It wasn't just these Sumeruans who felt deeply; Furina felt the same.
She had seen these gazes before—during her ascension speech, she had seen too many such looks.
Distrust, sorrow, even anger—she had seen them all.
At that time, their eyes couldn't see Furina either; what they wanted to see was the god they had 'imagined.'
Precisely because of this, she had to 'act as a god' at all times, because she didn't want to see those gazes anymore—she didn't want to see them anymore, she wouldn't see them anymore.
Thinking back now, Furina felt she was still lucky; at least she had one chance to give a speech.
Nahida didn't even have one chance to speak; simply because she didn't match the 'imagined' god, she was imprisoned.
But 'suffering' was never something to compare, so Furina still cried out of empathy and grievance.
I am the Hydro Archon; water is under my jurisdiction! If you don't release the little Dendro God, from now on, make all your thesis contents disappear entirely! Anyway, they're all water.
Clorinde beside Furina handed over a handkerchief; Furina only then realized she was already crying.
She took the handkerchief without making excuses; having interacted with Clorinde on a personal level for so long, but Clorinde's attitude toward her hadn't changed.
So, when facing them, Furina no longer needed to act, no longer needed to make excuses.
Furina's exclusive seat in the Opéra Épiclese was up high where others couldn't see her; she could relax.
Furina: I'm going to throw a tantrum!
And Navia beside the two of them had left at some point, probably planning to head to Sumeru personally.
Furina and Clorinde couldn't show up easily, because they were official figures in Fontaine, which would have influence.
But Navia didn't care about that; she was just a black-market heiress—what influence? I've gone black, and you're talking to me about influence?
Afraid of influence before going black, still afraid after going black—then wasn't my going black for nothing?
This was also why Cyno wasn't here; otherwise, he'd have to explain this 'black and white' joke.
In any case, Navia didn't care about so much; she only knew this matter had ruined her good mood.
If you make me unhappy, then it's no longer none of my business; since that's so, she had to go—Navia was someone who followed her emotions, especially since Lucian was there too.
Lucian exposing Sumeru's Grand Sage's scandals in Sumeru—that was their turf; what if he got retaliated against? No no, I have to go protect him a bit, bring more people.
Even knowing Lucian had escape methods, she still wasn't reassured; she had to see for herself.
If it resolved smoothly, then she was just touring Sumeru; if there were difficulties, she could help out.
"Wait for me, Miss Navia!" Charlotte hurried to catch up.
For such big news, it would be strange if Charlotte didn't want to participate.
"Remember to wear the clothes I designed for you." Chiori called out, then quietly added in lazy-dog tone: "Let me have a bit of participation too."
As for Nilou and Barbara, fellow devotees, they were truly about to explode in anger.
What is this!? Actually calling them devotees!!! Do they deserve it?
The two girls were furious, even wanting to curse, to bite—needing to grind their teeth!
Barbara fumed for a long time before squeezing out: "These bad guys! Lord Barbatos won't bless them!"
She, who couldn't curse, had already said the dirtiest words she could, even only able to think of 'bad guys'—couldn't even come up with 'bastards.'
To Barbara, 'Barbatos won't bless' was already the most vicious curse, showing her anger.
Nilou also held back for a long time before saying: "The sages are all big dummies!"
Nilou hugged the crying Dunyarzad, shedding little pearls together with her.
Everyone was watching this animation in Dolly's 'shop'; the two of them were already acquaintances, so now they hugged and cried as one.
Lucian, observing in secret, also hadn't expected her to fume for so long and only say that—how to put it... passable, somewhat satisfactory to Lucian.
Can't say perfect, but watching beautiful girls cry is a pleasure in itself! So, passing!
What is happier than watching beautiful girls cry? Of course, watching excellent beautiful girls cry!!
Without a doubt, Nilou was a very excellent beautiful girl—muahaha.
No need to mind their curse words; the girls' 'blushing' had already surpassed all curse words.
Better to look at others, like Cyno—he was also very angry; he was truly very angry now.
Unable to speak a word, his expression gravely stern, his entire aura shooting up to 2.8 meters.
He now itched to thrust his spear into the Grand Sage's hook.
Unfortunately, he was the Grand General Mahamatra; he couldn't do that.
Well, actually, he hadn't even thought of that; he only wanted to harshly teach the Grand Sage a lesson—hadn't thought of anything so dirty.
Kaveh gnashed his teeth: "These bastards really piss me off! I say the Akademiya should be demolished and rebuilt! Let me do it! I'll go right now!"
Alhaitham expressionlessly blocked Kaveh: "Charging over like this isn't sending yourself to them, what is it?"
Tighnari also hugged Kaveh to劝: "Alright, calm down first."
Kaveh, still kicking his legs while hugged by Tighnari, angrily said: "Tighnari, Alhaitham, you two guys aren't angry at all!?"
He didn't understand—what was wrong with his good brothers? Not angry seeing such a scene?
Are you still the friends I know!?
Alhaitham's tone was indifferent, gaze straight at Kaveh: "Is that so? Do I look not angry?"
As expected, still the friends I know!
Kaveh stopped struggling; Tighnari let go, and he said: "Since you've calmed down, then let's discuss."
"How to overthrow the Akademiya."
Alhaitham: "Overthrowing isn't hard; what's hard is afterward."
Tighnari nodded in agreement: "Exactly, so don't rush the present—calm down first and plan the follow-up."
"Acting as Grand Sage duties for now, hand to Alhaitham..."
Alhaitham: "..."
Lumine stood by eavesdropping; she didn't understand, but it seemed very impressive.
You discuss; once discussed, just tell me where to go and who to hit.
The few suppressed their emotions and began discussing; one could only say reading too many books—need to lower their quality.
Emotions too stable, output too low—missing Wanderer.
Speaking of which, Wanderer's matter was about to be resolved soon; then Lucian and Lumine would handle Wanderer, while the others handled the Akademiya issue.
And Wanderer's 'mom,' Ei, also watched this short film; she was very annoyed now.
Although she had always secretly watched her sister's 'work secrets' while working for Lucian before, she hadn't expected the finished product to be such a story.
'Stand-in literature,' 'Enclosed five hundred years'
The expressionless Ei now only wanted to say: 'Need legal aid?'
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice Lines · Ei: About the Enclosed Five Hundred Years
["Active and passive—it's made me understand what Lucian said: grant the people the right to choose."]
[Hi everyone~ Just a quick note! I just graduated from college, to celebrate, I did a mass release on Patreon for all of my stories. Thank you so much for your support. I'll still be continuing the stories for the foreseeable future.]