"What do you propose, then?"
Luo Qing sighed helplessly. His current identity as a Sumeru envoy prevented him from resorting to direct action. Otherwise, he would've already tested Furina's mental strength with a little mind control.
"What kind of entrance do you think best suits someone of my stature?" Furina asked, resting her head on one hand while her small feet swung slightly. Her expression betrayed a trace of eager anticipation—like she was waiting for Luo Qing to heap praises on her. Or, more accurately, to flatter her shamelessly.
"Can I be honest?" Luo Qing leaned forward.
"Speak."
"Your Grace, you're too short. A 'cold and regal' vibe doesn't suit you."
Furina, standing a full head shorter than Luo Qing, had nothing on other women he'd seen who embodied the "elegant and commanding" archetype. Figures like Ningguang or Yelan, for example, only came up to his brow line, yet their aura radiated sophistication. Compared to them, Furina was more like an adorable younger sister.
"You—!" Furina shot to her feet, hopping in frustration. "Disrespecting a deity not once, but over and over again! Do you want to face execution at the Ophecleide Opera House?"
"I'm just being honest." Luo Qing spread his hands, feigning an innocent expression.
Inwardly, he wasn't particularly worried. Whether or not he could beat the Hydro Archon or Fontaine's Chief Justice was uncertain, but escaping? That was a guarantee.
"No way!" Furina huffed, slumping back onto the sofa and crossing her legs again. "To the people of Fontaine, I am the epitome of nobility and grace, wisdom, and absolute justice. I can't just change my style on a whim!"
With a light snort, she added, "As my collaborator, it's your duty to come up with an entrance befitting my unparalleled aura."
"…"
Great. Just great. Luo Qing sighed inwardly. I'd hit her with emotional control and my entire deck of influence cards if it wouldn't jeopardize my position as a Sumeru envoy.
This self-proclaimed wise goddess was somehow even more exasperating than Raiden Ei.
"Fine, fine. I'll come up with something for you," he said dismissively, gesturing toward the pitch-black night outside. "But Your Grace, it's quite late. If word got out that the Hydro Archon spent the night at a single man's house, it wouldn't reflect well on your image. How about we discuss this tomorrow?"
"Unacceptable!" Furina crossed her arms defiantly. "We only have a week to prepare, and I'm extremely busy during the day!"
"And you're saying...?"
"Tonight, we must come up with at least a draft plan. If we can't, then we won't sleep!" Furina declared, waving her hand grandly, looking as energized as ever.
"…"
---
Morning.
By the time the sun rose, Luo Qing was left with dark circles under his eyes as he finally saw Furina off. She, on the other hand, was completely unphased, chirping about taking a nap before heading out to have some fun. Her boundless energy made it impossible to believe she'd pulled an all-nighter.
Before leaving, she also warned Luo Qing to keep last night's events a secret, demanding he let it rot in his heart. Furthermore, she cheerfully announced her intent to visit him every night until the livestream to continue brainstorming.
Luo Qing had plenty of things he wanted to say to Furina—none of them polite.
But as a Sumeru envoy, he had to maintain his decorum. He couldn't afford to lose face on behalf of Sumeru. If he were here as a representative of Snezhnaya instead, though… well, no one would bat an eye if he caused a little chaos.
Why didn't I just stick with my Snezhnayan identity? he lamented.
The sun was up, and Luo Qing, watching the early morning crowd bustling through Fontaine, decided against going back to bed. Instead, he changed into local attire and stepped out into the city.
Last night, Lynette had conveyed Arlecchino's message. As someone who owed his survival to her in the past, Luo Qing felt obligated to seek her out now that he was in Fontaine.
The problem was that the Knave was hiding in the shadows, and Luo Qing had no idea where to find her.
Unlike Sumeru, where the Void Network provided instant information at his fingertips, Fontaine's lack of such connectivity left him relying on old-fashioned methods. He decided to start by finding Lynette and her brother, Lynny, to ask for Arlecchino's whereabouts.
Lynette wasn't particularly famous, but her brother Lynny was well-known. After wandering around the Léonor District for a while and asking a few locals, Luo Qing quickly discovered the magician's location.
As one of Fontaine's celebrated magicians, Lynny's background was no secret. An orphan raised in the Buffati Manor, even after rising to fame, he continued to reside there.
The name Buffati Manor rang a bell for Luo Qing—it was essentially a branch of the House of the Hearth in Fontaine.
The Manor operated in a morally gray area, wielding influence that extended even into Fontaine's court. If there was any major movement in Fontaine, the Buffati Manor would likely be the first to know.
Luo Qing had visited the place a few times back when he was an intelligence agent. However, compared to the warmth of Snezhnayan hospitality, the children at Buffati Manor had always been more standoffish. Most of his interactions with Lynette and Lynny had taken place after Arlecchino brought them to Snezhnaya for training.
Consequently, Luo Qing didn't have many strong impressions of the place.
"Hopefully, it hasn't changed much," he muttered, heading toward Buffati Manor.
Nestled in the shadow of Fontaine's towering city walls, Buffati Manor was an unassuming little building. Luo Qing stopped in front of its door and rang the bell.
Soon, light footsteps approached from the other side.
The door creaked open, revealing a shy-looking boy with freckles, half-hidden behind the door.
"Excuse me, sir. How can I help you?" the boy asked hesitantly.
"I'm looking for Lynette and Lynny. Are they home?" Luo Qing replied casually, his gaze drifting toward the interior. He could faintly hear children chattering inside.
"My brother and sister have a performance today," the boy explained. "They've already left."
"They've gone out?" Luo Qing was mildly surprised. Lynette had been at his place late last night, and now she was off performing again early in the morning? These siblings were certainly hardworking.
"Well, alright…" Luo Qing nodded, glancing at the Buffati Manor's nameplate. After a brief pause, he added, "In that case, can I speak to your 'father'? Is Arlecchino home?"
"Who are you?!" The boy's demeanor shifted, his eyes narrowing warily.
In Fontaine, not many people knew the true identity of their "father," and this man with a Liyuean face didn't seem trustworthy.
"Relax, relax." Luo Qing smiled, waving his hand to defuse the tension. With a small flourish, a dark golden badge appeared in his palm.
"You might not know me, but I'm sure you'll recognize this. I, too, was once one of your 'father's' children."
"This..."
---
T/N: forgetti the chapeterteirei sorgee
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