""In this way, Interastral Peace Corporation will gain the right to sit at the table. And you, too, will be able to extricate yourself from the endless vortex and achieve the liberation you've always yearned for.""

""It's not the first time... This is the method you're best at, and the one you desire most. This farce began with a Diamond, and it will end with a Diamond.""

The shadow suddenly laughed: "...So that's why Diamond chose you?"

Gold Dust said faintly: "He only wants Penacony, no matter the means, no matter the cost... And it has nothing to do with specific individuals."

""Heh heh heh... It must be hard, right?""

Gold Dust's gaze darkened: "You've suddenly become very considerate, have you had a change of heart?"

""I was born from your self, so I know very well that taking back a thrown chip is as difficult as ascending to the heavens. I can't stop what you're going to do, and the place you're going... we can't change it either.""

A faint rumble of thunder suddenly sounded in Celestial Screen, and Gold Dust looked up at the cloud-covered firmament: "What's done is done. All we can do is seize every opportunity to win ourselves as much time as possible."

The shadow nodded with emotion: "Yes. It's a pity that people can't always make the right decisions in life... Although good fortune is always on your side. You always win, you've never lost—but why you? Why... must it be you?"

""If a lucky person's miracle is entirely built upon the misfortunes of all those he loves, and even more people... If every rain you bring never symbolizes the Mother Goddess's forgiveness and grace, but rather meaningless deaths again and again..."

"Then how many mistakes did we make to be born into this world?"

—

The War of Two Cities.

"I've heard similar statements before..." Viktor recalled what he had seen and heard in the Undercity when he was a child. Indeed, some people attributed others' good fortune to themselves, believing that others had siphoned away their luck.

Even more extreme individuals would resort to witchcraft, curses, and other means to interfere with others' lives.

However, Viktor believed that those who thought luck could be siphoned away often first drained their own agency over life, projecting their helplessness onto the world.

"Viktor, do you remember the question that shadow asked Gold Dust earlier?" Jess asked.

"What question?"

"If he could choose again, would he still choose to be a child blessed by the Mother Goddess?" Jess looked at his best partner, "If being blessed means that his luck is built upon the misfortune and death of other members of his tribe... it means that Gold Dust's luck is piled up from the lives of his fellow tribesmen."

"Although this is just a guess and cannot be proven, the reason the shadow dared to say that is probably because Gold Dust himself has been tormented by this thought for many years and cannot forget it, right?"

"At that time, Gold Dust didn't answer the shadow..." Viktor's voice was like a rusted gear, "But if he were to choose again, he would probably choose a more heartwarming outcome. But the problem is, even if all his tribesmen survived the massacre, how many of them, living as slaves, could come out like Gold Dust?"

—

""...Perhaps when I reach that end point, our confusion will be answered.""

""Hmph... Alright. I'll go ahead, my friend, I'll wait for you up ahead." With a light laugh from the shadow, his figure gradually disappeared, but before leaving, he still looked back at Gold Dust, "For your last moments, say a proper farewell to this child. Try to make sure... you have no regrets when you die.""

The shadow disappeared, leaving only Kakavasha and Gold Dust.

After helping him take a commemorative photo, Kakavasha also left. Before leaving, he curiously asked Gold Dust why he wasn't leaving, but Gold Dust smiled and shook his head: "I have a performance here..."

""Oh... Then you're about to go on stage, aren't you? Let's go, I'll take you to the main stage.""

""...Mm.""

"So you're an actor... No wonder your clothes are so pretty." Kakavasha curiously examined him.

Gold Dust shook his head: "Actually, I'm a... businessman. But I do have a performance."

"You're like the men in black in Celestial Screen? But you're not wearing black clothes."

"Only ordinary employees have to wear those clothes, my position... is much higher than theirs."

Kakavasha's eyes widened with envy: "So amazing! I hope I can become a beautiful adult like you."

"You can." Gold Dust suddenly smiled. He bent down, looked seriously into Kakavasha's eyes, and said gently: "You will definitely be better and more amazing than me."

—

Dungeon Meshi.

"Can he not die...?"

"Robin and Lucy are both gone, even their physical bodies have disappeared. If he goes too, the evigen bloodline will be completely severed, and there will be no more beautiful eyes like that in the universe..."

The bonfire in the dungeon crackled, and Marcille hugged her knees, her big green eyes filled with tears.

"He's such a gentle person, I can't bear for him to die, boo hoo hoo..."

"Alright, Marcille, maybe things aren't that bad?" Chilchuck chewed on dried meat, looking up at Celestial Screen, "Just now Kakavasha mentioned 'men in black.' Combined with Gold Dust's words, those men in black must be from Interastral Peace Corporation. In short, before the conflict between the Avgin and the Katikans, Interastral Peace Corporation had already arrived in Tzigania and intervened in the dispute between these two tribes."

He frowned slightly, carefully observing the various scars and bruises on Kakavasha's body: "Although we know that the Katikans did later launch a dehumanizing massacre, if we stand from Interastral Peace Corporation's perspective and think with the will of the Preservation... would Interastral Peace Corporation really just stand by?"

"Ah, that's right!" Laios suddenly realized, sitting up straight, "Interastral Peace Corporation believes in the Preservation. A massacre, which is clearly contrary to the Preservation, couldn't possibly be allowed, no matter how you look at it, right?"

Although the Katikans were powerful in Tzigania, in front of Interastral Peace Corporation, they were ultimately just a dish. As long as Interastral Peace Corporation wanted to stop them, they could definitely stop them.

Chilchuck gave his conclusion: "So I suspect that the Avgin might have been somewhat rescued by Interastral Peace Corporation, and it's not that only Gold Dust is left, as he thought."

"But... Mr. Gold Dust has a very high position in Interastral Peace Corporation. If there were surviving tribesmen, he should have known long ago." Marcille wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, "And after so many years, I don't believe Mr. Gold Dust hasn't searched for his tribesmen at all."

"Chilchuck."

Sensi, who had been silently preparing food by the bonfire, suddenly spoke, interjecting, "Marcille is right, you've overlooked a problem."

"Hmm? What problem?"

"If Interastral Peace Corporation truly wanted to prevent the Katikans from launching a massacre, then the massacre wouldn't have been possible from the start. But everyone knows the result—"

Sensi looked up at Kakavasha with a solemn expression, "...This is enough to show that Interastral Peace Corporation had no intention of intervening in the conflict between their tribes from the beginning. Interastral Peace Corporation only wanted to make a deal with the victor of this struggle."

—

The two arrived at the depths of the theater and stopped in front of the curtain.

"Behind this curtain is the main stage..." Kakavasha looked back at Gold Dust, smiling slightly, "It's almost time to go on stage. Are you ready? I wish your performance complete success."

"Thank you."

"You still seem very nervous..." Kakavasha extended his tender little hand, "How about we 'high-five'? With the Mother Goddess's blessing, you might feel more at ease."