Vacher's death did not cause much of a stir. After the doctor's examination, it was concluded that Vacher had died of excessive fright.
Since Richard was Vacher's guarantor during his outing, the unexpected death naturally led to him being subjected to internal questioning from the Palais Memoria. Because it was an internal issue, the Ministry in charge of this questioning was the Administration.
To avoid suspicion, Richard specifically asked Lynette to take the minutes, while Furina presided over the questioning.
After a meticulous and thorough inquiry, it was finally determined that Vacher's death had nothing to do with Richard, the Administration's Secretary-General. It was purely an accident.
"Did you already predict Vacher would die?"
After the questioning, Furina signed her name on the file, then handed it to Clorinde, telling her to toss the documents into the trash… or rather, the archives.
"Does that fall under the scope of the inquiry?" Richard asked.
"No, I'm just curious."
"Is there a recording device?"
"Who would put something like that in an office!"
Richard quietly shifted his gaze away.
"You really do have one!" Furina immediately began recalling whether she had said anything inappropriate whenever she had visited Richard's office.
"At this point, whether Vacher died or not isn't important anymore. Even if I told him not to see Vigneire because it was dangerous, do you think he would've listened? Besides, for someone like him, I had no obligation to warn him."
"That's true…" Furina thought Richard's reasoning made sense.
"But rather…"
"I've already accompanied you to the Fountain of Lucine. After all this time, that voice you mentioned might have long sunk to the bottom…" Before Richard could finish, Furina sharply interrupted, sensing his spellcasting.
Richard chuckled: "Lady Furina, that's not what I was going to say…"
"?" Furina slowly formed a question mark above her head.
"I meant, why do you look so lethargic today? Did you not sleep well last night?"
Richard had already noticed Furina's lack of energy since the morning. Even just while chatting, she had yawned several times.
Hearing him mention it, Furina's face showed a trace of unnaturalness, her eyes flickering.
It was all because of the pure water spirit she saw yesterday in the Fountain of Lucine's sea of consciousness. After dissolving Vacher, it turned its gaze upon Furina.
The malice contained in that look had left such a deep impression on her that she had several nightmares through the night.
She didn't sleep, simply couldn't.
It wasn't until dawn approached that Furina dozed off for a while, but clearly the sleep wasn't enough, which explained her exhaustion today.
"N-no, it's nothing. I just stayed up late reading a new script…"
"You had a nightmare, didn't you?"
"!!!" Furina's ahoge shot up, her almond-shaped eyes widening as she stared at Richard.
'And you say you can't read minds!'
"Anyone who went through that would be shaken, and it's normal to have nightmares," Richard said as he poured a cup of black tea and pushed it to Furina.
"Drink this to calm down."
"Oh, thank you…" Furina instinctively accepted it, but quickly realized and blurted: "Wait, no! I'm the Hydro Archon! How could I possibly have nightmares? I told you, I was reading a script!"
"Then do you still remember the contents of that script, Lady Furina?"
"T-that… The script is confidential! How could I tell you?"
"Oh~ so that's a secret too. Lady Furina, you're so hard to grasp. Looks like I'm still far from truly earning your trust." Richard smiled as he poured himself tea as well.
Seeing that Richard didn't press further, Furina sighed in relief, admiring her own quick wit more and more.
Watching Richard sip his tea so calmly, she suddenly remembered he once said he had found a way to gain her complete trust.
But in the end, wasn't there still no progress?
This thought gave her some relief… yet also an inexplicable sense of disappointment. She couldn't help but murmur, "As a god, it's only natural not to be understood by mortals. You needn't mind it, and certainly needn't dig deeper."
"Oh? Is Lady Furina going back on her word?"
"W-who's going back on their word! I'm just telling you not to waste your effort and time! Hmph, ungrateful mortal!"
Her angry look was adorable, delicate brows furrowed, cheeks tinged pink, her heterochromatic eyes glaring at Richard.
Her heart was torn: hoping he'd give up, yet also not wanting him to. She herself couldn't tell which hope was stronger.
Richard only smiled warmly: "Don't worry, Lady Furina. In a few days, there should be results."
He had already sent a letter to Liyue. Though there was no reply yet, the timing should be close.
In a few days, the annual Rite of Descension would be held. The Geo Archon would appear then, surely seeing his letter as well, saving Richard the trouble of going to Liyue personally to secure the contract.
After all, contracts with gods were not like ordinary oaths, invoked simply by swearing "by the God of Contracts."
And more importantly, without ceremony and grandeur, Furina would never believe it, would she?
Speaking of which, he hadn't been to Liyue in decades.
Back then, what impressed him most wasn't Liyue Harbor's prosperity, but two young girls.
One was a barefoot girl walking from Yaoguang Shoal to the South Wharf, a basket of goods on her small shoulders, hawking them along the way. Her perseverance and resolve left a deep impression on Richard.
So he traveled with her for a time. Though she was reluctant to accept kindness, preferring to weigh everything with Mora, she gradually opened up before they parted. Richard never told her his name, nor did she his, like the Liyue saying: "The friendship of a gentleman is as light as water." Yet Richard knew she was no ordinary child, and he had taught her much. Surely she must be doing well now.
The other girl he encountered was while visiting an old friend in the mountains. Detecting a malevolent spirit, Richard tracked it down, intending to dispose of it casually, like picking up trash on the roadside.
But when he arrived, the spirit had already been driven off, and in the cave lay a frail, dying girl. Mistaking Richard for the enemy, she tightly gripped her exorcist's dagger.
Richard finished the job, eliminated the spirit, and brought the girl to his friend. Seeing her talent, his friend took her in as a disciple.
It was the best outcome, really. At that time, Richard was a wanderer with no fixed abode, hardly in a position to raise a child himself.
With her special fate, being raised by an adeptus was ideal.
...
A few days later, Richard saw the headline on the Steambird:
{"Geo Archon Assassinated, Tianquan Ningguang Orders Lockdown to Hunt the Culprit!"}
Three photos accompanied the article. One: a massive brown golden dragon. Another: a stunningly elegant woman giving commands. The last: a blonde traveler with a white flower in her hair, fleeing with a floating companion, pursued by the Millelith.
Richard: "…"
Three photos, four familiar faces.
At the sight of Tianquan Ningguang, he recalled the girl who once sold goods. He never expected she would rise so high.
And Lumine with Paimon, they had already reached Liyue, though clearly in trouble.
As for the dragon…
Richard pondered briefly before concluding: 'definitely faking his death.'
He didn't believe Morax would die so easily, even with the erosion of time. Unless Celestia itself struck, Richard couldn't imagine who could quietly kill him.
"What do we do now? Looks like the Geo Archon can't reply to you," Lynette asked nearby.
Richard glanced at her, sensing her words carried a touch of dark humor. After a moment, he said, "I'll take leave and go to Liyue myself."
"Is Lady Furina going too?" Lynette assumed he would bring Furina along, like last time with Mondstadt.
"The Opera Epiclese was just renovated, so better not. With Liyue in this state, Furina showing up would be… unwise."
Liyue was more sensitive than ever. Morax wouldn't want Richard making a scene either. Low profile was best.
Bringing celebrity Furina along would make discretion impossible. He didn't want the Steambird publishing a headline like {"Shocking! Geo Archon Faked His Death Just to Retire and Slack Off."}
Richard was going to request a favor, not stir trouble.
"Going alone?" Lynette's tail swished. Last time Furina went, shouldn't it be her turn this time?
But Richard intended to go solo.
And not for long, he could already sense the turmoil in Liyue, even through the paper. But he wouldn't get involved.
Besides, with Morax alive, even if the defeated demon gods of old returned, Liyue wouldn't fall.
"Yeah, I'll be back in two or three days. If I move fast, maybe I won't even need to take official leave, just a quick weekend trip."
"Oh." Lynette reluctantly accepted. At least he wasn't bringing someone else.
Richard, noting her feelings, smiled: "If you want to visit for fun, we'll go together after this turmoil passes."
"I don't really care…" Lynette turned away, hands behind her back, cat ears twitching.
"Then it's settled. I'll inform Lady Furina, and Clorinde too… If I don't return on time, you can pass some of the grunt work to her."
"Don't I already?"
Even when Richard was present, she'd hand chores to Clorinde.
"Don't bully her too much."
"She volunteered."
Not wrong, secretarial work requires building experience.
Plus, Lynette always compensated her with fine tea and pastries. They got along well.
It was like a Mother beating her Child who had done wrong, one willing to fight, the other willing to suffer.
"Really, if anyone bullied her, it was you," Lynette pointed out. "You're the one who tricked her into becoming Furina's secretary."
At the time, Clorinde had already been both Duelist-for-Hire and Furina's bodyguard, leaving her exhausted. But with Richard around, the bodyguard role became unnecessary.
With only duelist work, her schedule was manageable, even leisurely.
But back then, she had been too overworked to think clearly, letting Richard easily lure her with the "Three Highs": high salary, high benefits, high vacation.
"She seems to be enjoying herself now. Recently even had tea with Navia."
"Suffering in silence?"
"Not quite."
As Richard stepped out of his office, he ran into Clorinde. Remembering the conversation, he asked: "So, how are things for you now?"
"?" A question mark slowly appeared over Clorinde's head.
"Not bad. Comfortable work environment, reasonable workload, great food. Thanks to you, I've also resolved an old worry."
Without Richard, she'd still be fretting over how to protect Navia.
"I see…" Richard nodded. Didn't he say he hadn't bullied her? Look, she was even thanking him.
"I might take a few days off soon, so I'll leave Administration's work to you."
Clorinde: "…"
Too hasty. Was it too late to take back her earlier words?
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu