New Product?
"What new product?" Furina's interest was piqued.
Even the ever-mysterious Neuvillette, familiar with the wonders of the card shop, couldn't help but feel curious.
"A very practical item—once you use it, you won't be able to put it down," Lu Heng said as he pulled out three smartphones and handed them over.
"What is this?" Furina shook the phone in her hand.
"A smartphone. You can use it to make calls, video chat, browse the internet... it has many functions," Lu Heng explained, pulling out a promotional video he had prepared the night before.
The concept of a smartphone was foreign to Teyvat, but some aspects were familiar. For example, remote communication was already possible through Sumeru's Akasha system. However, the Akasha's coverage was minuscule compared to the entirety of Teyvat.
After a brief introduction, Furina and the others quickly grasped the phone's functions.
"It really is convenient," Neuvillette nodded.
Within the Palais Mermonia, there was a centralized system where specially connected devices could send messages and even enable video calls. But outside the Palais, people not connected to the system had no such efficient means of communication.
For example, the Spina di Rosula, led by Navia, maintained official ties with the Palais Mermonia as a necessary link between a government body and a civilian organization. Previously, if the Palais needed to notify Navia of something, they had to send someone to find her. But if Navia had a phone, they could simply call her—much more efficient.
Neuvillette immediately viewed this from a work perspective: efficiency!
Meanwhile, Furina, unburdened by work, saw the entertainment value.
"This is amazing!" Furina grinned. "Now I can watch operas from the Opera Epiclese while lying in bed at the Palais Mermonia. What's it called again... oh, live streaming!"
"Not bad," Focalors added her own evaluation.
"For the Palais Mermonia, I have another device you might like," Lu Heng said with a smile. "A computer—more suited for office work. Compared to traditional methods, it'll greatly improve efficiency, though it probably can't match Sumeru's Akasha system."
"That's already impressive enough," Neuvillette remarked. He was well aware of the Akasha system, which was no secret.
Though it couldn't compare, the improvement over the Palais' current workflow would be significant—easily several times faster.
"We'll need to purchase quite a few," Neuvillette said.
"You decide," Furina waved her hand dismissively.
Neuvillette glanced at Focalors.
"You decide," Focalors also shook her head.
Neuvillette: "..."
What's the meaning of this?
One personality, one divine aspect—both dumping the responsibility on him?
Is this how it should be?
Is this your Fontaine or mine?
Neuvillette sighed inwardly. What saddened him even more was that he felt almost no resentment.
Have I... already grown accustomed to this?
"Shall we go to my shop to take a look?" Lu Heng interjected, breaking the silence.
"Can I come too?" Focalors asked, looking at the three of them.
"Why not?" Furina said casually. "We can just say the Hydro Archon split into two—no big deal, right?"
Though what you're saying is true, why does it feel so weird?
"One named Focalors, one named Furina. Though identical, Focalors carries a strong divine aura, so it's easy to tell them apart," Lu Heng explained.
"The Palais Mermonia will handle this matter. There's no need to worry about leaks. Besides... the prophecy has already begun, hasn't it?" Neuvillette said calmly.
"Then let's go?"
Focalors hadn't left the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale in a very, very long time.
If Furina was an actor bound to a never-ending performance, then Focalors was an audience member confined to her seat.
She could only watch the stage, only witness the trials unfolding there. Beyond that, she could go nowhere.
But now, with no more constraints, Focalors could finally step outside.
"Let's go."
Lu Heng opened a portal.
Focalors stepped through into the shop.
This was her first time leaving the Opera Epiclese's cage since the plan began.
Stretching, Focalors smiled. "I feel like a bird finally freed from its cage."
"Then can you chirp cheep cheep?" Furina teased.
Focalors turned back, giving her a reproachful look. "I only said like."
"Pfft." Furina stuck out her tongue playfully.
Neuvillette noticed the Core of Civilization in the corner, endlessly consuming materials and spitting out phones. "Is this the one producing them?"
"Yep," Lu Heng walked over to the Core.
It was no longer the size of a suitcase—now closer to a washing machine. It had even built a shell for itself.
Lu Heng turned to Neuvillette. "Would you like to customize some equipment? How about an artificial intelligence assistant?"
"Artificial intelligence?"
"Yes, it's quite useful as a support tool."
"We'll take it," Neuvillette nodded.
Lu Heng had the Core produce a laptop preloaded with an AI core program and handed it to Neuvillette.
"You'll also need this voltage regulator. The power standards for these devices aren't the same as Fontaine's streetlights."
"Understood."
Neuvillette paid and collected the items.
Meanwhile, Furina was busy introducing Focalors to the shop, even pointing out her favorite snacks.
The sight of the two together sparked murmurs among the Fontaine citizens outside.
"Is this a card effect? There are two Lady Furinas now!"
"They look exactly the same!"
"Not quite... one of them feels more like an actual deity, while the other seems like our usual Lady Furina."
"What's going on?"
"Stop arguing—your Hydro Archon just split into two," Furina shrugged.
"Wow! As expected of Lady Furina, she can even do something like this!"
"Does this mean the chances of running into Lady Furina have doubled?!"
Ignoring the chatter outside, Lu Heng pondered. I should probably call Charlotte over.
If you wanted something to spread quickly across Fontaine, the Steambird was the way to go!
The appearance of Furina and Focalors, along with his new products, could all be rapidly disseminated through the newspaper.
"Furina, Focalors, come here for a moment," Lu Heng called to the two.
"Coming!"
"What's up?"
Lu Heng grinned. "I have an idea—let's use the newspaper to briefly explain your situation while also promoting my new products. So... mind starring in an ad for me?"
Furina immediately puffed up, hands on her hips. "My endorsement doesn't come cheap, you know!"
But before Lu Heng could react, she giggled. "But for you, it's free!"
"I'll follow Furina's lead," Focalors said with a smile.
"Great. Then I'll go find Charlotte first." Lu Heng raised his hand, using his signature divination method to locate the reporter.
Once he found her position, he opened a portal directly.
"Huh?"
Charlotte, who had been racking her brain for explosive news, jumped at the sudden appearance of the portal.
Only after recognizing Lu Heng did she relax, patting her chest in relief.
"Big news, exclusive!"
Hearing this, Charlotte's eyes lit up.
If there was big news to be had, even if it meant traversing mountains of blades and seas of fire, Charlotte would gladly dive in headfirst!
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T/N:
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