"Arlecchino, when will we reach Fontaine?"
"Almost there. Would you stop calling me Arlecchino? I have a name—Kugavina."
"Understood, Arlecchino. Got it, Arlecchino. Thanks for the reminder, Arlecchino."
Arlecchino: "......"
"Fine then, what do you plan to do once you arrive in Fontaine?"
With a haughty look, Arlecchino said, "Naturally, I..." Dottore pressed a single finger against his own lips, and Arlecchino chose to shut her mouth. "Never mind. I'll just watch your performance when we get to Fontaine. My only concern is ensuring my own safety first, and then making sure you stay alive." *(Though I'd love to take care of her right now, fate cannot be changed. Better save the orphans and salvage what regrets I can.)*
Arlecchino fell silent. Dottore walked over to the edge of the deck to look out at the sea, withdrew his gaze, and walked away where it was inconvenient to speak further.
—————— Fontaine ——————
"What should we do? What should we do? People from Snezhnaya are here! According to the news brought by the Oceanids, it seems to be a newly established organization under the Cryo Archon—the Fatui! And this time, the delegation is led by two Harbingers. What are they here for?" A panicked voice echoed from the Palais de Mermonia.
"Calm down, calm down... Furina, you are now playing the role of the Hydro Archon—Focalors. You shouldn't be afraid of two Harbingers who are merely human." The female voice gradually grew calmer.
She sat back up and fell into thought. "We need to find a way to keep them in check."
————————————————
Two and a half months later, the two Harbingers' ship docked at Port Romitime. Arlecchino was furious. The original plan had been for all ships to dock at Fleuve Cendre, but word came that the Hydro Archon herself was inviting two distinguished guests from Snezhnaya to dock at Port Romitime so she could personally welcome them.
Damn it! She had planned to quickly build the orphanage and then get this bastard Dottore out of her sight.
Curse the Hydro Archon!
People nearby cast curious glances in their direction. After all, they were people from Snezhnaya, and with an entourage of specialized guards providing personal protection (all of them Dottore's men), they obviously weren't ordinary visitors.
Dottore looked toward the high platform. The next second—
"Citizens, rich or poor, whether you hold a goblet or have nothing at all, raise your cups! If you have no cup, use your arms instead!"
The people at the port burst into applause.
Arlecchino wore a look of utter disdain: *Hmph.*
"As you can see, two esteemed guests from Snezhnaya have arrived in my nation. Let us welcome them!"
Furina pointed at Dottore.
"I've heard that you researched forbidden knowledge in Sumeru, but I am not afraid. Fear is the resort of small minds. As a god, I do not take such meaningless caution as my creed. So, my two distinguished guests from Snezhnaya, you may rest easy. I see your piety quite clearly."
"Your audience here is to better behold my might and authority. Naturally, naturally—a very wise choice. Wise people always gather under the correct banner, isn't that right, distinguished guests from Snezhnaya?"
"I, Focalors, welcome you both to the nation of water."
............
"Goodness, these two are actually being received personally by Lady Furina! Their luck is incredible." The surrounding crowd began to chatter excitedly.
Surely this should be enough to keep them somewhat in restrained.
"Lady Furina, I have something to say!" At that moment, a man ruined the atmosphere.
"My citizen, what do you have to say?"
"I want you to order the Melusine and Neuvillette to leave Fontaine! Neither of them can be trusted!" The man dropped this bombshell.
Although the people of Fontaine trusted Furina deeply, they did not share that trust with the Melusines and Neuvillette. "That's right! All Melusines are untrustworthy, and so is Neuvillette! Please, Hydro Archon, drive the Melusines and Neuvillette out of the Court of Fontaine!"
This... this...
Dottore gave a subtle look to several Pyro Agents by his side. Their figures vanished, reappearing beside the loudest trouble-makers in the crowd, who instantly stopped shouting.
Without anyone to lead them, the noisy clamor gradually faded away, and Furina breathed a sigh of relief.
A moment later, the Pyro Agents returned to Dottore's side.
"Lady Furina! Just now, some people from Snezhnaya threatened us with knives!" Someone in the crowd pointed at Dottore.
"Is this true, Harbinger of Snezhnaya?"
Dottore replied, "Not at all, Lady Furina. The people by my side didn't even carry a single needle. Moreover, we advocate peace; we would never resort to threats."
"Is that so? Then let us search those people around you."
"People? Lady Furina, what people could you possibly mean?" At that moment, there was not a single person standing beside Dottore.
Before disembarking: "Once you take action, use the disposable teleporters to leave Fontaine immediately."
"Understood!" ×5
............
"Impossible! When you got off the ship, there were clearly people right beside you!"
Arlecchino, at that moment: *So in your eyes, I don't even count as a person, is that it?*
"My good sir, Fontaine is a nation of justice. Pulling a stunt like this harms Fontaine's image. I trust Lady Furina will examine the facts and see the truth, right?"
Hearing Dottore mention her, Furina spoke up, "Although there is no proof, I must ask this distinguished guest from Snezhnaya to submit to questioning."
"Very well."
"Good," Furina said, and departed gracefully.
*Internal monologue: Hurry up, walk away, if I don't leave now my cover might get blown.*
Dottore was taken away.
"That bastard finally vanished from my sight. He had such a wonderful opportunity to diminish Fontaine's overall combat strength, yet he ruined it with his own hands. How utterly foolish! And they call him the Second Harbinger? Is his entire intellect dedicated solely to his research?"
"Whatever. First, I'll go see if there's a suitable place to build the orphanage."
............
Meanwhile, Dottore was undergoing questioning.
"Name?"
"Dottore."
"Nationality?"
"Originally from Sumeru, currently Snezhnaya."
"Gender?"
"......"
"I asked you a question! Gender!"
"Male."
"What is your purpose in coming to Fontaine?"
"To assist a colleague, and incidentally take a vacation."
——————
Furina stared at the report and fell into deep thought.
*Assist a colleague? What is that supposed to mean? And he's taking a vacation in Fontaine? Is he serious? Never mind, I'll leave this matter to Neuvillette.*
"Madam Furina? Is something the matter?"
"Please give this matter your utmost attention," she said, handing the report to Neuvillette.
*Little cake, little cake, here I come!*
............
By this time, Dottore's interrogation had concluded, and he was walking along the streets of the Court of Fontaine.
What should he do next? Just then, fire broke out on the street ahead.
Dottore... *No way, could it be this much of a coincidence?*
Looking into the distance, thick smoke was billowing from the top of a shop further down the street, and looking in from the outside, flames could still be seen leaping inside the building.
A major fire had broken out at a storefront, yet the surrounding crowd showed no intention of helping. Instead, many people had gathered at the edge of the street, pointing and gesturing toward the middle of the crowd. *(Though I've already cleared this Story Quest, I've forgotten what those few troublemakers were going on about.)*
Dottore took a look and—well, well! Weren't those ringleaders the exact same people who had been shouting the loudest at Port Romitime? They were leading the charge and yelling, "All Melusines are untrustworthy, and so is Neuvillette!"
*It's not time yet. Let's wait a bit longer.* He took out his Kamera to record the scene.
They grew more and more unruly, shouting, "Ever since the Melusines came to the Court of Fontaine, strange occurrences have happened more and more each year! Now a Melusine has killed someone! Are we expected to just swallow our anger and stay silent? Shouldn't the people who brought these monsters into the Court of Fontaine be held responsible? Shouldn't they give us an explanation?!"
At that moment, a Melusine stood trembling before the burning shop.
……………………………………………