"Emily, wasn't he sentenced to prison for his crimes?" Lady Furina asked, glancing at the young woman beside her, a hint of confusion in her voice.
"That's right."
Hearing this, Lady Furina suddenly understood. He's one of my kind!
Instantly, she cast a sympathetic glance at Tartaglia. Maintaining such a flawless image before his subordinates must be incredibly difficult!
"What's with that look?!"
Tartaglia, who had barely managed to pull off his deception and was just about to breathe a sigh of relief, suddenly felt an unsettling gaze pierce through him.
Following the gaze, Tartaglia froze when Furina's figure came into view.
This is a prison, isn't it? Why is the Hydro Archon Focalors here?
Could Chief Justice Neuvillette have successfully usurped her and imprisoned her in the Fortress of Meropide?
That would mean the Hydro Archon Focalors must be weaker than Neuvillette!
Tartaglia seized on this blind spot, his body tingling with excitement.
As the Hydro Archon, she'd surely let me transform at least once, right? She wouldn't interrupt me like that unsportsmanlike Neuvillette, would she?
If I can enter my Foul Legacy transformation, I can take on even an Archon!
Burning with impatience, Tartaglia pushed past his tearful subordinates and strode toward Furina.
"Are you the Hydro Archon Focalors?"
Hearing Tartaglia's question, Furina immediately struck a pose, hands on her hips and head held high, declaring proudly, "Indeed! I am the Regina of All Waters, All Realms, All People, and All Laws! The God of Justice in Fontaine, the Hydro Archon Focalors!"
"Traveler from Snezhnaya, are you perhaps a fan of mine too?"
"Hehehe, as expected, I, the Hydro Archon, am widely revered! Even in foreign lands, so many adore me."
"If you want an autograph, normally you'd have to wait in line for months to get one."
"But since you're a foreigner, I'll make an exception this time."
"Come, where would you like me to sign my name?"
"Your clothes? Your pants? Just a warning: signing on your butt is absolutely out of the question!"
The surrounding crowd exchanged strange glances after hearing Furina's words.
Didn't we just witness something similar recently?
"What's a 'fan'?" Tartaglia asked, puzzled, but quickly dismissed the question. "Never mind, it's not important."
"Since you're the Hydro Archon, you must be incredibly strong!"
"Come, fight me! Hydro Archon Focalors!"
Tartaglia's challenge left Furina stunned, her body stiffening instantly.
What a battle maniac! He challenged her to a fight the moment he arrived.
"Let's battle!"
"Hydro Archon Focalors!"
"As an Archon, you must be frustrated by the lack of worthy opponents!"
"I know your strength is immense, so I'll give this fight my all!"
"Let us revel in the thrill of combat!"
"G-give it your all?"
Furina couldn't help but take a step back. He's a Fatui Harbinger! If he fights me at full power, I'm doomed! Absolutely doomed!
What's with these Fatui Harbingers? Why are they all out to get me?!
When I get the chance, I'll definitely push for a law: "Dogs and Fatui Harbingers prohibited!"
"As expected of Lord Childe—daring to challenge an Archon directly!"
"That's why I admire Lord Childe so much! No matter the time or place, he always confronts formidable foes to hone his martial skills!"
"Go, Lord Childe! We'll cheer you on from behind!"
Behind Tartaglia, the Fatui soldiers wept copiously, and even the onlookers grew excited.
Initially, they had merely been curious about which unfortunate Fatui Harbinger had been arrested for murder. Now, unexpectedly witnessing such entertainment, they felt their trip had been well worth it!
Fueled by a love for drama, many in the crowd who held little respect for Furina began to instigate the commotion.
"Go on, Lady Furina! Show him your power!"
"Lady Furina, accept his challenge! Let this Fatui Harbinger know the might of Fontaine!"
"Lady Furina, my Kamera is ready! I'm just waiting to capture your elegant figure in action!"
Hearing the crowd's clamor, Furina took another step back, now truly caught in a dilemma.
"No, it's not that I don't want to fight," Furina protested, "but my power is simply too overwhelming! Even a mere fraction of it would cause catastrophic damage to the surroundings!"
Hearing Furina's words, the clamor of the crowd abruptly subsided.
Just as Furina thought the crisis had passed, a young woman patted her shoulder, smiling.
"Don't worry, Lady Furina!"
"There's a perfect venue in the Fortress of Meropide for your duel with Monsieur Tartaglia."
"The Pankration Ring!"
"The arena is spacious and ideal for combat."
"If Lady Furina's power truly proves too destructive, we can broadcast the fight live for everyone to watch."
The young woman's smile brightened as an idea struck her.
"Yes, yes, that's perfect!"
"This way, even more people can witness Lady Furina's heroic prowess in battle!"
"Not just the Fortress of Meropide, but all of Fontaine could tune in! This is a golden opportunity to showcase Fontaine's might, Lady Furina!"
"What do you think, Lady Furina?"
"Haven't I considered everything thoroughly?"
After hearing the girl's words, Furina felt like crying.
"Oh, Emily, you've truly thought of everything!"
"It's nothing, Lady Furina. It's my duty!"
The girl smiled again.
"No need to thank me so much!"
Her gaze then shifted to Tartaglia.
"Monsieur Tartaglia, how about we hold the battle at the Pankration Ring a week from now?"
"After all, we need some time to prepare the arena and spread the word to as many people as possible."
"No problem. It's a bit of a hassle, but as long as the Hydro Archon agrees to fight me, I'm fine with it."
"A week it is then. If you want to move it up, I'm ready whenever you are!"
For some reason, Tartaglia sensed an unusual aura radiating from the girl before him, prompting him to take a second look.
Upon hearing Tartaglia's agreement, the girl nodded.
"However, Monsieur Tartaglia, Lady Furina is the Hydro Archon—her strength is formidable."
"Are you truly willing to challenge her? It could mean your death!"
"Hahahaha! Thank you for the warning, Miss Emily. Dying on the battlefield is the most likely end for me."
Tartaglia burst into laughter.
"But not today. My life is tough as nails!"
"Then Monsieur Tartaglia will have to push himself beyond his limits. Challenging an Archon requires more than just brute force."
"Of course! Constantly breaking through my limits is precisely why I keep challenging the strong!"
Listening to their exchange, Furina's clothes were already drenched in cold sweat.
The Fatui Harbingers were already terrifyingly powerful, yet Emily was suggesting he push himself beyond his limits to fight her?
People will die! People will definitely die!
Furina felt her own life hanging by a thread. She tugged at the girl's arm, but couldn't pull her back.
"Emily, let's go back."
Left with no choice, Furina hurriedly stepped forward to interrupt the girl. If she let Emily continue, Furina feared she wouldn't survive another week!
"I want to eat your cake."
"Very well, Lady Furina. I'll make you one when we get back."
After speaking to Furina, the girl turned back to Tartaglia.
"Then, Monsieur Tartaglia, I'll see you in a week."
"And finally, welcome to the Fortress of Meropide. I hope you enjoy your stay."
-
Meanwhile, Neuvillette had intended to add two more articles to the Fontaine Law, but he was promptly kicked out.
That's right, kicked out!
Neuvillette never imagined he would one day be expelled like this. The individuals obsessively revising the Fontaine Law deemed his presence there too obstructive.
He wasn't angry, however. After all, these people were working tirelessly—even desperately—for Fontaine's future.
Even after just a brief visit, Neuvillette had seen several individuals with bloodshot eyes and contorted faces, their minds seemingly on the verge of collapse. Yet they refused to stop.
Recalling these scenes, Neuvillette's feelings were complicated.
Though he had arranged for Melusine Doctors to monitor their physical conditions around the clock, this could only alleviate their exhaustion to a limited extent. If they refused to rest, such care was ultimately futile.
Just moments ago, a Melusine Doctor had reported to him with great concern that several individuals had already pushed their bodies to their limits but stubbornly refused to stop.
"Monsieur Neuvillette."
Just then, a man in his thirties emerged from the building, greeting Neuvillette with a smile.
"My apologies, Monsieur Neuvillette. The others didn't truly mean to drive you away."
"It's quite alright. I understand their urgency."
Neuvillette nodded in acknowledgment.
"Even so, they must rest properly. If their bodies break down, it would be a great misfortune for both themselves and Fontaine," the man said with a wry smile.
"I've tried to persuade them, Monsieur Neuvillette, but few listen. I'm quite frustrated."
Neuvillette studied the man before him, who seemed to be in the best spirits among the group—or, to put it another way, the most inclined to slack off. He said, "If I recall correctly, your name is Ron. Your record is exceptional, and you've proposed several constructive improvements to Fontaine Law during this time."
"I never imagined even Monsieur Neuvillette would know my name. I'm quite flattered."
The man spoke with a hint of pleasant surprise in his voice.
"As for those proposals, they were all the result of everyone's collective discussion and validation. It's entirely due to everyone's efforts."
"I'm just a poor sap they pushed into the spotlight to face the journalists."
Ron smiled wryly. His words earned him considerable favor in Neuvillette's eyes.
"By the way, Monsieur Neuvillette, today's visit isn't just a simple inspection, is it?"
"I could sense earlier that you seemed to have something you wanted to say. Why not share it with me?"
"That way, when we gather for the meal later, I can bring it up with everyone, and it won't take up any more of your time."
Hearing this, Neuvillette nodded and slowly began to express his thoughts.
After listening to Neuvillette's explanation, Ron spoke with a hint of apology in his voice.
"I understand your concerns now, Monsieur Neuvillette."
"But I'm afraid we can't accept this regulation. Please forgive us."
"If Monsieur Neuvillette believes their actions are disrupting the proper order of the Judgment, he can simply charge them with other relevant offenses. There's no need to add a special clause to the Fontaine Law."
"I understand your point, but the existing regulations are too vague. Most importantly, they fail to directly convey to these individuals that their behavior is wrong and illegal."
"I hope stricter legal clauses will encourage them to restrain themselves."
Neuvillette was well aware that the two laws he proposed overlapped somewhat with existing ones. His true aim wasn't to imprison the two attorneys, but rather to make them rein in their behavior.
"This won't do, Monsieur Neuvillette," Ron said, shaking his head in refusal.
"The law must be fair, impartial, and objective, unaffected by the emotions of any single individual."
"Monsieur Neuvillette, your personal persuasion alone is insufficient to convince us to add your desired clauses to Fontaine Law."
"I suggest you initiate a public vote among Fontaine citizens to determine whether these two laws should be incorporated into Fontaine Law."
Upon hearing the other party's words, Neuvillette's eye twitched.
Voting?
Was that even necessary?
With so many troublemakers eager to see the two attorneys stir up more chaos, how could they possibly consider the solemnity of the court?
Lately, Fontaine's Judgments had become increasingly absurd. Though most cases involved homicides, the audience largely treated them as theatrical performances.
If not for his concern that Fontaine's Judgments would become a complete joke if this continued, he wouldn't have made a special trip here to address this matter.
"By the way, Monsieur Neuvillette, there's something else I wanted to discuss with you."
"After deliberation, we've decided to repeal certain laws in Fontaine Law that were added based on personal sentiment, in order to simplify the legal code."
"This includes the provision you originally championed, which mandated that Melusine be referred to using the feminine pronoun 'she'."
"We believe this provision overlaps with existing sections on personal insult and have therefore removed it."
Neuvillette: "..."