Neuvillette: "Now, Officer Vaughn, please explain how you discovered the Primordial Sea water in Lyney's luggage."
"The 'companion' mentioned in Cowell's Notes—I suspect that wasn't Lyney, but you, wasn't it?"
Vaughn: "I... I..."
Neuvillette: "You must know very well what you need to do to lessen your judgment."
Even with his position utterly compromised, Vaughn slumped in defeat.
Furina, equally furious, snapped, "Speak now! Or you'll be spending the rest of your life keeping company with those Credit Coupons!"
Vaughn: "I... I was just following orders! We had to frame Lyney for the Serial Disappearance Case and shift the blame to the Fatui. Our superiors said it was the perfect opportunity."
"Because... because Lady Fidaelle's investigation had become a serious threat to their safety. Even if they stopped staging the disappearances, she would uncover them eventually. Better to gamble than wait for the inevitable."
Neuvillette: "The plan has failed, and the secret of the Primordial Sea water has been exposed. Your superiors now see you as a liability. Your wisest course is to confess everything fully and seek protection from the Maison Gardiennage."
Vaughn: "I understand, I understand. I'll tell you everything right now... The Primordial Sea water can dissolve people. Our Boss discovered that."
"This stuff can also be made into a potion. If it's diluted way, way down and drunk, it creates an overwhelming sense of euphoria that you'll never forget."
"We've been running this business for a while now, making a ton of money. The Serial Disappearance Case was also our Boss's plan. Oh, our Boss is that... that..."
Just as Officer Vaughn was about to reveal his Boss's identity, he suddenly clutched his stomach as if struck by excruciating pain, collapsing to the ground with a piercing scream.
"Aaaaaaaahhhhhh!"
Officer Vaughn's body began to dissolve, transforming into a puddle of water in mere seconds.
"!!!"
"Wa-wa...?!"
The crowd recoiled in horror at the sight. Officer Vaughn had been perfectly fine just moments ago, yet now he was a puddle of water?!
Although the investigation had already revealed the Primordial Sea water's ability to dissolve Fontainians, knowing about it was one thing—witnessing it firsthand was something else entirely.
Lyney: "They silenced him, didn't they?"
Navia: "Typical of them—so ruthless."
Neuvillette's gaze turned glacial. "This arrogance is beyond belief. Everyone present must submit to immediate inspection."
The Maison Gardiennage surged into action, heading for the stands.
Furina gripped the railing with both hands, her pupils trembling, lost in thought.
In that moment of her distraction, Fidelle had already leaped from the high platform and was racing toward the audience.
Armed with foreknowledge of the plot, she had been vigilantly scanning the audience. Unfortunately, the sheer number of spectators made it impossible to scrutinize every face.
Yet her efforts weren't entirely fruitless. The man in the fourth row of the right-side bleachers had made conspicuously agitated movements during the critical interval, his eyes darting about with unsettling intensity.
Fidelle's sudden actions drew everyone's attention, including Neuvillette's.
The moment the suspect saw her approaching, his guilty conscience drove him to flee.
"Maison Gardiennage, intercept him!" Neuvillette commanded.
Before the Maison Gardiennage could react, Fidelle had already closed the distance and subdued him.
"Damn it!" the suspect cursed, realizing escape was impossible. He yanked a vial filled with Primordial Sea water from his chest and hurled it wildly around.
"Look out!!!"
The crowd was packed around him; the consequences of the Primordial Sea water splashing on them would be catastrophic.
She swiftly pinned the suspect's hand and pushed the test tube back.
Primordial Sea water splashed onto the suspect's face, eliciting the same agonizing scream as Officer Vaughn's, and the suspect's body rapidly dissolved and vanished.
Witnessing this scene, the surrounding crowd scattered in panic.
Neuvillette arrived at the scene.
Fidelle: "I'm sorry, the lead has gone cold."
Neuvillette: "It's alright. You've already done enough."
Neuvillette crouched down and reached for the Primordial Sea water that had splashed onto the ground. Fidelle instinctively moved to stop him, but after a moment's hesitation, she withdrew her hand.
"Primordial Sea..."
Furina, Lumine, and the others rushed over.
"Fidelle, are you alright? Were you touched by the Primordial Sea water?"
"I'm fine, Lady Furina."
Furina pulled Fidelle close and examined her thoroughly, only relaxing when she was certain Fidelle was unharmed.
Neuvillette stood up, his voice ringing out clearly: "Regarding the Serial Young Girl Kidnapping Case, we will investigate thoroughly as quickly as possible. Please remain calm and evacuate in an orderly fashion after the Maison Gardiennage completes its inspection."
Turning to Fidelle, he added, "Lady Fidelle, you previously investigated the Missing Persons Case. I hope you will assist the Maison Gardiennage in solving this case swiftly."
Fidelle: "Mm."
Seeing no further point in staying, Lumine and Paimon left the area.
-
Before they even left the Opera House, Lyney and Lynette caught up with them.
"Lyney..." Paimon turned around, but Lumine didn't.
Lyney: "Traveler, I understand you don't want to talk to me right now, or even see me... Despite knowing I'm a Fatui agent, you defended me to the very end, even helping me clear my name. Please allow me to thank you again."
Lumine still didn't turn around. "I just didn't want to see someone falsely accused."
Lyney: "...Is that all? Regardless, I still hope I'll have the chance to explain myself to you properly someday. I never approached you with any ulterior motives or ill intentions. I've always spoken to you as Lyney, the individual."
Lyney began to tell Lumine about his and his sister's past:
They were orphans, struggling to survive in Fontaine. Lyney watched street performers and taught himself magic tricks. They were eventually adopted by a wealthy noble, and Lyney believed he and his sister could finally live peaceful lives.
However, some of Fontaine's wealthy were even more depraved than Lyney had imagined. After one performance, the noble who had adopted Lynette gifted her to another wealthy man.
It was "Father," also known as "The Knave," who rescued Lynette before any harm could come to her. She also discovered several other orphaned girls hidden in the basement, all without parents.
It was at that time that Lyney and Lynette joined the House of the Hearth.
The Knave had her own plan: after seizing Fontaine's Gnosis, she would prioritize using it to resolve Fontaine's Prophecy.
Hearing Lyney's explanation, Lumine was slightly moved.
From distributing Magic Pockets to stealing the Gnosis, everything Lyney and Lynette did was to counter Fontaine's Prophecy...
Finally, Lyney told Lumine that if she ever needed help in the future, she should definitely remember to seek him out.
Lumine nodded, then departed with Paimon.