"Assassination?! Can such bugs be used for assassination?!"
Paimon couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, as in her understanding... assassination involved people lurking in the shadows, then catching their opponents off guard.
How could these bugs also be used for assassination?
But Paimon didn't dwell on this matter for too long. Instead, she shook her little head, trying to get her thoughts back on track.
"No, no, the key point shouldn't be what caused this disguised 'accident,' should it?"
Hearing Paimon's words, Arlecchino chuckled, then continued:
"Scholars from Snezhnaya once developed a... pheromone that could control these bugs, for the purpose of improving the living conditions of the Snezhnayan people."
"This pheromone could make ice-plain woodworms leave forest logs and migrate them to areas not far from cultivated land."
"This way, Snezhnaya not only preserved high-quality fuel but also found suitable placement for timber of lesser quality, without a single bit of waste."
At this point, Arlecchino paused slightly, then continued:
"However... when using this substance, one must wear a full set of protective gear."
"Once these pheromones adhere to a human, those ice-plain woodworms will treat you as a log and attack you without hesitation."
"Just imagine, what would a creature capable of moving freely through hard northern wood be like inside your flesh?"
Looking at Arlecchino, who had a smile on her face, Paimon felt a chill down her spine, as if ice-plain woodworms would crawl onto her body the next second and devour her completely.
Meanwhile, Mr. Yuto fell into a brief contemplation, only speaking after a moment:
"I remember... this thing was a product from over fifty years ago, wasn't it? The Fontaine Academy of Sciences was still around then and participated in its development."
"However, later, because it was too dangerous, I classified it as a Class Two prohibited item, so it's basically nonexistent within Fontaine. Could it be..."
Looking at the thoughtful Mr. Yuto, Arlecchino nodded again, then stated very frankly:
"So, after discovering that the danger of that thing far outweighed its practicality... Snezhnaya completely abandoned it, working overtime to develop a harmless syrup to deal with these bugs."
"Returning to this matter, the geographical environment of Fontaine itself makes the presence of ice-plain woodworms impossible, but the physical entities within these ashes inversely prove their presence."
"As for what exactly happened... Heh, everyone here is intelligent, so I presume I don't need to say much more, do I?"
Hearing this, Lumine and Paimon both fell into thought, only speaking after a moment:
"So, the culprit actually used that syrup to make these bugs eat through the floor here, then waited for someone to step on it and fall through with a 'plop'?"
Arlecchino smiled and nodded, not continuing.
Mr. Yuto, after a brief moment of thought, immediately asked:
"So, Ms. Arlecchino, as Snezhnaya's diplomatic envoy to Fontaine, do you have a way to find out where this bottle of syrup and the ice-plain woodworms, which Fontaine has already labeled as 'invasive species,' came from?"
Arlecchino nodded once more upon hearing this, then said with a smile:
"Yes, I can, but to get more specific information... it might take some time."
"After all, Fontaine no longer has Wind Servants I can command. Although Lynette, in my opinion, is a born Wind Servant... she's not mature enough yet."
"So, I kindly ask Mr. Yuto to wait patiently for some days. With the Fatui's power, there's nothing in Snezhnaya we cannot investigate."
"However..."
Arlecchino paused slightly, a cunning, fox-like smile appearing on her exquisite face, as if she were plotting something.
"Mr. Yuto should also understand the saying, 'There's no such thing as a free lunch.'"
"The reason I came here to investigate tonight... is essentially due to the cooperative relationship between you and me."
"As your partner, it is one of my duties to help you when you encounter problems, but for the Fatui... or others at the Northland Bank, it's different."
"Commanding them, more or less, requires some... cost."
Looking at the meaningful smile on Arlecchino's face, Mr. Yuto shook his head helplessly, as if he had long anticipated this turn of events but was powerless to do anything about it.
Mr. Yuto pondered for a moment, then said:
"How about this, as the Palais Mermonia's spokesperson for foreign affairs and the administrator of some foreign trade agreements,
I can fully decide to reduce the 8% debt dividend that the Northland Bank previously promised to the Palais Mermonia to four percent."
"Is such a 'cost' satisfactory to Ms. Arlecchino, The Knave, Fourth Seat of the Fatui Harbingers?"
Upon hearing this answer, Arlecchino nodded with a smile, then gracefully stepped into the shadows.
Before her figure completely disappeared into the darkness, the crisp sound of her high heels on the floor suddenly stopped.
Arlecchino turned her head slightly, just as she had several times before during conversations in the reception room.
"Wait for my good news, Mr. Yuto. I will do my best to help the Palais Mermonia apprehend the criminals."
With that, the slender figure vanished into the shadows, and there was no further movement.
"She's gone..."
Paimon looked somewhat wistfully at the spot where Arlecchino had disappeared, as if she was... still wanting more.
However, she also understood that this was not the time for sentimentality.
She immediately turned back to Mr. Yuto beside her and asked with some curiosity:
"Mr. Yuto, what exactly did The Knave mean by that 'cooperative relationship' just now? Has the Palais Mermonia already started cooperating with the Northland Bank?"
Hearing Paimon's somewhat ambiguous words, Mr. Yuto blinked slightly, then said:
"Paimon... accurately speaking, it should be a cooperation between The Knave and me based on our personal relationship. The Palais Mermonia and the Northland Bank have always cooperated."
"Eh? Is that how it is? Then what exactly is the content of your cooperation? You're not asking The Knave to investigate other nobles in Fontaine, are you?"
"Of course not, and that would be redundant, because I have my own information channels in that regard."
"As for the content of the cooperation... I can't tell you yet. You will naturally know everything when the time is right."
Hearing this, Paimon put her hands on her hips, looking at Mr. Yuto with some dissatisfaction and saying:
"You, you're just like Zhongli when you're being mysterious."
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