“What about me?”
Standing outside the door was a Melusine named Lias.
Melusines were always leaving their small village to seek refuge with Neuvillette, and over the years, they could be found throughout all levels of Fontaine.
However, it was truly rare to see Lias in such a panic, and it even had something to do with her?
Furina’s curiosity was piqued.
“…Lady Furina?
Why are you here?” The silly Melusine looked up at Furina.
Furina looked back at her with equal confusion.
“If I’m not here, where else should I be?”
“Wait, if you’re here, then that person made a false report!” Lias tilted her head, worked out the logic, and then bowed to Furina and Neuvillette.
“Lady Furina, Lord Neuvillette, I’ll go back and handle this right away…”
“Wait, wait, are you saying someone is impersonating me?” Furina caught on as well, and was completely taken aback.
Are the people of Fontaine really this bold nowadays?
Someone actually dares to impersonate a deity?
“Impersonating a deity is a severe crime,” Neuvillette stood up.
“Lias, what exactly is the situation?”
“A girl claiming to be a victim of the Case of the Missing Girls case was brought to the Special Security and Surveillance Patrol.
According to her, Lady Furina rescued her from a criminal hideout,” Lias reported.
“She was also told to come to the patrol to get people to clear out the criminal organization’s hideout.”
“But since Lady Furina is here and not underwater, it means she was lying.”
“The Case of the Missing Girls case?” hearing this, Neuvillette and Furina said in unison, “A victim?”
“I’ll go with you,” Furina stepped over to Lias’s side.
“I really want to see who dares to impersonate the great Regina of All Waters, Kindreds, Peoples, and Laws!”
Her face was filled with anticipation, but Neuvillette had a feeling that it wasn’t the anticipation of confronting an impersonator, but rather…
“I’ll come too,” with that thought, he followed her.
“A major case like impersonating a deity warrants special handling!”
“Oh, alright.
That person is currently at the hospital, I’ll…” Before Lias could finish, she was interrupted by Furina.
“The hospital?” Furina frowned.
“Why isn’t she at the Special Security and Surveillance Patrol?”
“Because her physical condition is extremely poor,” Lias explained.
“She looked as though she had been through severe torment, so none of us doubted her at first.
The Special Security and Surveillance Patrol, led by Captain Chevreuse, is already prepared and coordinating with the hospital.
According to the description of the girl named Audrey, there are many more victims in even worse condition down there.”
“After all, this is Fontaine’s biggest case, and we figured that with the Hydro Archon down there, nothing could possibly go wrong.”
That was indeed what they thought.
Since the Hydro Archon had personally taken action, it was impossible for the culprits to escape.
Calling them there was surely just to clean up the aftermath, which was why they immediately coordinated with the hospital to ensure the health and safety of the victims.
“Audrey…” Hearing this name, Furina stopped in her tracks.
“What is it, Lady Furina?” Neuvillette looked at her.
“Do you know this person?”
“Do you remember what I was just telling you?” Furina looked in the direction of the hospital.
“On my way back from the Opéra Epiclese, I heard a few people discussing the disappearance of their troupe leader.
The missing person was named Audrey.”
“…We will know the truth once we go and see for ourselves,” Neuvillette did not press further, but merely quickened his pace.
And so, the three of them arrived at the hospital with heavy hearts.
“Are you ready?” At the hospital entrance, Captain Chevreuse of the Special Security and Surveillance Patrol was preparing to set out with her squad.
“Wait, Lady Furina?
You’re already back?” Before she could finish her sentence, she saw Furina and Neuvillette approaching, led by Lias.
“My apologies, coordinating with the hospital took quite some time.
May I ask…”
“Captain Chevreuse,” Lias was about to speak up to warn her, but was interrupted by Furina.
“Could you take me to see the victim first?”
“Uh, yes, of course,” Chevreuse was stunned for a second, then said, “I’ll take you there right away.”
Inside the ward, Audrey was undergoing a medical examination.
“Oh my, child, what did those people do to you?” The doctor sighed.
“A fever, malnutrition from severe starvation, and frostbite…
This is outright abuse!”
“When they are put on trial, I am definitely going to the Opéra Epiclese to throw things at those bastards…
Oh, Lord Neuvillette, and Lady Furina…”
“Throwing objects at defendants is not permitted during trials,” Neuvillette reminded tiredly.
“It is against court regulations.”
“I’m just so furious,” the doctor whispered.
“The Case of the Missing Girls case…
so many victims…”
Meanwhile, Audrey turned her head to look at Furina.
“Lady Furina?
Have all those people been caught?” she asked, her voice full of expectation.
“But why haven’t I seen the other girls who were with me?
Clécie was very sick, how is she doing?”
Seeing this, Furina, who had a stomach full of questions she wanted to ask, opened her mouth but found herself unable to say a word.
Looking at the hope in the young girl’s eyes, she even instinctively averted her gaze.
“Miss Audrey,” Neuvillette was about to ask directly, “We came here to ask…”
Before he could finish, Furina interrupted him by nudging him in the ribs with her elbow.
“They are already receiving treatment from other doctors,” Furina forced a smile to encourage her.
“You need to get well soon too.
Everyone in your troupe is very worried about you.”
“Everyone…” Hearing this, Audrey said hopefully, “Thank you, Lady Furina.
Actually, my body was already treated by your divine power underground, so I feel…”
“I don’t care what you feel, I feel your body needs rest!” The doctor interrupted her.
Knowing what she was going to say next from just the beginning, he added, “I am the doctor here, a professional!
Your physical condition is not looking good!”
“As for divine power…” He hesitated at this point and looked at Furina.
“Indeed, you should listen to the doctor.
Divine power isn’t omnipotent either,” Furina managed a weak smile at her.
“I still have many matters to attend to, so I can’t stay here with you.
My apologies.”
“It’s alright, Lady Furina.
I know you’re very busy,” Audrey said quickly.
“Don’t worry about me, I will cooperate fully with the treatment.”
“Mhm, let’s leave it at that then,” Furina nodded to her and fled the ward as if she were running away in panic.
Her usual tactfulness seemed to have vanished entirely.
Looking at the hope in the young girl’s eyes, she only felt herself to be…
incompetent.
“Lady Furina, we need to understand more about the case,” Neuvillette followed her out, closing the door behind him.
“You shouldn’t have…”
“Neuvillette!
Can’t you see?” Furina interrupted him.
“She truly believes it was me who saved her.
If she were really a liar, she would have panicked the moment I showed up!”
“Indeed, Lady Furina,” Chevreuse, who had just caught up on the situation from Lias, walked over and said, “This case is full of doubts, but Miss Audrey clearly firmly believes in the so-called Hydro Archon who remained at the hideout.”
” Regardless, we will know once we go and take a look.
The underground ruins have been locked down, and the Special Security and Surveillance Patrol is ready to go.
Give the order, Lady Furina!
”
” You are right, let us just go and see, ” Furina forced herself to return to her usual demeanor.
But in her heart, there was still a sliver of hope…
Is it you?
Have you returned?
She had not forgotten what Audrey said, that the Hydro Archon had healed her.
Could it really be you?
Underwater ruins.
Eris looked at the large group of Clockwork Meka gathered before her, then looked at the thugs huddled around her.
Useless, they can’t do anything right…
To let someone notice something was wrong, they deserve to be thugs for the rest of their lives!
Pharo, the high-ranking executive opposite her, felt as if he had fallen into an abyss.
He had originally thought some thugs below wanted to cause trouble, so he applied to the president to bring some Clockwork Meka to control the only exit first.
But when he arrived, he saw that conspicuous blue figure standing in front of everyone at a glance.
What the hell…
Why is Lady Hydro Archon here?!
Pharo looked at the Clockwork Meka beside him, then at the cold-faced, silent Hydro Archon, and his whole body was trembling.
” La- La- Lady Furina…
I- I- I…
” He started to stutter incoherently.
” Surrender or die, ” Eris couldn’t be bothered to argue with him and said coldly, ” Choose.
”
Pharo fell to his knees with a thud.
” I surrender, I surrender!
”
Guys, who gets it?
Today I saw Lady Hydro Archon come to investigate the case personally, and I am the criminal…
Who would dare not surrender?
” Do you think you can survive just by kneeling?
Pharo, ” just then, a shadowy figure appeared behind him, ” Don’t forget what we are doing.
Just the people who have died here over the years are enough for us to be sentenced to death!
”
” President Marcel?
” Pharo looked back at the man behind him.
” But this is Lady Hydro Archon…
”
What else can I do if I do not surrender?
“…
Haha, hahahaha, I did not expect this, I did not expect this at all.
All my efforts have gone to waste, ” Marcel ignored him and looked at Eris.
” Hydro Archon, God of Justice, you have caught me.
”
If he had not been caught red-handed, he might have been able to quibble in court, but now that he had been caught in the act, it was useless to deny it.
” Can you tell me who betrayed me?
” he asked, unwilling to accept it.
” No one betrayed you, ” Eris said with a cold face.
” I was just taking a walk on the seabed and happened to find this place.
Surrender, the Oratrice Mecanique d’Analyse Cardinale will judge your sins!
”
” Dream on!
” Hearing this, Marcel said through gritted teeth, ” You want to judge my crimes with that ridiculous, child’s play trial of you Fontaine people!
”
” All of you, attack!
”
This was not said to his subordinates, as they had long been scared out of their wits, but to the Clockwork Meka.
One must admit, machines have their advantages; even when facing the Hydro Archon, they would loyally obey the commander’s orders.
Of course, Marcel did not expect them to cause any harm; after all, that was the Hydro Archon.
He was just resisting this ridiculous country in his own way, in his eyes.
Even if this resistance was insignificant in the eyes of a god.