Sensing the energy emanating from Charlotte, Lyney merely flashed a cruel smile. He casually tossed the playing card in his hand, but it shot toward Charlotte with unimaginable speed, slicing through the air.
Lynette remained motionless, having already concluded there was no need for her intervention.
Charlotte focused completely, barely managing to conjure an ice shield just before the attack struck. Yet she didn't breathe a sigh of relief; the Pyro element swirling around the card made the air around her feel uncomfortably warm.
This won't hold!
Realizing this, Charlotte immediately adjusted the angle of her ice shield, hoping to deflect the card's trajectory. However, she had no confidence in the maneuver's success.
In Charlotte's eyes, the Pyro-infused playing cards finally collided with her ice element shield. Contrary to her expectation of a heavy impact, the cards instantly transformed into vibrant flowers upon contact. After striking the ice barrier, they slowly drifted downward.
Charlotte stood frozen in shock.
"Ha ha ha ha! Apologies, Miss Charlotte. Just a little joke from me."
Lyney couldn't suppress his laughter at Charlotte's stunned expression, instantly dispelling the tense atmosphere.
"What's the meaning of this?" Seeing Lyney's amusement, Charlotte felt a surge of anger at being mocked.
"Don't be angry, Miss Charlotte."
"As a skilled Magician, I always aim to make a lasting impression during our first meeting."
Lyney snapped his fingers with a grin, filling the room instantly with colorful streamers and balloons.
"All right, everyone can come out now. Let's welcome my friend properly."
As Lyney's words faded, a group of ten-year-old children rushed into the room, surrounding Charlotte.
"Big sister, you're Lyney's friend, aren't you?"
"Lyney said you're shy. You finally came to see him today!"
"Big sister, are you Lyney's girlfriend...?"
The sudden onslaught of questions overwhelmed Charlotte's mind. She didn't know how to handle the children's enthusiasm.
"Alright, settle down now. Don't scare her."
Lyney smiled and raised his hands to calm the energetic kids. Then he turned to Charlotte again.
"Welcome officially to the House of the Hearth, Miss Charlotte!"
"Let's begin the tour now, shall we?"
-
"Seriously, why hasn't the Maison Gardiennage solved the case yet?"
Furina gazed at the deserted streets, her brow furrowing.
What she truly wished to see was Fontaine's prosperity and vitality, so as not to disappoint the trust the previous Hydro Archon had placed in her when entrusting Fontaine's future.
Now, even in Fontaine's once-thriving capital, the streets stood eerily empty. This sight cast a pall over Furina's mood.
Of course, Furina wouldn't voice these thoughts aloud. Instead, she remarked:
"If this continues, my daily ceremonial processions in full regalia will lack the people's cheers and applause."
"Without apprehending the culprit, Fontaine's reputation as the 'Land of Justice' might soon become the 'Land of Sin'."
"Clorinde, what's happening with the Maison Gardiennage? Isn't it simply about preventing innocent victims from disregarding their lives? About saving ordinary citizens? Is that truly so difficult?"
Hearing Furina's question, Clorinde withdrew her gaze from the surroundings, which had been filled with complex emotions. She then explained:
"Lady Furina, according to the reports submitted by the Maison Gardiennage, it seems recent victims possessed remarkably advanced skills."
"Regardless of how the Maison Gardiennage responds, the deceased always have corresponding countermeasures."
"I've heard that after the Maison Gardiennage completely sealed off the area beneath Palais Mermonia, the victims climbed the walls to reach the platform in front of the palace."
"As for the most recent victims, the Maison Gardiennage has yet to determine how they reached the platform in front of Palais Mermonia."
"Huh?"
After hearing Clorinde's explanation, Furina was utterly dumbfounded.
Why did she understand every word Clorinde said, yet when put together, it sounded so fantastical?
Furina turned to look at the height of the wall beneath Palais Mermonia, then turned back to Clorinde and said:
"Are the Maison Gardiennage members investigating this case under too much pressure? Maybe they're having hallucinations."
"Let's send them home to rest and bring in fresh personnel from other areas to continue the investigation."
At this point, Furina hesitated for a moment, then looked around before leaning in close to Clorinde's ear and whispering:
"Clorinde, why don't you get them some psychologists to check them out?"
"It's not that I think they're crazy or anything, just to be safe!"
Clorinde's lips twitched. She knew Furina definitely didn't believe her words. Of course, when she first heard these things, she didn't believe them either. But after personally going to the police station and seeing three full squads of officers, including their captain, standing at the entrance muttering "Ah-ba ah-ba," she had no choice but to accept this reality.
"Lady Furina, I've already gone to the Maison Gardiennage to investigate. This case is far more complex than either of us imagined. The police weren't mistaken because..."
"Clorinde, how can I believe something like this?"
"I'll need to see it for myself."
"Right!"
Furina suddenly brightened, clapping her hands.
"Clorinde, I've got it!"
"I'll go to the scene myself and bring some of Fontaine's citizens along."
"First, I can verify whether the police's claims are true. Second, if any victims attempt suicide, I can save them. Then, by questioning these victims, we might unravel the entire case!"
"Hahaha! As expected of me! Even a case that stumped the police will be completely solved by my hands!"
"Once we apprehend the culprit, Fontaine will return to its former glory!"
"Moreover, whenever the people see me, they'll remember that I, Furina, uncovered the true mastermind behind the serial suicide case. This will undoubtedly make them revere and adore me even more!"
"When the time comes, I must organize a grand celebration where everyone raises their wine cups in my honor!"
Though not a single step had been taken toward success, Furina was already basking in the joy of victory. Clorinde remained impassive, perfectly playing her part.
"As expected of Lady Furina."
"Hahaha!"
The smile on Furina's face grew even more radiant.