(Update: The "Small Gains" trait has been changed from "Absorption" to "Growth.")
Lu Heng and Furina had already left.
Wriothesley dismantled some cards to upgrade the equipment device.
Soon, the equipment device reached the third tier, still a ways off from the fourth, but the remaining cards had excellent effects, so Wriothesley chose to keep them for his subordinates.
Even the most composed person would feel their mindset shift when faced with such miraculous cards.
Wriothesley couldn't wait to try out the "Small Gains" card.
He equipped the card, then turned to someone who had just finished drawing cards nearby. "Hey, friend, want to arm wrestle?"
"Huh?"
The man was momentarily stunned.
"200 Mora." Wriothesley held up two fingers.
"Deal!"
The man agreed without hesitation.
200 Mora was no small sum.
Wriothesley, with his formidable physique, easily won.
Then, he could feel it—the passive effect of Small Gains had activated. His strength had increased by a tiny margin, and even his sensitivity to his Vision had slightly improved.
It seemed he wouldn't need to use the Level +1 card on his Vision after all.
"Truly, small gains add up."
The man he'd just beaten was an ordinary person, so the boost from the card was minimal.
But as the name suggested, small gains could accumulate into something substantial!
And the Fortress of Meropide was never short on prisoners.
Wriothesley packed up and hurried back to the Fortress.
As soon as he returned, he spotted a small figure.
"How did it go, Duke?" Sigewinne approached and asked.
"Very fruitful."
Wriothesley nodded and briefly explained his gains.
"Any discomfort?" Sigewinne asked with concern.
Wriothesley shook his head. "Don't worry, Head Nurse. I'm fine—better than ever, in fact."
"Oh, right."
He handed her an equipment device. "I have plenty of cards here. Any type you prefer?"
Sigewinne, familiar with Wriothesley, didn't stand on ceremony. "I'll like anything that can help everyone."
"Knew you'd say that." Wriothesley had expected as much. "Do me a favor—gather everyone and have them come to my office one by one. Palais Mermonia is adapting to the changing Fontaine, and the Fortress of Meropide must keep up. Otherwise, what if we get a powerful exile we can't handle?"
"Got it~"
At the dining table.
"Speaking of Wriothesley's Small Gains, I was thinking—what if there were cards that made performances stronger too?"
Furina rested her elbows on the table, her cheeks propped up by her hands, clearly lost in fantasy. "If that were the case, I'd definitely push that card to its limits!"
"Quite the confident declaration from a master," Lu Heng chuckled.
"With 500 years of experience, who wouldn't be? And besides, I was playing the role of a god!" Furina shrugged. "Can't help it—the conditions are just too favorable."
She only spoke so casually about her act as the Hydro Archon when she was alone with Lu Heng.
"That's true."
Lu Heng found it reasonable. "There might really be such a card, but whether you can draw it is another matter."
"By the power of mysticism..."
Furina pretended to pray.
"I think you might need a card that can detect luck," Lu Heng suggested.
"There's such a card?"
Furina's eyes widened, sparkling with desire.
If she had such a card, she could just use it to determine the best time to draw, couldn't she?
"There's everything."
At the very least, Lu Heng hadn't seen the limits of the system.
It was truly all-encompassing—perhaps nothing was beyond its scope, only beyond people's imaginations.
But whether one could actually draw such a card was another story.
It might take all the Mora in Teyvat to get it, or it might appear in a single pull. It all depended on fate.
"I've decided!"
Furina's expression turned solemn. "After this meal, I'm going back to get money. This afternoon, I'm going all out!"
After saying this, she found the food tasteless, her anticipation entirely focused on the upcoming card draws.
Watching her wolf down her meal, Lu Heng shook his head in amusement. "Don't eat too fast, or you'll choke—"
"Mmph!"
Furina froze mid-bite.
She clutched her chest with her left hand, frowning, then grabbed her cup with her right and took a big gulp.
Once the discomfort passed, she narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. "Do you have some kind of 'words become reality' card?"
"Furina is about to trip."
"?"
Furina tilted her head, her expression stern. "How bold! Are you plotting against the Hydro Archon? I shall punish you!"
"Clearly, I don't have such a card," Lu Heng spread his hands. "So, what's my punishment?"
Furina pondered.
Lu Heng continued eating.
She glanced at him occasionally.
"Still thinking?"
"Got it!"
Furina's eyes lit up. She leaned forward slightly, hands on the table. "You're treating me to dinner tonight!"
Lu Heng took a sip of soup and replied nonchalantly, "I won't be hungry tonight."
"Ugh..."
Furina let out a defeated whimper, her energy deflating.
"But since I can't let our Lady Furina go hungry, I've decided to treat her to hot pot tonight," Lu Heng added.
"Eh?"
Furina immediately brightened.
"You're this happy just because I'm treating you?" Lu Heng teased.
"It's mainly because you're the one treating me!"
Furina huffed.
"Oh." Lu Heng feigned realization. "So it's about reciprocity?"
"Mhm!" Furina nodded firmly.
"Eat up, eat up. After this, I'm going on a shopping spree," she urged.
"Alright, alright. Who made you the VIP client?"
After the meal, Furina rushed back to Palais Mermonia to fetch her funds.
When she returned, beaming, Lu Heng asked, "How much are you planning to spend?"
"Not much, not much." Furina smiled sweetly, raising her right hand with all five fingers splayed. "Just 500 million."
"That is a bit modest."
Lu Heng didn't bat an eye.
Furina puffed her cheeks. This guy wasn't playing along at all—she'd expected him to be shocked.
But then again, Neuvillette had brought two billion last time. Compared to that, 500 million really wasn't much.
As they walked to the shop, Furina asked, "What kind of cards do you think 50,000 draws will get me?"
"How should I know? That's a question you should ask your own heart. What kind of cards would satisfy you?" Lu Heng replied.
"Obviously, one that lets me check my luck!"
Furina had taken Lu Heng's earlier suggestion to heart.
"Then I think the odds aren't in your favor," Lu Heng shook his head.
"One must have hope! What if it happens?"
Lu Heng chuckled but didn't respond.
This kind of behavior was typically diagnosed as "lottery fever."
Knock knock.
The office door sounded.
"Come in."
Neuvillette looked up.
A Melusine entered and reported, "Mr. Neuvillette, the Skyfaring Mirror has detected two high-intensity energy signatures approaching Fontaine's borders."
"Oh?"
"Understood."
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T/N:
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