"Your words are mistaken, Monsieur Marcel. Navia's reason for prosecuting you is simple, because we already have sufficient evidence proving that you are far from the 'innocent' you appear to be."
Furina, as though she were a great detective, pushed up an imaginary pair of glasses and loudly pointed at Marcel:
"According to our intelligence, you, Monsieur Marcel, are the true culprit behind the manor murder case, and also the mastermind of the serial disappearance of young girls!"
The crowd erupted.
"Wait, weren't we talking about the manor murder case? How is this suddenly connected to the missing girls?"
"Yeah, and wasn't he originally accused of 'disrespecting the Hydro Archon'? How did it become about kidnappings?"
"Still… don't you think this kind of sudden twist is exciting? Very fitting of Lady Furina's style."
"Indeed, indeed. Such a dramatic turn makes me even more curious about the trial! Truly worthy of Lady Furina, she understands us Fontainians perfectly!"
…
After a short commotion, the audience accepted Furina's words and were now deeply intrigued by the unexpected development.
"Lady Furina, do you have proof for this claim?" Neuvillette asked.
"Of course. But before that, there's something everyone here must know."
"Not long ago, a group of reckless thugs ambushed me outside Poisson Town. Naturally, the outcome is clear to all. As a god, how could mere mortals possibly threaten me? In fact, I didn't even need to act; my secretary alone apprehended the lot of them."
"But the matter didn't end there. Because of how strange the incident was, the full details were not revealed during the previous trial. That was at my request, to avoid unnecessary panic. I wished to wait until we had clarity before informing my people."
"Now, I believe the time has come."
Furina clapped her hands. Staff members carried a stack of confidential documents onto the stage.
"In that ambush, one man escaped capture. He was their leader. But it wasn't because he fled… it was because, right before my and Secretary Richard's eyes, his entire body dissolved into water!"
The staff opened the files and read witness testimonies. Many Treasure Hoarders present that day had seen it firsthand and testified to the bizarre event.
One man might lie. But when many had witnessed it, the truth was undeniable. Furina also had no reason or motive to lie.
Yet the claim was so shocking that even with proof, the audience struggled to accept it immediately.
"Lady Furina said someone dissolved into water? Impossible! Surely it's one of her theatrical performances?"
"But those reports are from the Court itself. Why would she lie?"
"Let's hear what Lord Neuvillette says."
At the judge's bench, Neuvillette struck his cane against the floor with a heavy thud.
"Order in the court."
"What Lady Furina said is true. According to the Court's investigation, it is confirmed that the Treasure Hoarder leader dissolved into water on the day Lady Furina and Monsieur Richard were… on an outing."
"That was work, not an outing!" Furina quickly corrected, flustered. "Don't twist words, it carries legal consequences!"
You're making it sound like a date!
"…Very well, let's call it that." Neuvillette continued. "Unbelievable as it is, it happened. Since Lady Furina claims she has uncovered the cause, let her proceed."
"The mystery of people dissolving lies in an illegal drink called Sinthe. Our investigation found its ingredients include something known as Primordial Seawater. Sinthe excites the emotions and induces pleasurable hallucinations because of this substance."
"In truth, Sinthe is just ordinary water diluted with it. But if Fontainians ingest the pure, undiluted form, or even touch it, they dissolve into water."
"Isn't that right, Monsieur Marcel… or rather, Vacher?" Furina's sharp gaze fell on him.
Marcel remained silent, but his trembling betrayed him.
"Would Vigneireeven recognize you now, in your current state?"
That sentence pierced him. His eyes turned red, trembling uncontrollably until finally, he tore off the mask he had worn for over a decade.
"Vigneire… if she could return, what would it matter if she didn't recognize me?" His voice was heavy with despair.
"So you admit it, you are Vacher. To bring your dissolved lover, Vigneire, back, you experimented on countless girls, creating the unsolved serial abductions. You spread Luss, destroying families, and even betrayed your benefactor, Monsieur Caresse. Do you confess?" Furina pressed.
"Confess, don't confess, does it matter now? Since you already know, you must have visited that place."
"Now you see it, don't you? People can dissolve into water! Why… why did no one believe me back then? Why did no one help me? Even the Court dismissed me as mad when I said Vigneire had dissolved! Her death was ignored as if it meant nothing!"
"Now you believe, but it's too late! Those dissolved can never return!"
"It's all your fault, your fault, Hydro Archon! With your grand trials and farce of justice, you ignored the suffering of ordinary people! Vigneire is dead! We promised we'd go everywhere together, that was our vow!"
He pulled out a vial of Primordial Seawater, uncorked it, and drank it in one gulp. The salty tang overwhelmed his tongue, but he felt nothing.
Leaning against the defendant's rail, he roared:
"But I'm not a Fontainian! I can't dissolve!"
"I can't dissolve, I can't, I can't! See? I can't go to her! All I can do is try to bring her back!"
"…So in the end, it was all for nothing. Was it Callas who left you the clues?" He dropped the empty vial to the floor and glared at Furina, Navia, and finally, Richard.
When Furina turned toward Richard, Marcel realized who had truly exposed him.
"It was you, Secretary Richard… I had no quarrel with you. Why meddle?"
"Coincidence," Richard replied calmly. "I stumbled upon these truths while investigating ruins. Nothing more than stepping on a pest crossing my path."
Marcel collapsed to the floor. His decade of caution, undone by chance. Was it fate's cruelty?
Neuvillette announced, "This trial is decided. The Oratrice will render its verdict."
The machine whirred, immense energy making Richard's pupils shift into slits as he tried to probe it, only to be repelled by its overwhelming force.
Moments later, the verdict was declared:
"Guilty."
"Guards, take Vacher away!" Furina ordered triumphantly.
The crowd, still reeling, whispered:
"So the missing girls case is finally closed…"
"To think the culprit was him…"
"Did you notice Lady Furina's secretary? He's… rather handsome."
"Speaking of which, remember last week's gossip about her ring?"
"Tell me more…"
As chatter drifted, Richard approached Vacher.
The guards paused, but their captain barked, "Don't delay! Take him to the Fortress of Meropide immediately. If you wish to speak, Secretary Richard, you must file a request later."
The squad members gawked in shock. 'Since when was he so upright?'
'You've always been this brave?' they thought. Normally, he took bribes more eagerly than anyone.
"No need," Richard said.
But as Vacher was escorted past, Richard whispered:
"I can let you see Vigneire again."
Vacher froze, then surged with desperate strength, overpowering the guards.
"You mean it?" he rasped, eyes bloodshot, desperate to believe.
"I don't need to lie. But in return, you must confess all your accomplices," Richard said, casting a glance at the captain.
"I'll do it! I'll tell you everything!" Vacher agreed instantly.
The captain's face went pale. He thought of the network, decades of corruption, high-ranking names entwined with Vacher. If exposed… prison would be the least of his worries. His life, his family, is finished.
Without hesitation, he drew his firearm, aiming at Vacher. Kill him, then silence Richard too.
But before he could fire, his finger dissolved into water. His body followed, collapsing into a puddle, leaving only his uniform.
Richard had foreseen this. The captain carried Primordial Seawater. He'd had his chance to confess, yet chose betrayal.
A dead man needs no saving.
Amid the audience's panic, Vacher ignored the dissolving guard. His gaze fixed on Richard.
"Your word… is it true?"
"Of course."
What Richard didn't say: if he could let Vigneire see his lost lover again… he could also make him see all the girls who had died by his hand.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu