Fatui Headquarters.
Inside the dim conference room, a small meeting of the Harbingers was underway.
Pierro sat at the head of the oval conference table, his expression as cold as frost.
Sitting on either side were Dottore, Arlecchino, Pulcinella, and Pantalone.
Pierro turned his head slowly, his gaze piercing like a knife toward Dottore beside him: “Dottore, shouldn’t you offer an explanation?” “The Damselette serial disappearance case has nothing to do with me.” A trace of barely concealed anger hid within Dottore’s calm tone.
He had always prided himself on being the most brilliant schemer in the world.
He never imagined that one day he would be framed!
What was even more infuriating was that everyone now assumed he was the one who did it.
Arlecchino, sitting opposite him, asked indifferently: “But apart from you, who else could easily do this?” “I don’t want to answer such meaningless questions anymore,” Dottore retorted coldly.
“Dottore.” Pierro stared at him expressionlessly, his tone brooking no doubt: “You must answer.” This sentence was like a slap in the face, delivered in front of everyone.
Dottore took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in his heart, and explained: “The Damselette serial disappearance case should be related to that Vacher.
During an adventure, his girlfriend had some kind of accident.
Afterward, he used those Damselettes for human experiments to try and resurrect his girlfriend.” If Alex were present, he would surely be amazed: Dottore’s deduction was actually almost identical to the truth!
Pierro frowned after hearing this: “So…
it’s human experimentation again?” “Yes,” Dottore admitted helplessly.
For Snezhnaya, this was fundamentally no different from the deduction in The Steambird.
They simply could not use the truth to completely clear their name.
Pierro fell into deep thought, his fingers tapping the table unconsciously, making a low and rhythmic “thump, thump” sound.
The people present had different expressions, each harboring their own thoughts.
After a long while, he stopped and turned his gaze toward Pulcinella: “Mayor, tell me your thoughts.” Pulcinella pondered slightly and spoke slowly: “We should flatly reject Fontaine’s request; we absolutely cannot allow them to conduct an investigation into the Medical Experimental Center.” “Mr.
Mayor,” Arlecchino’s lips curled slightly, a mocking smile flashing in his eyes, “with such a cold response, aren’t you afraid of completely intensifying the relationship between the two nations?” Pulcinella did not refute; instead, he frankly admitted his mistake: “It was my lack of consideration.” Hearing this, everyone present sneered inwardly.
This old fox wasn’t lacking consideration; he clearly just wanted to avoid trouble and not offend anyone.
Pierro shifted his gaze to the silent Pantalone: “What about you?
Any opinions?” Pantalone smiled gently, his tone composed: “I believe Arlecchino’s concerns must be given weight.” Northland Bank had deep interests in Fontaine.
He did not want the relationship between the two nations to deteriorate.
Pierro fell into thought again after hearing this, his fingers tapping gently on the table.
After a long time, he reached a decision.
The benefits brought by Dottore’s human experiments were already lower than the cost to be paid.
Since that was the case, it would be better to just shut it down.
He stopped his hand and prepared to announce this decision.
However, just at this moment— Dottore suddenly spoke up: “Chief Pierro, before you announce your decision, please come with me to see an interesting piece of work.” Pierro paused slightly and replied calmly: “Very well.” As long as the other party could demonstrate sufficient results from the human experiments, he did not mind changing this decision.
Dottore stood up, glanced meaningfully at Arlecchino before leaving, chuckled, and then led Pierro toward the direction of the experimental center.
“Arlecchino,” Pulcinella watched their backs, sighed deeply, his face full of regret, “you have already done well enough…
it’s just a pity.” Arlecchino couldn’t be bothered to watch his performance anymore.
He stood up expressionlessly and turned to leave, his high heels clicking on the marble floor with a cold and resolute echo.
Inside the conference room, only Pulcinella and Pantalone remained.
“Mayor, whose handiwork is this exactly?” Pantalone’s voice carried a hint of admiration, “To think there is such a person within the Fatui!” Pulcinella lifted his head slightly, his murky eyes gradually deepening, “Just a shameless bastard!” “It’s a pity he can only go this far.” “Perhaps…” A little later.
Snezhnaya formally rejected Fontaine’s request through diplomatic channels and solemnly declared—the Damselette serial disappearance case had absolutely no connection to Snezhnaya.
This statement made the people of Fontaine completely convinced that this was the truth.
Driven by the surging public opinion, the Palais Mermonia finally issued an announcement: they would continue to investigate Snezhnaya’s human experiments.
…
Afternoon.
In the lazy sunlight, Lynette stood at the doorway, chin slightly raised, watching the back of the person squatting on the ground, repairing the broken door with wooden strips.
“Alex,” he said with a tone of schadenfreude, “Father asked me to tell you some bad news—your plan has failed.” Alex seemed to have anticipated this result, his expression calm, his hands not stopping their work.
Lynette, seeing him have no reaction, felt a flash of annoyance immediately flare up in his heart, and his voice rose involuntarily: “Hey!
Did you hear me?
The plan failed!
You bastard, why aren’t you running away yet?” Not until the last nail was hammered in did Alex slowly stand up and brush the wood shavings off his hands.
He turned around, his gaze gentle but carrying a hint of mischief, looking straight into his bright eyes: “Lynette, I am your elder.
Next time you speak, please call me ‘Uncle’.” “You—!” Lynette immediately glared at him, puffed up with anger, the long, thin cat tail behind him swishing rapidly, just like a bristling kitten.
“Go to hell!
I will absolutely not call you Uncle!” After throwing out this sentence, he turned and left without looking back.
Alex watched his angry retreating figure and shook his head helplessly.
It seems that in the future, he will need to be properly educated.
After tidying up, Alex left home and walked toward the direction of the Mechanical Research Institute.
As a follower of the Moon God, it was time for him to offer worship to the deity.
Because Rosalyne had given him quite a bit of “maintenance fee,” his financial situation had improved significantly.
So this time, he was exceptionally generous and bought two large loaves of rye bread.
Soon, Alex arrived at his destination and stood quietly in front of the gate of the Mechanical Research Institute, waiting.
About an hour later, Columbina’s light figure appeared in his field of vision, approaching from a distance.
“Lord Columbina, please accept your follower’s worship.” When he drew near, Alex stepped forward quickly and handed the two large loaves of rye bread he was carrying to him.
Columbina reached out with his fair, slender hand to take the rye bread, “Alex…
I still cannot feel your faith.” “Perhaps…
it is because my faith is not pure enough,” Alex said casually.
Then, he changed the subject: “Lord Columbina, I have heard that you are a kind and gentle deity who often helps followers.” As the words fell, a trace of disappointment quietly appeared on Columbina’s face.
As expected, he had ulterior motives in approaching him.
“Alex, speak, what do you want me to help you with?” Just as Alex was about to answer, a cold, rigid system voice suddenly sounded in his mind: [Columbina friendship – 10] He immediately understood that the other party had pegged him as the type with ulterior motives.
Alex quickly explained: “Lord Columbina, you misunderstood; I do not want you to help me, but rather I hope you will help those poor children.” He then proceeded to describe the darkness of the human experiments, with some added embellishments.
After finishing, the system’s voice sounded again: [Columbina friendship + 10] Columbina’s expression softened a bit compared to before, “Sorry…
I probably cannot help you.” “You can help me,” Alex said with a serious expression, “you only need to do one thing.” “What thing?” Columbina asked.
Alex explained what he wanted him to do.
After hearing this, Columbina showed hesitation, “Alex…
I am afraid…” “I believe in you.” He gazed at him, his eyes clear and determined.
This sentence gently plucked a long-dormant string deep in his heart.
After a moment of silence, Columbina nodded slightly and agreed to the matter.
Alex then said his goodbyes and left.
In the orange twilight, Columbina unwrapped the packaging of the rye bread, sat on the steps in front of the institute, and began to gnaw on it without any disdain.
In no time, he had finished eating the two basin-sized loaves of rye bread.
He let out a satisfied burp, rubbing his slightly bulging belly while humming that familiar tune, and walked slowly toward the institute.
“Do..*hic*…rmi, cara…*hic*…Columbula…”