Lumine abruptly switched sides, joining Fidelle and Clorinde.
"You won't leave without leaving Chu Xi's body behind!" she declared.
Furina stepped forward, hands on her hips, her voice blazing with fury. "Does the Opera Epiclese look like a place you can just waltz in and out of as you please?"
"Heh, how naive," Chu Xi sneered, her eyes burning with contempt. "I'm standing right here. If you want to attack, be my guest."
Chu Xi took two steps forward, almost touching the tip of Lumine's sword.
Lumine hastily retreated. The body the Doctor was controlling belonged to Chu Xi, making it impossible for her to strike.
Chu Xi stared at Lumine with mocking intensity. "Understand now?"
She pointed to her head. "That girl's consciousness is trapped here. This body is her only remaining vessel. If it's damaged... her young life will end here. But don't worry, this body is one of my masterpieces. It won't break easily."
"Of course, as the creator of this body, I've installed countermeasures to prevent it from turning against me. You might call it underhanded, but it's a necessary precaution."
By now, Chu Xi had drawn the full hatred of the entire Opera House. Whether from the Fontaine faction or the Fatui, everyone wanted her eliminated immediately.
Mm, "her" refers to the Doctor.
This was Lyney and Lynette's first time meeting the Doctor. They had only known he was a scoundrel before, but they never imagined he could be this vile!
No wonder Father always clashed with him.
Lumine glared fiercely at Chu Xi, her emotions surging wildly.
"Don't look at me like that. Everything I do is for the sake of all humanity. The flesh is so frail, and only a tiny fraction of people are worthy of obtaining a Vision. Faced with such limitations, my research and creations offer a way to transcend them. Isn't Chu Xi the perfect example?"
"In time, she will achieve true perfection—shedding useless emotions and maintaining absolute rationality. This is true, noble life!"
Hearing that Chu Xi's emotions would vanish, Lumine's chest tightened with fury. She retorted fiercely:
"What do you know? You're just a madman who can slice himself into countless fragments, a delusional fool! Our fragility teaches us to cherish, and pain teaches us empathy. Erase those, and what's left of humanity?!"
"We can live perfectly well without your interference! You're the tumor plaguing this continent!"
Chu Xi: "Such tedious company. I have no time for idle chatter. I must leave... To avoid unnecessary trouble, I advise you not to pursue me further."
"Because... Chu Xi's life is now in my hands. Of course, if this body is destroyed, I'll perish with it. But this body contains only a fragment of my consciousness and her entire consciousness."
"If you think attacking me is worth it, then by all means, go ahead. I... won't resist..."
Lumine's hand gripping her sword trembled violently, and bloodshot veins appeared in her eyes.
Neuvillette: "Mr. Dottore, this is my final warning. Immediately leave Miss Chu Xi's body and relinquish control to her. Otherwise, Fontaine will issue a warrant for your arrest, declaring you an enemy of Fontaine."
Chu Xi ignored Neuvillette's words, causing his gaze to grow even colder.
Arlecchino: "Are you sure you want to do this? Defying the Tsaritsa's orders and becoming wanted by Fontaine, all for this body?"
Chu Xi shook her head. "You wouldn't understand. She... is different. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come myself. As for the warrant... Hah, I've grown tired of them long ago. Imagine, gaining a few decades of experience and becoming so self-important... It's truly unbelievable..."
Clorinde was about to strike when Fidelle placed a hand on her shoulder and shook her head.
Under the watchful eyes of the group, Chu Xi slowly departed...
-
In the live stream:
[ Doctor, Doctor! I truly despise him! ]
[ Is there really no way to stop him from taking Chu Xi? ]
[ Well, there is... We could summon Rukkhadevata, but I doubt our protagonist would do that. ]
[ Crushing the flower Venti gave her would also work! ]
[ The flower is her trump card. I don't think Lumine will use it... ]
-
Inside the Opera House:
The Doctor held Chu Xi's life in his hands. As Lumine's close friend, any decision regarding her fate should rightfully belong to Lumine alone. Moreover, Fidelle knew Lumine well enough to be certain she would never make such a choice.
They had no right to decide Chu Xi's fate.
"Just let her go like that? She completely disrupted the Trial!"
"What else can we do? If we harm her, that girl won't survive!"
"The Fatui... I always knew they were up to no good, but I never imagined they'd stoop to human experimentation..."
The audience whispered among themselves.
Seated in the gallery, Lyney and Lynette felt countless eyes scrutinizing them, making them deeply uneasy.
"Silence! Silence!" Neuvillette declared sternly. "The Fatui Harbinger Second Seat, Dottore, has gravely violated Fontaine Law by disrupting the Trial's proceedings, challenging the nation's authority, and defying its laws. Effective immediately, Dottore is hereby placed on the nation's highest wanted list..."
"The Trial is not yet concluded. The following cases will now be heard: the 'Shivak et al. Criminal Charges Case,' the 'Serial Young Girl Disappearance Case,' and the 'Lyney Siblings State Secrets Theft Case'..."
"Madam Arlecchino, you may choose to take a seat in the audience or leave immediately."
Upon hearing this, Arlecchino walked toward the audience seats.
Her purpose here wasn't solely for the Doctor; she was also here for Lyney and Lynette's trial.
"Lumine, we..."
Paimon's little head was still reeling. The Chu Xi they had cared for for two days wasn't Chu Xi at all—it was that detestable Doctor!
During their time caring for Chu Xi, Paimon had even secretly sobbed in her arms once.
Lumine turned to Navia. She had witnessed Navia's unwavering support earlier and wanted to inform her of her decision to leave.
"Go, partner! I'll handle things here!"
"Mm."
Lumine raced toward the Opera House's main entrance, Paimon scrambling after her.
Being unable to strike the Doctor, forced to watch her leave with Chu Xi, was worse than death itself!
Chu Xi was still in danger. Compared to that, everything else happening inside the Opera House seemed insignificant.
-
Outside the Opera House.
Chu Xi walked smoothly out, arriving at Fountain Plaza. Her movements stilled, and she turned back.
"Traveler, still clinging to hope?"
Lumine: "What will it take for you to let Chu Xi go?!"
"Heh, ha ha ha! Traveler, oh Traveler, even now you cling to your delusions. I'm willing to become a wanted criminal in Fontaine just to take her. What could you possibly offer that matters to me?"
Lumine silently drew out the flower Venti had given her. Chu Xi's eyes twitched involuntarily.
Lumine: "If you don't return Chu Xi to me, I'll summon four Gods! I'll scour every corner of Teyvat, dissect you into pieces, and obliterate you entirely!"
Chu Xi: "..."