Inside the Opera Epiclese.
Neuvillette looked solemnly at Tartaglia, who stood in the defendant's stand.
"Mr. Tartaglia, do you accept the charges regarding the Serial Disappearances of Young Women?"
Tartaglia looked utterly bewildered.
Faced with this sudden accusation, he spoke speechlessly. "I don't quite understand Fontaine's complex Trial procedures, nor why you insist on pinning such a bizarre crime on me."
"But I've heard that the accused can prove their innocence through a duel, right?"
"So, for me, as long as I accept this charge, I can have an all-out fight with the Champion Duelist, Clorinde, isn't that so?"
At this point, Tartaglia's mood suddenly improved significantly.
Being accused felt like such a stroke of luck.
He looked at Clorinde, who stood beside Furina, and said happily, "The last time we sparred, she actually held back. This time, we should be able to have a satisfying fight."
These words immediately sparked Furina's dissatisfaction.
"Hey!"
Furina, who had been crossing her arms, immediately placed her hands on her slender waist.
She glared at Tartaglia with a serious expression. "Get this straight. You are a suspect in a criminal case. This isn't a place for you to come looking for a fight."
"Oh?" Tartaglia immediately turned his focus toward Furina.
"It seems the Hydro Archon wants to teach me some Trial principles."
"Then why don't you give it a try? I'm much better at learning through intense combat."
Eh?
Furina was instantly startled by the aura radiating from Tartaglia and took a step back.
Suppressing the panic in her heart, she didn't even dare to look him in the eye, responding haphazardly, "Ah?"
"No... no..."
"That's not what I meant at all."
Neuvillette: "..."
Arataki Itto: "Hahaha, the Hydro Archon wimped out again."
Kuki Shinobu: "Neuvillette's serious expression has vanished. I think he's about to get depressed."
Thoma: "Sigh..."
Gorou: "Sigh..."
Sangonomiya Kokomi: "Miss Furina is so unlucky. As the Hydro Archon, she has no dignity at all."
Xingqiu: "Poor Furina."
Zhongli: "Actually, I wouldn't recommend Lord Tartaglia treat the Furina of the past with such an arrogant attitude."
Tartaglia: "I know what Rex Lapis wants to say."
Dvalin: "Speaking of this Furina, it seems only Mr. Kael is allowed to bully her."
Enjou: "Don't worry, Lord Kael will take action."
Venti: "Don't worry, Lord Kael will take action."
Lyney: "Don't worry, Lord Kael will take action."
Clorinde: "So this time, there's no need for Master Neuvillette to stop Tartaglia."
Skirk: "Will we get to see Mr. Kael take action? Then Tartaglia's trip won't be in vain."
Tartaglia: "Ah? Master, there's something a bit wrong with those words."
Paimon: "Childe, this doesn't sound like you at all. Aren't you looking forward to a hearty battle? I think Kael would make a perfect opponent for you."
Lumine: "If they really fight, won't Kael beat him to death?"
Skirk: "Regarding Kael becoming the Pope, I haven't seen him actually fight yet. I'm quite looking forward to it."
The Trial fell into a stalemate due to Tartaglia's request.
Fortunately, at that moment, Navia burst into the Opera Epiclese again and publicly announced that Tartaglia had nothing to do with the case.
She pointed the finger directly at Marcel in the audience.
Her reasoning was that whenever there was a Trial for the Serial Disappearances of Young Women, Marcel would always be present.
The reason was to observe the investigation process and intervene in time to destroy any witnesses who might testify against him.
Furthermore, because Lumine had coincidentally met a mysterious Oceanid at the Fountain of Lucine, Navia even brought up the name Vacher to Marcel.
Unfortunately, none of this testimony provided concrete evidence to prove that Marcel was the culprit behind the Serial Disappearances of Young Women.
Luckily, at the critical moment, Lumine and Paimon returned with decisive evidence.
While investigating the nest where Marcel conducted his experiments, Lumine discovered the love diary of Marcel's late girlfriend.
The two had agreed that if they had a child, the name would be Marcel.
Therefore, Marcel was the original Vacher.
Outside the Opera Epiclese...
Kael, holding the Splendor of Tranquil Waters, listened quietly to the voices coming from inside.
He couldn't help but shake his head.
"Lord Pope."
Aivelson leaned in and whispered, "I feel like the Traveler and Navia are being too impulsive."
"They seem to be pointing at Marcel as the culprit based solely on conjecture."
"Even if Marcel really is Vacher, as long as he insists he isn't, everything Navia and the others have done will be in vain."
However, the sound of crazed laughter echoing from the Opera Epiclese caused Kael to let out a sigh.
"Marcel cannot overcome the psychological hurdle of losing his lover."
"The moment Lumine pointed out his lover's name, he had already lost."
Just as Kael expected.
After the fit of manic laughter.
Marcel's frantic shouting proved everything.Decades ago, even the members of the Gardes didn't believe that people could dissolve in water.
Marcel was the first person in Fontaine in nearly a century to discover that humans could be dissolved.
Unfortunately, he himself was not a Fontainian, but his lover, upon accidentally coming into contact with Primordial Seawater, dissolved into a puddle of water right before his eyes.
No one believed any of it.
Marcel then turned to experimentation, attempting to restore his lost lover.
However, every attempt ended in failure.
["Everything has come to light."]
["To think that Marcel really was Vacher."]
[Aivelson let out a sigh.]
[The Serial Disappearances of Young Women that had lasted for twenty years was finally over.]
[Kael slowly exhaled in relief.]
["Yes, it is finally over."]
[In those twenty years.]
[Fontaine had lost a total of twenty-four young girls in the prime of their lives.]
[Kael's arm trembled imperceptibly.]
["Lord Pope."]
["Since the Fatui Harbinger has been cleared of charges, I assume there will be no further issues. Let us return as well."]
["The tea must be cold by now. I will brew a fresh pot for you,"] Aivelson said respectfully.
[Kael nodded.]
[That Harbinger named Tartaglia might be combative, but he did not seem like an unreasonable man.]
[He likely would not provoke a conflict between Fontaine and Snezhnaya for no reason.]
[Just as Kael was about to turn and leave.]
[Neuvillette's booming voice echoed from within the Opera Epiclese.]
["Please wait a moment, Mr. Tartaglia."]
["This case began because of you, and a final criminal verdict must be rendered."]
[Kael stopped abruptly.]
[He chuckled helplessly. 'This old friend of mine hasn't changed once in hundreds of years.']
['Always so rigid.']
['The truth is so obvious, yet he insists on following the procedure.']
["Yes,"] Aivelson nodded in agreement. ["Lord Pope."]
["Lord Neuvillette is, after all, the Iudex of Fontaine. It would be improper if he were not strict."]
[The Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale emitted a melodic sound.]
[As the sound faded.]
[Kael was about to leave again.]
[But he suddenly heard Neuvillette's final judgment.]
["According to the final verdict of the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale."]
["Mr. Tartaglia is..."]
["Guilty!"]
[Guilty?]
[Kael was stunned.]
[This was the second time the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale had made an error.]
[In hundreds of years, the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale had never once delivered a wrongful judgment.]
[Why was there a problem now, with such an obvious result?]
[Could it be that Lyney's previous infiltration had tampered with it?]
Lyney: "I'm being framed! I don't have that kind of capability."
Lynette: "It's over, Brother. You've been marked by Mr. Kael."
Arlecchino: "Lyney indeed lacks the ability to do that."
Ningguang: "Sigh, I feel like Fontaine's Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale is going to work Mr. Kael to death."
Lisa: "He wanted to go back and drink tea, but it seems he can't again."
Nahida: "Yes, whenever the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale has an issue, the public turns on Furina. Furina doesn't know anything either, so she can only rely on Mr. Kael to step in and save the day."
Navia: "Sigh, I saw Mr. Kael's long sigh when he heard the Serial Disappearances of Young Women case was over. His hand even shook."
Clorinde: "And Mr. Kael clearly remembers that twenty-four girls went missing. As expected..."
Dainsleif: "Unfortunately, Furina is still speaking in riddles."
Lumine: "Speaking of riddlers, that's definitely you, Dainsleif."
Aether: "I just want to know how Kael will help Furina handle this crisis. He can't possibly say Furina saw through a Fatui conspiracy in Fontaine and intentionally framed Tartaglia, right?"
Enjou: "For some reason, I have a strong premonition that Master Kael will be able to wipe Furina's ass again."
Venti: "For some reason, I have a strong premonition that Master Kael will be able to wipe Furina's ass again."
Lumine: "..."
Lumine: "Barbatos, are you drinking the wine from the system rewards, or did you take some medicine made by Miss Alice? You've turned into a repeater. Why does Kael like Furina's ass so much?"
Furina: "Hey! Lumine, there are so many people here! Watch yourself and leave me some dignity!"
Yae Miko: "Hahaha, I can't... Lumine is going to kill me with laughter. Maybe Mr. Kael really does like helping with Furina's 'back end'."
Venti: "Lumine, it's mainly because what Enjou said made too much sense. I couldn't help it."
[Boom!]
[The elemental fluctuations coming from inside the Opera Epiclese made Kael, who was outside the door, frown.]
[He gently pushed open a door.]
[Intense light flooded the entire Opera Epiclese.]
[At the center of the stage.]
[Tartaglia was enveloped in powerful energy.]
["Foul Legacy?"]
[Kael looked at the mechanical parts scattered around.]
[The Gardemeks of the Opera Epiclese must have been torn apart by Tartaglia.]
[That fellow was currently gathering power, likely out of dissatisfaction with the verdict.]
["Ah, this is..."]
[Inside the Opera Epiclese, the citizens of Fontaine cried out in shock.]
[Even Furina, sitting in the stands, let out a startled scream.]
[Hearing this.]
[Kael's frown deepened.]
[He lightly tapped the Splendor of Tranquil Waters against the ground.]
[Suddenly.]
[Tartaglia, who was in the middle of his transformation, felt his heart tremble.]
[An invisible, immense power enveloped him.]
["This is..."]
[Before Tartaglia could react.]
[The overwhelming force instantly crushed him to the floor.]
["What terrifying power."]
["What is happening?"]
["My body..."]
["It's so heavy!"]
[Tartaglia tried to stand, but no matter how hard he struggled, his body was so heavy he couldn't even lift a finger.]
["This is bad. The more I struggle, the heavier it gets."]
["If this continues, the bones in my body will be crushed."]
[The fear of death caused cold sweat to pour down Tartaglia's face.]
[He had no idea what was happening.]
[But in the next second.]
[The force pressing down on him surged violently.]
["Wow!"]
Tartaglia didn't even have time to react. A spray of fresh blood erupted from his mouth as he collapsed, losing consciousness instantly.
"Ah! What is this..."
"Is he dead?"
"Hey, what happened to that guy?"
"I don't know. He was transforming, then suddenly he just hit the floor and started coughing up blood."
"..."
The series of unexpected shocks sent the audience into an absolute uproar.
Neuvillette hurried to Tartaglia's side and performed a quick examination.
He let out a sigh of relief. "Everyone, please remain calm. He has simply lost consciousness."
Then, he looked up at Kael, who was walking toward the stage.
"Was this your doing?" Neuvillette asked in a low voice.
Kael feigned a slight daze, looking at Neuvillette with surprise. "Monsieur Iudex, I have no idea what you are talking about."
The crowd didn't hear their whispered exchange, but Kael's presence clearly drew the attention of everyone in the opera house.
"It's His Holiness the Pope!"
"When did the Pope arrive?"
"I was so scared by that Fatui Harbinger just now that I didn't even notice His Holiness appear."
Hearing the cheers from below, Kael pressed his hands down, signaling for silence.
"Everyone, please be quiet for a moment."
"The trial is still in session. Since the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale has declared Mr. Tartaglia guilty, let us first escort him to the Fortress of Meropide."
Kael finished speaking and turned to Neuvillette. "Monsieur Neuvillette, that should be the proper procedure for the trial, shouldn't it?"
Neuvillette nodded, choosing not to "dispute" with Kael in such a public setting.
"According to procedure, Mr. Tartaglia must indeed be incarcerated in the Fortress of Meropide."
Neuvillette signaled the members of the Marechaussee Phantom, who dragged the unconscious Tartaglia away.
"Wait a minute!"
At that moment, Lumine, Paimon, and Navia approached.
Confusion was written all over their faces.
Paimon couldn't help but speak up. "We've already found the real culprit behind the Serial Disappearances of Young Women!"
"The case is solved! Why was Childe still found guilty?"
"Oh? So it was you who solved the disappearance case? That is truly..."
Kael was about to change the subject when Lumine cut in with a challenge. "Your Holiness, this is the second time the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale has malfunctioned."
"Don't you think you owe us an explanation?"
"Please watch your words, Traveler." Kael maintained his smile. "The previous so-called 'accident' was a deliberate arrangement by the Hydro Archon."
"As for this time..."
Kael put on an expression as if he were hiding something difficult to say.
"Your Holiness, what is actually going on?"
"That's right, can the Hydro Archon give us an explanation?"
The citizens of Fontaine were equally worried about the Oratrice's issues. After all, the energy for all of Fontaine was provided by that machine.
"This..." Furina felt her mind go numb.
Fortunately, Kael's long sigh drew everyone's attention back to him.
"You should all know that Lyney from the House of the Hearth once entered the core of the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale."
"Could it be..." Aivelson followed up immediately, looking shocked.
The realization dawned on the citizens of Fontaine.
So it was the Fatui's doing. They must have used some method to sabotage the stability of the Oratrice.
"The Hydro Archon has been attempting to adjust the energy stability of the Oratrice recently."
"As you all just saw, that rowdy Fatui Harbinger was severely injured precisely because of a surge in the Oratrice's energy."
"However, please rest assured. Once this violent energy is cleared out, everything will naturally return to normal."