"So this is how it is."
"If something as dangerous as Primordial Seawater has been in use for so long, how could this have happened only now?"
The audience suddenly realized the truth.
"That makes sense." Marcel (Vacher) nodded in agreement.
He was still pretending to be wronged, acting as though the case had nothing to do with him.
"Mr. Marcel, please present your counterarguments," Neuvillette said.
"Counterarguments? Why should I counterargue? This is all just a misunderstanding. Besides, Navia didn't directly accuse me of being the mastermind just now, did she?" Marcel replied.
"If he won't ask, then I will," Furina interjected.
Unlike the original course of events, she didn't inquire about evidence of a third person's presence.
This time, Navia wasn't merely making a conjecture—she had presented solid proof.
With the help of Charlotte and others, Navia had already identified the third person who went missing that day.
"If Mr. Callas knew the critical information that humans could dissolve into water, why didn't he reveal it during the subsequent trial?"
"That alone could have given the trial room for maneuver..."
Furina directly asked the question that concerned her most—anything related to the prophecy.
"This was because..." Navia hesitated for a moment before clenching her teeth and continuing.
"To protect me, to protect the Spina di Rosula, Callas chose to sacrifice himself."
"If he had revealed this crucial information at the time, the real culprit might have been caught."
"But both I and the Spina di Rosula would have been torn apart in the backlash from the true mastermind."
"Perhaps afterward, the Gardes would have apprehended the culprit and delivered 'justice.'"
"But by then, what use would that 'justice' have been...?"
"By keeping this information hidden until now, he bought me—bought us—more time."
"Now that I've uncovered the truth, it will be me, not the Opera Epiclese, who restores my father's honor."
"..." Furina fell silent.
Was Fontaine's "justice" truly correct?
If Fontaine's "justice" could truly deliver "fairness," why would an organization like the Spina di Rosula be so deeply beloved by the people?
"I have no further questions. Navia, please continue." Furina sat back down.
Little Furina seemed somewhat upset. Lucian flicked his finger, and a curtain of water swept past Furina's eyes, leaving behind a rainbow.
Floating in front of the rainbow were bubbles, each reflecting images of desserts.
This was something he'd learned from Furina's idle animations.
"What's this...?" Furina blinked.
A flicker of delight appeared in her heterochromatic eyes, and she unconsciously swallowed.
Neuvillette shot a glance at Lucian.
The earlier action hadn't been aggressive, so he hadn't intervened.
But the Hydro Dragon couldn't comprehend Lucian's behavior.
Why do this in front of the Hydro Archon? What was the point?
"Marcel, don't you want to defend yourself?" Navia turned to Marcel.
"Defend myself? Why should I defend myself?"
"I've already said it's all a misunderstanding. Besides, when the 'Serial Disappearance Case of Young Women' occurred, I hadn't even arrived in Fontaine yet." Marcel smiled.
He had remained calm all along precisely because of this—he had a solid alibi.
As long as Navia hadn't uncovered his other identity, there was no way to prove his guilt.
"Ah? So he has an alibi? Then what's there to discuss?" The audience sighed.
It seemed the case was about to end here.
Neuvillette also turned his gaze to Navia, curious how she would dismantle the alibi.
"You're right. When the 'Serial Disappearance Case of Young Women' occurred, 'Marcel' wasn't in Fontaine."
Navia openly admitted it.
Just as everyone thought Navia had been refuted, she pivoted.
"But Vacher was!"
"!?" Marcel's composure shattered.
"Surprised to hear that name?"
Navia noticed Marcel's unease.
"I was just a little startled to hear you mention a name I don't recognize."
"A name you don't recognize, huh?"
Navia smirked at Marcel.
Lucian knew it was his turn to step in.
"My partner has collected some rather interesting evidence," Navia said.
Though Navia referred to Lucian as her partner, Neuvillette still wanted to stop this sudden disruption of order.
"Wait, Neuvillette. If there's evidence, let's hear it first," Furina interjected.
She'd been wondering how to get to know Lucian—wasn't this the perfect opportunity?
Neuvillette's raised staff ultimately didn't strike down, slowly lowering instead.
It wasn't just because of Furina's words—Neuvillette himself also deeply wanted to solve the "Serial Disappearance Case of Young Women."
This case had caused far too much tragedy.
"It's you?" Marcel recognized Lucian.
Wasn't this the new friend Navia had made some time ago?
Ever since meeting this guy, Navia had started acting differently.
"Yes, it's me."
"You really shouldn't have come to Fontaine," Marcel glared at Lucian with hatred.
"But here I am," Lucian paid no mind to Marcel's hostility.
"Not only did I come, but I also brought some things you didn't want discovered."
With that, Lucian retrieved a large number of items from his Vision.
Diaries, experiment reports, the belongings of the missing girls, and even Primordial Seawater.
All of these had been found in Vacher's hideout.
Marcel was horrified but still tried to argue.
"You... How can you prove these things belong to me!?"
That's right, these items were labeled with "Vacher"—what did that have to do with "Marcel"?
In response, Lucian pulled out a stack of photographs, all taken inside the Fontaine of Lucine factory.
Navia had evidence of Marcel selling Fontaine of Lucine, proving his connection to the factory.
Moreover, the diaries also mentioned the name "Marcel"—a name Vacher and Vigneire had come up with together.
"Thanks to Charlotte's Kamera, the photos are of excellent clarity."
"Oh, and they're also videos. Would you like to watch?"
Though Charlotte hadn't taken the stand in this trial, her involvement was undeniable—she had a 100% participation rate.
The intel and evidence on Navia's side were provided by her.
The tools on Lucian's side were also hers.
Even now, Charlotte was still scribbling away in the audience, ready to continue reporting once the trial concluded.
Marcel wanted to argue further, but Lucian delivered the final blow.
"Vacher, don't you think you've tainted the name 'Marcel'?" Lucian pressed.
This was a name he and Vigneire had chosen together—yet now he was using it as a cover for his crimes.
"..." Vacher fell silent. He truly couldn't deny that name.
He had lost. Once Vacher's identity was exposed, the evidence he had hidden surfaced one piece after another.
There was no room left for denial.
"Marcel—no, Vacher! By the time you noticed the changes in me, it was already too late," Navia declared.
"Mr. Marcel, do you have anything further to argue?"
"If not, the trial will proceed to the next phase," Neuvillette's tone remained indifferent.
"Noticed you... Hah! Who was there to notice me!?" Vacher (Marcel) erupted.
"My lover dissolved right before my eyes, and I was powerless to stop it!"
"I told you! I told all of you! And what did you do!?"
"No one helped me. No one cared. Not a single person believed me!"
"What kind of farcical trial is this!? Pursuing justice—what a joke!"
"Vigneire's death was treated as nothing by every single one of you!"
"We made a promise—a promise to stay together no matter where we went!"
"But I... I can't dissolve!" Vacher pulled out a vial of Primordial Seawater and drank it in one gulp.
"I can't dissolve!!"
"I can't dissolve!!!"