Chapter 872 - 872: 872: Beneath the Gaze of the Iudex

"I am not joking in the slightest."

Arlecchino's expression grew solemn, her crimson pupils fixed in sharp focus.

She had grown up on the streets of Fontaine, a time that felt distant now.

Even back then, the Chief Justice had already held absolute dominion over the administration of the realm.

Moreover, when Arlecchino had recently marched her detachment through Fontaine, she had visited the Court of Fontaine and met Neuvillette in person.

At the time, perhaps out of deference to her status as an envoy of the Cryo Archon, Neuvillette had refrained from overstepping his bounds, allowing Furina to conduct the formal greetings without interruption.

He had acted every bit the disciplined, obedient subordinate to the Hydro Archon.

Yet Arlecchino could sense the truth. The oppressive presence radiating from Furina was negligible compared to the cold, bottomless abyss dwelling within Neuvillette.

His outward demeanor was calm and unassuming, blending effortlessly into the background.

Yet that quiet, overwhelming elevation of his life tier had left Arlecchino deeply unsettled.

It was a suffocating pressure she had experienced only in the presence of the Tsaritsa, Zhongli, or the other ancient sovereigns.

Those rulers were paramount gods whose foundational existence stood at the absolute zenith of Teyvat.

For Neuvillette to stand on an equal footing made his true nature terrifyingly ambiguous.

Arlecchino had briefly suspected he might be an unrecorded Descender, or perhaps one of the seven primordial Dragon Sovereigns from the dawn of creation.

Such ancient matters had held little relevance to her back then. She harbored no fear of him, yet picking a fight with an entity of that caliber was an unnecessary headache.

Now, however, the situation had shifted. She was returning to unravel the ancient prophecy and resolve the existential crisis facing Fontaine, and her greatest concern was that the prophecy was tied directly to Neuvillette himself.

She did not know him well, but she never hesitated to evaluate every actor through the lens of worst-case scenarios.

Anticipating disaster ensured that even when complications arose, contingency plans were already prepared.

Traveling alongside Lumine was the supreme shield against unexpected hazards.

Arlecchino had to tread carefully around Neuvillette, but Lumine operated under entirely different rules.

The Traveler merely needed to maintain standard vigilance.

Arlecchino was certain Fontaine had already received formal diplomatic communiques regarding the Five-Nation Alliance.

That meant Lumine's terrifying pedigree could not possibly remain hidden from Neuvillette's desk.

Even if the Chief Justice remained ignorant of Ryen's existence, Lumine's known standing was more than enough to make him think twice before lifting a finger.

The Princess of the Abyss Order, with the fearsome Aether standing as her devoted twin brother.

A cherished peer to Barbatos, Morax, Beelzebul, Barnabas, and Buer.

The honored guest of the Five-Nation Alliance.

Whether one measured her personal strength or the titanic coalition standing at her back, Fontaine could not afford to provoke her.

Even if Arlecchino overcalculated Neuvillette's true power, would he genuinely dare cross blades with Lumine, risking an immediate war with multiple ancient Archons?

Lumine's diplomatic standing guaranteed total operational freedom across Fontaine.

Moving in her shadow granted Arlecchino immense tactical latitude.

Turning these thoughts over in her mind, Arlecchino spoke in a quiet, earnest tone.

"In short, journeying together offers mutual advantages for both of us."

"Though in truth, the benefit falls primarily on me. Your presence is the ultimate disguise and protection for my operations. Lend me a hand, Lumine; we fought shoulder to shoulder on the ramparts, after all."

Watching Arlecchino look at her with such earnest supplication, Lumine scratched her cheek with a light chuckle.

"I never planned on turning you down. Having a gorgeous companion alongside me always makes a journey far more delightful."

Arlecchino offered a soft, relieved smile, pressing her fingers lightly against her lips.

"Then you have my thanks. Notify me whenever you are prepared to depart. It has been some time since I walked those streets, but I can still serve as an exceptional local guide."

"I can take you to experience Fontaine's finest delicacies. I know an exquisite confectioner that crafts the most marvelous macarons."

The moment food was mentioned, Paimon's eyes lit up like bright lanterns.

"Macarons! Sounds incredible! Arlecchino, are you treating us?"

Arlecchino smirked inwardly, wondering how these two wealthy hoarders could possibly attempt to plunder her modest wallet, yet enjoying a free meal was a time-honored tradition.

The three exchanged knowing glances, laughter rippling between them.

The intelligence Arlecchino had shared was surprising, yet Lumine found herself largely unfazed.

While trouble seemed to follow her wherever she walked, every grand crisis had eventually been resolved under her heel.

Besides, Fontaine could hardly prove that unlucky, could it?

Aether had already returned, meaning her travels were no longer a desperate search for her lost sibling. She simply wished to experience the diverse lands and customs of Teyvat, grounding her memories to naturally restore her original strength.

Under such peaceful circumstances, crossing paths with local deities or political figures was not even necessary.

A relaxing vacation: savoring delicacies, admiring coastal landscapes, meeting colorful strangers, and collecting fond memories.

That was the entirety of her purpose now.

Still, bringing Arlecchino along would undoubtedly introduce a few unexpected detours into the itinerary.

The Harbinger intended to investigate the apocalyptic prophecy, which would inevitably bring them into conflict with Furina and the high court.

Whether the outcome would prove fortunate or chaotic remained to be seen.

Combat itself was a trivial concern. Lumine harbored zero doubts about her current martial prowess.

Nourished by Ryen's boundless energy, her elemental reserves had experienced a staggering ascension. Clashing with Zhongli might leave her somewhat hard-pressed, but knocking Venti across the room was well within her capability.

That assessment applied even with everyone wielding their respective modded artifacts.

With absolute personal strength and Ryen anchoring her rear, Lumine felt like the overpowered protagonist of a fantasy novel strolling through an entry-level dungeon.

Whatever Neuvillette turned out to be, Lumine paid it little mind. They were not guaranteed to become enemies, and their paths might not even cross.

If Fontaine showed interest in joining the Five-Nation Alliance, a formal meeting might take place, but that was a diplomatic headache for the leaders to handle.

Moreover, according to Zhongli, the Hydro Archon was a devoted follower of the Heavenly Principles, dreaming of judging the foreign gods.

Such zealous piety made Furina's political stance difficult to predict.

Yet based on Arlecchino's strange description, the Hydro Archon seemed rather eccentric and unreliable.

As Lumine pondered the matter, Tartaglia strolled over, a broad, casual grin on his face.

"You are departing for Fontaine, aren't you?"

The cheerful atmosphere evaporated in an instant. Paimon planted her hands on her hips, shooting Tartaglia an annoyed glare.

"Eavesdropping on private conversations! How utterly ill-mannered!"

"Besides, we are traveling to Fontaine; what does that have to do with you?!"

Tartaglia spread his hands in an easy, defensive gesture.

"Come now, don't be so cold. We are comrades through thick and thin, aren't we?"

"I refuse to acknowledge anyone who has never treated us to a lavish banquet as an authentic comrade!" Paimon tossed her head with an indignant sniff.

Tartaglia rolled his eyes, sighing with fond exasperation.

"Your criteria for friendship is far too mercenary, Paimon."

Turning back to Lumine, his expression shifted into genuine seriousness.

"To speak plainly: I also need to make a journey to Fontaine in the coming days. Since you are already heading there, we might as well travel together. It is always better to have company on the road."

Lumine looked him up and down, curling her lip in mild disdain.

"Wherever we head, you immediately follow along. Are you our shadow? Besides, if you abandon your post, who oversees Snezhnaya's expansion?"

"The Genshin Impact module requires extensive development, and there are mountains of work waiting. Did the Tsaritsa even authorize your departure?"

"And frankly, you are being entirely presumptuous. This is a ladies' vacation; why on earth would we drag you along like an obtrusive third wheel?"

Tartaglia felt a wave of helpless amusement.

Where on earth had Lumine picked up such ruthless dismissiveness?

Scratching his neck, Tartaglia straightened his posture, his cadence dropping into uncharacteristic earnestness.

"I am not joking with you, Lumine. I genuinely must travel to Fontaine. It is an absolute necessity."

Arlecchino's brow furrowed slightly, her voice cool and sharp.

"State your reasoning. You had better possess an unavoidable justification. I am traveling to Fontaine to address our homeland's crisis and repatriate the children of the House of the Hearth."

"My mission serves to reinforce our sovereign strength."

"If you abandon your station, Her Majesty will be severely short-handed during this critical phase of resource extraction and module harvesting."

"With only Rosalyne and Scaramouche remaining, managing our sector will place an unfair burden upon Her Majesty."

A few paces away, the Tsaritsa's ears twitched slightly, listening to the exchange while maintaining her conversation with Ningguang.

Arlecchino carried legitimate duties, and the Archon had already granted her blessing to resolve the prophecy.

Furthermore, bringing the operatives of the House of the Hearth across the threshold would provide capable hands to bolster Snezhnaya's construction efforts.

Tartaglia, however, would not be permitted to wander off without a compelling reason.

With expansion work looming, losing a premier combatant would complicate their deployment schedules.

Tartaglia let out a slow, quiet breath, looking down at his palms.

"I have no desire to shirk my duties, but I have little choice in the matter."

"A strange, persistent restlessness has gripped my chest lately. It is a peculiar sensation that disrupts my training, leaving my focus scattered."

"It feels as though something deep below is calling out to me, and the moment you mentioned Fontaine, that resonance spiked violently."

"I am certain I must go to Fontaine."

"You both know that during my youth, I fell into the Abyss and met my master, Skirk."

"She forged my combat arts from nothing. When I asked why she took me as her disciple, her answer was enigmatic."

"She said only that I had awakened it, that its mark lingered upon my being, and that in the future, those martial skills would be required."

Lumine tilted her head, muttering with a dry smirk, "What a familiar cadence. Why do ancient martial mentors always speak in cryptic riddles, just like Zhongli?"

Tartaglia let the comment pass, pressing on with dark intensity.

"I suspect that the entity she referred to is tied directly to the vision I witnessed during my fall into the dark."

"In that dream, I stood at the floor of a boundless, lightless ocean, and before my eyes hovered a colossal, suffocating whale."

"I brooded over her words for years, chasing every shadow to find my master and demand answers, but I never relocated the threshold to that chasm."

"As time slipped by, the memory faded into the background."

"Now, the call echoing in my blood is undoubtedly that creature."

"I have reasons that demand my presence in Fontaine. Much like Arlecchino, my former standing as a Fatui Harbinger makes independent travel difficult; moving beneath your banner is the only viable path."

He looked toward Lumine with open, eager expectation.

Lumine scratched her temple, spreading her hands in mild resignation.

"All very mysterious, certainly. Yet your travel permissions have nothing to do with me. Shouldn't you seek approval from the Tsaritsa?"

"Besides, in a nation governed by strict legal tribunals, a battle-hungry troublemaker who draws his blades at the slightest provocation is practically walking straight into an execution docket."

Tartaglia offered an awkward, sheepish grin.

"I can practice restraint, I assure you! As for Her Majesty..."

Before he could finish his sentence, the Tsaritsa's cool, melodious voice drifted smoothly across the hall.

"If you feel compelled to go, you may depart. I have already instructed Pulcinella to escort Columbina across the threshold to take your place. However, you must return the moment your business concludes; our subsequent operations require your hands."

"Furthermore, maintain absolute discipline in Fontaine. A land governed by trials is no playground for reckless brawls."

A brilliant, relieved grin broke across Tartaglia's face.

"My deepest thanks, Your Majesty!"

Turning back to Lumine, his eyes shone with vibrant excitement.

"Well? Can I accompany your party now?"