As everyone knows, assuming Lumine doesn't speak, what Paimon says can basically be equated to what Lumine thinks.
Lumine, at this moment, also looked at Navia with some confusion. She didn't remember taking anything from Navia; at most, she had… eaten a meal.
Hearing this, Navia put one hand on her hip, seemingly having returned to her cheerful Miss Navia state.
"Oh, about that… it's all thanks to you, Paimon~"
Navia said with a smile.
"Huh? Is it because of me? I'm that amazing!"
Looking at the guilelessly smiling little Paimon, the last dark cloud hanging over Navia's head temporarily dispersed.
Navia winked at Paimon, feigning mystery, and said:
"Thanks to you… accidentally drinking my beverage."
"Huh?!"
Looking at the two confused people in front of her, Navia chuckled softly, then became serious again.
"After we parted ways, on my way back alone to the Spina di Rosula stronghold in Fontaine, I suddenly remembered you saying, 'This Fonta tastes salty, it's not good at all.' "
Hearing this, Lumine seemed to realize something. Her golden pupils slightly contracted, as if she had thought of a shocking possibility.
"Could it be… that drink actually contained Primordial Sea Water?!"
Navia nodded gravely, then continued along her train of thought.
"Fonta should only be sweet, how could it be salty? And the color of that drink wasn't as vibrant as Fonta… it was truly strange."
"Then I thought of Primordial Sea Water. As soon as I remembered that you two were the main force in exposing their conspiracy, and that Primordial Sea Water wouldn't affect you, I rushed over without delay."
After saying this, Navia paused slightly, then said with lingering fear:
"So… if you hadn't drunk my beverage, I might have… been dissolved."
Miles, who had been standing by and listening, nodded at this moment and echoed:
"You saved the boss of the Spina di Rosula. The Spina di Rosula is preparing to award you its highest Medal of Honor."
"Huh?! Really?!"
Miles smiled and nodded, just like a benevolent elder caring for his child.
Lumine's demeanor was completely different from this old man and young girl.
She lowered her head, seemingly still shaken by the previous events.
"No wonder Mr. Yuto told you to watch your diet… he probably anticipated something like this, didn't he?"
"But it's also good that Paimon and I aren't from Fontaine, otherwise…"
At this point, Lumine gently shook her head, the unspoken meaning of her subsequent words… was self-evident.
Navia nodded heavily, then looked at Lumine with concern and asked:
"But speaking of which… after you drank the Primordial Sea Water, did you experience any adverse reactions?"
"Now that you mention it, Lumine didn't just faint for no reason, did she? She told me she heard that voice again, calling out… 'Vasher'."
"And… this time even I heard a little bit. Is there a necessary connection between this situation and Seawater?"
…
Just as Navia and Lumine were confirming their current states and willingness to cooperate, Yuto, who was walking back to Palais Mermonia, suddenly stopped.
He looked at the empty street in front of him, then at the darkness behind him, shook his head gently, and said:
"Ms. The Knave, if you have something important to discuss with me… I hope you can be more straightforward."
"If you don't have anything… it's getting late now, so I'll take my leave first."
As he finished speaking, the darkness behind Yuto suddenly rippled, and a flash of crimson appeared a moment later.
As the crimson light grew brighter, a tall woman in a silver-white women's suit stepped out from the crimson crack.
"As expected of the Assistant Administrator of Fontaine… your senses are so keen."
"Ms. The Knave flatters me, but this isn't your usual style of conversation, is it?"
Yuto said as he turned around, his gentle sea-blue eyes incredibly calm at this moment, just like…
The calm sea surface before a storm.
Looking at the indifferent Yuto, Arlecchino nodded noncommittally.
"Mr. Yuto, the one standing here today… is not The Knave, a Fatui Harbinger, but Arlecchino, the Father of the House of the Hearth."
"I hope you understand this point."
Hearing this, Yuto couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, and the expression on his face gradually softened.
He understood Arlecchino's meaning: this was not a diplomatic scenario where they had to fight to the death, but a conversation between two high-ranking individuals who cared about their children's future.
"I see… so, you've made a decision?"
Arlecchino nodded as a matter of course, saying quite seriously:
"Of course, rather than letting those children betray the Fatui and betray the House of the Hearth when they grow up, it's better to let them return to where they should be early on, don't you think?"
"I'm very fortunate that this current The Knave, this current King of the House of the Hearth, is someone who truly considers the children."
For someone worthy of respect, Yuto never stinted on his praise, but… due to their respective positions, he couldn't say any more.
If this were overheard by someone with ulterior motives… tomorrow's headline in Steambird Newspaper would have nothing to do with Lyney.
'Fontaine Vice-Minister Secretly Meets Fatui Harbinger in the Middle of the Night: Is This a Distortion of Human Nature or a Degradation of Morals?!'
'Shocking! Palais Mermonia Feared to Be Infiltrated by Fatui, Fontaine in Peril!'
For Yuto, all the actions of those people at Steambird Newspaper could be summarized in one sentence:
—They majored in journalism.
All day long, they didn't do anything serious, just thinking about how to disgust people, how to create hot topics and talking points. Besides Charlotte… he really hadn't seen many proper journalists and editors.
Thinking of this, Yuto couldn't help but sigh, then said to Arlecchino in front of him:
"Ms. Arlecchino, you should be well aware that now… is not the time to discuss this."
To this, Arlecchino nodded noncommittally.
"You are right, Mr. Yuto. Once the catastrophe facing Fontaine is over… I will come and discuss the children's treatment and handover issues with you in detail."
"Good night, and I wish you pleasant dreams, Mr. Yuto."
Arlecchino said as she retreated into the shadows behind her. With a flash of crimson light, her presence completely vanished from Yuto's perception.
Yuto looked at the spot where she disappeared, shook his head meaningfully, and then turned to leave.