"I've always been curious what a legendary 'Genius' would be like. Seeing you today… you truly live up to the name!"
Navia had imagined that a Fatui Harbinger would be ruthless, stern, cold, and intimidating.
What she hadn't expected was someone about her age—
And unexpectedly cheerful.
There was none of the gloom or icy severity she had prepared herself for.
"If you've got compliments, feel free to say more. I quite enjoy hearing praise about myself."
"If I say too much, it'll start sounding insincere." Navia smiled politely. "Genius Sir, the real reason I came today is to ask for your help."
She didn't mind offering praise—
But if she laid it on too thick before making a request, it would seem calculated.
And truthfully, she didn't know that much about him.
Only that he was extraordinarily creative, a brilliant researcher—
And possibly someone capable of solving Fontaine's serial disappearance case.
"Oh? So that's why you're so enthusiastic. You need something from me."
Su Ran finally understood.
"W-Well… I will offer compensation."
She said it firmly.
But she also knew very well—
Getting a Fatui Harbinger to help was no simple matter.
Especially one ranked even higher than the Knave of the House of the Hearth.
"Alright then. Who told me to be such a kind-hearted person?"
Whatever compensation she offered didn't particularly matter to him.
As for reversing the dissolution of those who had melted into the Primordial Sea—
It wasn't impossible.
But the workload would be considerable.
And that was enough reason for him not to bother.
"Really?!"
Navia's eyes lit up.
She hadn't expected it to be this easy.
"Of course. Even preventing Fontaine's people from dissolving into water is trivial to me. Honestly, I wouldn't even need to act personally. She could handle it just as easily."
He glanced toward Herta, who was sitting at a distance dismantling a clockwork mechanism.
"What can be done?" Navia pressed urgently. "Then… what about bringing back those who have already dissolved?"
She was deeply invested in this matter.
Her father had been wrongly accused in the serial disappearance case—
And ultimately died because of it.
If those dissolved victims could return—
Her father's name could be cleared.
"It's possible," Su Ran said calmly. "But it's too troublesome."
The solution wasn't difficult.
The process was.
And he didn't like wasting time.
"No matter how troublesome it is! I can assist you! As long as you're willing to help, I'll pay any price—even myself!"
Her voice trembled with conviction.
If he could truly reverse the tragedy—
She would kneel.
She would serve.
She would be an ox or horse.
She would not hesitate.
This was not only for her father—
But for every innocent victim.
Su Ran believed her.
She meant every word.
"If you're asking me to revive your father specifically, I can consider it," he said after a pause. "But reviving everyone who died? I'm afraid I must refuse. My time can't be spent on that. Even if I agreed—she wouldn't."
He pointed at Herta.
There were many dissolved victims.
Resurrecting them one by one would be absurdly time-consuming.
Even if it didn't take long—
The cost-to-value ratio was terrible.
Some had been dead for twenty years.
Their consciousness had already merged.
Separating them would be exceedingly troublesome.
"Exactly," Herta said, finally pausing her research. "His time is valuable. Why waste it on people who've been dead that long?"
She crossed her arms.
"I once saved a planet of nearly ten billion people nineteen times from extinction-level crises. That's nearly a hundred billion lives preserved in total. Compared to that, reviving a handful of already-dead individuals doesn't exactly outweigh the scale."
Navia fell silent.
If that was true—
There was no argument.
Saving those who still lived from dying—
Was indeed greater than resurrecting the dead.
"If you truly insist on resurrection," Herta continued, "I can recommend someone. Whether she agrees is another matter. But Su Ran has far more important things to do. If even he considers it a waste of time, then it certainly is."
If not for the fact that Navia was Su Ran's guest—
Herta wouldn't have bothered explaining.
"…I apologize. I asked for too much."
Navia lowered her head.
She had allowed hope to overwhelm her judgment.
Even bringing back her father alone would be a miracle beyond imagination.
What right did she have to demand more?
Compared to resurrecting dozens—
Her promise to serve as ox or horse was laughably insignificant.
"I won't hold it against you," Su Ran said lightly. "Reviving all of them is out of the question. But preventing Fontaine's people from dissolving in the future? That, I can do."
Not because he was compassionate.
But because modifying Fontaine's genetic structure—Was absurdly easy.
It would take him—
At most, a morning.
Perhaps even just a few minutes.
And in exchange?
Navia's gratitude.
Maybe even Furina's.
That trade?
Worth it.
—------------------------------
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