Hearing Neuvillette's declaration, Furina's eyes flashed with an unreadable expression before she turned to the Traveler and said meaningfully:
"A single day is hardly long. What kind of waves can a renowned figure like you stir up? Hehehehe, I sincerely await your answer."
After Neuvillette announced the recess, the two had already left the Opera House, while Yuto, as the Assistant Administrator, remained to collect residents' opinions.
Of course, this was merely an excuse.
The people of Fontaine were now immersed in the grand "Opera" that was about to premiere tomorrow, and what he needed to do now…
Was to lay some groundwork for future events.
Navia's situation and what happened while the Traveler and her companions were collecting evidence… if this Assistant Administrator could speak up for them…
Perhaps things would take a different turn.
Thinking of this, Yuto sighed softly, instructed the Security Team to ensure the scene was protected, and then walked towards the Opera House's front hall.
In his impression, Lyney and Lynette were currently in the front hall.
...
"Lyney!"
Lyney, who was standing in the corner pondering a problem, heard the call and quickly turned around, a wry smile appearing on his face as he watched the two rushing towards him.
"Were you… scared just now?"
Lyney asked softly.
Hearing this, Paimon quickly nodded her small head twice.
"Of course! An accident happened right before our eyes, who wouldn't be startled?!"
Paimon's words made Lyney, whose emotional state was already not great, feel a bit down. He put a hand to his forehead and said with some difficulty:
"Yeah… even I… How could something like this happen? Mr. Cowell just—"
There was a hint of weariness in Lyney's tone. He shook his head gently, then raised his eyes to look at the two people in front of him and asked softly:
"That was in front of everyone just now. Now that we're talking privately, honestly, do you… think I'm the culprit?"
Looking at the two options before her, "No" and "I'm not sure," Nonomi fell into thought for a moment.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Nonomi chose the most popular option among the bullet comments.
"Come on, everyone, let's vote. We'll wait until the end of the story to see if Lyney is really the culprit, how about it?"
As Nonomi spoke, she initiated a poll. This highly integrated interaction with the plot quickly drew participation from the livestream audience.
"I think he is, because Lyney currently has no way to explain why such a problem occurred with the props they prepared. If he can explain this, then he isn't the culprit."
"Could this be a word game? Earlier, both Furina and Neuvillette were talking about the 'Serial Disappearance of Young Women,' but this case isn't entirely the 'Serial Disappearance of Young Women'…"
"I understand what you mean. You're saying that the culprit behind the 'Serial Disappearance of Young Women' isn't Lyney, but the disappearance of the magic assistant and that young woman is related to Lyney, right?"
Looking at the enthusiastic bullet comments, Nonomi's lips curved slightly upward.
Her objective had essentially been achieved; all she needed to do now was calmly await a new outcome.
However, from her player's perspective… she was inclined to believe that Lyney was not the culprit.
Of course, this doesn't rule out that Lyney's performance during the close-up shot was entirely orchestrated by a master magician.
Thinking of this, Nonomi took a deep breath, and then chose the option "I'm not sure."
Hearing the Traveler's answer, Lyney wasn't surprised. Instead, he shook his head with a bitter smile and said:
"That's true… Even I can't figure out the situation, so you must find it hard to understand too…"
After saying this, Lyney slowly lowered his head, his emotions seemingly at their lowest point. He murmured softly:
"In the eyes of others, I am the most suspicious criminal, but to me, this whole affair is shrouded in mystery, leaving only questions."
"I don't know if the sudden situation on stage was merely an accident, nor do I know why Cowell was there."
"Why the chosen young woman suddenly disappeared is also unknown. If someone tampered with it, what method did they use?"
The more Lyney spoke, the more confused he became, eventually offering a rather improbable conclusion from his perspective as a magician:
"Even someone who fully understood this magic couldn't have done it in that one minute, could they?"
The Traveler gently shook her head and said, "I also find it very strange, but… it just happened."
Hearing their words, Paimon seemed to be suddenly struck by a bolt of "inspiration." She slightly raised her head, looked at the two in front of her, and said:
"This is what makes it worth investigating! Just as the book says, 'Impossible things cannot happen; if they happen, then they must be possible.'"
As Paimon said this, she pulled out a fake gentleman's beard and a pair of round-rimmed glasses without lenses from somewhere, just like the protagonist in that detective novel.
"Where did you pull out those glasses from?"
"I bought them on a whim when we were shopping and looking at books in the city. They felt really cool!"
After saying this, Paimon hurriedly explained, "The mora was what I saved! I didn't secretly spend the travel funds."
"Quite cute."
Lynette, who had been silent standing by, spoke up.
As his younger sister, she couldn't just stand by and watch her brother continue to be down, which is why she said these words.
Lyney looked blankly at the two in front of him, and at Lynette, who was watching him with a barely perceptible smile, and then chuckled softly.
"You're right, I shouldn't be so down. I should get back to my usual self as soon as possible."
"But now, every move Lynette and I make is being watched by the Security Team, so clearing our names on our own will be incredibly difficult…"
Before Lyney could finish speaking, a steady set of footsteps and the sound of a staff hitting the ground came from inside the Opera House.
"Shh… talk later, someone's coming."
Lyney lowered his voice to a whisper, then vigilantly cast his gaze down the corridor.
The Traveler likewise fixed her gaze on the corridor. As the footsteps drew closer, a tall yet not overly stern, gentle figure appeared before the four of them.
"Everyone, it seems… you need a little help."
Yuto said with a smile.