Fu Zhu began to plot how he would extract some interest from Sunday. After all, the man had sicced a former head of the family on him.
Steve never holds a grudge overnight. He settles his debts on the spot. And while he wouldn't go as far as to wipe out a village just because an Iron Golem punched him, he was more than happy to utterly humiliate the Oak Family.
Soon, a rough idea formed in Fu Zhu's mind. But before that, he needed to help Aventurine get out of this jam. He would need his cooperation for the next part of the plan.
While Fu Zhu was strategizing, Sunday had mostly managed to calm down, or rather, he had swallowed his rage.
Sunday clenched his fists, veins popping on the back of his hands. Through the last few questions, he had already figured out who had harmed Robin.
The Masked Fool, Sparkle!
Although Sparkle had announced her name when she committed the act, he hadn't paid it much mind at the time. After all, a Masked Fool might just be using someone else's name for fun.
But now it was different. The culprit's name had been deduced with the help of Harmony's Chord, giving it a 99% accuracy rate.
However, now was not the time to hunt down the perpetrator. Through those same questions, he had learned something else—Robin was, for the moment, safe. Once he had completed the plan in his heart, there would be plenty of time to find his sister!
With that thought, Sunday's heart gradually calmed. He once again clasped his hands behind his back, a faint, serene smile returning to his lips as he turned back to Aventurine.
"My apologies, Mr. Aventurine. I lost my composure for a moment. Let us return to the matter at hand."
"But of course."
Aventurine sat nonchalantly on the chair, even casually crossing his legs. Knowing that his backup was right beside him, he had to stop himself from laughing out loud.
Sunday was not surprised by Aventurine's composure; he simply took it as a final show of confidence.
"I ask you, is your Cornerstone in this room?"
Aventurine did not answer immediately. Instead, he raised his right hand and asked, "I have a bit of a toothache. I wonder, under the radiance of Harmony, if I could just use my inner voice to answer?"
This was the instruction Fu Zhu had just given him in his mind. Although Aventurine didn't know why, he was more than happy to sit back and enjoy the show.
Sunday's brow twitched. Aventurine's sudden change in demeanor was strange. Just moments ago, he had been perfectly articulate, not looking like someone with a toothache at all. However, under the power of Harmony, it was useless even if he tried to hypnotize himself in his heart.
Under the radiance of Harmony, if anyone gave a dishonest answer, the inquiry would turn into a trial.
"Of course you can, Mr. Aventurine. Now, please answer my previous question."
Aventurine smiled and nodded. Meanwhile, Fu Zhu typed out a string of commands, sending a private message to Sunday in Aventurine's name.
[Private Message to Sunday: Before you open the casket I have stored my Cornerstone in, it is in this room. But if you open it, then it is not in this room.]
Reading Aventurine's inner voice, Sunday was stunned for a moment. This was clearly a nonsensical, bluffing answer, yet Harmony's Chord gave no feedback. Was he telling the truth?!
And why was this sentence appearing as a line of text in his vision?
There was also another thing—where did the fourth person in the room go?
Because Fu Zhu was speaking to Sunday in Aventurine's name, Aventurine naturally saw the line of text as well. He had to suppress a laugh as he raised an eyebrow at Sunday.
Sunday frowned. He recalled something. According to his subordinates' investigation, Aventurine seemed to be from an extinct race called the Evikesans. Could this be a special ability of his race?
"Do the Evikesan people possess any ability to read, tamper with, or manipulate the thoughts of themselves or others?"
[I am not an Evikesan. In fact, I'm a robot.]
"A robot?!"
Sunday's voice cracked, rising in pitch. Harmony's Chord still gave him no feedback, which meant Aventurine was telling the truth!
[Actually, I was lying. I'm not a robot.]
Sunday: ???
Why is that sentence also the truth?!
Aventurine, trying to hold back his laughter, simply switched which leg was crossed over the other.
[In my past life, I was a Tunemaster for the Oak Family, but during the election for the new Head, I was treacherously ambushed by the vile villain Gopelmu and my soul was extinguished. Now, I have been reborn. I swear to make every member of Gopelmu's line pay the price! You just need to V me 50 credit points, and you can listen in on my grand plan for revenge!]
"Pfft!"
Aventurine couldn't hold it in any longer and spat. The smile on his face was uncontrollable. He raised a hand to wipe his mouth, maintaining an awkward yet polite smile as he apologized to Sunday, whose face had turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
---o---
"My apologies, my apologies. I couldn't hold it in."
Sunday took several deep breaths, forcefully suppressing the rage in his heart. His voice trembled slightly as he pressed on, "Are you willing to swear an oath that what you just said is true?"
[I swear that I spent less than two seconds making that up just now.]
Sunday staggered, nearly falling to the ground. He steadied himself with a hand on the desk, glaring at Aventurine with pure fury. "Enough! Mr. Aventurine, you mock me time and time again. Do you truly believe Harmony will not bring its judgment down upon you?"
Aventurine simply shrugged, looking at Sunday with a half-smile. "Well? Did Harmony's Chord determine that I was lying? If I had been lying just now, judgment would have already fallen, wouldn't it? Or is it that you, the Head of the Oak Family, do not trust the judgment of Harmony?"
Sunday was instantly stumped. He could never, ever say that he didn't trust Harmony's judgment. But now, he had no idea what part of the process had gone wrong. The previously infallible Harmony's Chord was having absolutely no effect on Aventurine!
After careful consideration, Sunday silently pushed the handbag on the desk toward Aventurine.
"This conversation is over. Mr. Aventurine, please take your things and leave the Dewlight Pavilion."
Aventurine shrugged nonchalantly, picked up the handbag, and then asked, "And what about my other thing?"
Sunday turned his back, his face cold. "The Cornerstone will remain in the family's custody until the end of the Harmony Soiree."
"You had best just be custodians. If you don't return it to me afterward, the next person you'll be speaking to won't be as reasonable as I am."
Aventurine let out a soft laugh, then left the meeting hall with the handbag in tow, while Dr. Ratio remained where he was.
After Aventurine left, Sunday turned to Dr. Ratio. "Are you certain that Aventurine's entire plan is just as you have described?"
Dr. Ratio nodded, his face impassive. "I have told you everything I know. If you do not believe me, you are welcome to use Harmony's Chord to question me."
"...I believe you."