"Hmm? Lyney and Lynette have gone missing?" Arlecchino frowned as she received the Debt Collector's report.
She never imagined that Lyney and Lynette, sent merely to investigate, would fail.
This shouldn't have happened. Both were Vision users with considerable strength, and the Fatui soldiers Lyney had mobilized were also skilled operatives.
Even if their opponent was exceptionally powerful, Lyney and Lynette should have found a way to relay some intelligence before being captured.
Unless their opponent's strength far exceeded their capabilities—crossing the threshold of an Archon.
But achieving Archon-level power was no simple feat. According to current intelligence, their strongest adversary was No. 2, who not only wielded multiple Elemental Powers but had never shown his full strength.
Yet even with such formidable power, Arlecchino doubted he had crossed the Archon threshold. Otherwise, he wouldn't have retreated during his battle with Navia.
Unless there was another reason.
Having eliminated all impossibilities, what remained, however improbable, must be the truth:
There was a traitor among the Fatui soldiers Lyney had mobilized.
According to Lyney's deductions, their adversary had infiltrated every domain in Fontaine, making the defection of Fatui members a plausible scenario.
However, this conclusion was difficult to accept. After all, the Fatui faction at House of the Hearth wasn't merely a hierarchy; it was a far more resilient "family" bond.
Internal betrayal would shatter that bond, rendering it brittle and unreliable.
It seemed Lyney's suspicions were correct. The Cult of No. 6, ostensibly worshipping and aspiring to the organization established by No. 6, was actually controlled by internal members of that mysterious force.
Of course, they might have joined later, but that was irrelevant now.
The most crucial point was that her two most exceptional "children" had fallen into enemy hands, their fates unknown.
This was a blatant challenge to Arlecchino, the "parent." A flicker of madness ignited in her eyes.
This sudden crisis completely disrupted her plans. She had no choice but to temporarily set aside her arrangements for the Fortress of Meropide and prioritize handling the Cult of No. 6.
"Issue the order," Arlecchino instructed the Debt Collector, using him as a conduit to convey her instructions to the others. "Have everyone prepare for battle at a moment's notice."
As for the potential traitors within their ranks, Arlecchino had no immediate plans for a purge. She possessed comprehensive intelligence on the vast majority of her subordinates, which made her acutely aware of the immense difficulty involved in rooting out spies.
If it's so difficult, then why bother? she thought.
Let the enemy resort to their underhanded tactics. She would force them into the open, compelling them to consider how to deal with her directly.
The reason Lyney and Lynette had been targeted was simple: their enemies feared the siblings might leak their investigation's findings. Following this line of reasoning, the next method to corner the enemy became obvious.
Arlecchino resolved to detain every individual on Lyney's investigation list!
-
Clorinde arrived at the scene of the incident, her expression growing slightly grim as she surveyed the scattered clothing on the ground and a large crater.
"Miss Clorinde, based on the Primordial Sea Water remnants here, it appears to be another 'Return' ritual conducted by the Cult of No. 6," a Special Task Force member from the Court of Justice reported after examining the site.
"However, these clothes... they seem more like Fatui attire..."
"Could it be that the Fatui were attacked by members of the Cult of No. 6?"
Clorinde nodded in agreement. "You're right. There are bloodstains and signs of a struggle. Judging by the damage to the clothing, a Fatui team was indeed ambushed by the Cult of No. 6."
"Yet, apart from the Fatui clothing, there are no traces of Cult of No. 6 attire. This is a detail we must note."
"Furthermore, the crater caused by a powerful Elemental Power impact, along with the widespread Primordial Sea Water, strongly suggests that the elemental strike was aimed at this location from a distance."
"If this attack was executed by human effort rather than some kind of tool, the Cult of No. 6's combat capabilities would warrant our utmost vigilance."
Hearing Clorinde's words and realizing that such a powerful strike had been launched from a great distance by a single person, the Special Task Force member couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.
"It's unlikely to be humanly possible, right? If the Cult of No. 6 possessed such firepower, our operations wouldn't have proceeded so smoothly."
"Don't underestimate them," Clorinde cautioned, shaking her head as she rose to her feet. "If we truly dismiss the Cult of No. 6 as insignificant pawns, these fallen Fatui soldiers will suffer the ultimate price."
Hearing Clorinde's warning, the Special Task Force member straightened his posture, his expression turning serious.
"Yes, Lady Clorinde!"
Even now, Clorinde's expression remained grave. Beyond the readily deducible factors, one detail troubled her deeply: the clothing left on the ground belonged exclusively to the Fatui.
If the Cult of No. 6 held such overwhelming power, why bother with the elaborate preparations for this final strike?
There was only one possibility left: both sides in the conflict were Fatui members.
Why would Fatui soldiers turn on each other? The answer was clear: some of them were members of the Cult of No. 6.
But if the Fatui had already been infiltrated by the Cult of No. 6, what about Fontaine itself?
Clorinde temporarily paused her contemplation of this deeply unsettling question and turned to the Special Task Force member.
"What about civilian casualties?"
"Since this place is quite remote, no one was initially exposed to the Primordial Sea Water."
"However, about seven or eight eager onlookers later rushed into the Primordial Sea Water and dissolved into liquid as well."
Hearing this, Clorinde could only sigh in resignation. When will the Fontainians ever learn to curb their morbid curiosity and stop flocking to disaster sites?
"Thanks to their warnings, other would-be onlookers became cautious and kept their distance from the Primordial Sea Water."
"But according to them, they hadn't seen any Fatui soldiers in the area before this incident."
A clandestine operation.
The moment Clorinde heard this, she understood exactly what mission this Fatui unit had been assigned.
The Fatui soldiers had likely been ordered to investigate the Cult of No. 6, but a traitor within the organization leaked their mission, allowing the cult to set a trap and wipe out the entire Fatui squad.
During this incident, the Cult of No. 6's performance differed so drastically from their previous actions that Clorinde felt as if they had been deliberately throwing themselves at her earlier.
Now, an ominous premonition settled in Clorinde's heart. The cult had remained hidden for so long, yet now they were exposing so much—this was highly abnormal.
One possibility was that they had a far more critical plan, one so vital that they were willing to risk exposure to strike at the Fatui, perhaps because the Fatui had discovered or interfered with their scheme.
Clorinde knew that any scheme meticulously planned by an organization that revered No. 6 could never be anything good.
"Dispose of the Primordial Sea Water residue here. I need to return to Palais Mermonia immediately."
"Yes, Lady Clorinde."
As Clorinde strode away, the respectful facade of the Special Task Force member who had reported the situation dissolved, replaced by a playful smirk.
"What a nuisance. There are far too many clever people around."
"Well, no help for it, Clorinde."
"No. 2 misses you..."
-
"Clorinde has lost contact?"
Neuvillette's heart sank upon hearing the news.
"Yes, Monsieur Neuvillette. I heard Miss Clorinde was attacked," the Melusine reporting the incident said, her face etched with concern.
"The attacker destroyed the Aquabus. Miss Clorinde fought him for a while, but ultimately, she was outmatched and jumped into the water to escape. However, the attacker didn't hesitate to follow her."
"According to the passengers who survived the Aquabus attack thanks to Miss Clorinde's protection, the attacker's appearance closely matches the official wanted poster for 'No. 2.'"
The mention of "No. 2" caused Neuvillette's heart to plummet further.
Clorinde's combat prowess was sufficient to handle most situations, but No. 2's strength surpassed hers.
Previously, Clorinde had mentioned being able to briefly engage No. 2 before exhaustion forced her to flee.
The fact that Clorinde couldn't even hold her own this time meant No. 2 had grown significantly stronger in the intervening period.
Neuvillette couldn't help but recall the experimental drugs that had been tested on Vinani earlier. It was possible No. 2 had made a new breakthrough in pharmacology.
But now wasn't the time for speculation. He had to find Clorinde immediately and ensure her safety.
"Immediately dispatch the Marechaussee Phantoms to the attack site. Then have them search the surrounding area for any trace of Clorinde."
"Notify the nearby towns as well, instructing them to be vigilant and offer assistance to Clorinde if needed."
"Understood, Monsieur Neuvillette. I'll relay your orders at once."
Melusine nodded briskly and hurried away.
After she left, Neuvillette resumed his work, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't focus. A nagging unease settled in his heart.
Taking a deep breath, Neuvillette set down his papers and left his chambers.
"Monsieur Neuvillette?!"
Upon seeing Neuvillette's figure, the crowd bustling in the hall paused in surprise before hastily greeting him.
"To be on the safe side, I should go myself," Neuvillette said.
Until now, the mysterious organization had remained dormant. Their sudden dispatch of No. 2 to attack Clorinde suggests a specific motive. The most likely explanation is that Clorinde's investigation has uncovered something critical, forcing No. 2 to silence her.
His presence is crucial to ensure Clorinde's safety to the fullest extent possible.
Though startled by his decision, the Melusine swiftly rearranged Neuvillette's schedule. Meanwhile, Neuvillette proceeded to select a team from the Marechaussee Phantoms.
Just as Neuvillette had finalized his team and was preparing to depart immediately for Clorinde's last known location, the chubby Vinani came racing toward them at an astonishing speed from afar.
"Wait!" she called out.
Vinani skidded to a halt before Neuvillette, her former acquaintances staring in utter shock at her astonishing speed.
"Monsieur Neuvillette, I want to go too!"
"Vinani, you're still under observation. Please stay here."
Neuvillette immediately rejected Vinani's request without hesitation.
However, Vinani refused to give up. She continued to plead with Neuvillette.
"Monsieur Neuvillette, I'm a member of the Marechaussee Phantoms too! And I seem to be quite strong now, plus my special vision—I'm sure I can be of help!"
Neuvillette sighed softly.
"Vinani, while you've accidentally gained control over the Hydro Element, your mastery over that power is still lacking. It's simply not combat-ready."
"I promise you, once your health is confirmed to be stable and you've mastered your powers, you will be welcomed back into the Marechaussee Phantoms."
"Monsieur Neuvillette, this time is different!" Vinani insisted, her voice tinged with urgency.
"I heard Miss Clorinde was attacked by No. 2. He's the one who kidnapped me before, so I have some understanding of his abilities."
"Moreover, since they experimented on me with drugs, they must be very interested in my current physical condition. Perhaps my presence will draw them out of hiding."
Neuvillette shook his head, a hint of helplessness in his expression.
"Vinani, this is precisely why I didn't want you to come. This operation is far too dangerous for you."
"It's alright, Monsieur Neuvillette!" Vinani insisted firmly. "As long as we can rescue Miss Clorinde from danger sooner, it's worth it!"
"This mission is perilous for everyone in the Marechaussee Phantoms. I'm one of them—how could I possibly expect special treatment?" Vinani insisted. "Monsieur Neuvillette, please let me come!"
Ultimately, Neuvillette couldn't resist Vinani's stubborn determination and relented.
He knew the true reason Vinani wanted to join them—a reason he couldn't easily refuse. He would just have to be extra vigilant about her safety.
"Thank you, Monsieur Neuvillette!"
Vinani's face immediately lit up with a smile upon hearing Neuvillette's agreement.
After this brief interlude, Neuvillette finally led the Marechaussee Phantoms to the scene...