"What happened to me?"
The one standing outside the door was a Melusine named Liath.
There were always Melusines leaving their small village to seek out Neuvillette; over the years, the silhouettes of Melusines had become a common sight throughout every level of Fontaine. However, seeing Liath in such a frantic state was truly rare—and it apparently had something to do with her? Furina's curiosity was piqued.
"…Lady Furina? Why are you here?" The bewildered Melusine looked up at Furina.
Furina stared back with an equally baffled expression. "If I'm not here, where exactly am I supposed to be?"
"Wait, if you're here… then that person reported a false emergency!" Liath tilted her head, sorting through the logic before bowing deeply to both Furina and Neuvillette. "Lady Furina, Monsieur Neuvillette, I shall return to handle this immediately—"
"Wait, wait, wait! Are you saying someone is impersonating me?" Furina exclaimed, completely stunned.
Had the people of Fontaine become this bold? Someone actually dared to masquerade as a God?
"Impersonating a deity is a grave felony," Neuvillette said, standing up. "Liath, explain the situation in detail."
"A girl claiming to be a victim of the serial disappearances was brought to the Special Security Patrol. According to her, Lady Furina rescued her from a criminal hideout," Liath reported. "She was told to come to the Patrol to find reinforcements to clear out the lair."
"But since Lady Furina is not underwater but right here, it means she was lying."
"The serial disappearances?" Neuvillette and Furina spoke in unison. "A victim?"
"I'm coming with you," Furina said, stepping toward Liath. "I'd very much like to see who has the nerve to impersonate the Great Queen of All Waters, Kindreds, Peoples, and Laws!"
Her face was full of anticipation, but Neuvillette sensed it wasn't the excitement of catching a fraud. It was something else.
"I will join you as well," Neuvillette added, following them. "A major case involving the impersonation of a deity warrants immediate personal attention!"
"Oh, alright. The person is currently at the hospital. I'll lead—" Liath started, but Furina cut her off.
"The hospital? Why isn't she at the Patrol headquarters?"
"Because her physical condition is truly dire," Liath explained. "She looks as though she has endured terrible torture. No one suspected her at first. Captain Chevreuse and the Special Security Patrol are already on standby, coordinating with the hospital. According to the girl—her name is Audrey—there are many more victims in even worse condition down there."
"Since the 'Hydro Archon' was already down there, we assumed there would be no accidents. We thought we were just going to clean up the aftermath."
That was their logic: if the Hydro Archon had personally intervened, the criminals couldn't possibly escape. Their priority was securing the health and lives of the victims.
"Audrey..." Furina stopped in her tracks upon hearing the name.
"What is it, Lady Furina?" Neuvillette looked at her. "Do you know her?"
"Remember what I told you?" Furina looked toward the hospital. "When I left the Opera House, I heard people discussing the disappearance of their troupe director. That person's name was Audrey."
"…We will know the truth once we arrive," Neuvillette said, quickening his pace.
The three arrived at the hospital, their hearts heavy with conflicting thoughts.
"Are we ready?" At the entrance, Captain Chevreuse was preparing her squad to move out.
"Wait, Lady Furina? You're back already?" Chevreuse blinked as the group approached. "Apologies, the hospital coordination took some time. May I ask—"
"Captain Chevreuse," Liath began to explain, but Furina interrupted again.
"Can you take me to see the victim first?"
"Uh, yes, of course," Chevreuse stammered for a second. "Follow me."
Inside the ward, a doctor was examining Audrey.
"Good heavens, child... what did those monsters do to you?" The doctor sighed. "Fever, severe malnutrition, frostbite... this is pure, unadulterated abuse!"
"When they are brought to trial, I'm going to the Opera House just to throw things at those bastards... Oh, Monsieur Neuvillette, Lady Furina..."
"Throwing objects at defendants is strictly prohibited," Neuvillette reminded him tiredly. "It is a violation of courtroom discipline."
"I'm just so angry," the doctor muttered. "The serial disappearances... how many victims must there be?"
Audrey, however, had turned her gaze toward Furina.
"Lady Furina? Have they all been caught?" she asked, her voice brimming with hope. "But why don't I see the other girls? Clecy is very sick. How is she?"
Furina, who had come in with a mouth full of questions, found herself unable to speak. Looking at the raw hope in the girl's eyes, she instinctively looked away.
"Miss Audrey," Neuvillette began, intending to get straight to the facts.
He didn't finish. Furina's elbow caught him sharply in the ribs.
"They are... being treated by other doctors as we speak," Furina forced a reassuring smile. "You need to focus on getting better. Everyone in your troupe is worried about you."
"Everyone..." Audrey's face lit up. "Thank you, Lady Furina. Actually, my body feels much better already. I think the divine power you used to treat me underground is—"
"I don't care what you 'think,' I think you need bed rest!" the doctor interrupted. "I am the professional here! Your condition is precarious!"
"As for divine power..." The doctor trailed off, looking at Furina.
"Indeed. Listen to the doctor. Divine power isn't a cure-all," Furina said with a strained smile. "I have many matters to attend to, so I cannot stay. I'm sorry."
"It's alright, Lady Furina. You're very busy, I know," Audrey said quickly. "Don't worry about me. I'll be a good patient."
"Good. Then, I'll be going." Furina nodded and practically fled the room.
Her usual social grace was nowhere to be found. Looking at the girl's eyes, she felt nothing but her own... powerlessness.
"Lady Furina, we need more details on the case," Neuvillette said as he stepped into the hallway and closed the door. "You shouldn't have—"
"Neuvillette! Can't you see?" Furina cut him off. "She truly believes I saved her. If she were a fraud, she would have panicked the moment she saw me!"
"Indeed, Lady Furina," Chevreuse added. "The case is riddled with contradictions, but Miss Audrey clearly believes in the 'Hydro Archon' currently at the hideout."
"Regardless, we will know once we see for ourselves. The underwater ruins have been located, and the Patrol is ready. Give the order, Lady Furina!"
"Right. Let's go and see." Furina forced herself back into her public persona.
But deep inside, a sliver of hope flickered... Is it you? Have you come back?
She hadn't forgotten what Audrey said. That the "Hydro Archon" had healed her.
Is it really you?
★ ★ ★
The Underwater Ruins
Xia Yu looked at the massive swarm of Clockwork Meka gathered before her, then glanced at the thugs huddled around her.
Useless... they actually managed to let someone escape and raise the alarm. They deserve to be lackeys for the rest of their lives!
Across from her, the high-ranking official Vallo felt his heart sink into an abyss.
He had originally thought some low-level thugs were trying to start a mutiny, so he had requested a detachment of Meka from the President to lock down the only exit. But the moment he arrived, his eyes landed on that unmistakable blue figure standing at the front of the crowd.
Holy—! Why is Lady Furina here?!
Vallo looked at his Meka, then at the cold, silent "Hydro Archon." He began to shake violently.
"F-F-F-Furina... My Lady... I... I..." He couldn't even form a coherent sentence.
"Surrender or die," Xia Yu said coldly, not bothering with pleasantries. "Choose."
Thud. Vallo fell to his knees instantly. "I surrender! I surrender!"
Does anyone understand? I'm here committing a crime and the Hydro Archon herself shows up to investigate... who would dare NOT surrender?
"Do you think kneeling will save you, Vallo?"
A dark, brooding figure emerged from behind him. "Have you forgotten what we've been doing? The number of people who have died here over the years is enough to earn us the death penalty!"
"President Marcel?" Vallo looked back at the man. "But... this is the Hydro Archon..."
What choice do I have?
"…Haha, Hahahaha! I never expected this. To fall at the final hurdle," Marcel ignored Vallo and stared at Xia Yu. "Hydro Archon, God of Justice... you've caught me."
If he hadn't been caught red-handed, he might have been able to argue his way out in court. But this? There was no denying it.
"Tell me... who betrayed me?" he asked, his voice full of resentment.
"No one betrayed you," Xia Yu replied with a mask of icy indifference. "I was simply taking a stroll on the seabed and happened upon this place. Surrender now. The Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale will judge your sins!"
"In your dreams!" Marcel spat, his teeth bared. "You expect me to let my fate be decided by your ridiculous, theatrical trials? To let Fontaine's 'justice' judge my crimes?"
"All of you, attack!"
He wasn't shouting at his men—they were already paralyzed with fear. He was commanding the Clockwork Meka.
Machines had their advantages. Even in the face of a God, they remained loyal to the commands of their controller.
Of course, Marcel didn't actually expect them to win. This was the Hydro Archon, after all. He was simply choosing his own way to rebel against a nation he deemed absurd.
Even if that rebellion was, in the eyes of a God, utterly insignificant.