The Lady’s Ambition and Lisa’s Trickery

The stunned silence in Galehaven Comics gradually thawed as Fischl's dramatic exit sank in, though the memory of her golden flare still jolted the customers' nerves.

That blinding light, those piercing eyes—what kind of power could dazzle so fiercely it left them squinting in its wake?

The Lady, her composure fraying at the edges, finally broke the hush, her voice sharp with curiosity. "Boss, what exactly did that girl just get as her reward?"

Surely something radiating brighter than a noon sun couldn't be mundane—not after it had seared itself into their retinas like a divine omen.

Lisa, Barbara, Luke, and Daryl swiveled their heads toward Harlan Flint, their own intrigue mirroring hers, each eager for the answer behind Fischl's spectacle.

Harlan leaned back against the counter, his tone measured but tinged with flair. "She claimed the True Evil King's Eye—a power born from believing in the impossible, defying what mortals deem unreal, granting her might beyond the ordinary!"

"To wield its full force, she must unseal it with a chant, lest its unbound strength fracture the very world around us!" he added, his words dripping with just enough gravitas to sell the bit.

The Lady's breath hitched, her eyes widening with a mix of awe and hunger. "A force that could shatter reality itself—such power is unimaginable!"

This was it—the key she'd craved, a tool to dwarf the Heart of God, a trump card to cement Solstice's dominion without scrabbling for divine trinkets.

She sprang from her corner seat, her usual poise abandoned as she darted to the bookshelf, snatching Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai! with a fervor bordering on desperation.

Plunking back down, she cracked it open, her mind racing—if this comic birthed that eye, she'd claim it too, no matter the cost.

Luke and Daryl watched her, envy gnawing at them—they longed to dive into that book, to seize such a dazzling ability for themselves.

But Harlan's one-book-a-day rule boxed them in; they'd have to wait for tomorrow, their chance delayed by the Lady's swift grab.

Lisa shook her head, a faint smirk playing on her lips—she saw through Harlan's game, his exaggerated pitch a playful jab at Fischl's chuunibyou streak.

The light had been stunning, sure, but it lacked punch—no shockwave, no force—just a flashy trick, not the world-breaker he'd hyped.

She guessed why the Lady bought it so hard—Harlan's earlier display of might had branded him as infallible in her eyes, his every word gospel.

"Sister Lisa, is that Evil King's Eye really that strong?" Barbara whispered, scooting closer, her voice a mix of awe and uncertainty.

She'd felt the shock of Fischl's glow, a scene too grand to dismiss—surely it held real power, not just theatrics, right?

"I'll tell Jean about it later—she needs to see this for herself if it's legit," she added, her mind already plotting a chat with her sister.

Lisa's eyes glinted with mischief, a wicked idea blooming—Jean with the True Evil King's Eye, chanting like Fischl? Pure gold.

She straightened, her tone suddenly earnest. "You saw it yourself, Barbara—that light was no small thing, and with the boss vouching for it, how could it be fake?"

Barbara nodded, her trust in Harlan unshaken—he was powerful, kind, even tipped her off about Snowballmon's evolution; he wouldn't mislead her.

Lisa pressed on, nodding subtly toward the Lady. "See that woman over there? That's the Fatui's eighth Harbinger, codenamed 'Lady'—even she's scrambling for it; doesn't that prove its worth?"

Her face was a mask of sincerity, urging Barbara to weigh the evidence, though inside she was cackling at her own ruse.

Barbara's jaw dropped, her gaze darting to the Lady hunched over her comic. "Wait—she's a Harbinger? No wonder she strutted in like that!"

She'd heard of the Fatui's diplomatic bullying, but spotting one of their top brass here, tamed by Harlan's rules, sealed the deal—those comics held real power.

"I've got to tell Jean—this could change everything!" Barbara resolved, her naive trust in Lisa's nudge locking her plan in place.

Harlan caught the exchange from the counter, a silent laugh bubbling up. "Lisa's got her hooks in poor Barbara—outsmarting that kid's like shooting fish in a barrel."

The big-sister charm had reeled Barbara in, her innocence no match for Lisa's sly prodding, and he couldn't help but admire the finesse.

Soon, Barbara and Lisa wrapped up their own reads, One Piece: East Sea Saga and Digimon: First Frontier, their pages turning quieter as the shop hummed along.

The system chimed in Harlan's head, its panel refreshing with new data, and he leaned forward, eager to see what his latest readers had snagged.

[Customer Barbara completed One Piece: East Sea Saga—Reward: Freeze Fruit Ability.]

[Freeze Fruit Ability: Turns any body part into ice, emits freezing air to encase anything in frost; immune to physical blows, non-Haki strikes, and most energy attacks; can craft ice weapons from thin air, shaping light blue ice into any form to strike foes.]

[Note: System-enhanced—no sea curse, no water or Seastone weakness for the user.]

[Customer Lisa completed Digimon: First Frontier—Reward: Koshiro's Laptop.]

[Koshiro's Laptop: A digital archive packed with detailed intel on the Digimon world.]

Harlan's brow lifted, impressed—Barbara's icy power packed a punch, while Lisa's prize suited her bookish vibe perfectly, a neat split for the pair.

***

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