You turned to Black Swan, urgency spilling from your words. "I left Acheron there! I have to go back!"

Black Swan's expression remained unreadable. "I just did what this IPC man said," she replied coolly, a hint of detachment in her voice.

You felt a wave of frustration wash over you. "Aventurine! Please, let me go save her! She needs help!"

Aventurine shook his head, his eyes serious. "You're the main lead here, and I can't let you get hurt."

"What the hell are you talking about?" you exclaimed, exasperation rising. But he didn't explain further, his expression as stoic as ever.

Stelle stepped closer, concern etched on her face. "You need to back off from him," she warned, her voice low. "He's dangerous. I knew letting you go with him was a bad idea."

You tried to reassure her. "It's fine! I can handle this."

Aventurine chuckled lightly, a smirk playing on his lips. "How good friends you both are," he teased, his eyes glimmering with mischief.

"Thank you for your efforts, Memokeeper," he continued, addressing Stelle. "Quite a brilliant move to pit enemies against each other."

Stelle shot him a glare. "This isn't a game!"

Aventurine's demeanor shifted slightly as he turned back to you. "When I first saw the Ranger and the Hunter together, my heart skipped a beat. I never thought you'd successfully trigger a conflict between the two."

Black Swan chimed in, "As promised, I've delivered the child to you. Our transaction is complete."

You felt a knot tighten in your stomach. "What is happening...?"

Aventurine raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Looks like our nameless friend over here is still confused. Let me explain."

His tone shifted to one of mock gravity. "In short, you need to thank this lady here. Not only did she not betray you — on the contrary, she rescued you... from that 'Galaxy Ranger.'"

You stared, caught off guard by his words.

"Right," Aventurine continued, enjoying your bewilderment. "I do enjoy seeing that shocked expression of yours."

He leaned closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "My friend, let's be honest. That woman named 'Acheron' isn't as simple as you thought. Did she say she's a Galaxy Ranger?"

You nodded slowly, still trying to piece it all together.

"...She's actually an Emanator," Aventurine revealed, his voice serious. "One who brings death and finality."

You felt your heart race, uncertainty swirling in your mind. "An Emanator? Whose?"

Aventurine shrugged, his smirk returning. "Perhaps The Hunt... or Destruction... or even Finality. It doesn't matter; these Paths all point to the same outcome."

"Impossible," you said, shaking your head in disbelief. "Why should I believe you? No way. Acheron was right there at the scene. It couldn't have been her."

Aventurine's eyes widened in realization. "She was there? Wait, what... You're kidding... Oh my, this just got even more interesting."

Aventurine leaned in, a conspiratorial glint in his eye. "Let me give you some IPC insider information, my friend. Do you know 'Duke Inferno' — Fetora's Ifrit?"

You crossed your arms. "I fought him before."

"Nicely done, as expected!" he exclaimed, a hint of admiration in his tone. "I'll cut to the chase then..."

"Who?" you asked, curiosity piqued.

He raised an eyebrow, noting your lack of recognition. "You don't seem to have heard of him before... He belongs to the Annihilation Gang, so I guess that's normal. Let me explain."

Aventurine continued, his voice steady. "This Duke Inferno is a Fire Demon from Fetora. He's an energy lifeform, and it's rumored that his birth is related to a certain genius... He and his thugs formed the 'Ever-Flame Mansion,' viewing Nanook as their savior. In reality, they were led by this duke to roam around burning and looting, embodying the will of Destruction. Even the other Annihilation Gangs weren't spared from their wrath."

You listened intently, the pieces of the puzzle beginning to form in your mind.

"I'm not sure what The Family was thinking, or if someone was scheming behind the scenes, but shockingly, these characters received an invitation," he continued, smirking slightly. "And why would the Ever-Flame Mansion decline? They harbor fierce intentions, swearing to turn the Planet of Festivities into a sea of blazing flames..."

His expression turned serious. "But there's no need to worry. They won't be able to attend. Do you know why?"

You shook your head, waiting for him to elaborate.

"Because Ifrit is dead."

"What happened?" you pressed, intrigued.

"As I expected..." Aventurine replied, a sly smile on his lips. "They were eliminated while on their way. The assailant, demonstrating remarkable expertise, ruthlessly ended Ifrit and swiped the invite that the Annihilation Gang had. The Ever-Flame Mansion disbanded, each going their separate ways..."

He leaned back, letting the weight of his words sink in. "Thereafter, a mysterious Galaxy Ranger arrived on Penacony, checking into the hotel with only a music box... Do you still need me to continue the story, my friend?"

You narrowed your eyes, connecting the dots. "It was Acheron..."

Aventurine leaned back, a contemplative look crossing his face. "The Galaxy Rangers come and go like shadows, and there's little communication between them. Her story is almost too perfect. If she remains silent, there's no concrete evidence against her. The IPC can investigate, but it will take time."

He fixed his gaze on you, a hint of urgency in his tone. "So, my friend, the choice is yours now... You can leave this place immediately, without looking back, forever forsaking the chance to get closer to the truth. Or, you can accept my invitation to uncover a truth potent enough to upend everything in Penacony."

Aventurine's expression softened slightly, the weight of his words hanging in the air. "I need your help, so I'll wait — but not for long. Once you're ready... follow me."

He added, "As for aligning with me, see the truth first, then decide... you'll still have time."

You stood there, the weight of your decision pressing down on you. The Memokeeper's voice echoed in your mind, a reminder of the distrust swirling around Aventurine. But the prospect of uncovering the truth that could "overturn Penacony" was too enticing to ignore.

You took a step forward, Stelle moved to block your path. "We should go back. This isn't safe," she urged, her voice laced with concern.

You shook your head, determination in your eyes. "I can't. I want to see what Aventurine is onto... I have to know."

Stelle's expression shifted from worry to frustration. "You don't know what you're getting into! What if he's just using you?"

"I feel like he's onto something important," you insisted. "I can't just walk away from this. What if it could change everything?"

Aventurine's eyes gleamed with a mix of mischief and anticipation as he beckoned you forward. "Excellent, I knew you would come. By the way, about that Memokeeper... Never mind, I won't press the issue further."

He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I've said it before: you can liaise with your companions, or even twist the narrative against me. I'll wholeheartedly embrace it! It signifies your potential."

Aventurine straightened, a confident grin spreading across his face. "I don't do deals where I'm on the losing end. So, my 'friends'... don't let me down."

With a flourish, he gestured for you to follow. "Please, this way if you will!"

You stepped into the familiar space of The Reverie, a sense of nostalgia washed over you. The truth that could "overturn Penacony" was just ahead, and your heart raced with both excitement and apprehension.

Aventurine paused, looking contemplative. "Oh right, I remember mentioning something after that... What was it again?"

He chuckled softly, then turned serious. "Ah... a familiar hallway, a familiar room. Do you remember? The last time we met was right here."

He opened the door with a flourish, revealing a room steeped in memories. "This is it, just beyond this door. Take a deep breath and get ready."

Aventurine's expression shifted as he gestured toward the dark waters of the dream pool. "Look, friend. The game has already begun. Allow me to make you an offer — one you can't refuse. No reason to choose otherwise... and no other choices."

You and Stelle stared at the figure floating lifelessly within the pool, horror gripped your heart. You dropped to your knees, shock coursing through your veins as you took in the sight of Robin, the famous singer, lifeless before you. Stelle looked shattered, her face pale as she realized the truth. This was Sunday's sister. If he found out she was gone, it would break him completely.

Aventurine watched your reactions with a mix of sympathy and curiosity. "Ah, friend. My expression wasn't much better than yours when I first saw this."

He paused, letting the weight of the moment settle around you. "Your eyes aren't deceiving you — it's her, the famous singer Robin."

You blinked in disbelief. "But... how is that possible?"

"Could Robin actually...?"

Aventurine quickly interjected, "First of all, can I just say that this had nothing to do with me? I'm just an unlucky bystander here. The Family can testify for me. If you don't believe me, just ask anyone in the Bloodhound Family — they hate me, and they hate the IPC, so they'd never lie."

"This is not where the crime happened," he continued, his tone growing serious. "What I showed you was a 'memory' — the most basic Light Cone manifesting tech, authorized by the Garden of Recollection and owned by the IPC. Did you really think the Galaxy Ranger was an outsider this whole time?"

Aventurine's gaze turned intense. "Penacony has made a solemn commitment to protect the safety of anyone inside a Family dream. Any person in distress will be forcibly awakened and safely returned to reality. What gives them the confidence to make such conclusive statements? Because behind this promise is the Harmony: The Family's Dreamweavers link up their minds together to construct an unbreakable defensive line."

He leaned closer, voice low. "Breaking through this line of defense to create 'Death' in the dreamscape... Not even a Memokeeper could do that without The Family's permission. So, who could have done it? The only one is her, the girl who calls herself a Galaxy Ranger... An imposter, an unsought guest, an Emanator who hides her true identity."

Aventurine's words sank in like lead. "Ifrit's death was a foregone conclusion, and Robin... her misfortune was staring right at her. Who will be the next to die?"

You swallowed hard, the gravity of his revelation crushing. "This really is... hard to take in."

Aventurine's expression softened, a hint of sincerity creeping into his voice. "It's fine. Listen to your gut. Building trust always takes time, and I'm willing to wait. I just hope you realize that wherever the legacy is concerned... covert plans are already underway throughout Penacony. Everyone's got their own agenda."

He leaned in closer, a warning lacing his tone. "Be careful you don't get stuck on the wrong side. If I were you, I'd keep my distance from Acheron. After all, any schemes out in the open are always going to be better than a monster lurking in the shadows... right?"

Black Swan interjected, her gaze sharp. "Who's to say there isn't an even deeper conspiracy lurking beneath the surface?"

Aventurine sighed, brushing off the concern. "Memokeeper, I think our little deal is finished."

Black Swan nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Aventurine is telling the truth. This 'memory' is a real one, and there's no sign of any distortion grafting on."

"Exactly," Aventurine agreed, crossing his arms. "The IPC is not the Garden, and there are real limits to what they can actually do. But you know all this."

He paused, then continued earnestly, "Let's not beat around the bush here — I want to reach out personally to team up with the Astral Express. I told you, I'm not interested in scrambling for 'the Legacy.' I came to Penacony for work, to retrieve some lost property for the IPC. I'm talking ownership of this 'frontier prison.'"

Aventurine's demeanor shifted, the weight of the situation evident in his tone. "This has all become a bad debt thanks to the Cancer of All Worlds—Stellaron. The IPC has tried negotiating time and again, but The Family wouldn't even take our calls."

He shook his head, frustration evident. "You have no idea how difficult these people are to deal with. Put it this way — they've hushed up the existence of 'Death' before, so they can definitely cover up any news about Robin's death. It'll just quietly float off like a bubble and pop, leaving nobody the wiser..."

Aventurine turned his gaze to you, his expression earnest. "That's not fair, right? So then, friend, I need your help."

You raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "What kind of help?"

Aventurine maintained a calm demeanor, his voice steady. "That's fine. I'm not forcing you. But I'm really not asking for much, so why don't you at least hear me out, okay?"

Stelle narrowed her eyes. "I can't trust you."

"Understood," he replied smoothly. "But I have just one goal: The Family's front door is like a high wall. To tear it down, I'll have to dig out a few chunks first. Once I find a weak point, the IPC will have plenty of means to act."

He leaned in closer, urgency lacing his words. "Now we have our chance. If we uncover the truth behind Robin's death, we can seek justice for her and gain a valuable bargaining chip to bring The Family to the table. It's truly a once-in-a-blue-moon opportunity. I've been investigating and making connections all over Penacony precisely for this moment."

His gaze intensified. "This tragic news would be catastrophic for The Family. They'll do everything they can to prevent it from leaking — especially to the IPC. But I believe there are still a few factions that remain exceptions, and that's why I need you. The reputation of the Astral Express precedes you, and the Harmony will give you the fairest appraisal."

Aventurine's smile returned, softer now. "You'll uncover what really happened and seek justice, and I get to use that information to complete my mission for the IPC. It's what you call a win-win situation."

You crossed your arms, skepticism creeping back in. "You want to take advantage of The Family's trust in us?"

"Not quite. Just think about it," he replied, shrugging. "The Nameless would never associate with the IPC, and a decision like this is way above my pay grade..."

"Don't worry," Aventurine reassured you. "Just head back and discuss it with your companions. That navigator of yours is really smart. She'll understand the value of this deal. Here, take my contact details. If you reach a conclusion, call me."

As he handed you a small card, he added with a wink, "Oh, and... take this! A thorough investigation can always use a little extra funding. Don't mention it!"

With that, he turned and sauntered off, leaving you with a swirl of thoughts.

Black Swan broke the silence, her expression contemplative. "...What now? What are your plans?"

"Nothing."