The final casualty count was tallied. Approximately three thousand innocent civilians had perished, a number that sent shivers down countless spines. The losses were devastating.
If the Noah's Ark hadn't cleared the ground of remaining threats before its departure, the death toll would have been even higher.
The Cult of No. 6 had suffered approximately one thousand casualties. While others were shocked that the cult could mobilize such a large force, Neuvillette, privy to the truth, could easily imagine that tens of thousands across Fontaine might be members of the Cult of No. 6.
Amos, the true mastermind behind the Cult of No. 6, possessed a mind of terrifying depth.
Duke Hubert, who had been missing for some time, was finally found. Though covered in blood, none of it was his own. Guarding him was a Clockwork Hound, half its body destroyed and utterly beyond repair.
The stark contrast between nobles—the vast disparity in their actions—once again left Neuvillette marveling at the diversity of humanity. Just then, Rene and Jacob announced their departure.
"Leaving already?" Neuvillette asked, gazing at the two men. Though still technically criminals, their contributions to Fontaine had made it impossible for him to treat them as such. Moreover, Rene's timely arrival and use of Hydro Element to administer basic treatment to the wounded had saved many lives.
"Yes, Monsieur Neuvillette," Rene replied with a nod. "I want to return to the Academy as soon as possible to organize the remaining data and research results. It's the only legacy left behind by everyone."
"The Pseudo-God from before has also reappeared. They might attack the Academy to steal internal data."
Hearing Rene's concerns, Neuvillette nodded.
"I understand. I'll expedite the approval of aid for the Academy. We'll also arrange condolences for their families as soon as possible."
"They made such significant contributions to Fontaine. Their deeds shouldn't be buried. It's Fontaine that owes them an apology."
Hearing Neuvillette's words, Rene said nothing further and left with Jacob.
"Neuvillette," Furina said sadly after Rene and Jacob had left, her face etched with sorrow. "Do you really think Fontaine's rapid technological advancement is the right path?"
"If there had been no Noah's Ark, would everyone have lived peacefully?"
Neuvillette looked at Furina and sighed softly. This blow was still too heavy for her to bear.
"Technological progress itself isn't wrong. The fault lies with those who cannot restrain their inner desires."
Neuvillette paused, then continued, "And with those who exploit such progress for their own selfish gain."
"Lady Furina, I intend to abolish the nobility. What are your thoughts on this?"
"It's long overdue," she replied, her eyes clouded with confusion. "But even abolishing the nobility won't bring back the dead or ease the grief of their families."
Neuvillette stepped forward to reassure her. "Leave this matter to me. The primary fault for this incident lies with me. I will submit myself to Judgment by the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale to answer for my crimes."
Hearing this, Furina froze in shock. Neuvillette turned and departed.
Snapping out of her daze, Furina hurried after him. "Wait, Neuvillette! This has nothing to do with you! Please reconsider..."
When the Fontainians learned of the tragedy at the military exercise grounds, the city erupted in outrage.
The nobles' treasonous actions had created an opportunity for the Cult of No. 6, ultimately resulting in thousands of casualties.
The people's resentment toward the nobles reached its peak. Years of pent-up frustration from the nobles' oppression erupted violently. Spontaneously, or at the urging of certain instigators, mass protests erupted in the streets of every city in Fontaine. Two more cities immediately declared their secession from Fontainian control.
The military exercise had been approved by Neuvillette. The massive casualties cast doubt on whether this powerful Chief Justice could truly safeguard their lives.
All of this was precisely what Neuvillette had anticipated. He promptly signed an order for a detailed account of the incident to be disseminated throughout Fontaine.
When the public learned that one absurd invention after another had originated from the Academy, they were utterly dumbfounded. They doubted whether these dreamlike contraptions could ever become reality. Yet the facts were undeniable, forcing them to believe.
Now, with nearly all the Academy's researchers lost, grief and fury gripped the hearts of countless Fontainians.
If it weren't for those damned nobles, they thought, Fontaine might soon have become the strongest nation among the Seven Nations, and our daily lives would have been unimaginably more convenient.
This anger soon turned its wrath upon Fontaine's official institutions, with enraged citizens storming several locations.
As the situation threatened to spiral out of control, Neuvillette issued a formal confession, listing his crimes and declaring that the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale would judge his guilt.
The news spread like wildfire across Fontaine, taking everyone by complete surprise. Neuvillette's public announcement was utterly unexpected.
His status in Fontaine was now immeasurably revered. For centuries, his reputation for impartiality and justice had been deeply ingrained in the public consciousness. The recent No. 6 Incident had starkly revealed his unparalleled power to the Fontainians.
In the hearts of many, Neuvillette symbolized invincibility—a flawless figure without a single flaw.
Yet now, Neuvillette had publicly confessed his crimes to all of Fontaine. How could such a confession not shake the nation to its core?
Neuvillette's actions calmed the masses, who then began to plead for his pardon.
Many among them owed favors to Neuvillette, and all had witnessed his unwavering dedication to Fontaine. Seeing him willingly confess his errors under immense pressure stirred complex emotions within them.
As the crowd gradually regained its composure, they finally realized that the true culprits were the nobles who had plotted to secede and establish their own nation, aspiring to become its new Archons. Their attention shifted to the nobles imprisoned by Neuvillette in a city jail.
"Death! Death to them all!"
The people's clamor grew louder and more fervent, echoing precisely what Neuvillette had intended to do. Yet, at that very moment, something entirely unexpected occurred.
"Monsieur Neuvillette, Rene and Jacob have forcibly abducted all the nobles!"
"Moreover, after returning to the Fontaine Research Institute, they immediately declared its secession from Fontaine's authority."
Upon hearing this, Neuvillette paused in surprise before sighing with resignation.
He hadn't anticipated Rene's actions, but he understood the reasoning behind them.
"I'll go negotiate with them."
With those words, Neuvillette swiftly arrived at the Fontaine Research Institute.
Unlike his previous visit, he now sensed countless weapons locked onto him, poised to strike at any moment.
Instead of acting immediately, Neuvillette hovered silently in mid-air, as if waiting for something.
Moments later, Rene's colossal form, radiating an incomparably brilliant golden light, materialized before him.
Rene, too, emanated unimaginable power, his aura matching Neuvillette's own.
The two locked eyes, neither making a move. After a tense silence, Rene finally spoke.
"If Monsieur Neuvillette has come to demand the prisoners, he may as well leave now."
"The crimes they committed can no longer be atoned for with mere death."
"Monsieur Neuvillette, you are too merciful."
"The images of those men cruelly murdering the researchers on Noah's Ark, one by one, before my very eyes remain vividly etched in my mind to this day."
"The ultimate fate you've granted them falls far short of satisfying those of us who have lost so much."
"Since Monsieur Neuvillette is bound by his unwavering adherence to the Law and unable to take any drastic action, then we will act! We will personally ensure they pay the price they deserve!"
Hearing Rene's words, Neuvillette calmly replied, "Monsieur Rene, I urge you to understand that your actions are wrong. This is vigilante justice."
"You have already violated Fontaine Law. I implore you not to compound your errors."
"I am well aware of this, of course," Rene replied, his voice equally composed, his heart unmoved by Neuvillette's words.
"But Monsieur Neuvillette, knowing something is wrong doesn't always stop us from doing it."
"My intellect clearly recognizes this is wrong, but I am not a God—I am merely human. Therefore, even if it's wrong, I will persist."
"If Monsieur Neuvillette intends to stop me, I will exert every effort to demonstrate my resolve to you."
"And the unwavering resolve of everyone else at the Academy."
As if in response to Rene's words, numerous weapon cannons within the Academy lit up, seemingly poised to attack Neuvillette at any moment.
Seeing this, Neuvillette fell into a long silence.
Finally, he gave Rene a deep look before turning and leaving.
He had yielded.
Neuvillette knew this wasn't the right choice, yet making it brought him a strange sense of relief.
Once, even he had yearned to unleash his pent-up rage, but his ingrained restraint had become his prison.
Perhaps handing these people over to Rene and his group was the outcome that would satisfy the majority of Fontainians.
As Neuvillette's figure receded into the distance, Rene called out loudly from afar:
"Monsieur Neuvillette, I will publicly disclose the details of their execution to all of Fontaine."
"From now on, the Fontaine Research Institute will devote itself entirely to the future of humanity. Our secession from Fontaine's control is simply because we wish to remain free from the political power struggles and corrupt deals. I hope Monsieur Neuvillette can understand."
Upon hearing these words, Neuvillette paused briefly, but soon departed without looking back.
Only after Neuvillette's figure had completely vanished did Rene finally exhale in relief.
Though he had maintained a firm demeanor earlier, Rene secretly feared that Neuvillette might resort to force.
With his current strength, Rene stood little chance against Neuvillette, even with the weapons and equipment of the Fontaine Research Institute. If Neuvillette had insisted on taking someone, they would have been powerless to stop him.
Fortunately, the situation hadn't escalated to that point.
Rene retracted his power, his body rapidly shrinking back to its normal size. He quickly resumed his human form and returned to the Academy.
"I actually pointed a weapon at Monsieur Neuvillette! I must have lost my mind!"
Rene had barely reentered the Academy when he heard a commotion and moved to investigate.
"As I've already said, if a battle breaks out, you don't need to intervene."
"How can you say that, Monsieur Rene? We can't just abandon you like that!"
Hearing Rene's words, someone immediately spoke up in protest:
"Monsieur Rene and Monsieur Jacob risked everything to bring those scoundrels to the Academy. We're eternally grateful! We could never betray such trust."
The faces before Rene were those of the Academy's former cooks, janitors, and other support staff.
After the Academy suffered such a catastrophic loss of scientific personnel, they had naturally stepped in to fill the research roles.
This wasn't what they had wanted. They had yearned to reclaim their positions through genuine merit and hard work, not through the forced necessity of filling the void left by the near-total sacrifice of the original researchers.
Almost every one of them returned to their old posts with tears in their eyes. The work itself hadn't changed much, but the most significant difference was the presence of the original researchers' research notes left on these desks—now their most precious possessions.
Each person cherished these notes with utmost care, even Rene himself.
At that moment, Rene felt deeply moved, keenly sensing the group's indomitable spirit and unwavering determination.
Previously, the Narzissenkreuz Ordo had recruited members by exploiting their personal desires.
But the people before him now were different. They had inherited the spirit and will of their predecessors, and their collective resolve far surpassed that of the former Ordo members.
With such a group of dedicated researchers working alongside him, Rene felt invigorated. He believed that even if the remaining members of the Academy weren't as brilliant, they could still achieve significant breakthroughs.
Especially when it came to the achievements of their predecessors—they would grasp the underlying principles as quickly as possible and replicate them, ensuring the Fontaine Research Institute's reputation remained untarnished.
"Fellow researchers, let us strive together!"
"We will fulfill the wishes of those who came before us!"
"We will make Fontaine even better! The legend of the Fontaine Research Institute will continue through us!"