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Aha's cheerful voice echoed in Su Jinyan's mind: "Pinocconi modulation mode activated."

Dramatic changes occurred simultaneously in all twelve of Pinocchio's timelines.

Humans, Commanders, Machines, Memory Makers, Dream Troupe...

All common sense about life was altered at this moment.

Hmm, something feels off.

Su Jinyan frowned. What kind of place was this? How did this sudden sense of unease arise?

......

Meanwhile, at the Daydream Hotel.

Before he could even fall asleep, Sand Gold found Doctor Truth.

Tuk-tuk-tuk——

Sand Gold gently knocked on the door, then pushed it open and entered.

Dr. Truth stood quietly in the corner of the room, his face somber.

Sand Gold walked behind Doctor Truth, struck the classic pose of the Thousand Years of Death, and stabbed Doctor Truth hard.

"Hiss—" Dr. Truth covered his buttocks and gasped.

"What's wrong, Ladio? Don't look so gloomy."

"Hey, I just noticed, where did your handsome plaster hair go?"

Dr. Truth looked displeased: "You're late, by a full 4 minutes and 16 seconds."

"You'd better use this time to unravel the mystery of Akivili's fall."

“If not, then I would advise you not to cause trouble for the nameless guest.”

Sand Gold chuckled lightly: "Looking for trouble? Even you think so?"

"Does nobody believe that I really just want to be friends with them?"

"Professor, I've greeted you so respectfully, it would be very impolite of you not to return the greeting."

Dr. Truth said coldly, "You're so late, and you expect me to show you any respect?"

"Friends...noisy people can't make friends."

"A little tidbit: The Artini peacock is one of the most unpleasant-sounding birds in the universe."

"And your outfit makes you look just like a peacock in full regalia..."

"It seems this peacock's feathers have been plucked—did its luggage get confiscated by the family?"

Sand Gold spread his hands and said, "Yeah, they were all confiscated by that guy in the gray suit."

"All the gifts, and the box that holds the foundation stone, I even lost ten million credits to that nameless guest."

"Huh? Which way are you going?"

Dr. Truth said coldly, "Go back home and tell the company that some idiot messed everything up."

The gold dust scoffed: "They're just a few rocks, why be so pessimistic? So what if they're gone?"

Dr. Truth said, "Without that aventurine, you're just a Tzinian slave sentenced to death by the company."

"Or is that [product code] on your neck also a gift from the Amber King?"

Sand Gold laughed: "Oh, that's great, humorous!"

"It seems our learned friend has prepared his lesson well."

Dr. Truth's eyes remained calm: "This is my job."

"Otherwise, how can a gambler reclaim Pinocchio Border Prison for the company?"

Sand Gold smiled faintly: "Don't worry, Professor, I have plenty of ways."

"The family is afraid that the company will cause trouble, so they are always at odds with it."

"It's possible that Pinocchio was part of a conspiracy by [Tonghe] from the very beginning."

Dr. Truth scoffed: "A conspiracy?"

Sand Gold said, "If you ask me, that invitation was just a self-directed and self-acted ruse."

"Perhaps they want to do something outrageous at the Harmony Festival."

"Or perhaps the inviter was someone else, but they tacitly agreed, intending to turn the tables and set up an even bigger scheme."

"It doesn't matter, whether it's family or the watchmaker's legacy, as long as it can be used by me."

Doctor Truth asked in a deep voice, "Get to the point. What's the solution?"

Sand Gold smiled: "There's no need to explain so clearly now—it's not the time to reveal our hand yet."

Doctor Truth frowned: "Damn gambler, cooperation is based on mutual trust—isn't that included in the Tziganese preschool education?"

Sand Gold raised an eyebrow: "Then do you trust me? Do you respect me?"

Dr. Truth said calmly, "It depends on your attitude."

Sand Gold's eyes sparkled with amusement: "So you don't trust me either, that settles it, doesn't it?"

"Also, I've never been to school, and my parents certainly didn't teach me this."

"It's a pity they left before they had a chance to teach us."

Dr. Truth remained silent for a moment.

To express his apology, Dr. Truth came up behind Sand Gold, made the Thousand Years of Death gesture, and stabbed him hard.

"Ow!!!"

Sand Gold grimaced and jumped up suddenly; he could clearly feel Dr. Truth's apology.

"...I meant no offense."

After offering this apology, Dr. Truth quietly left.

Sand Gold, with his back to him, chuckled softly: "Never mind. But they taught me that 'friends are the weapons of the Evikins.'"

"With 'Tongxie' eyeing us covetously, the more friends we have, the better."

"Let me think... The Flowing Light Memory Garden and the Starry Sky Train have already made contact."

"The attitude of the Eternal Flame Mansion is unclear, but it is worth contacting. It is still unknown whether the Pure Beauty Knights will accept the invitation."

"As for the guys at the tavern, oh dear..."

"I admit, I really don't want to deal with Su Jinyan. I can't handle his abilities."

Sand Gold kept talking, unaware that Doctor Truth had already left.

......

At dawn, the magnificent Morning Dew Mansion stands here, where the family's top brass discusses important matters.

Gallagher, the sheriff of the hound family, showed a hint of sorrow on his weathered face, but it quickly disappeared.

Soon after, the head of the Oak family emerged from the meeting room on Sunday.

Gallagher strode forward and delivered a seemingly harmless but deadly blow to Sunday's back.

I stopped on Sunday, slightly displeased.

The sheriff of the hound family doesn't seem to respect himself much.

"Sheriff, why use such light force?" Sunday asked casually.

Gallagher said in a low voice, "I'm sorry, Mr. Sunday, I was thinking about something else."

On Sunday, he did not pursue his rudeness, his gaze lingering on Gallagher for a moment.

"I heard from that lord (the head of the Hound family) that you were assigned by him to investigate Afrit?"

Gallagher replied respectfully, "That's true, but my colleague Pete thinks he's better suited for the job."

"So I handed it over to him, with the head of the family's permission."

On Sunday, he remained noncommittal: "You're very wise."

"Whether Afrit's identity is true or false, he is not someone a sheriff can afford to mess with."

Gallagher asked, "Mr. Sunday, what is your family's attitude towards that Grand Duke of the Underworld?"

Sunday coldly replied, "This is not something you can inquire about right now."

......

At dusk.

How did we get here?

"Su Jinyan said he's at his golden age, I need to find him as soon as possible."

Huang Quan gazed at the sky and muttered to himself.

The black swan quietly approached Huang Quan from behind, her slender white hand making the Thousand Years of Kill gesture, as if to give Huang Quan a proper greeting.