The players in the real world, watching Wriothesley — the shipbuilding director — at work, couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
["Wow… René pulled off a literal Stigmata Project in the Primordial Sea."]
["And now Wriothesley is secretly running a Noah's Ark project in the fortress of Meropide."]
["Are all the capable people in Fontaine the type to quietly work on world-altering plans?"]
CatCatEatsNoMedicine tapped her mouse and grumbled, "But seriously, does Lumine actually believe that Themis is the Hydro Archon?"
"No way, right? No way! Just look at her face — you're telling me she's the Hydro Archon?!"
"I'd sooner believe Childe is the Hydro Archon before I'd buy into Themis being the Goddess of Justice!"
CatCatEatsNoMedicine immediately and firmly rejected Lumine's theory.
["Ahem, for context — Themis is the Greek goddess of law and justice in our world."]
["Furina, on the other hand, is based on the Roman goddess of springs."]
["So, technically speaking, it's not completely out of the question that Themis could be the true Hydro Archon."]
"…Huh? Seriously?"
Now it was CatCatEatsNoMedicine's turn to be stunned.
She stared blankly at the chat for a moment before hesitantly opening Themis's entry in the database.
She went in looking confused — and came out looking even more lost.
"I… I thought her full name was Artemis! Y'know, the Greek moon goddess!"
"I figured they just shortened it for convenience!"
["Sweating bullets over there, huh, streamer?"]
["Hehehe, she fell for it! She really fell for it!"]
["I'm so lost! I swear, I can't tell anymore — streamer, who the hell is the real Hydro Archon?!"]
CatCatEatsNoMedicine: "How the hell should I know?! Should I storm HoYoverse headquarters and ask Dawei directly?!"
"Just look at Themis's face! Does that look like the face of a Hydro Archon?!"
"And remember what it said in the in-game lore — 'Only the Heavenly Principles have the right to judge the gods.'"
Her voice trailed off as confusion clouded her thoughts.
"…Now that I think about it, every nation we've visited so far had a god with at least some rebellious streak."
["Heavenly Principles judging the gods makes sense, right, bros?"]
["The Heavenly Principles realizing they can't actually defeat the Heavenly Principles — that checks out, yeah?"]
["Oh no… Who's the real Hydro Archon?!"]
["Everyone, calm down! It's obviously Furina! Neuvillette even said so!"]
["Can Neuvillette really be trusted though? What if he was tricked too?!"]
A full-blown debate erupted in the streamer's chatroom.
And it wasn't just limited to that — the player forums were also in chaos.
Leakers and theorists crawled out of the woodwork, feeding the flames while opportunists from the Church of Pleasure tried to stir things up even more.
Before long, "Who's the real Hydro Archon?" shot up to the top of the trending list.
It was the last thing Themis herself had expected.
Watching the players split into two factions — one firmly supporting her as both the Archon of Justice and the true Hydro Archon, and the other calling it complete nonsense — Themis found herself amused.
"So… it's already settled then?"
-
Meanwhile, in Teyvat — in the office of the Regent at Palais Mermonia…
Curious staff members watched as Neuvillette once again paced back and forth.
Neuvillette frowned deeply. He had something important to discuss, but for some reason, entering the office felt… inappropriate.
As more and more people gathered outside to watch, Neuvillette gave up.
Without a word, he turned and walked away.
Inside the office, Themis sat comfortably with Furina, a soft blue-and-white cat nestled in her lap.
Themis scrolled through the growing speculation online and couldn't help but chuckle.
Resting her chin atop Furina's head, she pressed a light kiss to her hair.
"Furina, today's work is finished."
"Care to accompany me for a walk?"
Her finger lifted Furina's chin as she extended the invitation.
"Not just any walk — I'm formally asking you out on a date."
"!?!"
Furina's eyes widened. Sitting on Themis's lap, she immediately sat up straight.
"W-Wait—"
She instinctively wanted to agree, but something stopped her.
It didn't seem fair to accept Themis's feelings so easily — not when Themis didn't yet know the full truth about her.
Her secrets, her real thoughts — Themis was still in the dark about all of it.
Accepting Themis's love under such conditions felt… dishonest.
"…Wait?"
Themis tilted her head, her clear eyes filled with mild confusion.
Seeing Furina's hesitant and flustered expression, Themis couldn't help but feel like she was teasing her.
Themis gently took Furina's clenched fist, prying open each of her fingers.
"I thought Furina opened her heart to me last night because she liked me."
Her tone suddenly softened — disappointment bleeding into her voice.
"…Was it just a fleeting moment of curiosity?"
"My mistake. I overstepped."
"I thought… because you showed me tenderness last night… that I could dare to think of myself as your lover."
Themis released Furina's hand, her voice trembling slightly.
Her pale lashes quivered, and for the first time, her usual calm expression showed a trace of vulnerability.
"No! It's not like that!"
Furina's heart lurched. Without thinking, she grabbed Themis's hand as it fell away.
Her heart pounded wildly as she spoke without hesitation:
"I… I really do like you, Themis!"
"Not just as a friend — it's deeper than that!"
Her face flushed red as she tried to explain herself.
"You… You even said so — back at the Opera Epiclese!"
"You told me that when I finally understood those feelings… you'd teach me what to do next!"
"I just… I just don't know…"
As Themis's hopeful gaze fixed on her, Furina's face burned bright red.
"I just don't know… how to actually go on a date with you."
"Because if I say yes… it means I love you."
"But when you're spending such a rare and precious day with someone you love, shouldn't you dress up properly and present your most perfect self?"
Themis blinked, surprised to realize that this was how Furina truly felt.
A shy and flustered Furina over a date… Hmm… Themis's heart swelled with joy. She took Furina's hand and couldn't resist pulling her into an embrace.
"But to me…" Themis leaned in closer, her cheek brushing against Furina's, "…Furina is always perfect."
"Cute, beautiful, gentle, and kind — that's the Furina I love."
Tilting her head, Themis placed a kiss on Furina's cheek, feeling like she could never get enough of her.
Furina's cheeks flushed bright red, her gaze wavering. Even though she often heard compliments as the public's beloved idol, being praised by the person she loved was an entirely different experience.
Her mind drifted back to last night — the image of Themis, soft and tender, with golden eyes shimmering like sunlit waves.
Snow-white hair, delicate fair skin… and… and…
A wave of heat rose in Furina's head, making her bite down gently on her lip and clench her fingers as a strange itch bloomed from within.
Noticing Furina's hesitation, Themis raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. But before she could speak, Furina shyly hooked her finger around Themis's hand, entwining their fingers together.
And then, lowering her head, Furina's teeth gently sank into Themis's slender neck.
This sudden boldness from Furina… It was hard to describe how incredibly enticing it was.
The warmth of her breath and the soft, slightly ticklish pressure of her bite on Themis's neck made her heart race. Furina was learning fast — a direct result of Themis's careful guidance the night before.
From innocent purity to playful affection — this was a major step forward in their relationship.
Themis sat still on the sofa, letting Furina's soft lips and delicate teeth trace along her neck and collarbone.
In that moment, Themis thought Furina was simply too cute — cute enough to make the happiness in her heart spill over uncontrollably.
Furina's bites were soft and playful, leaving no visible marks on Themis's fair skin despite how numerous they were.
Although Themis wouldn't have minded leaving the evidence there, she knew that if the citizens of Fontaine spotted any marks during their upcoming date, the first one to panic and hide under the bed out of embarrassment would definitely be Furina.
"…Furina."
Themis's hand circled around Furina's waist, pulling her out of her daze.
"If you keep going, I'm going to start thinking we should go back to the bedroom and… recreate last night."
Themis's lips curved into a mischievous smile as she captured Furina's lips in a lingering kiss.
Supporting Furina by the waist, Themis stood up and deepened the kiss until Furina melted in her arms.
She laid Furina down on the plush sofa by the large glass window. Soft light reflected off Furina's figure, giving her an ethereal glow.
Themis couldn't resist tasting her again and again.
She took complete control, her slender fingers sliding along Furina's delicate waist and stroking her soft skin. Furina's dazed, tearful eyes widened slightly as her lips parted in breathless murmurs.
Themis's hand slipped beneath the hem of Furina's dress, her palm brushing across her soft stomach. A wicked idea flickered through her mind.
Furina's breath hitched as Themis tugged her shirt up slightly, revealing her smooth, pale abdomen.
Then, without warning, Themis leaned down and bit lightly at Furina's belly.
Unsurprisingly, a soft, sweet yelp escaped Furina's lips as her hands instinctively flew to cover her stomach.
Themis's gaze softened with a triumphant smile as she admired the faint mark on Furina's skin.
Satisfied, Themis gently pulled Furina's shirt back down and covered her up.
Then, under Furina's confused and flustered gaze, Themis slipped off her glove and brought Furina's hand to her lips.
She bit down softly at the base of Furina's finger, leaving a faint mark.
Then, with her usual calm expression, Themis licked the spot, wiped away the lingering moisture with a tissue, and left behind the delicate impression of her teeth.
Feeling a deep satisfaction at marking Furina as hers, Themis leaned in for another kiss.
This was probably too much stimulation for Furina. Her mind clearly short-circuited, her wide, teary eyes glazed over. Even Themis couldn't help but feel a surge of protective affection toward her adorable little Hydro Archon.
In the end, Furina was left completely dazed as Themis gently put her gloves back on and led her out of Palais Mermonia, an arm wrapped protectively around her waist.
No doubt, several Fontaine citizens caught glimpses of this and immediately started gathering material for their fanfiction.
After all, nothing is more precious than a first.
And when it comes to love and dating, the first time will always be the most unforgettable.
Themis didn't take Furina anywhere crowded — noisy places only stressed Furina out.
But that didn't mean they couldn't enjoy themselves. A private booth at a quiet café, for example, would work just fine.
Hand in hand, they strolled through Fontaine's bustling streets.
Or they could visit a nearby bookshop, pick out a new Fontaine novel, and find a peaceful spot to sit and read together.
Such simple, quiet moments made Furina feel genuinely happy.
Perhaps… this was love.
Even though Furina still didn't fully understand love on such a deep level, she believed Themis would always stay by her side and teach her.
And only once she learned to return Themis's love equally and sincerely would Furina feel worthy of her.
Though her secrets could not yet be revealed, Furina believed that once everything was over, she could finally confess her love to Themis.
Then they could travel together across Teyvat, visiting all seven nations and sharing every beautiful sight the world had to offer.
Furina's heart swelled with quiet certainty as she envisioned that future.
Themis, meanwhile, kept her gaze on Furina's face, amused by her daydreaming expression.
Her adorable little Hydro Archon looked just like a kitten.
Themis reached out and playfully pinched Furina's cheek.
But mindful of the fact that Fontaine's citizens were watching — from alleyways, street corners, behind bushes, high-rise apartments, and even airships overhead — Themis forced herself to exercise restraint.
It was the first time she'd ever felt so annoyed by Fontaine's nosiness.
"Themis, have you read this book before?"
"You don't seem surprised at all by the plot twist."
"Huh?"
Themis blinked and took the suspense novel from Furina's hand, flipping through a few pages before handing it back.
"Well, after everything we've been through at the Opera Epiclese, twists like this aren't exactly shocking anymore."
"Besides, art imitates reality. This case is actually based on a real event in Fontaine."
Furina's eyes widened. "Wait — when you say 'real event,' how long ago are you talking about?"
"Not too long. Based on my memory… around seventy or eighty years ago. About seventy-five, to be exact."
Using her sharp memory, Themis gave Furina an accurate date.
Furina was so shocked she started questioning reality itself. She had known Themis had a good memory, but not this good!
The Opera Epiclese processed countless cases every day — maybe not hundreds in a single day — but over the course of five hundred years, the number had certainly piled up to astronomical levels.
And yet, for Themis to remember a specific case among all those files, and even recall the exact year and day…
Furina clutched her chest, took a deep breath, and felt an overwhelming sense of defeat.
At the same time, doubt crept into her mind.
Who exactly was Themis?
No — the real question was — what exactly was Themis?
In Furina's mind, Themis was just like Neuvillette — someone summoned from the reflection of her own soul.
But at least with Neuvillette, Furina could take a reasonable guess about his identity based on Fontaine's old fairy tales.
When it came to Themis, though… nothing. A complete void.
Furina's curiosity itched at her heart like a restless little cat, making her even more puzzled.
Where exactly had her mirror self found these two figures?
Neuvillette himself didn't seem to understand his own origins, and Furina had never pressed him for answers.
But now that Furina and Themis had established an exciting and slightly nerve-wracking romantic relationship, wasn't it natural to want to know more about each other?
Even if Furina couldn't offer her own origins or secrets in return…
That was fine. Furina could share other things about herself instead!
"Themis, what's your favorite food?"
Blue-and-white cat eyes stared up at her with hopeful anticipation — who could possibly resist that?
If they weren't surrounded by so many people, Themis would've had a hard time holding back.
She was very tempted to say, "Honestly? What I'd most like to eat is you."
But remembering they were in public, Themis offered a more composed response, though her tone carried a trace of amusement.
"Blueberry cupcakes, for example."
"Blueberry cupcakes! I love those too!"
The moment cupcakes were mentioned, Furina's eyes lit up. Realizing that she shared a favorite food with Themis made her visibly excited.
"And maybe blueberry milkshakes?"
Themis smiled, thinking Furina was adorably simple and pure — so clear and innocent.
"Oh, that sounds nice too!"
But something felt… off. Furina couldn't quite put her finger on it, but her instincts tingled with suspicion.
"And blueberry sundaes, blueberry cream ice cream, blueberry candies, and…"
"…And?"
The more Furina listened, the stranger it sounded. She glanced down at her clothes… and suddenly froze.
Seeing Furina's bewildered expression, Themis reached out and pressed a finger gently against Furina's soft belly.
Furina: …!?
A wave of embarrassment surged through her body, making her blue-and-white cat instincts scream internally.
Scenes from the Palais Mermonia office flashed through Furina's mind, replaying over and over like a broken record.
Thank you very much — the great Hydro Archon was about to start steaming from the head like a boiling kettle.
"Delicious Furina, love from your dear Regent Themis."
Furina's small fists hammered lightly against Themis's shoulder. Huffing in frustration, she stood up abruptly, her slender, pale legs carrying her away at a quick pace.
Themis picked up the forgotten book, stood up, and followed after her, catching Furina's hand from behind.
From this angle, Themis could see Furina's soft hair swaying with her steps — and the tips of her ears, glowing red beneath the strands.
…Yeah, maybe that was a bit too much teasing.
Themis sighed and softened her expression, looking at Furina with indulgent affection. She lowered her voice, whispering apologetically:
"Alright, I promise — I'll never say something like that in public again."
That finally made Furina's puffed-up frustration settle, like an Anemo Slime deflating onto the ground.
"To make up for it, I won't limit how many cupcakes you can have today, okay?"
Themis gently shook Furina's hand.
"Forgive me, okay?"
Her tone dipped into a playful, coaxing sweetness, and Furina's ears visibly twitched.
Blushing furiously, Furina rubbed at her ears before squeezing Themis's hand in return.
To be honest, she wasn't really angry.
…She was just embarrassed.
Lately, Themis had been growing increasingly affectionate.
"It's getting hard to keep up…" Furina thought to herself.
But honestly, none of that mattered — not when unlimited cupcakes were on the line today!
"Hehe, my cupcakes! I'm so happy!"
Hand in hand with Themis, Furina stepped into the cake shop under the excited gaze of the Fontaine citizens.
The shop was filled with the scent of freshly baked cupcakes — sweet and rich, mixed with the refreshing aroma of various fruits. Furina made no attempt to hide her excitement.
"That one! And that one! And that one too! Oh, and that one!"
"Pack them all up for me!"
"Whatever I can't finish, I'll just take home!"
Hands on her hips, Furina was practically radiating confidence with Themis's permission as her backing.
Themis covered her face, standing to the side, already worried that history might repeat itself.
Other people might throw up from drinking too much milk — Furina once threw up from eating too much cake.
Late at night, Themis had been scared out of her mind the first time it happened.
It turned out Furina had barely eaten anything all day — and the cake had been too delicious. So she snuck into the kitchen and ate until she made herself sick.
Back then, Themis had…
Faced with the shopkeeper's confused expression, Themis simply nodded without stopping Furina.
Whatever Furina couldn't finish could be shared with others.
There was no way Furina could eat all of that by herself, after all.
For all these years, Furina had lived a relatively modest lifestyle — her food, clothing, and supplies were nothing extravagant. Just the basics expected for a deity.
But Furina had never cared much about material things — except when it came to cupcakes.
Fortunately, this cake shop belonged to Themis herself.
Meaning that Furina's cupcake budget for the past 500 years had technically been… zero.
Honestly, if this were ancient times, would anyone believe it?
Of course, to avoid Furina ending up like the four neighboring gods — completely broke after leaving their administrative roles — Themis had already set aside a special fund for Furina in the national treasury.
After 500 years, Furina's personal fund had likely accumulated a staggering amount of Mora — an amount beyond imagination.
Not to mention all the Mora she'd earned from starring in stage plays.
A truly frugal and modest deity… probably.
Loaded down with boxes and bags of cupcakes, Themis's expression was utterly lifeless.
She felt like she was about to be marinated in the scent of these cupcakes.
As for Furina…
Watching her practically bounce with joy, Themis figured she needed to find someone to share the load.
She casually grabbed an idle security mek from the street, hung all the bags on it, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Catching up to Furina, Themis glanced at the sky.
Looks like there's time for some afternoon tea at the café.
Themis, after all, wasn't really the type to enjoy shopping. You get it, right?
Furina hesitated slightly but ultimately agreed, though she was clearly reluctant to leave the cake shop.
Seated at an outdoor corner of the café, Themis handed Furina the menu.
Unsurprisingly, the café filled up with people within minutes.
But Fontaine's citizens were well-mannered.
At least no one was blatantly staring at them or openly gossiping right in front of their faces.
Furina ordered a sweet, rich coffee — still unable to handle anything bitter.
She opened one of the cake boxes and had the staff serve it on a plate.
Holding a small fork, Furina's eyes sparkled like a blueberry cream cupcake.
Themis herself didn't care much for coffee or cake — for her, those were just post-dinner treats or things to help get through late nights working.
Still, ignoring the crowd of curious onlookers, this felt like a peaceful, heartwarming date — a perfect moment.
Furina sat at the inner side of the table, happily enjoying her cupcake.
Themis sat opposite her, shielding her from the prying eyes behind them, creating a small, private space for Furina to breathe.
To Themis, this childish, slightly spoiled, and endearingly innocent side of Furina was exactly what she treasured most.
My love, my Furina — may you always be happy.
Furina speared a piece of cake with her fork and held it out toward Themis.
"Try it, Themis! This new cake is really good!"
"The great Hydro Archon herself is feeling merciful enough to share a bite with you!"
Beaming brightly, Furina held the fork toward Themis's lips — looking every bit like an adorable little angel.
Themis's heart almost melted on the spot.
Primordial Sea? Hah — utterly insignificant.
Brushing a lock of hair behind her ear, Themis leaned down and opened her mouth.
"BOOM—!"
The ground beneath them shook violently.
The cake slipped off the fork and splattered onto the table.
Furina froze, confused by the sudden tremor.
The surrounding Fontainians were just as stunned, exchanging wide-eyed glances before turning toward the corner where the two high-ranking officials were sitting.
Someone even slammed a hand on their table in frustration.
"Damn it! It was just about to count as an indirect kiss!"
The hand holding the kamera tightened furiously.
Hearing that, Themis's eye twitched slightly.
Then she stood up, addressing the confused crowd with her usual composed, authoritative expression:
"There's no need to panic — it's just a minor disturbance."
"Neuvillette is already handling the situation."
Themis's calm demeanor settled the crowd, and Furina's relaxed expression amplified the effect even more.
Furina didn't actually know what was going on — but in moments like this, following Themis's lead was the right call.
Adjusting her expression, Furina slipped into her usual over-the-top performance. Under the trusting gaze of the citizens, she made a high-profile exit.
(Leaving behind more than half a piece of cake on the table.)
"Themis, what's going on? An earthquake?"
Furina's face was tense with concern.
Themis patted her back reassuringly.
"Let's return to the Palais Mermonia and check the situation."
"Don't worry, Furina. With me here, everything will be fine."
Themis's words carried a strange magic that naturally inspired trust — at least enough to calm the tight knot of anxiety in Furina's chest.
The two of them decided to return to the Palais Mermonia first to assess the situation.
Stabilizing the shaken hearts of the people was the top priority for now.
-
Meanwhile, at the Fortress of Meropide—
Lumine almost faceplanted from the violent tremor of the ground beneath her feet. Luckily, Paimon was flying, so although the shaking scared her, she reacted quickly and grabbed Lumine's clothes—saving the beautiful traveler from skidding face-first into the floor.
Bracing herself on the ground with one hand, Lumine used Anemo to flip herself upright and land on a slightly elevated spot.
"Nice save, Paimon! All that pampering I've given you wasn't wasted!"
Lumine grinned, genuinely relieved.
At critical moments, Paimon really did come through.
"Of course! Paimon is amazing! …Well, maybe not as amazing as you, Lumine."
Paimon puffed out her chest proudly at the praise.
"But seriously, why was there an earthquake all of a sudden?"
"No idea. But with no warning at all… This is going to be a headache."
Lumine rubbed her temples, frowning at the chaos unraveling in the Fortress of Meropide.
Lumine: "In any case, we should go ask Duke Wriothesley what's going on."
Paimon: "Good idea! Let's go!"
The two of them dashed through the fortress's pipes, then vaulted over a railing and dropped down with a plunge attack—
—landing smoothly on the floor where the Duke's office was located.
Lumine shoved open the office doors, only to be greeted by a surprising sight.
"Arlecchino…? What are you doing here?!"
Lumine glanced around the office, confused.
Paimon floated nearby, equally puzzled. "Hey, where's Tartaglia? Where did he go?!"
"Funny you should mention that." Wriothesley's sharp gaze cut toward the Knave. The Fourth of the Fatui Harbingers stood there with her usual icy expression.
"From what I've been told, Tartaglia managed to avoid the guards and slipped away alone today. No one knows where he went."
"And not long after I received that news, this violent earthquake hit the Fortress of Meropide."
Wriothesley's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Whether from a personal or diplomatic perspective, Lady Arlecchino, I think you owe us a reasonable explanation."
"Otherwise, from this day forward, Fontaine's diplomatic stance toward Snezhnaya might… shift."
Wriothesley's tone was calm, but the underlying threat was unmistakable.
But Arlecchino, as expected, remained composed. This kind of pressure was nothing new to her.
Frankly, Fontaine's diplomatic attitude toward Snezhnaya was none of her concern.
Not all the Harbingers were loyal to Snezhnaya. Most of them simply followed their own interests.
One more hostile nation? One less? It hardly mattered.
"Sigh—could you two calm down for a second?"
Paimon's voice interrupted the brewing tension, drawing their attention.
"The problem right now is that Tartaglia is missing!"
"He's been investigating the issue of out-of-control Visions, right? What if he found a lead and that's why he disappeared?!"
Lumine's gaze sharpened as she looked toward Arlecchino. She had a feeling Arlecchino knew more than she was letting on.
"…Tartaglia did discover the cause behind the out-of-control Visions."
"But it might not be what you think."
"You two remember the Narwhal—the one you heard about from the Narzissenkreuz Ordo?"
Wriothesley: "Hm? You mean the Narwhal from that story Nazissenkreuz told you about?"
Wriothesley's eyes darkened as the pieces started coming together.
"…So, Tartaglia found the Narwhal beneath the Fortress of Meropide? And he just ran off on his own to fight it?!"
Wriothesley's eye twitched. His headache was intensifying.
This was why Tartaglia had such a reputation as a battle maniac.
"Correct. He felt the narwal's presence, and once he confirmed that it had awakened, he only said a single word to me before running off to fight it."
Even Arlecchino's cold expression faltered slightly as she recalled it.
The fact that Tartaglia's recklessness could surprise even her spoke volumes.
Wriothesley: "And what's the plan now? You're not going to help him?"
Arlecchino: "It's not that simple."
Her eyes sharpened.
"You know as well as I do that the narwal is currently within the Primordial Sea. If we, as Fontainians, come into contact with Primordial Seawater, we'll dissolve. Instantly."
Wriothesley:"Of course I know that." His gaze sharpened. "What I'm asking is—what are you offering in exchange?"
Wriothesley's wolf-like eyes stared Arlecchino down without a shred of trust.
He had been wary ever since Lumine and Paimon had reported the details of the narwal.
The awakening of the narwal meant time was running out, which was why he had invited the Traveler to help build a ship.
But for Tartaglia to run off alone to fight the narwal…
Its strength was impossible to predict — but without a doubt, it would be formidable.
The tremors beneath Meropide were proof enough.
Arlecchino: "Simple. My price isn't that high."
A confident smirk tugged at her lips.
"We both know that sinners cannot evade judgment forever."
"Even if they escape for a time, they can't escape forever."
"What we need to understand right now is why Fontainians dissolve when exposed to the Primordial Sea. That's the key to solving this."
"Let me leave the Fortress of Meropide. I'll mobilize the House of the Hearth and all the Fatui to gather intel—while Tartaglia keeps the narwal occupied."
Wriothesley:"Hah. I see."
A sly smile curled across Wriothesley's lips.
"You have a lot of faith in me, Lady Arlecchino. But I'm just a humble warden—surely I can't unilaterally release a Harbinger who was thrown in here by the Regent herself after an assassination attempt on the Hydro Archon."
Lumine and Paimon exchanged looks, nodding in agreement.
After all, they had only stolen a piece of the Hydro Archon's cake and still hadn't been pardoned by Themis.
Why should Arlecchino get a free pass just like that?
"Exactly! That's unfair!"
"What if you leave and never come back?"
"Fontaine is huge—we can't track you down if you just disappear!"
Wriothesley raised an eyebrow at Paimon's naïveté.
Arlecchino: "Do you really think I couldn't have already escaped?"
"If I truly wanted to leave, the Fortress of Meropide wouldn't be able to stop the Fatui."
"Heh. Fair point." Wriothesley smirked.
He clapped his hands together, a decision forming in his mind.
"Seven days. That's the most I can get you from the Regent."
"But can your 'colleague' really hold out for that long?"
Arlecchino: "If he dies, another Harbinger will simply take his place."
Her cold expression made it clear that this was her true belief.
"You Fatui are seriously heartless… Just like that Doctor!" Paimon exclaimed.
Arlecchino's gaze sharpened dangerously at the comparison.
Clearly, she didn't appreciate being likened to him.