Paimon, hands on her hips, exclaimed, "Uh... Archon Furina... she looks so smug and proud of herself! She clearly has no idea you exposed her lies."
"Hmm," Neuvillette replied. "That's for the best. We don't need to concern ourselves with her. Let's focus on enjoying the show."
"So this is the relationship between Fontaine's Hydro Archon and the Chief Justice..." Paimon mused.
After this brief exchange, the group resumed their seats.
As the audience gradually filed in, the performance began.
The courtyard lights suddenly dimmed, and Paimon exclaimed excitedly, "Oh! Lumine, the lights went out! Does that mean the show's about to start?!"
Neuvillette sighed silently.
Paimon clapped a hand over her mouth. "Sorry, I'll be quieter."
On stage, Lyney stepped forward to introduce his sister, Lynette, before beginning his performance.
Fontaine's renowned Great Magician Lyney lived up to his reputation. His act was spectacular, and his ability to engage the audience was remarkable. From Fidelle's vantage point, she could see Furina craning her neck to observe the performance below.
Fidelle, too, found herself captivated, her gaze fixed on the stage below.
Soon, Lyney began the centerpiece of his performance: teleporting himself from a Magic Box on stage to another Magic Box in the audience.
The magic show proceeded smoothly and spectacularly. But just as Lyney emerged from the box in the audience, fireworks erupted on stage.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, a water tank suspended above the stage plummeted, smashing into the box below. The tank shattered, its water gushing out. The young woman Lyney had randomly selected from the audience—who should have been inside the box—had vanished. In her place was Lyney's assistant, who had been fatally crushed by the falling tank.
However, due to the angle of the wreckage, the crushed figure beneath the tank remained undiscovered for some time.
The sudden accident caught everyone off guard, throwing the entire audience into chaos.
"How could this happen...?"
Lyney's expression was one of utter disbelief, clearly indicating that the situation on stage had completely deviated from his expectations.
Neuvillette rose to his feet. "The performance is suspended! Medical personnel, follow me! Maison Gardiennage, secure the scene, detain all performers, and seal off all entrances and exits to the Opera House immediately!"
Furina: "Y-yes, that's right! If this was an accident, we must determine the cause. If it wasn't an accident, then... then they won't escape the God of Justice's judgment!"
After some time, the Maison Gardiennage's investigation yielded results.
Neuvillette: "The person inside the Magic Box has tragically perished. The deceased's name was Cowell, an assistant in the Lyney Magic Troupe."
"The fireworks on stage ignited the ropes above the water tank, directly causing it to fall. As for why Cowell was in the box instead of the previously selected audience member, that remains unknown for now."
"However, after a thorough search, the Maison Gardiennage confirmed that the young woman had vanished without a trace—as if she had evaporated into thin air. This situation transcends a mere stage accident... it also bears several hallmarks of the 'Serial Disappearance Case.'"
Paimon: "'Serial Disappearance Case'... I remember Charlotte mentioning that!"
Furina, perched on the high platform, suddenly chuckled. "Heh heh heh, I see, I see now. To save such an obvious conclusion for the finale... aren't you underestimating us a bit?"
"This exceptionally skilled and seemingly omnipotent magician, Mr. Lyney, isn't he the mastermind behind the 'Serial Disappearance Case'?"
Furina's words caused even Fidelle, who had been silent behind her, to widen her eyes in shock.
Wait, my Lady Furina, how could you possibly be certain that Mr. Lyney is the mastermind behind the 'Serial Disappearance Case'?
If my memory serves me right, the Serial Disappearance Case first surfaced twenty years ago... But how old is Lyney?
Surely he's not even twenty yet...
Thinking this over, Fidelle gradually crossed her arms, wondering: Could Lady Furina have noticed something I missed?
The accused Lyney grew visibly nervous, defending himself: "Why me? This was a complete accident!"
"The entire incident occurred during your magic show—the girl was chosen, vanished, and the deceased was your assistant... Now that I think about it, the opening line, 'From existence to nothingness, from nothingness to existence,' sounds like a deliberate provocation."
Furina's eyes gleamed with insight and confidence. From Fidelle's perspective, she resembled a proud, azure-plumed rooster.
Furina's accusation left Paimon utterly incredulous. She couldn't believe Lyney would be the mastermind behind the Serial Disappearance Case.
Neuvillette interjected, "Let's pause the debate here. Lady Furina, may I interpret your remarks as a formal accusation against Mr. Lyney and his companions?"
Furina raised her hands defensively.
"Eh? I just think... Isn't it a bit premature to call it an accusation just yet...?"
The audience below erupted into excited chatter, finding Furina's reasoning compelling. Their praise boosted her confidence, causing her to lift her chin proudly.
"Ahem," Furina cleared her throat, "Of course, everyone. While the truth is self-evident, it's this opponent before me who truly excites me."
She pointed toward Lumine, "Hey, Traveler! You'll lend a hand, right? Mr. Lyney did you a great service last time."
Lumine replied firmly, "I trust Lyney."
"Ha ha ha, then there's no problem at all! You see, everyone, this Traveler and I had a duel the moment we first met."
"I never imagined she could hold her own against me with Lyney's help. Heh, the most boring outcome is a draw."
Furina crossed her arms and shot a sidelong glance at Lumine. "One of us will inevitably win. Since this grand spectacle is bound to happen sooner or later, it's only fitting that it unfolds during the climax of the opera!"
Paimon grumbled, "But she clearly lost back then!"
Neuvillette: "Understood. The Accusation stands. Where there is an Accusation, there must be a Trial."
"Traveler, Lady Furina views you as a rival. Let us disregard her exaggerated claims and simply seek your opinion: are you willing to stand with Mr. Lyney, defend him, and serve as his representative?"
Lumine: "I am."
Neuvillette: "Very well. The trial will be held at the Opera House tomorrow. Both sides are free to investigate the case and seek the truth. Lyney and his Magic Troupe, as the parties involved, must remain at the Opera House. The remaining spectators may leave in an orderly fashion after being cleared by the Maison Gardiennage."
After the audience dispersed in an orderly manner, Furina left with Fidelle.
"..."
"What's wrong, Fidelle?"
"Lady Furina, do you truly believe Mr. Lyney is the mastermind behind the Serial Disappearance Case?"
"Ah? 'Mastermind' might be a bit of an exaggeration, but I'm convinced he's at least an accomplice!"
Fidelle remained silent, waiting for Furina to continue.
"Lyney and Lynette are from the House of the Hearth. The leader of the House of the Hearth is Arlecchino, the Fourth Seat of the Fatui Harbingers—'The Knave'! That detestable mushroom-eyed subordinate must be up to no good!"
At the mention of "The Knave," Furina instinctively flinched, her mind flashing back to that night in Fontaine when Fidelle was away, leaving her utterly helpless and terrified...
"Even if Lyney and Lynette aren't the masterminds, they must be secretly involved in some dark conspiracy. I must uncover it! And even if they turn out to be innocent, having accusations against them will help clear their names, won't it?"
The intensity in Fidelle's eyes deepened. As expected, Lady Furina must have a profound purpose behind her actions!
She, Fidelle, needed no further questioning—only obedience.
How foolish of me to think Lady Furina challenged the Traveler out of mere vanity...
I was truly so naive...