49: The avatar remains as stable as a rock, while the mirror image clone puts on a dramatic show online.

On the large bed in the master bedroom, Mirror Image No. 1 remained silent for two seconds in the stillness.

Then, a tone mixing the confusion of just waking up with the displeasure of being disturbed came from the phone's receiver.

"What's all this? I just fell asleep, Director Chen. It's twelve-thirty in the morning."

This flawless performance perfectly replicated the slightly relaxed laziness Jiang Ming himself displayed when off-duty.

Chen Jianguo, on the other end of the line, didn't mind this attitude. His breathing was still rapid and heavy, showing extreme emotional suppression.

"Magic City, Oriental Pearl Tower, twelve o'clock sharp. A figure in white appeared, carving the words 'bring in the wine' in the air with sword qi, then split the Huangpu River with a single strike, causing floods and massive panic. Now the entire Bund is paralyzed."

Chen Jianguo described this earth-shattering event in the simplest terms.

"And you, Consultant Jiang, announced you were entering a period of silence after the Yuzhang First Snow incident. Why did another 'immortal' pop up just as you went silent?"

The questioning tone was completely undisguised.

"Wait a second."

Mirror Image No. 1 moved the phone away from his ear and pressed the speakerphone button.

He sat up, using his other hand to swipe open his private phone and tap on the TikTok platform, which was already overwhelmed by countless notifications.

The first thing that caught his eye was the pinned topic #Magic City Sword Immortal#.

He clicked on the 4K ultra-high-definition video captured by a drone.

An unparalleled figure in white, standing in mid-air.

Sword qi like a dragon, tearing through the river.

Even as a Mirror Puppet programmed with basic behavioral logic, upon seeing these images of pure violent aesthetics—which far surpassed 'Dead Wood Meets Spring' and 'Yuzhang First Snow'—he instinctively let out a sharp, controlled gasp that still betrayed his shock.

This reaction was clearly transmitted to Chen Jianguo's ears through the encrypted line.

"I just saw it..."

Mirror Image No. 1's tone changed completely. The previous laziness vanished without a trace, replaced only by gravity.

"This isn't me."

On the other end of the line, Chen Jianguo fell into a brief silence, seemingly analyzing the truth of those words.

"How do I believe you?"

Mirror Image No. 1 let out a slight nasal sound, sounding like a disdainful sneer.

"Why would I lie to you?"

"Director Chen, let's use some logic. When I wanted to create a city-wide snowfall in Yuzhang, I needed to give seven days' notice and report it to you, the head of the Ninth Bureau, to get official tacit approval."

"Now, in Magic City, in Lujiazui, the core of the global financial center, to cause such a terrifying event capable of triggering a financial tsunami or even an international dispute... would I do that quietly, without leaving myself any way out?"

"Director Chen, do you think I'm that stupid?"

This series of rhetorical questions struck right at the heart of the matter.

Indeed, based on the intelligence and style Jiang Ming had shown before, he was a calculating strategist who moved step-by-step. He would maximize his abilities within the framework of official approval, though no one knew what his ultimate goal was.

But it followed that Jiang Ming would never do something akin to a terrorist attack, which would push him completely into opposition with the state.

Chen Jianguo's breathing on the other end of the line steadied slightly.

A few seconds later, he spoke.

"Sorry, Consultant Jiang. I was being abrupt."

"Sorry for disturbing your rest."

Having said that, Chen Jianguo didn't give Mirror Image No. 1 another chance to speak and hung up the phone.

Beep... beep... beep... Listening to the busy signal, Mirror Image No. 1 expressionlessly placed the encrypted phone back on the nightstand.

Mission accomplished.

However, almost at the same moment he put down the phone.

His private phone began to vibrate frantically.

The name "Zhao Lin" was flashing on the screen.

Mirror Image No. 1 swiped to answer.

"Jiang Ming! Oh my god!!"

"Magic City! Was that your doing in Magic City? Did you open a new persona? The company's board of directors has exploded! Everyone is asking me! You..."

Zhao Lin's speech was so fast she almost tripped over her tongue.

As the sole liaison between Jiang Ming and the TikTok platform, the pressure she bore was beyond imagination.

In just the past few minutes, her phone had been completely blown up by calls from the board of directors, the PR department, the legal department, and even inquiries from higher levels.

Everyone wanted to know one thing.

Whether the 'Sword Immortal' who split the Huangpu River with one sword and their S++ Grade Strategic Partner, the 'Crow God', were actually the same person!

"Calm down, Zhao Lin."

Mirror Image No. 1 interrupted her incoherent rambling.

"I was just woken up by an official call and just finished watching the video. The scene was indeed very exaggerated, but... it really wasn't me."

Mirror Image No. 1's tone adjusted again, taking on the helplessness one feels when facing 'one's own people' and a hint of irritability at having his plans disrupted.

"Besides, I'm still on vacation back in my hometown of Yuzhang; I haven't gone anywhere."

"As for that 'Sword Immortal'..."

Mirror Image No. 1 paused, continuing in a tone mixed with shock, scrutiny, and strong dissatisfaction.

"I can only say that this guy who suddenly popped up to steal my spotlight makes me very unhappy."

This explanation perfectly matched the reaction the 'Crow God' would most likely have as the only Transcendent upon seeing another appear.

Zhao Lin's side went silent instantly, seemingly digesting this information.

"It's really not you?"

"Of course not."

"I see..." Zhao Lin let out a long sigh of relief. "I'll report to the board immediately. But Jiang Ming... what do you think is happening to this world?"

Mirror Image No. 1 didn't answer her philosophical question, but simply hung up the phone... Ninth Bureau, Command Center.

Chen Jianguo hung up and leaned back against the cold command console, falling into even deeper thought.

A smart man who had already established a preliminary cooperative relationship with the authorities and was enjoying the various conveniences brought by official endorsement would have no reason to lie about such a thing.

That meant... the worst-case scenario had happened.

Chen Jianguo suddenly looked up, staring again at the footage being replayed by military drones on the main screen.

"If it's not target a-001..."

"Then this one... is target a-002?"

An unprecedented pressure weighed heavily on his shoulders.

One Jiang Ming had already forced the entire state machine to adjust for him.

Now, there was another entity with even greater destructive power and who was completely unknown.

Chen Jianguo turned and grabbed another red secure phone on the command console.

His movements no longer showed any hesitation.

"Initiate a 'cooperative inquiry' regarding target a-001."

"Send someone to Yuzhang, immediately!"

"Please invite him, in his capacity as a 'Special Consultant' for the Ninth Bureau, to assist us in analyzing this newly appeared... 'target a-002'."