Black Swan smiled as she calmly admitted that she had worked with Aventurine and played the part of a human trafficker. She even called Caelus "child," making it seem all the more fitting.
"You sold me?" Caelus looked at Black Swan speechlessly.
"Yes. I'm sorry, I reached an agreement with this gentleman. I won't try to justify it, but at least this is a safe zone."
Black Swan looked at Caelus with gentle yet apologetic eyes. She knew he had never doubted her, yet she had betrayed his goodwill. One lap pillow would likely be nowhere near enough to repay him.
"How much did you sell me for?" Caelus asked, moving closer to Black Swan.
"This much."
Black Swan raised a hand and waggled all five fingers.
"Then I want half."
Caelus grabbed Black Swan's hand, holding it in his own as he spoke.
"That doesn't seem fair. I worked so hard as a human trafficker and only earned this much."
Black Swan looked rather unwilling.
"You wouldn't have earned even that without my cooperation. Do you want there to be a next time or not?" Caelus threatened.
"But I've already spent the payment."
"Then pay with your body."
"Huh..."
Black Swan's expression turned a little bitter. But compared to Caelus ignoring her from now on and seeing her as a bad person, this seemed like a decent outcome. At least she could tell that he did not mind what she had done. So perhaps payment with her body was truly worth considering.
"All in all, my friend, you should thank this lady. Not only did she not scheme against you, she saved you."
Aventurine promptly interrupted Caelus and Black Swan's bargaining. He felt that if this continued, it would drag on forever. They had more important matters to handle.
"Saved me? Saved me from whom?" Caelus asked.
"From that Pathstrider."
"?"
Caelus looked at Aventurine as if he were an idiot. Aventurine felt somewhat uncomfortable, but remembering that Caelus and Acheron had always acted together, he understood. Aventurine often played this sort of role, so he quickly got into character. First, he needed to gain Caelus's trust. Only after shifting Caelus's trust from Acheron to himself could he make his move.
"My friend, let's speak frankly. That woman called Acheron is far more complicated than you imagine. A Pathstrider? She is an Emanator. She brings death and the end."
Aventurine continued dropping bombshells. Under normal circumstances, he expected the other party to look utterly shocked. Yet in his beautiful eyes, he saw Caelus tilt his head in confusion, then seem to suddenly realize something and put on a surprised expression. Aventurine was displeased, because that expression was far too perfunctory. It felt like Caelus was treating him as a fool.
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You Know Too Much
Caelus felt there might be some sort of information gap between him and Aventurine. The entire Astral Express crew already knew Acheron was an Emanator, yet Aventurine seemed to regard it as some great secret.
Still, it was understandable. Acheron usually kept a low profile. When she appeared at the Space Station, if Caelus had not shamelessly invited her to join the team, she might have left that very day. Then came Belobog, where information was cut off. Aventurine could not possibly have known Acheron had appeared there.
Acheron had displayed the might of an Emanator on the Xianzhou, but Jing Yuan had sealed off all information. Other than Great Extinguisher Phantylia, no one would spread news of Acheron. Phantylia obviously would not be in league with the Interastral Peace Corporation. Thus, this web of information gaps led Aventurine to believe that Acheron being an Emanator was a major secret worth using as leverage.
"Let me give you some information from the company, my friend. Do you know Grand Duke of Fiery Nether, Afleet of Tuofei'er?"
Aventurine felt that was not enough and decided to add more leverage. So he brought up the Grand Duke of Fiery Nether. Caelus looked shocked upon hearing this, and Aventurine felt pleased. Things were finally developing as he had imagined.
"Judging by that surprised look, you must have heard of the Grand Duke of Fiery Nether's infamous reputation. The Ever-Flame Mansion did every evil imaginable, yet it was wiped out before setting off for Penacony."
Aventurine spoke with a smile. Caelus's expression looked rather strained as he held it in. He waited for Aventurine to finish before politely asking a question.
"Can I ask who told you about this?"
"Of course, it came from the company's intelligence department. The information there is secure and accurate. It happened not long ago, and I only just received the news myself."
Aventurine smiled. The company's sources of information were naturally reliable. As for news about the Grand Duke of Fiery Nether, it had been obtained through the company's undercover agent in the Ever-Flame Mansion after tremendous effort.
"Oh, oh. Then go on."
Caelus felt a little embarrassed. He wanted to tell Aventurine that he himself had been there, that he and Acheron had slaughtered the Grand Duke of Fiery Nether's entire household together. But seeing Aventurine's confident expression, he decided not to undermine his confidence.
"The Grand Duke of Fiery Nether is dead."
Aventurine spoke in a chilling tone. An outsider might have been frightened by him, but the murderer was right in front of him. Caelus did not know whether he ought to look guilty. The police probably would not come arrest him, right?
"Ah. Oh, yes, he got what he deserved."
Caelus nodded at Aventurine, giving the response a normal person should have given. Aventurine continued.
"They were wiped out on the way to fulfill an appointment. The murderer brutally killed Afleet through an almost miraculous method and stole the invitation the Ever-Flame Mansion had received."
"That's outrageous. I'm calling the police."
Caelus spoke righteously. Aventurine gave him a strange look. This guy looked nothing like an upstanding citizen, not to mention that the dead were villains of that sort.
"After that, a mysterious Pathstrider arrived at Penacony and checked into the hotel with a music box... Do I need to continue, my friend?"
Aventurine smiled at Caelus. Caelus shook his head. He had personally followed Acheron to register at the front desk with that music box. He knew far more than Aventurine did.
"Is there any other evidence?"
After considering it, Caelus asked. As Acheron's accomplice, he felt he should clean up after her. Asking whether there was evidence of their murder and robbery, then erasing it—that was what a Nameless ought to do.
"Pathstriders come and go like ghosts, and they rarely interact with one another. That identity is too convenient. As long as she refuses to admit it, there is no proof. The company has methods to investigate, but it will take time."
Aventurine shrugged helplessly, then turned toward the Dreamscape Pool in the room, showing his sincerity and confidence by presenting his back to Caelus.
"So, my friend, it is time for you to make a choice... You may leave without looking back and forever give up your chance to approach the truth."
As Aventurine spoke, he did not look behind him. Caelus had already pulled out his baseball bat and was sneaking up on him from behind. Black Swan was dumbfounded by the sight and hurriedly rushed over to hug Caelus, shaking her head repeatedly.
Caelus rubbed against Black Swan's body. It felt good, but he still told her with his eyes that he intended to kill Aventurine to silence him. At present, only Aventurine knew about this. If he killed him, Acheron would be safe.
Black Swan kept shaking her head, then raised a hand and pointed at her own face. She meant that she knew as well. Was he going to silence her too?
"Or, you may accept my invitation and learn a fact—one that is enough to overturn Penacony."
Aventurine had no idea that the two people behind him were grappling. He continued confidently talking to himself before turning around.
At that moment, both Caelus and Black Swan were somewhat disheveled. Aventurine noticed Caelus hiding his right hand behind his back, though he had no idea what it was doing. Black Swan was also deliberately shielding it for him, wearing a polite smile.
"I need your help, so I will wait for you. But I won't wait for too long. When you are ready... follow me."
Aventurine smiled, brushed past Caelus, and left the guest room, giving Caelus time to make his decision—and time to speak privately with Black Swan.
"Caelus, what are you doing?"
Black Swan felt like she was going mad. She had never imagined that someone would prepare to bash to death Aventurine, one of the Ten Stonehearts and a high-ranking official of the Interastral Peace Corporation, right in front of her. Could that bat even kill Aventurine? The man clearly had Preservation blessings on him, did he not? There were too many things to criticize. Black Swan was on the verge of a breakdown.
"Why don't you guess what Acheron and I went to do earlier?"
Caelus wore a smug expression, hoisted his baseball bat onto his shoulder, and spoke to Black Swan through his nostrils.
"Ahem, well, I know about the Grand Duke of Fiery Nether too. That is why I went to invite Acheron to dance."
Black Swan coughed lightly and could only reveal everything she knew. In truth, she also knew who the Grand Duke of Fiery Nether's death was connected to. That made her reckless attempt to approach Acheron make sense as well.
"So you knew too. Then I can't let you live either."
Caelus looked at Black Swan with a vicious glint in his eyes and pressed closer step by step. With no other choice, Black Swan retreated into a corner, where Caelus pinned her within a narrow space.
"I still have value, though. I can provide lap pillows."
Black Swan raised her hands in surrender. She was playing along with Caelus now. In this dream composed of Memory Matter, she did not even need a body and could appear anywhere she wanted. How could Caelus possibly threaten her?
"Hm-hm. If you're willing to be my wife, then we'll be on the same pirate ship. I can let you go."
Caelus smiled happily, looking exactly like some villain forcing a decent woman into prostitution. Black Swan was utterly speechless.
Who Killed Robin?
"Are you really a Nameless? Your train isn't a pirate ship converted from something else, is it?" Black Swan asked.
"Hey, we may be close, but I'll still sue you for slander if you say that."
Caelus spoke unhappily. She could badmouth him, but badmouthing the Astral Express crew was a problem. Other than March 7th being a little foolish, everyone else was a good person.
"You really do not need to silence Aventurine. The Grand Duke of Fiery Nether was a villain. No one will come after you and Acheron for killing him. Would the Galaxy Rangers really have that much free time?"
Black Swan complained. She was afraid Caelus would soon come up with another way to silence Aventurine, so she had to talk him down first.
"That may be true, but I'm worried someone might spread malicious rumors. The Grand Duke of Fiery Nether's subordinates aren't anything to fear, but having flies buzzing around me all day would still ruin my mood."
Caelus stroked his chin. The fewer people who knew what he and Acheron had done, the better. Who knew how many diehard followers the Grand Duke of Fiery Nether had left? Caelus did not like the feeling of being watched by flies.
"Then work with Aventurine and have him keep it secret. You cannot avoid Penacony's affairs anyway, so you might as well see what truth he is talking about."
"I will protect you. Once we obtain more information from him, I can escort you back to your companions."
"And for the truth, as well as to prevent more needless sacrifices... this is the correct choice."
Black Swan earnestly persuaded Caelus to listen. Caelus was indeed someone who accepted advice, and he had also made an agreement with Robin. Still, he needed to fight for his own interests.
"You're taking his side, so did he pay you again?"
"He did, but this really is the best solution before us."
An awkward smile appeared on Black Swan's face. She was not particularly greedy for money. Compared to money, she preferred collecting memories. But Memokeepers could not conjure money from thin air, and sometimes money was needed to solve problems.
"This time, it's fifty-fifty again. Give me some interest first."
Caelus raised his right hand, spreading five fingers before Black Swan, then slowly curled them inward.
"Kiss me on the cheek."
Caelus turned his face toward Black Swan. Her eyes were filled with helplessness, but she had no intention of bargaining with him.
"Fine, fine, fine."
As Black Swan spoke, she pressed her soft lips to Caelus's cheek. The sensation in dreams was very real. As a Memokeeper, she could do even more in dreams, things more exciting than in reality. For a Memokeeper without a physical form, what happened to her body did not really matter as long as she was willing.
"Smells wonderful."
Caelus could even smell the faint fragrance coming from Black Swan. He knew Memokeepers had no physical forms, but since Black Swan appeared in this shape, it meant this was what her true form looked like. Not everyone could be like Phantylia, after all.
"The Garden of Recollection's gaze is everywhere. If he wishes to harm you, he must be prepared to make enemies of the Memokeepers. I have already reminded him of that."
Black Swan spoke softly. Though she had sold Caelus for a good price each time, she had only pushed him toward mutually beneficial situations. She would never stand by and watch him suffer a loss, much less get hurt. That was why she could sell Caelus with a clear conscience each time.
"You're already thinking this much about me before we're even married. What will happen after we marry?"
Caelus spoke to Black Swan with an exaggerated expression. She could not help rolling her eyes at him. Her mature composure showed through completely. Unlike Robin's shyness and resistance, she calmly accepted his teasing.
"Next, I will accompany you in the form of a Meme, in case of emergencies."
As Black Swan spoke, her body gradually vanished. She was serious about protecting Caelus, so she would naturally accompany him in the form of air. That was also the source of her ability to appear and disappear unpredictably.
"So you have a Meme form too?" Caelus asked in surprise.
"Stop making puns."
Black Swan watched Caelus head toward Aventurine's room and smiled. She felt that she and Caelus were not simply using one another. Through a very strange method, he had turned their relationship from exploitation into something ambiguous. Before this matter ended, neither of them knew where that relationship would go. An unknown had been added to the equation.
Many Dream Bubbles floated around Aventurine's room. When Caelus entered, bubbles filled his vision, and he could not clearly see what was inside.
"See, my friend? The game has already begun. Make a deal with me—you cannot refuse."
As Aventurine spoke, he pushed aside all the Dream Bubbles around him, revealing the scene within the Dreamscape Pool. When Caelus clearly saw what was in the pool, he froze. Robin's body lay inside. A vertical gash ran across the little bird's chest, a wound Caelus knew all too well. It was exactly the same as when the Memory Zone Meme had pierced through him.
"There is no reason, and no room for hesitation."
Aventurine was very satisfied with Caelus's expression. Anyone who saw Robin's murder scene would react this way. Caelus looked carefree and heartless, but in a situation like this... he started taking off his clothes.
"What are you doing, my friend?"
Aventurine hurriedly grabbed Caelus's arm, stopping him before he could take off his pants.
"Isn't it obvious? While she's still warm. Robin's body isn't something just anyone can touch. I'll test out the bird's nest first—"
Caelus spoke with a perfectly serious expression. Black Swan, transformed into air, had already slapped him. It was like a breeze passing over him, and Caelus showed no reaction.
Before Caelus could finish, Robin in the Dreamscape Pool dissolved into foam and disappeared, as though she had never existed. He could not help looking at Aventurine.
"Where did she go?"
"This is not the crime scene. What I showed you was a memory—the simplest Light Cone projection technique, authorized by the Garden of Recollection and owned by the company."
Aventurine raised a hand to his head. He felt a headache coming on. What had possessed him to seek cooperation with this Stellaron? If possible, he wanted to ask Black Swan for a refund.
"You should have said so earlier. You got my hopes up for nothing."
Caelus spoke disappointedly. He had wanted to hug the little bird. The real Robin would not even let him hug her; they had only reached the hand-holding stage. Who knew how long he would have to wait to recreate that earlier kiss?
"How could any normal person possibly say they were happy in a situation like this?"
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