Chapter 127: The Traveler’s Meeting with the Servant

The House of the Hearth

The Knave sat casually on the sofa, looking at the Traveler and Paimon before her with detachment, her eyes harboring deep confusion and bewilderment.

Lyney was not the only one unable to grasp Furina’s intentions; she, too, was momentarily at a loss.

But not understanding Furina’s intent did not matter. She could easily surmise that Furina’s underlying meaning was to provide the Traveler with clues, allowing the Traveler to uncover the truth bit by bit through investigation rather than learning it directly from her, thereby skipping the necessary process.

Perhaps Furina needed time to achieve certain results, which would, in turn, construct the ending she desired.

What is something that changes with time?

I understand!

The Knave’s gaze sharpened in an instant, the metaphorical red cross of a destructive mushroom lighting up in her mind. The Traveler and Paimon across from her were startled, almost fearing that the Knave was about to strike. The Traveler even reached for her Dull Blade, the symbol of her courage.

"No need for alarm; I simply thought of something amusing," the Knave said, her expression quickly returning to normal, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

The thing that changes with time—she had already witnessed it: the state of the Doctor. Lu Mingze had appeared before the Doctor once in the guise of Focalors, using her presence to steadily erode his mental fortitude and erase the memories from his dreams.

Meanwhile, because the Doctor was aware of the conflicts between them, he had to maintain a facade of normalcy—or at least what appeared normal to others—while becoming imperceptibly weaker.

If the Traveler were given a few days to investigate, by the time the evidence was gathered, she might be able to defeat the Doctor in a direct confrontation.

By letting the Traveler become the protagonist on the stage, allowing her to save Fontaine and eradicate the Doctor, Furina—who had ostensibly done nothing—could elegantly and calmly enjoy the fruits of victory. What profound wisdom this was.

Indeed, she was the true God of Wisdom!

"That was so scary..."

Little Paimon hid behind the Traveler, her body trembling uncontrollably, her eyes filled with fear and panic. Only Aether’s sturdy back provided her with a glimmer of safety.

"..."

Aether silently sheathed the Dull Blade and sat back down.

Confronting the Knave within the House of the Hearth was clearly not a wise choice. The shift in the Knave’s gaze earlier might have been a test—a simple probe to see what kind of person the Traveler was, whether she dared to resist in the face of pressure, and to decide how to proceed accordingly.

The Knave, in turn, easily guessed the Traveler’s internal train of thought. After all, she was adept at thinking, far more skilled at deep analysis than the Traveler.

"You have more courage than I imagined, daring to draw your blade against a Fatui Harbinger. You are very brave," the Knave said, picking up the teacup on the table and swaying it gently as she spoke casually.

"So what if you’re a Fatui Harbinger? We’ve teamed up to defeat Scaramouche and Signora, and even the god Ocell! We’ve already collected five elements, and we aren’t afraid of you at all!" Paimon hid behind the Traveler, waving her small, fair fist and declaring righteously.

"Interesting."

The Knave paid no mind to Paimon’s words, simply smiling as she sipped her tea, then continued: "As for concrete evidence of the Doctor’s crimes, I don’t actually know much. However, I do know of a few places that might be his old test sites in Fontaine. You can try your luck there. If you’re fortunate... you might truly find evidence of his crimes."

"Old test sites? He conducted experiments in Fontaine?"

Paimon felt a chill run down her spine.

"Indeed. While I lack direct evidence, I am aware that he and the previous Knave engaged in some sordid affairs... but those are old matters from the past." A trace of reminiscence appeared in the Knave’s eyes, her expression tinged with emotion.

"Why are you helping us? The House of the Hearth is a Fatui organization, isn't it?"

The Traveler asked directly, her gaze toward Arlecchino turning serious. She suspected this person might be trying to lure them to those locations, only to use some method or trap to dispose of them quietly while they investigated the Doctor.

Although Arlecchino appeared normal, she was, after all, a Fatui Harbinger, and she had mentioned a connection between her predecessor and the Doctor.

Paimon also realized something was off and hurriedly said, "Yeah, that’s right! You and the Doctor are both Fatui Harbingers, and this is our first time meeting. How could you just tell us such important information right away?"

"Hehe."

Arlecchino chuckled, slowly setting down her teacup, and said, "Let me tell you something that is hardly a secret: I rose to my position by killing the previous Knave. The experiments she conducted with the Doctor were, in my view, utterly absurd. And as for the Doctor... I have some thoughts regarding him as well."

As her words fell, the pressure on the Traveler and Paimon intensified, especially for Paimon, who shrank behind the Traveler again, resting one hand on her shoulder. "You mean... you want to..."

"No need to panic. It is merely a simple thought. The relationships between Fatui Harbingers are not as harmonious as you might imagine; a little friction is quite normal," the Knave said nonchalantly.

"Uh..."

Paimon and the Traveler exchanged glances, both seeing the wariness in the other’s eyes.

Clearly, the Arlecchino they were facing was also a very dangerous entity. Fortunately, her relationship with the Doctor was not particularly good; otherwise, the Traveler and Paimon would be in a very precarious position.

In fact, before arriving, the Traveler had already harbored such concerns, but Lyney had repeatedly emphasized that "Father" was merely stern on the surface and a good person at heart, telling them not to worry. Paimon had believed him, actively dragging the Traveler into this journey.

"That is all the guidance I can provide. The rest is up to you. I look forward to you finding the Doctor’s crimes and letting the Hydro Archon initiate that trial dedicated to him," Arlecchino said.

"Thank you for the information. Let’s go, Paimon."

Aether stood up and left with Paimon.

Arlecchino watched her retreating figure in silence, a profound smile gradually spreading across her face. Now, she could already see the Doctor’s demise. That villain who used the children of the House of the Hearth for experiments would eventually be finished by the Hydro Archon’s judgment. In the land of justice, no sin could be tolerated.

"Oh, Traveler, how did your negotiation with Father go? Did you get the information you wanted?" Lyney, who had been waiting downstairs, stepped forward and asked with a smile.

"We did," Aether answered simply.

"Your 'Father' is so scary. Talking to her felt like I couldn't breathe; such an intense pressure," Paimon said, still shaken.

"Haha, Father is indeed very strict, but she truly is a wonderful person. If not for Father, we children of the House of the Hearth... might have died in some corner of Fontaine long ago." A complex expression appeared on Lyney’s face, as if he were recalling some tragic past.

"Lyney..."

Paimon, who had been immersed in fear, felt an instant resonance with Lyney, as if she could see the once lonely, pathetic, and helpless boy he had been.

"Don't look like that. See? Isn't my life quite good now?"

Lyney smiled, then naturally changed the subject. "By the way, how do you view our Hydro Archon, Furina?"

"The Hydro Archon? Her personality is terrible, but she’s willing to remain neutral. Even in front of the Doctor himself, she dared to speak of putting him on trial. Her performance is a bit exaggerated, almost like she’s acting, but I feel like she isn’t entirely acting either. She’s a very complex god," Paimon replied, thinking of Furina’s image.

"Is that so? She is indeed complex..."

Paimon and Lyney continued to chat about Furina. Lyney seemed to be intentionally using Paimon to learn what kind of god Furina truly was. Though he knew about her, one could never know too much.

Moreover, people change. Only by constantly learning about the Hydro Archon in his own way could Lyney feel slightly at ease.

"..."

Beside them, the Traveler watched the chatting pair, her expression turning thoughtful. Little Paimon might not see it, but she could tell that Lyney was using rhetoric to guide Paimon into revealing information about Furina, shifting the focus of the discussion away from the Knave.

He is, after all, a member of the House of the Hearth.

In the four nations before Fontaine, the Seven had all surrendered their Gnosis. In this fifth nation, Fontaine, the largest Fatui organization was the House of the Hearth. It was only natural for its children to be interested in Furina and the Hydro Archon’s Gnosis.

Conversely, it would be suspicious if they weren't.

***

Inside the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale:

"Sigh, the Knave was so vague. Does she really not know about the Doctor’s crimes, or does she just not want to tell the Traveler directly?" Focalors pondered silently.

But her musings did not last long before she subconsciously rubbed her flat stomach, looking down with a melancholic gaze and muttering to herself, "Sigh, I’m so hungry. But the things Lu Mingze makes are condensed by his own power, and I feel embarrassed to ask for them..."

Lu Mingze: *Hmm? You’re embarrassed? Do you want to reflect on what you’re actually doing? Who was the one who was grinning foolishly while tugging at my arm yesterday, with a desire for food so strong it was almost tangible? Do you have no self-awareness?*

Then, not long after, Focalors continued, "He is such a good person. Even though I didn't say anything, he was still willing to make delicious food for me."

Her small face even turned red.

Lu Mingze: *What do you mean 'didn't say anything'? Explain that to me! What do you mean, you didn't say anything? Hmm? Don't you have any self-awareness?*

Immersed in her own world, Focalors would never understand Lu Mingze’s thoughts. She simply savored the memories of yesterday, revealing a candid smile. "I always feel... whenever I see him, my stomach starts to get hungry. He always manages to feed me until I'm full."

Lu Mingze: *Hungry when you see me? Have you turned that into a conditioned reflex? Huh?*

"Hehehe~"

Lu Mingze: *Hey, no, what are you laughing at? What are you laughing at? You’re silly and dim-witted yet cute, and a tiny bit of crystal-clear drool is leaking from the corner of your mouth, as if to add the final touch to a painting...*

*Forget it, leave her be. I’d better continue cultivating my spirit. Maintaining two manifestations consumes too much mental energy. It’s enough to just keep an eye on the situation here; no need to waste unnecessary effort.*

***

Inside the Palais Mermonia:

After hearing the report from her informants, Furina said nonchalantly, "The Traveler went to the House of the Hearth? Hmm, I see. Continue observing the movements of the Traveler and Paimon. Don't worry about the Knave; I have my own measures."

"Yes, Lady Furina!"

The informant responsible for tracking the Traveler withdrew. Sitting in her chair, a satisfied smile slowly spread across Furina’s face. Her relationship with the Knave was currently quite close. If the Knave heard that the Traveler had been led there by her, she would certainly reveal specific intelligence regarding the Doctor’s crimes.

Once I have the intelligence—concrete intelligence—I can initiate the trial and expel him in broad daylight! (≧▽≦)Ｏ o Yay!

In that case, the crisis regarding the Doctor in Fontaine would be mostly resolved, and there would be no need for Lu Mingfei to spend extra effort. After all, his affairs regarding Naberius were far more important and dangerous.

"Furina, you seem very confident in the interaction between the Traveler and the Knave. Why is that?"

On the other side of the office, Neuvillette, sitting on the sofa, raised an eyebrow and asked.

He was unaware of the relationship between Furina and the Knave, so he could not quite understand.

"This is a calculation exclusive to the Hydro Archon. You don't understand human hearts or human nature well, so it’s normal that you can't grasp it. You just need to witness the result," Furina said, arms crossed with supreme confidence.

"Hmm..."

Neuvillette fell into deep thought. He felt that perhaps he truly did not understand humans well enough, which was why he couldn't grasp Furina’s thoughts. However, it did not rule out the possibility that Furina was just being stubborn; she had been stubborn many times, and Neuvillette remembered those occasions clearly.

He looked at Furina, who sat with her arms crossed, and felt that something was suddenly off. He asked curiously, "Lady Furina, your figure seems to have changed recently, and the change is quite noticeable?"

*'Even Neuvillette noticed!'*

Furina felt a surge of joy, a satisfied smile gradually appearing on her face. She cleared her throat twice and said, "I am the Hydro Archon of Fontaine, Focalors. Is it such a strange thing that I can change my own physique? I just felt that being a bit fuller might be better, so I adjusted my proportions slightly. It’s no big deal."

"I understand."

Neuvillette nodded slightly.

In his view, Furina might have developed some appearance-related anxiety recently. After all, the general aesthetic favored those with fuller figures, and her own frame was relatively slight. Perhaps she had heard comments about it.

It was because of those comments that she chose to change her physique. However, Furina was a proud person; she wouldn't change drastically all at once, as that would be too obvious and unbecoming. Thus, she was changing day by day, bit by bit, to appear fuller.

"Oh my, the size of my clothes will need some adjustments too. I must remind them," Furina said, puffing out her chest, which now had some modest scale, with immense confidence.

"..."

Watching Furina confidently puff out her chest, Neuvillette became more certain of his internal theory. Furina’s measurements were not exactly a secret in Fontaine; as the great star of the nation, too many people paid attention to her, and it wasn't hard to notice if one observed closely.

If her physique had indeed changed, it might cause quite a stir in Fontaine, as her form hadn't changed at all in the past five hundred years.

Why now...

After a brief moment of excitement, Furina realized she had lost her composure. She smoothed her expression and said with feigned seriousness, "Ahem, actually, changing my physique is part of my calculations, not just some whim as you might imagine. You just can't understand my intentions! Someone will surely be able to understand me!"

"Hmm, perhaps."

Neuvillette rested his head on one hand, bowing slightly, and agreed with a hint of helplessness.

"Perhaps?"

Furina’s face flushed red, and she puffed out one cheek. How could she not hear the perfunctoriness in Neuvillette’s tone? This blatant dismissiveness made her feel even more embarrassed.

Gritting her teeth, she said with absolute certainty, "I am telling the truth. Actually, I have very far-reaching intentions and a hidden plan, you just don't know about it."

"Then why don't you try telling me?"

"I can't say. Plans lose their meaning once they are spoken. Anyway, just wait and see. The interaction between the Traveler and the Knave will surely succeed. She will certainly obtain the evidence of the Doctor’s crimes, giving us the chance to put him on trial and judge him! It will absolutely succeed!" Furina shouted with utter conviction.

"Hmm, I believe you."

Neuvillette nodded repeatedly.

Although he still didn't believe it in his heart, he was willing to give her some face on the surface. After all, she was the Hydro Archon of Fontaine, bearing much for the nation; she was a god worthy of respect.

Besides, from Furina’s attitude, it could be seen that she might have other arrangements; otherwise, she likely wouldn't be so certain.

Neuvillette felt this was normal. He had always known that Furina was not as exaggerated as she appeared on the surface. She was actually a god with great depth, but she kept that depth hidden.

What arrangements had she made?

He didn't know, but Neuvillette believed that whatever plans Furina had made, they likely had nothing to do with her changing her physique. While he lacked direct, concrete evidence, his intuition as an "old father figure" told him there was no connection.

Even if there might be a connection in the future, it was definitely not something Furina had planned intentionally.

"Hmph!"

Furina turned her head away, sulking. She wanted to find Lu Mingfei to chat again.

When would he finish making that limiter!

o(﹏)o

I miss him.

(End of chapter)