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Mondstadt, Knights of Favonius Library.
"Lisa, how is the alchemical research on underwater breathing coming along?"
"It's only been one Windblume Festival. Researching an entirely new alchemical formula isn't that simple—though I'm sure you don't want to hear that kind of answer, so let me give you some good news instead. I've already made some progress."
"Really? As expected of you, Lisa!"
"Don't celebrate too soon. Here's the bad news—even with progress, how far we still are from a mass-producible finished product remains completely unknown."
Victor Wang turned around and comforted her instead. "It's fine. This is such an important matter that I naturally prepared a backup plan. Don't push yourself to the point of exhaustion."
Lisa smiled, then shook her head. "Your backup plan—you mean Albedo? That might disappoint you. In fact, we exchange research progress every day, and we even pulled Sucrose into it. What we've achieved so far is already the result of all of us working together."
"Albedo… strictly speaking, he does count as a second line of preparation for 'researching underwater-breathing alchemy.' But what I meant was actually something else. If underwater breathing can't be achieved, then we'll just prepare plenty of ships instead."
Shipbuilding.
Fontaine's technology was considered highly advanced among the Seven Nations of Teyvat. With a dedicated research institute and its identity as the Nation of Water—surrounded by seas—its shipbuilding industry was naturally well-developed.
Using materials with excellent buoyancy to build small boats meant solely for emergency evacuation and placed near households was not a major problem at all.
Whether it was Primordial Sea water or ordinary seawater that would flood Fontaine, a catastrophic deluge was inevitable. There would certainly be people who couldn't swim or couldn't endure until the waters receded—along with the elderly, the young, the sick, and the disabled. One couldn't simply let the water rise without saving anyone.
That was why Victor Wang had already asked Charlotte before the year's end to help promote the "Shipbuilding Plan" in Fontaine.
Upon hearing the word "shipbuilding," Lisa froze for a moment, then let out a wry sigh. "Once alchemy is mentioned, my thinking gets trapped in it. I almost overlooked possibilities beyond alchemy… If the goal is simply to respond to a sudden flood, shipbuilding really is an extremely effective solution."
"Mm. And this time, I'm mainly here to say goodbye. I'll be returning to Sumeru, but I'll come back often. So if your research yields results, there's no need to contact me proactively—just wait until I come by."
…
Fontaine, Romaritime Harbor.
"How is the shipbuilding progress?"
"As of now, most North Wing members in Fontaine have already prepared household evacuation boats. However, when we tried to expand outward and persuade those around us to build ships as well, we encountered unexpected resistance—Lady Furina attempted to stop our actions on the grounds that we were spreading rumors and disturbing public order."
"Furina? Find an opportunity to make contact with her. Tell her that the shipbuilding effort is being directed by me from behind the scenes, and ask her to show leniency and refrain from excessive interference."
"Will that… really work?" Charlotte frowned slightly and couldn't help asking. "It's not that I doubt the influence of your works. Convincing Fontaine's people to acknowledge the 'Shipbuilding Plan' relied heavily on your past achievements and the credibility of Sherlock Holmes's meticulous, lifelike reasoning. But you've never even met Lady Furina in person, have you?"
Victor Wang replied confidently, "Furina and I are very close pen pals. If she refuses to acknowledge it, just tell her to think carefully about what 'The Yokai Fox Replaces the General' is actually about."
"'The Yokai Fox Replaces the General'? What's that?"
"A trivial little story."
The Yokai Fox Replaces the General: Legend has it that the Raiden Shogun needed to hide within the [Plane of Euthymia] to accumulate "shut-in energy" and was unable to govern Inazuma for a long time. Afraid that turmoil would arise during her absence, she asked a yokai fox to transform into her and rule in her stead. However, because the little fox's power was limited, whenever a display of force was required, she could only resort to trickery—pushing everything onto the immensely powerful, upright, and meticulous Tengu General. In this way, she sustained the deception for five hundred years.
This was a story carefully prepared for Furina. When Victor Wang replied to Furina's urging-for-updates letter before the year's end, he had casually enclosed this story as well.
One could only say that those who understood would understand.
Charlotte didn't understand, and Victor Wang had no intention of letting a second person know this story.
However, Charlotte suddenly recalled something else. She raised her fist and said indignantly, "I remember during the special interview after the Bubblegum Competition, I asked something like, 'What will Teacher Dust's next work be about, and when can everyone expect to see it?' Your answer at the time was 'I don't know.' And then about ten days after that report was published, you immediately released The Miser and King Lear, which got me scolded by the editorial office for ages!"
"Ahem… After all, the Hydro Archon personally wrote a letter urging updates. I had to give her some face, didn't I? As the saying goes, face is mutual. Precisely because I gave her face back then, we can now ask her to show leniency toward the 'Shipbuilding Plan.'"
Experiencing such a major blunder for the first time in her professional career, Charlotte ground her teeth in frustration. In the end, she could only take a deep breath and swallow her anger. "Alright, alright! You don't need to emphasize it again. I'll find an opportunity to communicate with Lady Furina… But since you're already in Fontaine, why not speak with Lady Furina personally?"
"There are still some matters in Sumeru that haven't been settled. It's not yet the right time for me to meet her. This trip to Fontaine is mainly to confirm the progress of the 'Shipbuilding Plan' with you and to scout things out."
"Speaking of which," Charlotte asked keenly, "the foundation of executing the 'Shipbuilding Plan' is your claim that, based on key clues you investigated, you deduced that Fontaine's prophecy will definitely occur within two years. Is that really true?"
"Facts will prove everything."
"…It's not that I doubt you. Fontaine's sea level has indeed been rising year by year, and under such circumstances, keeping a small boat at home is quite sensible… But if the prophecy is truly going to happen so soon, I think the importance of the 'Shipbuilding Plan' should be raised much, much higher. Relying solely on us to stir up public opinion would never allow the plan to cover all of Fontaine."
"No rush. No matter how hoarse we shout ourselves, it won't be as effective as a single word from Furina. Let's proceed gradually for now. Building ships in batches will conveniently avoid overloading the shipyards. Once this first group of persuaded people finishes building their boats, I'll naturally push forward a more comprehensive 'Shipbuilding Plan.'"
"There's one more thing…" Charlotte asked sharply. "Fontaine's prophecy also mentions that 'Fontainians will be dissolved.' Since you've formulated the 'Shipbuilding Plan,' does that mean you don't believe we'll be dissolved?"
"Trust the Hydro Archon. I believe she won't let you be dissolved."
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