them. Pay close attention. ]
[ Outside of the contract, they will not consider your rights… ]
[ To maximize their own profit, they will stop at nothing. ]
Black Swan believed Aventurine could be trusted, but at the same time, caution was required.
[ Who do you think is the mastermind behind all this? ]
Stelle asked a question that had troubled her for a long time.
[ I still believe Miss Hotaru's matter… is as we speculated, more closely linked to the Stellaron Hunters. ]
[ But you heard it too; Aventurine accused that Ranger. ]
[ Although I do not know why he made such a judgment, he possesses the IPC's intelligence network. His view is worth discussing in depth. ]
[ Also, I too believe Miss Acheron is concealing something… ]
[ …No, I should say, concealing everything! ]
[ This was an unexpected harvest I obtained during a previous encounter. ]
[ Regarding the Annihilation Gang… I can also prove that what Aventurine said is true. ]
[ That's why, during this golden soirée... she is the dance's centerpiece. ]
Black Swan explained with a somewhat grave expression.
[ Are you willing to bring me out of this Memory Zone? ]
Stelle asked tentatively.
[ Why of course, but now's not the time. ]
[ I know you are confused, and also… sad. ]
[ Regardless of who that girl was, a living person, a memory that should not have ended… wiped away just like that, vanishing like foam dissolving in water… ]
[ In any case, I hope you trust Aventurine—or more so—trust me, and go see the fact he spoke of. ]
[ This can lead us to the deeper secrets behind Penacony. ]
[ I will protect you. ]
[ Once we have acquired more information from his hands, it won't be too late for me to escort you back to your companions. ]
[ And for the sake of the truth, and to stop more meaningless sacrifices… this is the most correct choice. ]
Black Swan did not immediately agree to Stelle's request, instead wanting her to cooperate with Aventurine.
[ How would I know you're not trying to frame me? ]
Stelle was somewhat hesitant.
[ He might have that intention, but I do not. ]
[ The gaze of the Garden of Recollection is everywhere. ]
[ If he wants to make a move on you, he must be prepared to make an enemy of a Memokeeper—I have already reminded him of this point. ]
[ Later, I'll stay by your side as a memetic entity, just in case. ]
[ Time to set off, Stelle. ]
After Black Swan finished speaking, she vanished directly.
Perhaps she had already transformed into another form, silently following by Stelle's side.
Seeing this, Stelle had no choice but to go find Aventurine, to see what tricks he was actually playing.
[ Excellent. I knew you would come. ]
[ By the way, that Memokeeper… never mind, I won't ask more. ]
[ After all, I said you could consult your companions, or even use me in return. I welcome it! ]
[ Because this also demonstrates your value to me. ]
[ I never make a losing trade. I hope you friends… won't let me down. ]
[ Come—this way, please! ] 』
『 ....』