Though Neuvillette had expedited Rene and Jacob's Judgment as much as possible, during the intervening period, two more towns declared their secession from Fontaine's control and pledged allegiance to their new god—Dark Furina.
Of course, most Fontainians remained on the fence. After all, betraying one's nation's Archon was a grave crime, and if Dark Furina ultimately lost, they might face life imprisonment.
Moreover, Neuvillette had previously announced that the Judgment would reveal new developments regarding the Prophecy to the citizens of Fontaine, leading many to eagerly await today's proceedings.
The Opera Epiclese was once again packed to capacity, and today's Judgment would be broadcast live nationwide. Whether for amusement or to observe, everyone anticipated today's Judgment with intense anticipation.
Soon, Neuvillette and Furina arrived at the Opera Epiclese together, having flown directly from Fontaine. They had allowed Charlotte to accompany them in the Aquabus, documenting their journey.
Neuvillette's approach was remarkably shrewd. He subtly implied that Furina possessed her own power, leaving the extent of that power to the imagination.
On the other hand, by arranging for Charlotte to film the journey and broadcast it live, their speed could be attributed to accommodating the Aquabus, minimizing any remaining suspicion about Furina's true identity.
As expected, when Neuvillette and Furina descended from the sky into the Opera Epiclese, expressions of astonishment spread across the faces of many. Those whose loyalty had wavered now leaned back toward Furina's side.
"Lady Furina, we believe you are the true Hydro Archon!"
"Lady Furina, look over here! I've been your fan since birth!"
"Lady Furina, please sign my autograph!"
Having been cautioned by Neuvillette to speak sparingly, Furina refrained from her usual flamboyant greetings. Instead, she swept her gaze across the cheering crowd with an inscrutable expression—one whose meaning even she herself couldn't decipher—leaving them to fill in the blanks with their own imaginations.
This uncharacteristic behavior naturally drew attention, and the crowd immediately erupted into debate.
"What's wrong with Lady Furina? Has she been replaced?"
"No way! I can barely tell the two Lady Furinas apart already—don't give us a third or fourth!"
"Get this fake fan out of here! What's wrong with having so many Lady Furinas?!"
"Two Lady Furinas means double the joy! Three or four means exponential happiness!"
"All members of the Lady Furina Fan Club, step forward and drive out this hater!"
"Hey, what are you doing? I'm a genuine fan! You can't treat me like this!"
Despite the person's frantic denials of being a "Dark Furina" fan, they were still expelled from the discussion group.
"Ah, Lady Furina looks so cool today!"
"Don't just stand there! Let's convey our feelings to Lady Furina!"
"Members of the Lady Furina Fan Club, the moment to show our faith has arrived!"
"Yes!"
The collective roar drew the attention of many in the crowd, even Lady Furina herself couldn't help but turn her gaze towards the commotion.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the group dramatically removed their outer garments, revealing the message emblazoned across their chests:
[ Protect Lady Furina—the greatest in all of Teyvat! ]
A hush fell over the crowd. The scene stirred a sense of déjà vu, as if they had witnessed this before.
Wait, isn't this...?
Sure enough, as an impassioned musical score swelled, another group stripped off their jackets and launched into a provocative dance.
"The Lady Furina Fan Club is recruiting new members!"
"Join now and get a 20% discount on membership fees!"
"Join the Furina Faction! Together, we'll all be Furina Devotees!"
"I'm joining!"
"Me too!"
Furina quickly averted her gaze. Even as a seasoned actress, the scene made her cheeks burn. Unable to intervene, she hastily followed Neuvillette into the Opera Epiclese.
Soon after, everyone had taken their seats, and the Judgment formally commenced.
"Court is now in session!" Neuvillette declared, his solemn voice resonating through the Opera Epiclese.
Furina had already settled into her seat, striking a regal pose with an impassive expression.
For once, today's Judgment actually resembled a proper trial.
Neuvillette then turned to Rene and Jacob, speaking softly.
"Monsieur Rene, Monsieur Jacob, please explain in your own words what you have been doing for the past several centuries."
"No problem, Monsieur Neuvillette," Rene replied calmly, meeting Neuvillette's gaze.
A murmur of unrest rippled through the audience. Neuvillette's opening statement was a bombshell—many were stunned to learn that Rene and Jacob had apparently lived for hundreds of years.
Rene was one thing; his body looked anything but human. If Neuvillette hadn't spoken up, they might have mistaken him for a monster. But Jacob, standing before them, still appeared remarkably young.
What Rene then revealed left them utterly stunned:
To transcend the collective consciousness of all Fontainians and thus avert the prophesied apocalypse.
It was sheer madness!
Most people avoided Primordial Sea Water like the plague, yet Rene had actively studied it and devised a plan to dissolve all Fontainians in it.
Though Rene claimed his motive was to save everyone, to ordinary people, this was nothing short of a premeditated massacre.
After all, not everyone could grasp the despair Rene felt upon calculating the world's impending doom using the World Formula, nor his desperate desire to save everyone.
Yet this didn't diminish their awe at Rene's extraordinary genius... and their growing fear.
Though Rene had stated he was once an ordinary human centuries ago, his intellect far surpassed that of mortals, completely setting him apart. Combined with his current appearance, the crowd now regarded him as nothing short of a monster.
Despite being repeatedly offended by the researchers, Neuvillette and Furina remained unfazed, having grown accustomed to such treatment.
Moreover, they had already learned of Rene's plan from his own lips, so any shock they might have felt had long since passed.
"Monsieur Rene, Monsieur Jacob, do you have any defenses for your actions?"
"None, Monsieur Neuvillette," Rene replied with unwavering composure. Jacob, meanwhile, had completely assumed the role of a subservient follower, making no attempt to steal the spotlight from Rene.
"Though I do not believe my actions were wrong—my ideals remain pure, untainted by corruption—I am willing to accept full responsibility for the trouble my actions have caused and bear all the consequences that arise from them."
"Jacob was merely a tool to complete my plan. I urge you, Monsieur Neuvillette, to consider his culpability leniently; his share of the burden will be mine to carry."
"Rene!" Jacob finally snapped, unable to contain himself any longer.
"As the executor of this plan, I should bear the consequences, not you, Rene!"
"You've done nothing wrong! No one has the right to judge you!"
"You are a genius who belongs in the light!"
"Darkness is my rightful place!"
As Jacob finished speaking, his body twisted violently, transforming into his Abyss Monster form before the audience's eyes, instantly plunging the Opera Epiclese into chaos.
"Monster!"
The audience had initially labeled only Rene as such, but now there was another.
"Why would a monster appear here? Where are the Gardemeks? Someone call them to eliminate this creature!"
"It's an Abyss Monster! He's completely fallen! Monsieur Neuvillette, strike him down at once!"
"Don't let the other monster get away either! Isn't their plan exactly like that evil organization's? They're probably members!"
Hearing the audience's venomous words, Jacob glared at them furiously.
For centuries, their efforts had been dedicated to saving everyone, yet now they were met with nothing but scorn. He didn't care what they said about him, but he wouldn't tolerate insults against Rene. His emotions threatened to spiral out of control.
Since accepting the Abyss's power, Jacob had struggled to control his emotions. Fortunately, Neuvillette intervened, immediately suppressing Jacob's movements.
"Monsieur Neuvillette, kill him!"
Someone shouted, and the voices in the Opera House gradually coalesced into a single roar. The crowd began chanting:
"Kill him!"
"Destroy this monster!"
Faced with the escalating chaos, Neuvillette felt a slight headache coming on.
He understood that Jacob's sudden transformation into a monster was a desperate attempt to draw attention away from Rene, hoping to divert the malicious gazes that had been focused on him.
But were the crowd's reactions to Rene and Jacob justified? Yes. From their perspective, Rene had completely disregarded their inner thoughts, eradicating their physical bodies in a manner they found utterly unacceptable, while claiming his actions were for their own salvation.
Such behavior defied comprehension for most ordinary people. In their eyes, the pair had committed unforgivable crimes.
Neuvillette himself could empathize with Rene's helplessness in the face of the Prophecy. He, too, had felt that helplessness. He knew Rene had likely exhausted every other possible solution before resorting to this extreme measure.
Yet Neuvillette couldn't condone Rene's plan. Perhaps the Neuvillette of five centuries ago might have accepted it—back then, his definition of life had been different. But now, he deeply cherished the unique value of every human being.
"Silence!"
Neuvillette struck the floor with his cane, the sharp rap echoing through the opera house.
"The final judgment for these two will be determined by the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale. Until then, please return to your seats and remain calm."
"I can assure you all of your safety."
With that, Neuvillette tapped the floor once more. An aura of overwhelming power, so potent it inspired fear, surged outward, quickly enveloping the entire Opera Epiclese in a cerulean barrier.
Stunned by Neuvillette's display, the audience fell silent and returned to their seats, though their icy glares toward Rene and Jacob remained unchanged.
Seeing this, Furina's anxiety finally eased. The earlier chaos had utterly terrified her, though the crowd's accusations weren't directed at her, she could still feel the crushing weight of their anger.
For some reason, Furina suddenly thought of the day her true identity might be exposed. Would the people she cherished turn on her, cursing her and demanding her death, just like they were doing now?
The mere thought of such a scenario made Furina tremble uncontrollably.
But then she felt the warmth in her pocket. Reaching in, she grasped Emily's Anemo Vision, and her heart gradually calmed.
Furina couldn't help but recall Emily's words from before:
"No matter what, I will always stand by you, Lady Furina. I will always believe in you."
Yes, Furina thought. She wasn't alone anymore. Emily would always be there for her.
No matter how bleak the future seemed, just thinking of Emily made her feel like nothing could truly frighten her.
At that moment, Furina gripped her Vision even tighter, her gaze flickering erratically.
Emily, I miss you so much...
Rene remained utterly composed throughout the entire ordeal, bearing the weight of countless malevolent stares as if they were mere trifles.
The Salvation Plan had utterly failed. He could find no new way to save everyone, and deep down, he no longer felt any attachment to this world.
If my death can bring peace to people's hearts, then so be it.
Even without this Judgment, Rene had already planned to find a quiet place to sleep, await the end of days, and be swallowed by the darkness along with everyone on the Teyvat continent.
Yet Rene felt guilty toward Jacob, who had sacrificed everything and worked tirelessly for him for so long. The original fate of death had been averted, and Rene now wished Jacob could live a better life.
"Enough, Jacob. Let us accept our defeat."
Before Jacob could respond, Rene turned to Neuvillette.
"Monsieur Neuvillette, we have no further objections. Please pronounce the final verdict."
Neuvillette nodded.
"Since Monsieur Rene and Monsieur Jacob have no objections, the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale will now render its final judgment..."
Just as Neuvillette prepared to activate the Oratrice, a sudden chill ran through him, and an overwhelming sense of foreboding washed over him.
Could Dark Furina have lost patience and made her move?
The thought had barely formed in his mind when he dismissed it.
For at that moment, the mournful cry of a Giant Whale echoed in his ears...