As the Fontaine downpour gradually ceased, Neuvillette and Navia's conversation concluded with mutual apologies.
This also meant that their relationship had returned to a relatively normal state.
"I apologize, Mr. Neuvillette, I wish to spend more time with my Father, so I'm afraid I won't be able to see you off from Beryl Region."
Mr. Neuvillette nodded in understanding, then subconsciously looked around, intending to return to Palais Mermonia with Mr. Yuto.
Sometimes... perhaps only non-human beings can have more topics to discuss, and the content of their discussions can be more effective for them.
Moreover, Mr. Yuto is a 'non-human being' who understands human emotions, so some of the things he says are quite useful to Mr. Neuvillette.
While he was still searching for Mr. Yuto, Lumine and Paimon had unknowingly walked over to him and Navia.
"Neuvillette, Navia, have you... made up?"
Paimon put her small hands behind her back, sized up the two of them slightly, and asked.
Navia was first startled by the question, then smiled and nodded.
"Little Paimon is right, we've made up."
At this point, Navia paused slightly, then asked with some confusion:
"Eh? Wasn't Mr. Yuto with you just now? Where did he go?"
"Mr. Yuto said his scheduled meeting with the person in charge of Meropide was approaching, so he went back to Palais Mermonia first. He asked us to apologize on his behalf."
Paimon said, imitating Mr. Yuto's tone.
After saying this, Paimon did not let it go, but turned to look at Neuvillette, and asked curiously:
"Oh right, Neuvillette, I've heard the term 'Meropide' ever since Lyney's Judgment. What kind of place is it? Is it a prison?"
Neuvillette nodded, then said:
"Meropide is an underwater prison in Fontaine used to detain criminals. Due to its special policies and nature, Meropide is not directly governed by Fontaine, but operates in a state similar to autonomy."
"Oh, I see... It sounds like a town affiliated with Fontaine~"
Paimon nodded her little head, with an expression of "I've seen through everything," as if she had already been to Meropide.
Lumine's mouth twitched slightly, and she rubbed her forehead helplessly, seemingly at a loss with her lively guide.
...
After Lumine and Paimon learned that Navia wanted to stay and spend more time with her Father, they and Neuvillette took the boat he had arrived on to leave Beryl Region.
Looking at Neuvillette, who was currently poring over a scroll, Lumine and Paimon exchanged glances, then nodded in unison, as if they had made some decision.
—After all, Neuvillette is the Chief Justice; merely sitting there silently, he exudes enough pressure.
Paimon cleared her throat and asked Neuvillette softly:
"Neuvillette, um... could you answer a few questions for us?"
"Speak freely. After all, as outsiders, you helped Fontaine resolve a cold case that lasted over two decades. I should repay you."
Hearing this, Lumine nodded slightly, then brought up the question about 'Primordial Sea water'.
"Hmm... I'm very curious about what exactly 'Primordial Sea water' is, and why it can directly... dissolve Fontainians?"
Neuvillette stroked his chin, seemingly deep in thought, then looked out at the sparkling sea through the ship's window, as if implying something.
"In my memory, there was once a special sea on this planet, and its water quality was completely different from the ocean we see today."
"Most of Teyvat's life originated from that ocean; it is equivalent to it nurturing many lives on this planet, so calling it the 'Primordial Sea' is not a problem."
"As for why Fontainians are dissolved..."
A rare flicker of incomprehension crossed Neuvillette's gray eyes, and he sighed softly before saying:
"The Primordial Sea, which should have created and given birth to life, why would it in turn devour life..."
"This actually doesn't conform to what I perceive as 'common sense', but since the fact has occurred before us, it means there is some reason behind it."
"To quote a phrase Mr. Yuto often says... 'Existence is reasonable'."
"So we are investigating some deeper secrets about earlier Fontaine, hoping to find the corresponding answers there."
At this point, Neuvillette shook his head slightly, as if answering his own question, and said:
"Regrettably, we haven't found a definitive answer these past two days, but we still believe... Fontainians still hold some secrets we don't know."
With that, Neuvillette raised his gaze to the two individuals before him and continued to ask:
"Is there anything else you wish to ask? If I can answer, I will not be stingy in the slightest."
Lumine gently shook her head, indicating that she had no further questions.
Neuvillette nodded understandingly at this, and continued to read the scroll in his hand, preparing for the upcoming Judgment.
Meanwhile, Lumine and Paimon focused their gaze on the sparkling sea outside the porthole, enjoying the rare beautiful scenery.
Thus, the ship's cabin fell into a prolonged silence once more, which only ended when the three disembarked.
...
Just as Neuvillette was answering Lumine's few questions, Mr. Yuto had just returned to his office.
The moment he pushed open his office door, he saw a man dressed in black sitting in the chair opposite his desk.
Seemingly having heard the movement from behind him, the man slowly turned around, symbolically raising the brown wooden box he held in his hand, then said:
"Your weapon, I've brought it for you."
Looking at Lyney, who had a smile on his face, Mr. Yuto couldn't help but be somewhat taken aback.
To be honest, he really hadn't expected Lyney himself to come.
After all, Meropide is a place where criminals are imprisoned, and if Lyney, the warden, suddenly left... there might be some trouble.
Although most criminals live better in Meropide than on the surface, there are still conflicts and contradictions between prisoners, and without Lyney to keep things in order...
Things might become unmanageable.
Perhaps guessing what Mr. Yuto was thinking, Lyney placed the wooden box on Mr. Yuto's desk and said with a smile:
"It's alright, I had Clorinde cover for me before I came. If those guys want to cause trouble... Clorinde won't let them off."
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