Chapter 720: Another Reminder

Lu Mi and Anthony didn't wait long before the ministers began leaving the Palace of Brotherhood.

The two immediately surged forward toward Minister Morane Avigny, listening to other reporters' questions while observing their target in their own ways.

After a dozen seconds, Lu Mi turned his head toward Anthony and slowly shook it.

He meant that, according to the flow of the River of Fate, there was still no anomaly.

He trusted that the "Audience" could perceive what he intended to convey.

Anthony followed suit, shaking his head to tell Lu Mi that Morane Avigny's expression and posture were perfectly normal.

Had Ye Busi's direct "Supervisor" not yet contacted Morane Avigny? Or had our assumption been wrong—that Ye Busi's death wasn't caused by the "Supervisor's" surveillance, and they still hadn't learned of Ye Busi's current situation? Lu Mi's mind raced with thoughts as he continued observing.

This was precisely why he had insisted on coming personally to wait outside the Palace of Brotherhood for Morane Avigny.

Only by obtaining the latest and most authentic intelligence could they determine whether to proceed with the original plan, revise it, or abandon it temporarily!

Hmm, within Morane Avigny's River of Fate, the branch where he entered the full-length mirror in his study still existed, still shrouded in a thick black haze… Lu Mi, disregarding the drain on his spiritual energy, never ceased monitoring Morane Avigny's fate.

After a brief interview, the elegant Minister of Industry, escorted by his bodyguards, descended the steps before the Palace of Brotherhood and walked toward his own four-wheeled, four-seated carriage, exuding artistic elegance.

While waiting for his manservant to open the carriage door, Morane Avigny pulled out a palm-sized mirror from his coat, as if checking his current appearance.

For Trier's upper class, this was normal—so ordinary that no one would suspect a thing: men applying makeup, grooming their hair and faces, had been a long-standing trend.

As Morane Avigny gazed at the compact mirror, his dark gray pupils suddenly dilated, and his expression shifted slightly.

Almost simultaneously, Lu Mi, whose eyes were silver-black, noticed a drastic change in the minister's fate branches:

Not a single branch now showed Morane Avigny entering the full-length mirror in his study!

All related "options" had vanished!

Thus, even if Lu Mi spent nearly half his spiritual energy to use the ability "Push Fate," he could no longer force Morane Avigny to "voluntarily" enter that full-length mirror.

"Push Fate" doesn't create fate—it requires existing choices to act upon!

As reporters shifted their focus and the two of them lagged behind leisurely, Anthony lowered his voice to Lu Mi:

"After Morane Avigny looked into his compact mirror, clear fear emerged."

Lu Mi, following other reporters' movements, continued observing Morane Avigny, forming a corresponding hypothesis:

Someone was using the Mirror World, using that compact mirror, to send Morane Avigny a message!

And the message likely revealed the mysterious death of Ye Busi La Ta, the guardian of the study's full-length mirror, whose body had vanished.

For Morane Avigny, this meant someone was targeting him—the shadow had already descended, source unknown, nature unclear.

Under such circumstances, fear was unavoidable; and for most humans, emotion inevitably leaked into facial expressions and body language, making it easy for "Audiences" to detect.

"Hmm, since Ye Busi had a 'Mirror Clasp,' it's natural his superior, the 'Supervisor,' possesses something similar—perhaps even the ability to transmit messages through the Mirror World…" Lu Mi recalled the glass cufflink now in Flanca's hands, "And Ye Busi said Morane Avigny had forced all other 'Mirror People' from the Tamara family to change identities and relocate, leaving only himself in contact with the 'School of Truth.'"

"So when the 'Supervisor' discovered Ye Busi's mysterious disappearance and eventual death, unable to reach any other 'Mirror People,' he could only wait until Morane Avigny finished the ministerial meeting to deliver this warning…"

"Our earlier hypothesis has been confirmed: Ye Busi's death was indeed caused by the 'Supervisor's' surveillance, and that 'Supervisor,' whether limited by his ability or disturbed by the 'Primordial Witch's' statue, failed to lock onto us and retaliate on the spot…"

"The original plan must be abandoned—we can no longer make Morane Avigny 'voluntarily' enter the full-length mirror in his study…"

Amid swirling thoughts, Lu Mi saw Morane Avigny put away his compact mirror, step into the carriage, and head toward his home.

Taking advantage of the lingering chaos, Lu Mi and Anthony quietly slipped away from the Palace of Brotherhood's vicinity.

At the edge of a square adorned with statues and obelisks, Lu Mi glanced around, confirmed no one was nearby, and whispered to Anthony:

"What do you think Morane Avigny is afraid of?"

He had already shared his current hypotheses with Anthony.

From the "Audience's" perspective, Anthony attempted to analyze the psychological states of the "School of Truth" and Morane Avigny:

Under unknown enemy conditions, the 'School of Truth,' as a secret organization worshipping a demonic deity, is unlikely to dispatch additional half-god-level forces to surround Morane Avigny and provide better, more reliable protection—after all, they are not a true god-worshipping church that can act recklessly and endlessly escalate their resources; they must consider the possibility that the force holding Ye Busi also possesses half-gods, and perhaps even suspect this might be a covert operation by the 'Purifiers,' 'Mechanical Heart,' or the Eighth Bureau's elite squad.

"In other words, the 'Supervisor' will tell Morane Avigny: 'You're on your own now. We'll offer indirect aid, but we can't come directly.'"

Other demonic cults might go mad, become extreme, lose reason, and still rush to protect Morane Avigny—but based on Ye Busi's stated principles, the 'School of Truth' will not.

"That's why Morane Avigny can't suppress his fear—it's equivalent to being abandoned," Lu Mi nodded slightly.

Anthony continued his analysis:

"We must also consider Morane Avigny's unique status as a 'Mirror Person.'

"The 'Mirror People' we encountered before, beyond their personal desires, showed some fanaticism toward their patron and the overall goal.

"My observation just now revealed that Morane Avigny is indeed afraid, yet he can restrain himself—he entered the carriage with a resolute, determined expression."

Lu Mi understood and said:

"He's considering sacrificing himself?"

"He'll immediately notify other 'Mirror People' to go into hiding, while he, under heavy official protection, can't flee—he must remain in place, exposed to enemy surveillance, praying his luck is good enough and the official protection sufficient?"

"Heh, at this point, protection for him is merely another form of imprisonment."

Anthony changed the subject:

"After Morane Avigny's fate changed, which branch turned black?"

Lu Mi shook his head:

"Not yet."

"This is a very special case—it means we must wait until Morane Avigny makes a new choice, branching into a new fate path, before the blackness appears."

After this exchange, Lu Mi slowly exhaled and said:

"No further opportunity is visible now—if the 'Supervisor' truly loses his mind and tries to protect Morane Avigny, that would actually be good—the 'Black Witch' is probably waiting for him to come."

"Alright, let's go find Jianna and Flanca."

…………

Inside the abandoned quarry hollow with the fixed entrance to the Mirror World.

Flanca, patiently waiting, once again saw strands of black hair emerge from the mirror, then fall one by one.

The figure of "Black Witch" Clarisse appeared, her voice soft:

"No extraordinary individuals are hiding behind the relevant mirrors—they've abandoned Morane Avigny."

"I can't offer assistance for now. You must reconsider your plan—find a way to capture Morane Avigny without him entering the Mirror World, despite heavy protection by official extraordinary personnel."

Flanca wanted to ask, "Do you have a solution?" but feared angering the "Black Witch," so she merely replied listlessly, "Understood."

…………

In the pre-arranged safehouse in the administrative district.

Jianna told Lu Mi and Anthony:

"The 'Judgment' Lady has ordered us to hold off on further action—she needs to consult other Major Arcana cards about the intelligence we obtained from Ye Busi."

The "Hermit" Lady? Lu Mi murmured silently, lost in thought.

He nodded slightly and said:

"Let's go find Flanca now."

After reuniting with Flanca in the underground quarry hollow and exchanging their findings, Lu Mi sighed and said:

"We must abandon it—for now."

As Flanca and the others nodded in response, Lu Mi's ear was filled with a grand, layered voice:

"Don't you think you're giving up too soon?"

"Haven't you noticed the problem?"

Thelmpolos… Why is He reminding me again, and not even during an emergency threatening Him? Lu Mi couldn't help frowning.

Thelmpolos's deep voice continued:

"Think—if you were the 'Supervisor,' what would you do under these circumstances?"

"Of course, withdraw personnel, hide, avoid giving enemies clues to trace you…" Lu Mi muttered softly, "But after that, what else could you do? How could you indirectly aid Morane Avigny?"

Flanca, Jianna, and Anthony watched Lu Mi mutter to himself, waiting for his final conclusion.

Suddenly, Lu Mi realized a possibility.

He looked at his three companions and said firmly:

"The 'Dark Box Deal'!"

"Use a high-level 'Dark Box Deal' to protect Morane Avigny!"

"So we all abandoned our efforts for different reasons—even the River of Fate has temporarily withheld any black branch representing Morane Avigny's doom!"

(End of Chapter)