But with Eris slapping them with the charge of assisting a foreign criminal in assassinating the Hydro Archon, in a nation centered on a deity, no one involved in this criminal chain could escape.
Sinthes than a third of the files in that half-person-high stack were directly related to the Case of the Missing Girls; the rest were caught up through these connected cases.
Regardless of their specific charges, now, every one of them has a common charge hanging over their heads: assisting a foreign criminal in the assassination of the Hydro Archon.
Capital punishment might be too much for these people, but most of them can forget about ever leaving the Fortress of Meropide for the rest of their lives.
To be honest, this is already considered lenient.
If one were to truly investigate that heavy charge, every single one of them would end up hanging from a lamppost.
This is the crime of actually attempting to assassinate a deity; in a theocratic nation like Teyvat, the nature of this is no different from starting a rebellion.
However, Neuvillette’s rigidness has its benefits.
If others saw Eris engaging in such widespread guilt by association, they would surely oppose her on the grounds of maintaining Fontaine’s stability, as the number of people arrested this time is simply too high, causing panic among the upper nobility and officials.
But the person responsible for the trials is Neuvillette, and he doesn’t care about that.
As long as you are found guilty, you must be sent to the Opera Epiclese for trial.
Considering political consequences is absolutely not Neuvillette’s style.
If he actually considered such things, he wouldn’t have rigidly watched Callas walk to his death back then.
What kind of reputation did Callas have in Fontaine at that time?
He was a well-known philanthropist, for goodness’ sake.
And he wouldn’t have spent all these years watching the Fontaine government gradually being corrupted while being unable to do anything.
This group of arrested individuals will also be carefully screened.
Those with ulterior motives trying to test the Hydro Archon will be imprisoned until death, and the masterminds will face the death penalty.
As for those who were merely confused and chose to break the rules to help friends out of personal favor, giving them backdoor access, they can serve their time in the Fortress of Meropide and be released, but they can forget about ever entering a Fontaine government department again.
As for whose job this falls on…
the Hydro Dragon is truly useful, hehe.
She doesn’t even need to trick him; he will proactively work overtime to get it done.
“Mr.
Callas’s case reminds us that the loss of credibility of the Fontaine government has already begun,” Eris said solemnly.
“A philanthropist renowned throughout Fontaine would rather sacrifice his own life to compromise with criminals than come to seek the deity and ask for justice!”
“And that’s just one person.
With the Spina di Rosula, we could notice his grievances immediately.
But what about the many more overlooked ordinary people?
Who should they turn to with their grievances?”
“We cannot watch the government’s credibility slide while we stand around doing nothing!
If there is corruption, investigate it!
If there is collusion between officials and merchants, prosecute it!
Is the nation of justice and law really going to compromise with lawlessness?”
Her words were met with unanimous support from Neuvillette and Navia.
But the most important voice was missing.
Eris looked helplessly at Furina, who was eating cake on the side.
“Furina, say something!” She sighed and pulled Furina up from the sofa.
“Don’t forget, you are the Hydro Archon!”
“Oh, then just listen to you; that’s all there is to it,” Furina said indifferently upon hearing this.
“Anyway, you are me.
There’s no difference between you giving orders and me giving orders.”
Heh, is there really no difference?
Eris looked at Furina, who had already started sliding toward laziness, and felt a wave of helplessness.
No, if anyone is going to slack off, it should be me!
Is your trust in me too high?
You’re not taking any say in these matters and leaving it all to me, right?
But Furina also had something to say: I have diligently managed Fontaine for so many years, and now that a successor has finally arrived, can’t I slack off and take a break?
What?
Why am I so sure she’s the successor Focalors found for herself?
Just kidding.
Look at her appearance, look at her background, look at the Vision they both use.
It’s practically written on their faces that they are sisters.
If she wasn’t created by Focalors, where else could she have come from?
Furina was very convinced.
And Focalors: Huh?
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”