At that moment, Tartaglia stopped caring about the consequences.
He was utterly frustrated. He had arrived in Fontaine in high spirits, only to find himself unable to withdraw his funds and then being "invited" to the Maison Gardiennage Headquarters for a chat.
Initially, he assumed it was just a formality and that he would be released quickly. But now they were convinced he was the true murderer, refusing to believe his explanations no matter how he tried. Tartaglia was completely numb.
Forget it. At this point, even if it has negative consequences, there's no turning back. If I just meekly let them drag me to court, I'll lose even more face. How could I ever hold my head high before the other Harbingers again?
Tartaglia maintained his suppressed aura as he slowly rose from his seat.
As long as they don't try to stop me, I won't resort to force.
But as soon as he stood up, a wave of dizziness washed over him. The room spun wildly, and he collapsed weakly back into his chair.
"Monsieur Tartaglia, I forgot to mention something earlier," one of the guards said.
"Lately, Fontaine has been plagued by suspects who rely on their martial prowess to violently resist arrest. So, as a precaution, we generally add a little something to the tea we serve you—something to keep you... calmer."
Seeing Tartaglia's current state, the two guards regained their composure, even a hint of disdain creeping into their expressions.
"Oh, and since we noticed you carrying a Delusion, we tripled the usual dosage."
"Call it a preemptive measure!"
"You...!"
Watching the two Fontainians banter back and forth, Tartaglia felt a suffocating pressure in his chest. He, a Harbinger of the Fatui, had been outsmarted by ordinary people without even a Vision!
Is this the kind of environment Fontaine breeds?
Tartaglia raised a finger, pointing at them as the Delusion on his body erupted with an eerie, malevolent light.
Seeing this, the two Fontainians standing before him immediately retreated.
"Hurry! His Delusion is glowing—he's definitely going to resist!"
"Quick, call the Gardemeks!"
Tartaglia was about to use the Delusion's power to forcibly break free from his shackles and escape when heavy, rapid footsteps approached from the distance.
He looked up to see two towering Gardemeks flanking him, their thick shields pressing firmly against his body, immobilizing him completely.
"Hurry, it's not enough!"
"The suspect is exceptionally volatile and dangerous. Activate the highest-level crisis response protocol!"
As the command echoed through the Maison Gardiennage Headquarters, a piercing alarm blared. Several more Gardemeks materialized, charging toward Tartaglia.
Seeing so many Gardemeks charging at him, Tartaglia's scalp tingled. Normally, he wouldn't fear these toys, but he had been drugged, and his physical strength was rapidly dwindling.
Two Gardemeks would have been enough to give him a hard time. Now, being swarmed by this many? Fontaine was being a little too hospitable, wouldn't you say?
"Wait a second! If you're so tough, let me at least transform first... spit spit spit!"
Tartaglia opened his mouth to protest, but the Gardemeks charging toward him sprayed a massive amount of transparent liquid, drenching him completely.
He quickly realized it was a type of superglue. The liquid solidified instantly, freezing his facial expression in place.
But the assault didn't end there. Other Gardemeks produced heavy chains and wrapped them around him dozens of times, binding him into a cocoon before finally stopping.
To make matters worse, whatever they did severed his connection to both his Delusion and his Vision.
"Mmmph! Mmmph!"
Tartaglia tried to speak, but his mouth was full of the strange liquid, rendering him unable to utter a word.
Footsteps gradually approached, and Tartaglia soon saw two figures with smug grins on their faces.
"What's up with the Fatui Harbinger now?"
"He got captured by us ordinary folks!"
"Come to Fontaine, and even dragons have to curl up!"
Tartaglia wanted to rage, but his face was completely frozen, unable to express any emotion.
"Ahem, let's not be too harsh."
"Monsieur Tartaglia is quite formidable. We had to activate our highest-level countermeasures just to subdue him."
"The situation was critical earlier. Please forgive any offense, Monsieur Tartaglia. We hope you won't hold it against us."
The speaker clasped his hands in a traditional gesture of apology. Tartaglia could only roll his eyes in silent defiance.
"We didn't expect you to withstand three times the normal dose without issue, but we trust Monsieur Tartaglia will understand and cooperate with our investigation."
"After all, Monsieur Tartaglia wouldn't want the other Fatui Harbingers to know you were captured by ordinary people, would you?"
Tartaglia's pupils constricted slightly at this remark, his composure momentarily shaken.
"It seems Monsieur Tartaglia understands the situation perfectly. Then, I'm afraid we'll have to ask you to remain in this room for a while."
With that, the two turned to leave.
Tartaglia remained in the room, motionless, contemplating the turn his life had taken.
"Oh, right, Monsieur Tartaglia, I almost forgot to say one thing."
Suddenly, one of the two stopped, turning back to address Tartaglia.
"Welcome to Fontaine, Monsieur Tartaglia!"
-
"What kind of job is this?"
"Weren't you just supposed to delay things to make it harder for Lord Childe to get funding?"
"How did you get him arrested?!"
Inside the Northland Bank, the manager was stunned upon hearing the news of Tartaglia's arrest.
"I don't know either!" the Debt Collector protested, looking aggrieved. "I didn't kill anyone! Who am I supposed to collect debts from if they're dead?"
"I only did as you instructed: I warned him to lay low beforehand," he explained. "How was I supposed to know he'd be murdered the moment he stepped out of his house?!"
"You really didn't kill him?"
"Really?!"
The Northland Bank manager rubbed his temples, headache throbbing.
"If you didn't do it, then that's good."
"Listen carefully: the arrest of Lord Childe has absolutely nothing to do with the Northland Bank... I'll go consult Lord Pantalone."
Just then, the Debt Collector spoke up, his expression peculiar.
"Actually, I met with that person not long after Lord Childe did. No matter how I look at it, it seems Lord Childe really did kill him..."
This kind of situation wasn't uncommon within the Fatui. For debtors who consistently refused to pay, they would initially teach them a lesson. But once their patience ran out, they would squeeze out every last bit of value from the debtor before erasing them from the Teyvat Continent.
So it was entirely possible that Tartaglia, enraged by the debtor's refusal to pay, had killed him in a fit of anger.
The brief interval between their meetings with the victim left the Debt Collector no choice but to suspect this.
"Even if Lord Childe really did kill him, that's none of your concern."
"One more word, and you'll be taking the fall!"
The Northland Bank executive glared at the Debt Collector with displeasure.
"Yes, yes, I'll leave immediately!"
The Debt Collector vanished in an instant.
After dismissing the Debt Collector, the Northland Bank executive immediately contacted Pantalone, the "Rich Man."
"Arrested?"
"Excellent, excellent, excellent!"
Pantalone hung up after repeating "excellent" three times, leaving the dumbfounded executive standing motionless in place for a long moment.
"Today is truly a joyous occasion!"
"Summon Pulcinella at once! I want to celebrate with him!"
"Bring out my finest vintage wine!"
Normally, Pantalone was a man who kept his emotions hidden, but Tartaglia's actions had cost the Northland Bank far too much, severely disrupting his plans. Naturally, he couldn't hide his disdain.
Upon hearing the news of Tartaglia's arrest, Pantalone inwardly rejoiced, declaring, Finally, justice!
Suddenly, an idea struck him. He contacted the Northland Bank executive in Fontaine again.
"Well done. Keep up the good work!"
With that curt remark, Pantalone hung up, leaving the Northland Bank executive reeling in confusion in the wind.
-
Lyney and Lynette were stunned to hear about Tartaglia's arrest.
When they first learned that the Harbinger was coming to Fontaine, they had considered extending him the courtesy of hosts and entertaining him properly. Instead, they received news of his imprisonment before he even arrived.
While Lyney dispatched investigators to gather information on Tartaglia, he also began preparing for his magic performance in two days.
Lyney's application to use the Opera Epiclese had long been approved, but due to a recent surge in cases, the matter had been repeatedly delayed. Fortunately, Chief Justice Neuvillette, remembering the Fatui's past assistance, refused to postpone the matter further. Otherwise, Arlecchino might have returned to Fontaine before Lyney even took the stage, let alone investigated the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale.
The Judgment for Tartaglia's case commenced that very afternoon. With crime rates soaring, the originally cumbersome Judgment procedures had been streamlined considerably. Tartaglia was likely the first foreigner to benefit from such expedited service.
Neuvillette presided over today's Judgment because Tartaglia's status was far too extraordinary for any other Justice to handle.
By now, all the restraints binding Tartaglia had been removed. After the Maison Gardiennage officers took souvenir photos, the only way to keep his secret from being exposed was for him to begrudgingly accept Fontaine's Judgment.
Moreover, Neuvillette was present. Even if Tartaglia were to make any sudden moves, Neuvillette could easily suppress him—a fact the Maison Gardiennage officers trusted implicitly.
"Court is now in session," Neuvillette announced, striking the ground with his cane, the sharp sound signaling the start of the Judgment and silencing the chamber.
"The Maison Gardiennage will now present the prosecution's case regarding this homicide case."
"Very well, Chief Justice."
As the two Maison Gardiennage officers stepped forward, Tartaglia immediately swept them with a sharp, disapproving gaze, his displeasure evident on his face.
Just as they were about to begin their statement, Tartaglia interrupted, cutting them off mid-sentence.
"Hey, hey, I'm not really interested in your Fontaine Judgment."
"How about we settle this another way?"
"I heard in Fontaine, after being accused, you can clear your name through a duel."
"Just send someone to fight me directly."
Tartaglia's words immediately ignited the crowd's excitement.
After so many Judgment proceedings, they were getting a bit bored. This was the perfect opportunity to switch things up and enjoy some martial arts action!
However, to everyone's surprise, Neuvillette refused Tartaglia's request.
"I regret to inform you, Monsieur Tartaglia, that this provision has been deemed unreasonable and was recently repealed in Fontaine."
"You can find this amendment on page 83, line 36 of the tenth revision of the Fontaine Law."
Hearing Neuvillette's words, the audience immediately erupted into murmurs.
"Holy crap, already the tenth revision? I thought it was still at the fourth edition last time?"
"Don't even get me started. I know a guy who was studying to become a Justice, but switched to becoming an Attorney instead. When he was memorizing the Fontaine Law, he completely broke down and threatened to hang himself. If his family hadn't been there at the time, he probably wouldn't be alive today."
Hearing the man's words, the surrounding crowd gasped. None of them had ever considered becoming Attorneys, so they were completely ignorant of legal matters.
"I know an even funnier story! Recently, during a Judgment, the defendant would have barely faced a few days in prison under the old Fontaine Law. But just an hour before his trial, the new Fontaine Law was enacted!"
"He initially thought he was in the clear. But when the final verdict came, he was utterly dumbfounded! Ha ha! You should have seen his expression—it was priceless!"
The man even mimicked the defendant's stunned expression, drawing laughter from the crowd.
"After that, he threw a fit in court, refusing to accept the verdict. The Justice immediately added a charge of disrupting court proceedings, and the Maison Gardiennage dragged him away."
"Hearing you tell it, it almost sounds like a good thing?"
"The Fontaine Law is constantly improving, which is bound to benefit us ordinary Fontainians more and more."
"But the crime rate is still stubbornly high."
"Quit running your mouth!"
-
"Cancelled?"
Upon hearing this news, Tartaglia felt a twinge of disappointment. He had been looking forward to seeing if any formidable opponents would emerge among the Champion Duelists.
"Very well. Once this Judgment concludes, my innocence will be proven, right?"
"Then proceed. As the Chief Justice, you surely won't make the same mistake as those small-timers, failing to see the obvious truth: 'I didn't kill him.'"
Tartaglia mocked the two Maison Gardiennage officers who had framed him, venting some of his pent-up frustration.
The officers ignored his taunts, immediately launching into their account of the day's events for the assembled audience.
Just as Neuvillette was about to respond to the testimony, a commotion suddenly erupted from the distance.
Moments later, several Fatui soldiers appeared on the scene. Tartaglia immediately recognized them as the new recruits he had just taken under his wing.
"Lord Childe, we've completed the investigation!"
"What are you doing here? Get out now!"
Seeing the Fatui soldiers barge in, the Maison Gardiennage officers sprang into action, coordinating with the Gardemeks to block their advance.
The Fatui soldiers weren't fools. They knew better than to cause trouble on someone else's territory. All they could do was use their brute strength and massive frames to push their way through the crowd, desperately shouting at Tartaglia.
"In Fontaine, everyone agrees that Chief Justice Neuvillette is the strongest!"
"Hurry, get them out of here! Judgment is about to begin. Don't let them disturb Monsieur Neuvillette!"
Hearing this command, the Maison Gardiennage officers and Gardemeks became more forceful, pinning the Fatui soldiers down and dragging them away.
"My apologies, Monsieur Neuvillette. This is our failure."
"Please continue."
After Neuvillette nodded, the officer turned away, his face dark with anger, and left.
Meanwhile, the Fatui soldiers who had been expelled from the Opera Epiclese stood outside, their faces pale as death. They turned to glare at the blue-clad, rotund figure responsible for their predicament.
"Damn you! What about the last part? Why didn't you say the last part?!"
"You only said the first two lines! You've doomed Lord Childe!"
When the Fatui soldiers finally learned of a powerful figure in Fontaine, they immediately prepared to report to Tartaglia.
But before they could, news of Tartaglia's arrest reached their ears, leaving them completely stunned.
After their initial shock, a life-threatening problem loomed before them.
In Snezhnaya, everyone knew Tartaglia relished challenging formidable opponents.
The question now was: with Fontaine's undisputed strongest warrior standing right before him, would he dare issue a challenge?
The answer was painfully obvious.
But if he did, Tartaglia's life would almost certainly be forfeit!
Every Fatui soldier present had witnessed the recorded footage of Neuvillette's overwhelming power, and the mere memory sent chills down their spines.
Determined to protect the Harbinger they served, they plotted a desperate plan to storm the courtroom.
They succeeded—but not completely. One crucial line had been left unsaid.
The missing line was:
"But, Monsieur Childe, you absolutely must not challenge Monsieur Neuvillette! People will die!"
Tartaglia might have been unaware that Neuvillette was Fontaine's strongest. Now, however, all hope was lost.
The entire crisis stemmed from that fat idiot only delivering the first two sentences.
"You boasted about your loud voice! That's why we risked everything to break you out! You're taking full responsibility for this mess!"
Yet, facing the soldiers' murderous glares, the blue-skinned fatty merely smirked mockingly.
"Hmph, enough with the charade. I'm laying all my cards on the table."
"Let me tell you all the truth: my true allegiance lies with Lady Knave."
"Childe? That little pipsqueak doesn't even deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as our Lady Knave."
"You think you can steal Lady Knave's glory? Go back home and raise pigs where you belong!"
"Bastard!"
Enraged, the Fatui soldiers tore him to shreds. The Blue Fatui didn't resist at all, as if he'd expected their violent reaction.
By the time the other Fatui soldiers regained their senses, the man was already dead.
The Fatui soldiers were stunned. They never expected someone so arrogant to die so carelessly.
The Maison Gardiennage officers guarding the Opera Epiclese were equally dumbfounded. It's rare to see a criminal dare to commit murder right in front of the authorities...