You and Stelle prepared to leave, Aventurine suddenly called out, "Wait! Before you go, I'd like to extend an invitation for you to join me."

You turned, surprised by his offer. Stelle, however, was quick to shake her head. "No way! You can't trust him!"

"It's fine," you assured her, your voice steady. "Aventurine wasn't really that pushy with me. He was kind, especially when we spent time together."

Stelle's eyes narrowed. "But what about the blackmail? You can't just ignore that!"

You hesitated, remembering Sparkle's words about the slave tattoo. "I know... but after hearing about that, I couldn't help but want to comfort him in some way."

Stelle sighed, clearly frustrated. "I just don't want to see you get hurt."

With a reluctant nod, she stepped back, leaving you standing there with Aventurine. He looked at you, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "You made a grave mistake by trusting me, you know."

You smiled, defiant. "Maybe. But every knight needs a prince to protect. I'm here for you."

He raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "How sweet. But let's see if you can keep up."

With that, he turned and beckoned you to follow him. To the bar, where you sit and just stare at him. while he drinks like a sad man in his 30s marrying and having kids realizing he has to do the jobs.

 Aventurine drifted into a deep slumber, the weight of his thoughts materialized in a vivid dreamscape. The flickering images of the Interastral Peace Broadcast played in his mind, echoing the significant political shift in the Sigonia system.

The voice of the broadcast echoed, recounting the history of conflict and the hope for a new beginning with the establishment of the Sigonian Sovereignty. But beneath that surface, a haunting presence whispered:

"Sigonia, Sigonia. Ravenous eye of the storm, spurned by all the gods..."

His subconscious wandered to the desolate landscapes of Sigonia-IV, where survival was a constant battle against the elements. The dream turned darker, filled with sorrow and longing.

"Mommy...! Mommy...!"

Aventurine murmured in his sleep, the echoes of a child's voice resonating in the air. You, sitting nearby, felt the urgency in his words. You reached out, gently patting his shoulder to calm him, hoping to ease the turmoil of his dreams.

"Mommy...! The rain — it's raining!"

The joy in the child's voice cut through the heaviness, a fleeting moment of hope amidst despair. Aventurine's brow furrowed, but he continued to sleep, blissfully unaware of your presence.

"Back home... Ahh... Gaiathra Triclops, you came..."

You watched as tears glistened at the corners of his eyes, the weight of lost dreams and unfulfilled promises hanging in the air. Each whisper he uttered revealed fragments of a past that seemed to haunt him, tethered to memories of love, loss, and longing.

"May the goddess Gaiathra close HER eyes three times..."

The dream deepened, you felt an inexplicable urge to protect him from the shadows lurking in his mind. He needed comfort, a reminder that not all was lost. Leaning closer, you whispered, "Aventurine, I'm here... You're not alone.". The bar's dim light cast a soft glow over the table, and you were still seated beside him, concern etched on your face.

"Welcome to this sad world, Kakavasha," a voice echoed in his mind, lingering like a haunting refrain.

"Time to wake up, gambler."

His eyes widened as he glanced around, landing on Ratio and you. "Oh! Oh heavens, I must have drunk too much SoulGlad... Didn't expect you to be back so soon. How is it... find anything?"

Dr. Ratio stepped forward, his expression serious. "Just as you guessed: Nobody outside knows about Robin's death. There aren't even baseless conspiracy theories. They're still streaming the rehearsal for her ceremony — using a stand-in, I guess — *ahem* they must be dreaming."

"Of course. Who could imagine that death would actually descend upon the idyllic dream created by The Family, let alone that the victim would be the female lead of the Charmony Festival..." Aventurine mused, a shadow crossing his face.

"Honestly, I didn't believe it until I tested it a few times myself — until I discovered that I couldn't actually die. Whenever there's any danger, I'm forced awake by the Dreampool as if everything were just a nightmare."

He paused, his gaze intense. "That's why I'm convinced there are a few big secrets lurking behind the scenes."

"Then you must have heard about the Memory Zone meme 'Something Unto Death' — when I graciously deigned to establish connections with the Oak Family on your behalf, they were quite in a pitiful state of disarray," Dr. Ratio explained.

Aventurine's expression darkened. "Besides Robin, there was another body. I don't know the exact details, just that it was a stowaway."

"Two murder cases!? I told you, something seemed off about the Nameless. They must have come across the other one..." he replied, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "This murderer is a psycho... but I have to say, the case does represent an opportunity. We can leverage The Family's malfeasance and let the IPC use this as a reason to intervene."

Dr. Ratio's brow furrowed. "Incredible, gambler. Have you already exhausted your limited repertoire of tricks so soon?"

"There are plenty of chips, but it'd be best to choose carefully. The most straightforward... has to be Robin," Aventurine declared. "Remember? That Masked Fool once told me to find a mute as a friend."

"Robin is what she calls the 'mute.' She has lost her voice, and while most people can't pick up on it, you and I cannot mistake that sound — not produced by any voicebox, but rather by the resonance of the Harmony."

He shook his head, frustration creeping into his voice. "If that girl hadn't gone hoarse from singing practice, there'd only be one possibility: Something was up with The Family, or Robin herself. To get to the bottom of this, I tried every way I could to meet her... but she died, right before my very eyes."

"A complete and utter loss — incidentally, it seems to have resulted in your rather undignified arrival on the interrogation stand," Dr. Ratio remarked dryly. "There were eyewitnesses at the scene, and The Family, in their graciousness, has tentatively accepted your alibi. However, for the foreseeable future... you shall, regrettably, find yourself under the vigilant watch of the Hounds."

Aventurine sighed, his earlier confidence wavering. "Things aren't looking too optimistic, Doctor. I'm starting to break out in a cold sweat. Do you reckon... there's still any chance of a comeback given how things are?"

He turned to you, a faint smile returning to his face as he patted your head gently. "Sorry for dragging you into this boring discussion"

Aventurine's gentle pat sent a wave of warmth through you, making you feel like a happy kitten basking in the sun. But then, Dr. Ratio's voice cut through the moment like a cold wind.

"What kind of idiot are you, being so soft with a gambler of all people?" he scoffed, crossing his arms. "Aventurine is going to use you."

You bristled at his words. "He's not using me! I'm just trying to be protective. I'm his knight, and no one is allowed to badmouth him!"

You spoke, you felt the fierce loyalty swelling in your chest, and you couldn't help but keep going, your voice rising. "You don't know him like I do! He's not just some—"

Aventurine looked like he was about to burst out laughing, his eyes twinkling with amusement. Meanwhile, Dr. Ratio stared at you as if you'd lost your mind, pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation.

"Be quiet! Even seven-year-olds behave better than you," he snapped, his frustration palpable.

You opened your mouth to argue, but the ridiculousness of the situation began to sink in. Aventurine's laughter echoed in the background, making it hard to stay serious. You shot him a glare, but the corners of your mouth couldn't help but twitch upwards.

"Fine, maybe I'll tone it down," you muttered, crossing your arms in a huff, but the lightheartedness of the moment was hard to resist. In the midst of the chaos, there was a sense of camaraderie that warmed your heart.

Dr. Ratio raised an eyebrow. "A probability? Yes, it exists, but it verges on the infinitesimal. To phrase it in a manner more befitting the vernacular of Penacony, 'you're dreaming.'"

He paused, then continued, "But if you simply can't control yourself and want to try your hand, there just so happens to be a suitable candidate... That man wants to see you again."

Aventurine's interest piqued. "Who?"

"Sunday," Dr. Ratio replied, letting the name hang in the air.

Aventurine fell silent for a moment, his expression shifting. "...Is this a public hearing, or a private trial?"

Dr. Ratio smirked. "If it were the former, it would hardly befit my stature to stoop to the role of a mere messenger."

"Fine... That's great. It's all great. You see, the dead can't talk — but the living can..." Aventurine's eyes sharpened with determination. "I'm convinced there must be something wrong inside The Family. Just you wait and see, that man's sister has died. He can't sit on his hands."

"Without any further ado, let's set off — lead the way! The show... is about to begin."

As you were caught up in the moment, Dr. Ratio suddenly pinched your cheek. "You're so annoying," he said with a hint of irritation.

You let out a cute yelp, tears of surprise welling in your eyes. "Hey! That's mean!" you protested, pouting.

Aventurine couldn't help but giggle at your reaction, his laughter lightening the mood. In a moment of playful mischief, you reached over and grabbed his cheeks, grinning. "You're cute!"

His playful demeanor shifted instantly, and he shot you a serious look. "Stop that," he said darkly, his expression suddenly intimidating.

You backed off, eyes wide, sensing the change in his tone. "Okay, okay!"

But then he put on an exaggerated act, his voice taking on a mock-seriousness. "My friend, I'm sorry if I scared you," he said, trying to stifle a laugh.

No time, you guys arrived! The two was constantly yapping, fighting to each other! Oh GOD! Save you!

Dr. Ratio glanced around as you and Aventurine approached the imposing Dewlight Pavilion. His voice was calm, almost clinical. "We're here. The Dewlight Pavilion — the Oak Family's fortress. It's where the heads of the families gather to discuss their grand plans for Penacony."

Aventurine smirked, his eyes sweeping over the grand mansion. "Fortress, huh? I like that. I recently dealt with the warlords of the Iymanika star system, and their synchronized orbital manor wasn't this heavily guarded."

Dr. Ratio's tone remained neutral as he replied, "This mansion belongs to Sunday, and it suits him perfectly. Without his personal invitation, most people would never set foot on these grounds in their lifetime. Take a look around while you still have the luxury of freedom."

Aventurine's lips twitched with amusement. "Hey, Doc—whose side are you really on?"

Dr. Ratio didn't miss a beat. "Who's to say I won't sell you out?"

Aventurine laughed softly. "We'll see. When we meet Sunday, the authoritarian master of the Oak Family, I'll pry an answer out of him."

Dr. Ratio shot him a side glance. "Follow me, and let's not draw any unnecessary attention. I'll handle the members of The Family. Keep your tongue in check."

You couldn't help but feel a chill run down your spine as the two of you stepped forward, the weight of the mansion's gaze almost palpable.