diff --git a/simulations/mix_lez_chat/run_simulation_lgx.sh b/simulations/mix_lez_chat/run_simulation_lgx.sh
index bd6d3d0..0a10faa 100755
--- a/simulations/mix_lez_chat/run_simulation_lgx.sh
+++ b/simulations/mix_lez_chat/run_simulation_lgx.sh
@@ -621,9 +621,18 @@ EOF
         # alone leaves last_synced_block=0 even though storage.json knows about
         # accounts at higher chain_index values. Query sequencer for current
         # head and pass as the sync target.
-        CHAIN_HEAD=$(curl -sS -m 5 -X POST -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-            --data '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","method":"getLastBlockId","params":[],"id":1}' \
-            http://127.0.0.1:3040/ 2>/dev/null | python3 -c 'import json,sys; print(json.load(sys.stdin)["result"])' 2>/dev/null)
+        # Probe sequencer for current head. On testnet there's no local
+        # server on 3040; use the testnet RPC URL instead. Wrap in || true
+        # to defuse set -e under pipefail when curl returns connection-refused.
+        if [ "$SIM_NETWORK" = "local" ]; then
+            CHAIN_HEAD=$(curl -sS -m 5 -X POST -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
+                --data '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","method":"getLastBlockId","params":[],"id":1}' \
+                http://127.0.0.1:3040/ 2>/dev/null | python3 -c 'import json,sys; print(json.load(sys.stdin)["result"])' 2>/dev/null || true)
+        else
+            CHAIN_HEAD=$(curl -sS -m 10 -X POST -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
+                --data '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","method":"getLastBlockId","params":[],"id":1}' \
+                "$TESTNET_RPC_URL" 2>/dev/null | python3 -c 'import json,sys; print(json.load(sys.stdin)["result"])' 2>/dev/null || true)
+        fi
         : "${CHAIN_HEAD:=10000}"
         log "    chain head=$CHAIN_HEAD (for wallet sync)"
         # selfRegisterRln args go via @file JSON object — logoscore-cli's `call`
diff --git a/simulations/mix_lez_chat/sim-monitor/src/qml/MonitorView.qml b/simulations/mix_lez_chat/sim-monitor/src/qml/MonitorView.qml
index 1def250..65436dc 100644
--- a/simulations/mix_lez_chat/sim-monitor/src/qml/MonitorView.qml
+++ b/simulations/mix_lez_chat/sim-monitor/src/qml/MonitorView.qml
@@ -302,73 +302,62 @@ ApplicationWindow {
                         text: "NET " + parent.parent.peers + " peers" + (parent.parent.mixRdy ? " · mix ✓ pool " + parent.parent.pool : "") }
 
                     Item { Layout.fillHeight: true }
-
-                    // MSG badges
-                    RowLayout {
-                        spacing: 12
-                        Repeater {
-                            model: [{ label: "MSG OUT", val: parent.parent.parent.parent.out_, c: root.accent },
-                                    { label: "MSG IN", val: parent.parent.parent.parent.in_, c: root.blue }]
-                            Row {
-                                spacing: 4
-                                Text { font.family: root.monoFont; font.pixelSize: 9; color: root.textSecond; text: modelData.label }
-                                Rectangle {
-                                    width: 32; height: 20; radius: 4
-                                    color: modelData.val > 0 ? modelData.c : root.bgPanel
-                                    border.color: modelData.val > 0 ? modelData.c : root.border
-                                    Text { anchors.centerIn: parent; font.family: root.monoFont; font.pixelSize: 12; font.bold: true
-                                        color: modelData.val > 0 ? "#000" : root.textTertiary; text: modelData.val }
-                                }
-                            }
-                        }
-                    }
                 }
             }
 
-            // ── Message flow arrows ──
+            // ── Message flow arrows (large, central) ──
             Item {
-                Layout.preferredWidth: 60
+                Layout.preferredWidth: 80
                 Layout.fillHeight: true
 
                 ColumnLayout {
                     anchors.centerIn: parent
-                    spacing: 8
+                    spacing: 4
 
-                    // Forward arrow (sender → receiver)
+                    // Sent count (large)
                     Text {
-                        font.family: root.monoFont; font.pixelSize: 16; font.bold: true
-                        color: monitor.senderMsgOut > 0 ? root.accent : root.border
-                        text: "→"
-                        horizontalAlignment: Text.AlignHCenter
+                        font.family: root.monoFont; font.pixelSize: 24; font.bold: true
+                        color: monitor.senderMsgOut > 0 ? root.accent : root.textTertiary
+                        text: monitor.senderMsgOut > 0 ? String(monitor.senderMsgOut) : "0"
                         Layout.alignment: Qt.AlignHCenter
-
-                        SequentialAnimation on opacity {
-                            id: fwdArrowAnim; loops: 1; running: false
-                            NumberAnimation { to: 1.0; duration: 100 }
-                            NumberAnimation { to: 0.5; duration: 400 }
-                        }
-                        opacity: monitor.senderMsgOut > 0 ? 1.0 : 0.3
                     }
                     Text {
-                        font.family: root.monoFont; font.pixelSize: 9; color: root.textSecond
-                        text: monitor.senderMsgOut > 0 ? monitor.senderMsgOut + " sent" : ""
+                        font.family: root.monoFont; font.pixelSize: 10; color: root.textSecond
+                        text: "SENT →"
+                        Layout.alignment: Qt.AlignHCenter
+                    }
+
+                    // Separator
+                    Rectangle { width: 40; height: 1; color: root.border; Layout.alignment: Qt.AlignHCenter }
+
+                    // Received count (large)
+                    Text {
+                        font.family: root.monoFont; font.pixelSize: 24; font.bold: true
+                        color: monitor.receiverMsgIn > 0 ? root.accent : root.textTertiary
+                        text: monitor.receiverMsgIn > 0 ? String(monitor.receiverMsgIn) : "0"
+                        Layout.alignment: Qt.AlignHCenter
+                    }
+                    Text {
+                        font.family: root.monoFont; font.pixelSize: 10; color: root.textSecond
+                        text: "← RECV"
+                        Layout.alignment: Qt.AlignHCenter
+                    }
+
+                    // Separator
+                    Rectangle { width: 40; height: 1; color: root.border; Layout.alignment: Qt.AlignHCenter }
+
+                    // Reply count
+                    Text {
+                        font.family: root.monoFont; font.pixelSize: 16; font.bold: true
+                        color: monitor.senderMsgIn > 0 ? root.blue : root.textTertiary
+                        text: monitor.senderMsgIn > 0 ? String(monitor.senderMsgIn) : "0"
                         Layout.alignment: Qt.AlignHCenter
                     }
                     Text {
                         font.family: root.monoFont; font.pixelSize: 9; color: root.textSecond
-                        text: monitor.receiverMsgIn > 0 ? monitor.receiverMsgIn + " recv" : ""
+                        text: "← REPLY"
                         Layout.alignment: Qt.AlignHCenter
                     }
-
-                    // Reverse arrow (receiver → sender)
-                    Text {
-                        font.family: root.monoFont; font.pixelSize: 16; font.bold: true
-                        color: monitor.senderMsgIn > 0 ? root.blue : root.border
-                        text: "←"
-                        horizontalAlignment: Text.AlignHCenter
-                        Layout.alignment: Qt.AlignHCenter
-                        opacity: monitor.senderMsgIn > 0 ? 1.0 : 0.3
-                    }
                 }
             }
 
@@ -439,25 +428,6 @@ ApplicationWindow {
                         text: "NET " + parent.parent.peers + " peers" + (parent.parent.mixRdy ? " · mix ✓ pool " + parent.parent.pool : "") }
 
                     Item { Layout.fillHeight: true }
-
-                    RowLayout {
-                        spacing: 12
-                        Repeater {
-                            model: [{ label: "MSG OUT", val: parent.parent.parent.parent.out_, c: root.accent },
-                                    { label: "MSG IN", val: parent.parent.parent.parent.in_, c: root.blue }]
-                            Row {
-                                spacing: 4
-                                Text { font.family: root.monoFont; font.pixelSize: 9; color: root.textSecond; text: modelData.label }
-                                Rectangle {
-                                    width: 32; height: 20; radius: 4
-                                    color: modelData.val > 0 ? modelData.c : root.bgPanel
-                                    border.color: modelData.val > 0 ? modelData.c : root.border
-                                    Text { anchors.centerIn: parent; font.family: root.monoFont; font.pixelSize: 12; font.bold: true
-                                        color: modelData.val > 0 ? "#000" : root.textTertiary; text: modelData.val }
-                                }
-                            }
-                        }
-                    }
                 }
             }
         }