The screen suddenly went black, with only a few large characters remaining.

[Interlude Time - After the Interlude, Even More Exciting]

In the spacious and bright conference hall, Topaz slammed her hand down heavily, her face gloomy.

Aventurine, sitting nearby, remained silent, only taking deep breaths. He was clearly still trying to process the news they had just received.

"Sister..." he muttered, his eyes revealing a hint of pain and confusion.

At this moment, Jade, who had been coldly observing, spoke up. Her voice was calm and detached: "It seems we may need to reconsider our choice for recovering Pinnocchio."

"Jade, Aventurine, Topaz, three cornerstones... What a brilliant plan," she said, the corners of her mouth turning up slightly in a barely noticeable smile. "When the jade stone is sent back to the family headquarters, the company's arrangements here will be considered a great success."

However, Topaz suddenly raised her head, her gaze intense, staring fixedly at Aventurine. Her voice was low and full of warning: "But don't forget, you know better than anyone the severe consequences that will be triggered by the shattering of the aventurine stone - the aventurine stone will completely disappear, and this is undoubtedly the painful price to pay for losing a cornerstone!"

Aventurine's lips curled into a slight, contemptuous smile. Although his face was slightly pale, he still spoke with composure: "Oh? How do you think Diamond will deal with me? If I lose this gamble, the only outcome awaiting me is death. At most, he can only punish a corpse, perhaps by demoting me or directly expelling me from the ranks of the Ten Stone Hearts."

"The opportunity is rare, why not take a gamble?" Jade's face showed a sly smile.

"You want to bet with me? Although things that haven't happened can't be used as stakes, but... alright. If I can make it back to the company alive, then I'll bet - he'll promote me to P46."

"Then if such a situation does occur during the upcoming viewing process... what do you plan to stake?"

"A real bet or a fake one? I don't want to pawn anything to you, lest I end up cleaned out."

"But if we're just betting for fun, then let's do it like we did when we first met - I'll bet my life, lady."

"Interesting, but since that would be 'Diamond's' decision, even if it's a future simulated by this viewing room, I can't predict the answer in advance." Jade shrugged, not refuting these statements.

After chatting for a while, the pallor in Aventurine's face gradually returned to normal, and he looked much better. At this time, the screen began to display new content.

[Interlude: Eternal Fire Mansion]

"Star of the Feast, Pinnocchio" accompanied by a deep and magnetic male voice, the image on the screen gradually became clear.

His head was actually like that of a goat, grotesque and twisted, as if a demon had descended. His head and eyes burned with raging flames, as if they would devour everything.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

His posture was as straight as a pine tree, exuding an incomparable air of majesty. He wore a black robe inlaid with shimmering gems and silver threads, glittering with mysterious light. More eye-catching was the golden monocle he wore, through which his gaze was sharp and profound, as if able to see through everything.

Below him, four figures stood respectfully, as if waiting for the king's orders.

The man lightly raised his hand, and a burning flame blossomed in his palm, like a blooming flower. As the flame danced, an exquisite clock gradually appeared, its hands slowly turning, seemingly symbolizing the passage of time.

"The family has set the feast, and guests are invited," the man's voice sounded again, carrying a hint of mystery. His gaze swept over the four below, his eyes flickering with light.

"The golden blood of destruction will flow together, offering a grand sacrifice to Him," his words were like a spell, inspiring awe.

"Children of the flame, this is your coming-of-age ceremony."

As the last words were spoken, the entire scene fell into silence.

The Grand Duke of Infernal Fire sat on the throne, his presence like an insurmountable mountain, inspiring awe. The four descendants standing below had varying expressions - some excited, some nervous - but they all knew that this coming-of-age ceremony would be a crucial turning point in their lives.

[Walter: Eternal Fire Mansion... that's the Grand Duke of Infernal Fire.]

[Sushang: Is this the one Aventurine said was killed by Acheron earlier?]

"Akash!" the Grand Duke of Infernal Fire called out, "My most sensitive child..."

"I ignite your eyes to teach you to pluck strings and make music. You shall use a four-stringed instrument to play the banquet music, silencing the harmonious choir."

Hearing his father's words, Akash smiled slightly, then raised the instrument in his hand and responded confidently, "That's exactly what I intend to do, old man!"

[Sunday: This gentleman looks a bit familiar.]

[Stella: Is a corpse talking?]

A half-bitten apple slowly materialized in the Grand Duke of Infernal Fire's hand. However, what was spine-chilling was that instead of a core, the apple contained a segment of human spine! The spine was still faintly burning with purple flames, seemingly emitting an eerie aura.

"Dubra..." the Grand Duke of Infernal Fire called, the flames burning in his eye sockets seeming to grow more intense, his voice full of fatherly love and authority, "You are my most intelligent child."

"I ignite your body and bestow upon you knives, saws, axes, and halberds."

"You shall temper the iron sickle with sulfur, granting both pleasure and pain, letting the actor's blood and tears flow into the River Styx."

Dubra respectfully nodded, indicating that he understood his mission: "As you command, my father."

[Sampo: This is so much fun, old Sampo here is really looking forward to seeing what you can do.]

[Sparkle: This is really too amusing, hahaha, I get it, the circus clowns are banging their gongs and drums to start the show.]

"Katrina, my bravest child, I ignite your heart and grant you a chest full of boiling blood. You shall use rage to break open the vaults of 'Preservation', melt down their gold, and cast an idol for our benefactor."

"No need to say more, old man!"

"Finally, Constantine... my most ambitious child, my most excellent child. I have nothing left to teach you, just remember to make Pinnocchio wither and fade at midnight, take away everything you love, leaving only the grave of memories."

After forcefully saying these words, the Grand Duke of Infernal Fire crushed the burning flower in his hand.

"Hahahahaha..." A bout of unrestrained laughter came from below. A figure slowly stood up. She lifted the hat on her head, revealing that delicate and beautiful face, laughing and saying, "There's no need for him to appear, I alone am enough."

"Katrina, it's better to be pessimistic," another woman wearing a large white hat sighed softly. "Maybe we'll all die."

"Shh~" Akash gently raised his hand to his mouth, making a gesture for silence. "When have the doomed outlaws walking the path of destruction ever feared death?"

"But we should also be prepared," a puppet spoke, suddenly turning its back. "Fa...ther..."

The puppeteer behind the puppet asked, "This journey is perilous, what's our retreat plan?"

"The retreat plan... as always, doesn't exist," the Grand Duke of Infernal Fire walked down from the platform, coming to the side of the four, and announced without hesitation, "Destruction is a glorious moment. If we seek to survive in cowardice, this life would be too long."

"Enjoy Pinnocchio, enjoy her invitation. Let this beautiful dream prepare to welcome its new master from Tophet, 'Grand Duke of Infernal Fire' Ifrit, Eternal Fire Mansion."