Fontaine, Léonay District
In this bustling city, steampunk aesthetics blended seamlessly with urban life. Gears turned and machines roared on every street corner, and the entire city seemed to operate like a massive clockwork mechanism—intricate, orderly, and self-sustaining.
At a small street-side café, Luo Qing and his team sat at an outdoor table. Clad in traditional Sumeru attire, they leisurely sipped coffee and nibbled on pastries, their eyes casually observing the bustling crowds around them.
"My lord, are we just going to sit here all day drinking coffee?"
The peace was interrupted by Theresa, who rested her chin on one hand, lazily stirring her coffee with the other. Her tone betrayed her boredom.
Among Luo Qing's four subordinates, she was the only one who dared to talk back.
"Theresa, shut it."
"..."
"My lord, seriously, we've been sitting here for days now. It's the same thing every day: one cup of coffee, one plate of biscuits, and an entire day of doing absolutely nothing!"
Not being able to read novels while idling away made Theresa feel like she was about to rot.
"I have my plans. If you're unhappy, keep it to yourself," Luo Qing retorted, poking Theresa's forehead. Unimpressed by her sulking expression, he pinched her cheeks and kneaded them like dough.
"Ow, ow, ow! Stop! My lord, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
Tears welled up in Theresa's eyes as she pleaded for mercy.
This display of "discipline" didn't go unnoticed by Natalia and the other two subordinates. To them, it was yet another instance of their lord and Theresa shamelessly flaunting their affection—something they had endured far too many times already.
When this mission to Fontaine began, the three had assumed it would be business as usual: rendezvous with other Fatui operatives, receive orders, and execute the mission.
Instead, Luo Qing had given them Sumeru identities and attire, instructing them to pose as scholars while deliberately avoiding contact with any Fatui organizations. It almost felt like their lord had defected to Sumeru.
"Did you find anything useful?" Luo Qing asked, turning to Natalia.
Natalia nodded and replied, "I investigated. Not all cases in Fontaine are presided over by the Chief Justice, Neuvillette. Lesser cases are handled by the Tribunal. According to records, the Hydro Archon usually appears in person whenever Neuvillette oversees a trial."
"What qualifies as a major case?" Luo Qing asked.
"It needs to involve threats to personal safety or crimes with severe societal impact," Natalia explained. "For example, the recent string of missing girls. Chief Justice Neuvillette has personally presided over every related hearing, but the real culprit remains at large."
"Missing girls?"
Luo Qing furrowed his brow. "Is it related to us?"
He hadn't caught up with Fontaine's storyline before being transported into this world. His understanding of the region was limited to a few brief visits with Arlecchino during work.
"I can't say for certain," Natalia replied. "Without contact with the Fatui, I couldn't obtain concrete information."
"Fair enough." Luo Qing nodded.
While his Sumeru envoy identity was officially unrelated to the Fatui, his presence in Fontaine would inevitably draw attention from various factions once his cover was revealed.
Until he fully understood Fontaine's power structures and Arlecchino's agenda, Luo Qing intended to keep a low profile. For now, he would embrace the role of a jobless wanderer, observing the culture and environment.
Once he had enough intel, he'd reveal himself.
"Any interesting trials happening recently?"
"None at the moment," Natalia said, shaking her head. "The Opéra Épiclès hosts only operas these days. The Hydro Archon hasn't made a public appearance in a while."
"I see..."
Luo Qing pondered for a moment, his gaze shifting to his two muscular subordinates seated nearby. A mischievous glint sparkled in his eyes.
If there weren't any major cases... maybe they could create one.
"My lord... why are you looking at us like that?"
Sergei and Igor exchanged uneasy glances. Every time their lord gave them that look, it spelled trouble.
"Sergei," Luo Qing began, jabbing a finger at the man's bulging biceps. "With a physique like yours, you'd make the perfect thug."
"My lord..."
[Annoyance Level +1 from Sergei]
"This doesn't feel right... I heard Fontaine's justice system is harsh, you know..."
Sergei's voice wavered with unease. It seemed their lord's penchant for throwing his subordinates under the bus hadn't changed.
"What's there to worry about? If anything happens, I'll be here to back you up," Luo Qing said nonchalantly. "Tell me—who in Fontaine is a match for me? Here's what you'll do—"
Before Luo Qing could outline his plan for a staged incident, a commotion broke out nearby.
Turning toward the noise, they noticed that a woman who had been seated behind them was now gone. In her place was a pile of clothing and a puddle of water. Nearby onlookers cowered in fear, pressing themselves against the walls.
"Hmm?"
Luo Qing blinked in confusion. He pointed to the trail of water flowing into the nearby storm drain and asked Natalia, "Is this related to the missing girls you mentioned earlier?"
"Uh... it might be..."
Before they could discuss further, a group of uniformed soldiers arrived, swiftly surrounding the café.
A man who appeared to be the captain approached Luo Qing and his group, his tone polite but firm.
"Good day. I'm Captain Es of the Léonay Patrol. We've received a report of a missing person at this location. Did any of you witness what happened to the lady who was seated nearby?"
Of all the patrons present, Luo Qing's group stood out as the calmest—and their foreign attire made them even more conspicuous.
As such, Captain Es had zeroed in on them as persons of interest.
"How would I know?" Luo Qing replied lazily. "I don't have eyes in the back of my head."
"..."
"I understand. However, this incident appears to be related to the ongoing missing girl cases. For now, I must ask you to remain here and refrain from leaving. Investigators will arrive shortly to take your statements. If you are found to have no involvement, you will be free to go."
"Statements?"
Luo Qing caught on to a particular word.
"Do I need to go to the opera house to testify?"
"You saw the perpetrator?" Es asked, his interest piqued.
"No."
"..."
"Then there's no need. The culprit behind these disappearances has yet to be caught, so we're far from reaching the trial stage."
As they spoke, a new commotion arose at the other end of the street.
Turning toward the source, Luo Qing and his team saw a white-haired man flanked by a squad of soldiers approaching the café.
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T/N: expect Fontaine names to be wrong