Morning.
Navia appeared at the entrance of the card shop.
Originally, she had planned to come draw cards yesterday, but as they say, plans can't keep up with changes. Through Vacher's case, she had learned the truth about her father's death.
After handling everything, Navia returned to the shop once more.
Lu Heng observed her carefully.
The fact that Callas had died under the stigma of injustice had affected Navia in many ways.
But now, with the truth revealed, her mental state seemed much better than yesterday.
Without the weight of that burden, her very soul seemed lighter.
Though it might sound like a strange description, a person's psychological state could indeed be discerned through observation.
"Hello, Boss Lu."
Noticing Lu Heng looking at her, Navia greeted him with a smile.
"Hello," Lu Heng nodded, smiling as well. "I noticed you yesterday."
"Huh?"
Navia was surprised.
She hadn't expected someone as prominent as Lu Heng to take note of her.
Seeing Navia's flattered expression, Lu Heng poured her a cup of tea and said, "No rush. Do you have any cards in mind?"
"Me?"
Navia thought seriously for a moment before replying, "To be honest, I'm not entirely sure myself. Something with strong functionality, perhaps?"
"Any specific area?" Lu Heng asked curiously.
"Something that can be applied to civil affairs would be best," Navia said.
The Spina di Rosula was a civilian organization capable of mediating disputes, providing protection, and solving various problems. Originating and headquartered in Poisson, it made sense that Navia would want cards applicable to civil affairs.
Due to Callas's "unjust" reputation, after his death, the Spina di Rosula's standing and influence had declined steadily.
Up until now, the organization's continued existence was solely due to Navia's persistence in upholding her father's ideals through practical work.
Now that Callas's name had been cleared through the newspapers, the road to restoring the Spina di Rosula to its former glory was still long.
"I hope you draw the card you desire," Lu Heng said.
"Thank you, Boss Lu!"
Navia was in good spirits.
Melus had already purchased three Equipment Devices.
The ones Navia trusted most were Melus and Silver—the former her butler, the latter her bodyguard. Both were loyal and dedicated to their duties.
Navia wouldn't forget about them when it came to good things. Equipment Devices and cards were a must.
"Shall I start now?"
Navia looked at Lu Heng, her blue eyes filled with anticipation for what was to come.
Lu Heng nodded slightly and stood by to watch.
There was no need for him to explain—Navia had already seen others operate the system yesterday. The process was very simple.
This time, she had brought five million Mora, the absolute limit of her discretionary funds. Any more would disrupt the Spina di Rosula's normal operations.
Five hundred draws… that might be cutting it close.
Lu Heng felt it was hard to say.
But for Navia, third-tier cards would be more than sufficient.
Fourth and fifth-tier cards were ultimately rare, while second and third-tier were relatively common.
Navia tapped the 100-draw button.
No purple light, but she didn't show any disappointment.
Clearly, she had done her research beforehand.
Melus and Silver stood by, sorting through the drawn cards.
Navia tapped again.
Still nothing.
But Lu Heng noticed that the third card in the draw was a decent third-tier one, which Melus placed in the "useful" pile.
Another draw.
"Huh?"
A purple light flashed.
Lu Heng looked surprised.
Navia exclaimed, "Looks like my luck isn't bad!"
"Congratulations, young lady," Melus said with a smile.
"As expected of the young lady!" Silver nodded emphatically.
Could it be that an unburdened heart also brings good fortune?
Lu Heng couldn't help but ponder.
He recalled some past experiences.
The more desperate one was, the harder it was to get what they wanted.
Often, when one had no expectations and simply tapped the button casually, a pleasant surprise would follow.
Such cases weren't uncommon, and Navia seemed to be one of them.
"Congratulations, that's some good luck," Lu Heng said with a smile.
"Not bad at all."
Navia handed him the purple card. "Could you take a look, Boss Lu?"
"Of course."
Lu Heng ran his hand over the card.
The colorful illustration that appeared on its surface made him pause.
He hadn't paid much attention earlier, but now, the image in the painting stirred something in him.
[Comprehensive Type-2 Mech]
[Tier]: Fourth-tier · Purple
[Type]: [Transformation Card]
[Trait]: [Self-Healing Metal]
[Description]: A mech equipped with combat, logistical support, and diagnostic capabilities. Due to its versatility, it may lack standout strengths.
This… this is a Gundam?!
Lu Heng's tone shifted slightly, carrying a hint of something indescribable. "Though it might not fully align with your wishes, it can indeed fulfill some of them. Congratulations."
He was a little envious.
Piloting a mech—who could resist being tempted by that?
Sure, it was only fourth-tier, but forget about how strong it was—just look at how cool it is!
"Amazing!"
Navia was thrilled.
Looking at the mech depicted on the card, her first impression was also how incredibly cool it was!
The key was that it could fight and had all these versatile functions!
It might not directly cure illnesses, but as a fourth-tier card, its diagnostic abilities had to be better than an ordinary doctor's, right? The treatment suggestions it provided would probably be excellent too?
Navia was very satisfied.
"But what does this 'Transformation Card' mean?"
Did it mean she had to transform into this mech?
"It means exactly what it says, but don't worry—it's not a Talent Card, so it won't alter your species."
Lu Heng explained what a mech was: a machine piloted by a human inside. During the transformation, if needed, she could exit the mech.
But in terms of card attributes, it wasn't classified as an external-use card, so there were some differences.
In simple terms, this card was like a Spark Lens—Navia could transform into Ultraman, and during the duration, she could have Ultraman stand aside while she stepped out to do her own thing.
But once the duration ended, Ultraman would fly away and enter cooldown.
"Want to give it a try?" Lu Heng asked.
"Let's finish drawing first," Navia said, though she was eager to test it out.
The next two hundred draws yielded no purple cards.
But getting one usable fourth-tier card out of five hundred draws already exceeded Navia's expectations.
After dismantling the useless cards and upgrading all three Equipment Devices to first-tier, Navia asked, "Would you like to come along, Boss Lu?"
"Of course!"
This was a mech they were talking about!
Even if he couldn't pilot it, that didn't stop Lu Heng from going to take a look.
"Shall we head out, then?"
"Let's teleport."
Strange undulations emerged beneath Lu Heng's feet as a teleportation array enveloped the four of them, causing them to vanish from the shop in an instant.
The next moment.
The four appeared in a desolate wilderness.
"So magical!"
Navia felt as though she had blinked and suddenly found herself transported from the shop to this wild terrain.
Lu Heng smiled without explaining.
Navia didn't forget her main objective. After her brief marveling, she equipped the device.
Just as she was about to activate the card, she instinctively struck a cool pose, pressing the card against the device.
"Comprehensive Type-2 Mech, transform!"
Under the gaze of Lu Heng and the other two, a beam of white light enveloped Navia.
Then, a giant silver-white figure stood on the ground, towering at twenty-six meters tall, equipped with three pairs of wings, a heavy sword, and a round shield.
Melus had to crane his neck to look up at it.
"So cool…"
Lu Heng took a deep breath.
"Really cool…"
Behind his sunglasses, Silver's eyes burned with a desire only men could understand.
He wanted a mech like this so badly!
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T/N:
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