"Monsieur Neuvillette, their physical conditions show no abnormalities, but for some reason, they haven't woken up."
Upon hearing the Melusine doctor's words, Neuvillette hummed softly, his expression remaining unchanged.
Neuvillette had been pondering the man's final words for some time. Given the preceding events, it was highly likely that the man had not truly died.
Neuvillette suspected the man possessed the ability to transfer his consciousness, though this ability likely had limitations. Otherwise, he wouldn't have attempted to flee with such severe injuries.
If his theory was correct, the man's tampering had likely targeted the two individuals currently lying unconscious in the hospital beds before him.
Even if the man were truly dead, there were at least five other enemies of his caliber still at large. If any sought revenge against Neuvillette, these two would be the most vulnerable targets.
Therefore, Neuvillette had not only taken precautions but also ordered a more thorough examination of the two patients.
Though even the Melusine doctor found no abnormalities, their continued unconsciousness despite showing no signs of injury was itself a glaring anomaly.
The crime prediction letters had stopped, and no new young girls had gone missing. It seemed the mastermind behind it all was truly gone. Yet, behind this calm often lurked an even greater storm.
Neuvillette had authorized Charlotte to selectively report on the case, declaring the murderer dead to reassure the citizens of Fontaine and lull them into a false sense of security.
When the public saw the latest report from the Steam Bird, they were shocked by the horrors revealed.
Beyond the survivors' firsthand accounts, the subsequent excavation of the secret hideout uncovered numerous dissected corpses, including not only foreigners but also Melusines.
Horrified by the murderer's atrocities, many Fontainians, burning with righteous fury, abandoned their original ambitions and joined the Maison Gardiennage or the Court of Justice, vowing to fight the perpetrator to the end.
This influx of fresh blood into the Maison Gardiennage and the Court of Justice barely alleviated their current manpower shortage, which had been exacerbated by the rising crime rate.
Fontaine's upper echelons were immensely pleased with Neuvillette's success in preventing further disappearances in the Missing Persons Case. Their interactions with him became markedly more cordial, and they orchestrated a public relations campaign to lavish praise on his contributions, hoping to bridge the gap that had existed between them.
However, Neuvillette now cared little for their overtures. Regardless of how the elites might fawn over him, he resolved that in future dilemmas, he would no longer adhere to predetermined rules.
If he continued to rigidly uphold these rules, the murderer who had exploited his weakness would easily manipulate him again.
To eradicate this threat to Fontaine once and for all, he could no longer afford such inflexibility.
Regrettably, this realization came too late. Had he understood this sooner, Navia's father wouldn't have died bearing false accusations, and he could have saved that innocent life.
Previously, the truth about Callas's case had revealed to him that some things are more vital than life or rules. At the time, this revelation had only stirred fleeting ripples in his heart. But now, these recent experiences had fundamentally reshaped his perspective.
"Monsieur Neuvillette, Miss Navia, her butler, and Miss Kelly have arrived," a voice interrupted Neuvillette's thoughts, and he turned to see the group standing before him.
"Are they alright?" Navia rushed forward as soon as she saw Neuvillette, her voice filled with concern. Both Lofan and Vinani were close friends of hers.
Even Melus and Silver, standing behind Navia, cast worried glances at the sickbeds.
"Physically, they appear to be stable, but they remain unconscious. A few more days of rest might improve their condition."
Navia's thoughts echoed Neuvillette's. How could she not worry when their bodies showed no abnormalities yet they remained in a coma?
Though worried, Navia knew there was little she could do. She trusted that Neuvillette had already secured the best medical care for them.
After a long moment studying the two figures on the sickbeds, Navia finally turned back to Neuvillette.
"Monsieur Neuvillette, Miss Kelly has something she wishes to discuss with you. I brought her along since I was coming this way anyway."
Hearing Navia's words, Neuvillette turned his gaze to the young woman.
"It's like this, Monsieur Neuvillette," she began.
"After what happened last time, the murderers must know someone is helping you. It's only a matter of time before my involvement is exposed."
"I suspect their continued inaction is a deliberate attempt to track me down."
At this point, Neuvillette initially assumed the young woman was urging him to fulfill his promise of providing her with strict protection. He was about to speak when her subsequent words surprised him.
"I know no matter how I hide, I can't escape their search."
"But I don't want to just wait for the end to come meaninglessly."
"Therefore, in my remaining time, I want to do everything possible to uncover more clues about these murderers for you."
Even Navia was taken aback by the young woman's words.
Though she had already felt considerable admiration for the young woman's willingness to step forward, these words elevated her respect to awe.
After hearing the young woman's words, Neuvillette remained silent for a long moment. Only when her unwavering gaze never wavered from him for a single second did he finally sigh softly and speak.
"I understand, Miss Kelly. I will provide you with every possible convenience during your mission."
"I apologize, but due to certain circumstances, I cannot leave Fontaine for an extended period. I should have been the one leading this mission personally."
"It's quite alright, Monsieur Neuvillette. I completely understand your demanding duties."
The young woman waved her hand and continued, "As long as you don't hinder me, that will be the greatest help you can offer."
Neuvillette sighed inwardly. How he wished he could stop her.
After all, if she stayed in a safe place, the young woman would at least have a chance of avoiding the murderer's attention.
Yet, her unwavering resolve, her willingness to put herself in grave danger to help them uncover new clues, was a determination he couldn't ignore.
"Miss Kelly, please allow me to express my gratitude once again."
"And... may your mission be successful."
The young woman listened intently, then flashed a captivating smile.
She and Navia departed. Though Neuvillette offered to lend her some personnel, she politely declined.
Her reasoning was that whether Maison Gardiennage officers, Court of Justice members, or Marechaussee Phantom agents, most were Fontainians, and participating in this operation would put them at extreme risk.
She preferred to rely on the Spina di Rosula and the Fatui, as both organizations had a significant number of members from other nations.
After a moment's contemplation, Neuvillette agreed to her proposal. He even personally wrote a letter to the Fatui Harbinger currently stationed somewhere in Fontaine.
Though Snezhnaya and Fontaine maintained cordial relations on the surface, Fontaine was well aware of the Fatui's extensive network of spies within their territory. As such, the relationship between the two nations was far less harmonious than outsiders imagined.
Neuvillette personally wrote to "The Knave" Arlecchino to fulfill his promise to the young woman, vowing to provide her with the utmost support.
As Neuvillette watched their departing figures, an inexplicable unease settled in his heart.
Unable to pinpoint the root cause of this anxiety, he ultimately had no choice but to temporarily dismiss it.
After double-checking his arrangements one last time, Neuvillette returned to the Palais Mermonia to attend to official duties.
Without the petite, restless figure flitting about, Neuvillette found himself processing paperwork at his usual pace, a routine that felt strangely unfamiliar.
Having grown accustomed to the constant chatter in his ear, the sudden silence left him feeling oddly nostalgic.
In the end, Neuvillette left the door slightly ajar, allowing faint sounds from outside to filter into the room.
"Monsieur Neuvillette?"
A Melusine, assuming something was amiss, hurried over to greet him.
"It's nothing. Don't mind me," Neuvillette said, returning to his seat under her puzzled gaze.
He picked up the documents on his desk and resumed working. Outside, the soft rain that had been drizzling for days had finally stopped.
"Emma, we can finally hang the laundry out to dry!"
-
"Father, this concludes our findings from the operation," Lyney said, his tone respectful as he and Lynette gazed at the figure leaning against the window, arms crossed. Their superior's identity was unmistakable.
Arlecchino listened intently to Lyney's report, then fell into deep thought.
All the intelligence now seemed to point toward the Prophecy. The person she had encountered that day wasn't a unique individual, but rather a member of a larger group.
This revelation slightly diminished Arlecchino's initial interest in that individual, yet she couldn't shake a nagging sense of unease.
No matter how she analyzed it, the person she had met didn't seem to have willingly returned to the "Homeland."
Moreover, she alone knew that the vast majority of nobles who perished that night hadn't been eliminated by her hand.
But if she tried to connect that person to the madman known as "No. 6" whom Lyney and Lynette had encountered, Arlecchino couldn't convince herself the link was plausible.
Yet she sensed this matter was far more complex than it appeared.
Everything unfolding seemed to be relentlessly drawing attention toward the Prophecy.
Torn between a conclusion based on all available clues and her own intuition, Arlecchino found herself in a difficult dilemma.
Just as she hesitated, wondering which path to pursue in her investigation, she suddenly noticed Lyney and Lynette, the sibling duo, seemingly focused entirely on her, awaiting her response.
A sudden smile lit Arlecchino's face. She had almost forgotten this.
"Your discoveries this time are invaluable."
"Excellent. You haven't disappointed my expectations."
Lyney and Lynette felt a surge of joy upon receiving Arlecchino's praise and recognition.
"Continue investigating the connection between this matter and the Prophecy. I will consider this your final trial."
Arlecchino's words startled Lyney and Lynette. Instead of appearing pleased, they spoke with urgent anxiety:
"Father, we are not qualified enough! The children of the House of the Hearth need you!"
"Enough. The outcome of this investigation and my own judgment will determine your qualifications."
"You may withdraw."
"Yes," they replied.
Though Lyney and Lynette clearly wanted to say more, Arlecchino's orders were absolute. They could only withdraw from the room.
Once they were gone, Arlecchino sank back into contemplation.
If the currently known clues couldn't reveal the hidden truth, then the crucial breakthrough point might lie with the kidnapped Maison Gardiennage officer.
As for the Melusine, since her death was intended to plunge Neuvillette into anguish and self-reproach, her rescue was likely an unforeseen accident.
However, the Maison Gardiennage officer's situation was highly irregular. Given the perpetrator's current modus operandi, delivering him unharmed to Neuvillette seemed highly improbable.
It appeared she would need to meet with Monsieur Neuvillette personally to discuss this matter. And what about the Hydro Archon? Was she truly indifferent to the events unfolding before her?
Arlecchino suddenly recalled the incident where the murderer, disguised as Clorinde, had died before Furina. She shook her head, utterly baffled by the Hydro Archon. Her behavior was far too ordinary, like that of a common mortal.
Testing the waters was pointless now. Instead, she needed to seize another opportunity to directly confirm the truth about the Gnosis.
Lost in thought, Arlecchino suddenly snapped back to reality. She glanced at an empty spot beside her, where a Debt Collector materialized moments later, bowing low as he presented a letter.
"My Lady Knave, this letter is from Neuvillette."
"Oh, how intriguing," Arlecchino remarked, a hint of curiosity flickering in her eyes as she heard the unexpected name. She accepted the letter and began to read.
As she finished reading, a subtle smile curved her lips.
Arlecchino hadn't anticipated Neuvillette would write to the Fatui for assistance. Truth be told, this went against the Chief Justice's steadfast principles.
For him to seek the Fatui's aid within Fontaine itself suggested some unforeseen change in the esteemed Chief Justice.
Suddenly, the letter in Arlecchino's hand burst into flames. She watched calmly as it burned to ash, finally releasing her grip on the last fragment. Without a word, she strode toward the chamber's exit.
The last scrap of paper danced in the air, revealing a single name:
Kelly.
Could you be the key to breaking this deadlock...?