"...What?"
Luo Qing stared blankly at Furina, a flurry of question marks floating in his mind.
From his understanding of interpersonal relationships, it seed Furina was feeling neglected. Despite all her efforts to assist him, she felt unappreciated—a classic case of the overworked tool rebelling for recognition.
To simplify: Furina was tired of being a tool and wanted a reward.
But still... why was Furina reacting like this?
"So, what you're saying is..." Luo Qing tilted his head, his lips curving into a teasing grin. "You want to go on a date with ?"
"W-what?!"
Furina's face turned as red as the setting sun, the blush creeping all the way to her ears.
"Who said anything about a date?!"
She stamred, her voice rising. "I just... I just wish you'd co see as a friend sotis. Not just when you need sothing!"
Her voice grew quieter as she spoke until her gaze dropped to the floor, her fingers fidgeting nervously.
"I barely ever see you unless I go looking for you..."
"..."
Luo Qing was montarily speechless. Furina's words struck a familiar chord.
So she really does think of as a friend, he realized, a faint smile forming on his lips.
"Alright," he said softly, reaching out to ruffle her hair. "Once everything in Fontaine settles down, I'll take you wherever you want to go. It'll be entirely up to you—how does that sound?"
"..."
Furina didn't answer, but neither did she push away the hand tousling her hair.
After a long pause, she murmured under her breath, "You'd better keep your word."
"Of course," Luo Qing chuckled. "After all, it's part of our agreent, isn't it?"
Before she could respond, he gave her cheek a playful pinch, eliciting a small squeak of protest. Luo Qing had perfected the art of pacifying tsunderes, and Furina was no exception.
"Well then, Lady Furina, may I leave now?" he asked with mock politeness.
Furina, too flustered to speak, simply nodded.
"Until next ti, Lady Furina~" Luo Qing said with a wink.
A faint golden glow flickered in his eyes, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished, leaving the curtains fluttering in the breeze.
Furina stared at the window for a mont, then stomped her foot in frustration. "That guy... Why is he so good at sweet-talking but so an the rest of the ti?!"
Her self-pitying monologue was interrupted by a knock at the door. Neuvillette entered a mont later, his calm deanor contrasting with her flustered state.
---
anwhile – At Luo Qing's Ho
Returning from Furina's palace, Luo Qing found himself reflecting on her behavior.
He had always thought of her as a carefree troublemaker who didn't take things too seriously. Because of that impression, he had treated her more casually than the other won in his life.
But it turned out that beneath her playful exterior, Furina had a delicate and sensitive heart.
Looks like I'll have to adjust how I treat her, he mused.
When Luo Qing entered his ho, ready to brief Natalya and the others on their next steps, he was surprised to find Charlotte sitting tensely in the living room.
Rosalyne was serving her tea and pastries with a level of courtesy even Theresa rarely received.
"Luo Qing, you're back!" Charlotte exclaid, standing up abruptly. Realizing her overenthusiasm, she quickly bowed her head, her cheeks flushed with embarrassnt.
"Sir, I have an update on the task you assigned !"
"Task?" Luo Qing raised an eyebrow, racking his brain.
Then it ca back to him: Charlotte's impassioned plea to help save Fontaine. To humor her, he had given her the mission of investigating the cause of the dissolution phenonon in Fontaine citizens.
He hadn't expected her to make any real progress. After all, she was just a reporter.
But now...
"You've done well, Miss Charlotte," Luo Qing said with an encouraging smile, sitting across from her. Adopting a look of mock surprise, he gestured for her to continue.
"Tell , what have you discovered?"
Charlotte's eyes lit up with excitent. "Based on the evidence I've gathered and the findings from the missing girls' case, I've determined that the primary cause of Fontaine citizens dissolving is their exposure to large quantities of Primal Amniotic Waters."
"Primal Amniotic Waters?" Luo Qing repeated, intrigued.
"Yes!" Charlotte nodded eagerly. "In small amounts, the water induces euphoria. But in large doses, it causes Fontaine citizens to dissolve into water. Strangely, it seems to have a different effect on people from other nations, enhancing their perception of Hydro energy instead."
She continued, "After surveying Fontaine's water sources and analyzing the concentration levels of Primal Amniotic Waters, I found that the waters near Lefevre District and the area around the Fontaine Research Institute have much higher concentrations than anywhere else."
"Which leads to believe that the Lefevre District may be one of the sources of these waters."
"The Lefevre District..." Luo Qing murmured. He was unfamiliar with Fontaine's geography beyond its central regions.
"You might know it by another na," Charlotte said, her tone grave.
"ropide Fortress."
"ropide Fortress?"
Luo Qing's eyes narrowed as pieces began falling into place.
Could the next Chapter of events really be centered around that prison?
"ropide is where all of Fontaine's criminals are sent," Charlotte explained. "It operates independently of Fontaine's judicial system under the sole authority of the Duke. Even Lord Neuvillette has no jurisdiction there."
She paused, a tinge of disappointnt in her expression.
"Unfortunately, my current status makes it impossible for to investigate further. That's as far as I've been able to go..."
"Don't worry," Luo Qing said, patting her shoulder in a gesture of reassurance. His tone beca exaggeratedly grandiose.
"You've done an excellent job, Miss Charlotte! When we resolve the prophecy crisis, I'll personally recomnd you to Lady Furina for the prestigious Fontaine Honorary dal!"
"Thank you, sir!" Charlotte's cheeks glowed with pride.
"It's nothing, really—just my duty as a journalist. But I'm glad I could contribute to Fontaine's future!"
Charlotte's report only deepened Luo Qing's suspicions. ropide Fortress, the Lefevre District, Primal Amniotic Waters...
Things were starting to co together.
For now, though, he had more imdiate matters to handle: ensuring his subordinates could infiltrate ropide without raising suspicion.
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