"Sorry, I don't want to feed either of them."
When Aventurine didn't take the handful of grain, Sparkle smiled and pulled out a little red button instead.
"Here. This is for you."
"It's my treasured [Mutual Assured Destruction] button. I've got an identical one myself."
"If either of us presses it, the other will immediately go up in flames along with all of Penacony."
"If you really want the company to move into Penacony, and you can't stand waiting any longer... flipping the table might not be a bad option."
"You can always start over!"
"That's what the company does best, right?"
"Hehe. When you're out of options, why not press it?"
"Of course, you can contact me too. Consider it my [end-of-life care]!"
Aventurine smiled.
"Sounds dangerous."
"I'm guessing The Family didn't take you seriously. Otherwise, how did you smuggle it in?"
Sparkle looked even more pleased with herself.
"Hehe. All you need to know is that I can."
Aventurine's expression didn't change.
"I'm afraid I'll have to turn down your offer. Who knows if that little toy of yours even works?"
"And I have no intention of looking for that [other mute friend] you mentioned, though I'm glad to hear they're still in Penacony."
"I have just one question. There must be something hidden in that thing up in the sky, right?"
Aventurine raised his head and gazed at the Grand Theater overhead with a smile.
"Tell me... if I made it up there and exposed the secrets inside, wouldn't that have the same effect?"
"Oh?" Sparkle looked up too, puzzled.
"You want to go to The Family's stronghold? Are you sure?"
"Come on. You're a pitiful little sparrow, and you want to fly into a Griffin's nest?"
"Do you think that purple bird on your head is