When chaos begins to spread, those most worried aren't the impoverished masses struggling to survive, but rather those who've enjoyed the benefits of power and wealth.
They fear even the slightest change to their comfortable lives, unable to accept any deterioration from their current state.
Moreover, their very lives now hang in the balance.
Therefore, in a private room at Hotel Debord...
Several individuals of considerable influence in Fontaine had gathered here, their expressions grave.
"I presume everyone is aware of the recent events," the middle-aged man seated at the head of the table began, his fingers drumming lightly against the surface as he surveyed the assembled nobles.
"Then you must also understand why I've summoned you all here."
"Of course, Marquis Relf, you intend to purge Fleuve Cendre completely this time," one noble responded immediately, addressing the highest-ranking individual present. All attendees held noble titles, with none lower than that of a viscount.
"However, Marquis Relf, might I ask... what level of... thoroughness do you require from us this time?" another noble ventured cautiously.
Five centuries prior, Fontaine's elite had attempted to purge Fleuve Cendre once before. They hadn't anticipated the intensity of the resistance, which led to loss of control over public opinion. The nobles who had been gleefully anticipating their victory found themselves humiliated and enraged. They promptly labeled Fleuve Cendre's administrators as traitors and dispatched Marechaussee Hunters to eliminate them.
Along with the purge, the so-called "hostages" who had been publicized as captives of the rebels—namely, the administrators of Poisson—were also eliminated.
This served two purposes: to prevent the truth from leaking, and because Poisson and Fleuve Cendre were essentially joined at the hip. It made sense to deal with them both at once.
Though the threat had been eliminated, the massive public outcry caused these nobles to delay accepting the fruits of victory from Fleuve Cendre and Poisson. Moreover, Neuvillette's addition of many Melusine members—those who favored evidence-gathering and peaceful solutions—to the Marechaussee Phantom meant that the ruling class's blade had become less effective.
For these and other reasons, the nobles refrained from purging Fleuve Cendre again. The primary reason being that a leaderless Fleuve Cendre held little value or threat in their eyes.
However, this perspective changed when Callas—father of Navia—became the President of the Spina di Rosula.
Through Callas's efforts, the Spina di Rosula became a household name among the common people. The environment of the Fleuve Cendre underwent significant improvement. While lawless areas still existed, hope and smiles gradually returned to most people's faces. Starvation deaths became rare occurrences.
What made Callas wiser than the Fleuve Cendre's manager from five centuries ago was his constant expansion of the Spina di Rosula's influence. He even funded the construction of Fontaine's three most famous shipping routes, connecting several important cities.
Callas's achievements in Fontaine and his prestige among the common people convinced the nobles to abandon any thoughts of plucking this tempting fruit.
The reason the initial Fleuve Cendre purge operation could be carried out so easily was twofold: on one hand, the nobles held far greater power than they do now; on the other, the Fleuve Cendre's manager had completely severed ties between the river and the upper world, allowing the nobles to control public opinion entirely.
But Callas's series of moves completely shattered the nobles' plans to target the Fleuve Cendre.
Now, an opportunity had finally presented itself.
By controlling the narrative and amplifying the serial suicide case to the public, they could instill fear in the people, making them view Fleuve Cendre as an uncontrollable lawless zone. This would provide them with popular support when they took action.
Under Callas's management, neither Fleuve Cendre nor Poisson remained the unappetizing yet valuable chicken ribs they once were. Especially after Callas funded the construction of three new shipping routes, their desire for these two places had grown insatiable.
Having learned from previous mistakes, they planned to minimize potential backlash by waiting for the serial suicide case's impact to fully ferment. However, unforeseen circumstances arose.
The victims who had jumped to their deaths weren't driven to despair by their circumstances and manipulated by others. Instead, they were controlled by unknown forces.
This was deeply troubling. Under the Spina di Rosula's management, the nobles knew little about the situation in Fleuve Cendre. They had no way of knowing how many more such controlled agitators existed, leaving them unable to rest properly even during meals and sleep.
Despite traveling with large entourages of bodyguards and mechanical security, no noble could help but fear the prospect of facing mobs suddenly driven mad, who cared nothing for their own lives.
Moreover, the Maison Gardiennage had never apprehended the mastermind behind the attacks. It was possible the culprit was hiding within the Fleuve Cendre itself.
The need to purge the Fleuve Cendre had become urgent, forcing them to convene early to discuss the matter.
This was no longer about profit; it was a matter of survival.
Everyone anxiously awaited whether purging the Fleuve Cendre would truly guarantee their safety. All eyes turned to Marquis Relf.
"From now on, Fontaine will no longer have a Fleuve Cendre."
With these words, Marquis Relf sealed the fate of countless impoverished souls living in the slums.
The Fleuve Cendre would cease to exist, but where would its inhabitants go?
They certainly wouldn't be placed in the city's gleaming districts. The people of the Fleuve Cendre were considered trash - no one wanted a constant reminder of filth in their midst.
But there was more. Marquis Relf paused before continuing.
"Send Marechaussee Hunters to infiltrate Poisson. And instruct the mayor to refuse entry to anyone not holding Fontaine citizenship."
In Fontaine, any criminal convicted and imprisoned in the Fortress of Meropide would be permanently stripped of their citizenship with no means of restoration. Their children born in the Fleuve Cendre would become non-citizens, equally denied Fontaine citizenship. This group comprised the majority of the Fleuve Cendre's population, and Marquis Relf's declaration pushed them to the brink of desperation.
The Marquis showed no concern about potential resistance; rather, he anticipated it. Only through their rebellion could he justify completely eradicating the threat.
Had they swallowed their anger and clung to life secretly within Fontaine's borders, the sudden influx of such a large population would inevitably disrupt the stable society. This would tarnish the Spina di Rosula's reputation, which the Marquis sought to avoid.
Even if the Spina di Rosula proved capable of managing these people effectively, they would deliberately create "small accidents" to maintain control.
By continually constricting their living space, the Marquis knew they would eventually erupt in violence - a naked scheme of calculated provocation.
Though this decision condemned tens of thousands to death, not a single person present found fault with it. Instead, long-suppressed smiles blossomed across their faces.
"Excellent! With Marquis Relf's assurance, we can rest assured!"
"If there's anything we can assist with regarding this matter, please don't hesitate to ask. We'll spare no effort to serve Marquis Relf."
"Just focus on your assigned duties," Marquis Relf interjected coldly, cutting off the others. "And keep an eye on recent intelligence reports. The serial suicide case perpetrator might contact us soon."
In Marquis Relf's view, the mastermind behind the serial suicides was either a complete madman, indifferent to human life and conducting grotesque experiments, or someone harboring pure malice toward society's lowest strata - those they believed polluted the air and wasted resources by existing.
Regardless of which hypothesis proved true, the perpetrator was likely to approach them for cooperation in the near future. The first scenario would allow the madman to acquire more "test subjects," while the second aligned their interests - both parties could exploit the situation before eradicating the threat completely.
Even if they were to be eliminated outright, there would only be benefits and no drawbacks.
For such a dangerous individual, when their loyalty couldn't be guaranteed, it was best for them to disappear.
In the end, all the dirty work could be pinned on them, making full use of their existence.
After hearing Marquis Relf's words, the nobles shuddered at the thought of soon having to cooperate with the madman behind the serial suicide case. But after regaining their composure, they nodded repeatedly, not daring to question the Marquis's arrangements...
Within less than a day after the nobles dispersed, the major newspapers' reports subtly shifted their wording to point all recent suspicions toward Fleuve Cendre.
"Give me a newspaper."
"Right away, sir! Here you go!"
The newspaper finally landed in the hands of a gentleman who looked to be in his thirties. He leaned on a cane, his silver-white hair gleaming beneath a black bowler hat, and a Pyro Vision peeked from his waist.
The gentleman unfolded the newspaper, scrutinizing its contents with keen interest. The corners of his lips gradually curved into a smile.
"It's finally here..." he murmured, crumpling the paper into a ball and tossing it into the trash.
Amidst the chatter of passersby, the gentleman's footsteps grew lighter as he headed toward one of the entrances to the Fleuve Cendre.
"The show's about to begin. I can't let the main character be late for his own debut..."