บท 80: Chapter 80

Fontainebleau, cruise ship stop.

Furina had been feeling restless for days. Too many strange things had happened recently, and she couldn't shake the feeling that Fontaine's prophecy was drawing near. She had just heard about some major event in the desert near Clementine and hurried over, hoping to take a boat and investigate. Though she might not be able to do much, at least she could witness whatever was going on firsthand.

Moreover, Neuvillette had been giving her strange looks lately. Had he discovered that she, the Water Archon, was a fraud? The thought made her shiver, and her arms instinctively hugged her chest as the water element swirled, ready to fall from her eyes.

"Wow! Lady Furina, are you taking the patrol ship today?"

"It's been a long time since we've seen Lady Furina here!"

"Yes, yes, the last time Lady Furina took a boat was ten years ago when I was just a child."

As Furina attempted to put on her most "divine" face for the public, something unexpected happened.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Colorful ribbons instantly exploded above her head.

"Uh?" Furina muttered, completely bewildered.

The surrounding Fontaine citizens were startled but soon laughed when they saw the colorful display above Lady Furina. It had to be part of her plan; Lady Furina always enjoyed surprising her people.

"Hello, everyone! Today, our star, Lady Furina, the Water Archon of Fontaine, will be performing for you—and this time, she's going to be kidnapped!"

Takumi and Istaru appeared before Furina, both wearing masks. They had everyone's attention.

"Be excited, cheer, and give a warm round of applause to Lady Furina—"

The Fontaine citizens gasped.

"Lady Furina is going to perform a kidnapping?"

"What a surprise! Truly worthy of Lady Furina!"

"She's actually going to show us a kidnapping of a god?!"

"Oh, oh, oh, only Lady Furina could do this."

Furina was stunned. She finally registered what was happening, and her eyes widened as she saw a masked figure approaching her with a sack.

"Wait, wait a minute! What's going on…?"

Five hundred years of performances had given her quick reflexes. Though she was baffled, she decided to play along.

"Ahem! I am Furina, the Water Archon of Fontaine. You dare… kidnap a god? You've succeeded in attracting my attention… that's… wonderful…"

However, before she could finish speaking, she found herself being stuffed into a sack. She struggled, muffled whines escaping her, and soon she was slung over someone's shoulder.

"Oh, oh, oh! This performance looks so real!"

"Yes, Lady Furina must have practiced a lot for this."

"We should look shocked. It's a show after all."

"Lady Furina's performance is simply incredible!"

Inside the sack, Furina began to realize something—this wasn't an act. She was genuinely being kidnapped. The realization almost made her cry, but hearing the excited cheers of her people stopped her. She needed to keep up appearances, or her five centuries of effort would be for nothing. Besides, if she lost her composure now, would Fontaine be submerged by the predicted flood? Would her people be swallowed by water?

She listened closely to the conversation outside.

"Master, if you needed Furina, why bring Funina?"

"Nonsense. The second world is about to open, and Funina is crucial. Furina didn't even bother to provide her with the details."

"Oh, I see. In a world where people's hearts are complicated, gods cannot easily appear. They need a human vessel, right? Funina has to be part of this."

"Exactly. In a place like that, gods must remain distant. A god that can be touched and interacted with could shake people's faith. Humans are complex, and it would be worse in a world like that."

Furina, wrapped in the sack, was utterly confused. What did they mean? Furina, human vessel, other world? Wasn't she Furina?

Not far away, a voice that sounded just like hers spoke, and another voice—Neuvillette's—replied.

Furina had sensed the arrival of Heavenly Law in Fontaine the moment it happened. After all, she had felt the immense power when he purified Sumeru's ley lines and resurrected the Flower God. She had prepared to welcome him, but she hadn't expected this—the supreme Tianli arriving, with her own other half stuffed in a sack.

Neuvillette's eyes widened when he saw the masked figure carrying a sack containing Furina. He could clearly sense the overpowering presence—an aura that struck fear even into him, the second Water Dragon King.

Furina hastily gathered her skirts and curtsied nervously.

"Lord Tianli, we have everything prepared for Fontaine as per your instructions. We are just waiting for your command."

Neuvillette, regaining his composure, lowered his head.

"Indeed, Lord Takumi. The elite special patrol team of the Enforcement Tribunal is ready and awaiting your orders. The holders of the Vision in Fontaine have also been briefed."

Facing such power, Neuvillette felt like he was standing before an endless ocean—a force just as overwhelming as Fanes, yet somehow more ambitious. Takumi was not merely maintaining Teyvat's strength—he was enhancing it. If it required Neuvillette's power, he would give it willingly. For Fontaine, and for Teyvat.

Takumi smiled as he looked at Neuvillette, who immediately made a gesture of surrender upon seeing him.

"Very good, Water Dragon King Neuvillette. If you contribute to the world, the complete ancient dragon power could be yours at any time."

Neuvillette's heart raced. He desired to regain his full power, though it wasn't an obsession.

"Understood."

He then glanced worriedly at the sack containing Furina.

"Excuse me, Lord Tianli, but Furina…"

Having worked with her for five hundred years, Neuvillette had grown concerned for Furina, his nominal superior. She was now being carried around in a sack—what did Lord Tianli intend by bringing her here?

Furina also looked at Takumi nervously. Hearing the term "ancient dragon power," she was terrified. Did Lord Tianli know about her plan? Was this why he brought Furina here like this, as some kind of warning?