In the morning, Rei walked slowly along the streets of Fontaine while the sun was shining.
Before long, he arrived in front of a spacious and elegant house.
There were many green plants around the house. The leaves looked fresh and made the house look nice.
Rei stepped forward and reached out to press the doorbell.
Moments later, the door slowly opened, and a cute cat-eared girl appeared before his eyes.
The girl wore a black magician's outfit and skirt that showed her slim figure. She had black tights on her long legs.
She had pretty features and a small star-shaped mark on her cheek, which made her look special.
"Hello, my name is Rei, Vice Captain of the Gardes. I have come specifically to visit the head of the House of the Hearth," Rei said softly to the girl, a gentle smile hanging on his face.
The girl looked Rei up and down, then spoke with a cold expression. "Wait a moment."
After saying that, she turned and walked into the house.
After a while, she returned again, her attitude still cold. "Follow me."
Rei nodded slightly and followed behind the girl, walking into the house.
The house was simply decorated but felt cozy and warm like a home.
After Rei looked around, he couldn't help but notice the girl's long, soft tail.
The girl quickly noticed him looking and felt annoyed and shy.
She decided that if she had a chance, she would teach this rude guy a lesson.
Before long, Rei and Lynette walked one after the other into a simply furnished study.
Inside, a composed woman was sitting upright at the desk. It was none other than the Head of the House of the Hearth, Arlecchino.
She looked serious and confident. Her black eyes had a red cross-shaped mark that made her seem dangerous and interesting.
"Vice Captain Rei, what is the purpose of your visit to the House of the Hearth this time?" Arlecchino's tone was flat; not a shred of emotion could be heard in it.
Rei replied meaningfully, "The House of the Hearth is well-informed; you should be able to roughly guess my purpose for coming here."
Arlecchino narrowed her eyes a little, and for a moment they looked very cold. "It seems Vice Captain Rei knows quite a lot of things."
She turned her head to look at Lynette, who was standing obediently to the side, and instructed, "Lynette, go brew a cup of coffee for our guest."
"Yes, Father," Lynette nodded in response, turned to leave, and closed the door.
As soon as she left, Arlecchino spoke in a cold voice, "The House of the Hearth will not intervene in the struggle between you and the Cappet family."
Rei shrugged indifferently. "As far as I know, the House of the Hearth has done quite a few things over the years that cross the law and common sense."
"Are you threatening me?" Arlecchino looked at him sharply, and Rei suddenly felt a lot of pressure from her.
Rei felt very nervous, as if he was in danger.
He gritted his teeth, making himself stay calm. "This is not a threat, but a statement of fact. Once revealed, the House of the Hearth will become a notorious organization. If you are willing to cooperate with me, I can make sure all of this remains buried forever."
Arlecchino thought for a moment, and the tense feeling in the room slowly faded. "Tell me, how do we cooperate?"
Rei thought to himself that this woman was very strong and scary. He guessed she was even more powerful than she showed.
He spoke slowly, "I will help the House of the Hearth in different ways: money, supplies, and even the future of those children. You should know that not every child is suitable to be a spy."
The last sentence moved Arlecchino.
As the Head of the House of the Hearth, she had always worried about the future of these children.
Being a spy for the Fatui was always going to be a job with a sad future.
Many people never sent any word back after their first mission.
After a brief weighing of options, Arlecchino asked in a deep voice, "What do you want to gain from the House of the Hearth?"
Rei answered without hesitation, "I need your unreserved support, including you yourself."
Arlecchino glanced coldly at Rei. "The current you is not yet qualified."
Rei didn't mind this too much, a composed smile still hanging on his face. "In that case, we might as well talk about limited cooperation for now."
As he spoke, he took a sketch out of his pocket and handed it to Arlecchino. "This outfit was bought by a Snezhnayan merchant on the black market. I need you to find it as soon as possible."
Arlecchino took a look, then put away the sketch. "Three days."
Rei nodded and thought to himself that the Fatui were really quick.
"Speak. How do you intend to repay us? The House of the Hearth never makes a losing trade," Arlecchino said, crossing her hands over her chest, her tone carrying a toughness that allowed no doubt.
Rei muttered to himself for a moment, then said, "Before long, I will become the Captain of the Gardes, and there will be an internal purge. At that time, I will give two Garde spots to the House of the Hearth."
Hearing this, Arlecchino frowned slightly. "Two? That is too few. I want five spots."
"Five?" Rei gave a light chuckle. "Aren't you afraid of attracting Neuvillette's attention?"
Arlecchino ultimately made a concession.
Just then, the door was gently pushed open. Lynette walked in carrying a tray with two cups of steaming hot coffee on it.
She handed the coffee to Rei and Arlecchino in turn.
Rei took the coffee cup, blew gently on the rim, and took a shallow sip.
The coffee tasted very bitter and made Rei frown.
Lynette watched him and smiled, happy her prank worked.
Arlecchino took all of this in; how could she not understand the reason behind it?
However, she pretended not to have seen anything.
Rei gave a light cough, placed the coffee cup on the desk without changing his expression, and then said, "Lady Arlecchino, I still have matters to attend to, so I will take my leave first."
As his voice fell, he turned directly and left.
"What a rude guy," Lynette muttered in a low voice while watching Rei's retreating figure.
Arlecchino looked at Lynette with interest and pressed, "Lynette, how was he rude?"
When Lynette remembered what happened, her face turned red. She lowered her head and whispered, "Just now... he kept... staring at my tail."
Hearing this, a thoughtful expression appeared on Arlecchino's face.
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