"Freminet is busy," Lynette replied to Richard.
Richard didn't doubt her. After all, Lynette had already given him a heads-up earlier, and besides, if Fremine couldn't come, Lynette was still here.
"Then let's meet outside the Court of Fontaine this weekend," Richard said.
"Do I need to prepare diving gear?" Lynette asked.
Richard shook his head. "Just bring your own. Make sure it's a fully enclosed suit; the Primordial Sea Water is fatal to Fontainians. Even if I'm confident I can protect you, it's better to be cautious."
"I understand." Lynette felt it was a bit of a pity, but she knew this wasn't child's play; there really were dangers involved.
Though she had hoped to advance her relationship with Richard while spending time alone together, she didn't want to become a burden to him.
That weekend, they met by the beach outside Fontaine City.
Lynette pulled out the heavy diving equipment from her magic pocket. She looked like she was struggling with its weight, so Richard stepped forward to help.
"Could you help me put on the wetsuit?" Lynette asked softly. She could have managed alone, but obviously, the effect wouldn't be the same.
Lynette, after all, had her own little schemes.
"No problem. But… are you sure you want to wear that outfit under the suit?"
Richard glanced at her attire: a loose, pale-white sweatshirt printed with a cute cat design, and baggy khaki pants. She looked like a girl next door out for a spring outing, fresh, youthful, full of life.
But putting a wetsuit over that would be troublesome.
"No." Lynette shook her head briefly, then looked around. After making sure no one was nearby, she slowly lifted her sweatshirt.
"Wait, Lynette?" Richard quickly covered his eyes with one hand… but left a gap between his fingers so he could still peek.
Covered, but not fully covered.
Yet, the "scandalous" scene he half-expected never came. Underneath the sweatshirt, Lynette was already wearing a sleek, thin, form-fitting bodysuit.
It was black, hugging every curve of her figure, outlining her graceful shape.
Her chest, in particular, was the most aesthetically pleasing "teardrop shape": small at the base, rising gracefully like a drop of water. Not too big, not too small, just the right size to fit perfectly in one hand. Combined with her flat stomach and slender waist, it created a striking, balanced silhouette.
Just taking off a sweatshirt was enough to completely capture Richard's attention.
"Want me to stand guard?" Richard asked.
Lynette had never undressed in front of a man before. Even though she had clothes on underneath, taking off her outer layer still made her feel oddly self-conscious.
But when Richard offered, she shook her head. 'If you leave, who will I be showing this to?'
The truth was, Lynette had chosen her loose clothes not for comfort, but to create a striking contrast once she took them off and revealed the skin-tight suit beneath, highlighting her curves with maximum effect.
Every movement of hers was carefully thought out to showcase her body's beauty during the act of undressing.
Even so, when it came to actually doing it, her cheeks still flushed pink.
"It's fine. Nobody's likely to come here anyway… and it's just an ordinary diving suit."
"Alright." Richard stayed put. He had only been being polite anyway, and Lynette clearly wasn't bothered.
Now, he didn't even bother to look away. While he didn't stare continuously, most of his attention remained fixed on her, only occasionally glancing aside for a second before quickly looking back.
"Then… I'll continue." Lynette bit her lip softly, placing her delicate hands at her waist, then slowly slid them downward.
Her pants began to descend. The snug black bodysuit covering her pert hips came into view. She slowed her movements deliberately, aware of exactly where Richard's gaze would linger.
Though nothing improper was actually exposed, she still managed to draw his eyes irresistibly, holding his attention completely.
After revealing her hips, she sped up, tugging her pants down to her knees, exposing her long legs. They were slim but not bony, delicate yet with a sense of toned strength.
Many girls chased thinness to the point of showing bones, which looked neither healthy nor beautiful. But Lynette's proportions were excellent. Her slim waist accentuated her long legs, making her lower body her greatest asset, especially in a form-fitting suit.
She slipped off her shoes, leaving two dainty footprints on the sand.
Soon she had neatly folded her sweatshirt and pants, tucking them away in her magic pocket. Standing again, she crossed one arm over the other, her eyes flicking toward Richard with a mix of shyness and expectation.
"Um… could you hand me the diving suit?" Her voice trembled slightly.
How could anyone refuse that?
Of course, Richard couldn't. He immediately picked up the suit, unzipped it, and held it open for her to step into.
Lynette rested one hand against his chest for balance, then gently slid one foot, then the other, into the suit.
At one point, she stumbled slightly, as though about to fall into him. With her cat-like balance, she wasn't truly at risk, but Richard still reached out to steady her slender waist, warm, supple, and easily held in one hand.
He didn't comment. Some things are better left unspoken.
"Thank you," Lynette murmured softly, her face even redder. For her, the waist was a sensitive spot.
After that small interlude, perhaps flustered, she hurried to finish putting the suit on, tightening every joint carefully. Finally, she asked Richard to pass her the helmet. Once it was secured, she was fully suited up, her graceful figure now hidden beneath bulky gear.
She had tied her long hair into a neat bun to fit the helmet.
This suit combined Fontaine technology with some Fatui designs, allowing long-term underwater breathing while blocking harmful seawater and reducing pressure effects.
"I'm ready," Lynette's slightly muffled voice came through the helmet.
"Then let's go." Richard nodded.
Seeing Lynette waddle toward the sea like a penguin, Richard sighed at her slowness. He wrapped her in a gentle current, lifting her into the water.
Before long, they reached their first target area, a cave beneath the sea.
The light was dim, but Richard conjured a glowing orb with elemental power, illuminating the underwater world like a miniature sun. Compared to that, the built-in lights of Lynette's suit looked faint.
The undersea scenery was beautiful, teeming with fish and sea creatures.
The first cave, however, showed no trace of Primordial Sea Water. Richard reached out of his protective barrier, touched the seawater directly, and felt nothing.
He had experimented before, extracting tiny amounts of Primordial Sea Water from "Sinthe." An entire crate of bottles had yielded only a single bottle cap's worth.
Drinking that tiny drop, he hadn't felt euphoria or hallucinations, but he did notice his strength increase slightly, like adding a snowflake to a mountain. For someone already at his level, even the smallest increase was obvious.
If he kept consuming it, he could continue growing stronger.
Truly, power from drinking water.
Not infinite growth, of course, but still a clear benefit. The only downside: it tasted awful. Salty, like seawater.
"How is it?" Lynette asked curiously.
"Not here. Let's move on," Richard replied, creating a current to carry them to the next spot.
Several more checks revealed nothing, until they arrived at the entrance to an ancient ruin.
"This is… a ruin?" Lynette gasped. A ruin at such depth?
"Yes. And not one registered with the Adventurers' Guild or the Fatui," Richard said.
That meant neither group knew about it.
"Should we scout first, or go straight in?" Lynette asked.
"Go straight in."
With overwhelming strength, there was no need for caution. If there were bandits inside, Richard almost hoped so, it would save him effort.
And with that, the two of them entered the ruins…
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu