The scene shifted.
It was now the following day.
On-screen, Paimeng was stretching. Last night's feast had restored her to her energetic self.
Seeing that Lumine still looked tired, Paimeng urged, "Hurry up! We made an appointment with Neuvillette, so let's get moving!"
As soon as they entered the Palais Mermonia, Sedena, the Melusine they had met last time, came up to greet them.
She looked flustered. "You're finally here!"
Paimeng: "What's wrong?"
Sedene was somewhat out of breath, but she still spoke anxiously. "Monsieur Neuvillette and Lady Furina are arguing! There's nothing we can do. We're counting on you!"
[Keqing: They're arguing. It looks like the Hydro Archon really does know something, and something very important at that. Otherwise, they wouldn't be arguing!]
[Hu Tao: No way! Navia, who was gently giving Navia some privacy earlier, actually gets into arguments!]
[Lyney: Yes. Outside of trials, Monsieur Neuvillette has always been very gentle in private.]
[Lynette: Exactly, it doesn't make sense!]
[Wriothesley: Monsieur Neuvillette must have thought about it all night and then spoken too directly. Otherwise, things wouldn't have turned out like this!]
[Neuvillette: ...Possibly. Sometimes, I also find that I often hurt others unintentionally over minor details.]
The video continued, showing Furina and Neuvillette standing opposite one another in a confrontation.
Furina: "Enough. I don't want to say any more. Let's leave it at that for now!"
Despite Furina's words, Neuvillette continued pressing her. "Do you still not understand the current situation? Keeping up these pretenses here serves no purpose. I don't want to disturb you, but don't forget that you are the Hydro Archon, Fontaine's Hydro Archon, the Hydro Archon of all its people. Look at this piece of paper. Everyone on it has already..."
With that, Neuvillette handed Furina the list of the deceased.
As she looked at the writing on it, Furina's eyes trembled slightly. A trace of pain and conflict crossed her face. She said nothing, merely staring at it!
It was several dozen seconds before her voice rang out again, though it had lost its earlier force.
"These people... could they... all have..."
Neuvillette nodded, then said decisively, "We were a step too late this time, which allowed this to happen. Next time, I absolutely will not allow it!"
Hearing Neuvillette's words, Furina lowered her head slightly and remained silent for a long time.
[Childe: What a tense atmosphere. Since talking reason won't work, settle it with your fists! A battle between Neuvillette and the Hydro Archon would surely be an evenly matched, exhilarating fight!]
[Rosalyne: You battle maniac. I really want to crack open your head and see what else is in there besides fighting!]
[Lyney: Lady Furina looks like she's in so much pain too. Just what is she hiding?]
[Barbara: Yes. Even through the screen, I can feel Furina's sadness.]
[Hu Tao: Why not tell us? Tell us, and we can help you think of something together. It might help!]
[Sigewinne: Monsieur Neuvillette is so scary when he's angry. And when Lady Furina gets angry, she's angry too.]
[Wriothesley: Sigewinne, you...]
On-screen.
The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.
Looking at the silent Furina, Neuvillette did not let up and continued, "Lady Furina, please, you must tell me what you know. Yesterday, the Traveler and her companion found three stone tablets with me in some ruins. Please tell me everything you know!"
Furina frowned. "...What are you doing, questioning me in that tone? Get this straight: I'm not your prisoner. I've already told you, I don't know!"
Neuvillette was imposing, but after a brief silence, Furina refused to back down either and continued, "Those murals you just mentioned, you found them in those ruins?"
Neuvillette nodded. "Yes. That's precisely why I insist on questioning you. Of the original four murals, only three remained, and those other three were all related to the prophecy."
Furina's expression changed. "The prophecy..."
Neuvillette: "Moreover, the second one depicted the previous Hydro Archon leading everyone in confessing their sins to Celestia. Do you truly know nothing about these matters?"
Furina still shook her head. "I really don't know. I don't know anything about those stone tablets you mentioned or what's on them!"
Neuvillette continued questioning her, but Furina kept denying everything and stated that what he had found concerned the previous Hydro Archon, so what did it have to do with her?
Neuvillette had no clear evidence either, and the two sides reached a stalemate.
[Sigewinne: Why do I feel like the Hydro Archon really doesn't know?]
[Hu Tao: That makes sense too. The current Archon really might not know about the previous Hydro Archon's affairs. Wouldn't you agree, Consultant Zhongli?]
[Zhongli: Director, I truly know nothing about this.]
[Venti: Exactly. How would Mr. Zhongli know anything like that?]
[Diluc: Do you know?]
[Venti: I don't know either. Hardly any of us watching this video would know, right?]
[Jean: Venti is very reliable. Although he usually seems rather unserious, last time he said the Stormterror crisis would be resolved, and it really was!]
[Amber: Yes, exactly! If it didn't seem so absurd, I'd almost think Venti was the Anemo Archon. Hahaha, that's a funny joke, right?]
[Venti: Hehe!]
[Keqing: There may be another possibility. Furina isn't the Hydro Archon at all.]
[Ganyu: Only Keqing would say something like that!]
[Arlecchino: That makes sense!]
[Yelan: At this rate, we'll hit a dead end!]
[Arataki Itto: You guys haven't been watching the video properly, have you? Furina is the Hydro Archon!]
The Palais Mermonia.
Watching herself in the video, Furina breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness. I didn't tell anyone.
It seemed she had still managed to hold out.
Seeing the bullet comments telling her to speak up because they might be able to solve it, Furina sighed. If she could, she would have liked to find someone to confide in too.
But keeping quiet meant there was still a chance to resolve it. If she spoke, there would be no chance at all!
Then wouldn't all her efforts over the years and the loneliness she had endured vanish into thin air?
As for those who doubted her, although Furina was somewhat worried, it wasn't as though no one had doubted her over the years. Without evidence, however, those were merely baseless claims. She had no room left to maneuver now. The rest was up to Focalors.
In the video.
Seeing Furina's attitude of refusing to talk and daring him to do something about it, Neuvillette thought for a moment, then decided to bring out his trump card.
Neuvillette: "Furina, since you keep refusing to admit it, I'll say this: I noticed long ago that you've been making moves behind the scenes!"
"Based on the evidence I currently possess, you have been keeping an eye on matters related to the prophecy!"
"As the Hydro Archon, it is perfectly normal for you to follow the prophecy. It is even part of your duties. Yet you keep flatly denying my questions, and although you are following the prophecy, you have taken no action."
"You always play the part of someone carefree in front of us, but according to my investigation, that isn't who you are at all. From a logical perspective, none of your actions can be reasonably explained..."
Neuvillette spoke without pause, his steady voice continuing as he laid out everything he had learned.
[Navia: Lady Furina has actually been following the prophecy all along? I thought...]
[Charlotte: The Hydro Archon isn't as flamboyant as she appears! This is truly explosive news. If I published this, I'd make a name for myself.]
[Sigewinne: Yes. After all, practically everyone in Fontaine knows that the Hydro Archon is just someone who likes watching opera, going back and forth between the Opera House and the Palais Mermonia every day. But according to Neuvillette, that doesn't seem to be the case.]
[Paimon: Uh, am I the only one wondering whether the people of Fontaine-no, whether Fontaine itself has some special magic? Why does everyone we meet here seem to have a contrasting side, two different faces? First Neuvillette, then Mona, and now Furina!]
[Lumine: Count yourself too!]
[Cyno: Different waters and soils nurture different people!]
[Alhaitham: Heh, how funny!]
[Arataki Itto: Hahahahaha! I think it's hilarious too. Why aren't any of you reacting?]
[Kuki Shinobu: ...Sigh!]
[Jean: If that's really the case, always playing this role, enduring others' criticism without being able to refute it, she must be suffering inside.]
[Yae Miko: I'm truly curious now. Just what information does Furina possess? This grows more interesting the longer I watch. It's like playing a puzzle game.]
Everyone was captivated by Neuvillette's words, holding their breath and staring fixedly at the screen, afraid of missing even the slightest detail.
They desperately wanted to know Furina's answer.
In the video, upon hearing Neuvillette's analysis, Furina's gaze flickered, and her lips moved a few times. A trace of panic crossed her face, but her years of acting experience were no joke.
She recovered in an instant, her usual expression immediately settling over her face once more...