Shinigami.

"Tall in stature, utilizing thermal energy to kill opponents... This method of slaughter, it is either Duke Inferno or Sam."

"Sam?"

Sam, one of the Stellaron Hunters, was definitely a top-tier powerhouse according to Welt. Shunsui Kyoraku was not at all surprised that he dared to trespass into the Primitive Dreamscape, but what truly piqued his curiosity was why Sam would be interested in Firefly.

"Byakuya, you must be mistaken, right? The Stellaron Hunters are interested in the The Clockmaker's Legacy, but Firefly is just a young girl who just died. Why would they be interested in her?" Kyōraku shook his sake flask, a lazy smile in his voice.

"There is one possibility." Byakuya gently set his teacup down on the table. "Firefly discovered the truth about the The Clockmaker's Legacy while in the Primitive Dreamscape, and Sam wanted to extract clues from her, hence the pursuit... But everything happened too quickly. Perhaps at this moment, he does not know that Firefly has already died at the hands of the Meme."

"In other words, Firefly was being pursued by both the Meme and Sam simultaneously? What a pitiful young girl..." He sighed softly, his tone uncharacteristically stripped of its flippancy, revealing a trace of melancholy instead.

Byakuya lowered his gaze, his fingertips grazing the rim of the teacup, causing faint ripples on the surface of the tea.

"Life and death are determined by fate. If she can still wake up, I hope she will no longer be overly obsessed with the dreamscape."

"You certainly take a broad view of her situation." Kyōraku turned his head, his gaze beneath his straw hat carrying a hint of amusement. "Then what percentage of probability do you think it is that the perpetrator is Duke Inferno?"

"Thirty percent."

Byakuya frowned. "Duke Inferno is too composed. I do not know what kind of opportunity he is waiting for. Now that the sharpness of the various factions has been revealed, clues about him are few and far between..."

"I do not rule out the possibility that he is playing a larger game behind the scenes. If that is truly the case, then striking at this moment to completely disrupt the situation in Penacony is absolutely wise for the 【Destruction】 he yearns for."

【Black Swan led the group to a room filled with television sets.】

【"Come—I can perform a little magic trick for you all. Get ready, and be careful not to gasp in surprise."】

【Black Swan flicked her fingertips, and suddenly, four or five translucent phantoms appeared in the room—without exception, they were all in the likeness of Firefly.】

【"This is... Firefly?" Acheron frowned.】

【"That is correct. These are memories related to her, left behind in this room. The slight tremors of the ground, the reflections flashing across the screens, the flow of Memoria... I have gathered them and reproduced them in the form of fragments."】

【One of the Fireflies said: "That thing we encountered with Stelle at that time... If I am not mistaken... it must be related to the 【Watchmaker】."】

【Acheron looked at Stelle: "She mentioned your name."】

【"Calling you by that name even behind your back, it seems your relationship is indeed quite good." Black Swan smiled lightly. "She seems to be sharing her discoveries with someone, and what's more... it is related to the Watchmaker."】

【Acheron lowered her eyes: "She still does not know that she will become a victim..."】

【The group continued to investigate the other Firefly phantoms. One of the phantoms was staring at these screens, saying: "If... I could do it one more time..."】

【"Is she looking in a mirror by staring at these screens... What does 'one more time' mean?"】

【And a phantom that was moving toward the corridor said: "Let us set off..."】

【"'Us'? Was there someone else with her?" This detail piqued Black Swan's interest. She pointed to the exit on the other side of the room and speculated: "Synthesizing this information, Firefly entered this corridor with a companion—there should only be one."】

One Piece.

"Hmph." Crocodile exhaled a ring of smoke. "That girl was still cooperating with someone before she died in the dream; it's likely someone from the IPC. Only the IPC would be willing to cooperate with a woman like her, who is terminally ill and possesses no combat power... The goal is none other than the The Clockmaker's Legacy. Heh, Gold Dust really played a good hand."

"Mihawk, who do you think Firefly was cooperating with?"

Mihawk sat inside the cabin, savoring a piece of roasted meat. He raised his red wine glass and took a small sip, a flash of displeasure crossing his golden hawk-like eyes. "I have no interest in guessing back and forth."

"Heh, I think you're angry, aren't you?" A mocking grin appeared on Crocodile's sinister face. "Just because, in such an extreme situation, Acheron still chose not to strike?"

Mihawk did not answer. He was not angry, but disappointed. Even now, Acheron refused to truly draw her blade and strike even once, refusing to act even when faced with such a beast...

What was she hesitating about?

Could she be an indecisive person?

If it were Jingliu, she would have drawn her sword without the slightest hesitation by then...

Thinking of this, Mihawk could not help but feel a bit agitated.

Crocodile noticed Mihawk's internal displeasure, so he did not bother him further, instead glancing sideways at Buggy. "Hey, Clown, what do you think?"

Buggy shuddered, and the skewer of roasted meat in his hand dropped to the ground with a "clatter." He swallowed his saliva and laughed dryly: "Ah haha... maybe, maybe she was cooperating with that Sam?"

"Sam? How could that woman possibly cooperate with Sam? Sam was clearly hunting her down, right? Boring..." Crocodile snorted coldly, his golden hook flashing with a cold light in the sunlight. "A fool like you can only come up with such an answer."

【The three continued forward and discovered that at a turn in the corridor, Firefly said in a very panicked tone: "How could you...?! This is not what we agreed upon..."】

【"The situation has begun to change; it seems that the companion... has deviated from the original plan." Acheron said.】

【Black Swan nodded: "Or, judging from the results... this was that person's true 'plan' all along."】

【Continuing along the corridor, Firefly's phantom was running toward the door at the bottom of the stairs: "Mecha...?! Why..."】

【Acheron leaned in a little closer, carefully observing the phantom's panicked expression: "She was forced to come this way by someone, and furthermore..."】

【Black Swan was thoughtful: "【Mecha】... an intriguing way of putting it. I recall that the Hound Family is hunting down a criminal—a 'tall male wearing silver armor'."】

【And when Firefly's phantom arrived at the room at the very bottom, her tone was somewhat desperate: "The door... won't open... this is a dead end..."】

【Acheron analyzed: "Judging from these disjointed words, Firefly's companion betrayed her halfway, locking her alone in this room while they themselves disappeared without a trace... Why?"】

【"She said that this transaction was related to the 'Watchmaker'—anything involving the Watchmaker touches upon the bottom line of many people."】