After entering the ruins, they first passed through a long passageway filled with seawater. Beyond it was a circular tunnel leading upward, and after swimming some distance, they surfaced.
Here, they had officially reached the interior of the ruins.
Lynette spread out her arms as Richard lifted her by the armpits and set her down on the shore.
Splash.
That was the sound of the girl emerging from the water.
Out of the water, the heavy diving suit grew even more cumbersome, but Lynette seemed unaffected, moving about with ease.
Realizing her mistake, she quickly changed her demeanor, pretending to be clumsy again, waddling like a penguin.
It was like watching a girlfriend who could smash your skull open without effort, yet somehow can't unscrew a bottle cap.
Richard looked at her helplessly. Through the thick glass of the suit, all he could see was her calm, beautiful face, devoid of expression.
Usually, he judged Lynette's mood by her tail, but that too was hidden inside the suit.
"So~ hea~vy~" Lynette even slowed her speech to emphasize her "struggle."
"Then why don't you stay here? Let me go ahead and scout the ruins alone," Richard suggested. But before he could leave, he felt his hand caught by the padded glove of her suit.
"To~ge~ther~."
Richard sighed. "But you're at a disadvantage like this. Save your strength. If we don't find Primordial Sea Water here, there are still more caves to search."
"Wa~it~."
Lynette then used Anemo energy, conjuring a small vortex around herself. A teal wind swirled across the diving suit as if strengthening it. After a while, the energy faded, and her voice returned to normal speed.
"Alright, let's go." She walked ahead briskly, as if the elemental buff had actually worked.
Soon, the two reached the depths of the ruins. Along the corridor, they found footprints. Though messy, they were clearly from a single person, some fresh, some old. The most recent seemed only a few days old.
And a few days ago was exactly when the incident at the Fontaine Academy occurred. Likely, the culprit had come here to gather Primordial Sea Water to produce Luss.
"Is there Primordial Sea Water here?" Lynette asked. The diving suit insulated her from danger but dulled her perception of her surroundings.
"Yes." Richard could already sense its presence in the air.
Following his intuition, he soon found a small spring bubbling with the very substance he sought.
The spring wasn't all. The room also contained a desk, stools, a makeshift cot, shelves full of notes, and storage boxes piled in the corner. Dust coated everything. Clearly, someone had once lived and worked here, an abandoned laboratory, now serving only as a source of Primordial Sea Water.
Lynette picked up a worn notebook and forced it open.
"Experiment No. 16, aimed at verifying and surpassing Jakob Ingot's conclusions on Primordial Sea research…"
"Experiment failed. No one emerged from the water. Subjects No. 22, 23, 24 dissolved."
She read the words expressionlessly, but the way the pages crumpled under her tightening grip betrayed her anger.
Even Richard fell silent. Each number coldly represented a living girl, and behind every missing child was a broken family.
The one who had orchestrated these horrific human experiments was, without doubt, the true culprit behind the serial disappearances of young girls.
Looking at more notes, Richard repeatedly saw the same name, "Vacher."
A man who had gone missing over a decade ago. Now his traces resurfaced here.
The labeled flasks, "In preparation," "Completed," "Sample", and even bottles marked with fruity flavors of Sinthe confirmed it: Vacher was both the serial kidnapper and the mastermind behind the illicit drink.
Richard's expression hardened. Now it wasn't just about himself; this man had to be brought to justice for the sake of every innocent victim.
"Richard, these boxes are full of women's belongings, carefully categorized," Lynette said after inspecting the storage crates.
So many boxes meant the true number of victims far exceeded official records.
"Collect everything. We'll need it as evidence. I'll seal this place with my power. If Vacher has no other source, cutting this one off will cripple his production of Sinthe."
Richard doubted there was another site like this. Most Primordial Sea Water lay deep in the ocean, far beyond human reach. This accessible spring was likely unique.
Still, he had no intention of waiting idly here for Vacher to return. That would risk more innocent lives. Instead, he'd expose him, force him into a mistake, and strike.
The Spina di Rosula would be key to this plan.
Officially, the scapegoat for the disappearances was their former leader, Callas. But Richard's evidence proved him innocent.
Only someone deeply connected to the Spina di Rosula could have orchestrated such a frame-up. And Callas, before dying in an Honor Duel, had fought fiercely against the Sinthe traffickers.
The only explanation was that he had discovered critical evidence. Vacher, desperate, had not only silenced him but ruined his name, leaving the Organization crippled, licking its wounds in the Poisson ever since.
"Look at this," Lynette handed Richard another notebook. A diary.
Reading it, Richard learned why Vashe fixated on experimenting with young girls.
His lover, Vigneire, had once accidentally touched Primordial Sea Water and dissolved before his very eyes.
Vacher had tried to follow her, touching, drinking, applying the water to himself. But as a Snezhnayan, he was unaffected.
Unable to die, he instead sought to bring her back, leading to all the tragedies that followed.
Sinthe was just a byproduct, funding his research while concealing his crimes. After more than a decade, it had built him a vast criminal empire.
Among the papers were also Vigneire's diary, full of sweet, ordinary love notes, and a report confirming Kallais's innocence.
Everything matched Richard's deductions. Callas had indeed been framed.
Now Richard's next step was clear: contact Callas's daughter, Navia, the current leader of the Spina di Rosula. She had long sought to clear her father's name. With this evidence, she'd have no reason to distrust him.
Hmm… perhaps Clorinde can handle that part, Richard thought. A good chance to mend things with Navia and settle her own burdens.
'Sigh, Clorinde, Clorinde… You owe me so much. How will you repay it?'
After securing the evidence, Richard and Lynette returned to Fontaine.
Before leaving, Lynette asked, "You're not taking any of the Primordial Sea Water? It does benefit you, after all."
But Richard shook his head. His strength was already sufficient, and besides, this water carried the sins of countless dissolved girls. He would not taint himself with it.
Even when justice was done and their souls freed, he still wouldn't drink it.
'Too salty. Disgusting.'
Back in Fontaine, Richard immediately sought Clorinde. She was with Furina, watching a play.
Furina's eyes lit up when she saw him. Then she sniffed, curiosity sparking. "You smell salty. Were you just at the seaside?"
Richard stared. 'You can even smell that?'
"Yes, Lady Furina."
"No need for titles when it's not work hours."
"Alright, Furina. Lynette and I just came back from the sea."
"Call me Lady Furina!"
Richard nearly twitched a vein. What do you want, exactly?
Furina crossed her arms, pouting. She wasn't exactly mad that he went out alone with Lynette… well, maybe a little.
But what really irked her was that he hadn't invited her.
Richard ignored her sulking, turning to Clorinde.
"Clorinde, I need you to do something."
"Me?" She pointed at herself in disbelief. She'd even used her little "resignation tricks" to avoid extra duties. How was there still something for her?
It was the weekend! A public holiday! Was this his idea of rest days?!
Clorinde was furious. The unpacifiable kind.
But Richard didn't try to coax her. "I need you to contact Navia. I've gathered evidence about Monsieur Callas. You two had misunderstandings, this is your chance to clear them."
"…Fine. I'll go right away," Clorinde said at last, anger fading into quiet obedience.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu