Lu Heng's card shop had given Furina a lot of confidence and courage.
She wasn't quite sure how to thank him properly.
Lu Heng was a merchant—selling goods was his business, so he might not need her gratitude. But Furina felt she couldn't just leave it at that.
Of course, treating him to a meal wasn't the full extent of her appreciation, but relationships between people often warmed up gradually like this.
She could find other opportunities to express her thanks properly in the future.
"I don't have any objections," Lu Heng said.
"You're agreeing?"
Furina glanced at the wall clock. "Then let's head out now, so we don't cut into your afternoon work hours."
"Hold on a second."
Lu Heng walked over to the notice board by the door.
Picking up a pen, he wrote a line:
During the break from 11 AM to 2 PM, card draws will proceed as normal. However, cards of purple rarity or higher that require appraisal must wait until the shop owner is present.
"O most generous and magnificent Mr. Lu!"
A well-dressed nobleman nearby bowed deeply.
He had arrived late in the morning and, after calculating the time, realized that card draws would stop at 11 AM.
But he didn't want to leave just yet, so he decided to wait until 2 PM, ensuring he'd be among the first in line for the afternoon session.
Now, with Lu Heng's new rule, he could continue drawing cards. And judging by Lu Heng's words, if he pulled a purple or gold card, he could come back anytime during business hours to have it appraised.
For the card shop, this sped up customer turnover.
For the customers, it was as if the shop had quietly extended its operating hours by three more hours.
"Shall we go?" Lu Heng looked at Furina.
"Let's go!"
"My dear citizens, make good use of this extra time. May the ever-present waters bless you all."
Furina waved gracefully.
"Thank you, Lady Furina!"
"If it weren't for Lady Furina, we'd just be stuck waiting!"
"I'm serious—I'd trade all my lifetime's luck just for Lady Furina to get a good pull!"
"You say that now, but you wouldn't actually do it."
"That's a separate matter."
The people's gratitude toward Furina was genuine.
If she hadn't suddenly decided to invite Lu Heng to lunch, judging by yesterday's situation, there would've been no way to draw cards at noon—everyone would've had to wait until 2 PM.
Truly, Lady Furina had found yet another way to benefit the people!
Greatness needed no explanation!
Walking through the streets of Quartier Lyonnais, Lu Heng took in the sights.
Being transported into a game world always felt surreal.
But stepping outside the shop, seeing the grandeur of the Court of Fontaine and the lively people around him, made everything feel real.
To Lu Heng, it still felt like a dream.
But he knew it was a dream he would never wake from—this was the world he would live in from now on.
Lost in thought, Lu Heng suddenly noticed Furina glancing at him with a hesitant expression.
"What's up?"
Lu Heng was puzzled. "If you've got something to say, just say it."
"Um… promise you won't get mad?" Furina fidgeted slightly.
"You're hesitating? That's not like you." Lu Heng shook his head.
Clearly, his status made Furina a bit cautious.
"It's just… you kind of seem like a country bumpkin?"
Furina quickly added, "I'm not making fun of you! It's just… the way you were looking around…"
"That's it?"
Lu Heng had thought it was something serious.
He chuckled and shook his head. "I am an outsider, after all. Everything here is new to me—isn't that normal? It's like if you traveled to a country you've never been to before."
"I've never experienced that, so it's hard for me to relate…"
Furina lowered her head slightly, sighed, and then murmured, "But hearing you say that makes me want to have that kind of experience too… Do you think… I'll ever get the chance?"
She wasn't the true Hydro Archon, after all.
This long performance was like a shackle, locking her firmly on stage.
Until the curtain fell, she couldn't do anything.
And the way this performance would end filled her with unease.
"You'll get your chance."
Lu Heng's voice was firm.
"Really?"
Hope flickered in Furina's eyes.
"Why wouldn't you? With your Tier 4 equipment and giant plush bear, where couldn't you go?"
Lu Heng grinned. "The only real obstacle is diplomatic relations between the seven nations—the Archons can't just waltz into each other's territories."
"But from what I've heard, there was a gathering of the Seven Archons years ago. If you went openly as a visiting dignitary, I doubt they'd outright refuse you, right?"
"That… does make sense."
Furina nodded, then tilted her head. "You seem to know a lot about this?"
"Not really." Lu Heng shrugged. "I'm just thinking from a common-sense perspective. The actual political dynamics between the Archons? No idea. Maybe their relationships are way more complicated than they seem."
Furina fell silent.
She had never met any of the other Archons. She didn't know how they viewed each other—or how they might view her.
If she really did travel… would the other Archons receive her?
Would they see through her act?
Furina wasn't sure what kind of power the true Archons wielded, and the thought made her uneasy.
Perhaps… once her performance finally ended, she could go openly.
Shaking her head, Furina changed the subject. "Never mind that. I was originally planning to take you for some delicious cake, but I've changed my mind!"
"Oh? Why's that?"
Lu Heng was curious.
"Well, when you travel somewhere, you have to try the local specialties, right?"
Furina clapped her hands together, adopting the tone of a seasoned local. "I've decided to take you for the most authentic Fontaine cuisine!"
"Oh? You're throwing around words like 'authentic' now? Looks like I'll have to start anticipating it!" Lu Heng grinned.
"Prepare yourself for a feast!"
Furina was brimming with confidence.
She could already picture Lu Heng praising Fontaine's finest dishes.
"Hurry up!"
Furina urged him on. "If we're late, even I won't have the nerve to ask someone to give up their table!"
"Alright, alright." Lu Heng quickened his pace.
At the intersection of two streets—
"Huh? Isn't that Lady Furina?"
Navia blinked in surprise. "It's so rare to see her outside the Palais Mermonia or the Opera Epiclese… and without her guards, too?"
"Young lady, the man beside her is that card shop owner—Lu Heng," Melus remarked.
"Ah? Did we just miss him?" Navia sighed in disappointment, then smirked. "So… what are they up to?"
"They seem to be heading toward Hotel Debord. Perhaps Lady Furina invited Mr. Lu for lunch?" Melus speculated.
"Ohhh~"
Navia's eyes sparkled with understanding. "Well then… let's go get in line."
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T/N:
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