Walking into the Opera Epiclese.
Mu Yang was still thinking about what had happened earlier.
He had indeed seen that young couple before, at Hotel Bouffes d'été.
Hotel Bouffes d'été — ordinary Fontaine citizens might not know about it, but Mu Yang knew it very clearly.
It was the Fatui's espionage organization planted in Fontaine.
It belonged to the beauty beside him — the Fourth of the Fatui Harbingers, the Knave, Arlecchino.
No matter the era, espionage organizations were extremely mysterious trades.
Mysterious, and dirty.
They held too many secrets that should not be known by others.
Therefore, people who did this kind of work generally found it very hard to escape.
Either they died, or they faked their deaths and hid forever.
Spending the rest of their lives in the shadows.
Because as long as someone knew this person was still alive, neither allies nor enemies would feel at ease.
It was precisely because of this that Mu Yang found it strange.
Why could the two people from Hotel Bouffes d'été change their appearances and start a new life?
And they seemed completely unaware.
They even dared to speak to the Knave.
Mu Yang thought that this might involve the Knave's personal story quest.
When he crossed over, the game had only reached Chiori's version and had not yet reached the Knave's version.
Mu Yang had only seen her character illustration.
"Streams flowing into the sea, huh…"
"We've arrived, and you're still thinking about what happened earlier?" The Knave spoke up. They had already reached their reserved seats.
"Isn't this position a bit off to the side?"
Mu Yang noticed that this didn't seem to be the best viewing spot.
For someone like Mu Yang who was always used to arranging the best, sitting in a place like this was obviously uncomfortable.
"Oh, is it? This is my first time here."
The Knave sat down directly without giving Mu Yang any further explanation.
As for this being her "first time," Mu Yang didn't really believe it.
Lyney and Lynette should be her two favorite children.
How could she have never come once?
After the prophecy ended, no fewer than five magic performances had already been held here.
"I'm telling the truth. I'm not worried about Lyney, but the other children get nervous when they see me."
"So that's why you chose this spot?"
The Knave tacitly admitted it.
During the performance, Mu Yang realized this position wasn't chosen randomly.
From here, they could see not only the lead actor Lyney, but also his assistant Lynette.
From time to time, they could even see the prop masters behind the scenes passing things over.
So this was her plan.
She truly lived up to her title as "Father."
During the intermission, the Knave took the initiative to start a conversation.
"I see you're distracted. Are you still thinking about those two kids at the Fountain of Lucine?"
"I just can't figure out how they managed to escape from under your watch."
"It's very simple. I allowed them to leave. As long as they passed my test…"
She made it sound easy, but Mu Yang knew things were not that simple.
That so-called test must have been extremely agonizing, and it even erased their memories.
"I have always respected the children's choices."
"Then you can tell me now, right? The purpose of inviting me here."
"Is that what you think? 'Purpose'… Can't there be no purpose?"
Mu Yang was puzzled. If there was no reason, why invite me?
Are you that free?
The Knave smiled. "It's just to avoid attention. I didn't want the children to notice."
This excuse was too obvious.
I would believe you if you had at least changed your outfit.
"Seeing an expression like yours from you is already worth it." The Knave laid her cards on the table. "From the first time I dealt with you, I saw confidence in your eyes."
"That kind of confidence that controls everything. We are very similar… too similar…"
In the area of negotiation, the Knave had not gained any advantage from Mu Yang.
This made her feel dissatisfied.
Afterward, Mu Yang even inserted his hand into Fontaine's affairs.
Starting from Port Ormos, it gradually spread — Spina di Rosula, the Court of Fontaine…
Everything happened too quickly.
Mu Yang's appearance disrupted the Knave's plans.
When Fontaine's citizens were suffering, they would only remember the great benefactor Mu Yang who donated supplies to them.
The Fatui were once again one step behind.
As a result, the Knave lost bargaining chip after bargaining chip.
By the time she negotiated with Neuvillette, she barely had anything presentable left in her hands.
To obtain the Gnosis, she could only "cut off her wrist."
That's right. Neuvillette truly did not need the Gnosis. Similarly, he did not need the Fatui.
The Knave could take the Gnosis, but the price was that all of the Fatui's eyes and ears in Fontaine must be completely removed.
At the very least, the forces belonging to the Knave must withdraw from Fontaine.
Originally, this bargaining chip of withdrawing from Fontaine was something she had planned to leave for the children.
Just like the young couple earlier.
They needed new identities and new lives.
If they wanted to live under the sun, they needed to negotiate terms with Neuvillette.
One or two wouldn't matter to him, and he couldn't manage that many anyway.
But now most of the children from Hotel Bouffes d'été needed to be cleansed.
That would require Neuvillette's guarantee.
Unfortunately, because Mu Yang had gotten involved in Fontaine and stayed one step ahead of the Knave at every turn,
the Knave had lost her bargaining chips when negotiating with Neuvillette.
The Knave had already accepted her defeat.
But she still wanted to make one final struggle.
If she extended an invitation with no purpose at all, could Mu Yang still stay one step ahead of her?
The truth was, Mu Yang had already thought ten steps ahead and was almost overthinking it to the point of disconnection.
The Knave smiled inexplicably.
Mu Yang could only feel full of question marks.
There was a saying on Earth: a woman's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea.
Mu Yang had truly experienced it today.
The performance ended.
The audience dispersed, and only then did Lyney and Lynette notice the two people in the corner.
"Father, and Mr. Mu Yang, you two are…"
One could imagine how explosive Lyney's heart was right now.
Father came to watch the performance but didn't inform him in advance.
And she even secretly brought a male companion…
"I was afraid you would get nervous, so I chose this spot. You performed well."
Toward Lyney and Lynette, the Knave never stinted on her praise.
"What does Mr. Mu Yang think?"
"Very impressive techniques. While watching the performance just now, I thought of a story that fits you two very well. Would you like to hear it?"
Since the Knave was unwilling to answer the purpose of this invitation,
Mu Yang decided to define it himself.
Since they were already here, everyone could go enjoy the Fontaine Film Festival together.
Thus, Mu Yang told Lyney and Lynette a story.
This story came from director Christopher Nolan's work, The Prestige.
Lyney and Lynette listened with some lingering interest.
Because the two of them had actually used this very technique.
Lynette and Lyney had very similar builds and could completely impersonate each other.
"It's fine to only do it during magic performances, but if it were like in the story, where there's only one Lyney for an entire lifetime… that doesn't sound bad either?"
"Hey—"
The Knave stood up. "I happened to hear the children talking about films a while ago. I didn't expect to get such a wonderful script today. Then thank you, Mr. Mu Yang."
"Consider it my return gift for you treating me to the magic show?"
Lyney and Lynette exchanged a glance, feeling it was better to hear less.
They quickly left to pack up the props backstage.