"Eh? Yuto?! Where are you going?!"
Furina, startled, instinctively called out to the figure that had vanished from her doorway.
However, by the time she uttered those words, Yuto's figure had already disappeared without a trace.
The young woman looked at the closed door, her mouth slightly agape as if to say something, but ultimately, she didn't.
The antenna on Furina's head drooped slightly, as if reflecting her current mood.
After a moment of silence, Furina finally lifted her head and looked out through the room's window, lost in thought.
A hint of moisture welled up in the young woman's beautiful heterochromatic eyes, making them exceptionally radiant under the sunlight.
Furina gazed at the sun outside the window and murmured softly:
"Standing by my side unswervingly… huh?"
...
Just as Furina's emotions were somewhat complicated, Yuto had already reached the Momang Hall on the first floor.
Sedna watched Yuto hurry down from the second floor and was about to greet him, but the moment she saw his expression, she abandoned the idea.
—Yuto's face was utterly devoid of emotion, calm beyond calm.
Those unfamiliar with Yuto might think he was emotionally stable, but only those who had spent a long time with him knew…
A Yuto without expression was the most terrifying.
As the Assistant Administrator, Yuto naturally faced many people, so 'keeping his emotions hidden' was a mandatory lesson for him.
But how can a person be made of wood or stone, without a heart?
It was true that Yuto was usually quite laid-back and gentle, but that didn't mean he had no temper at all.
He had been with Furina for over four hundred years; even if their relationship wasn't particularly intimate now, they were at least close friends.
—How could he just stand by and do nothing?
To put it extremely, if it weren't for Focalors' grand deception and the need to acquire more 'Indemnity Energy,' Yuto would have long since overturned Fontaine's existing Judgment order.
Over the past four hundred years, Yuto had rewritten countless laws, and re-establishing the Judgment order was not a difficult task.
As long as there was no fertile ground for cultivating thrill-seekers, those who loved to watch chaos, and those who spread rumors without basis…
Furina wouldn't be so distraught.
As for Steambird Newspaper…
Yuto naturally intended to settle accounts with them; these guys were no different in essence from unscrupulous marketing accounts in his previous life.
But before settling with them, he still needed to use them.
He would leverage their influence to exonerate Furina, allowing her to feel a bit more at ease.
As for the facts…
He naturally knew why Tartaglia was found guilty, but he couldn't tell Charlotte about the Star-Devouring Whale.
So he had to consider another path: shifting the blame to the Northland Bank, which had collaborated with the Kabrie Commercial Guild.
Northland Bank had also done many shady things, and Yuto had concrete evidence, giving him a complete advantage in public opinion.
Thinking of this, Yuto quickened his pace towards the Steam Bird News Agency.
...
The distance between Palais Mermonia and the Steam Bird News Agency was not far, and Yuto soon arrived beneath the news agency, which bore a large signboard.
Watching the reporters carrying cameras enter and exit, Yuto sighed softly. After calming himself slightly, he prepared to enter the news agency.
"Eh?! Is that Mr. Yuto?! Why are you here at the news agency's entrance?!"
A familiar young woman's voice, accompanied by hurried footsteps, came from behind Yuto.
Yuto naturally recognized the owner of the voice, so he turned around and said with a smile:
"Good afternoon, Miss Charlotte. Some details regarding the 'Serial Disappearance of Young Girls' have been investigated, and I believe… they need to be made public to the citizens, so I came to find you."
Charlotte was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then nodded in understanding.
As the 'Reporter of the Year,' Charlotte naturally understood that Yuto didn't want to discuss it in detail in this place, so she quickly said:
"Why don't you come to my office? Although the soundproofing there isn't as good as Palais Mermonia, it's still quite decent."
Yuto nodded lightly, saying nothing.
Upon receiving Yuto's assent, Charlotte joyfully led him into her office.
To Charlotte, Yuto was a walking headline; words spoken by him could almost always make it to the front page.
Of course, the things he did were the same.
...
Inside Charlotte's office, she stared wide-eyed at Yuto, who was calmly sipping red tea, and asked incredulously:
"So, so, Lord Yuto, do you mean that the Vanguard was found guilty because he repeatedly provided funds to the Kabrie Commercial Guild?"
Hearing this, Yuto took a small sip of red tea and nodded lightly.
"That's right. I brought up this point on the day of the Judgment, but at the time, I had no evidence, so I wasn't in a hurry to express my opinion."
"Among the list of evidence submitted by the Shadowy Court today is a loan contract from Northland Bank dating back three years."
"I personally speculate… this might be because, aside from 'the Banker,' the other Fatui Harbingers have equal authority within Northland Bank."
"Due to the fluidity of the Harbingers, the highest administrators of Northland Bank in various nations of Teyvat are actually all under the codename 'Harbinger,' so… Mr. Tartaglia was judged 'guilty' by the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale."
"Although ignorance is no sin, if Northland Bank had strengthened its supervision over the destination of loans… this incident probably wouldn't have happened."
At this point, Yuto paused slightly, then continued:
"I will emphasize this point during my meeting with The Knave later, to avoid such problems in the future."
Charlotte was somewhat bewildered upon hearing this. She blinked slightly, then continued to ask:
"Then shouldn't Mr. Tartaglia be released…?"
"…If Mr. Tartaglia hadn't damaged so many guard automatons and hadn't punched a hole in the Opera House stage floor, then yes, that would be the case."
"Uh… so that's how it is…"
Charlotte's mouth twitched, then she nodded and summarized Yuto's recent words in her small notebook.
After a rustling sound of pencil on paper, Charlotte looked up slightly and asked tentatively:
"By the way, Mr. Yuto, since this matter involves the Fatui and is also a diplomatic incident, what do you think about the title…?"
"Yuto, Spokesperson for the Momang Hall. Just use that."
After saying that, Yuto paused briefly, then added:
"Oh, and since the Shadowy Court and the Momang Hall will be posting notices tomorrow, I hope to see this news tomorrow."
Hearing this, Charlotte's expression froze slightly. She blinked and then whispered:
"Um… Mr. Yuto, since this content concerns diplomacy, I have to report it to the editor-in-chief, so it might not be that…"
Before Charlotte could finish the word "fast," Yuto gently interrupted:
"It's fine. I'll go meet your editor-in-chief. This matter must be published tomorrow."
"Then… I'll take you there now!"
...
Led by Charlotte, Yuto soon found himself seated on the sofa in the editor-in-chief's office.
Watching Charlotte and Charles communicate not far away, Yuto took a small sip of red tea, looking perfectly at ease.
He wasn't just here to discuss the publication; he also needed to give this greasy middle-aged man a basic show of deterrence.
Sensationalist headlines and various illogical speculations based on rumors… should stop.
"Um… Lord Yuto, I have noted your request. This news will appear on the front page of the newspaper tomorrow, printed in the largest and most prominent font!"
Charles rubbed his head, which had only a few strands of hair left, and said with an obsequious smile.
Yuto nodded lightly, saying nothing, and remained seated on the sofa, drinking red tea, showing no intention of leaving.
"Um… Lord Yuto? Do you have any other requests? Please rest assured, as long as Steambird Newspaper can do it, we will not shirk our responsibility!"
Hearing this, Yuto's lips curved slightly upward. He slowly placed the teacup on the table in front of him, then looked at Charles and said:
"Editor-in-Chief Charles, I think… the way Steambird Newspaper has been grabbing eyeballs over the past two years through standardized sensational headlines and over-interpreting the actions of individuals…"
"Perhaps it's time to stop?"
At this point, Yuto unhurriedly stood up, slightly flexed his wrist, and continued:
"According to my investigation, ever since Steambird Newspaper started using such headlines, your sales have been increasing exponentially."
"You've made a lot of mora, haven't you?"
Hearing this, Charles stared blankly at the Assistant Administrator, who was smiling faintly, and was at a loss for words.
But… looking at that smile, Charles only felt cold.
It was a chill that originated from the depths of his soul.
"Most of your reporters frequently use this method on me and Neuvillette. We don't pursue it because we are morally upright, because we are magnanimous, but…"
"You wouldn't possibly think that the Momang Hall truly has no objection to your actions, would you?"
"This… this… Lord Yuto, please let me explain, I have no ill will towards the Momang Hall—"
Before Charles could finish, Yuto heavily struck the ground with his cane. Accompanied by the sound of cracking stone tiles, Yuto continued softly:
"I don't want to hear your explanation. I only hope that tomorrow morning, I will see your public apology to Lady Furina on the front page of Steambird Newspaper."
"If not…"
Yuto raised his eyes, looking at Charles with a faint smile, and said in a completely indifferent tone:
"Mr. Charles, you wouldn't want to be sued into bankruptcy by the Momang Hall, would you?"
------------------------
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