That's ten trillion Mora!
What does that mean?
It means the reconstruction of the Fontaine Research Institute will be completely stress-free!
It means infrastructure can be fully upgraded!
It means social welfare can be significantly improved!
It means every person in Fontaine can truly enjoy the benefits!
"Lord King! Lord King! Lord King!"
The uniform shouts rang out again, more fanatical, more devout, and more heartfelt than before!
In the eyes of every person in Fontaine, there was Burning Yearning for the future and supreme reverence for King!
Paimon covered his ears, shaken by the mountain-shaking and sea-tsunami-like waves of sound, his small face flushed with excitement.
"By the way, how many small cakes can ten trillion Mora buy?"
"One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand..."
"Paimon can't even count them all anymore!"
Lumine smiled and shook her head, watching the boiling scene below, feeling happy for Fontaine in her heart.
Venti pulled a bottle of red wine from the pile of gifts, took a blissful sip, and remarked, "Oh my, the old man really went all out this time."
"But well, seeing everyone in Fontaine so happy, I almost want to have Mondstadt donate a sum of Mora to Fontaine too~"
Raiden Ei looked at the ecstatic crowd below, then at King beside her.
Her purple eyes were thoughtful, and her long-dormant brain finally began to function.
"Should Inazuma donate some money to Fontaine?"
Uh, the direction her brain was functioning seemed a bit off; did Inazuma even have any money left?
Ganyu stood quietly to the side, a gentle smile on his face.
He could feel the heartfelt joy of the people of Fontaine.
This made him full of anticipation for the upcoming "learning"... Amidst the boiling waves of the crowd's clamor, Arlecchino stood quietly at the very front of the dock.
His crimson eyes crossed the cheering crowd and fell upon the familiar figure on the deck of the "justice".
Seeing Lynette safe and sound, even more mature and calm than when she left, the corners of his cold and elegant lips curled up slightly.
Lyney stood by his side, also looking up at his younger sister on the deck.
The young man's handsome face held unconcealable relief and pride.
His sister had returned together with that Great Lord!
"Father."
An ethereal, almost dreamlike voice sounded beside the two.
"Is that man standing at the bow, wearing a blue windbreaker, the Guardian of Fontaine, the master of the New Moon?"
Arlecchino's body stiffened almost imperceptibly for a moment, and then he turned around helplessly.
Lyney was even more startled, nearly jumping in place.
When did this person appear?!
In the shadows, a slender figure had quietly stood there at some point.
It was a Damselette so beautiful it made one forget to breathe.
Ink-black long hair was like silk woven from moonlight, draped softly behind him.
A breeze blew past, making that already exquisite small face look even more charming.
Those eyes were tightly closed, long eyelashes drooping, yet it didn't affect his ability to "see" Arlecchino clearly.
The Third Fatui Harbinger, [Damselette] Columbina.
He tilted his head slightly, a look of pure curiosity on his face, as if that shocking address from just now was merely a casual remark.
"...Columbina."
Arlecchino rubbed the bridge of his nose, a rare trace of helplessness appearing on his usually calm and self-possessed face.
"Don't call me that."
"But,"
The Damselette's voice took on a hint of confusion: "I feel that when I call you that, ripples of happiness rise in your heart."
Arlecchino fell silent.
Because he could not refute it.
When this colleague with a tragic past used a longing tone to call out that title, the Warmth and doting in his heart almost overflowed.
Please don't call me that, Columbina.
Otherwise, I will truly lose myself... Behind Arlecchino, Lyney wished he could bury his head in the ground.
He began to frantically chant, "I didn't hear anything, I didn't hear anything."
Help!
The Third Harbinger is calling the Fourth Harbinger "Father"!!
And in such a public place!!!
Lyney's inner self was already being flooded with frantic complaints, but he desperately maintained a poker face, even though fine beads of cold sweat had broken out on his forehead.
Within the Fatui, the relationships between Harbingers were complex, but one as complicated as that between "the knave" and "Damselette"... could be considered unique!!
It all traced back to the House of the Hearth years ago.
At that time, Arlecchino had already killed the previous Servant and rebuilt the House of the Hearth, giving them protection.
The children all respectfully called him "Father".
And Columbina, this mysterious Third Harbinger who always kept his eyes closed, happened to visit the House of the Hearth one day.
He heard the children calling "Father" one after another, tilted his head to "watch" for a while, and then floated in front of Arlecchino, using his ethereal and pleasant voice to clearly call out:
"Father."
At that time, the entire House of the Hearth went silent.
All the children were dumbfounded.
Even Arlecchino himself was stunned.
After all, Columbina wasn't some homeless orphan. (PS: Or was he?)
He was the dignified Third Harbinger, with unfathomable strength and a venerable status, even higher than Arlecchino's!
That "Father" made everyone's scalp tingle.
Arlecchino tried to correct him at the time.
But Columbina only said in that innocent and serious tone: "But they all call you that, and I think this title is very warm."
So this bizarre title was kept, half-willingly.
Because Columbina found Arlecchino's reaction interesting, he would occasionally call him Father to tease this always serious and rigid, cute colleague.
Arlecchino is really cute~
At this moment, faced with Columbina's blunt exposure of "you're clearly very happy," Arlecchino decisively chose to be stubborn:
"...Your feeling is wrong; I'm not happy at all."
Columbina tilted his head, his pink lips curving upward.
He didn't continue to argue, only giving a soft "Mm."
Lyney continued to play dead on the side, his heart already streaming with tears.
Father, your denial is way too weak, hey!
Tsundere is out of fashion, hey!
And Damselette, your reaction is even scarier, hey!
Do you have to be so understanding? You're practically at the level of a mother, hey!
Arlecchino forced the topic back on track, turning his gaze back to King at the bow in the distance, his voice returning to its usual calmness.
"That person is indeed King, the 'Great Guardian' of Fontaine."
"Pierro has a very high opinion of him."
"He once said personally that among the heroes of the world, there are only the Tsaritsa and King."
Columbina also "looked" in King's direction, his hair fluttering gently in the wind.
"This Mr. King is truly special."
Columbina said softly: "It's as if there's light on him, warmer than sunlight, clearer than moonlight, deeper than starlight..."
"Also, that little white sprite beside him is really cute."
Arlecchino's brow twitched: "You're interested in Paimon?"
"Mm, chubby and round, makes me really want to kiss her face."
Columbina said honestly, his tone innocent.
Lyney: "..."
Although this seemed like a compliment.
If Paimon knew, he definitely wouldn't be happy about it, right?
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