Life is like a long-term investment. Choose the right people, make the right decisions, reach the right outcomes, and demonstrate your value to the world.

It's impossible to make only correct decisions throughout one's life, but good fortune has always been on my side. I have never lost.

Is it because the Mother Goddess is blessing me? If so, she must be watching over me now as well. I will surely succeed.

But then... what?

If I successfully overcome this challenge, what comes next? After a grand gamble, is what awaits me... an even grander gamble?

Is it to return victorious with countless chips after repeated successes, or after one failure...

To never return?

"Heh, don't you know the answer in your heart, you worthless gambler?" A mocking voice came through.

The scene shifted again. Aventurine was standing dazed on the street, and this sarcastic voice came from behind him.

"What's going on," Aventurine clutched his head and looked back. A somewhat ethereal 'self' stood behind him with arms crossed, wearing a disdainful expression.

[Fu Xuan: Who is this?]

[March 7th: Is Aventurine actually two people?]

[Welt: No, his body is very ethereal. This isn't a real person. Perhaps the power of Harmony is causing him to hallucinate?]

Aventurine held his head, muttering, "Am I dreaming, or have I gone completely mad?"

"You've forgotten me already? Who gave you the idea when you were strapped to the electric chair by the warlord of Iimanikas?" The apparition replied with a mocking smile on its face.

"Enough..." Aventurine interrupted indifferently. "I might be crazy, but I'm not stupid. Get out of my head, you newborn of 'Harmony'."

"Heh, 'Harmony'? Don't be silly, this isn't our first meeting, no need to be so formal," the apparition chuckled in rebuttal:

"I am you, and I even understand you better than yourself, knowing exactly what you want. You're about to die, and on the brink of death, you still want to drag a few unfortunate souls down with you... That's why you're here, isn't it?"

The apparition's gaze was as sharp as a knife, staring straight at Aventurine, sneering, "...The grand opening performance, do you really think you can pull it off?"

"Why not?" Aventurine responded defiantly, straightening his back.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"Maybe you can fool everyone else, but you can't fool yourself." The apparition calmly pointed out.

"I can prove it to you — before you completely disappear, I'll accompany you for the last part of your journey......"

"We'll have a good talk along the way." The apparition said nonchalantly.

As it spoke, the apparition began to walk at a leisurely pace towards the depths of Clockwork Theme Park. Its figure gradually disappeared into the darkness, as if leading Aventurine towards an unknown abyss.

"......Damn it, what the hell are you?" Aventurine finally couldn't bear this eerie atmosphere anymore and burst out cursing. His voice echoed in the empty theme park, carrying a hint of despair and anger.

[Sparkle: Oh my, the little peacock cursed for the first time. Did you... get triggered by yourself? Hahahahaha]

The apparition seemed to sense Aventurine's gaze and suddenly stopped. It slowly turned around to face Aventurine, then folded its arms across its chest and said coldly:

"Most people in this world spend their entire lives striving to reach one outcome...... and I am that outcome."

After saying this, the apparition's eyes became sharp, like two swords piercing straight into Aventurine's heart. It continued: "Kakawa, I am your future."

These words hit Aventurine's heart like a heavy hammer, making him shudder involuntarily.

Then the apparition dissipated, everything returned to normal, and Aventurine just held his aching head and said self-mockingly:

First auditory hallucinations, now visual ones, great. What's next, am I going to be promoted to Emanator of Harmony?

Aventurine looked around and didn't see any tourists.

How come there are no tourists here? What is that wing-head up to?

There's only one Pipi... no, a child?

[Stella: Wing-head... Sunday's nickname is getting shorter and shorter.]

[Guinaifen: Hehe, Mr. Sunday's nickname count increases by one!]

In the scene, Aventurine was intently observing his surroundings when suddenly, he noticed something unusual. Looking into the distance, he saw a small boy standing alone next to the Clock Boy statue, dressed in simple, somewhat poor clothing.

I remember that during the Golden Hour, minors are not allowed to enter...

Aventurine pondered to himself: "Strange, according to the rules, minors should be prohibited from entering during the Golden Hour..." Filled with confusion, he couldn't help but ask, "Hey, kid, how come you're here all alone?"

As he spoke, Aventurine quickened his pace towards the child. At the same time, he instinctively covered his head with his right hand, his face showing a pained expression, his brows tightly furrowed.

"Mister, what's wrong? You don't seem to be feeling well..." Hearing the voice, the little boy turned around and looked at Aventurine curiously.

When their eyes met, Aventurine was instantly stunned by what he saw — the boy's eyes were like two dazzling gems, with pink, blue, and green irises intertwining, forming a pair of dreamlike, colorful eyes.

But what shocked him the most was the deeper meaning behind these eyes — Avekingian!

"Your... eyes? This is impossible, who are you?" Aventurine stammered in shock.

"They're beautiful, aren't they? Sister said it's a gift from 'Mama Fengo'. Colorful eyes bring good luck." The child innocently put his index finger to his lips and exclaimed, "Ah, mister... you have beautiful eyes too. They're so pretty!"

Aventurine asked in astonishment, "You... are you alone? Where are your parents?"

The child nodded very obediently and then answered:

"They're all in this amusement park. Mom and dad went in first. I'm about to go find them."

Then he waved to Aventurine: "So I have to go now, goodbye, mister. I hope you have fun too!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the young child ran off into the distance, leaving Aventurine standing alone, lost in thought and muttering to himself: "Those eyes, and Mama Fengo, no, this can't be..."

"There shouldn't be any more Avekingians in the universe..."

As he pondered, Aventurine decided to follow the child and set off in pursuit.