Chapter 677: The Lady

"To all faculty members, students, and parents of Bridge Public School, as the fifty-third Prime Minister of the Kingdom, I am honored to accept my alma mater's invitation and stand here to share some thoughts on education."

A middle-aged man, of similar build to the homeroom teacher of Class One and somewhat portly, stood on the central podium of the grand auditorium and bowed to the teachers and parents below.

"As a native of Bridge who spent his entire youth at Bridge Public School and completed his studies at Bridge University, though I may offend my former teachers, I must admit that Bridge Public School is not the top school in the capital."

"But the significance of education to a person lies not merely in acquiring knowledge within school walls; often, what accompanies one throughout life are things beyond knowledge—such as..."

As he spoke, the Prime Minister smiled toward the audience, about to mention his wife, whom he had met at Bridge, to inject some humor—when he saw his wife sitting beside his daughter Charlotte, chatting warmly with a handsome young man with black hair. His expression darkened instantly; he skipped this lighthearted interlude and continued speaking.

"Such as our understanding and awareness of society."

"The Royal Inner School and Central Public School may offer slightly superior instruction, but education is not merely for personal success—it must also serve societal progress and the common welfare. In cultivating these qualities in students, Bridge Public School, rooted in the old district, is undoubtedly the most outstanding..."

"What an excellent speech."

Sensing a slightly malicious gaze, Leon instinctively glanced at the middle-aged man on stage, then turned back and complimented the Prime Minister's wife:

"You are busy with state affairs daily, yet you possess such profound insight into education—no wonder you are the Prime Minister."

"Your Grace flatters me."

The Prime Minister's wife, appearing thirty-six or thirty-seven, with faint crow's feet yet still radiating charm, smiled.

"Stephen is naturally exceptional in governance, but his duties consume too much of his energy—he rarely involves himself in the children's affairs, so he speaks only in broad strokes, for he is not skilled in details."

"That is more than enough."

Holding Mélanie, Leon shook his head.

"As the saying goes, 'The Prime Minister is the rudder, the King is the anchor.' The Prime Minister need only steer the right course, determine the Kingdom's direction—everything else, from hoisting sails to ballasting and measuring depth, is left to those better suited. He need only hold the helm steady... By the way."

After the polite exchange, Leon raised a hand to his polished cufflink, pressing his fingertip against the reflection of the ram's horn within it, and asked casually:

"Madam Martha, you mentioned earlier you had some questions regarding my 'work'?"

"Yes."

The Prime Minister's wife hesitated, then glanced at Mélanie in Leon's arms.

Noticing her gaze, Leon smiled and, amid Mélanie's terrified expression, handed her to Anna beside them.

"Wait! Wait a minute! Big brother! I haven't—"

"Mélanie!"

In one swift motion, Anna seized Mélanie's ear, then lifted her by the collar, her short legs kicking uselessly; after enduring this for too long, she gritted her teeth:

"Big brother has work to do—don't disturb him!"

"I... uh!"

Sorry, big brother wants to spare you from punishment, but matters involving 'anomalies' are too dangerous—you simply shouldn't hear them.

Giving Mélanie a helpless look, Leon leaned slightly toward the Prime Minister's wife and whispered:

"Madam Martha, you may speak now."

"Very well. I have two matters to ask about. The first is... I'd like to inquire about someone in your bureau..."

After biting her lower lip in embarrassment, the Prime Minister's wife leaned close to Leon's ear, blushing:

"Your Grace, do you know a man named Piony?"

Piony?

Hearing the name, Leon paused briefly, then recalled it—on the office door opposite Jerry's senior's desk. But Senior Piony seemed to be on a long, complicated mission; Leon had never seen him in the bureau, and his office remained empty, the doorknob coated in dust.

"I know him, sort of. Senior Piony is a Level Two Crisis Handler in the bureau—his office is near mine..."

After giving a vague answer, Leon noticed the Prime Minister's wife's evident discomfort and blinked in surprise, whispering softly:

"Madam Martha, may I ask... what is your relationship with Senior Piony?"

"We... are friends, I suppose..."

The Prime Minister's wife flushed even redder, stammering:

"The kind... uh... very, very close friends. Much closer than ordinary friends. We talk about everything."

"..."

Understood. The kind of friend you can't let the Prime Minister know about.

Seeing the flicker of understanding in Leon's eyes, the Prime Minister's wife could no longer bear the topic. She rummaged in her handbag and pulled out a letter, clearly written long ago.

"Your Grace, if it's not too much trouble, could you deliver this letter to Piony? And... and please deliver a message for me."

With Leon's expression of silent disbelief, the dignified Prime Minister's wife turned her head away, blushing faintly as she whispered:

"Tell him... tell him I wait for him every Monday at noon, at our usual place..."

"Alright..."

Leon, the man who did not want to play matchmaker, took the letter with a stiff expression and tucked it away.

"And the second matter?"

"The second matter..."

The Prime Minister's wife hesitated slightly, then whispered:

"May I ask—is there such a thing in this world that can make someone impersonate another's relative, without the person ever suspecting a thing?"

?!

Hearing her words, Leon's pupils contracted sharply—he immediately recalled the photograph stored in the Mirror World.

Such an anomaly certainly exists. And the highest-known grade of such anomaly is the object called "What If," created by the Aquarius Director using the flesh of the God of Enlightenment as seed and Anna's longing for family as the catalyst—and it now rests in Leon's possession.

"Madam Martha, why do you ask this?"

Leon tensed every nerve, stroking his specially polished metal cufflink—its mirror surface ready for the young Hound within—and asked calmly:

"Do you suspect... a relative has been 'replaced'?"

"More like... a relative appeared out of nowhere..."

The Prime Minister's wife reached into her chest and withdrew a silver falcon pendant, then explained softly:

"This was given to me by Piony. He said it can nullify once any effect caused by your 'work.' Recently, when my niece visited, it activated unexpectedly."

Leon narrowed his eyes.

"So you suspect your niece is not your real niece—that some special 'thing' has altered your memory, and even your family's?"

"Yes."

The Prime Minister's wife nodded, then added with concern:

"I've tested them with words. My husband Stephen, and even the children—all remember this person named Nicole. They recall her annual visits. Only I remember nothing..."

"Wait!"

At this, Leon's brow twitched slightly.

"You just said... what was your niece's name?"

"Nicole. She says her name is Nicole."

(End of Chapter)