Lucian felt no ripple of emotion toward Vacher, who was in the midst of an emotional breakdown.
Before you harmed the innocent, you were indeed a pitiable victim.
But after that, you became nothing more than a detestable perpetrator.
Moreover, everything Vacher had done was merely self-gratification under the guise of love.
And Vacher was utterly incompetent. Like him, others had sought to solve the problem of the Primordial Seawater.
Yet after twenty years of research, he probably knew less than what Rene could uncover in two weeks.
Never mind—comparing Vacher to Rene was almost an insult to Rene.
"The accused's emotions are unstable. Guards, restrain him," Neuvillette commanded.
Though Vacher struggled, he was quickly subdued.
Neuvillette recounted the general details of the case to the audience, presented the evidence of Vacher's identity, and finally delivered the verdict.
"Then, in accordance with the judgment rendered by the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, I declare: Vacher—guilty!"
As the verdict was pronounced, cheers erupted throughout the courtroom.
"Wonderful! The serial disappearances of young women have finally been resolved!"
"We've witnessed history, haven't we?"
"Sniff... Sister..."
"I always knew Callas was framed back then."
"Oh, shut it. You were the one cursing him the loudest at the time."
"Huh? Really? I don't remember..."
The victims of the serial disappearances were far too numerous. Everyone cheered upon hearing that the true culprit had been captured.
Watching as Vacher was about to be taken away, Lucian spoke up:
"Vacher, do you want to see Vigneire?"
Lucian knew full well that Vigneire had no desire to see Vacher. The ones who would meet him were the young women he had murdered.
For Vacher, the outcome of such a meeting would be nothing less than spiritual death.
This was the ending he deserved.
"You... you can let me see Vigneire?"
Vacher was overjoyed but still somewhat skeptical.
"I am Shikikan," Lucian stated outright, revealing his identity.
When venturing out into the world, one's identity was what one made of it.
If you were just an ordinary person from Liyue, others might not believe you. But if you were the author of a prophetic book, they'd at least trust you halfway.
"Please, please take me to see Vigneire."
Sure enough, Vacher's spirits lifted immediately.
Lucian smiled. Don't worry. Even if you hadn't begged me, I would have taken you to see her. They've all been waiting for you.
"Lucian?" Navia was puzzled as to why Lucian would help Vacher fulfill his wish.
If even someone like him could have his wish granted, wouldn't that be too unfair to the victims?
Their wishes and lives had been stolen by this very man.
"Don't worry. He won't get off easy," Lucian said with a wink.
Navia understood and nodded, saying nothing more.
Furina approached, stopping a short distance away from Lucian.
She cleared her throat, closed her eyes slightly, and tilted her head up like a white swan.
Ahem. "Friend from Liyue, thank you for assisting Fontaine in resolving such a major case."
"As a token of gratitude, I shall grant you the opportunity to attend my tea party."
After speaking, Furina cautiously opened her eyes a sliver.
Her beautiful gaze flickered toward Lucian, as if worried he might refuse.
"Gladly," Lucian accepted cheerfully.
"Yay!" Furina cheered internally, though her face remained solemn.
"Good. You will adore this tea party."
Furina had specially prepared Lucian's favorite treats for the occasion. Surely, he would love it.
Lucian couldn't help but laugh. Silly Furina was as adorable as ever.
Furina didn't leave immediately.
She, too, wanted to see how Lucian would arrange for Vacher to meet those who had already vanished.
Charlotte was equally curious, while Clorinde followed out of duty.
Add in Navia, Melus, Silver, and Neuvillette observing covertly, and the group quickly grew in size.
With Furina and Clorinde accompanying them, the guards naturally raised no objections and escorted Vacher, following Lucian's lead.
Lucian led everyone to the fountain in front of the Opera Epiclese and said to Vacher:
"Perfect timing. You've just ingested the Primordial Seawater. Now, step into the fountain, and you should see her."
Half-believing, half-doubting, Vacher stepped into the fountain, adopting a "better safe than sorry" mindset.
Then, from the others' perspective, Vacher simply stood there, frozen in place.
"Vacher? Why are you here?"
The Hydro Eidolon in the fountain hadn't expected Vacher to appear so suddenly.
"Vigneire? Is that you?" Vacher asked urgently.
Now the Hydro Eidolon understood.
Someone had told Vacher that Vigneire was here and brought him over.
Sensing the people nearby, there were indeed a few with an exceptional affinity for Hydro.
Perhaps one of them had heard "us" calling Vacher's name.
"Vacher, you look so old. How much time has passed?"
"Over twenty years. It's been over twenty years." Vacher's voice was heavy.
"It feels like a dream, Vigneire. I never thought I'd see you again." His voice trembled with emotion.
"Twenty years..." The Hydro Eidolon sighed.
Twenty whole years!
A decade of life and death, two realms apart—but twenty years? What had happened in the outside world?
What of their parents, their families? Were they still grieving their deaths?
What of their friends? Did they still remember them?
If not for Vacher, what dreams might they have fulfilled in those twenty years?
"Vigneire, seeing you is truly wonderful." Vacher smiled.
"Is it? Vacher, I think... it would've been better if you'd never existed!"
Vacher froze. Better if I'd never existed?
No, that couldn't be. Vigneire, you're lying to me, aren't you? You loved me too!
"If not for you, I would've finished law school. Maybe I could've become a top-class Advocate."
"If not for you, I could've pursued my dream of painting. One day, my works might've hung in the Palais Mermonia."
"If not for you, I could've at least stayed with my mother, so she wouldn't have died alone, drowning in tears!"
"It's all because of you, Vacher!"
"It's all because of you!!"
"If only you'd never existed!!!"
As the Hydro Eidolon vented, Vacher began to crumble.
"No, impossible! You're not Vigneire!"
"Correct. I am not Vigneire. I am just one of the victims you slaughtered!"
"The moment you killed the first girl, Vigneire ceased to exist!"
"It was you, Vacher!"
"You murdered Vigneire with your own hands!!"
"No, no no! That can't be! I did it all for Vigneire—" Vacher panicked.
The Hydro Eidolon cut off his self-deceiving words.
Three voices spoke at once, each uttering different phrases:
"You only ever cared about yourself!"
"You never considered others!"
"You're a liar, a murderer, a coward who deludes himself!"
Finally, the voices merged into one:
"You are anything but Vigneire's beloved!!"
"No! Vigneire!" Vacher's psyche was collapsing.
In his mind, he had done everything for Vigneire.
But not only did Vigneire no longer love him—she hated him.
What meaning did his life, his actions, hold now?
Vacher: "Please, let me see Vigneire."
Hydro Eidolon: "Vigneire won't see you. Not seeing you is her final mercy."
Hydro Eidolon: "Because I—because we—"
A chorus of voices cried out:
"Will never let you go!!!"
One by one, the girls appeared around Vacher, encircling him.
They were all victims of the serial disappearances. Dozens of voices called his name.
Claesie: "Vacher!"
Limoné: "Vacher!!"
Eisena: "Vacher!!!"
Vigneire: "Vacher..."
Together, they roared:
"DIE!!"
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH—!"
To the onlookers, Vacher, who had been standing motionless, suddenly let out a bloodcurdling scream.
The guards rushed over. The accompanying physician examined him and shook his head.
"He died of shock."
Vacher had met his end.