In the Maison d'Opéra district, on Rue du Chapeau Noir, inside an apartnt with drawn curtains.
Niceea, with her curly brown hair pulled up, wearing an off-shoulder black dress and a thin gauze shawl, placed the makeup mirror given by her imdiate superior on the cabinet in front of her and patiently waited for feedback.
After about twenty to thirty seconds, she saw a human figure quickly traced within the mirror, stepping out.
The person had slightly blackened, sowhat flaxen- colored long hair, tied into a spirited ponytail, eyebrows extending dynamically into the temples, and lake-blue eyes that were slightly deeper than before, with an added soul-attracting depth amid their bright and crystal-clear appearance.
"When did Louis Gustav disappear?" Franca's red and pretty lips moved.
Although she had beco a Demoness of Pleasure, Niceea was still dazzled by her superior's beauty, temperant, and charm, her heart Involuntarily stirring.
She unconsciously compared Mada Franca with the Demoness of Black she had seen before, discovering that she didn't like to change her temperant much, always trying to find the most attractive side for her conversation partner, remaining straightforward and natural.
It was precisely this casual and natural state that made Mada Franca uniquely charming. Combined with her nonchalant expression and high-ranking status, Niceea occasionally felt she wanted to prostrate herself at her feet, body and soul.
After spending so ti controlling the ripples in her heart, Niceea reported in detail, "Louis Gustav arranged to et several core mbers of the Emperor Party, including Grouès, in a secret mine in Underground Trier yesterday to discuss discreetly developing mbers within the army. As a result, everyone arrived, but he did not appear.
"From yesterday until now, Grouès and others have tried various thods to contact him, but have received no response."
Niceea was now not only Grouèss mistress but had also gradually beco a person close to the core of the Emperor Party due to her talent in instigation, provocation, and seduction.
It seems Louis Gustav had truly t with an accident. not just being delayed, but considered missing... Franca thought and asked, "Has anything unusual happened within the Emperor Party recently?"
Niceea shook her head. "In recent months, whether it's the Eternal Blazing Sun Church, the God of Steam and Machinery Church, Bureau 8, or the military, they have significantly increased the number of official Beyonders stationed in Trier, Mada, you might find it hard to believe, but the patrols in Underground Trier are now led by Sequence 5 Beyonders, team after team.
"In the first two months, the Emperor Party was still making small moves, resulting in many secret mbers being exposed, suffering significant losses. Recently, they have been well-behaved, only covertly developing and expanding.
"Previously, Louis Gustav and Grouès often t, knew each other's residences, and would occasionally discuss matters at fixed cafes. But after nearly being caught by official Beyonders from the Bureau 8, Louis Gustav moved from his original residence and carefully commanded core mbers remotely."
So that's how it is... No wonder it sounds different from before, when Grouès and others used to know Louis Gustav's daily routine... Franca slightly nodded and told Niceea, "This matter is significant. I will first report to the Demoness of Black.
"Stand by for new orders at any ti."
"Yes, Mada Franca!" As soon as Niceea finished speaking, she saw her superior's figure gradually fade, transforming from solid to virtual, quickly disappearing as if never having been present.
Only the lingering faint fragrance in the air and a hint of what seed like machine oil indicated soone had been there.
…
In the luxurious villa.
Franca ended her mirror projection maintenance and turned to Lumian.
"Ever since you advanced to Weather Warlock, I now see everything as a trap. Niceea's report could be a trap from the Demoness Sect, and Louis Gustav's disappearance might be a trap from the Mirror People.
"Never mind, I'll report to the Demoness of Black, saying the matter is significant and requesting her personal handling.
"If I don't get involved, I won't fall into the trap!"
In the Demoness Sect, Franca was still nominally a Demoness of Despair and a subordinate of the Demoness of Black, though of course, the truth couldn't be hidden from the Primordial Demoness.
"Is this what you call upward managent?" Lumian chuckled, "If it's a trap, the Demoness of Black certainly won't let you shirk responsibility. If it's not a trap, she should still have you conduct a concurrent investigation."
"Sigh, I know," Franca sighed, "I was just venting my emotions. What if the Demoness of Black actually goes to investigate herself? People, after all, must live with hope and anticipation."
Lumian glanced at Franca. "I feel that you'll maintain your humanity quite well in the future."
"Why suddenly talk about humanity? Are you troubled by godhood?" Franca keenly countered.
After speaking, she took out a makeup mirror and verbally ford the information about Louis Gustav's disappearance and Niceea's detailed report, transmitting it through the mirror world to the mirror designated by the Demoness of Black-she would avoid eting the Demoness of Black whenever possible to prevent stepping into a trap.
After Franca finished this matter, Lumian briefly explained Mr. Fool's interpretation of godhood and humanity, and his own state of being.
Franca was enlightened. "So that's why you suddenly proposed hugging-you were sowhat unable to control the aggregation instinct and destruction desire?"
"No, because I had already hugged Jenna, I felt it should be fair." Lumian said in a low laugh.
"…" Franca's mouth twitched slightly.
Lumian casually added another sentence, "What you said also had so influence."
Franca humd in response and suddenly burst into laughter.
"What's so funny?" Lumian found it strange.
Franca cleared her throat and replied, "As a fellow hotown native, I've always supported your sister's creative work and read many of her novels. So descriptions are really cringy. There's one line that goes sothing like: 'He hugged tightly, very forcefully, as if afraid of losing , wanting to crush and tuck into his body.'
"My goodness, this isn't a cringy description, it's clearly a horror description, so realistic!"
Seeing Franca wasn't too frightened and even joking, Lumian's inner pressure seed to diminish. He naturally discussed his sister's works.
"Aurora deliberately intensified the cringe. She says Intisians love this style.
"By the way, did those works exist in the old era?"
Franca gently shook her head in response. "You could say the story concepts and ideas are similar, but without being a Savant, how could one exactly reproduce them? Moreover, your sister integrated current social trends and folk culture, making it an entirely different work. It's not like just because soone previously wrote about transmigration, writing about transmigration makes it plagiarism?"
"I see..." Lumian was very satisfied with this answer.
At this mont, the Demoness of Black responded to Franca through the mirror: "Find effective clues as soon as possible."
"Yes, Mada." Franca responded, making a face at Lumian.
After pondering for a few seconds, she sent a new order to Niceea: "Search for clues, try to find Louis Gustav's current residence.
"Preferably obtain so items closely related to Louis Gustav and bring them to ."
This way, Franca could perform Magic Mirror Divination and even seek guidance from Mr. Fool.
After she finished issuing the command, Lumian laughed and asked, "Still doing that sword-riding thing?"
Franca's spirits lifted. "Of course!"
She then seed to have a mont of reflection, muttering to herself, "The apocalypse is near. We must cherish daily happiness and satisfaction.
"We can't abandon today's life because of so dangerous things we'll have to do later."
"Hmm..." Lumian slowly nodded.
…
One week later, at midnight.
Niceea silently slid off the bed, stood upright, and rged into the darkness.
She glanced at the muscular middle-aged man on the bed, naked and only partially covered by a blanket, for a few seconds before leaving the bedroom soundlessly and entering the room in the furthest corner of the second floor.
Then, she took out a special makeup mirror, used the spell given by her superior, and sent information to the designated mirror.
She knew reporting at this hour would disturb Mada Franca's rest, but the situation was urgent. If she waited until dawn, Grouès would take back those two items, so she had no choice.
Shortly after, Franca's figure was projected from the makeup mirror.
She wore a silk nightgown with a thin outer jacket for cover, her slightly black flaxen-colored long hair cascading down, her expression unabashedly lazy and drowsy, her lake-colored eyes slightly deeper and hazy.
Niceea was stunned, only awakening when Franca spoke. "What is it?"
Niceea ca to her senses. "Mada, I've obtained two items closely related to Louis Gustav.
"These were found in one of his previous secret hideouts."
As she spoke, Niceea raised her hands.
In one hand, she held a silver brooch made of two intertwined snakes; in the other, she held a dark gold coin.
Seeing the latter, Franca suddenly beca alert.
She used invisible spider silk to pull the coin before her.
One side of the gold coin was quite simple, with raised patterns forming a chariot, bearing the number "2". The other side had a considerably complex pattern.
The main body was a crowned figure with a hanging cloak. To the left of the crown was a sketched, layered gate; to the right was a clock face with only one hand, its grid sizes unequal, with light and dark intertwining.
Parallel to the crown on the layer below were tiny flower pattern elents: a vertical pupil, five fingers of varying lengths, and a door split by a vertical long sword.
A Tudor coin... Franca's pupils slightly dilated as she recognized the item.
It was very similar to the Tudor coin they had obtained from the Sick Church, but with a face value of "2".
The patterns and details were essentially the sa between the two coins, but their expressions differed significantly.
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