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[ Of Justice and Contracts ]

You cannot taste anything sweet?

[ Zhongli recalls one other that he knew which such an affliction. During his first Lantern Rite upon the surface, where Liyue had been little more than ramshackle wood structures on the sandy shores of the beach, Morax and the other adepti had been rather adamant about taking him to each and every stall to sample their wares. This included such sweet delicacies as moon cakes, treats made of spun sugar, and Xiao's favorite almond tofu. It would be many years later (and after many samplings of the festival food) that Azhdaha came to admit that he could not understand the appeal of the desserts. It took much longer to realize it was because he could not taste the sweetness that made up so much of their flavor.

Zhongli tilts his head curiously as he processes this information. He had his theories about who (or perhaps more accurately what) the long-lived Chief Justice could be. But it had never been important and he had been busy with dealing with matters of Liyue, so for the most part he had left it alone. Now, here in Fontaine, those thoughts and questions were free to simmer and conclusions change based on new information. Right now, all he had to go on were hypothesis and a series of coincidences — Rex Lapis rarely jumped to conclusions unless he was absolutely certain.

But the roads are narrowing all to a single path, and he's not quite sure how to tread upon it if it turns out his assumptions are correct.

Luckily, the arrival of their food cuts off the awkward situation by introducing another one.

What is that monstrosity on Neuvillette's plate?

Zhongli folds his napkin carefully in his lap, breaking off a piece of bread to place in his side plate. He nods in deference to Neuvillette's as he picks up his utensils. ]

It has a very unique appearance. One that will indeed be remembered.

[ And then Zhongli proceeds to not make direct eye contact with the poor unfortunate octopus for the rest of the meal. ]

Edited 2023-12-20 08:15 (UTC)

No, I cannot. According to a study made by a group of Amurtan researchers, a wide variety of carnivores such as cats and blubberbeasts also share this trait.

[ Vishap species, as well. A reminder of how evolution is quick to discard abilities that living things no longer need and how everyone experiences the world through a sensory keyhole that varies greatly between species. Humans fundamentally cannot perceive the world in the same way a Melusine does, because their eyes have evolved differently. The hydro vishaps never needed the ability to taste sweetness because they primarily feed on a diet of fish, cephalopods, and other marine invertebrates.

With the arrival of their food, the two begin to eat. Neuvillette delicately cuts the octopus into smaller pieces as he eats it, starting with the tentacles and working his way toward the body. The clams are perfectly cooked with a rich saltiness and the octopus is tender as velvet and subtly spiced with paprika and olive oil. And although the man across from him says nothing, Neuvillette is certain that he can pick up on a sense of unease coming from him that seems to be caused by the octopus.

Zhongli ensures that conversation flows continuously throughout dinner and the two chat about this and that; Neuvillette learns of recent events in Liyue, Zhongli's job as a consultant for a funeral parlor, among other things. In return, Zhongli gets to hear about the Melusines at length and what Neuvillette has to say about the water in all seven nations, and some of Fontaine's unusual laws. ]

...Lady Furina's reasoning for banning restaurants from serving pineapple on pizza is that the fruit juices damage the structural integrity of the slice and create an unpleasant contrast between sweet and savory.

[ Their meal finished and empty plates and bowl taken away, Neuvillette declines when asked if he wants dessert. Now all that's left is to pay for what they ate and leave. To the waiter: ]

We would like to split the bill.

[ Carnivores and blubberbeasts, hmmm? For a brief moment, Zhongli imagines Neuvillette strolling upon the shores of Fontaine's beaches as a herd of blubberbeasts bellow in greeting to their kin. (No, that is most definitely not it.) Curiouser and curiouser.

Throughout the meal, Zhongli finds Neuvillette to be an intriguing and courteous conversation partner. Both being workaholics, work discussions are familiar and gravitate toward similar opinions. He's also very interested on the centuries-long effort the Chief Justice has put into incorporating the Melusine more into the mortal society of Fontaine. Zhongli is fairly sure the adepti do not intermingle by choice rather the situation the Melusine have found themselves in, but it is an interesting perspective to see all the same. As for the man's fascination with all things water— well, considering Zhongli's own love of rocks, he can appreciate the passion for one's element.

Too soon it seems, the waiter is arriving with the check, and while Zhongli never had any intention of having Neuvillette pay for his meal, his wallet is still woefully empty. (And he does have his wallet, he would not forget the precious gift that his boss gave him for his birthday last year. Only all of the contents that should be inside it.) ]

Yes, thank you. Can you have my portion billed to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor back in Liyue?

[ The waiter pauses for a moment, clearly not expecting this though perhaps they should have considering everything else this strange foreigner has done today. With yet another perfectly practiced customer service smile:

"My apologies, Monsuier, but this establishment does not take credit in this manner."

To which, Zhongli replies with a slightly concerned: ]

Oh.

[ As if he is hoping, no— expecting someone to save him from this financial hardship. ]

[ Neuvillette takes out his wallet and pulls out Mora to pay for his share of the food as well as tip the waiter generously as a way of apologizing for the time wasted on having to listen to Zhongli talk about the menu, handing it over to the waiter. He then looks at the man across from him, waiting a few moments to see if there is any follow-up to that "oh." It almost looks as though he's waiting for someone else to pay. ]

...Do you not have enough Mora?

[ The thought of the god who literally invented Mora not being able to pay is equal parts baffling and amusing. ]

[ Just to be sure, Zhongli does open his wallet only to find a few tickets stubs from various theatre performances and museum exhibits of Fontaine, all perfectly pristine without a single crease as the wallet protects them. Sandwiched between some of the papers is a whopping total of seven mora, which Zhongli lays out carefully the table. ]

No, I believe I do not.

[

The waiter's eye twitches. ]

[ If "..." was a sound effect, they would be hearing it right now. Neuvillette looks at the seven coins and has to force back a laugh at the absurdity of the situation. The eldest of the Seven and the god of wealth and commerce is unable to pay for dinner? He then looks at the waiter, then back to Zhongli. ]

Were you expecting me to pay for your meal, Monsieur Zhongli?

[ For the first time since the two of them had met, there are subtle hints of distress and indignation radiating off the adeptus. Zhongli did not care if Neuvillette found his vision tacky and his attempt to blend into mortal society bewildering. He did not fault him for not wanting to have a foreign ex-Archon get involved in extremely sensitive Fontainian diplomatic affairs. He even was able to look past the man's interesting taste in cuisine.

But to be accused of attempting to swindle the other so very blatantly—

(The Northland Bank would probably disagree with this assessment, but also it's very difficult to call it swindling when a certain Harbinger was more than happy to offer to pay the bill almost each and every time.) ]

No, Monsieur Neuvillette. That would be terribly rude of me to invite you to dinner and then expect you to pay. In Liyue custom, it would most certainly be the other way around.

[ But that doesn't change the fact that Zhongli has neither the funds to pay for his or the Chief Justice's meal at this very fancy and expensive restaurant. He brings a hand to his chin, brows furrowed as he tries to think of a solution to this dilemma — one that he has never experienced before. ]

If you would be kind enough to wait until tomorrow, I will call my employer and determine when the funds can be sent to this establishment in repayment.

[ Surely his paycheck should be coming up soon (another thing that Zhongli paid zero attention to much to Director Hu's constant dismay). That could be sent here to this establishment and pay for the meal with late fees and an appropriate tip to compensate.

Yes, that should hopefully cover this truly embarrassing mishap. ]

[ It wasn't Neuvillette's intention to cause any feelings of indignation; the question was in no way meant to be accusatory. But it was evidently interpreted as such and as Neuvillette picks up on those feelings, he feels both a little bad and somewhat pleased. This is one of the usurpers after all, and one that has imprisoned one of his kin deep in the earth if those tales about Azhdaha are to believed; he deserves to feel offended. As Zhongli offers his solution to the problem at hand, Neuvillette turns his attention to the waiter who shakes their head. ]

"My apologies, Monsieur, but we cannot do that. We have no guarantee that you will do as you say."

[ It's said in a way that makes it clear they won't be accepting any arguments on this, and then they look expectantly at Neuvillette. Something in his gaze sharpens and he looks the other man directly in the eye, pale lavender meeting amber. ]

If you are unable to pay the full amount, then this will be considered theft of services.

I see.

[ A strange foreign unease wells up within Zhongli — it is quite astonishing to be able to experience something new in his long life (though it is a pity that he cannot enjoy the novelty of his situation). The creator of Mora unable to pay for a simple meal... surely the adepti would be shaking their heads and sighing greatly right now if they knew. But unfortunately they nor any other avenues of his usual support are available to him.

He'd certainly become complacent in ways he did not realize by remaining only within the boundaries of his own nation for so long.

Zhongli straightens, hands folded in his lap as he inclines his head toward both Neuvillette and their poor stressed-out waiter. There was nothing else to do but face this head on as the violator of the agreement between business and customer. ]

Unfortunately, I have no means of producing the mora required and if I have no means to guarantee it, what paths forward are available to me?

[ Ah, what a disaster this would be if he were to find himself at the Opera Epiclese to face judgement when the entire purpose of him coming here was to find out the fate of another. His already slow-moving investigation needed no further setbacks. ]

[ There's a pause that stretches on just a fraction of a second too long; this entire situation is simply baffling. Before him is Deus Auri, the god of gold. The Golden House may longer be in operation and it makes sense to him that Morax can no longer keep the entire economy going now that he's removed himself from archonhood, but surely he's still able to produce money for himself since gold is his domain? All he would have to do is "miraculously" discover some additional funds in a pocket and this could be resolved in an instant, yet he chooses not to. ]

The penalty for theft of services depends on the charge and is typically based on the value of the service stolen; in this case, you would be sentenced to up to 14 days in prison in addition to a fine.

[ He too straightens somewhat, his gaze remaining fixed on the other's as he continues in a calm and measured manner like a judge explaining the defendant's rights. ]

However, for minor offenses such as this one, there is an alternative to being tried in court: performing labor for the wronged party as compensation. Working as a dishwasher or carrying out room service duties, for example.

[ Somewhat hesitantly, the waiter nods as though to agree that this is indeed an option even if they would rather not have do deal with this man working here, even temporarily. ]

[ Two weeks in prison when they've already lost more than a month searching for Tartaglia is fourteen days too long. But the Chief Justice is praised for his fairness and equality, and it shows in the way that he is giving Zhongli an out. One that the staff seems reluctant to take based on their hesitation, but one that they are agreeing to nonetheless.

Surely Zhongli will also have to compensate Neuvillette in some manner as well.

In the name of efficiency, the offered out is the route that Zhongli should take. He would just have to work hard to prove himself to the staff. It's not like he was unfamiliar with the mortal service industry, seeing as he covered for Xiangling's Lantern Rite shift so she could spend time with her friends. There would just be no Guoba around to keep him company as he stocked the shelves and cover for him as he ran this or that random errand, stepping away for unknown lengths of time.

No, this would be good for him. He should just consider it as an enriching his mortal experience.

Zhongli turns to the waiter. ]

Then if you and your management find it agreeable, I would like to perform whatever labor is required as compensation.

[ The waiter pauses— turns to look at Neuvillette one final time with a slightly pinched expression. Though they would never admit it out loud, the populace is well aware how overworked their Chief Justice is, and there is little to no entertainment value in a trial of a bumbling foreigner such as this one. So with only Neuvillette's impossible workload in mind:

"There is always plenty of work to do around the Hotel. We will find some use for him." ]

[ To the waiter: ]

Thank you for being amenable to this. Consider it appreciated. [ In truth, this is the outcome he was hoping for. Their courts are already bogged down with a caseload that only seems to grow exponentially as new laws and regulations are introduced and interpreted. He does want to one day to render judgment on the Seven, but there would be little satisfaction in trying Morax over such a small violation of the law and such cases barely generate any Indemnitium. Settling it out of court saves both time and resources.

He returns his gaze back to Zhongli. ]

You will come back here tomorrow morning. [ The waiter nods and says they will notify the management. ] The length of your compensation work will be decided by the hotel management, but legally cannot exceed twenty days.

[ He mentions this to Zhongli on the off-chance they would try to take advantage of a foreigner's ignorance of the laws to make him work too long. It had to be coded into law after a store owner coerced a shoplifter into six months of unpaid labor as compensation for... stealing some bread, which was deemed disproportionate to the crime committed and Neuvillette was swift to address this once it was brought to his attention.

Neuvillette stands up, pushing the chair back into its original spot. ]

[ Zhongli takes a moment to speak with the waiter, determining the exact time he should show up the next day and also providing contact information for the hotel he is staying at (not this one, it is far too outside of his price range for an extended stay) so that he is reachable in case they need anything else. The city was doing him a favor, and it was in his best interest to make sure that his was cooperating fully. Once that is taken care of, he swiftly follows the Chief Justice outside into the Court of Fontaine proper.

Eventually after the sun sets below the horizon, the two of them take a late Navia line aquabus to the Marcotte station. Elphane seems quite surprised to see Neuvillette board (seeing as during normal business hours he had his own private method of transportation), but beams with renewed enthusiasm and pride as she goes through her practiced lines— even if it just for Neuvillette, Zhongli, and a few workers making their way home after a long day of work or leisure. Zhongli listens raptly to each and every one of her Fontaine facts, wondering if he should suggest something similar to the Liyue Ministry of Civil Affairs.

As expected this time of night, the area surrounding the Opera Epiclese is quite deserted. The atmosphere is a strange mix of eerie and peaceful to see one (if not the most) powerful institute of Fontaine lay dormant for the evening. The only sounds nearby are the cawing of nearby fantail pigeons and the soothing lapping of the waters of the Fountain of Lucine in the center of the courtyard. Zhongli pauses in front of the plaque prominently displayed at the fountain's base, clasping his hands behind his back and taking a few moments to read it even though the two of them are here on other pressing business. ]

The whole city is quite remarkable.

[ The words are spoken mostly to himself, a sort of quiet awe on how much the world has truly changed since he had taken a more active role in correspondence with the Seven. It warms his heart, to see Egeria's legacy transform into something well beyond what she probably could even imagine. A pity that she wasn't here to see it.

Ah, but that was enough reminiscing about the past... Zhongli turns to face Neuvillette after a few moments: ]

Is there anything I need to do before we begin?

[ Neuvillette rarely takes the aquabus, as he and Lady Furina typically take their private vessel to and from the opera house so they can have a conversation away from the prying eyes of the public. When he goes alone on non-work related matters such as visiting Pahsiv in her cavern northeast of Loch Urania to teach her new words, he tends to swim from the Court of Fontaine to the shores of Erinnyes—the sea is his natural habitat, after all, and he seldom gets the chance to go for a swim in Fontaine's waters otherwise.

He offers Elphane a smile as the two board the aquabus and explains that Monsieur Zhongli is assisting him with an investigation, and spends the journey listening to her dictation; even though nothing she says is new to him, simply listening to her voice brings a sort of joy to his heart. Melusines are beautiful creatures and he feels nothing short of paternal adoration for every single one of them. After a walk along the paved road leading from the station to the courtyard in front of the Opera Epiclese, the two find themselves standing in front of the famous fountain where all the waters flowing through Fontaine converge. A soft breeze accompanies the sound of water shooting up from the fountain, the light of the moon bathing the area in blue-white light and shadow.

At the question, he thinks on it for a moment. Does Zhongli need to do anything with the possession he brought along, such as placing it in the water or will keeping it on his person be enough? He has no idea, so he supposes they can start with the latter and try putting it in the fountain if their first attempt yields no results. ]

I don't think so. Take my hand and channel Geo into my body.

[ One hand resting on the handle of his cane, Neuvillette offers the other to Zhongli—and as soon as the adeptus takes hold of it, he strikes his cane downward into the ground, sending a glowing pulse of Hydro rippling outward like waves on a tranquil pool; as it touches the fountain, it causes its water to begin to glow as well. ]

[ Zhongli nods in affirmation even as he has already slipped one hand into his coat pocket to wrap around the object he had fetched from his hotel, careful not to cut himself on its sharp edges. Seeing as the overlap in his interactions with Childe and the Traveler had been those few short weeks where they had prepared for the Rite of Parting, there weren't many to choose from that could apply to both individuals. As such, the only suitable item he had on hand was the shard of an abyssal horn (or rather tooth) of one of Childe's summons during his battle with the Traveler in the Golden House - a Tusk of Monoceros Caeli. ... Perhaps it was for the best that Neuvillette did not inquire too deeply when Zhongli fetched the item nor need to see it presently. It would probably only invite more questions than answers at this point.

But ah, Zhongli is getting distracted. It seems a simple enough task to channel his own geo energy into the Chief Justice. While he is not completely sure of how powerful Neuvillette is, he does seem quite sturdy enough to handle a large amount of different elemental energies at once, though Zhongli has decided to be careful in his initial application all the same.

And so Zhongli takes Neuvillette's hand.

It's a strange sense of deja vu— to be reminded of Azhdaha once again in this moment. He remembers the first time he had met the elder elemental, hearing his voice resonating from deep within the earth and following that siren song until he found the most pure concentration of geo energy he had ever experienced (and will probably never experience again). Their partnership had been something precious and irreplaceable — which was true to how Morax viewed all of his friends, subordinates and confidants, but for Azhdaha— For Azhadaha...

Zhongli begins slowly channeling geo energy into Neuvillete, steadily like the first tentative turn of a faucet to produce a thin stream of water. But as Neuvillete's own power surges, the waters glowing magnificently in front of them, he supplies more and more geo energy. Earth and water. The ocean and the shore. It seems no matter how much time has passed, Zhongli's fate always brings him back to hydro— whether it be the clashing of ideals with Osial, the birth of the harbor nestled betwwen the mountains and the ocean, one Harbinger sweeping through his life like a whirlwind to grant his dreams of retirement, and now Neuvillette — someone who could touch the memories kept within water.

(Memories kept within water. Memories kept within stone.

No.

It couldn't possibly be...) ]

[ Neuvillette's antennae grow longer and glow a bioluminescent blue and so do the tails of his coat as they flutter out behind him. The two are enveloped in a golden shimmer as Geo intermingles with the Hydro element, crystallizing into faceted shards that hang suspended in the air around them and cast prisms of moonlight across the courtyard reminiscent of stars filling the night sky, or perhaps the stunning display of bioluminescent plankton on Fontaine's reefs in late summer.

But they're given no time to appreciate its beauty as the waters glow brighter and brighter until they're peering into blinding white that instinctively makes Neuvillette pinch his eyes shut. Though he physically isn't going anywhere, it feels akin to being pulled into the vortex of a whirlpool as countless emotions and fragmented memories flow through the both of them—most of them rip through Neuvillette like a tidal wave, but a smaller trickle courses through Zhongli like blood pumping through his veins; they blur together like streams merging together into a singular river, and picking out anything specific in this metaphorical river feels nearly impossible.

Neuvillette takes a deep breath to clear his mind, the flow of Geo grounding him; it feels as though it's resonating with the lump of stone that acts as his heart and as he focuses on the mental image of Childe and Lumine, it pulsates within him to like a dowsing rod indicating the direction of the nearest precious gem to be unearthed. In his mind, he reaches into this vast sea, letting this pulse guide him in the right direction.

Another deep breath. His fingers close around what feels like a bubble floating through limitless space and as soon as he does so, a memory plays out in their minds: it takes place in what Zhongli will recognize as Neuvillette's office and the presence of Paimon immediately gives away that they're viewing it through Lumine's eyes. Neuvillette is standing in front of his desk and the memory begins partway into a conversation with him:

"...According to reports from the Fortress of Meropide, Childe recently disappeared under mysterious circumstances."
"Did he escape?"
"The details are still unclear. We cannot rule out an escape, but there have also been no reports of him outside of the Fortress of Meropide."

And then it cuts off abruptly as Neuvillette lets go of Zhongli's hand and steps back from the fountain, causing its glow to dim to a soft blue that isn't blinding to look at; he could have simply moved on to the next memory, but he imagines that the ex-archon has questions to ask before they can continue. ]

[ Though Zhongli himself has no gift of being able to see memories within earth or water, he had watched Azhdaha enough to understand the basics of the process. Of course, that was reviewing the memories of a singular stone, limited to its viewpoints, experiences, and loss due to erosion. To feel the memories from every major body of water within Fontaine — it's overwhelming. Like being tossed into the deep end of a pool with no inkling of how to swim. And that is with Neuvillette buffeting Zhongli from the worst of the storm.

Zhongli also finds himself squeezing his eyes shut against the spray of water and the blinding glare until he hears Neuvillete's voice— one that sounds distant as if he were speaking underwater. His eyes open to a scene in what he knows to be Neuvillette's office, asking a favor from the Traveler. Unsurprisingly, seeing as the Traveler was perhaps one of the most well-connected individuals in Teyvat currently and always managed to deliver results. The reason for Lumine's mission however, settles uncomfortably heavy in the pit of Zhongli's stomach like a rock sinking to the bottom of the ocean. ]

They've lost him.

[ Rather than sound accusatory at the statement, Zhongli just sounds— perhaps tired. Childe was reckless and resourceful, even among human standards. If there was a way out of their underwater prison, he would find it. Just as he tricked the location of the Exuvia's corpse from the Qixing. And just as he orchestrated the summoning of Osial underneath everyone's notice. Even if he had ultimately lost in Liyue, his creativity and almost single-minded obsession on completing his mission had manifested the threat that Zhongli needed to put his plan into motion.

They all should have known better when he challenged Fontainian authority in their own courthouse, that he would not quietly bide his time in prison waiting to be released.

But then where was the clever Harbinger now? And just how much were they underestimating him again at this very moment? ]

He has not returned to the Fatui. I would have heard as much from my contact at the Northland Bank.

But to be of more assistance than that, I must ask what do you mean by mysterious circumstances?

[ Zhongli was under no illusion that Neuvillette actually wanted to work with him outside of the unique angle of information and perspective he could provide having been a previous close business associate of Childe's. As such, information being withheld from his is not surprising. How many times had he held cards close to his chest on a need-to-know basis? But that also means that Zhongli had been wasting time thinking Childe was relatively safe within the confines of the Fortress of Meropide (knowing Childe and his charisma it would not surprise him if he was thriving there) and not— whatever the situation was now.

If he was missing, where not even the Chief Justice nor the administration of the underwater prison knew where he was, that made Zhongli's mission to find Childe all the more urgent. ]

And whether or not there is additional information to his current state that I may have access to.

I am sorry for not telling you, Monsieur. [ He says with a ring of sincerity to his voice; while he certainly doesn't like the usurper standing next to him and would prefer to keep their interactions to a bare minimum, this was not withheld out of spite for the ex-archon. It was simply considered sensitive information that he couldn't disclose when diplomatic relations between Fontaine and Snezhnaya are in a more precarious state than they've been in centuries. The Knave appears to already have her suspicions given that she requested a visit to personally verify his status and if confirmation of his disappearance were to reach her ears, she could use it to further twist the diplomatic arm and ramp up the pressure on Fontaine to force Furina to hand over the Gnosis as a concession.

(He still isn't entirely sure what the Gnosis actually is, given that he has never personally seen it and Furina has dismissed all of his inquiries related to it. All he knows is that this object seems to correlate to an Archon's right to rule and that the Fatui are after it for reasons unknown to him. He mustn't allow this to happen, given its obvious importance.) ]

According to the report I received, he didn't show up for his morning shift in the production zone last Tuesday. This was noted as unusual, as he was seen as a model prisoner who worked diligently and had never been late or used his credit coupons to skip the morning shift. A search was conducted but yielded no results; it's as though he had simply vanished into thin air overnight, leaving no trace of his whereabouts.

And since the Fortress of Meropide exists outside of Fontaine jurisdiction, you have no leverage personally to conduct further investigations. I understand now why you would send the Traveler, seeing as she has a knack for solving complicated puzzles such as this one and exists outside any political sphere of influence. Besides being well-respected as a hero to many of Teyvat's nations, of course.

[ There is a brief moment where Zhongli wonders if perhaps someone or even a group of people might have taken out a hit on Tartaglia. Certainly with a set schedule, he would be more vulnerable to such plots and ambushes. Though try as he might, Zhongli cannot imagine a Fatui Harbinger (even their youngest) being taken down by a ragtag group of prisoners no matter how organized. So unless it was the administration that was pulling the strings— ]

What is your opinion on something potentially happening to him within the Fortress itself? During dinner, you mentioned that you held its administrator in high esteem, but even so the Fatui are not well received in many areas of Teyvat.

[ Through their own actions in most cases, but also as being a convenient scapegoat in others. ]

Is it possible that there could be something going on there contained within its walls?

Precisely. She has shown herself capable when she helped prove Lyney's innocence and solved the serial disappearances case, and since she is already acquainted with Tartaglia she may discern things that others would miss.

[ Out of everyone Neuvillette knows of, he believes her to be the one most likely to figure out the truth behind Childe's sudden disappearance. Briefly, he wonders how their investigation is going; it's only been two days since he brought them to the elevator behind the opera house so realistically they haven't made much process yet, but he is hopeful. At the question, the Iudex brings a gloved hand to his chin in thought as he mulls over such a possibility. ]

...Such a scenario cannot be ruled out. The Fortress is as big as a city, with several abandoned zones and arkhium mine shafts. Even the most thorough search might miss something, whether by mistake or by malicious intent.

[ For example, if Childe was brought to a part of the mine people didn't go to even before mining operations halted and one of the guards on the search team deliberately misled the others to prevent him from being found... he trusts Wriothesley fully, but it's entirely possible that someone working under him might have reason to get rid of the Harbinger. ]

I see. I suppose there is little to be done from here if he is still somehow within the Fortress, and the Traveler is best equipped to handling that specific scenario.

[ There's no point in worrying about an edge case that probably has not occurred. It was best to assume that Tartaglia had succeeded in whatever he had planned to do and was where he wanted to be.

Though that brought about its own questions. ]

Should we focus our attention outward then?

Tartaglia was as loyal as they come. And from my discussions with the man, did not take many vacations outside of Snezhnaya. If he did manage to leave the Fortress but not return to the Fatui, then perhaps finding why he chose to come Fontaine in the first place would be the most illuminating about his current whereabouts.

Yes. I believe that is the best course of action. [ Neuvillette nods, extending his gloved hand toward Zhongi once more. ]

Although that wasn't the correct memory, I believe we were on the right track. So let's continue the search whenever you are ready.

[ Thanks to the flow of Geo helping him chart a course through the vast sea of memories, he had found the memory belonging to one of the three individuals involved in the specific conversation they're after—what might've otherwise been akin to finding a specific grain of sand on the shore now feels entirely possible to locate as long as they do not give up. As soon as Zhongli puts his fingers around his hand, the Chief Justice steps back toward the fountain, causing its waters to brighten to a blinding white a second time as the metaphorical tide pulls them back into the deep.

An indistinguishable blur of emotions and memories swirls through him a second time as he dives deeper, moving to the rhythm of the water and the pulse of Geo. He finds a memory; another irrelevant one, of Lumine doing some mundane task for the Adventurers' Guild. He does not let go of Zhongli's hand and moves onward to the next one without interrupting the session. The next one belongs to Childe as he steps onto the coastal elevator at one of Fontaine's harbors to enter the nation.

A few more irrelevant memories belonging to either Lumine, Paimon, or Childe play out before their eyes—this goes on for maybe twenty minutes in total, before they finally find the right one, seen from Childe's point of view. They learn of Childe's Vision malfunction and that he's been in a terrible mood every now and then, and that he fell into the Abyss when he was a boy, where he met someone named Skirk.

"Because I had awakened "it," and traces of "it" remained on me. She said that all my combat training would be useful in the future."
"But what is "it"? What did you awaken?"
"She never explained that, but my guess is that it's related to a dream I saw when I had just fallen into that abyss. In my dream, I was in the deepest depths of the sea, and the boundless seabed was all around me. But in front of me appeared a whale that was so massive I felt like I couldn't breathe." ]

[ At first, Zhongli finds the memories of Lumine, Paimon, and Childe to be quite soothing. He has not seen his friends for quite some time and to see and know they are doing well warms his heart. That even though they are apart, they are writing their own tales and spreading their own wings to take flight to heights that only few can aspire to. He even chuckles a little at Childe's insistence on challenging Clorinde to a duel and the Traveler and Paimon helping a young artist unhappy with the Adventure's Guild puzzles strewn across Fontaine.

Zhongli is not an impatient man, but a sense of urgency wells up within him when he sees Childe call out to the Traveler outside of the blacksmith. Ah, it seems they are getting closer to unravel one more thread of this mystery!

But the information they find is quite, well, shocking to say the least. To hear that Childe's vision is mysteriously malfunctioning— what does that mean for him as Zhongli himself had heard few instances of Celestia recalling a boon from their chosen considering the benefits they reaped from it in the end. To hear that Childe had fallen into the Abyss at such a young age, awakened some sort of creature that likened to his constellation burning in the sky, and had been forged into a weapon long before the Tsaritsa had ever taken him under her wing is solemn news indeed. Not anything anyone would guess with his usual carefree demeanor. ... And Zhongli had only added to the list of difficulties with their encounter in Liyue.

It's— a lot. And there's a tingling sense of something within Zhongli, an emotion he only recently started making time for in his life. (Guilt. The emotion is guilt.) These were Childe's secrets entrusted to the Traveler and Paimon and they were viewing them in a very unconventional and prying manor. Even if it was for hopefully Childe's own good.

And the overall question remains. What does "it" have to do with Childe's current disappearance, though Zhongli's mind is already racing with the potential possibilities. ]

Monsieur Neuvillette...

[ He says after a long pause, brows knitted together. ]

Have you heard of such a whale before?

[ Well. That was... interesting to say the least, and in the span of thirty minutes Neuvillette has uncovered a veritable treasure trove of information more valuable than anything else he's found during his investigation. He'd wondered about that surge of Abyssal energy he felt in the courtroom back then as he moved to stop Childe from completing that disgusting transformation of his (anything that comes to out of the Abyss is highly corrosive to his kind—he still remembers that cut across his cheek and how it had felt as though toxic sludge clung to his face for nearly an hour after the cut itself had healed) and where a human had learned to use such a power; it seems that Tartaglia must've learned it during the time he spent in the Abyss. Perhaps it was taught to him by this Skirk.

But more importantly, they've learned about this "it" and a mysterious whale. The fountain dims, the water returning to normal, and he turns to Zhongli with a shake of his head. ]

Nothing matching what Tartaglia described comes to mind, and no whales have ever been sighted in Fontaine's waters. [ The closest thing to a whale would be the behemoth-sized Elynas, but he has been dead for over four centuries and his remains are now home to the Melusines. There is a pause as he follows this line of thought. If this whale has left the Abyss but hasn't been seen in Fontaine, and Childe came here to find his master and the whale that haunted his dreams... ]

...Perhaps it lives in the depths of the Primordial Sea.

The Primordial Sea—

[ It was a location that had been thrown around heavily in recent issues of the Steambird considering all that had happened with Marcel's trial. Waters capable of dissolving anyone from Fontaine was rather a terrifying prospect after all. Theoretically, it should be accessible from somewhere in Fontaine, but for very practical reasons that had been kept a secret from the general populace (or so Zhongli assumed. That is what he would have done as Rex Lapis anyway).

Good things that Monsieur Neuvillette was not part of the general populace. ]

Do you know if the Fortress of Meropide somehow connects to the Primordial Sea? Perhaps that is why we've not seen him appear in more conventional places after his disappearance.

[ And since Childe was from Snezhnaya, that means he should be immune to the effects of the water. But ah, Zhongli can't imagine it's good for anyone to linger in such a place for too long, Fontainian or no. ]