"Furina went to organize her own intelligence network!" Lora said to Neuvillette.
Neuvillette was not surprised. He nodded and said, "I am aware that Furina has established quite a few networks of spies and informants over the past five hundred years. Though they cannot compare to the legendary Lochfolk spies, they can still gather a considerable amount of information."
"Also, Fontaine has already formed a united front with the other nations! But Fontaine's national strength has declined terribly over these past five hundred years, so I'll have to trouble you to help rebuild it," Lora said, bringing up the matter with Neuvillette again.
Fontaine's navy had been nearly wiped out five hundred years ago after the battle against Elynas.
On top of that, Lora had taken the Lochknights with her back then. After she left, Focalors had many matters to deal with, and Fontaine's old nobles took the opportunity to seize power on a large scale.
As a result, Fontaine's national defense had never been fully rebuilt over the past five hundred years.
If Remuria truly returned, then out on the sea, Fontaine would need a defense force of its own.
"I will begin handling this matter immediately." Neuvillette nodded, putting Lora at ease.
"All right, keep working. I won't bother you any longer!" Lora stood on tiptoe and patted Neuvillette on the shoulder. "I'll be going now!"
"With such changes about to come upon the world, you still do not intend to work?" Neuvillette asked in surprise when he saw that Lora really was about to leave just like that.
Lora shook her head. "I was absent from Fontaine for five hundred years. You understand the Fontaine of today better than I do. So I feel at ease leaving these matters to you, and so does everyone else! But don't worry. I won't just abandon Fontaine."
"That, of course, I know." Neuvillette nodded.
He looked at Lora and finally sighed. "Very well. You have only just returned from Liyue, and now you have to prepare for all of this. It must indeed be rather tiring. Go and rest."
"Neuvillette..." Lora was deeply moved to hear him say that. "Then I'm leaving!"
Watching her leave the office, Neuvillette sighed helplessly and returned to his desk to continue working.
After leaving Neuvillette's office, Lora returned to her residence. Before long, Focalors arrived with Rhodeia and the other Oceanids.
"Lady Egeria, we have contacted almost all the Oceanids, and we have finished sorting through the Lochfolk intelligence network!" Focalors reported the work she and Rhodeia had completed to Lora.
"Almost all?" Lora caught the uncertainty in Focalors's words.
Rhodeia explained, "Because of what happened five hundred years ago, we have completely lost contact with some of the Oceanids. When you returned back then, we were unable to reach them either."
"I understand." Lora nodded.
She sighed and said, "If I asked you to rebuild the Lochknights, how much time would you need?"
"With you here, I think we would only need one month!" Focalors gave Lora a timeframe.
After Focalors succeeded as Hydro Archon, it was not as though she had never considered rebuilding the Lochknights. However, most of the Oceanids only obeyed Lora's command. After Lora left, they no longer paid any attention to Focalors's orders, leaving her willing but unable to act.
But now that Lora was here, rebuilding the Lochknights would only require a single order.
The one-month timeframe Focalors gave had even accounted for the time it would take the farthest Oceanids to hear the news and rush to Fontaine.
"Then go and start making preparations," Lora said to them.
"Yes!" Focalors and Rhodeia nodded, then withdrew.
After they left, Lora walked to the railing and looked down over the entire Court of Fontaine. She gently gripped the railing and let out a long sigh.
"Why are you sighing?"
Furina's voice suddenly came from behind her.
Lora turned to look at Furina as she walked in and asked, "Why are you back? Did you finish sorting through your intelligence network that quickly?"
"No."
Furina shook her head and said, "There are too many people. I've already sent a message to each of them, but you know my intelligence agents are all human, not Oceanids. They won't reply that quickly."
"Are you scared?" Lora smiled as she watched Furina walk toward her.
Furina glanced at her, then shook her head. "Of course not!"
"This is a war on the level of gods," Lora continued. "Are you really not afraid?"
Furina shook her head. She hugged Lora and said, "With Mom here, what do I have to be afraid of? You're so amazing. You'll definitely be able to protect me!"
Lora patted Furina's hand and said, "Don't worry. I will definitely protect all of you. Not just you. I will protect everything in Fontaine!"
"We're going to save the world, right?" Furina asked.
Lora nodded. "That's right! We're going to save the world!"
...
After Sophia and Nahida returned to Sumeru, they immediately summoned all the sages of the Akademiya.
Led by Acting Grand Sage Alhaitham, the sages stood in the Sanctuary of Surasthana, their expressions solemn and their eyes bright with excitement as they looked at Sophia, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, standing before them.
"Thank you all for your hard work. I know Sumeru has been dealing with many matters recently, but this matter is extremely important, so I had to have all of you present," Sophia said slowly as she looked at them.
Her gaze fell on Alhaitham. "Alhaitham, how is the situation in the desert?"
Hearing Sophia ask him, Alhaitham answered, "With the help of Dehya and the Eremites, the Akademiya has been gradually bringing the desert under its governance. The distribution of Akasha Terminals is also proceeding."
"That is not fast enough." Sophia shook her head. Looking at Alhaitham, she said in a low voice, "Alhaitham, I need you to ensure, within one month, that the Akademiya's decrees can reach every corner of the desert."
"One month?" Alhaitham was somewhat surprised when he heard Sophia's words. He frowned and asked, "Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, may I ask why?"
"A new Archon War is about to begin. Before that happens, I need to unify all of Sumeru," Sophia said to him. "The Akasha will provide you with every form of support, including a portion of divine power."
"A new... Archon War?"
All the sages, including Alhaitham, felt as if they had misheard her. They stared in disbelief at Sophia standing before them.
Sophia nodded and said, "I am not joking with you. The Ley Lines are undergoing a transformation. The gods of the past will awaken, and they will become even stronger. That is why, before that happens, I need a unified Sumeru."