"Why won't you let me go?"
"What right do you have to stop me?"
"This is for important business!"
In the corridors of Zapolyarny Palace, the figures of Pierro and Tartaglia weaved back and forth, often with Tartaglia chasing after Pierro to demand an explanation, only for Pierro to keep his head down and walk on.
Finally, Pierro, unable to endure Tartaglia's relentless harassment any longer, stopped and glared at him.
"Tartaglia, Snezhnaya no longer has the funds to pay another war indemnity."
"I've told you, this is important business! I'm going to retrieve the Hydro Archon's Gnosis!"
"Absolutely not. Leave this matter to Arlecchino. You should stay home and rest."
Pierro flatly rejected Tartaglia's proposal and resumed walking away.
Seeing Pierro's resolute attitude, Tartaglia suddenly had an idea.
"Right! I haven't taken my vacation yet. Approve it all at once!"
"I remember my accumulated vacation time amounts to over a month."
"If you won't let me go to Fontaine to collect the Gnosis, then at least let me take a vacation!"
The Jester's face darkened slightly. He understood Tartaglia's ulterior motives all too well.
Denying him vacation seemed unreasonable, however. The Fatui harbored no restrictions on their Harbinger's freedom.
Just as The Jester hesitated, The Rooster, Pulcinella, appeared at the other end of the corridor and slowly approached them.
"Let him go, Jester," Pulcinella said.
"Although the last incident caused significant losses to Snezhnaya, as long as we obtain the Gnosis, those losses will be acceptable."
"You and I both know this."
Hearing Pulcinella's persuasion, The Jester remained somewhat hesitant.
His primary concern was Arlecchino's reaction to this matter. As for Tartaglia causing trouble, he'd be impressed if he managed to summon even a single Archon in Fontaine.
Sensing The Jester's thoughts, Pulcinella narrowed his eyes and continued, "Actually, I just arrived here. On my way, I saw Arlecchino leaving..."
Upon hearing this, The Jester immediately understood: Tartaglia's sudden vacation idea must have been orchestrated by Arlecchino herself.
"Huh? Arlecchino hasn't come inside Zapolyarny Palace? Isn't she here on official business?"
"I see! She's definitely getting impatient!"
"Ha ha! She'll probably slink back to Fontaine with her tail between her legs now!"
Tartaglia smirked smugly. Beside him, The Jester and Pulcinella exchanged glances, Pulcinella wearing a resigned expression.
"Alright, I'll approve your vacation this time."
Hearing his proposal approved, Tartaglia's mood brightened even further.
However, when The Jester offered no further explanation and prepared to leave, Tartaglia immediately blocked his path, a puzzled look on his face.
"Hey, Jester, haven't you mentioned how much funding you're approving for my activities this time?"
"You're on vacation. What do you need funding for?"
"Go, go, go! I'm busy enough as it is; I don't have time to waste on you."
"Your vacation starts right now. Go enjoy it."
The Jester impatiently tossed these words over his shoulder and strode away, leaving Tartaglia completely bewildered.
"Heh heh, don't worry, I'll cover the activity expenses this time."
Pulcinella looked at Tartaglia with a kindly gaze.
"Ha ha! Thanks a lot, Pulcinella!"
With the financial issue resolved so easily, a smile returned to Tartaglia's face.
"Go ahead and use the funds freely. Don't be stingy."
"I'll also take care of your younger siblings for you."
"But when you go to Fontaine this time, you must be especially cautious of Arlecchino."
Hearing Pulcinella's warning, Tartaglia seemed unimpressed.
"Of course I'll be careful of her."
"She'll definitely try to stop me from stealing her credit. She'll show up when I'm about to get the Gnosis and try to stop me."
"I've already planned for it."
"When the time comes, I'll challenge her to a fight. The victor takes all!"
"Even if I lose in the end, I'll still get to enjoy a thrilling fight!"
Pulcinella watched Tartaglia's radiant smile, his words caught in his throat. He finally forced himself to say, "If you've made up your mind, then so be it."
After all, Arlecchino wouldn't go too far. It might do Tartaglia some good to learn another lesson.
"Well, Pulcinella, I'll be off then."
"I need to beat that woman to the punch and prevent her from sabotaging me along the way!"
Tartaglia waved farewell and strode away.
Pulcinella watched Tartaglia's receding figure, a growing sense of worry creeping into his heart...
-
"Lady Furina, the people of Fontaine are very curious as to why you've chosen to remain in the Fortress of Meropide. Could you please offer an explanation?"
Charlotte had finally arrived at the Fortress of Meropide, and from the spirits of the prisoners she encountered along the way, she knew this place held a major story. Now that even the Hydro Archon, Furina, had decided to stay, the secrets hidden here must be far more significant than she imagined!
Her excitement growing, Charlotte looked at Furina with eager anticipation.
Faced with Charlotte's question, Furina felt a pang of awkwardness. She couldn't exactly admit she was staying for Emily's homemade cakes. Instead, she gave a vague reply.
"My reasons for remaining in the Fortress of Meropide are, of course, due to extremely important matters that require my attention."
"As for the specifics, I'm afraid I can't divulge them at this time."
"To my fans who are waiting in line to meet me, I must ask for their patience for a little longer."
"However, if any fans happen to be within the Fortress of Meropide, I will grant them special permission to cut the line."
Though slightly disappointed by Furina's answer, Charlotte, as a reputable journalist, quickly regained her composure and smiled at Furina.
"Thank you, Lady Furina, for your explanation! I'll be sure to convey your message to all your fans!"
"Now, Lady Furina, could you describe your daily life in the Fortress of Meropide these past few days?"
Faced with this question, Furina's body stiffened once again.
How am I supposed to answer that? I can't exactly say I've been working off my debts all this time, can I? But if I lie in a report that will be broadcast across all of Fontaine, the truth will be exposed in no time.
Yet Furina, being Furina, quickly devised a way to handle the situation.
"During my time in the Fortress of Meropide, I completely refrained from using my Archon's Power, working just like an ordinary prisoner."
"In that time, I earned nearly three times the Credit Coupons a regular person could earn, proving the feasibility of using Credit Coupons as a substitute for Mora within the Fortress."
"Amazing!" Charlotte exclaimed.
"Lady Furina earned nearly three times more Credit Coupons than an ordinary person, even without using her Archon's Power! Truly worthy of being Lady Furina, truly worthy of being our Hydro Archon!"
"Heh, it was nothing really."
"I just casually earned some coupons, but an Archon is still an Archon. Even without using my powers, there's still a significant gap between us and ordinary people."
Furina, basking in Charlotte's flattery, feeling lightheaded from praise.
"Lady Furina, would you be willing to show me the Credit Coupons you've earned so I can take a photo for our records?"
A fine sheen of sweat quickly appeared on Furina's forehead.
"Ahem... I didn't bring those with me. They're at my current residence, so I'm afraid I can't fulfill that request right now."
"That's quite alright, Lady Furina! Everyone is extremely curious about your living quarters."
"They're eager to know whether your residence is the same as those of ordinary inmates, or if it's something more special."
"Let's continue the interview in your room now. That way, we can also photograph the Credit Coupons you've earned."
Watching Charlotte's beaming smile, Furina's back was already drenched in sweat.
This is it! What am I going to do now?!
Credit Coupons? What Credit Coupons?!
While it's true I earned that many, all those coupons have already been turned into cakes and devoured!
"Let's go, Lady Furina! I'm so curious to see what your room is like!"
Charlotte urged, secretly planning to photograph the Fortress of Meropide's interior along the way and gather information from passersby.
"Um, my living quarters are just like any other prisoner's—there's really no point in going there!" Furina blurted out, hoping to dissuade Charlotte. But Charlotte wasn't one to give up easily.
"That won't do, Lady Furina!"
"For a report to be credible, a certain number of photos are essential."
"If my final piece is just dry text, the people of Fontaine will never believe it!"
Charlotte clasped her hands together in earnest pleading.
"Please, Lady Furina! Just a few quick snapshots would be enough!"
With Charlotte pleading so earnestly, Furina genuinely didn't know how to refuse.
But if they actually went to her room, where would she get all those Credit Coupons?!
"I've got it!"
Furina's eyes suddenly lit up.
That's right! Emily must have plenty of Credit Coupons. I can just ask her to cover for me!
I'm such a genius!
"You've got it? What have you got?" Charlotte asked, looking at Furina with a puzzled expression.
"No, I mean, come with me," Furina replied. "Opportunities to visit the Archon's residence don't come often. You should cherish this chance!"
A confident smile returned to Furina's face.
But when they arrived at the dormitory and found Emily, the girl uttered the dreaded words: "I'm broke." The smile vanished completely.
"E-Emily, now's not the time for jokes, right?!"
"It's interview time!"
Furina blinked frantically at the girl, a hint of pleading in her eyes.
But Emily simply replied, "I really don't have any Credit Coupons left. I've used them all."
"All of them? Really?" Furina pressed, refusing to give up. Emily merely smiled softly.
"Of course I used them all up. Otherwise, why would I have asked Lady Furina to borrow them?"
Upon hearing this, Furina's mind short-circuited.
"Borrow?"
Facing Charlotte's puzzled expression, the girl spoke slowly:
"I apologize, Miss Charlotte. I urgently needed funds, so I borrowed all the Credit Coupons Lady Furina had earned."
"Lady Furina probably doesn't realize I've already spent them all, which is why she told you she still had some."
"But I can vouch for Lady Furina—all those Credit Coupons were earned through her own hard work these past few days."
"If you need verification, Miss Charlotte, you can interview the Supervisor in charge of Furina."
"As for the Supervisor's current whereabouts, you can inquire with the Duke."
The girl's casual mention of two such influential figures struck Charlotte right in the heart. Charlotte had been struggling to find a pretext to interview the enigmatic Duke, but the girl had just handed her the perfect opportunity.
"Alright, alright! I'll ask the Duke right away!"
"Lady Furina, as an Archon, shows such remarkable compassion for ordinary people, even lending her earnings from her time in the Fortress of Meropide to someone she's only known for a few days. She truly sets an example for countless others!"
"Lady Furina, let's move on to questions about other topics..."
Having successfully diffused the crisis, Furina secretly breathed a sigh of relief, her heart brimming with gratitude for the girl. This time, the girl had truly saved her face, instantly dispelling the lingering frustration over the Credit Coupons she owed her.
Furina then effortlessly handled the rest of Charlotte's interview. Soon, Charlotte left, satisfied, and began plotting her next opportunity to interview Wriothesley.
"Ah, finally it's over! I'm exhausted."
As soon as Charlotte left, Furina immediately collapsed on her bed, abandoning all pretense of composure and elegance.
"Emily, thank you for getting me out of that mess earlier."
Hearing Furina's words, the girl shook her head.
"It's fine. After all, I wouldn't want to be condemned by all of Fontaine over this."
Furina looked at the girl and chuckled twice. She didn't believe for a moment that Emily was afraid of such a thing. In the days they'd spent together, she had observed that practically nothing seemed to faze her.
So it seems I really am the special one!
Thinking about how Emily treated her so differently from others, Furina felt a small surge of pride before asking:
"Emily, you really don't have any Credit Coupons on you right now?"
"Mm-hmm," the girl nodded gently.
"The Mutual Aid Network's finances aren't exactly thriving. While we receive generous donations, they're still just a drop in the bucket."
"As the President of the Mutual Aid Network, I naturally have to bear more responsibility than others."
Hearing Emily's explanation, Furina realized that all the Credit Coupons she had earned from her were being used to help those in need without charge. A deep respect for the girl immediately bloomed in Furina's heart.
Furina had heard whispers at a gathering about the Mutual Aid Network's precarious financial state, but she hadn't realized how deeply it affected the young woman.
It seemed likely that Emily's habit of waking up so late was due to her exhausting efforts with the Network.
After all, she was just an ordinary person, unlike Neuvillette, who could work tirelessly for three days straight without sleep without any ill effects.
"Emily, the Mutual Aid Network must still be desperately short of funds, right?" Furina asked.
Emily gently shook her head. "The financial shortfall remains a serious problem."
"But that's alright. We can only do what we can with what we have. Even if we're anxious, there's no point pushing beyond the Network's capacity."
Upon hearing this, Furina immediately leaped out of bed.
"Emily, wait for me! I'll go find philanthropists to donate immediately!"
Without waiting for a response, Furina hurried out.
-
Meanwhile, Wriothesley, who had effortlessly dealt with Charlotte, held a steaming cup of black tea, his expression hesitant.
Finally, he leaned in close to the cup and sniffed, detecting no anomalies. He prepared to take a small sip to test for poison.
But just as he tilted the cup, a thunderous crash echoed from below—the sound of a door slamming against the wall.
Distracted, Wriothesley inadvertently took a larger sip than intended. A cloyingly sweet taste, so intense it made his stomach churn, assaulted his taste buds.
He immediately spat the tea back into the cup, his face twisting in disgust as he set it down heavily on the table.
"Ptoo, pleh, cough cough!"
"Guards! Seize the person who made this tea for interrogation!"
Hearing Wriothesley's command, the summoned guard couldn't help but worry about his own position. Today he was arresting others, but who knew when he might become the one being seized?
Wriothesley wiped his mouth with a napkin, straightened his posture, and waited for the owner of the approaching footsteps to arrive.
"I, Focalors, the Hydro Archon, demand money!"
Wriothesley's brow furrowed again as Furina's figure appeared in the doorway.
"Lady Furina, didn't I just exempt you from all expenses in the Fortress of Meropide?"
Now that Furina had shed her false charges and reclaimed her identity as the Hydro Archon, Wriothesley could no longer address her informally by name.
Although Wriothesley was the de facto ruler of the Fortress of Meropide, he was still nominally subordinate to Furina, the Hydro Archon.
As for Neuvillette, their long-standing collaboration had fostered a more casual rapport.
"This isn't about me," Furina declared. "It's for the hundreds, no, thousands of people trapped in dire straits deep within the Fortress of Meropide!"
"The Mutual Aid Network is in such dire straits! Even though its members have barely any money themselves, they're tightening their belts to help others."
"Wriothesley, as the administrator of the Fortress of Meropide, can you remain unmoved by such suffering?"
Hearing Furina's words, Neuvillette immediately recognized she had been scammed.
But explaining this to her would be futile; she would never believe him. It would only waste his breath.
Moreover, as the Hydro Archon, her requests could only be accommodated to the best of his ability.
To quickly dismiss Furina, Wriothesley cut straight to the chase:
"How much do you need?"
Furina paused, taken aback. In her haste, she hadn't even asked the Mutual Aid Network how many Credit Coupons they required.
Never mind. Credit Coupons... the more, the better.
Besides, he's the administrator of the Fortress of Meropide. He must have plenty of Credit Coupons to spare!
"Let's start with a donation of 100,000 Credit Coupons. If that's not enough, I'll come back for more."
Wriothesley: "..."
Seriously? Furina has been in the Fortress of Meropide for so long. Hasn't she figured out the local prices yet?
Does she really think a cake costing 300 Credit Coupons is normal?
Come back for more if it's not enough? Does she think I'm an ATM?
Wriothesley took a deep breath and said, "Regarding the donation, I'd prefer to discuss it with Miss Emily directly."
Hearing this, Furina pondered it for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, you two can discuss it then."
"But Wriothesley, don't be too stingy. This is for building a better Fortress of Meropide."
"Besides, it's not easy for Emily to run the Mutual Aid Network all by herself."
Wriothesley's blood pressure spiked at that. Not easy? She's just thinking of ways to poison my tea every day! How exhausting!
I guess I'll have to make my own tea from now on.
The Duke of the Fortress of Meropide, forced to brew his own tea. This is truly the most humiliating period of my life.
Back in the day, he never held grudges—he always settled scores on the spot. Now, he could only silently curse the young woman in his heart.
I'll remember this slight.
"Also, give me a thousand Credit Coupons."
Seeing Furina's outstretched hand, Wriothesley didn't bother asking for the reason, as the amount was small. He simply handed her the coupons.
Furina snatched the coupons and slapped them onto the table.
"This repays the Credit Coupons I borrowed from you last time."
"There, we're even now! I don't owe you any Credit Coupons anymore!"
Wriothesley glanced at the coupons on the table, his lips twitching.
"Lady Furina certainly keeps her promises!"
"Of course! I am the Hydro Archon—would I ever fail to repay a debt?" Furina declared proudly, her hands planted on her hips.
"Then I must thank Lady Furina for the Credit Coupons!" Wriothesley replied, placing the coupons back exactly where they had been a minute earlier.
"No need to thank me. Repaying debts is simply proper!"
"I won't disturb your work any further. Remember to have a proper talk with Emily."
With these parting words, Furina departed.
Watching Furina leave, Wriothesley felt utterly drained.
On the surface, it seemed the Hydro Archon Furina completely trusted the girl. But who could truly know what was going on beneath? This is going to be difficult...
The Mutual Aid Network... Could it offer a breakthrough? Should he send someone to investigate?
No, the more pressing matter is deciding who to send...