Chat Group: Starting by Swapping Bodies with Elysia?

Upon hearing that Jacob's crimes included deceiving a Melusine, Neuvillette fell silent for a moment, then his expression turned serious.

"As Fontaine's Chief Justice, I will deliver the most impartial judgment to uphold Fontaine's law."

At this moment, Mr. Hydro Dragon fully demonstrated the professional ethics and moral bottom line of an impartial judge.

—Other crimes were one thing, but daring to deceive a cute Melusine… Just you wait for your lifetime membership at the Fortress of Meropide!

"..." Jacob, under Neuvillette's dangerous gaze, felt his scalp tingle.

Wait, aren't you even going to pretend?

René received a lighter sentence, but he was going to be judged impartially, right?!

Neuvillette had something to say about this.

They weren't on the same level. How many crimes had René committed compared to him?

Daring to deceive a kind Melusine, who knew what he would deceive tomorrow!

For the sake of Fontaine's peace and security, they had to crack down on such a heinous criminal!

"Take him away!"

Neuvillette waved his hand authoritatively, and the Gardes took both Jacob and René onto the boat.

Then, he glanced at the Ipsissimus Tower and fell into thought:

"This tower…"

Five hundred years ago, he had thought this was just an ordinary tower, and they wouldn't need to worry about it after dealing with the Narzissenkreuz Ordo.

But if everything was true, the Ipsissimus Tower, as the core of the Pact of Reconciliation, was undoubtedly a very dangerous facility.

Especially with the Primordial Sea directly connected beneath it, Neuvillette was concerned about whether someone with malicious intent might utilize it.

"Furina, what do you think we should do with this tower?" Neuvillette instinctively sought [Furina]'s opinion. Not only had their Hydro Archon suddenly become reliable, but even in the past, she would often offer good advice on such matters.

Hearing her name, [Furina Qiao]—Furina instinctively wanted to answer, but quickly realized that it was Jiang Qiao using [Furina]'s body, and covered her mouth. Although this puzzled Neuvillette, he didn't mind and simply looked at [Furina], waiting for her opinion.

"There's no need to destroy the tower. After all, its construction consumed a lot of manpower and resources. Destroying it would be a waste."

"Keep it. Ask the Dynamic Mechanics Institute and the Natural Sciences Institute. If they're willing, they can renovate it and use it as their base." The blue and white-haired girl rested her chin in her hand, offering a very economical suggestion.

"As for the Primordial Sea, for the Akademiya researchers, this should be a good new research topic, right?"

The Primordial Sea was the origin of life in Teyvat, containing immense power, a power even surpassing the Numina of Justice and Order currently used by Fontaine. If they could research it, whether for energy or other purposes, it would undoubtedly be a great boon to Fontaine's scientific development.

Of course, the biggest concern in this regard was Neuvillette.

"…It's worth considering, but to prevent the primordial water from being misused or polluted, we need to control it." After a brief hesitation, Neuvillette nodded, offering his own suggestion.

"As you wish, you are the master of the Primordial Sea, after all."

The girl shrugged.

Neuvillette was Teyvat's Hydro Dragon, the ruler of all Hydro elements, the true master of the Primordial Sea.

If they wanted to do anything to the Primordial Sea, they had to consider the Hydro Dragon's opinion first.

Jiang Qiao had originally thought that Neuvillette would oppose the Akademiya researching the primordial water due to concerns about pollution, but now it seemed that after five hundred years of rule, in the Hydro Dragon's heart,

The Primordial Sea and Fontaine held equal weight.

"…Let's not talk about this for now."

"Furina, have you figured out how to deal with the rising water level?" Neuvillette asked seriously.

With the rising water levels in recent years, Fontaine's citizens had become increasingly convinced of the once-dismissed prophecy. Especially after Vacher's public trial, although his death had boosted morale, the impact of the "dissolving girls" incident hadn't disappeared, but instead intensified the fear among Fontaine's people.

And the Ipsissimus Tower incident… because of the fight between Jiang Qiao and the Narwhal, the water level in Fontaine had risen significantly, almost equivalent to the total increase over the past few decades.

And then there was the trial of René and Jacob, the remnants of the Narzissenkreuz Ordo. If their actions were made public, it would undoubtedly exacerbate the public's fear of the prophecy.

In the past, he had been helpless, not knowing what to do, but [Furina]'s involvement in the serial disappearances case and the Ipsissimus Tower incident made Neuvillette feel the need to address this issue now.

Perhaps it was also because [Furina] had finally started acting like a Hydro Archon, taking concrete actions.

If it were before, Neuvillette wouldn't have expected anything from the mascot Hydro Archon, who would always be vague or dismissive when it came to the prophecy, saying things like "Don't worry about it, I've already prepared a way to resolve the prophecy, everything is under control."

Honestly, Neuvillette didn't believe a word of it—Mr. Hydro Dragon was naive, but not stupid! Especially because of his nature as a water dragon, he could easily see through people's hearts. Whether Furina was lying was obvious.

Unfortunately, even if he noticed, he couldn't do anything, only deceiving himself and comforting himself that perhaps the Hydro Archon was telling the truth.

In the storyline, it was precisely Furina's poor performance that had completely broken Neuvillette's psychological defenses, combined with the Traveler duo pushing his feelings for Fontaine to the extreme, that forced him to put their mascot Hydro Archon on trial.

"You don't need to worry about this, I'll handle it."

Facing Neuvillette's serious gaze, the blue and white-haired girl waved her hand dismissively.

Her somewhat casual demeanor still hinted at her past frivolousness. If it were before, Neuvillette would have been very disappointed. After all, the previous Furina had also used similar words to deceive and fool him.

She spoke nicely, but the water level never stopped rising.

But with the current [Furina], Neuvillette sensed something different.

That confident nonchalance, although seemingly unreliable in the eyes of ordinary people, compared to Furina's past flamboyance, was more reassuring to Mr. Hydro Dragon.

"Well… words are cheap. Alright, Neuvillette, are you free now?"

"..." Neuvillette didn't speak, just looked at her, but the slight resentment in his eyes was palpable.

—With Furina, a hands-off Archon, how could he have any free time?

Furina, knowing the source of his resentment, had an embarrassed expression on her face.

"I'm free." Thinking that this was related to the rising water level, a matter he was deeply concerned about, Neuvillette ultimately decided to make some time to see what [Furina] was planning to do.

As for the matters at the Palais Mermonia… he could just take some time off later!

"Then let's go to the Opera Epiclese first."

"What for? Didn't we just come from there?" Furina asked, puzzled, "I don't think there's a trial at this time… Are you going to watch a performance?"

"That's a good suggestion, but we clearly don't have the time for that now."

"?"

"The piggy bank has been saving for five hundred years, it's time to retrieve some of the things stored there." Facing Furina's confusion, the blue and white-haired girl smiled, looking at the distant Opera Epiclese, and said something that puzzled everyone.

Mainly Furina.

She was completely lost.

Wait, she didn't remember leaving any piggy bank at the Opera Epiclese five hundred years ago?

And why was he so familiar with it?!

Seeing [Furina]'s casual and natural demeanor, Furina questioned her existence.

How did he know things she didn't?

If it weren't for the short duration of the body swap and the chat group as proof, she would have wondered if Jiang Qiao was the real Furina, and she was Jiang Qiao.

"Piggy bank…"

Neuvillette, on the boat, rested his chin in his hand and thought for a moment, then asked uncertainly, "Are you referring to the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale?"

"Is there anything else in the Opera Epiclese that could be called a piggy bank?" The girl didn't seem surprised, only shrugged and asked in return. Neuvillette nodded in agreement:

"Piggy bank… indeed, a very fitting description."

"Ever since the Opera Epiclese was built five hundred years ago, the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale has been accumulating power. As of now, it has amassed a vast amount… In the past, I thought you said it was to provide energy for Fontaine's citizens, but now it seems that's not the case. The amount of Numina of Justice and Order used by the Palais Mermonia is just a drop in the bucket compared to what the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale has accumulated."

The Opera Epiclese was built before Neuvillette's arrival. It was actually created by Focalors herself.

Therefore, neither Neuvillette, who was later invited to be the Chief Justice, nor Furina herself knew anything about this machine.

"If such a vast amount of power is for civilian use, it doesn't make sense. But if it's to stop the prophecy… what are you planning to do?"

"That amount of Numina of Justice and Order is indeed vast, but not powerful enough."

"If you want to use it to contain the rising water, it's probably impossible." Neuvillette, leaning on his cane, asked, his question containing both concern and certainty.

No matter how vast the power, if it wasn't used correctly, it would only be counterproductive.

As Teyvat's Hydro dragon, he knew how difficult it was to contain Fontaine's rising water levels.

Even with a portion of the Sovereign dragon's power, Neuvillette was helpless. Otherwise, he wouldn't have watched Fontaine's water level rise for so many years.

"I have my own plans."

"..." Looking at the unwavering blue and white-haired girl, Neuvillette didn't say anything, only nodded.

The boat gently docked as the waves lapped against the shore.

Although Jiang Qiao hadn't requested it, Neuvillette, sensing something, still ordered the Gardes to clear the opera house of the audience and staff.

"Let's wait here."

Neuvillette, leaning on his cane, stood in the opera house's entrance hall. This surprised Furina, who looked at [Furina] cautiously and asked, "Can't we follow?"

"Let's give her some privacy." Neuvillette said before Jiang Qiao could answer.

The blue and white-haired girl in the hat rested her chin in her hand and thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Well~ It doesn't really matter if they follow, but… Mmm, let's do it this way. After all, I am also quite shy."

"…Alright then."

"…Wait, you're not going to do anything strange, are you?" Furina, having nodded in agreement, suddenly looked at [Furina] with suspicion, her cheeks puffed out.

He was alone inside, and he said he was shy… wasn't this clearly indicating he was planning to do something strange?

No way, absolutely not! Although her body had already been seen… well, probably not? After all, she had been keeping a close eye on him all this time; Jiang Qiao hadn't had the chance to undress.

Although, from a certain perspective, Jiang Qiao probably knew what kind of underwear Furina wore every day and what desserts she ate better than Furina herself, but strange things were absolutely forbidden!

"What do you mean~?"

The blue and white-haired girl smiled, looking at Furina with a proud expression.

"I am Focalors, the Hydro Archon."

"Hmph~ If you don't believe me… alright, then I swear in the name of the Hydro Archon, the God of Justice, that I won't do anything strange." He raised his slender arm, his expression serious and solemn.

This made Furina hesitantly nod—she couldn't not believe him; Neuvillette was already looking at them with a puzzled and confused expression.

Of course, there might also be a hint of… displeasure?

He was wary of [Jiang Qiao], this man who had appeared out of nowhere.

Because he seemed to be Furina's friend, the Hydro Dragon's attitude wasn't bad.

But what was with this strange atmosphere?

It was as if there was some kind of… special relationship between them.

Neuvillette, the pure and innocent Hydro Dragon who had always seen the mascot Archon as a child, instinctively felt displeased.

It was like the feeling of—a Melusine being taken advantage of.

The impartial and strict Chief Justice stared at [Furina Qiao], this thought appearing in his mind.

…Should he find an opportunity to send this guy to the Fortress of Meropide?