Fontaine Court, Café Lujosa.
Lumine flipped through the newspaper with a bored expression.
Mu Yang hadn't been around lately, so it was too dull. She wanted to find something to do.
Paimon suggested, "How about we go check out the square? It looks really lively. There seems to be some kind of festival going on recently. Even the flags have been changed."
"Alright then. Today I'll listen to you." Lumine popped the small cake into her mouth, stood up, and headed toward the square.
Paimon as a guide was only really useful during festivals.
At times like these, her reaction speed was faster than anyone else's.
Lumine walked past several stalls and was just about to ask what festival was happening recently.
But she heard an argument breaking out on the other side.
"...This! Monsieur Maurice, you sir! How can you only tell me this now?"
"Sigh, I have no choice either. This really is a sudden situation on our end."
"Then what about my film?"
In the live stream room, Guinaifen rubbed her small hands.
"Aiya, isn't this that person… yeah, that guy…"
"Remembered! The one who helped us dump nuclear wastewater in Inazuma."
[You remembered a trading post!]
[Zevil, the one who helped us purify the core.]
"Oh right, right right, it was purifying the Shadow Puppet Furnace core, not dumping nuclear wastewater."
[Insane]
[Wait, isn't this guy a film director? Did I remember wrong?]
[Can't a person work two jobs?]
Maurice, who was being questioned by Xavier, also looked helpless.
"This… you'll have to think of a way yourself. Or take my advice and just forget about this film festival…"
With that, he left, leaving Xavier sighing on the spot.
Lumine walked over and patted his shoulder. "Xavier, what's wrong? You look so down."
Xavier turned around. His expression shifted from dejection to surprise.
"Aiya, isn't this my dear Miss Lumine and Paimon? I never expected… never expected to meet you at this very moment…"
"Long time no see. How have you been lately?"
Xavier's face drooped again.
"Sigh, it was going pretty well, but… I was just visited by terrible news. The investor cooperating with me on the film can no longer provide funding due to financial difficulties."
[Mu Yang: My turn to take the stage!]
[What Pirate Parchis]
[I, Wang Duoyu, have taken over this movie!]
"It's simple. We can just invest in you."
Lumine put her hands on her hips. She had Mu Yang backing her.
She had plenty of money.
Paimon also rubbed her small hands. "I can pitch in a little too. Then I'll be Producer Paimon."
"That's just called an investor."
Xavier was very moved.
But the contract this time was signed specifically for the [Thousand Spirits Film Festival].
It stipulated that Xavier could not cooperate with any other investors before the festival ended.
Afterward, Xavier introduced the [Thousand Spirits Film Festival].
The Thousand Spirits Festival was established to commemorate the Pure Water Knight who, according to legend, sought the pure water spirits and welcomed back the Hydro Archon Egeria.
This day is closely linked to the founding of Fontaine and its unique laws and trials.
It is also one of Fontaine's most important festivals.
"Speak properly. Why does it feel so awkward, like you swallowed an old newspaper?"
Xavier spread his hands. "These words are all copied from books."
"To avoid some… uh, unnecessary definitional controversies, when I need to quote something I usually just… recite it like this."
"Actually, if I put it simply, it's like Mondstadt's Windblume Festival or Liyue's Lantern Rite."
"Festivals—who doesn't like them? Every year during the Thousand Spirits Festival, Fontaine Court holds many events."
To commemorate the Pure Water Knights, people would imitate their appearance, wear special clothes, hold golden cups, and go door-to-door asking for pure water.
[So classy, drinking water from a golden cup]
[Whoa, isn't this just Halloween but changed to asking for water?]
These were long-standing traditions.
"However, in recent years, Lady Furina felt this was too boring. So she changed [asking for pure water] into [asking for desserts]."
[Neuvillette: Isn't drinking water good?]
[Furina: My little cakes, hehe…]
[As expected of my Furina, she really knows how to stir things up]
Even the gods were like this, so the common people were even more so.
Now the Thousand Spirits Festival felt more like a carnival.
The children quite liked it.
Every year you could hear people say to you: [No candy, then judgment.]
Lumine stretched out her hand. "No candy, then judgment!"
Paimon: "No candy, then judgment!"
"Hahaha, spare me please…"
Even as he said that, Xavier still distributed candy to the two of them.
Lumine put the candy in her mouth. "It really is quite interesting. But earlier you mentioned the [Thousand Spirits Film Festival], right? Why does this festival have so many names?"
"Ah, look at me. We got completely off topic… I must have been too happy after seeing you. Let's get back to the main subject."
This was an event proposed by the Fontaine Film Association this year.
Now that film technology was gradually maturing, it was time for this art form to receive more attention.
At the same time, the higher-ups also said that after the prophecy ended, they should develop cultural exchange and so on.
"In short, this year's festival is much livelier than in previous years."
During this period, the association would openly collect completed films from people all over the world and then hold a selection.
There were different awards for different categories.
"Of course, the highest-level one is definitely the [Furina Award]."
[Furina really loves doing insane stuff]
[Doesn't she feel embarrassed?]
[Hahaha, Furina Award]
"It should be a name decided when Lady Furina was still in office. No one has suggested changing it now."
Xavier looked at the golden Hydro Archon statue.
"Perhaps everyone feels it's quite fitting. Even though she is no longer the Hydro Archon, Lady Furina, as Fontaine's big star, shining on stage is something everyone has witnessed."
The two observed the golden statue for a while. It really matched Furina's temperament.
After finishing, Xavier became dejected again.
As a film enthusiast, he had been looking forward to this festival so much.
Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned.
Who could have thought that funding issues would arise at this time?
"Now how am I supposed to explain this to Miss Chiori and the actors who came all the way from Inazuma…"
"Chiori? That name sounds familiar. Have we heard it somewhere?" Paimon asked Lumine.
Lumine had a good memory and knew it was a clothing store.
It was said the owner was from Inazuma.
Navia and Kirara's clothes were all designed by her.
Lyney's hat seemed to be as well?
"That's right, it's her. I invited her to be the art director, including the character image design for the actors in this film."
Xavier checked his watch. "The patrol ship should be arriving soon. Why don't you come with me to the main platform of the patrol ship station to pick them up?"
Lumine glanced at him. "I heard Miss Chiori speaks very directly and doesn't hold back."
"You're not trying to bring us along to share the firepower, are you?"
Xavier bowed ninety degrees.
"Please!"
[You don't seem like a Fontaine person, more like an Inazuma person]
[Sumimasen]
[Wait, isn't it red bean paste arigato?]
"Fine, fine. I do want to see who the Inazuma actors are."
===
"Fam, spoiler: it's Kamisato Ayaka and Yoimiya, hahaha."
[Spoiling, huh? So lame, already reported]
[I also know Ayato is there]
===
What they didn't know was.
A little earlier.
Mu Yang had welcomed Ei and Yae Miko here…