"So, Monsieur Neuvillette has already completed his own Judgment..."
When Rene heard the information Jacob had gathered, he sighed softly.
"I never imagined Monsieur Neuvillette had reached such heights, acting solely for the sake of the Fontainians. Yet, as Chief Justice, he still refuses to show himself any leniency."
"I am truly humbled."
Hearing Rene's words, Jacob was startled and quickly interjected.
"No, Rene, you're not the type to run away from your responsibilities!"
"You simply have more important work to do! The Fontaine Research Institute still needs your guidance to progress!"
"That's not it, Jacob," Rene replied, shaking his head.
"The Fontaine Research Institute is already on the right track. Everyone here is exceptionally talented."
"While our current level of knowledge still has gaps, everyone has glimpsed the future potential of technology, driving them to learn and improve at an astonishing pace."
"Even without me, Fontaine will usher in a new era."
Rene shook his head again.
"The time has come, Jacob. We must finally take responsibility for our past actions."
"Perfect. That matter is settled. Let's announce the final verdicts for the criminals nationwide."
After hearing Rene's words, Jacob paused for a moment before nodding.
"I understand, Rene."
"Rest assured, no matter where you go or what decisions you make, I will be with you."
Rene gazed at Jacob and nodded gently.
"Since this is your choice, let us strive together for the sake of this world, for the survival of all its people..."
Meanwhile, at the Palais Mermonia in Fontaine...
"I'm going to lose my mind!"
Furina clutched her head in her hands, her emotions spiraling out of control.
Beside her, Focalors couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu.
"What's going on downstairs? Why is every trivial matter being reported to me?!"
"This is absurd! Utterly absurd!"
Focalors' expression flickered slightly at Furina's outburst. After a moment's contemplation, she spoke.
"Indeed, it is rather unreasonable for an Archon to be burdened with such mundane tasks."
"Exactly!"
Hearing Focalors' agreement, Furina's confidence surged.
"Don't they realize I can't understand any of these important reports? Why can't they just report a few trivial matters for me to handle and leave it at that?"
"What if my incompetence makes things even worse?!"
When Focalors heard Furina's words, she initially found them absurd, but she quickly realized there was some truth to them.
"Why didn't Neuvillette notice such a serious problem after working for centuries?" Furina grumbled.
Focalors responded quietly, "You know why."
"Didn't you dump all the work on Neuvillette?"
Furina: "???"
"You dare criticize me?! You created me and then dumped the Hydro Archon's responsibilities on me! You're the one who abandoned your responsibilities!"
"Ahem, Furina, don't forget I was planning to sacrifice myself to save all of Fontaine."
"So, have you sacrificed yourself yet?"
Hearing Furina's retort, Focalors nearly lost her composure.
"I... I almost sacrificed myself!"
"But you didn't sacrifice yourself!"
"Can't you wish me well for once?!"
Focalors slammed her hand on the table in anger, then seized the opportunity to shove a large stack of documents from her side to Furina's side.
"Hah! Look at you, still sitting here safe and sound. All you did was spend five centuries tirelessly collecting Indemnitium. Meanwhile, I had to play the role of the Hydro Archon everyone expected, and for hundreds of years, you wouldn't even grant me a Vision! I'm the one who suffered the most, okay?!"
Cough, cough...
Focalors' expression turned slightly awkward. She knew she owed Furina a debt in this matter. Having originally staked her own life, Focalors had believed she could never repay Furina. But fate played a cruel trick: she didn't die, and now she truly appeared to be an irresponsible Archon who had exploited her people.
"I did give you a Vision eventually, didn't I?" Focalors' voice lacked its usual confidence.
"What good was it by then?!"
"If Emily hadn't lent me her power, I wouldn't have been able to defeat even a single Gardemek!"
"And when you granted me power, couldn't you have thought it through properly? I don't want to be a healer, and I don't want to be a support. I want to be a DPS!"
"Haven't you seen how cool the other me is?!"
"You can't even copy a template properly! Hmph!"
Furina planted her hands on her hips and continued, "Speaking of which, is it time to clock out yet...? Huh? Why do I feel like I have so much more paperwork than usual?"
Furina first glanced at her own desk, then glared at Focalors' side—who was clearly slacking off even more but had less work left. Her face gradually flushed crimson.
"Focalors!"
Hearing the roar, Focalors, who was already halfway to the door, immediately bolted.
But she forgot that Furina possessed an Anemo Vision.
Furina unleashed a Tiger Pounce!
Furina executed a Cross Spike!
Focalors slapped the floor with one hand in surrender!
This time, Furina claimed final victory.
What a thoroughly satisfying battle!
The door suddenly swung open. The Melusine Secretary, just stepping inside, froze at the sight of the tangled pair sprawled on the floor, Furina's cheeks flushed crimson. A violent shudder ran through her, and she hastily withdrew her foot and slammed the door shut.
"I'm so sorry for disturbing you, Lady Furina and Lady Focalors!"
The Melusine Secretary apologized profusely, slamming the door shut with a resounding bang.
Furina and Focalors' hearts froze... well, Focalors' power core temporarily disconnected.
Desperate to salvage their rapidly deteriorating reputations, Furina and Focalors frantically flung the door open.
"Wait! This is all a misunderstanding!"
"Lady Furina, I know the rules. I saw absolutely nothing today!"
"You don't understand at all!"
As Furina roared the last word, she suddenly felt countless eyes fixed on her from all directions. Her body stiffened, and when she looked up, she saw everyone had stopped working to stare at them.
This is it. My reputation is completely ruined...
At that moment, Focalors noticed something in the Melusine Secretary's hand and immediately spoke up.
"Did you come to report on new assignments?"
Hearing Focalors' prompt, the Melusine Secretary finally remembered the purpose of her visit.
"Lady Furina, Lady Focalors, Rene, the current Director of the Fontaine Research Institute, and his assistant, Monsieur Jacob, have publicly presented footage showing the Institute's actions against the nobles previously accused of treason."
"At the same time, they voluntarily surrendered themselves to the Fortress of Meropide to serve their sentences, claiming they wished to atone for their past mistakes."
"Huh?!"
Upon hearing this news, Furina and Focalors were once again dumbfounded.
-
"With that, this entire Withering Zone has been cleared."
Dr. Edward placed the pitch-black bottle, seemingly filled with ink, into his satchel before approaching Lumine and Paimon.
Though they had witnessed this before, the duo still marveled at Dr. Edward's methods for clearing Withering Zones.
Using a concoction he had developed himself, he poured a murky green liquid onto the ground, causing the Withering Zone energy to actively retreat. When he dripped the liquid onto a Withering Zone Tumor, the entire zone rapidly contracted inward, ultimately returning all its energy to the tumor.
Unable to withstand such a massive influx of energy, the tumor would begin to self-destruct, leaving behind a small puddle of black liquid. Dr. Edward would then carefully collect this liquid into a glass bottle he carried with him.
Watching this unfold, Lumine and Paimon felt their hearts race, fearing something might go wrong.
"Dr. Edward," Paimon said anxiously, eyeing the bottle, "isn't it dangerous to collect the condensed energy of the Withering Zone in a bottle like that?"
"Even if the bottle is sturdy, it could still get bumped or jostled," Lumine added. "If it breaks, wouldn't you be in serious danger?"
"Heh, don't worry about me. I'm a doctor, after all. I know how to handle situations like this," Dr. Edward said with a reassuring smile, comforting Lumine and Paimon.
"I know there's some risk involved, but I have to do this. Otherwise, we'll never uncover the root cause of the illness and find a cure."
Hearing Dr. Edward's words, Lumine and Paimon felt a surge of genuine respect for him. Lumine silently vowed to protect his safety, not only because he was a doctor dedicated to saving his nation and its people, but also because he had personally helped treat her illness.
For now, the team consisted of only Lumine, Paimon, and Dr. Edward. Tighnari had originally planned to accompany them to Sumeru City, partly to prevent any accidents along the way.
However, after learning of Lumine's current strength, he realized that acting as her bodyguard would be somewhat humiliating. Tighnari estimated that Lumine could easily defeat ten of him without much trouble.
The journey only posed minor threats, such as low-level Fungi or the occasional Eremite bandits trying to ambush travelers. Surely Lumine, with her overwhelming strength, could handle a few mercenaries?
Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
If that ever happened, he'd let anyone touch his ears!
"Dr. Edward, are you saying the illnesses plaguing Sumerians are actually caused by the Withering Zone?" Paimon asked, her voice tinged with surprise.
Dr. Edward shook his head, sighing deeply. "The Withering Zone itself is a symptom of a deeper illness. This world is sick, and its sickness is affecting even its people."
Lumine and Paimon nodded vaguely, their understanding limited by the sparse information they had received.
"Let's get going," Dr. Edward urged. "Sumeru City isn't far now. When we arrive, I want you both to come with me to the House of Health for a thorough examination."
"Oh, and I'll introduce you to the others as guards I hired."
"I considered having you wear masks to blend in better, but without Akasha Terminals, that would only draw more attention to you."
"Why is that?" Paimon asked curiously, glancing at Lumine, who was also looking at Dr. Edward with interest.
"The Akasha Terminal is issued by the Akademiya," Dr. Edward said with a smile, watching Lumine and Paimon, "so who do you think would wear a mask but not have an Akasha Terminal?"
"I can't guess..."
Lumine and Paimon racked their brains, but after much pondering, they still couldn't come up with an answer. Finally, Dr. Edward revealed the answer:
"The Sumerians standing opposite the Akademiya."
Dr. Edward chuckled.
"Think about it. The vast majority of mask-wearers are Sumerians. But if a Sumerian chooses not to use the Akademiya's issued devices, it's clear they harbor deep dissatisfaction with the Akademiya."
"Is it still about the Restricted Zone?" Paimon asked.
Dr. Edward nodded.
"But wasn't the Restricted Zone implemented to prevent the spread of the disease and reduce the nation's healthcare burden?" Lumine countered. "Why would anyone have such strong resentment toward the Akademiya because of it?"
"Because not all the infected were admitted to the Restricted Zone," Dr. Edward paused, then continued, "Let me explain the specific situation in more detail."
"The newly emerging infectious disease in Sumeru can actually have all its symptoms completely suppressed with sufficient medication."
"However, like Eleazar, it can only be alleviated, not cured. This approach wastes vast quantities of medicinal resources."
"From what I understand, at least half of the Akademiya's Sages have contracted the disease, and a significant portion of the Akademiya's students have also contracted it."
"Yet, to date, only a handful of students have been admitted to the Restricted Zone, and not a single Akademiya Sage has been among them."
"I believe you now grasp the fundamental reason for this conflict."
Upon hearing these words, disbelief spread across Lumine and Paimon's faces.
"So, the Akademiya officials claim they're sacrificing the freedom of some for Sumeru's sake, but in reality, they're hoarding vast quantities of medication for their own members?!"
"No, you're mistaken. It's not just about freedom."
"How large an area do you think the Akademiya would designate as their essentially abandoned Restricted Zone, and how much resources would they allocate to it when there's no prospect of return?"
"The number of infected individuals is staggering—tens of thousands of people crammed into the Restricted Zone, creating a state of severe overcrowding. The meager medical supplies available can only provide proper treatment for at most one-fifth of them. Even food is insufficient to feed everyone...
"When your parents, siblings, neighbors, and friends are among the infected, when you learn they're living such bleak, hopeless lives in the Restricted Zone, can you still believe the Akademiya's policy is justified?"
Hearing Dr. Edward's analysis, Lumine and Paimon realized they had been far too naive. But another question now arose in their minds.
"If the Akademiya is acting so recklessly, why isn't Sumeru's Archon intervening?"
Lumine and Paimon had initially assumed Sumeru was another Inazuma. But then Dr. Edward slowly spoke.
"Intervene? Ever since Lesser Lord Kusanali was found by the Akademiya five hundred years ago and brought back, she has never appeared in public again."
"Even if the Akademiya hasn't gone too far, they've certainly restricted Lesser Lord Kusanali's movements."
"Otherwise, it's impossible to explain why she hasn't appeared before the public to this day. In fact, most Sumerians have completely forgotten her existence, remembering only the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata who died centuries ago."
Dr. Edward paused, then continued, addressing Lumine and Paimon directly.
"So, if you truly manage to meet Lesser Lord Kusanali, I implore you to ask the Dendro Archon herself to intervene and save Sumeru."
Hearing Dr. Edward's words, Lumine felt a strong sense of déjà vu.
These words sound so familiar... Does this mean we're finally entering the main storyline?