---o---
Under the bewildered and disoriented gazes of a crowd of fans, Fu Zhu clutched "Robin's" autograph, hummed a cheerful little tune, and pushed his way through the obstructing crowd, leaving the scene of the autograph session.
After snapping a few photos of "Sunday's" departing back, a group of reporters quickly followed. Sparkle, disguised as Robin, saw this and wanted to follow as well, but just as she stood up, the remaining fans in the queue swarmed her, each holding an autograph board. She had no choice but to force a smile and sit back down.
Fu Zhu glanced at his minimap, confirming that the reporters were on his tail. Only then did he proceed with confidence toward the most crowded square in the Golden Hour. It was there that he and Aventurine had arranged to stage the final act to pry open Penacony.
As Fu Zhu arrived at the square, he saw Aventurine leading a massive, intimidating group of Hound Family members toward him.
Aventurine stopped in front of Fu Zhu, his arms crossed and a smile still playing on his lips.
"If you would be so kind as to stop, sir."
Fu Zhu slowly turned to face Aventurine, his expression soured by the form of address.
"Mr. Aventurine, has your time in Penacony been so unpleasant lately? You seem unwilling to even address me as the Head of the Oak Family."
Aventurine let out a hollow chuckle, a smile that didn't reach his eyes. He narrowed his eyes, his tone laced with a fiery edge. "That's predicated on the assumption that you are the Head of the Oak Family."
"What do you mean by that?"
Fu Zhu's expression immediately darkened. His gaze swept over the members of the Hound Family who had come with Aventurine. "Someone is slandering the Head of the Oak Family, and as Hounds, you just stand by and watch?"
However, the group of Hound members simply stood their ground with cold expressions, as if they hadn't heard a word Fu Zhu said.
"Allow me to explain."
Aventurine took a step forward, gesturing to the Hound members behind him. "They have all received reports from different individuals, all with the same content: someone is impersonating the Head of Family Sunday and maliciously damaging the family's reputation. Coincidentally, I, too, had my private property confiscated by a certain 'Mr. Sunday' for a flimsy reason. Mr. Impostor, don't you think you owe us an explanation?"
"Impostor?"
Fu Zhu let out a derisive laugh and spread his arms wide to the crowd. "Do I look like an impostor to you? Or have the members of the Hound Family been bought out by the Company?"
"My, oh my, sir. While I don't mind, that's a heavy accusation to lay upon these working men. They can't possibly bear such a burden."
Aventurine's half-smile never faded as he sized Fu Zhu up from head to toe, then said with an air of confidence, "I've heard that The Family possesses a certain technique, one that can make a person give a truthful answer. If you are confident that you are not an impostor, sir, then why not let a member of The Family verify it?"
Fu Zhu's expression grew even darker. He remained silent for a long moment.
By now, a crowd of onlookers had gathered, and after hearing the entire exchange, they all looked at Fu Zhu with suspicion. His silence after Aventurine proposed a method to verify his identity only deepened their doubts.
"Fine. Then come and verify whether I am the real deal or not."
After a long pause, Fu Zhu finally agreed to Aventurine's suggestion. Aventurine smiled and nodded, then turned to the group of Hound Family members behind him. Soon, a woman dressed distinctly from the other Hound members stepped forward.
She walked up to Fu Zhu and bowed slightly. "Good day, sir. I am a Tunemaster within The Family. While my skills in this area are not as profound as those of the Sunday family or Miss Robin, I am still capable of invoking the divine sound to verify a person's true identity."
"Hmph. Then begin."
Fu Zhu said nothing more, merely standing his ground and lifting his chin to signal that the woman could start.
The woman understood and immediately clasped her hands together in front of her chest, beginning a devout chant.
"Oh, soul of three faces, I bid you brand his tongue and palm with hot iron, that he may not fabricate lies, nor make a false vow."
The next second, Fu Zhu felt the same Harmony's Chord that Sunday had used take effect on him. However, its power level was significantly lower than Sunday's, and the moment the buff took effect, it was instantly dispelled by the Automatic Feeder Upgrade he had equipped beforehand.
After confirming that the Harmony's Chord was active, the woman looked seriously at Fu Zhu and began her questions.
"I ask you, are you truly the Head of Family Sunday?"
Fu Zhu quickly glanced at the woman's name on his minimap, then used a command to send her a private message while simultaneously speaking the exact same answer aloud.
"I am."
"I ask you, have you ever possessed the ability to transform into the likeness of another person?"
"I have."
"I ask you, are you willing to swear that everything you have said is your truest inner answer?"
"I am."
After Fu Zhu gave three consecutive affirmative answers, everyone on the scene, including Aventurine and the Hound Family members, showed expressions of utter shock. They found it hard to believe that the person who had committed those incredible acts just a short while ago was truly the Head of Family Sunday!
Fu Zhu let out a soft snort, looking at the complex expression on Aventurine's face with mockery. "Mr. Aventurine, are you satisfied with my answers?"
Aventurine's expression twisted, and he clenched his fists as if unwilling to accept the result. But he quickly forced a strained smile. "It seems this was all just a misunderstanding. Since the misunderstanding has been cleared up, Head of Family Sunday, will you be returning my private property to me?"
"Private property? Are you referring to this Aventurine Stone?"
Fu Zhu took out the Aventurine Stone he had gotten from him earlier and held it in his hand.
"That's right."
But in the next second, Fu Zhu's hand, holding the stone, suddenly clenched. He crushed it into fragments, then casually opened his palm and let the pieces scatter to the ground.
The crowd gasped in unison. Was this really the humble and courteous Head of Family Sunday they knew?
Then, Fu Zhu took a checkbook from his pocket, wrote down a string of numbers, tore out the check, and walked over to Aventurine. He handed it to him with an air of arrogant superiority.
"My apologies, my hand slipped. But in any case, it's just an inferior stone bestowed by [Diamond], utterly worthless. Take this money and buy yourself a few new ones."
Aventurine's face was dark as he quickly snatched the check from Fu Zhu's hand, lest a careful observer notice the IPC logo printed on it.
This checkbook was, of course, his own, which he had given to Fu Zhu beforehand.
The reporters who had been following Fu Zhu reacted instantly, rapidly pressing their shutters to record this very moment.