"How much?"
Xia Yu nearly jumped out of her seat upon hearing the figure Neuvillette reported.
"A total of 9,748,621 Mora," Neuvillette said, glancing at the document. "And that is only the statistical figure from this morning's newspaper release until noon. It also only encompasses a portion of the residents within the Court of Fontaine."
"It is expected that within a week—no, within a few months—this number will continue to rise. Lady Furina, Lady Ei, how shall this money be handled?"
"No, wait a second, let me process this," Xia Yu sat back down and took a deep breath before asking, "Under what name were these donations made again?"
"The 'Hydro Archon's Grand Excursion Plan,'" Neuvillette checked the report once more. "That is indeed the name. The people of Fontaine possess an incredible passion for this; it was a spontaneous activity organized after they heard of your plans."
"If you go to the window on the second floor of the Palais Mermonia now, you can see the crowd outside currently making donations."
At those words, Xia Yu dashed toward the second floor. A snickering Furina and a stoic Neuvillette followed closely behind her.
She pushed the window open, only to be met by a literal sea of people.
"I'm donating a hundred thousand! Our Hydro Archon is going on a trip—how can she not have a grand procession!"
"Lady Furina doesn't usually save much money. We can't let Lady Ei suffer from a lack of Mora! I'm donating a hundred thousand too!"
"I'm giving five hundred thousand! My poor daughter... Lady Hydro Archon has avenged you. Do you see this?"
"Exactly! Lady Ei kept everything hidden for the sake of the people, traveling all the way to Snezhnaya. Who knows how much hardship she endured while hiding her identity just to investigate the case? But for future travels, it shouldn't be like that! I'm donating two hundred thousand!"
"Right! We can't let other nations look down on Fontaine! I'm in for two hundred thousand as well!"
Clap!
Xia Yu slammed the window shut.
She realized she had indeed been inconsiderate; she had overlooked Furina's immense personal prestige as a deity.
Thinking about it, such a thing was actually normal. Forget Fontaine—it would be the same in any other nation. Take Mondstadt, for example: if word got out that Barbatos was visiting Liyue and was currently fuming over picking a gift... the strange and exotic items offered by the Mondstadters would likely pile high enough to fill the Favonius Cathedral.
Liyue would be even more extreme. In a nation with such a heavy commercial atmosphere, if they knew Rex Lapis planned to travel but didn't want to use the government reserves, the number of people willing to pay would be endless.
Inazuma... well, okay, they're under Sakoku; they really can't leave.
Sumeru... Lesser Lord Kusanali would have to get out of jail first...
Thinking this way, Furina was essentially being treated on the same tier as two of the original Seven. That kind of status went without saying, right? (Laughs)
"Took a fall, didn't you?" Furina poked her "annoying little sister" in the waist with a look of schadenfreude. "What happened to that 'I know everything' attitude? You were so arrogant before, but now you're stumped?"
Trying to beat me? You've only been born for a few days, kid!
Seeing her smug expression, Xia Yu reached out and pinched Furina's cheeks, saying in exasperation, "You knew this would happen, didn't you?"
"Of course," Furina said dismissively, her head held high. "I am the Hydro Archon. Having governed Fontaine for five hundred years, I naturally know what would happen."
"So, what do you say, little sister? Do you yield?"
"...Since you knew, why didn't you stop me earlier?" Xia Yu sighed. "Now that it's become such a huge deal... sigh, if I had known, I wouldn't have let Charlotte publish it."
"If I may, you need not worry," Neuvillette interjected solemnly. "It is impossible for the Hydro Archon to visit other nations incognito. There must be corresponding etiquette, so we—"
"No, that was just a casual remark!" Hearing this, Xia Yu realized why things had escalated. "Neuvillette, you actually took it seriously?"
"...If I understand correctly, you mean to say that you and Lady Furina have no intention of traveling?" Neuvillette's expression grew stern. "I had thought Lady Ei was more mature than Lady Furina..."
After all, from the investigation to the arrests, everything had been arranged in an orderly fashion. In his eyes, since she had spoken of visiting other nations, it certainly wasn't aimless talk.
"No, there is a plan. A travel plan exists," Xia Yu said awkwardly. Looking at the hardworking Dragon, she couldn't bring herself to say it was just a whim. "It's just that we never planned to collect funds from the public. Furina's savings are more than enough."
"But the passion of the people cannot be ignored," Neuvillette didn't press further. "What do the two of you intend to do now?"
"These donations were made out of love and respect. Even if we have an accurate registry, we cannot simply return the money to them." Furina broke free from Xia Yu's hands, gave her a smug look, and began to speak eloquently.
"That would undoubtedly break many hearts. However, we cannot actually use this money for a vacation. Once a precedent is set, how would this differ from taxing the citizens?"
"Therefore, we must find a suitable reason to spend this money—preferably on a one-time project that benefits the majority of Fontainians."
At this, she added teasingly, "So, my dear sister, do you have any ideas?"
"How about... we renovate the Fleuve Cendre area?" Xia Yu mused after a moment of thought. "Having so many people living underground is, more or less, not ideal."
The Fleuve Cendre was the shadow hidden beneath Fontaine's brilliance, a sanctuary for the exiled. There, a well-known saying persisted: Even the cinders filtered by the law will eventually return to the same river.
The people here were mostly former prisoners from the Fortress of Meropide and their families. Many had committed minor offenses and were released after serving their time. They included scholars from the Fontaine Academy of Sciences as well as petty thieves. Despite their vast differences in status, they all converged here.
The root cause was Fontaine's "Justice."
People who believe in the God of Justice inevitably harbor prejudice against criminals, even if their crimes were not severe. Justice and Law are the political correctness of this nation.
These people found it difficult to secure jobs on the surface that would accept them. Even walking outside, they were pointed at by acquaintances. For those coming out of the Fortress of Meropide, this was unbearable.
Though it was a prison, the Fortress of Meropide was not a bad place. On the contrary, it had a humane system and strict but not cruel supervision. Many prisoners even felt that life inside was easier than life outside and were reluctant to leave.
For most prisoners, the Duke's rehabilitation was quite successful. They could have restarted their lives and embraced a new future, as their crimes had been paid for in prison—those who couldn't pay would never leave Meropide anyway.
But in the outside world, the Court of Fontaine was not so forgiving. They couldn't find work, were marginalized, and ultimately could only huddle together for warmth in the sewers at the very bottom of Fontaine.
And with such an underground community composed mostly of ex-convicts, public security became a major issue.
In the past, it was a paradise for criminals until Callas arrived. He brought the Spina di Rosula to reorganize the order of Fleuve Cendre and helped many people there. You could even see a young doctor who graduated from the Sumeru Akademiya.
She had grown up in Fleuve Cendre, destitute but brilliant. It was Mr. Callas who sponsored her studies on the condition that she return here after graduating to become a doctor, with her salary provided by the Spina di Rosula.
From education to employment, the Spina di Rosula handled everything.
Under Callas's efforts, Fleuve Cendre gradually returned to normalcy. Most of those gangs were thrown into the Fortress of Meropide. Though the remaining residents had complex backgrounds—with the occasional fraudster popping up—the area had transformed from a "black" zone into a "gray" zone with basic order.
Callas had also tried to help the residents move out, but most were unwilling to leave. The discrimination from the outside world...
Xia Yu said bluntly, "I know the Spina di Rosula has managed it well, but they are ultimately a civilian organization. I'm not saying I don't trust Navia, but the existence of such an area represents a failure of the government."
"If I may be so bold, the Fleuve Cendre issue cannot be resolved with just tens of millions of Mora," Neuvillette shook his head. "We have tried to solve the problems there before. In light of Mr. Callas's benevolent acts, the Palais Mermonia also provided a great deal of assistance."
Otherwise, no matter how good the Spina di Rosula's reputation was, they wouldn't have had the legal authority to reorganize such an area. The most effective way to deal with the mobs controlling Fleuve Cendre was to call the Special Security and Surveillance Patrol.
It was precisely because the people there naturally harbored a lack of trust in the Fontaine government that the Palais Mermonia tacitly allowed the Spina di Rosula to establish order.
In the past, the relationship between Callas and the Fontaine government was incredibly close. This could be seen from the fact that several vital waterways were built, donated, and named by him. His death was truly something no one could have predicted.
Even Neuvillette thought that if Callas couldn't win the duel, he would simply concede, go to the Fortress of Meropide to serve his sentence, and then Neuvillette could slowly investigate the case.
But who knew he would be so unyielding? He preferred to die in the arena rather than plead guilty. On that day, Navia wasn't the only one who wept watching Callas die for his pride.
He didn't understand; Callas didn't have to die. Why was he so persistent, even at the cost of his life...
But Fontaine's law was like that—no exceptions for anyone.
"Fleuve Cendre, huh," Furina sighed. "Ultimately, its existence is entirely due to the collective discrimination against criminals in Fontainian society. The root cause... actually lies with me..."
But as the God of Justice and Law—and a fake one at that—she never dared to publicly declare that criminals shouldn't be discriminated against.
Furina had lived on thin ice all these years. To maintain her lie, even though she knew there were problems with the government, she couldn't change anything as the five-hundred-year mark approached and the prophecy crisis loomed.
She feared that the Fontaine she had worked so hard to balance would explode due to a chain reaction triggered by some insignificant action.
She didn't have the confidence, and reality left her with no choice.
"Since we can't move on it for now, let's put it aside," Xia Yu said helplessly. "After that day comes, I will go with you to solve this problem."
"Mhm," Furina took her hand. "It's a promise."
"It's a promise."
Neuvillette looked at the two of them and spoke up helplessly, "Ladies, the matter before us is not yet resolved. How exactly is that money to be used?"
"If all else fails, consider it my treat to all of Fontaine for a grand feast," Xia Yu said, throwing her hands up. "We'll hire top chefs from all over Teyvat. We'll set up tables from the city gate's Vasari Passage all the way to the Palais Mermonia, hold a cooking competition, and let everyone have a good time for a couple of days."
"...I'm afraid that money won't be enough," Neuvillette calculated in his head. "Hiring international chefs is one thing, but setting up tables from the gate to the palace where anyone can eat for free... a scale that large would likely drain half the chefs in Teyvat."
"From ingredients to labor to organization—the difficulty is far too high."
"Can't you tell I'm talking nonsense?" Xia Yu rolled her eyes at him. "Neuvillette, you really have no sense of humor."
"If I may, we are discussing serious matters," Neuvillette shook his head solemnly. "A sense of humor is not a requirement."
"Just listen to me," Furina said, puffing out her chest proudly. "This money is actually quite easy to deal with. Not every Fontainian has been to other countries. It's not just me who wants to see the world; many people share that desire."
"And we in Fontaine have something wonderful: films."
"After everything is settled, I'll be the director, you'll be the screenwriter, we'll recruit actors on the spot, and we'll go to every nation to film a blockbuster! When we return, we'll screen them for the people of Fontaine for free."
Furina gave a playful wink. "I guarantee the vast majority will be satisfied!"
"Films, the Fleuve Cendre, the reconstruction of the Institute of Kinetic Energy Engineering..." Xia Yu looked out the window. "Add to that... well, that matter. It seems we still have a lot to do."
"Right, right," Furina pulled her hand. "Together."
★ ★ ★
"Father."
Two obedient children welcomed their Father.
"I heard that Fontaine has been quite turbulent lately," Arlecchino, having returned from Snezhnaya, picked up the teacup before her. She took a sip of black tea, gave Lynette an appreciative look, and said, "It seems our dear Lady Hydro Archon has done something quite extraordinary."
"She solved the serial disappearances case, Father," Lyney replied. "And in a way we never would have imagined."
"The details?" Arlecchino was curious. she truly didn't know what had happened; there had been no news while she was in Snezhnaya, and she felt the change in atmosphere the moment she arrived in Fontaine.
"Lady Furina used her divine power to create a clone of herself to investigate. That clone followed the trail from Fontaine to Snezhnaya, then back again, and finally caught the culprit in an underwater ruin."
Lyney looked at Arlecchino, and seeing no reaction, he continued, "According to the intelligence we gathered, the person caught is named Marcel, the president of a commerce association."
"But that's a fake identity. His real name is Vacher, and he's from Snezhnaya..."
Arlecchino frowned. "And then?"
"There is no 'then,' Father," Lyney spread his hands. "The official who provided intelligence to the House of the Hearth was arrested. We were almost dragged into it."
"And we don't dare contact anyone else. Right now, there are mass arrests happening all over Fontaine. More than half the people we were in contact with are in jail, and the rest are living in fear every day."
Lyney shook his head. "If we keep contacting these frightened birds, I'm afraid they'll sell us out to the Palais Mermonia just to beg for mercy."
"Hmm, you did well, Lyney," Arlecchino patted Lyney's shoulder. "Knowing when to withdraw when a task is impossible is very good."
"It's just that the Hydro Archon, who has been silent for years, suddenly pulled off such a feat," she frowned. "We must find a way to figure out the truth behind this."
Seeing she had finished her tea, Lynette stepped forward quietly to refill the pot.
"Father, there is another noteworthy point," Lyney continued. "Lady Furina's clone calls herself 'Ei.' Her appearance is almost identical to Lady Furina's, distinguishable only by the Vision she wears."
"With such a striking appearance, if she went to Snezhnaya, it would be impossible for the House of the Hearth not to notice. This Vacher she spoke of changed his name in Snezhnaya; investigating that would be no small task. Without the cooperation of relevant personnel, it would be nearly impossible."
"However, we never received any such intelligence."
"That is indeed unusual," Arlecchino noted. "I will have our people in Snezhnaya look into it. If nothing can be found, yet it was confirmed in court that Vacher is indeed Snezhnayan..."
"Then things get interesting," she sipped her tea. "Is someone in Snezhnaya helping our mysterious Lady Hydro Archon?"
"Lyney, can you get tickets for the day of the trial?"
"...It's a bit difficult, Father," Lyney said with a wry smile. "All of Fontaine is focused on this. This is the first time in a hundred years the Hydro Archon has personally taken action. The serial disappearances case carries enough weight in Fontaine as it is. To say tickets are hard to find is an understatement."
"The officials who were friendly with us in the past are either in the defendant's seat or shivering in fear that they'll be next. Asking them to secure a ticket is simply too difficult."
To put it bluntly, the Fatui were a foreign organization. Doing anything in Fontaine mostly involved underground dealings. While they had an official office, they certainly wouldn't make a show of befriending people.
Now, this wave of crackdowns by the Hydro Archon had put every Fontainian noble and official on edge. Underground dealings were off the table, and they would have to compete with the entire population for tickets...
"I will find a way," Arlecchino knew this was asking a bit much of the children. They were already excellent; she would handle the rest.
"Alright, business is over. Lyney, Lynette, let's talk about yourselves. How have you been lately?"
The atmosphere of the House of the Hearth was as warm as ever.
Meanwhile, in Poisson, Navia found her old butler.