Faced with the crowd's skeptical and angry gazes, Furina struggled to find the right words.
The Fortress of Meropide incident stemmed from her decision to conceal Emily's true identity. While this spared the young woman from some scrutiny, it also made Furina appear to have done nothing at all.
Despite the mounting pressure, Furina remained steadfast in her refusal to explain what had transpired at the Fortress of Meropide.
In the past, under such pressure, Furina would have fled, avoiding these difficult questions.
But the Furina of today was far stronger internally. She firmly believed in the Hydro Archon Focalors' words: As long as she played her role diligently, everyone would be saved.
"I haven't been doing nothing! I wasn't just standing by, watching you all be swallowed by the Primordial Sea Water!"
"You don't need to know the efforts I've made."
"I will save all of you. Just watch quietly, just trust in me, your Archon!"
Though Furina's words were harsh and impolite, they surprisingly quelled much of the people's anxiety.
While some remained dissatisfied with Furina's continued secrecy, they ultimately refrained from further protest.
"That's enough," Neuvillette intervened, offering Furina a reprieve.
"Regarding the Prophecy, the Fontaine authorities have been working tirelessly every day, doing their utmost to ensure everyone's safety."
"I understand your anxiety, but pointless accusations serve no purpose. We must unite and overcome this crisis together—that is what we should be doing as the Day of Prophecy draws near."
After Neuvillette spoke, the atmosphere noticeably eased.
Unlike Furina, who had never demonstrated her power, all of Fontaine had witnessed Neuvillette's formidable strength. As long as he didn't abandon them, their sense of security would remain largely intact.
"Everyone, calm down! Trust Lady Furina! Trust Monsieur Neuvillette!"
"Monsieur Neuvillette, please don't abandon us!"
Feeling the weight of their hopeful gazes, Neuvillette slowly nodded.
Seeing this, the crowd's anxiety began to ease.
Soon, the Maison Gardiennage officers began dispersing the crowd, and the Fontainians gradually left the scene. At this moment, Neuvillette summoned an officer to investigate the identities of the individuals who had led the charge in accusing Furina earlier.
Of course, Neuvillette wasn't seeking to punish them for offending the Archon. Given the pervasive infiltration of Fontaine, there was a possibility their identities were compromised. By identifying any common threads between them, he hoped to uncover other spies operating within Fontaine's ranks.
Before long, the individuals' dossiers were placed before Neuvillette. After a careful review, his brow furrowed deeply.
Their backgrounds were impeccably clean, showing no anomalies whatsoever.
Could he have been approaching this from the wrong angle?
Lost in thought, Neuvillette didn't notice the radiant smile on the Maison Gardiennage officer's face as he handed over the information.
"Neuvillette!"
The call from behind snapped Neuvillette out of his reverie. He turned to see Furina approaching him.
"What should we do now? I don't think the people will be eager to provide information about the impostor."
"What do you think her real motive was for impersonating me at the gathering? And where has she gone now?"
Hearing Furina's barrage of questions, Neuvillette shook his head.
"I don't think her goal was merely to impersonate you..."
A flicker of concern crossed Neuvillette's eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it came, remembering Furina's true identity as the Hydro Archon.
"I believe her true aim is to replace you."
Furina's expression froze at Neuvillette's deduction, a chill seeping into her heart.
"But what I can't understand is why she chose this method... There were far better ways to achieve that."
Neuvillette paused, then shook his head.
"We're still missing key clues. We'll have to wait until someone spots her and reports it to the Maison Gardiennage, or until she reveals herself..."
Suddenly, Neuvillette realized something and took a deep breath.
Could her target not be Furina at all, but rather me... or the New Fortress of Meropide?
If his theory was correct—that her creation was connected to Dottore—her motives for going to the New Fortress of Meropide were obvious.
Each of Dottore's "Segments" unleashed posed a grave threat to Fontaine. He couldn't afford to be complacent.
Without a moment to lose, Neuvillette swiftly told Furina he had to leave immediately and vanished.
"Wait, take me with you—"
Furina, worried about what might happen, reached out to join Neuvillette at the New Fortress of Meropide. But before she could finish her sentence, he had already vanished into thin air.
Furina was left utterly dumbfounded.
-
On the other side of the room, Arlecchino sensed movement at the door and glanced up. To her utter surprise, she saw a figure she hadn't expected at all.
"Furina, the Hydro Archon?"
The figure didn't answer, instead advancing toward her at a measured pace, her face betraying no emotion.
It was then that Arlecchino noticed something was off. The color of the figure's clothes was noticeably darker.
"No, wait... you're not Furina?"
Arlecchino frowned deeply, completely bewildered.
The girl before her looked identical to Furina, yet her aura was profoundly different. An unfathomable power radiated from her, an air of supreme authority that seemed to tower over all earthly things.
"I am Focalors, the Hydro Archon of Fontaine."
Upon hearing this self-introduction, a playful smile spread across Arlecchino's face.
"Heh, interesting."
"You've concealed your existence for five centuries. What purpose brings you to me now, 'Hydro Archon' Focalors?"
Arlecchino didn't believe the girl's claims. Like Furina, she lacked the innate divine essence that defined all Archons—a quality that wouldn't vanish even with the loss of a Gnosis. This essence was deeply ingrained within the very being of every Archon.
At that moment, her opponent finally stopped, their gaze locking with Arlecchino's in the air, like staring into an abyss without end.
"Arlecchino, your sins are more than enough for me to deliver Judgment upon you."
"Pledge your loyalty to me for ten years, and I will pardon your crimes. Refuse, and your life ends here."
Arlecchino bristled at the arrogant demand. Even if she could unleash her full power—which she couldn't, since Neuvillette had sealed her abilities—she doubted she could match this foe.
But Arlecchino wasn't the type to stubbornly face certain death when no escape remained. After a moment's calculation, she retorted:
"Heh, how intriguing."
"What tasks might you require of a mere mortal like myself?"
"You will learn in due time."
Dark Furina—or whatever she was calling herself—left the words hanging in the air before slowly raising her hand.
As her arm reached its apex, a black water sword radiating a potent Abyssal aura materialized in her palm. With a casual flick of the blade, she scored a line across the wall.
The moment the water sword touched the wall, a sharp, explosive crack echoed through the room, and layers upon layers of azure magical arrays bloomed across the chamber.
The arrays were swiftly engulfed by the Abyss's pitch-black energy, their colors fading into darkness. Moments later, they shattered with a sound like bursting bubbles, dissolving the room's protective seals.
With a thunderous boom, before Arlecchino could react, Dark Furina had blasted a tunnel through the wall beside her, carving a corridor over a hundred meters deep through the New Fortress of Meropide.
Witnessing this display of power, Arlecchino felt a profound sense of dread toward Dark Furina.
"When I need you for something, I'll appear at your side."
With these words, Dark Furina ignored Arlecchino's reaction and strode through the newly formed tunnel.
As Dark Furina's figure vanished into the distance, Arlecchino, her power restored, didn't hesitate to follow her through the tunnel...
-
Upon arriving at the New Fortress of Meropide, Neuvillette was relieved to find the fortress maintaining its usual order. At least the worst hadn't happened yet.
But just as he was about to seek out Wriothesley for information, he suddenly sensed something, his expression darkening.
Then, the entire New Fortress of Meropide began to shake violently, sending its residents scrambling for safety.
The Duke's Office door was kicked open, and Wriothesley strode out, his coat billowing behind him, followed by a phalanx of Gardemeks.
"Emergency situation! Everyone immediately stay in your designated locations and remain calm."
Wriothesley's stern expression softened slightly as he noticed Neuvillette, whose face was visibly grave.
"Hmph, it seems a more qualified individual is handling this after all."
"Neuvillette, your containment measures don't seem very secure."
When Wriothesley sensed the disturbance originating from the area where Neuvillette held special detainees, he immediately grasped the gravity of the situation, hence his severe expression.
However, seeing Neuvillette reassured him somewhat.
"Escaping right under the Chief Justice's nose? This fugitive must be quite the hardened criminal."
"Duke! Bad news!"
An Overseer came sprinting from the distance.
"Lady Furina has escaped!"
Wriothesley blinked in stunned silence, a question mark slowly forming above his head. Neuvillette's expression darkened even further.
It wasn't that he refused to pursue; he simply had to prioritize the safety of others first.
"What nonsense are you spouting? Speak properly!"
"Or are you an undercover agent too?!"
Completely baffled by such absurd claims, Wriothesley grabbed the man by the collar and yanked him close.
"I'm not an undercover agent, Your Grace!" the man protested.
"It's true! Just now, while I was on my routine patrol, a massive hole suddenly appeared nearby, blasted open by some immense force. Shortly after, I saw Lady Furina pass through the opening!"
"Lady Furina seems to have really escaped!"
"Hydro Archon Furina isn't even guilty of anything. What's she escaping from?" Wriothesley snapped, though he understood the man's panic and released his grip.
Ever since the earlier incident, Wriothesley felt like he was seeing spies everywhere. Even though Emily was gone, that vengeful woman might have left countermeasures in place.
"Very well. Your timely report deserves recognition. Credit Coupons will be delivered to your quarters by tomorrow."
After pacifying the Overseer with Credit Coupons, Wriothesley turned to Neuvillette.
"What's that one up to now?"
"The Furina he saw must have been an impostor. I met the real Furina just moments before, and the entity he encountered is likely connected to that mysterious organization."
Upon hearing Neuvillette's words, Wriothesley found the situation somewhat far-fetched, but he betrayed little of his inner thoughts on his face.
"No wonder you weren't in a rush to chase after her."
If this was indeed connected to that mysterious organization, their priority now was ensuring the safety of everyone else in the New Fortress of Meropide.
Understanding Neuvillette's concerns, Wriothesley immediately ordered a thorough sweep of the entire New Fortress of Meropide.
Meanwhile, Neuvillette and Wriothesley ventured to the cell at the end of the forcibly carved-out passage, only to find the occupant had vanished. Neuvillette frowned deeply.
Why would they rescue Arlecchino?
Neuvillette couldn't understand. Had their true target not been Dottore's Segments? Or were they still unaware of the Segments' existence? The latter seemed illogical. If they knew about Arlecchino, who was imprisoned less deeply than the Segments, it defied reason that they wouldn't also know about the Segments.
The situation seemed to be deteriorating rapidly. Between the emergence of another Furina, Arlecchino's escape, and the approaching Day of Prophecy, Fontaine appeared to be facing its gravest trial yet.
Neuvillette possessed immense power but felt helpless in the face of the escalating crisis, his heart heavy with worry.
No one could share this burden with him; the entire weight rested squarely on his shoulders.
As an outsider, Neuvillette could have simply stood aside and allowed Furina, the Hydro Archon, to handle the matter. But after serving as Chief Justice for so many years, he had developed deep emotional ties to Fontaine and its people—bonds he could no longer sever.
He could only hope that Furina's confident assurances about the preparations for the Day of Prophecy would prove effective.
As for matters beyond the Prophecy's crisis, he would handle them himself...