Noon.
Sitting at the dining table, even faced with her favorite cake, Furina had little appetite.
The more she thought about it, the worse she felt!
Clorinde wisely avoided bringing up the topic of gacha again.
She knew full well that Lady Furina was currently in a state of stubborn frustration.
Even if Furina understood that her own gacha results were likely the norm, she couldn't accept it.
Put another way—
Furina could endure darkness… but only if she had never seen the light.
After witnessing someone pull a purple in ten draws and another in a single draw, Furina's mentality had completely shattered.
Why?!
After lunch, Furina returned to the Palais Mermonia with Clorinde.
At this time, Chief Justice Neuvillette was taking a short break.
As Neuvillette stepped out for a drink of water, he ran into an expressionless Furina. Just as he was about to greet her, she stormed past him into the Palais without a word.
Neuvillette turned to Clorinde in confusion. "What's wrong with Lady Furina?"
He wanted to ask—Who provoked her? Why does she look like she's radiating resentment?
"Perhaps she's suffering from the psychological blow of comparative luck?"
Clorinde wasn't sure how to phrase it, so she simply said, "Actually, regarding today's events, I think they warrant attention."
She then recounted their experience at the card shop to Neuvillette.
As he listened, an uncharacteristic seriousness settled over Neuvillette's expression.
"This does indeed require attention."
The emergence of such a shop would inevitably lead to a surge of people gaining supernatural abilities.
And if left unchecked, these individuals could easily become a threat to regional stability.
"The Palais Mermonia should increase its official deterrent force," Neuvillette said.
"So?"
Clorinde waited for him to continue.
"My suggestion is a large-scale official procurement," Neuvillette stated.
"Given that the shopkeeper can sell such cards, he must be unfathomably powerful. Your approach is reasonable—it avoids antagonizing him while strengthening the Palais' capabilities," Clorinde nodded.
Neuvillette nodded. "For now, this will do. As for the future… we'll proceed with caution. Let's hope Fontaine remains stable."
Hotel Bouffes d'ete.
"A shop that grants supernatural abilities?"
Lyney frowned in thought.
"Should we gather intelligence?"
The cat-eared girl sipping tea nearby asked softly.
"Don't investigate too deeply."
Lyney shook his head. "To be honest, someone like this is already beyond our scope."
The shop's ability to grant supernatural power had already been confirmed. Even the Hydro Archon Furina had spent two million Mora there—though she got nothing in return.
But the first to grow stronger was Clorinde.
Though they only had fragments of eyewitness accounts, the Fatui's intelligence network was formidable. From scattered words, they had pieced together the scene.
A single card could multiply the speed of any action!
Clorinde was already the strongest Champion Duelist, one of Fontaine's few top-tier fighters. Such an enhancement was staggering!
And the cost?
Only 110,000 Mora.
An absurdly low price.
For the Fatui's financial resources, this was practically free.
"Let's just be customers. If it's purely business, he shouldn't refuse patrons, right?" Lyney smiled.
"I thought Lyney would handle it the same domineering way other Fatui do."
"Huh?"
Lyney blinked, then chuckled. "Who'd be stupid enough to provoke someone of unknown depths? Lynette, this isn't a novel—we're not brainless villains!"
"Let's eat first. After lunch, Lynette and I will go take a look."
After lunch.
Lyney and Lynette set off from Hotel Bouffes d'ete, bringing a considerable amount of Mora with them.
The card shop was located in Quartier Lyonnais, on the same street as the Adventurers' Guild.
The siblings moved quickly, crossing most of Fontaine to reach the street—only to find a long line already formed outside the shop.
Thinking about it, this made sense. For such a miraculous shop, anyone with savings would want to try their luck.
Lyney stood at the end of the line, gazing ahead.
The line was moving quickly. In the distance, he could see people leaving with dejected expressions, though a few wore smiles.
When he turned around, he found dozens more people had queued up behind him.
"Nobles are here too," Lynette murmured.
Lyney nodded.
This was expected.
Nobles were the least short on Mora. A place that could convert Mora into supernatural power? They'd drain their coffers for it.
In a world with gods and elemental power, strength was always paramount.
Because strength often allowed one to ignore rules.
"I see that reporter," Lynette said.
Lyney glanced over and spotted a familiar figure.
He rubbed the back of his head. "Miss Charlotte… she really is wherever the news is, huh?"
"The card shop is explosive news for Teyvat," Lynette said flatly.
"True," Lyney shrugged.
After sending off another Fontaine noble, Lu Heng was in high spirits.
From the shop's opening until now, all the Mora earned had been fed into [Money is Power].
By now, the card had reached three-star.
Lu Heng's exclusive equipment device provided a 20% potency boost, and higher-tier equipment devices further amplified lower-tier cards. Thus, the card's current effective tier was five-star!
And the best part?
It could still grow stronger!
Lu Heng smiled warmly at the nobleman who had just casually dropped ten million Mora without blinking.
At this rate, he might soon be able to trade blows with the Heavenly Principles.
"Tch, only one decent three-star card… though my equipment device did reach two-star bronze…" The noble sighed regretfully.
Though he hadn't drawn any earth-shattering cards, the equipment device's upgrades—enhancing physical attributes and slightly extending lifespan—meant he had many more years to indulge in luxury.
For nobles, this effect was irresistible.
"Farewell, generous and magnificent shopkeeper."
The noble strode off, rejuvenated.
"These damn nobles… I bet he's rushing back to throw a party!"
"The worst part isn't the nobles—it's me, for not being born a noble!"
"Don't even start. Throwing around millions like it's nothing… how infuriating!"
"But their gacha results are so satisfying~"
Breaking News!
"Report! Lady Furina, Noble XX just spent 25 million Mora and only got three decent three-star cards!"
"Report! Lady Furina, Noble XX just spent 50 million Mora and only got one mediocre four-star card!"
Furina crossed her legs, suddenly finding the cake in her hand much more delicious. She took two big bites.
So satisfying!
An indescribable joy surged through her, leaving her feeling refreshed!
So it's not just me with terrible luck!
These detestable nobles could throw around tens of millions like nothing, but they weren't doing any better!
Furina was instantly relieved—and delighted.
Nothing was worse than suffering alone. But when everyone was suffering, the pressure vanished.
In fact, she even felt a little schadenfreude.
She was comfortable now. Completely comfortable!
But she couldn't just revel in others' misfortune. She needed to take stock of her own funds.
Tomorrow, she would fight again!
At the very least… I need one purple card!
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T/N:
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