The Law of Noise
Inside the Opera Epiclese, the atmosphere remained bustling and lively, with people discussing the trial unfolding on stage in small groups. The grand hall was filled with the rising and falling murmurs of conversation as everyone relished the twists and turns of the courtroom's reasoning.
In the high seats of the audience, Furina leaned back in her cushioned chair, one hand supporting her cheek, her bright blue eyes sparkling as she still savored the exchange between the two sides during the trial.
Beneath the opera house's dome, the noise rose in waves.
All eyes were focused on the center of the courtroom, where the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale slowly turned, and the shimmering blue light carrying the pronouncement of the verdict gradually emerged.
Neuvillette stood tall and straight, tapping the ground lightly with her cane; the clear, resonant sound echoed throughout the hall.
"Silence! The Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale has delivered his verdict, and I hereby formally declare the defendant guilty!"
As soon as those two words were uttered, the crowd in the stands erupted in cheers and applause that echoed Opera Epiclese. People waved their hands, loudly celebrating that the sinner had received his due trial, and were immersed in the fervor of justice.
Just as the cheers reached their peak, Furina rose from her designated seat, her skirt billowing gently with the movement. She flashed a bright, dazzling smile, gracefully raising her hand to greet the crowd, her clear voice piercing the clamor:
"La Signora and gentlemen! What a wonderful day! We have successfully apprehended another criminal for Fontaine!"
She opened her arms wide, her voice ringing out, perfectly igniting everyone's emotions:
"Cheer for Fontaine, for the law, for justice, for the great water god Focalors!"
The cheers surged again, and the crowd shouted in unison as she spoke. Countless people sang praises to the water goddess for protecting Fontaine and to the court for its impartiality.
On the high platform, Furina, with a flawless smile of joy, accepted the tidal wave of adoration.
Neuvillette stood on the trial platform, calmly gazing at the surging crowd.
The two walked slowly out of the magnificent main entrance of the Opera Epiclese. The damp wind after the rain blew in their faces, diluting the noisy and scorching atmosphere inside the hall.
Neuvillette turned her head to look at Furina beside her:
"You're better suited to manipulating public sentiment in the theater than managing Fontaine."
The radiant smile that had graced Furina's face as she faced the public momentarily faltered. She raised a hand to smooth her tousled hair, gave a soft hum, and waved her hand dismissively.
"Oh dear, Neuvillette, why be so blunt?" She glanced at the passersby still discussing the verdict, her voice softening. "The people crave visible justice, a grand and satisfying drama. The courtroom is not merely a place to adjudicate crimes, but also a stage to soothe hearts. And I—the Demon God Focalors!—am the embodiment of law and justice, the figure everyone can look up to."
Clearly, some people didn't understand the meaning behind Neuvillette's words.
"The merriment on stage cannot conceal the unresolved undercurrents." Neuvillette walked slowly forward, the sound of water flowing faintly with his steps. "I am still tied up with official business today, so please excuse me, La Signora. Furina."
As soon as he finished speaking, his tall figure strode quickly away along the wet stone path after the rain, soon merging into the distance of the street's flow of people.
Furina stood alone beneath the opera house's magnificent archway, watching Neuvillette's departing figure, her previously high-spirited and passionate expression slowly relaxing. She raised her hand to gently touch the brim of her hat and let out a long sigh.
The passersby were still immersed in the joy of the trial's conclusion, with laughter and cheers filling the air as everyone sang praises of the justice of Fontaine's laws and the greatness of the water god Focalors.
Tap--tap--
A steady knock broke the tranquility of the courtyard.
The heavy wooden door was slowly pulled open, and Lyney's figure appeared behind it.
When Lyney saw the figure standing outside the door, she was suddenly taken aback, and her tone involuntarily carried a hint of surprise:
"You, you are! Sir Neuvillette! May I ask what brings you here?"
Neuvillette stood quietly at the door, dressed in a neat and solemn formal suit, calmly looking at the boy before her.
"No need to be nervous, it's just a routine visit. May I ask if Mr. Xingsu currently resides here?"
Lyney's heart tightened.
"Please wait a moment at the door, I will go in and inform them immediately."
"No need, Lyney. I will take care of this distinguished guest."
Arlecchino appeared silently not far behind Neuvillette, her black and white hair still damp from the rain, her scarlet eyes calm and serene as she gazed at the Supreme Judge before her.
She stepped forward slowly, stopped at an appropriate distance, and spoke in a tone that was neither humble nor arrogant:
"Mr. Neuvillette, I'm sorry, I haven't received a meeting request from the Fontaine official authorities."
Seeing this, Lyney tactfully bowed and said, "Then I'll take my leave." With that, she quietly retreated into the depths of the corridor, leaving the two of them alone.
Neuvillette slowly turned around, her eyes meeting Arlecchino's. "Hello, La Signora. Arlecchino. I am here not on behalf of the Palais Mermonia, but on behalf of the Fontaine Research Institute to pay my respects to Mr. Xingsu."
"The Fontaine Research Institute? I didn't expect that Neuvillette would actually step in on behalf of the Academy. That's quite unexpected." Arlecchino raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, her tone tinged with amusement.
"That's right. Mr. Xingsu once submitted a research paper to the Fontaine Research Institute. He came here today specifically to discuss this matter. The Fontaine Research Institute values Mr. Xingsu Su's talent highly. However... Mr. Xingsu's status is special, and there are many things that need to be considered. Therefore, there is a... procedural issue that requires Mr. Xingsu to personally come to the Academy of Sciences for face-to-face consultation."
That Neuvillette wasn't lying.
Xingsu's paper on the Wisdom Network Communication System, submitted at the time, has been stuck in a long stagnation since it entered the process of the Fontaine Research Institute. The complex and lengthy administrative regulations of various institutions in Fontaine, with each document approval process linked to the next, meant that the whole matter would likely be lost forever.
So, where is this highly valuable research paper in the current process?
The answer is that it didn't even make it to the initial review stage; it was buried under mountains of case files and remained untouched for a long time.
It wasn't until Melusine brought back intelligence that Neuvillette learned that Xingsu's submission had failed and that he had turned to technical negotiations with the Fatui, even waking up the two Fatui ' Harbinger, that she specifically ordered them to retrieve the files from the Academy of Sciences and found this long-forgotten paper.
It is indeed a procedural issue.
A faint smile played on Arlecchino's lips, her tone carrying a hint of intriguing teasing:
"That's truly an honor. It's remarkable that something submitted to the Fontaine Research Institute has received Neuvillette. Please come in, High Judge Neuvillette."