#lodden

Designer's Reflection: Midnight Neon

Obtained: Welfare

Rarity: SSR

Attribute: Green/Fresh

Awakened Suit: Midnight Spotlight

Story - transcripts from Designer's Reflection

Chapter 1 - Wine Party Invitation

Chapter 2 - Assistant Experience

Chapter 3 - Unexpected Challenge

Chapter 4 - New Year's Eve

Story - summarized

Vermillion is decorating her dorm for the winter break when Chi Xiaoyu offers her a chance to take her place as Helz's assistant for the Designer's Cocktail this year. It's a huge opportunity to network with other designers and learn insider secrets. Naturally, Vermillion is excited to go.

A week before New Year's Eve, she and Helz land in Lodden Airport. Everything is still festive for Starsnow as they get ready for the conference at the hotel. It's hard work being an assistant, but Vermillion Snow takes careful notes and pays attention to the hottest designers.

One of them is Caroline, who works for a brand under Mercury Group. She prefers flashy, modernist styles, and she sees fashion only as a status marker. But worst of all, she berates her assistants for even things so small as a color palette she disagrees with.

Vermillion approaches an assistant that Caroline had just screamed at, and offers kind words and encouragement. Caroline hadn't gone far, and she scolds her as well.

Helz finds out about the incident, and he suggests that Vermillion Snow get three letters of recommendation so that she could attend the finale party as well and prove Caroline wrong with her own design. He signs the first letter, and Sonya (the carousel-dress girl) signs the second. A mysterious third designer signs the last letter.

By the start of the Cocktail's finale party, Vermillion has a dress styled and finished: fresh, simple, yet breathtakingly stunning. As soon as Caroline sees the dress, she falls into silence. It's clear that Vermillion Snow wins this challenge - even better, she wins best design at the party. In her speech, she thanks Helz and Sonya, as well as the third person "who inspired this design."

She figured out that Caroline sent the third recommendation letter. Caroline began as a lowly assistant as well, and while she still thought herself above the assistants, she wanted to give Vermillion a chance.

Bells ring in the New Year, and Vermillion Snow has emerged a more confident indie designer with contact cards from famous designers all across the continent.

Connections

-You first meet Sonya in her Reflection for Carnival Scene. Just like in her memories there, she has no character art here. The given reason in-game is that she is shy.

-Helz used to be an assistant, too, but in Morning Mist, his boss, Mr. Doge, was a lot more abusive than Caroline, going so far as to trigger eating disorders.

-Vermillion Snow may not design a lot of Apple clothes, but she is from Apple herself. She and her parents had to leave Apple during the revolutionary war, as explained in her memories in Flowery Silhouette.

-It's fitting that Vermillion would be Helz's assistant, since both are passionate about fashion and seek to reveal the true self, like when Helz designed the wedding pantsuit in Romantic Visit. And both of them earned praises and got contact cards from other famous designers.

-It's actually good that Chi Xiaoyu didn't go as Helz's assistant. While she loves designing, she doesn't like doing extra work... probably because she has bad memories of Jiang Xitong giving her lots of extra work in Early Summer Shower.

-You've seen Lodden before in Vol. 1 Chapter 6 with the auction and the Lodden's Night SSR gacha. Thankfully, no one gets hurt this time.

-Vermillion Snow and Helz land "seven days before New Year's Eve." That means they get into the airport on Christmas Eve, which makes sense with the Night of Twin Queens still performing at the theater. You've seen one queen's Reflection earlier this year in May (Erika) and a couple week's ago you met the other queen, Erinka.

Fun Facts

-This is Vermillion's only Apple-themed suit. All her other ones are Cloud-based, since she considers that country her home and inspiration.

Designer’s Reflection: Street Tempest

Obtained: Vol.1 Ch. 6 workshop

Rarity: SR

Attribute: Blue/Cool

Awakened Suit: Alternative Trend

Story - transcripts from Designer’s Reflection

Chapter 1 - Gossips

Chapter 2 - Crossing Swords

Chapter 3 - Grand Feast

Story - summarized

Mercury is hosting a party at Lodden Hotel. All aristocrats and business-folk are there, drinking champagne, waltzing, and enjoying themselves. Meanwhile, Mercury is waiting for a certain guest to arrive.

A few days ago, a huge structure collapsed on New Wing Island, killing and injuring many. Since Mercury Group had recently bought the island at an auction, they were the target of blame and scrutiny. The CEO himself had his secretary look into the catastrophe... sure enough, the secretary reported the engineer responsible was from a rival group led by Mr. Winslet.

Winslet had competed in the auction for New Wing Island, and he was outraged to lose to a “new-money” man like Mercury. Mr. Winslet went on news outlets blaming Mercury and his group for the disaster. It was obvious he wanted to discredit the rival group and reclaim the island for himself.

Instead, Mercury planned a gala at Lodden Hotel, and he invited Winslet to attend.

Now, Mercury waits in a normal hotel room for his honored guest. Winslet finally arrives, foppish and gaudy. He tries to threaten Mercury with talk about how the other businesses are rallying against him. He tries to appear menacing. He tries to manipulate the situation.

But he had lost the moment he came to the hotel.

As fireworks boomed outside for the gala, Mercury shot Winslet, thereby quelling any competition or retaliation.

Connections

-Most of Mercury’s Reflections feature a different narrator than first-person: a business employee in Nightmist Aria, an omniscient narrator in this one and the last chapter of his wedding Reflection Forever Love, and even himself in third person in the first half of the VIP Reflection Startide Dreams.

-He hosts a gala in this Reflection, which is the workshop suit for Vol. 1 Ch. 6. In that chapter, Nikki attends a different gala where Mercury gets Leonid’s Manuscript from Qin Yi and plans to auction it off.

-Other than President Winslet, Mercury has assassinated only one other: his birth father, King August.

Fun Facts

-It seems like roses are Mercury’s favorite flower, since this is the third Reflection of his they’re in: a rose tattoo here, a rose-based dress for Forever Love, and a rose motif for the whole Daybreak Overture suit.

Designer's Reflection: Nightmist Aria

Obtained: Lodden's Night SSR gacha

Rarity: SSR

Attribute: Green/Fresh

Awakened Suit: Feather Waltz

Story - transcripts from Designer's Reflection

Chapter 1 - Secret Mission

Chapter 2 - Matter of Life and Death

Chapter 3 - Reserved Situation

Chapter 4 - Surging Undercurrents

Story - summarized

In the middle of the night, three black cars drive down a road to Lodden Hotel. The middle car carries Leonid's Manuscript and two men, Joe and Lande. All is quiet and normal during this mission.

Almost too quiet and normal.

The squad is ambushed by a mysterious man, and only Lande is alive now. The mysterious man turns out to be the infamous criminal Scorpionfish - and he wants the manuscript!

Lande tries to fight back... he is mind-controlled by Scorpionfish. He can't move. He's stuck in place. His life is in Scorpionfish's hands now.

But then, Mercury shows up. He uses his Styling Power to destroy Scorpionfish and subdue the criminal. Lande makes it through stunned, but unscathed. He had only heard tales of this kind of power. He wanted it, but he also respected it.

Lande offers to follow Mercury to learn this power - Mercury refuses. In this world, there were those who controlled fate and those who were controlled by it. Mercury is the first, but Lande, even after running away from a nightmarish past, is in the second group.

Nonetheless, Lande embraces his new position. One day, he will have this power for his own. In the meantime, his new mission is to find and follow a young woman named Nikki (in disguise as Lady Anya) and keep her from leaving the auction.

Connections

-A lot of Mercury's designs and Reflections involve roses: this one, Forever Love, and Daybreak Overture, to name a few. Here, the bramble of roses represents a hard-to-know truth. In Forever Love, it symbolizes child Mercury choosing love and hope over power. And in Daybreak Overture, the rose garden was left in Mercury's care after the original lord of the house passed away.

-Loen had to save Scorpionfish during his mission in Flying Free. He doesn't like the criminal either.

-If you look at the Pieces section of the Index, the descriptions for the suit pieces tell the story of Reminiscence of Flower: he and his mother had to flee Pigeon and moved around Apple. She loved him for who he was, but she ended up drowning herself to keep him safe.

Fun Facts

-When Lande talks to Nikki, the picture shown is her in Lady Anya form, but when she has a surge of power and almost loses control during the auction.

Narrated by no one.

Narrator: Bright lights stayed on all night in the Lodden Hotel.

Narrator: Waiters in white gloves shuttled trays back and forth, delivering wine and desserts to the guests.

Narrator: Music wafted out into the garden, lingering in the night air and mixing with the mellow aroma of champagne.

Narrator: The gentlemen had handkerchiefs and roses in their breast pockets. The ladies wore long skirts and smiled behind their fans.

Narrator: All of the guests were either Lodden aristocrats or tycoons.

Narrator: A beautiful lady was sipping champagne and chatting with the gentleman in front of her.

Lady: Where is the host of this party?

Narrator: She looked around, seemingly a little disappointed.

Gentleman: I heard he rarely shows up. He just hosts parties to stay relevant.

Lady: Mercury? I don’t think there’s anyone in Lodden who doesn’t know him.

Lady: He’s a Pigeon aristocrat who rose to fame in the past two years. I didn’t think he’d buy New Wing Island so quickly.

Lady: Look at how grandiose this party is. I’d dare to say Winslet is probably furious right now.

Narrator: Hearing that name, the gentleman smiled.

Narrator: He refilled her glass with a know-it-all face.

Gentleman: It wasn’t easy for Mercury to outbid old-money Winslet for New Wing Island.

Gentleman: Winslet thought New Wing Island was a done deal.

Gentleman: After Mercury bought New Wing Island, he started a mystery project. No one knew what it was...

Narrator: The chit chat gave way to violin playing in the night.

Narrator: A black cat leaped out of the bushes and jumped up to the second floor, interrupting the conversation.

Lady: Where did the cat come from?

Narrator: The lady looked in the direction the cat had disappeared and caught a glimpse of a gray figure on the second floor terrace.

Narrator: When she took a second look, she saw only curtains flowing in the wind.

Chapter 2

Narrated by Mercury.

Narrator: Lodden Hotel was dazzling. Butterflies fluttered in the garden, indulging in the moving lights.

Narrator: Rows of luxury cars parked outside. Couples clad in formal wear held hands and walked through the gate.

Narrator: White-gloved waiters zipped through the crowd. Musicians played out in the garden.

Narrator: Besides Lodden celebrities and politicians, the heads of several mega conglomerates also showed up, all with bodyguards.

Narrator: All ignorant fools.

Secretary: Everything’s set, sir.

Narrator: I let the curtains down. They served as a barrier to separate the inside and outside into different worlds.

Narrator: Behind me was a seemingly mundane room on the second floor of the Lodden Hotel.

Narrator: On the table was a vase with red roses, shockingly crimson in the light.

Narrator: The black cat sat up on the table upon hearing footsteps approaching the door.

Narrator: In the garden, the band played dance tunes. The guests began to waltz on the lawn.

Narrator: They were too busy carousing to notice the unrest underscoring the festivity.

Narrator: Finally, someone sensed something was wrong.

Lady: Isn’t Mr. Winslet supposed to be here tonight? Where is he?

Gentleman: Maybe too embarrassed and angry to come?

Lady: I prefer Mercury, anyway. At least he’s younger and hotter.

Gentleman: Mercury cannot hope to supplant Winslet in Lodden, especially when many smaller corporations are now on his side.

Narrator: The Winslet they spoke of finally knocked on the door.

Narrator: Winslet was walking toward my room. I could hear the footsteps approaching.

Narrator: The door opened and in strode Winslet.

Narrator: He was an overconfident businessman, just like all of the guests in the garden below.

Winslet: Mercury.

Narrator: Winslet was clad in expensive evening wear and holding a cane studded with jewels.

Narrator: It flaunted his clout and authority.

Narrator: But the more dignified he looked, the more anxiety I could sense from him.

Winslet: Finally decided to negotiate?

Narrator: I didn’t respond.

Narrator: Winslet raised his head slightly, showing a crack in his calm demeanor.

Narrator: My silence told him he was in a stickier situation than he’d bargained for.

Narrator: He felt humiliated. His voice was boiling with anger when he spoke again.

Winslet: I’ve allied with other corporations and the media. We’ll lynch you tomorrow!

Winslet: What’s the matter? You scared speechless?

Narrator: Bloated, perverted fool.

Narrator: I raised a gun.

Narrator: Winslet overlooked the fact that there was an easier solution.

Narrator: As far as I’m concerned, this would suffice.

Narrator: He was visibly shocked and shaking, then signaled his bodyguards to protect him.

Narrator: The two bodyguards didn’t move.

Winslet: What are you doing, Mercury?

Winslet: You’re in Lodden!

Narrator: Still a bloated, perverted fool. Noisy, too.

Mercury: For you, the party is over.

Narrator: Suddenly, every light in Lodden went out.

Narrator: It was like the whole city bowed in submission.

Narrator: Only the Lodden Hotel stayed lit.

Lady: What happened? What’s going on? Hey, waiter...

Narrator: Just then...

Narrator: Bang!

Narrator: Huge, brilliant fireworks burst across the night sky, illuminating the entire city.

Narrator: The fireworks shot off one after another, breaking up in the sky into little colorful stars.

Narrator: Under the twinkling lights, Lodden Hotel came off like a stage at the center of the universe, and the show was just starting.

Narrator: Champagne sprayed everywhere as the guests partook in a glorious feast.

Narrator: Under the explosion of fireworks, no one could hear the gunshot.

Narrator: The rose behind me lost a petal. It floated gently down on the tabletop.

Narrator: The black cat walked over the fallen Winslet and sat at my feet.

Narrator: I nodded to the secretary, who slowly closed the door. Before it had shut completely, I raised a glass to the late Winslet.

Narrator: I was the host of the party and should never be rude to a guest.

Narrator: The garden lights started to dim.

Narrator: The waiters were still busy, continuing to zip back and forth with their trays.

Narrator: The band began to play a song no one had ever heard before.

Narrator: I held a glass of drink and greeted guests below from the terrace.

Narrator: Fireworks boomed behind me like a magnificent backdrop.

Mercury: Let the party begin.

Narrator: A round of cheers rang through the crowd. They were happy to finally see their host.

Narrator: They stopped talking and looked at me in awe.

Narrator: The heads of the other corporations learned what had just happened. They knew what to do next.

Narrator: The rumors about New Wing Island subsided and no one noticed Winslet’s absence.

Narrator: I paid no attention to the garden, just gazing at the distant skyline of New Wing Island.

Narrator: The secretary stood behind me as usual, running down the progress.

Secretary: The New Wing Island project is expected to wrap at the end of the month.

Mercury: Got it.

Narrator: The secretary turned and left.

Narrator: New Wing Island was covered in darkness, looking like a sleeping giant.

Narrator: Construction lights cut through the night like the eyes of a wild beast.

Chapter 1