Ratio asked with curiosity:
"From what I know, Preservation's envoy, Diamond, divided his authority into 10 parts, shared by the Ten Stonehearts. Coupled with the loss of the three cornerstones, will this affect his strength?"
However, Jade, Aventurine, and Topaz only smiled and did not answer the question.
"It seems there's a secret I'm not privy to. Never mind. If there's nothing else for me, I'll take my leave now."
Aventurine reminded him:
"Be careful, Professor. Penacony isn't peaceful right now."
After Ratio left, Topaz seemed to think of something and directly asked Jade beside her.
"How are the habitable planets Mr. Jiang Lin requested coming along?"
Jade thought for a moment:
"Hmm, half a month at most."
Aventurine was a little surprised:
"That efficient? Is no one giving our Strategic Investment Department trouble this time?"
Jade smiled slightly and explained:
"Someone higher up is very interested in his research. If all goes well, the Company will collaborate more deeply with him."
At this point, Topaz thought for a moment, then shared her opinion with the two.
"I've spoken with him once. From my personal perspective, I don't think he's the type of person who can negotiate cooperation well."
Jade was a little curious: "Give me an example?"
Topaz thought for a moment: "If you're trading with him, he'll inform the other party of a price he can accept, possibly with a hint... If it's below that price, he'll turn and leave without hesitation."
"So, the last negotiation with him practically cost the Company an entire habitable planet after only a few words?"
Aventurine looked at Topaz, a hint of teasing in his voice.
"You do it then," Topaz said, slightly indignant.
March also grunted twice at Aventurine.
"Alright, quiet down for a bit."
Jade stopped the two with a helpless sigh.
"For safety's sake, we'll leave this Starry Hotel in a moment."
Topaz thought for a moment and had no objections.
But Aventurine spoke up:
"No, I want to stay a bit longer. I have a hunch that some friends I just made might bring me unexpected rewards."
————
Meanwhile, Jiang Lin's boring responses had ended.
During the process, Welt produced the key Silver Wolf had left with the Family for them, allowing access to a hidden map... So, Himeko suggested that Welt return to reality to meet everyone, while the others proceeded to that "hidden map" — the Primeval Dream.
Star, March 7th, Dan Heng, and Acheron had no objections, and Black Swan was the guide, so she naturally had no right to refuse.
As for Jiang Lin, he chose to refuse.
Because Jiang Lin could feel that Sunday's plan... was about to begin ahead of schedule.
He planned to stay by Sunday's side and observe closely. Such an opportunity was indeed very rare.
And Jiang Lin's reason was to keep an eye on Sunday, yes, literally.
The others tried to persuade him not to do such a dangerous thing, but Jiang Lin was determined.
Only Star didn't try to persuade him; she was one of the few who had seen Jiang Lin in action.
————
Reverie Hotel
Sunday sat alone at the table, silently looking at the documents on it, seemingly deep in thought... "Long time no see, Mr. Sunday."
Jiang Lin's voice came from behind, and then he sat down opposite him.
Sunday frowned slightly, raising his head to look at the... black-robed figure opposite him?
"Mr. Jiang Lin? Appearing here in such attire, what is it for?"
Jiang Lin took off his conspicuous black robe and said with some helplessness:
"To be honest, I didn't feel anything before, but recently I suddenly felt this thing was quite ugly."
Jiang Lin sighed silently in his heart, probably because he didn't even have money to buy clothes before, so he naturally wouldn't care if what he wore was ugly or not.
Sunday thought for a moment:
"I think, from an aesthetic point of view, you indeed have a lot of room for improvement."
Jiang Lin shook his head, looked at Sunday, and directly said:
"Never mind, I'm not here to talk about this with you. I'm here to tell you something."
Sunday was a little puzzled: "What?"
Jiang Lin said very seriously: "Your sister is gone."
Sunday: ?
And just then, a beautiful figure pushed the door open and entered.
"Brother, I'm back."
Both looked at her simultaneously.
Yes, it was "Robin."
"Hmm? Did I interrupt you two?"
Sunday took a deep breath, gave Jiang Lin a profound look, and finally said to "Robin" with a somewhat cold tone:
"Enough, The Fool, your foolish act cannot deceive anyone present."
Upon hearing this, "Robin" paused slightly, then let out a laugh that sounded very joyful.
"You're very perceptive, aren't you~ Winged boy."
"'Symphony of Harmony' truly doesn't deceive me — 'The words of The Fool begin with foolishness, and end with the arrogant madness of wickedness'..."
Sunday quoted the classics in a calm tone, then continued:
"Please leave. His dream does not welcome you."
Sparkle, however, stood with her hands on her hips, seemingly pouting?
"Oh my~ Don't be so stiff~ And quoting classics so seriously, why so grave?"
Then she covered her mouth and chuckled, "I just wanted to ask — at this point, is the Family still not planning to act? Your poor sister has already sacrificed herself, you know?"
Immediately after, Sparkle's tone lowered, seeming to carry a hint of seduction:
"Don't you... want to avenge her?"
Sunday looked at Jiang Lin, but Jiang Lin kept looking at Sparkle's mask... Sunday lowered his head again and spoke with a serious tone:
"It is not yet time. When the fated day arrives, I will surely execute judgment with righteousness."
Sparkle's tone, however, became exaggerated, "Amazing, you can endure even that~"
She smiled slightly, teasing Sunday:
"What a cold-blooded fellow. Hey, we might get along very well, you know?"
Then she suggested:
"How about this, I can attend various events on behalf of your sister — surely you wouldn't want people to know that the Symphony of Harmony can no longer be held, right?"
When Jiang Lin heard this, his mouth twitched, and he couldn't help but complain inwardly: it was already impossible to hold it, the Company's fleet had already surrounded Asdana so tightly that not even a drop of water could get through.
But after thinking about it, Jiang Lin realized that for some reason, the people currently in Penacony gradually lost the desire to leave, even after such major events recently... He thought that Sunday must have already begun certain actions... Facing Sparkle's suggestion, Sunday merely replied blandly:
"The Family has its own arrangements."
"Alright, alright~ I just wanted to say, if you need me, I can help you anytime. Who can refuse a boy who puts studs on his wings?"
After saying that, Sparkle turned and left, which left Sunday a little puzzled. Logically, she shouldn't ignore the person opposite him, but why... why didn't she say anything to Jiang Lin?
Until Sunday saw the... mask in Jiang Lin's hand?
And Sparkle, who had already left, for some reason, just felt that something was off... "Strange... why do I suddenly want to leave quickly?"