Hotel Debord.
Lu Heng had already set down his chopsticks.
Seeing this, Furina stood up and glanced at the time, secretly pouting.
Why did time have to pass so quickly?
Was it true that when people were relaxed, they didn't notice the passage of time?
She wanted to stay with Lu Heng a little longer.
Because when she was around him, her mind would relax. She didn't have to worry about her identity, nor did she need to carefully weigh every word she said.
Such a comfortable state was rare for her. But the thought of having to leave this comfort soon made Furina's expression fall.
Lu Heng glanced at her and immediately recognized Furina's "I don't want to go to work" mood.
"If you really don't want to go, just skip it. Neuvillette should be able to handle it, right?" Lu Heng suggested.
Neuvillette could indeed handle the matter, but Furina felt she still needed to make an appearance—after all, this was no small affair.
"It's fine. It's just a press conference anyway."
Furina raised her hand and rubbed her face, quickly switching to a very professional expression.
"How do I look?" Furina asked Lu Heng.
"Very much like the Hydro Archon." Lu Heng nodded.
"Then let's head out!"
Furina pushed the door open and stepped out.
She praised Hotel Debord in a tone full of satisfaction.
Translated, it meant: The Hydro Archon and the mysterious Mr. Lu had a delightful conversation, and the hotel's cuisine also received Mr. Lu's approval.
Lu Heng was indeed quite satisfied. After all, he had been eating processed junk food before, and the contrast was stark.
Arriving at the hotel entrance.
"I'll head off first. If I wrap things up quickly, maybe I can invite you for afternoon tea."
Though the thought of diving into work dampened Miss Furina's mood, the prospect of afternoon tea filled her with anticipation again.
"See you in the afternoon, then." Lu Heng nodded.
"Off I go!"
Furina strode away, leaving Lu Heng with her retreating figure.
Her white hair, streaked with blue highlights, fluttered with each step, like a jellyfish drifting through the sea.
Only after she turned the corner did Lu Heng withdraw his gaze and begin walking in the direction of his card shop.
...
2:00 PM sharp.
Charlotte and dozens of her colleagues had arrived at the venue half an hour early.
In the solemn and spacious conference room, Furina sat at the head of the table, with Neuvillette at her side.
Neuvillette first announced the integrated system, then solemnly declared: "The Skyfaring Mirror has officially entered operational status."
Immediately, a reporter raised a question.
"Mr. Neuvillette, the Skyfaring Mirror monitors the citizens of Fontaine. Doesn't this violate their privacy? Does it mean that everything we do will be seen by the Skyfaring Mirror?"
Before Neuvillette could answer, Furina rolled her eyes and said, "I know you feel like you're under surveillance, but the Palais Mermonia isn't so bored as to scrutinize your every move."
Her tone carried a sharp edge.
Neuvillette continued, "Rest assured, I have already considered the issue of privacy. Fortunately, the Skyfaring Mirror has a filtering function—as long as no laws are broken, it will not react to citizens' actions. To put it simply, if you do not violate the law, the Skyfaring Mirror will not know what you are doing."
"Thank you for your explanation, Mr. Neuvillette."
Charlotte raised her hand and, after receiving permission, asked, "Lady Furina, Mr. Neuvillette, given that Fontaine's current laws are no longer entirely suitable for the future of the Court of Fontaine, is the Palais Mermonia considering updating them?"
Neuvillette answered solemnly, "Rest assured, the Palais Mermonia is already making preparations."
Reporters continued to ask questions, and Neuvillette's answers satisfied everyone.
Furina, sitting at the head of the table, was somewhat bored but had to maintain the dignified demeanor of the Hydro Archon. She found it exhausting.
If she had never met Lu Heng, she might have continued enduring this life. But now, she clearly couldn't stand it anymore.
Bang!
Furina slammed the table, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
"This matter is very simple!"
"There's an old saying in Liyue: 'When one carries a weapon, the intent to kill arises.'"
"Don't think that just because you pulled some good cards from the card shop, you're strong enough to challenge the law!"
"I'm warning you all—behave yourselves! The Palais Mermonia has zero tolerance for crime. If you don't like it, just look up at the Skyfaring Mirror. Break the law, and you'll get a blast!"
Neuvillette was slightly stunned—had Furina eaten gunpowder for lunch?
The room fell silent for a moment.
But the next second, thunderous applause broke out.
"As expected of Lady Furina!"
"Same style as always, though that sounded a bit bloodthirsty."
"This is exactly how criminals should be dealt with!"
Neuvillette spoke up, "Lady Furina's words represent the stance of the Palais Mermonia."
A reporter raised their hand and, after being permitted, asked, "Lady Furina, Mr. Neuvillette, could you demonstrate some of the Skyfaring Mirror's functions?"
"Of course."
Neuvillette nodded—this was the carefully prepared moment to flex their muscles.
Neuvillette took out his specially made equipment and activated the projection.
[Integrated system operating stably]
[Skyfaring Mirror] [Connected]
The wall displayed a projection of the system's operational interface.
Neuvillette opened the Skyfaring Mirror's perspective.
The high-altitude view overlooked Fontaine's mountains and rivers.
Even the magnificent Court of Fontaine appeared no larger than a palm in the Skyfaring Mirror's vision.
The perspective slowly shifted.
The reporters looked on in awe.
Though they had experienced high-altitude views from airships, this was the first time they had seen such an elevated perspective!
Ding!
Suddenly, a line of red text appeared in the upper right corner of the projection.
[Target locked: 1]
[Crime committed]: [Lock-picking in progress] [Attempted burglary?]
[According to Fontaine Law, Article 452… Skyfaring Mirror Operational Rule 1]: [Issue warning] [Priority monitoring] [Notify nearest patrol for arrest]
The Skyfaring Mirror's perspective dove downward.
It landed in a rural village on the outskirts.
A furtive figure nervously glanced around, his gaze passing over the Skyfaring Mirror's perspective without noticing it.
He held lock-picking tools and was in the middle of breaking into a house.
"Warning. You are currently violating Fontaine Law, Article XX… You will be sentenced. If you cease now and confess, you may receive a reduced penalty."
The sudden voice startled the thief, causing him to collapse in fright.
"W-Who's there?!"
The Skyfaring Mirror repeated its warning.
Unable to see the mirror, the thief was so terrified that he fainted on the spot.
Soon after, the nearest patrol arrived and hauled him away.
He would face charges of attempted burglary.
"This is incredible. We'll have to think twice before acting from now on," a reporter remarked.
The journalists murmured among themselves, marveling at the Skyfaring Mirror's power.
A female reporter asked, "Now that we know the Skyfaring Mirror can detect and lock onto criminals before they act, I'd like to ask—if the Skyfaring Mirror fails to notice in time, does that mean the patrols will revert to their old methods of investigation?"
"We will work on both fronts and cross-verify," Neuvillette replied.
"Could you elaborate on the specifics?"
"The Skyfaring Mirror is extremely powerful. It has the ability to reverse time."
The Skyfaring Mirror's time-reversal ability was limited to one year—after all, it was already formidable enough. If its functions were any stronger, it wouldn't be classified as a fifth-tier card.
Neuvillette had no intention of revealing this limitation.
"Lady Furina! Mr. Neuvillette!"
Charlotte raised her hand, excitement in her voice. "If the Skyfaring Mirror can reverse time, does that mean the unsolved serial disappearances of young girls—a case spanning twenty years—can now be declared on the verge of resolution?"
Instantly, the room buzzed with anticipation.
Neuvillette looked at Furina.
After a moment's thought, Furina nodded. "We can try."
"Skyfaring Mirror, activate full-power operational mode. Lock onto the serial disappearances of young girls case. Initiate time reversal!" Neuvillette ordered.
[Confirming command with decision-maker]
[Command issuer]: [Second decision-maker: Neuvillette] [Submission confirmed]
[Requesting confirmation from first decision-maker]
[Warning: Skyfaring Mirror entering full-power operational mode]
Hum—!
In an instant.
A strange ripple spread through the air.
The reporters present felt a brief disorientation.
On the projection, the Skyfaring Mirror's perspective rapidly shifted—the movement of all things began reversing!
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T/N:
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