Yo, Long Time No See!

"I know her... I know her all too well," Lu Guan said through gritted teeth.

Damn it, no wonder that name sounded so familiar. She was that Black Shores flower bearer from Suibo who died years ago...

Since Chengxia died years ago, who was this person calling herself "Chengxia" now? Such a hard guess!

"Uncle Lin, do you still remember the Dongyuan case from several years ago?" Lu Guan looked at Director Lin, his expression grave.

Director Lin's face took on a reminiscient look. "Brother Dongyuan was an old friend. He met with a sudden tragedy, so naturally, I remember the details of what happened back then."

"Could it be that you know something, Xiao Guan?"

Lu Guan nodded. "Taking on another person's form, stripping away another person's appearance... The Ministry of Divination may have no record of a Resonator like that, but that doesn't mean there isn't one in the Fractsidus."

"The Fractsidus president I fought that day took on many different forms. I'm afraid she must have something to do with the Dongyuan case."

"And the Fractsidus overseer in Huanglong, codenamed 'Balanophora'... also has a similar ability."

"You mean..." Understanding flashed in Director Lin's eyes. "That Black Shores flower bearer..."

"Very likely," Lu Guan answered affirmatively. "But she's at the Frontier Court right now, so it wouldn't be convenient to make a move directly..."

"Lure the snake out of its hole and make her expose a weakness herself." Director Lin immediately understood what Lu Guan meant. "But who will be the bait?"

"That's easy." Lu Guan smiled faintly. "There's a good chance she came here for Dania."

"Me?" Dania couldn't understand what riddles the two were speaking in, but she understood that last sentence.

Lu Guan... needs me!

"No... I won't let you put yourself in danger." Lu Guan shook his head, picked a strand of hair from Dania's collar, and held it in his hand.

Then he activated his Resonance Ability.

"Countless transformations, a constant heart..."

His figure twisted, and he actually took on Dania's appearance. Even his frequency became identical to hers.

Dania: "???"

How did my husband turn into me?

"That really is the most imaginative Resonance Ability..." Director Lin rose to his feet, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "Since you already have a plan, tell me. How do you want me to help?"

"That's simple enough."

Wearing "Dania's" appearance, Lu Guan gave his signature faint smile. "To avoid alerting her, Uncle Lin, you and Brother Zhao just need to follow the original plan..."

Lu Guan brought up a map on his terminal and marked a spot.

"I'll lure the Fractsidus president here. When the time comes, bring Jinhsi over and set up an ambush in advance..."

"I want to come too," Dania said suddenly. "Although... I'm not very good at fighting, I'm still a Calamity Class combatant..."

"But..." Lu Guan was about to say something, but when he saw the look in Dania's eyes that brooked no refusal, he changed his words. "All right... but you have to listen to me and keep yourself safe when the time comes."

"Mm... I will." Dania smiled. "Just being able to stand by your side is enough to make me happy."

Lu Guan was in no hurry to recite the second half of the phrase and change back to his original appearance.

After returning to the room, he imitated Dania's usual mannerisms and showed her. "What do you think of my imitation?"

"There's still a bit of a difference." Dania wore an odd expression. She turned slightly sideways and placed a hand around Lu Guan's waist.

"As for your stance... you need to lean a little less..."

"Walk more gently... Your posture really isn't much like mine..."

"And watch your tone when you speak. Don't let the president recognize you..."

"And..."

"Where are you touching?!" Somewhat alarmed, Lu Guan grabbed Dania's wandering hand as it reached for his butt.

She had been touching his body, seemingly intentionally or otherwise, under the pretext of guiding him. At first, Lu Guan hadn't paid it any mind, assuming Dania wanted to teach him how to disguise himself as her.

But as the lesson went on, he realized something was off.

"Hehehe..." Dania stopped pretending altogether and pushed Lu Guan down onto the bed. "Darling~ Just give yourself to me!"

"I've never played like this before~"

"Wait... Dania... This is your own..."

"I don't care~ Let me see~"

"Gah... Nooo..."

Over the next few days, Lu Guan took Dania sightseeing all around Jinzhou, as if they really were enjoying a vacation.

But beneath the surface, undercurrents were surging.

At last, "Chengxia" could no longer sit still.

She discovered that late every night, Dania would sneak out alone to buy a midnight snack, giving her a chance to make her move.

So, one night, as "Dania" was skipping back to the Frontier Court with the snacks she had just bought, a familiar voice sounded behind her.

"What a coincidence~ Dania~"

Hearing it, "Dania" turned around in shock and looked at the familiar figure before her.

Napomo stepped out of the shadows with a meaningful smile. "What? Surprised to see me?"

"You... why are you here?"

"Mm-hmm~ I only went out for a little while, and my little hamster at home secretly ran away. As her owner, of course I have to catch her and bring her back~"

"I... I'm happy here."

"Dania" shrank back, but seemed to remember something. Fear was no longer the only thing in her eyes, and her tone grew much firmer.

"I won't go back with you! Lu Guan won't agree to it either!"

"How can you talk to me like that, Dania~?" Napomo stepped forward and stroked Dania's hair as if soothing a pet.

"How amazing. I never expected you to break free of Aleph-1's influence and live a normal life." Napomo's eyes flickered; the changes in Dania seemed to excite her immensely. "Do you know what this means?"

"Wh... what?"

"Dania, your existence means it's possible to mass-produce Threnodian Resonators!" Napomo said, a little manically. "Can you tell me how you managed to keep the Threnodian's power without being affected?"

"I... I don't know."

"So... I'm making my move." Napomo raised her head and grabbed "Dania's" hand. "Come back with me. Once I've figured out your secret, I'll let you reunite with your little boyfriend!"

"No... I refuse!"

"Dania" angrily shook Napomo off and ran out of Jinzhou.

Napomo suspected nothing, assuming "Dania" was fleeing without thinking. So, after letting out a strange laugh, she chose to give chase.

Perhaps she wanted to wear down "Dania's" will, or perhaps her twisted sense of fun had gotten the better of her. Napomo didn't catch up to her immediately, instead trailing far behind "Dania" but always staying close enough for her to see when she looked back.

Soon, when "Dania" ran out of strength and stopped, panting, to lean against a huge boulder, Napomo flashed in front of her and pinched her chin.

"I told you... you can't escape, Dania."

"From the moment you joined the Fractsidus, your fate had already set you on a predetermined journey..."

"You're so noisy. Hurry up and make your move!"

"Hm???" Hearing "Dania's" strange tone, Napomo immediately looked around, somewhat wary. "Are you talking to me?"

But she quickly sensed something was wrong and hurriedly backed away. It was too late.

At some point, Jinhsi had quietly appeared behind her.

"Celestial Incandescence!"

Fortunately, the president reacted quickly enough, transforming into Charon in time to block Jinhsi's attack. Only then did she avoid being directly overwhelmed by that breath attack, fully charged with Incandescence.

"Interesting... So it was a trap?" The president looked at "Dania," her voice tinged with shock and anger. "So you already..."

Before she could finish, a huge cube of Void Matter appeared out of thin air above her head and came crashing down.

The president narrowly dodged it and looked toward the source of the attack.

Dania had activated the Form of Disillusionment and was glaring at her, looking every bit as though she wanted to smash this clone to pieces.

"No, if Dania is here, then you're..."

"Why should a man hide his face..." After reciting the words, Lu Guan changed back to his own appearance.

He stepped forward, purple light shining in his hand.

"Yo, long time no see!"

Faced with this long-awaited reunion, Lu Guan chose to send her a...

Hollow Technique: Purple!!!