As a simple Hydro dragon king, what malicious intentions could Neuvillette possibly harbor?
Most of the confidential information remained with Themis, leaving Neuvillette with only surface-level details to share.
The two archons gained no new insights from their conversation with Neuvillette.
When it came to Fontaine, Neuvillette's explanation was textbook-perfect, as common knowledge to all.
But when they mentioned Themis, the Dragon Sovereign's eyes sharpened. His gaze, fixed on Zhongli and Venti, now carried a hint of probing curiosity and wariness.
Why are they asking about Themis?
Oh, we heard so much about Themis and the Hydro Archon Furina on our way here. We're just curious about someone who can capture a god's favor.
Neuvillette's wariness eased slightly, though it remained present.
Though Themis's strength might not require his protection, he needed to make these foreign guests understand: the Regent was busy, and they shouldn't disturb her casually.
"If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to ask me or the Maison Gardiennage."
"Themis, as Fontaine's Regent, is currently occupied with diplomatic matters concerning Inazuma. Please excuse her inability to receive you personally."
Zhongli and Venti exchanged bewildered glances, utterly confused about how Inazuma had suddenly entered the conversation.
Could it be that Beelzebul also secretly slipped away to Fontaine to catch a glimpse of Themis's face?!
Venti mused that this possibility was entirely plausible.
Yet he immediately dismissed the thought.
Given Beelzebul's reclusive nature—never venturing beyond her chambers—it was more likely someone else would notice Fontaine's unusual circumstances than her.
Zhongli interjected, "Might I inquire if Inazuma's diplomatic matters also involve cultural exchange, as ours do?"
Neuvillette tilted his head. "Hmm... Not exactly. They're participating in a cultural exchange, but instead of sending representatives here, they've invited us to Inazuma for their annual light novel competition."
"Ah?"
Venti's mind filled with question marks. What's going on? What's happening here?!
Using light novels for cultural exchange? While not inherently problematic, is it wise to have the Regent personally write a novel?
This is bad. They're making the agent and their superior look exactly the same. And for all we know, the superior might be using a fake identity for an undercover mission.
Now that Fontaine was settled, they'd head to Inazuma next. Would they then inspect work in Liyue and Mondstadt after that?!
Venti's mind raced, and Morax—though he'd never admit it—was genuinely panicking.
No! He'd barely succeeded in retiring, and now, before he could even enjoy his leisure, there was a chance he'd be reinstated to perform a grand resurrection spectacle for the people of Liyue as Rex Lapis!
Just the thought made him dizzy. He couldn't bear the thought of continuing this unpaid labor and being exploited anymore.
Neuvillette, looked at the two visitors with confusion. How could they have been fine moments ago, only to now look like they're about to die?
He pondered this but couldn't figure out the reason, leaving him utterly bewildered.
However, it was clear that the two visitors were no longer focused on the conversation.
Since that was the case, there was no need to continue talking.
So Neuvillette bid farewell to Zhongli and Venti, and had someone take them to see the famous sights in Fontaine, so they could properly understand the country.
-
At this point, Focalors turned to look at the blue-white cat, who had grown wary. With a smile and a slightly tempting tone, she said, "Hmm~ Would Furina like to join me? The Raiden Shogun of Inazuma used to be twins. Since we're essentially one person now, it shouldn't be too hard to play the other's role, right?"
Furina shook her head firmly. What kind of joke was this? She certainly didn't want to play with the Raiden Shogun of Inazuma.
She was already on the verge of developing PTSD from pretending to be a god, and now this would truly break her mental state.
The pure Furina caught Themis's sidelong glance. Hasn't this child read the unofficial histories? she wondered. How can she still be so innocent?
She actually believed Focalors' "playing" meant finding inspiration.
Based on Themis's understanding of Focalors, this roleplay was likely a new game.
Of course, it wouldn't involve playing both Raiden Shogun roles. Themis had no delusions of romantic diversion.
Themis rapped Focalors's head. Watching Focalors puff her cheeks in mock anger, Themis shot her a glare.
Seriously, don't corrupt Furina!
Themis said, "Based on my years of experience, if we can't think of anything now, we're probably overthinking it. We'll get inspiration after a good night's sleep."
Focalors asked, "What if we still don't get inspiration after sleeping?"
Themis pondered for a moment. "We'll hand the work to Neuvillette. The three of us will go to Inazuma for advance reconnaissance. How about that?"
Themis's eyes seemed to say, Is that satisfactory now?
Focalors had no objections, and in fact, she was quite eager to try. After all, this had been her goal from the beginning. Themis's quick compromise was truly the best outcome.
Since she'd achieved her objective, there was nothing left to discuss.
She suddenly pounced on Furina, who had been eavesdropping nearby with her ears perked up. The two of them rolled around on the bed.
Furina, caught in the embrace, looked surprised at first. Then she found herself forced to join in the rolling game.
I feel like Focalors is treating me like a toy! Furina thought.
How annoying! Seeing Themis watching from the side, Furina reached out and pulled Themis into the fray as well.
But honestly, this idea didn't make Furina feel any better.
Because Themis and the other two girls all had long hair, when the three of them tangled together on the bed, rolling back and forth...
The weight of their hair was excruciating. Furina's eyes welled up with tears from the pain.
This broke Focalors and Themis' hearts. What could they do when their delicate blueberry-flavored candy began to weep?
You really do love crying, don't you, Furina?
Focalors cradled Furina's cheeks, unable to resist nuzzling her face.
The sight of two identical beautiful girls sharing such affection was undeniably captivating.
Themis reached out to wipe away the tears that had fallen from Furina's eyes due to the hair's weight.
Finally settling down, Focalors pulled Furina into a hug and lay down on the bed.
She then patted the space beside Furina. "Come on~ Let's sleep together, Themis."
When even her wife extended such an invitation, how could Themis possibly refuse?
Furina found herself nestled between her two closest companions, enveloped in their embrace.
The warm, secure atmosphere made Furina's nose twitch slightly.
The two girls kissed Furina's forehead, smiling softly as they met her bashful gaze.
"Alright, Furina, don't cry now."
Focalors cooed, her voice soft as a young mother's. She cradled Furina in her arms, gently stroking the girl's hair.
Themis watched in surprise. She'd never imagined Focalors could display such maternal tenderness.
Focalors was always kind, but sometimes it would be even more adorable if she could just keep her mouth shut.
Well, never mind. Themis's gaze swept over Focalors's figure.
Since they weren't going out today, Focalors wore her divine attire. With her lips closed, she radiated an unmistakable aura of holiness.
But this sacred image clashed with her usual flirtatiousness and seductive behavior toward Themis.
Sorry... Themis's urge to pin Focalors down and fuck her until she passed out grew stronger by the moment.
Furina, caught between them, didn't know where to look. The little cat lay flat on her back in the middle as both women, wearing mischievous smiles, reached out to stroke the soft, fluffy belly.
"Ah—!"
Startled by the sudden assault, Furina swatted away both hands in annoyance.
How mean! Using your eyes to glare?
But with two people, Furina couldn't keep an eye on both at once.
After what felt like an eternity, Themis and Focalors finally settled down, ceasing their sneaky pinching and kneading of Furina's belly.
The blue-white cat, fuming in indignation, closed her eyes in a huff and promptly fell asleep.
Themis and Focalors exchanged glances, torn between amusement and exasperation.
Yet neither harbored any further mischief. The adorable kitten between them proved too soothing to entertain any improper thoughts.
Focalors' hand still rested on Furina's belly. Themis lay on her side, facing Focalors, and closed her eyes.
Though her lids were shut, Themis's mind remained fully engaged with the forum.
Since returning, she'd been utterly absorbed by her two wives' daily posts, leaving no time for forum updates.
She hadn't checked in ages - who knew how the Little Vitas and the others were faring these days?
In truth, the Little Vitas were far from well—no, they were in dire straits!
Themis, the Regent who had been appointed to Phosphorus City less than a week ago, had vanished without a trace!
"Did you truly not see a tall girl with white hair when you arrived?" Blue Vita, the First Seer, looked at the unfamiliar stranger with wary eyes.
Fu Hua shook her head, her handsome face filled with helplessness and frustration.
"I understand your anxiety, but if I may speak plainly, our immediate priority should be to investigate the site of the disappearance and gradually expand the search area."
"If she hasn't fled too far, we might still find some residual traces."
Fu Hua's words carried a steady reliability, her eyes brimming with sincerity.
"If you trust me, I can assist you in the search."
Blue Vita, the one who sensed danger first, looked at Fu Hua. "I'm sorry, but no matter what, I can't believe you. You appeared at such a crucial moment. I can't help but suspect you, even though we've just met and there's no reason for enmity."
Orange Vita, the one who held back, frowned. After a long silence, she stepped forward. "Alright, Blue. Regardless of our suspicions, Fu Hua is still just a suspect. The real killer might be someone else."
"Until we investigate properly, let's follow Fu Hua's plan."
Red Vita, the one with a sense of justice, nodded vigorously when Orange spoke up.
"Rather than wasting time here, I think searching for Themis is more important."
"Moreover, if you're still uneasy, Blue, we can have Fu Hua join us in our search."
Green Vita, the one who followed rules, looked between Red and Fu Hua. After a careful examination, she finally agreed.
"Blue, Themis' safety is more important."
"Whether Miss Fu Hua is a suspect or not doesn't affect our search for Themis."
"Rather than continuing to doubt her, we should bring her along with us."
As these words were spoken, the other Vitas nodded in agreement.
In Phosphorus City, where no violent incidents had occurred for years, the sudden arrival of a visitor and the disappearance of Themis were too coincidental to ignore.
It was understandable that Blue Vita would suspect Fu Hua as the culprit.
But if Fu Hua wasn't the killer, then who was the real murderer?
Blue watched Fu Hua's retreating figure as she followed Orange, her eyes filled with contemplation.
It had started when Cyan Vita went to investigate the earthquake. There he encountered Fu Hua, the monstrous girl.
Then Red Vita arrived with them, as she explained.
After finding Laudis injured with Themis, they brought her back to Phil's house. But when Red suddenly remembered the injury and returned, Themis had already left.
Following the residents' directions, Red walked the entire path. At the end, she found only a desolate, ruined ground.
Broken glass lay scattered around, along with damaged wooden crates piled together.
Red hurried over, only to meet Hikari and the newly arrived Fu Hua head-on.
(TL Note: Is Hikari MC of HI3 pt2? I dont know anything about this part of honkai.)
Driven by concern for Themis, seven Vitas were located and gathered together.
They dispersed to inquire around the area, but found no trace of Themis.
This plunged them into complete anxiety and terror.
Leading Fu Hua's investigation was Orange Vita, considered one of the more mature Vitas among their group.
"Miss Fu Hua, although I've already heard from Hikari about what happened when you arrived, could you please show me the scene again?"
"Of course, no problem."
Nodding, Fu Hua led Orange Vita to the site where she had battled the Honkai Beasts.
Orange Vita tilted her head in confusion, gazing at a nearby shattered stone pillar.
"My apologies. I accidentally used too much force. While fighting the Honkai Beasts, I inadvertently broke the stone pillar."
"Truly, I'm very sorry. If repairs are needed, I'll do my utmost to help."
Orange Vita scratched her head, feeling genuinely flustered for the first time. If Fu Hua truly wanted to act, could these city agents really stop her?
Regardless, Orange Vita now had a rough understanding of Fu Hua's combat capabilities.
The players controlled Fu Hua, running around with the Vitas, feeling somewhat frustrated.
What's going on? We're being treated as suspects right from the start.
I, Fu Hua the Elder Immortal, am so sincere—anyone can see I'm an honest person!
We were kidnapped while traveling with the Herrscher of Sentience and the Book of Fuxi, and we ended up in a strange city.
We're the first victims here, aren't we?!
And another thing!
Themis is supposed to be a collaboration character. What's going on? Why is this happening?!
These days, collaboration characters get no respect—killed off right at the beginning!
Can't they at least give her more screen time?!
Why bother collaborating with her at all? They might as well have created an important NPC instead.
Damn it, Mihoyo! Refund my money!
Genshin Impact players came here with Themis, and now she's being killed on the spot.
Her presence is only mentioned in the Vitas' and Phosphorus City residents' dialogue—no proper introduction at all. Mihoyo, you really deserve to die!
Under the watchful eyes of a crowd of vengeful ghosts, Miss Macaca yawned unenthusiastically. To be honest, this main storyline was getting a bit boring.
When we first arrived in Phosphorus City, we encountered Red halfway through our journey. Upon hearing of Themis's disappearance, we frantically gathered all the Vitas.
We used Fu Hua to locate seven Vitas, then raced to the site of Themis's last known whereabouts to investigate.
In the end, Fu Hua's status as a foreigner was revealed, and as expected, she became the prime suspect.
Macaca, the old ship captain, remained calm. "Is that all? It's not even slightly sharp. Just plain ordinary."
CatCatEatsNoMedicine, who had been watching from the sidelines, protested. "What's the deal? How is her armor so thick? Mihoyo, why is your blade so dull? You can't even penetrate her defenses!"
It was one thing for Macaca, an experienced captain, to remain unharmed. But the real issue was that even her paper-thin armor hadn't suffered a single scratch.
Apart from the unexpected early exit of Themis, there wasn't a single ripple in the story. Not only that, but watching the Vitas surround Fu Hua, suspecting her of being an immortal, made me want to laugh.
[Mihoyo, you're useless!]
[Not even slightly sharp. Hah, just as expected.]
[Since Themis, that crossover character, died with a glass-shattering sound, does Phosphorus City even have a proper murder mystery?]
"Mihoyo, I command you to swiftly present me with delicious blades and a weeping child!"
"Damn it! The Herrscher of Domination's enterprise has suffered a severe blow here!"
-
Mixed among the live stream viewers, Themis felt the corners of her eyes twitch violently.
She'd long known shippers weren't entirely sane, but seeing them congregate in the same live stream to rampage together felt like a gathering of fellow patients.
What Themis found even more incomprehensible was why CatCatEatsNoMedicine was getting so intensely invested in this!
They'd already started recording the stream. Was this truly necessary?!
Please, spare yourself, okay?
Last time when Themis had died, CatCatEatsNoMedicine had cried hysterically while swearing to help take care of her wife, vowing to become the new Cao Zui.
It was terrifying to imagine what nonsense someone would spout after faking their death, then seeing this unmedicated cat genuinely believe they'd actually died.
Utterly unimaginable!
Watching the demonic revelry in the live stream, Themis tightened her embrace around her wife while lying in bed.
Cao Zui, get the hell out of here!
Her wife had her to take care of her—she didn't need anyone else's help!