Chapter 704 Fragment of Fate

704 Fragment of Fate

The reporters waiting outside the conference hall displayed no signs of impatience or dissatisfaction, despite the pa.s.sing time. They were well accustomed to such situations.

Snap! Snap! A flurry of loud camera flashes illuminated the scene, and Moran Avigny responded with a graceful wave to the reporters.

Lumian refrained from pus.h.i.+ng his way to the front, choosing instead to observe Moran Avigny from a distance, hidden among the crowd.

s.h.i.+elded by the camera, his azure eyes rapidly s.h.i.+fted to a silver-black hue.

Eye of Calamity!

In Lumians enhanced vision, a river of mercury materialized on Moran Avignys body, composed of ethereal water droplets. Each droplet was adorned with intricate, interconnected symbols.

As Moran Avigny delivered a concise speech announcing various industrial cooperation agreements between the Intis Republic and the Loen Kingdom, Lumian meticulously a.n.a.lyzed the Minister of Industrys past, present, and future, uncovering the fragments of fate concealed within each mercurial droplet.

The more distant the past, the greater the ambiguity. Lumian concentrated on the events of the preceding two weeks.

He witnessed Moran Avigny residing in a government-provided villa, attending weekly gatherings at cafs to discuss matters of state, exemplifying Triers caf politics.

Furthermore, Lumian observed Moran Avignys attendance at salons, b.a.l.l.s, banquets, operas, concerts, theaters, and art exhibitions. The Minister indulged in polo, poker, hunting in the suburbs, and flirtations with courtesans. He leveraged his position to secure favors, such as appointing the husband of one of his lovers as the deputy general manager of the Intis Industrial Credit Banks Southern Continent brancha coveted role known for its prestige, generous compensation, and influence. The sole drawback was the necessity of leaving Trier for the Southern Continent for two to three years, initially without the companions.h.i.+p of spouse and children.

These observations aligned perfectly with Lumians preconceived notions of Triers elite society.

Amidst the hazy fragments, two particular instances captured Lumians attention.

In one, Moran Avigny sat alone in his study, perusing a doc.u.ment. Abruptly, he jotted down a note and reached into a nearby mirror. His hand, seemingly incorporeal, pa.s.sed through the gla.s.s surface, depositing the note within.

The other featured Moran Avignys fleeting encounter with an unfamiliar individual during a hunting excursion in the West Lognes Forest. What piqued Lumians interest was the thin, white fog enveloping this fragment, rendering it indistinct.

This peculiar obscurity differed from the typical vagueness of most fate fragments.

The first fragment confirmed Moran Avignys ident.i.ty as a Mirror Person. Among the 22 paths of the divine, Demonesses proficient in mirror magic could not transmit information or objects through mirrors until attaining the rank of Sequence 4 demiG.o.ds. If Moran Avigny were a demiG.o.d-level Demoness, his existence as a man would be impossible.

Lumian could only surmise two possibilities:

First, Mirror People possessed an innate mastery over mirrors, surpa.s.sing even Demonesses in the realm of mirror magic.

Second, Moran Avigny had originally been a Demoness at the demiG.o.d level who later consumed a higher Sequence Hunter potion, successfully transforming into a man. This implied that the Minister of Industry was at least a Sequence 3 Saint, if not an Angel.

Considering the intelligence gathered by Franca and the others, the information provided by 007, and the clearer fate fragments, Lumian concluded that Moran Avigny had never exhibited any Hunter-related traits. He was undoubtedly a Mirror Person, albeit an extraordinary one.

s.h.i.+fting his focus to Moran Avignys future, Lumian examined the myriad potential fate tributaries.

This mercurial offshoot, like many others, rehea.r.s.ed Moran Avignys interview and subsequent return to the Ministry of Industry in a private carriage. However, it diverged when, upon entering his office and sitting for a while, Moran Avigny willingly stepped into the full-body mirror near the coat rack and vanished.

Lumians foresight extended no further.

Based on his observations, Lumian deduced that if Moran Avigny ventured into the mirror world before noon, he would face a life-threatening calamity.

Yet, the probability of Moran Avigny taking such an action was minimal. Among the numerous fate tributaries, only one represented this possibility.

Certainly, if Lumian disregarded the risk of exposure, he could harness nearly half of his spirituality to manipulate Moran Avignys future, steering it towards that specific tributary. However, such an act would be futile.

Moran Avignys demise in the mirror world would merely prevent them from accessing his corpse and conducting the spirit channeling ritual.

The Demoness of Black likely possesses the ability to enter the mirror world as well. However, with her as the spirit channeler, obtaining the relevant information would prove impossible. Even if Franca has fully earned her trust, certain knowledge would remain undisclosed until she attains a specific Sequence Lumian noticed Moran Avignys posture signaling the conclusion of the interview, and his bodyguards began navigating through the reporters. Consequently, Lumian ceased using the Eye of Calamity and captured a black-and-white photograph, maintaining his fa?ade.

Subsequently, he gradually retreated from the throng of reporters and made his way to the public washroom. He stashed the camera within his Travelers Bag, donned Lie, and transformed back into Ciel Dubois. As a guest, he entered the annex restaurant of Champs-lyses.

Franca awaited him there.

Following the waiter to his designated spot, Lumian noticed a man and a woman engaged in coffee.

The woman possessed black hair, brown eyes, and an alluring beauty. Her attire accentuated her slightly exaggerated aura. The man, by contrast, appeared ordinary, clad in a double- ?m

breasted flannel coat, wrinkled pants, buckled leather boots, and a top hat adorned with soft furthe favored ensemble of Triers bankers and financiers in recent times.

Lumian noticed that the man and woman werent attracted by any aura of wealth. Instead, he recognized the beautiful woman with foreign features.

She, of course, had no knowledge of him. He had only glimpsed her photograph in Ghost Face.

She was Perle, a theater actress from Loen and a courtesan in Trier.

DuVar, the inventor of DuVars broth and proprietor of the esteemed restaurant, had once lavished a substantial sum on her. He had even attempted suicide because of her, albeit unsuccessfully.

At present, Perle and the middle-aged man, presumed to be a banker, had not yet begun their meal. They were simply savoring their coffee.

The middle-aged man picked up Perles empty coffee cup and gestured to the grounds, explaining something unknown to Lumian. The courtesan listened intently.

As he pa.s.sed by, Lumians keen senses allowed him to briefly eavesdrop. He swiftly grasped that the middle-aged man, believed to be a banker, was immersed in the art of coffee ground divination.

This popular divination method in high society was more akin to a game.

If the remaining coffee grounds after drinking form a circle, it signifies recent signs of love

Upon hearing the middle-aged mans words, Lumian couldnt help but silently critique: Are you going to suggest that youll be the love shes about to encounter?

Any other woman, even aware of the mans true intentions, would be secretly alarmed by divination results indicating traces of love. They might believe it to be fates guidance. The various patterns naturally formed by the residual coffee grounds were thought to hold corresponding revelations about ones destiny, a notion widely accepted and impossible to manipulate.

After walking a short distance, Lumian spotted Franca.

The Demoness of Pleasure was dressed as a lady today, perfectly suited for the occasion. Lumian almost failed to recognize her.

Naturally, Franca still refrained from wearing a dress, opting instead for a pantsuit.

Observing Francas elegantly styled hair, no longer in a ponytail, Lumian chuckled and remarked, Jenna did your hair for you?

Indeed! Franca responded, not with humiliated rage, but with a sense of smugness.

Before they could delve into their observations, a nearby waiter approached, presenting them with two identical menus.

Lowering her voice, Franca addressed Lumian in ancient Feysac, The lunch set costs 7 verl dor. If we order individually and indulge in some decent red wine, the bill for the two of us will amount to at least 50 verl dor. That sum could easily feed your G.o.dson in the market district.

Franca found the restaurant at Grand Champs-lyses not only expensive but also intriguing.

Switching to Intisian, Franca inquired of the waiter, Any recommendations?

The waiter, who had been sneaking glances at Franca, responded eagerly, Would you like to try the Frth fish?

In Trier, apart from certain private banquets, we are the sole establishment that serves Frth fish.

What makes it so special? Lumian asked, curiosity piqued.

Addressing Franca, the waiter explained, Frth fish appear semi-charred and can only be found in a specific section of Triers underground river. Legend has it that long ago, they were ordinary fish. One day, an individual named Frth caught one and set up a frying pan by the underground river, intending to cook it. Midway through the process, the fish managed to escape the frying pan and return to the river. It survived and sp.a.w.ned numerous descendants, all bearing the semi-charred appearance.

The skin of this fish is fragrantly browned and oily, yet the flesh within is exceptionally tender

Triers underground river Half-burnt Alive Lumian extracted the keywords and suddenly speculated that this might be a consequence of the leakage of Fourth Epoch Triers Hunter powers.

Smiling at Franca, he proposed, Shall we each have one?

Very well. Franca had already been contemplating giving it a try.