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Because the Opera Epiclese was, after all, Fontaine's most important venue, even though it was not within the first three days of the month, Shao Yun's group did not dare linger too long while piloting the airship. After observing it from afar for a short while, they continued drifting northward.
Time passed quietly, and before they realized it, the airship had already drifted above the region where the Fontaine Research Institute was located.
Looking down at the chaotic, devastated area below, Paimon couldn't help but sigh. "Mm… so this is the Fontaine Research Institute?"
"Even though I was mentally prepared, it still feels kind of like one of those ancient ruins we've seen before…"
Navia recalled the explosion that had occurred at the Fontaine Research Institute and explained it to Paimon.
"You wouldn't know, Paimon—the explosion back then was terrifying. The powerful shockwave not only flattened the entire Research Institute in an instant, it also directly destroyed Callas's aquabus line."
"Even now, thinking back on it still gives me chills."
Clorinde nodded gravely in agreement. "That's right. The damage from that explosion went far beyond surface-level destruction. Even the Fortress of Meropide underwater was affected."
"Some of the walls couldn't withstand the impact and cracked, leading to severe leakage problems."
Navia picked up the conversation and continued recounting the news reports surrounding the incident.
"I remember the Steambird covered it at the time. The report said the explosion happened while they were researching some kind of mineral needed to build a so-called 'City in the Sky.'"
"Not only did all the early investments poured into the Sky City project go up in smoke, but the entire plan also suffered a devastating blow and came to a complete standstill."
When Navia mentioned Fontaine's so-called "City in the Sky" plan, Paimon couldn't help but think of Liyue's Jade Chamber.
"City in the Sky? That name kind of sounds like Liyue's Jade Chamber!"
Hearing the name Jade Chamber, Navia responded thoughtfully, "The Jade Chamber? Oh, you mean that floating structure in Liyue. I've heard about it."
"I remember that when the Jade Chamber was rebuilt, Charlotte went to Liyue to do an interview. She even wrote a detailed report about the reconstruction, which was later published in the Steambird."
Hearing this, Paimon's eyes widened in surprise. "Huh? Charlotte went to Liyue during the Jade Chamber's reconstruction?"
Navia nodded with certainty. "That's right. I remember it very clearly."
Paimon thought back—after finishing the search for Sunset Vermillionite, she had been busy traveling around with Shenhe, enjoying Liyue's scenery and everyday life. She must have missed Charlotte by chance…
Thinking of that, Paimon sighed. "Wow… that's kind of a shame. I didn't expect Charlotte to go that far just for news—she even went all the way to Liyue…"
Navia continued talking about Charlotte's experiences reporting in other nations.
"Not just that—she covered Mondstadt's dragon crisis, Liyue's calamity caused by the ancient gods, and Inazuma's civil war… ah, no, wait—she actually got sent back right after arriving at Ritou…"
"She also reported on Eleazar in Sumeru. Luckily, she left Sumeru and returned to Fontaine before the rainforest wildfire happened. Otherwise, she'd have been in serious danger. I heard a lot of people died in that fire."
When they heard the words "forest wildfire," Lumine and Paimon immediately exchanged an awkward glance, both feeling as though an embarrassing past had just been exposed.
"Forest wildfire?"
At this moment, Navia grew curious about that strange rainforest fire in Sumeru and muttered to herself, "I've always wondered—how could Sumeru's rainforest burn so badly? It's really strange."
Hearing Navia's confusion, Clorinde thought for a moment before speaking. "I've heard some rumors from the streets. Supposedly, that fire might have been connected to the Fatui."
"While I don't really trust baseless speculation, thinking about it carefully… it's not entirely impossible."
"Given Sumeru's current hostility toward the Fatui, that theory does have some credibility."
Seeing Navia and Clorinde getting more and more engrossed in the discussion, Shao Yun quickly spoke up to interrupt them.
He pointed toward the airship's engine not far away and said, "I think we should pay attention to the airship's Arkhe energy right now. I feel like our speed has dropped."
After Shao Yun pointed it out, Navia froze for a moment, then suddenly slapped her forehead. "Oh! Right! Now that you mention it, I feel it too—are we running out of energy?"
With that, she quickly pulled Clorinde along toward the airship's Arkhe energy storage device to inspect it.
In the end, Navia came to a conclusion.
"It feels like if we turn back now, we should still make it to the Court of Fontaine. But going back to Poisson? That's not happening."
Shao Yun nodded. "Alright. Let's turn around. I think we've flown long enough today anyway. The sun's about to set…"
"..."
Because the airship's Arkhe energy was insufficient, it ultimately had to make an emergency landing on the ground north of the Court of Fontaine.
As everyone disembarked, Paimon looked toward the familiar Court of Fontaine in the distance and muttered, "Mm… looks like we're staying in the Court of Fontaine tonight."
"But what about the airship? What if someone steals it…"
Navia jumped down from the airship, carefully inspected it, then turned to Paimon and said, "Don't worry. I'll notify my partners from the Spina di Rosula to come help recharge the aircraft."
"I'll also arrange for someone to guard it, so there's no need to worry about it being stolen." As she spoke, she confidently patted her chest.
Looking toward the Court of Fontaine, Clorinde said thoughtfully, "Perfect timing. I also need to talk to someone about the Arkhe energy tank back home being depleted. Better to replace it early and save myself the trouble of running back and forth."
Just then, Navia suddenly had a burst of inspiration and declared on her own initiative, "Then let's stay at Clorinde's place tonight! A pajama party at Clorinde's!"
Hearing this, Clorinde was momentarily stunned.
"Navia, you—"
Then she remembered yesterday's wager and said helplessly, "Alright, alright… a bet's a bet…"
"..."
This time, Shao Yun's group held a pajama party at Clorinde's home.
However, instead of playing Genius Invokation TCG, they played a tabletop role-playing game.
Navia knew Clorinde liked playing tabletop games during her vacations, but she hadn't expected Clorinde to own so many scripts!
With such perfect conditions, how could they not take full advantage of it?
Everyone gathered around the dining table to play, with Clorinde acting as the game master.
Lumine, Paimon, and Navia were completely immersed, while Shao Yun treated the whole thing as nothing more than one of Clorinde's story sessions.
They got so absorbed in the game that they almost missed dinner.
Why almost? Because Paimon noticed in time.
After all, Paimon's sensitivity to food was no joke.
"Hey! We got way too into it—we haven't even eaten dinner yet!"
Hearing this, the others looked toward the darkening sky outside, momentarily at a loss.
Lumine was the first to suggest an idea.
"If we start cooking now, isn't it a bit late? How about we go out and find a place for some late-night snacks?"
The moment she heard the words "go out for late-night snacks," Paimon instantly got lazy.
She grinned at Shao Yun, then grabbed the corner of his clothes with both hands and began acting cute.
"Hehehe~ Shao Yun, I'll leave the hard work of buying late-night snacks to you! Paimon is sooo tired today—she can't even take another step!"
She deliberately blinked her eyes, putting on an utterly pitiful expression.
Watching Paimon act spoiled, Shao Yun laughed, nodded, and readily accepted the task. "Alright, alright, I know you're lazy. So what do you all want to eat?"
Paimon immediately spoke for everyone, waving her hand boldly. "Ah, just grab whatever you think looks good! We're not picky!"
She even stuck her tongue out at Shao Yun playfully.
"..."
Shao Yun headed straight for Hotel Debord to buy late-night snacks. With so many people eating, the shop naturally needed some time to prepare.
Just as Shao Yun was hurrying back toward Clorinde's home carrying a large bag of food, a sharp, piercing cry for help suddenly rang out.
"Help—me—! Don't kill me! Someone, help!"
Shao Yun was startled by the sudden scream. He stopped in his tracks and looked toward the source of the sound.
"That voice is… Furina? Damn it—did Arlecchino move this fast?"
"..."
Elsewhere, Arlecchino—wearing a mask and cloaked in a mantle—gripped Furina's collar tightly with one hand, lifting her entirely off the ground.
At the same time, her other hand slid over Furina's body like a snake, probing back and forth.
"Strange… where's the Gnosis? I'm not sensing it. Could it be…"
As that thought crossed her mind, her gaze turned peculiar as it drifted toward Furina's lower body.
With a mindset of anything is possible, Arlecchino reached out and directly groped toward Furina's lower half.
In that instant, Furina clearly felt the stranger's hand touch her most private area. A surge of intense shame flooded her, mixing terror with humiliation as she screamed at the top of her lungs.
"Don't! Don't touch there! I beg you, spare my life—but you can't treat me like this! Help!"
Faced with Furina's desperate cries, Arlecchino showed no sign of stopping. Instead, she muttered irritably to herself, "It's not here either… then where exactly is the Gnosis hidden?"
"Don't tell me it's not on Furina at all? All this for nothing…"
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