"What?! The Honorary Knights are almost at Fontaine City?!"
Furina, who was elegantly enjoying her dessert, suddenly shot up from her seat, her small cake falling onto the table with a "plop."
"Yes, according to eyewitness reports from the aquabus, they are traveling in a... gigantic mechanical construct and are expected to arrive soon."
Clorinde reported expressionlessly, as if she were commenting on the weather.
"Mm... Mm! Got it!"
Furina forced herself to calm down, cleared her throat, and tried to regain her dignified demeanor as the Hydro Archon.
She straightened her back, placed one hand on her hip, and waved the other hand in the air.
"Send people to prepare immediately. I will personally... personally welcome them! We must show Fontaine's warmth and... and magnanimity!"
"Yes."
Clorinde nodded slightly and turned to leave the office decisively.
"Hoo—"
As soon as the door closed, Furina instantly deflated like a punctured balloon, slumping into her chair and dramatically patting her chest.
"It's over, it's over, it's over... How did they arrive so quickly...?"
She mumbled softly, her mind uncontrollably replaying the formidable achievements of the four Hilichurl Honorary Knights: punching Fatui Harbingers, kicking the Raiden Shogun, reforming the isolationist Inazuma, and even retrieving the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata who had been missing for five hundred years... Each feat was enough to make this "Hydro Archon" break out in a cold sweat.
When encountering other envoys or powerful individuals, she could still put on the airs of a deity, relying on centuries of acting to muddle through, knowing that they wouldn't dare lay a hand on a "god."
But those four Hilichurl Honorary Knights were completely different! They simply didn't play by the rules!
According to secret reports from Mondstadt, Liyue, Inazuma, and Sumeru, they were particularly adept at... physical persuasion.
If she were to put on divine airs in front of them... Furina's mind instantly conjured a scene: herself being pointed at by the Blazing Axe Mitachurl named Zane with a thunder hammer, being chased and sprayed with water by the Hydro Hilichurl named Elliot with a Gatling gun, being teased with various absurd ideas by the Anemo Hilichurl named Jesse, and finally being picked up like a kitten by the biggest Electro Lawachurl, Matt, and then... *smack! smack! smack!*
"Waaah! How dare you! I am the Hydro Archon Focalors!..."
"Still pretending to be a god? You're asking for a beating!"
Eh?! Why was the punishment method in her mind spanking?!
Furina violently shook her head, trying to dispel this overly vivid and embarrassing image, but her cheeks involuntarily flushed.
The next second, she jumped out of her chair as if scalded, sprinting out the door at a hundred-meter dash speed, heading straight for the Chief Justice's office.
"Neuvillette—save me!!!"
Her pathetic (and utterly undignified) cry echoed through the halls of Opera Epiclese.
— — — — — —
Meanwhile, at the House of the Hearth.
"You are... Zane?"
Arlecchino looked at the tall Blazing Axe Mitachurl who had suddenly stepped out of a shimmering arcane portal, recognizing him with a hint of surprise.
She had seen the portraits provided by Snezhnaya's intelligence department; this one was the strategist of the quartet.
Zane closed the ominous magic book in his hand, looked at Arlecchino, and got straight to the point: "'The Knave' Arlecchino, I've come to make a deal with you."
"A deal?"
Arlecchino raised an eyebrow with interest, raising a hand to stop Freminet, who instinctively moved to guard her.
"Father?"
Freminet was somewhat puzzled.
"You may leave first, Freminet. I have matters to discuss with Mr. Zane."
Arlecchino's tone was calm but brooked no argument.
"Yes."
Freminet cast a worried glance at the Blazing Axe Mitachurl's imposing figure and massive thunder hammer, but still obeyed and exited the room.
"So, what do you want me to do?"
Arlecchino refocused her gaze on Zane.
"I need you to take care of the Hydro Archon, Furina."
"Hmm?"
Arlecchino, hearing this, displayed a rare look of astonishment.
Take care of the Hydro Archon? Had she misheard? Was it really "take care of," and not "monitor," "control," or "eliminate"?
And she had just attacked this Hydro Archon a few days ago.
(The timing of Arlecchino's attack on Furina is not specified, so it is set a bit earlier here)
"Five hundred years."
Zane's voice deepened slightly, carrying an indescribable emotion.
"She has performed alone, endured loneliness for five hundred years, and painfully held on for five hundred years."
Arlecchino keenly caught the subtle hint of admiration and... heartache? in Zane's tone.
The Hydro Archon? Furina? What had she done to make these lawless, unfathomably powerful visitors from another world show such emotions?
In Arlecchino's perception, the Hydro Archon seemed more... weak, even somewhat timid and flamboyant.
"Don't worry, you don't need to do too much."
Zane seemed to see through her doubts.
"You just need to visit her often, bringing her favorite small cakes, and keep her company."
Arlecchino pondered for a moment.
This request sounded simple, even a bit strange, but it didn't seem malicious.
Besides, visiting itself could also gather intelligence.
"Alright, I accept this deal."
She nodded.
"So, what do I get?"
"I will give you an irresistible gift, Peruere."
Zane calmly spoke a name.
"That name?!"
Arlecchino's pupils instantly constricted, and the aura around her became sharp.
"Creve, you should still remember that name, shouldn't you?"
"..."
Arlecchino fell silent. After a long while, she slowly nodded, a complex pang of sorrow flashing deep in her eyes.
"I will resurrect her."
Zane's words were like a thunderclap, exploding in Arlecchino's heart.
"And you, fulfill your promise and take good care of Furina."
He turned and walked towards the portal that had reopened, leaving one last solemn sentence before his figure disappeared:
"Remember, have no doubts. Furina de Fontaine, with a mortal body, performed divine deeds. Her will and achievements are enough to... rival a god."
The portal silently closed, leaving Arlecchino standing alone, the earth-shattering evaluation echoing repeatedly in her mind, unable to recover for a long time.
"With a mortal body... rival a god?"