[ Border region between Sumeru and Fontaine. ]
Clorinde had already located the intelligence agents whose minds had been tampered with by Dottore, captured them, and sent them directly back to Fontaine.
As a precaution, Neuvillette had given her a protective barrier that shielded against mental communication before she left. This served two purposes: ensuring the survivors' safety during transport and preventing Dottore from contacting them, thus avoiding premature exposure.
Watching the ship carrying the agents sail away from the shore, Clorinde's heart surged with intense anger toward Dottore.
Before she left, Neuvillette had revealed that two waves of intelligence agents, totaling thirty personnel, had been dispatched. Yet only four survived; the rest had been sacrificed.
All of this was Dottore's doing. Even the Akademiya hadn't yet discovered these spies within their ranks.
Based on intelligence previously relayed by the agents, it was highly likely that a strange and highly contagious disease had emerged in Sumeru. This was why people across Sumeru's cities were now wearing masks.
For reasons unknown, this disease only infects Sumerians, leaving people from other nations completely unaffected.
It's highly likely that the intelligence agents were discovered while infiltrating the Akademiya to obtain more critical information precisely because of this unique susceptibility.
Regardless, the only one with the audacity to dispose of these agents so directly could be none other than Dottore.
The Sages of the Akademiya, burdened by countless considerations, would almost certainly never resort to such drastic measures right from the start.
As Clorinde pondered Sumeru's latest epidemic, she mentally sorted out the relevant information.
This novel infectious disease, dubbed "COVID" by Sumeru's most authoritative physicians, is not only highly contagious but also leaves Sumeru's medical experts completely helpless. Like the nation's unique Eleazar disease, medication can only slow its progression.
The good news is that COVID and Eleazar are mutually antagonistic, with Yang-a-Yang exhibiting a suppressive effect on Eleazar. Many individuals have even deliberately sought infection to manage their Eleazar symptoms.
However, recent decrees from the Akademiya strictly prohibit such practices. While Eleazar is non-contagious, COVID is highly infectious, necessitating measures to minimize the infected population.
Moreover, while COVID's symptoms could be suppressed with readily available medication, if too many people were infected, it would place an immense burden on medical institutions.
This issue sparked numerous clashes between the people of Sumeru and the Akademiya, leading to strict government control.
Under the Akasha's surveillance, the movements of these dissidents were constantly monitored by the Akademiya, preventing them from causing significant trouble. However, the tension between the two sides continued to escalate daily.
Perhaps the Akademiya's concerns about the medical burden were justified, but for those suffering from Eleazar, COVID offered a lifeline, a hope for extended life. This fundamental conflict proved irreconcilable.
Furthermore, the vast majority of infected individuals had already been confined to designated quarantine zones, which were completely sealed off, with strict prohibitions against personnel entering or leaving. Daily supplies were left at designated drop-off points for internal redistribution.
In theory, under these circumstances, it should have been safe for people in other areas to forgo masks. However, driven by a deep-seated sense of insecurity, the people of Sumeru continued to keep their masks firmly in place.
No one knew how this illness had started; it seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.
Clorinde hadn't anticipated that just as Fontaine was facing a major crisis, Sumeru would be experiencing similar turmoil.
For some reason, Clorinde suspected this incident was connected to that mysterious organization, though she couldn't yet discern their true purpose.
Clorinde shook her head, wishing she were simply overthinking things. But her intuition told her she was likely right.
She had already sent word back to Fontaine, awaiting Neuvillette's instructions on whether to provide assistance to Sumeru.
In the meantime, Clorinde's mission was to gather as much intelligence as possible on Dottore's current activities and, while ensuring her own safety, disrupt his ongoing research.
After all, Dottore's continued presence in Sumeru clearly indicated his intention to conduct his experiments here.
The Dark Furina incident had demonstrated that Dottore indeed possessed the means to create Archons. While Dark Furina's self-sacrifice for Fontaine was a rare stroke of luck, Neuvillette naturally wouldn't gamble on Dottore's next creation being similarly benevolent.
One final task Neuvillette had specifically assigned to Clorinde was to cultivate a good relationship with the Traveler, who was soon to arrive in Sumeru.
After clarifying her mission objectives, Clorinde took a deep breath and began her journey across the desolate desert.
With Sumeru undergoing such drastic changes, it was best to gather intelligence from the desert villages hostile to the Akademiya first. The waterways were too risky.
Clorinde's figure sped across the desert, carefully avoiding the more formidable monsters along the way.
However, not long after venturing deeper into the desert, the corpse of a colossal scorpion loomed into view ahead, bringing her to an abrupt halt.
Her expression darkened as she examined the monster's carcass, riddled with traces of overwhelming elemental attacks from various elements.
This is No. 2's handiwork!
Well, no need for further speculation—they're definitely in Sumeru!
The corpse was already severely decomposed, but due to the scorpion's highly venomous nature, a significant portion of it remained intact. This allowed Clorinde to deduce that No. 2 had likely been in Sumeru for quite some time already.
What weighed on Clorinde's mind even more was that No. 2, a pure combatant, would never think or plan independently.
This meant No. 2's presence in Sumeru was almost certainly due to someone's orders, and it was highly likely that this commander was also within Sumeru's borders.
So, having failed to gain any advantage in Fontaine, they've shifted their strategy to wreak havoc in Sumeru?
Just as Clorinde hesitated, wondering whether to turn back and report her findings to Neuvillette before continuing her journey, the ground beneath her feet began to tremble subtly.
The tremors were barely noticeable, but their occurrence in the desert was highly unusual.
Clorinde immediately tensed, darting to the nearest high ground in a series of swift movements. From her vantage point, she scanned the terrain below.
The tremors intensified, causing patches of sand to collapse and leave deep pits across the desert floor.
These were areas where the underlying Geo strata were particularly unstable, and the vibrations had triggered their collapse.
Before long, the shaking finally ceased. Once she confirmed the area was safe, Clorinde returned to the ground.
What caused that strange tremor just now?
Clorinde narrowed her eyes slightly. Just as she confirmed that a mysterious force had arrived in Sumeru to stir up trouble, the desert erupted in such violent tremors. It seemed the crisis facing Sumeru was no less severe than the one in Fontaine.
I should find a populated village first, she thought. As for reporting back, I'll wait until I have more detailed information after making inquiries.
With this thought, Clorinde resumed her journey, but this time she moved at a slower pace, maintaining peak alertness for any sudden developments.
If I'm unlucky enough to encounter No. 2 again, there won't be a sea to dive into this time...
-
Fontaine, Palais Mermonia
"Aaaaaah! I'm going insane!"
Furina frantically clutched at her hair, her face contorted in anguish. The mountain of documents awaiting her review loomed before her like a suffocating weight.
This predicament had arisen entirely because Neuvillette had been imprisoned, leaving the entire workload to fall on her and Focalors.
But neither of them had any experience in administrative affairs. One was an actress, the other a recluse—neither remotely qualified for such work!
Though Neuvillette had already arranged the important matters long ago, the remaining trivial tasks were incredibly tedious and troublesome, driving Furina and Focalors to the brink of madness.
With so much work piled up, even forcing herself to complete half of it would have pushed Furina to her breaking point. Yet Focalors had completely given up, declaring, "My CPU's fried! I've lost all ability to think. The rest is up to you, Furina!"
"Bullshit! The Clockwork Meka is just a vessel for your soul! A fried CPU has nothing to do with your ability to think! You're just being lazy!"
"What? Are you telling me to scram?"
"Fine, I'll scram right away!"
Seeing Focalors flop to the ground and roll toward the door, Furina finally lost it.
"You... you come back here!"
Just then, the door swung open from the outside. The Melusine Secretary, entering the room, froze at the sight of the office, looking like it had just survived a war, and Focalors rolling around on the floor. Her tiny body trembled slightly, her heart pounding with shock!
It wasn't until Focalors, looking somewhat embarrassed, had finally stood up again that the Melusine Secretary could bring herself to address Furina and Focalors.
"My two Hydro Archons, I have an urgent matter to report."
"I'm not the Hydro Archon! She is!" Furina and Focalors exclaimed in unison, leaving the Melusine Secretary dumbfounded.
Upon hearing Focalors' words, Furina turned to her in shock. "What nonsense are you spouting? You're the Hydro Archon! I've only been pretending all these years!"
"As the Hydro Archon, is it really appropriate to shirk your responsibilities like this?"
Faced with Furina's accusation, Focalors immediately feigned ignorance.
"What are you talking about? I don't understand a word. I'm just an ordinary Clockwork Meka."
"My only duty is to safeguard Fontaine's security. Enough talk—I must go patrol the streets now."
"Lady Furina, I trust you will make everyone happy!"
Just as Focalors was about to make her escape from the abyss of work, Furina grabbed her from behind in a tight hug.
"You expect me to handle all this work alone? Absolutely not!"
"Hey you, come help me pin her down! Don't let her escape!"
Seeing Furina address her, the Melusine Secretary nearly cracked, overwhelmed by a powerful urge to flee.
Only two days? How does it feel like Fontaine is already on the verge of collapse?
Monsieur Neuvillette, please hurry back!
Ah, Monsieur Neuvillette!
Remembering Neuvillette, the Melusine Secretary suddenly recalled her purpose. She hastily interrupted Furina and Focalors' intimate exchange, speaking up again:
"Please stop for a moment, Your Ladyships. I truly have urgent matters to report."
Hearing this, Furina and Focalors exchanged a glance, let out a cold hmph, and reluctantly released each other.
"Speak then. What's so urgent?"
At Furina's inquiry, the Melusine Secretary immediately replied,
"Over the past two days, the public has grown increasingly discontented due to Monsieur Neuvillette's imprisonment."
"During the recent incident, Monsieur Neuvillette demonstrated far greater power than ever before, leading to the emergence of his followers among the people."
"They gathered and formed an organization called the 'Cult of the Dragon,' whose members tirelessly promote Monsieur Neuvillette's glorious image."
"Initially, the organization operated like a fan club, so Monsieur Neuvillette paid them no mind."
"However, after the last Judgment concluded, they refused to accept the verdict against Monsieur Neuvillette, insisting on his innocence and claiming that the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale had erred."
"Today, members of the Cult of the Dragon began organizing protests and demonstrations, demanding Monsieur Neuvillette's release and the dismantling of the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale."
"And such good fortune... cough cough cough... I mean, their demands strike me as perfectly reasonable, wouldn't you agree, Focalors?"
Under Furina's gaze, Focalors immediately nodded in agreement.
"You're right. I don't believe Neuvillette is guilty either. It's likely a malfunction in the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale I created."
"After all, the machine has been operating for five hundred years. It's only natural for some minor glitches to occur. I'll give it a thorough inspection when I have time."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's hurry and get Neuvillette back to work—ah, no, I mean, let's get him out of the tower immediately! He's suffered enough!"
"Quick, hop on my back! I've got the latest propulsion system—we'll be there in a flash!"
Furina, faced with Focalors' enthusiastic invitation, didn't hesitate. She immediately climbed onto her back.
"Blast off!"
Once Furina was secure, Focalors activated her full-body propulsion system and shot out the window, disappearing into the distance within seconds.
The Melusine Secretary, witnessing their intimate display and recalling their earlier bickering, stood rooted to the spot, dumbfounded for a long moment...