The professor glanced sidelong at Aventurine and said flatly, "Why not reflect on your foolish behavior before opening your mouth?"
Without waiting for Aventurine to answer, Dr. Ratio continued:
"I met that child once at Herta Space Station, and I saw firsthand how he fought. You should have more confidence in his abilities.
"Missing... he probably just discovered corners of the Dreamscape that ordinary people would struggle to notice. He could dispatch a replica of the Starcrusher Swarm King in thirty seconds. I don't believe any faction currently in Penacony could pose too great a threat to him."
Dr. Ratio paused, then changed tack. "Still, I am somewhat surprised that news of his disappearance would make you so agitated."
Aventurine looked at Dr. Ratio in silence for a few seconds before smiling. "But he calls me his big brother."
The professor narrowed his eyes at Aventurine. "Oh... you think of him as your little brother."
Although psychology was not his particular specialty, Professor Dr. Ratio had clearly dabbled in it as a scholar, and he happened to know the story of Aventurine's past.
The Genius Society collaborated with the IPC but was not subordinate to it. As one of its great scholars, Dr. Ratio held considerable standing in the IPC's eyes, though that alone probably would not have been enough to grant him access to every piece of information on a member of the Ten Stonehearts.
But as a leading figure in the Genius Society, he had his own methods.
Silence settled over them for a time. After readjusting his mindset and emotions, Aventurine asked, "Let's get down to business, Ratio. Well... did you find anything?"
"Just as you suspected: no one out there knows Robin was killed. Not even a baseless rumor. The television is still broadcasting her rehearsal