Upon hearing "The Knave" Arlecchino's words, Lofan was immediately filled with confusion.
Save me? Save me from what? And how exactly do you plan to do that?
And what was Arlecchino doing here in the first place?
If she hadn't come to the Maison Gardiennage Headquarters with a specific purpose from the start, then the Fatui's infiltration of Fontaine was beyond absurd.
Lofan genuinely wanted to complain—Fontaine was riddled with holes like a sieve.
The Fatui were one thing, being a massive organization spanning seven nations.
But for ordinary criminals to be able to plant spies or moles within the system? That was utterly infuriating.
Though Lofan's mind raced, his absolute mastery of his expression betrayed no hint of his thoughts.
"Miss 'The Knave,' barging into the Maison Gardiennage Headquarters without notice—isn't that rather... unorthodox?" Lofan set down the case file in his hands and challenged Arlecchino with a tone that was neither servile nor arrogant.
Upon hearing the title "The Knave," the other Maison Gardiennage officers immediately tensed up. Those who had entertained fantasies of questioning or capturing Arlecchino swiftly abandoned such unrealistic notions.
They weren't too worried about Arlecchino. Despite the Fatui's infamous reputation, it was highly unlikely a Harbinger would cause trouble at the Maison Gardiennage Headquarters.
In fact, the Fatui were clearly in the wrong for Arlecchino's forced entry.
However, diplomatic matters had never been Arlecchino's concern.
Seeing that Lofan wasn't reacting as she had anticipated, Arlecchino's brow furrowed slightly.
No matter how well someone might feign composure, their eyes always betrayed hidden truths.
Yet Lofan's gaze and expression remained perfectly composed upon seeing her, making her doubt her own deductions.
Could her hypothesis truly be flawed?
Could the person she encountered that day not be a singular, extraordinary being?
Could they actually be a collective entity?
While consciousness transfer wasn't a particularly rare ability, it was certainly not widespread.
Given the scale of the current case, for such a feat to be accomplished, the perpetrator would either have to be a new species with consciousness transfer as their unique ability, or...
Arlecchino was struggling to reconcile the conflicting information. The stark contrast between the earlier reports and the current situation made it feel as though she were dealing with two entirely separate incidents. Yet to claim there was no connection between them would be an insult to her expertise as an intelligence operative.
"Heh, even with your name appearing in the criminal's pre-emptive note, you're still clinging to formalities?" Arlecchino chuckled softly, her gaze deepening as she met Lofan's eyes.
"By the time I meet with Lady Furina, enjoy some tea and pastries, and discuss whether you'll be allowed into the Maison Gardiennage Headquarters, you'll likely have already been dissolved into water."
"Even knowing this, you insist on adhering to those rigid rules?"
"Exactly, Miss Knave."
Lofan nodded after hearing Arlecchino's words.
"There are things more important than one's own life."
"That is the fundamental difference between me, us, and you."
Lofan's words resonated deeply within the hearts of countless Maison Gardiennage officers. It was as if something had taken root and begun to sprout within their minds.
For the Maison Gardiennage officers, it seemed their job was more than just a well-paid position...
Arlecchino was equally astonished by the radiant young girl before her, who had achieved something remarkably similar to what she herself had done.
To maximize control over the House of the Hearth, the previous Knave had instilled the concept of "Family" in all the children.
Although the so-called "Family" relationships at that time were a twisted construct, it couldn't be denied that this approach had been remarkably effective in maintaining control.
What this young girl had done was to instill a sense of conviction and responsibility in the other Maison Gardiennage officers, subtly shifting their perception of their profession.
When a person possesses unwavering conviction, they are at their strongest.
If this young girl were the Garrison Captain, given enough time, she might completely transform the Maison Gardiennage.
Arlecchino felt a stir of interest. She began toying with the idea of recruiting the girl.
Wait, I think I had this thought before... Never mind, it's not important.
Since she's so exceptional, I must protect her even more.
With that, Arlecchino wasted no time and acted immediately.
Even with a casual strike, Arlecchino, as a Harbinger, easily knocked the young girl unconscious.
Before the girl's body could collapse from weakness, Arlecchino stepped forward and caught her in her arms.
"No signs of resistance. It seems she really isn't him."
Arlecchino recalled that night. The attacker had moved with decisive precision, clearly a skilled combatant.
In contrast, while this young girl had received systematic training as a Maison Gardiennage officer, she was utterly outmatched against them.
This was Arlecchino's final test. If the girl's identity were truly suspect, her body would have reacted instinctively when attacked.
Such reactions, honed through countless training drills, were far faster than conscious thought and impossible to conceal.
"I didn't expect to find such a remarkable child here. She's truly... intriguing."
Arlecchino raised her hand and gently brushed her fingers across the young girl's delicate cheek, a cryptic smile playing on her lips.
The Maison Gardiennage officers, still reeling from the earlier incident, snapped back to attention. Their faces flushed crimson as they surrounded Arlecchino, some shouting angrily:
"Miss The Knave, release her immediately!"
"Miss The Knave, aren't you afraid that assaulting Maison Gardiennage officers will spark a diplomatic crisis between Fontaine and Snezhnaya?!"
"Don't be hasty," Arlecchino countered. "I'm saving her."
"Rendering her unconscious was merely the method necessary to rescue her."
"Or would you rather watch her dissolve into water right before your eyes?"
At Arlecchino's words, the officers' anger wavered, replaced by doubt.
"We... we can't trust you."
"Hmph," Arlecchino scoffed. "After all, I have no reason to antagonize Fontaine over a mere Maison Gardiennage officer."
"Even if you don't trust the Fatui, surely you trust in my strength as a Fatui Harbinger?" Arlecchino said, her voice cutting through the tense silence.
Her words snapped everyone back to their senses.
Indeed, the Harbingers' power is universally acknowledged across the Teyvat Continent.
If Arlecchino were willing to protect Lofan, wouldn't the murderer have absolutely no chance to strike?
This thought made the crowd hesitate again, realizing that entrusting Lofan to her care might be the best option after all.
As for whether Lofan would erupt in fury after waking up and learning of this decision, it didn't matter. His survival mattered above all else, even if he rained down curses upon them later.
"Perfect timing," Arlecchino added. "The predicted time is approaching. Let's all witness this moment together."
Her words silenced the Maison Gardiennage officers, who suddenly realized the precognitive crime's deadline was fast approaching. Their gazes turned to Lofan, now filled with deep worry.
Arlecchino narrowed her eyes slightly, extending her senses to their maximum range.
Today, she was determined to see how this so-called Precognitive Crime was accomplished!
Moreover, she was confident that no matter what method the perpetrator used, they had absolutely no chance of succeeding!
After Arlecchino's inner monologue concluded, Lofan delivered a lesson to the young Knave.
Without any warning, the girl's body gradually dissolved into water in his arms, flowing to the ground until only her complete set of clothing remained in his hands. Arlecchino, still reeling from the shock, hadn't fully recovered from the initial impact.
The girl was dead.
Realizing this, Arlecchino finally snapped out of her daze and immediately felt a surge of anger.
It wasn't just the perpetrator's blatant provocation that infuriated her, but also her utter inability to discern the method behind the crime.
Initially, Arlecchino had speculated that the culprit might have forcibly possessed the girl's body while her consciousness was dormant. However, she quickly dismissed this theory.
After all, when a new consciousness takes over a body, there would inevitably be a momentary shift in behavior. Yet, she had been focusing intently on Lofan the entire time, and he hadn't shown the slightest sign of alteration.
Arlecchino had already confirmed that the victim was indeed unconscious.
What exactly is going on here? Could the murderer truly be omnipotent?
"Miss Knave, this person died while in your custody! You owe us a reasonable explanation!"
The Maison Gardiennage officers, their eyes bloodshot with anger, pointed at Arlecchino and demanded answers.
Seeing this, Arlecchino's brow furrowed even deeper. Not only did these officers refuse to believe that someone could die under her protection, but even she herself would have doubted it if she hadn't witnessed it firsthand.
Even for an Archon to commit a crime without her noticing, their power would need to be extraordinary.
But if the culprit possessed such immense power, why would they bother targeting the lives of ordinary people?
"Miss Knave, you're under arrest!"
"You're a prime suspect. Please cooperate with our investigation!"
When she saw an officer produce handcuffs, Arlecchino couldn't help but laugh.
"Whether her death is connected to me or not, you have neither the authority nor the ability to arrest me."
"Send your Hydro Archon to speak with me."
With that, Arlecchino turned to leave.
The situation had escalated to this point—was Furina still planning to do nothing?
It seemed she had no choice but to meet the Hydro Archon herself. After all these years, what exactly had the Archon been doing? She couldn't fathom it at all.
What Arlecchino hadn't anticipated was that a Maison Gardiennage officer, undaunted by her formidable aura, still blocked her path, glaring at her with fury.
In the officer's eyes, Arlecchino saw something she hadn't witnessed before.
"Lady Furina has declared that in Fontaine, even Archons who commit crimes will face her Judgment!"
"Let alone a mere Fatui Harbinger!"
"I advise you to surrender peacefully and abandon all resistance. If Lady Furina learns of this, she will personally deliver her Judgment upon you!"
Hearing this declaration, Arlecchino nearly burst out laughing.
Judgment upon other Archons? Does Furina truly possess That Ability?!
Given Furina's capabilities, the most she could probably judge would be the Dendro Archon of Sumeru—after all, the Dendro Archon was still just a child.
Though, in Arlecchino's eyes, Furina wasn't much different herself, so it wouldn't exactly be bullying someone weaker.
Still, Arlecchino had no desire to clash with the Maison Gardiennage; such a confrontation would only complicate matters further.
With a swift movement, she vanished from the Maison Gardiennage Headquarters in an instant.
News of the incident at the Maison Gardiennage spread quickly, and when it became known that all the Maison Gardiennage officers had been targeted by the murderer, the public's fear intensified.
A heated debate erupted over whether Arlecchino might be connected to the victims' deaths.
However, the heated arguments yielded no consensus. Everything now hinged on Furina's reaction.
Yet the news never reached Furina. Neuvillette, who had returned to Fontaine, intercepted the reports.
Having already made contact with a mysterious faction, Neuvillette knew unequivocally that Arlecchino had no involvement in the case.
Whether her actions were motivated by genuine goodwill or ulterior motives in protecting the victims at the Maison Gardiennage Headquarters remained unclear. But at the very least, Fontaine shouldn't subject her to condemnation.
Neuvillette then summoned all the influential figures in Fontaine to discuss how to handle Marcel.
However, when the others heard the opposing side reject the demand to cease their criminal activities, those who believed they had found the enemy's weakness immediately voiced their objections.
"Absolutely not! We can't release him. If we do, we'll have no leverage to stop them in the future."
"Exactly! Unless they agree to cease their current madness and leave Fontaine, we must never hand Vacher over to them!"
"Investigate him thoroughly. Vacher must know their most crucial secret. Otherwise, they wouldn't be so desperate. Once we uncover this secret, we can effectively cripple this terrifying criminal organization."
"Why don't we try negotiating again? We could change the condition from releasing the hostage to halting their criminal activities in Fontaine."
The speaker felt Neuvillette's gaze land on him, an inexplicable pressure crushing him, but he pressed on.
"Neuvillette, at a time like this, you must prioritize what's truly important."
"If they continue their rampage, how many more lives will be lost beyond just two?"
-
The group's discussion yielded no immediate results. Beneath their lofty rhetoric, most participants simply wanted the murderer to stop their crimes, leave Fontaine, and then everything else could be negotiated.
In truth, the overwhelming majority supported this stance out of fear that they or their loved ones would become the murderer's next target.
Though Neuvillette had anticipated this outcome, the weight of it still left him weary.
As the first meeting adjourned in acrimony and Neuvillette returned to his office, a Melusine hurried toward him, her expression frantic.
"It's terrible, Monsieur Neuvillette! A precognitive crime notice has been sent to Palais Mermonia!"
"This time, the target is... Miss Clorinde!"
The moment the words left her lips, Palais Mermonia was enveloped by an oppressive, terrifying aura.