Ding-a-ling~ Ding-a-ling~ Ding-a-ling~
March 7th:[Image.jpg]
March 7th: Sister Lumina, we're broke! We can't afford to hire Nahida, that big shot! (Collapses into dramatic tears)
March 7th: But in the end, my charm worked its magic, and I managed to snag a perfect photo of Nahida's face! (Smirks proudly)
Inside the cozy wooden cabin, the ringtone for the Special Group on Lumina's phone chimed. She picked up her phone, unlocked the screen, and saw two messages and a photo from March 7th.
Studying the messages and the recent group photo, Lumina's eyes flickered. She twirled a strand of her silky hair around her finger, pondered for a moment, then lightly tapped the screen, typing out a reply.
Lumina: She really does look remarkably like... If I weren't absolutely certain I have no living relatives, I'd almost believe this little girl named Nahida is my long-lost younger sister...
Lumina: By the way, what do you mean you're broke?
To contend with March 7th, this "divine detective," Lumina had to be on her guard with 200% focus. Whether she was the Great Ellio or just Silly March 7th, as long as she revealed not a single weakness, she wouldn't have to worry about any problems.
After sending that message, Lumina waited a few seconds. Then, seizing the moment before March 7th could finish typing and send her reply, she quickly typed and sent a series of messages:
Lumina: Oh~ I see now. I forgot to mention earlier... The Sumeru Star System has its own comprehensive economic and monetary system. Credit Points, the universal currency of the Cosmos, can't be used here.
Lumina: Sorry about that, March. It's my mistake. Use Sumeru's network to download the Irminsul System, then send me your name and ID. I'll transfer the funds.
March 7th: No worries, no worries! It's a minor issue.
Seeing her Sister Lumina's near-instant reply, March 7th only felt warmth from her sister's enthusiasm. Without overthinking it, she deleted her original message from the chat box and retyped a new one before sending it.
Then she continued typing her question:
March 7th: Oh, right! That Nahida is apparently some kind of Elder, and also the Headmaster of some university or something. She must be a really important person, right?
March 7th: A big shot like that, who looks so much like you, Sister Lumina... how could the people there not be suspicious?
Since Nahida and Sister Lumina look so alike and she holds such a high position, she must appear in public often, right?
Even if she doesn't show her face much, as the Headmaster of that university, she can't be completely unknown. There must be photos of her circulating, right?
Sister Lumina is so popular in Sumeru City. Any leaked photo of Nahida would definitely cause a sensation, wouldn't it?
And after causing a sensation, how could Sister Lumina not have heard of Nahida's existence?
Could Nahida be lying? Maybe she's not really an Elder or a university Headmaster at all?
But those aren't the main issues. The real question is: Nahida has lived in Sumeru City for so long, with so many people seeing her and so many traces of her existence. How has no one connected her to Sister Lumina?
If March 7th were to walk the streets of the Starskiff Jetty on the Xianzhou Luofu and encounter someone who resembled General Jing Yuan so closely in both hair color and facial features, she would undoubtedly wonder if he was the general's younger brother or perhaps an illegitimate son...
Similarly, the people of Sumeru, upon seeing Nahida, might not immediately think of her as Sister Lumina herself, but they would likely assume she was either Sister Lumina's younger sister or her illegitimate daughter...
Hmm... Illegitimate daughter? No, let's not go there.
March 7th's mind raced with these wild thoughts, shaking her head to dismiss the idea of Nahida being Sister Lumina's illegitimate daughter.
No, absolutely not! Nahida could even be Sister Lumina's mother, but she could never be her illegitimate daughter!
Absolutely not!
While March 7th was lost in these wild thoughts, Lumina was also deep in thought.
Hmm... I completely forgot about this issue. Looking at March 7th's message, Lumina nodded slightly. Though she was pondering countermeasures, she wasn't overly concerned.
It was merely a matter of presence and identity—nothing too significant. Lumina could come up with a thousand explanations.
Lumina: I rarely visit Apricot Grove, so it's understandable that I'm unfamiliar with Nahida.
Lumina: As for why Nahida resembles me so closely, I already have an answer in mind.
Lumina: If possible, I'd like you to bring her here, March. My matters aren't resolved yet, and I can't leave.
Lumina: Of course, if it's not feasible, don't worry about it. It's already the third day, and your departure is approaching. Just enjoy your remaining time in Sumeru City and have a relaxed and happy vacation!~
Lumina's words were subtly coaxing March 7th to bring Nahida to her. If someone more perceptive, like Herta, had been reading this, they would have immediately guessed that Nahida held special importance to Lumina.
Herta would then mercilessly mock Lumina: [ "Only fools, idiots, and pigheads would beat around the bush like that! If you want me to bring Nahida to you, just ask me directly! Flatter me enough, and I might help you." ]
Lumina had a decent understanding of Herta's personality, making it easy to predict her actions.
But the person in front of her was March 7th, who clearly didn't grasp the underlying meaning.
Hmm... Even if she did figure it out, it wouldn't matter. March 7th's affection for me is high, and her natural good nature means she'd trust me unconditionally, even if she knew the truth.
[You're exploiting a beautiful girl's absolute trust in you! You're taking advantage of a fool! This is really going too far!]
"Exploiting? How is this exploitation?" Lumina chuckled softly at the message on her System screen, disagreeing with the assessment.
"I'm teaching March 7th to use her own brain, to think critically about everything she sees."
"She shouldn't trust or believe in anyone too deeply, because everything could be a well-intentioned lie~"
[You call this a "well-intentioned lie"? Where's the good intention?]
"Good intention? It's right here! As good as it gets!"
[?]
[First time seeing someone deceive a beautiful girl, then justify it with such a well-reasoned argument to further manipulate her...]
"Looks like I stole your first time then, huh~"
Lumina didn't seem to mind at all, even teasing back.
[...]
Speechless at Lumina's reply, the System obediently shut its mouth.
March 7th: Ah, I see. I understand now.
March 7th: But come to think of it, Sister Lumina's explanation for why her appearance is so similar to Nahida's is exactly the same as Nahida's...
Seeing the identical explanations from her own Sister Lumina and Nahida, March 7th couldn't help but wonder if they might be sisters born to the same mother...
However, since Sister Lumina had said so herself, March 7th had no reason to doubt her.
After all, Sister Lumina would never lie to us!
March 7th couldn't pinpoint when this deep-seated trust in Sister Lumina had first taken root in her heart.
Shaking her head, March 7th pushed the thought aside. Reading Lumina's words, she typed back:
[March 7th]: Sister Lumina, what are you handling over there? Is everything okay? Do you need our help?
[March 7th]: Don't worry, Sister Lumina! We'll definitely bring Nahida to you!
[March 7th]: As for a relaxing vacation... well, we still have Penacony to look forward to. Let's save all that enjoyment for that so-called dreamland!
March 7th typed these messages with effortless cheerfulness, completely unaware that this "vacation" was anything but...