Chapter 309: Ningguang's Story
Conan scanned the expansive, shimmering surroundings, his sharp eyes taking in the impossible architecture. His attention quickly snapped toward Natsume as her calm voice drifted over the ambient noise, addressing Sonoko and Ran.
"This is the Jade Chamber," Natsume said, gesturing gracefully toward the floating pavilion.
A collective gasp of confusion rippled through the group.
"Wait, Miss Ningguang's Jade Chamber?" Ran asked, blinking at the golden eaves suspended in the artificial sky.
Sonoko tilted her head, crossing her arms. "I thought 'Jade Chamber' was just the name of her corporate conglomerate. Since when is it an actual flying fortress?"
"It is," Natsume nodded, a soft, nostalgic smile touching her lips. "You could say this is the physical manifestation of Ningguang's ultimate dream."
She felt the weight of several intense gazes locking onto her—Conan and Hattori's sharp, investigative stares included. Unbothered, she continued. "When Ningguang was just a little girl, she harbored a grand ambition: to construct a magnificent palace of her own. Not just any palace, but one suspended high above the clouds, casting its shadow over the world below so she could oversee everything. Of course, the laws of physics in this world make a floating island of this scale rather... impractical. So, she chose to bring the Jade Chamber of her childhood fantasies to life through this holographic projection."
The revelation landed differently across the group.
Conan adjusted his oversized glasses, a calculating glint flashing across his lenses. Beside him, Okiya Subaru remained perfectly still, though his perpetually closed eyes seemed to narrow just a fraction. Both detectives silently turned the same question over in their minds: Just who exactly is Natsume? And how could she possibly know the intimate childhood dreams of a billionaire mogul like Ningguang?
Ran and Sonoko, oblivious to the undercurrent of suspicion, simply marveled at the golden pavilions and swirling digital clouds. The younger children, entirely unbothered by adult logistics, pressed their faces against the metaphorical glass, letting out loud, uninhibited gasps of awe.
Genta's jaw practically hit the floor. He stared up at the massive, glowing structure, a line of drool threatening to escape the corner of his mouth. "Whoa... A house that huge... If you sold it, how many bowls of premium eel rice do you think you could buy?" His eyes glazed over, entirely lost in a fantasy of swimming through an ocean of roasted eel and sweet soy glaze.
Mitsuhiko slapped a hand over his face, letting out a long, exasperated sigh. "Genta, please, for once in your life, stop thinking with your stomach. Besides, this is a advanced holographic projection. The building doesn't actually exist in reality, so you can't sell it for food!"
Ayumi completely tuned out the boys' bickering. She had linked hands with Klee, the two of them bouncing on their heels as they pointed out glowing digital cranes flying past the virtual balconies. Even Haibara stood quietly beside them, her usual cynical facade softening as she took in the stunning, ethereal scenery.
"It seems Miss Ningguang's ambition is nothing short of terrifying," Sera Masumi commented, casually resting her hands behind her head, though her eyes remained sharp.
Natsume tilted her head, a light, airy chuckle escaping her. "It is only natural, isn't it? At her core, Ningguang is a merchant. And what true merchant lacks a ravenous ambition?" She paused, her gaze drifting up to the golden roof of the projection. "She wasn't born into wealth. Once upon a time, Ningguang was just a barefoot girl selling fish on the docks. Without that fierce, unyielding ambition, how could she have clawed her way up to become the titan she is today?"
A sudden memory surfaced, and the corners of Natsume's mouth curled into a deeply amused smile. "Speaking of her merchant instincts... back in the day, when she desperately needed to raise capital, Ningguang actually set her sights on a Vision. She acquired a masterless one and fully intended to auction it off to the highest bidder."
"A Vision?" Sera repeated, the unfamiliar term rolling awkwardly off her tongue. She frowned, clearly trying to place the word.
"Oh, you've seen it," Natsume clarified with a casual wave of her hand. "It is that glowing, gem-like ornament Ningguang wears at her waist. There is a very exclusive, very wealthy demographic of collectors who are absolutely obsessed with them. If a genuine, masterless Vision hit the black market or an elite auction block, it would fetch an astronomical price."
"Judging by the fact that she still wears it," Sera noted, her canine tooth showing in a half-grin, "I take it the auction never happened?"
Sonoko leaned in, her eyes wide with dramatic flair. "Wait, Miss Ningguang is a genius! How could she fail to sell it? Don't tell me... was it stolen right out from under her nose during the auction?!" Sonoko's hands clasped together, her mind instantly conjuring images of her favorite phantom thief, Kaitou Kid, swooping down in a flurry of white doves to snatch the jewel.
Natsume coughed lightly, quickly shutting down that wild train of thought. "No, nothing like that."
Sonoko's shoulders slumped, visibly deflated. She had really been hoping for a secret, untold exploit starring her beloved Kid.
"True treasures possess a spirit of their own," Natsume explained, her voice dropping into a soft, melodic cadence fit for a fairy tale. "As she was preparing it for sale, the dormant gem suddenly flared to life. It recognized Ningguang's sheer willpower and claimed her as its master. It was no longer a lifeless, masterless object. Once a Vision awakens to someone, they are bound. Even if she had sold it, it would have inevitably found its way back to her side." She spread her hands in a helpless gesture. "So, naturally, the auction had to be canceled. Much to her initial financial dismay, I might add."
"Wow..." Ran breathed out, her eyes sparkling. "That is actually a really romantic story."
It was obvious that the high schoolers, and most of the surrounding adults, didn't take the magical elements of Natsume's tale literally. They simply accepted it as a beautifully crafted piece of corporate mythology meant to add mystique to Ningguang's brand. Natsume merely smiled, making no effort to correct them.
Conan, however, wasn't buying the fairy tale angle. His sharp eyes darted toward the periphery of the group, locking onto a tall figure standing quietly in the shadows. Hopping off his plush seat, the tiny detective trotted over to Kamisato Ayato, who had been silently observing the exchange with a serene smile.
Tugging on the edge of the man's pristine white coat, Conan pitched his voice an octave higher, dripping with innocent, childlike curiosity. "Ne, ne, Ayato-niisan! Is your Vision just as magical as Sister Ningguang's?"
Ayato slowly lowered his gaze to meet the boy's large, inquiring eyes. The polite, aristocratic smile on his face didn't waver for a microsecond. "Of course not, Conan-kun. As they said, it is merely a charming story." He paused, his lilac eyes glinting with a hidden depth. "In fact, if Natsume hadn't intervened and helped persuade Lord Raiden, the Visions belonging to both me and my younger sister would have been strictly confiscated."
"Confiscated?" Conan pressed, dropping the childish act just a fraction as his detective instincts flared. "Why would anyone confiscate them? Aren't they just fancy ornaments?"
His heart hammered against his ribs. He knew it. He had just stumbled upon a massive secret regarding the inner workings of the Teyvat Organization. These 'Visions' were absolutely not just decorative jewelry.
"Because," Ayato murmured, his voice dropping to a silken, dangerous whisper, "they are a highly unstable factor."
He offered nothing more. That single, cryptic sentence hung heavily in the air. No matter how many different angles Conan tried to pry from, Ayato expertly deflected, smoothly steering the conversation toward mundane topics like the venue's catering and the weather, his polite smile serving as an impenetrable shield.
While Natsume's immediate circle was still thoroughly absorbed in the lingering mystique of her stories, the main event was quietly beginning. Two figures stepped out from the wings of the grand stage, moving to address the massive audience before the crowd even realized the transition.
The pair commanding the stage were none other than the very owner of the legendary Jade Chamber herself, Ningguang, accompanied by her tireless general secretary, Ganyu, who had only just finished her part in the opening performance. They walked with practiced grace toward the edge of the platform, offering elegant, measured nods and warm smiles to the sea of faces below.
Ningguang took the microphone, her voice projecting with absolute, commanding clarity. "Dear friends, esteemed guests. Thank you all for attending this truly unique concert tonight." She swept her piercing crimson gaze across the darkened auditorium. "Before we proceed, I would like to formally introduce the advanced technology currently illuminating our venue—advanced holographic projection." She allowed a brief, calculated pause, letting the sheer scale of the visual spectacle sink into the minds of her potential investors and clients.
Stepping forward, Ganyu picked up the thread smoothly. "Indeed. This proprietary technology can flawlessly blend virtual constructs with real-world environments, offering an unmatched, immersive visual experience." Despite her gentle demeanor, her voice carried a firm, professional confidence. "But what is even more exciting is our upcoming consumer release. The 'Akasha Terminal,' soon to be launched by the Jade Chamber conglomerate, uses a simplified version of this very holographic projection, paired with advanced intelligent systems. It is designed to provide you with highly convenient, efficient, and revolutionary lifestyle services." Her pitch was flawless, instantly sparking a wave of eager murmurs throughout the crowd.
Taking control of the room once more, Ningguang delivered the final hook. "If you find yourselves intrigued by the possibilities of this new era of technology, you are more than welcome to contact our representatives at the Jade Chamber to place your pre-orders. We firmly believe these innovations will fundamentally elevate your daily lives, bringing unmatched convenience and joy to the modern world. Thank you all."
With her speech concluded, Ningguang and Ganyu offered a synchronized, elegant bow to the audience. As they turned and exited the stage together, the auditorium erupted into a deafening, thunderous wave of applause.
[Inorin's Note:
Enjoying the story? Dropping a quick review, comment, or Power Stone means the world to me and keeps these daily updates flowing!
Want to read 50 chapters ahead or just want to help keep a shameless translator alive? (My livelihood actually depends on this, haha 😭). You can support me directly here:
(P.S. Just remove the brackets and replace the [.] with a regular dot . to use the links!)
✨ Patreon (50 Advanced Chapters): patreon[.]com/InorinTL
☕ Ko-fi (Support / Sponsor): ko-fi[.]com/InorinTL
Thank you so much for reading and keeping this project alive!]