Setting aside his exasperation, Neuvillette could understand Wriothesley's reasoning.
He was well aware of the situation beneath the Fortress of Meropide.
Wriothesley was secretly constructing a massive ship to combat the prophecy crisis.
Now, with the emergence of the Card Shop, Wriothesley saw another path forward.
What if they could obtain Archon-level power?
Every additional ounce of strength meant another glimmer of hope!
The logic was simple.
Additionally, Fontaine had no death penalty—a tradition dating back to Egeria's era. Criminals were instead exiled to the Fortress of Meropide.
But in the future, as more criminals gained supernatural abilities, Wriothesley would face immense pressure. While he was personally formidable, he couldn't possibly suppress everyone, could he?
Understanding was one thing, but the lack of funds was another.
Neuvillette had to prioritize the Palais Mermonia.
Only if the Palais Mermonia maintained its deterrence would people—especially the nobility—think twice before committing crimes.
After a moment of contemplation, Neuvillette stood up.
"Today's work will have to be postponed. I need to personally visit the Card Shop and speak with its owner."
"Understood." The Melusine nodded.
...
Card Shop.
Thankfully, the machines were automated—otherwise, Lu Heng couldn't imagine how swamped he'd be.
With these devices, his job was simple: he only needed to appraise Purple Cards and above.
But the drop rate for Purple Cards was… unpredictable.
Even Lu Heng hadn't quite figured out the exact odds.
Sometimes, a noble would spend millions of Mora without a single Purple Card in sight.
Other times, like that young man who was planning to establish his own martial arts school in Fontaine, would pull one on his first try.
"Such is fate."
Lu Heng chuckled, sipping his tea.
To prevent deep-pocketed nobles from hogging too much time, Lu Heng had thoughtfully increased the maximum consecutive draws at the counter.
Single pull, 10-pull, 100-pull, 1,000-pull, 10,000-pull!
There was also a time limit—each person only had 10 minutes, eliminating the issue of indecisive customers.
Moreover, there weren't just one or two counters at the entrance—there were ten, drastically improving efficiency.
Aside from a few wealthy nobles engaged in marathon pulling sessions, the turnover at the other counters was extremely fast.
Fontainians near the front of the line were remarkably self-disciplined. They'd first step out of line to purchase an Equipment Belt, bind it, and by the time they finished, it'd already be their turn. They'd pay, pull, glance at their results, collect their cards, and leave—rinse and repeat.
Worth noting—
Aside from Lu Heng leisurely sipping tea and enjoying the spectacle of nobles fuming over their bad luck, there was also a purple-haired girl sitting nearby, munching on a fried chicken leg without a care in the world.
Chevreuse, Captain of the Special Security and Surveillance Patrol!
She had arrived ten minutes prior.
Chevreuse explained that, as the Patrol Captain, it was her duty to ensure no chaos erupted in the Court of Fontaine.
She had come to check if anyone was causing trouble outside the shop.
When she voiced her intentions, a nobleman near the front of the line overheard and scoffed, "Who in their right mind would dare cause trouble here?"
Chevreuse had to admit he had a point.
Not carrying much Mora on her, she decided against joining the gacha queue. Instead, she browsed the shop's other offerings.
Upon discovering that the shop also sold fast food—fried chicken, fries, and the like—Chevreuse declared these items "sinful" and in need of "elimination."
She promptly paid and began eating.
"Didn't have breakfast?" Lu Heng asked curiously.
"Just grabbed a quick bite. The Patrol's cafeteria… well, let's just say it's not great." Chevreuse shook her head.
"Ah."
Lu Heng understood.
Aside from Chevreuse herself, the rest of the Patrol was… eccentric, to say the least.
There was a thief who had pickpocketed half of Fontaine, a boxer solely interested in making money, and even a master burglar she had personally arrested.
In short, the Patrol looked less like an official law enforcement agency and more like a den of criminals.
That said, their case-solving efficiency was remarkably high—perhaps due to the team's… unique expertise?
Lu Heng rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Full now."
Chevreuse took a swig of cola.
She loved sugary drinks—they brought her joy.
The only downside? She'd have to train extra hard later to avoid gaining weight.
"You might need a 'Never Gain Weight No Matter How Much You Eat' Talent Card," Lu Heng joked.
"That exists?!"
Chevreuse's eyes lit up.
"It does, though it'd probably be a low-tier card. Keep an eye out for first or second-tier ones when pulling." Lu Heng nodded.
Chevreuse made a mental note, though she didn't hold out much hope. "Personally, I can't afford many pulls. It all depends on how much funding the Chief Justice approves for us."
"Why not ask him yourself?"
Lu Heng tilted his chin toward the entrance.
Chevreuse turned and saw Neuvillette striding in.
"Good morning, Mr. Lu."
Neuvillette inclined his head in greeting.
"Good morning, Chief Justice," Lu Heng returned the courtesy.
"Please, just call me Neuvillette. I have some questions I'd like to ask you."
"Come in."
Ignoring the curious gazes of the crowd, the three of them moved to the seating area inside.
"Something to drink?" Lu Heng offered.
"Water is fine. Any beverage will do."
Lu Heng poured him a glass of pure water.
"Hmm…"
Neuvillette savored the taste as if it were fine tea.
Chevreuse's expression turned slightly odd—since when did plain water warrant such meticulous appreciation?
Fortunately, Neuvillette hadn't forgotten his purpose. He cut straight to the point:
"Mr. Lu, the Palais Mermonia is considering an official procurement. We'd like to hear your thoughts."
"My thoughts?" Lu Heng was surprised.
"Yes. Unlike private individuals, my visit today represents official authority."
Neuvillette's tone was grave.
Lu Heng immediately understood.
Official organizations operated differently.
Ordinary people could simply equip whatever cards they pulled, but an official entity had far more considerations.
Neuvillette was currently weighing numerous factors.
"I see."
Lu Heng nodded with a smile. "Actually, I'd like to recommend an Equipment Belt specifically suited for organizational use."
"Please elaborate!" Neuvillette's expression grew serious.
"This model falls under the Unified Management System. Even a beginner-tier Equipment Belt can freely swap cards, but both the belt and the cards' usage are subject to system oversight."
"Unified Management System?"
"Correct."
Lu Heng continued, "It has multiple functions, making it ideal for official institutions."
"Please, explain in detail!"
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T/N:
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