A Few Days Later
There's nothing quite like starting a beautiful day... in prison.
Luo Qing woke up in the most luxurious dorm in ropide Fortress. After tidying up, he made his way to the second floor of the residential area, finding a good vantage point to watch the drama unfold.
Just as he'd predicted, Lumine and her floating companion had arrived in ropide Fortress in pursuit of clues about Tartaglia.
What surprised him, however, was their thod of entry. Like Lynette and her siblings, they'd deliberately chosen to get themselves arrested.
As for why he didn't et them in person?
It was simply because he found it troubleso. Intervening might disrupt his carefully laid plans.
Sotis, staying in the shadows and observing from the sidelines allowed you to see far more clearly than getting involved directly.
Before long, Luo Qing spotted Wriothesley, the Duke of ropide, assembling a squad of security automatons and heading toward the fortress's main entrance.
Monts later, a petite blonde entered the fortress, her floating companion by her side, escorted by the chanical guards.
The scene caused a stir among the prisoners.
It wasn't every day that soone received such an extraordinary welco, with the duke himself personally leading the reception. Curious criminals paused their daily routines to gawk, wondering who this VIP might be.
"Her eyes are still as bright and pure as ever, Lumine," Luo Qing murmured, leaning against the second-floor railing.
Lumine was everything one could hope for—beautiful, kind-hearted, and considerate. The only issue? Sotis, the innocence in her gaze made her seem a little... dense.
If I keep watching, Paimon's bound to notice, Luo Qing thought, shaking his head. Better to retreat to his dorm for now and wait out the day.
He'd already gathered most of the intelligence he needed about ropide Fortress.
Beneath the fortress's chanical valve lay a vast reserve of Primordial Water—a dangerous, untad power that he had no intention of releasing himself.
Instead, he'd let Lumine push the story forward. Once the pressure beneath the valve beca unbearable or soone else foolishly triggered its release, he'd step in.
What to do today...
For now, Luo Qing resolved to lay low in his dorm and avoid any chance encounters with Lumine.
"Haven't logged into the Void Terminal in a while..."
He scratched his head, rembering his promise to Furina to check in regularly. It had been over two weeks since his last ssage to her.
She's probably angry by now...
Sighing, Luo Qing shut his door, flopped onto his bed, and activated the Void Network.
Let's see what Furina's up to.
---
anwhile
After finishing the ani Angel Beats last night, Furina was a wreck.
She'd started it thinking it was a lighthearted slice-of-life cody.
She hadn't expected the emotional gut-punch it delivered at the end. That one scene alone had left her in a low-energy, emo state all day.
Determined to take it easy, she lay in bed scrolling through the Void Terminal, looking for another cody to lift her spirits.
But just as she was about to start sothing new, she heard an unexpected voice in her mind.
"Moshi moshi~"
"...Huh?!"
Furina sat bolt upright.
Luo Qing?!
Had she misheard?
Before she could convince herself it was just her imagination, his voice ca again, this ti tinged with concern.
"What's wrong today? My interface shows you're feeling down. Did sothing upset you?"
"...Yeah."
Realizing it really was Luo Qing, Furina took a deep breath, suppressing her irritation, before letting it all out.
"You actually rembered to contact ?! Unbelievable!" she shouted ntally. "You promised to talk to every night! It's been over two weeks! What, does ropide Fortress have no internet or sothing?!"
If Furina had been speaking out loud, her tirade would've echoed through the entirety of Polo Palace.
"Ow, ow, my head," Luo Qing groaned, wincing at her outburst. Yep, she was mad.
"Hey, cut so slack. I'm in prison, rember? I've been super busy working my butt off every day!"
"Working? In ropide? Half a day there would kill you?!" Furina retorted.
"...Fine, my bad," Luo Qing said, chuckling sheepishly. "I really did forget. But as soon as I rembered, I ca straight to you!"
"Hmph! You did it on purpose!"
Still, as their conversation continued, Furina's stormy mood began to lift. Even arguing with Luo Qing felt refreshing, as if the weight on her chest had been blown away.
He's alive!
"Alright, alright, I'm sorry, okay?" Luo Qing said, trying to placate her.
"If you think just apologizing is enough..." Furina grumbled, folding her arms.
"What do you want, then?"
"Well..." Furina smirked, her voice dripping with mischief. "How about you bark like a dog and beg for forgiveness?"
"...?"
"You've gotten bold while I've been away, haven't you?"
"...!" Furina imdiately backpedaled. "F-Fine! No barking, okay? No need to get all scary about it!"
"So, what have you been up to lately?" Furina asked, attempting to change the subject.
"I've been exchanging intel with the duke," Luo Qing replied. "With any luck, I might find a way to resolve Fontaine's prophecy crisis."
"Oh..." Furina's voice softened.
For a mont, a warm feeling bubbled up inside her.
He was working to save Fontaine. For ...
Wait, no! Why should I care?
"Wow, so dedicated," Furina said with a mock yawn, crossing her arms. Even if he couldn't see her, she made a show of acting nonchalant. "All this effort, just to win over?"
Luo Qing chuckled. "Don't flatter yourself. I'm only after the Gnosis. You're just Plan B."
"...!"
"Luo Qing!" Furina screeched, stomping her feet and furiously kicking her pillow. "Do you have to make mad every ti we talk?!"
"I'm just stating facts."
Furina fell silent, stewing in her frustration.
No matter what Luo Qing said, she couldn't shake the mory of Raiden Shogun's words.
Deep down, she'd already started to see him as soone... interested in her.
Hmph! All that talk about the Gnosis—it's just an excuse!
Still, as much as she hated to admit it, the thought of that choice lood large in her mind.
"You okay?" Luo Qing asked, noticing her sudden silence.
"Nothing," Furina muttered, lying back down. Then, as if struck by inspiration, she added slyly, "Oh, by the way, I have so news for you."
"What news?"
"Your wives have arrived in Fontaine."
"...?"
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