Chapter 72: Delicious Tears

Chiori asked, "Is this what you've discovered about the case? That the killer can transform into a non-human entity and vanish?"

"That's far too preposterous!" Furina responded swiftly.

Luna returned to the board.

"I can't deny it sounds utterly implausible, but once we've eliminated all the wrong choices, no matter how incredible the remaining option is, it must be the truth."

"Moreover, we're only assuming such a scenario exists for now. Building on this foundation, let's return to the most fundamental starting point—the killer's motive."

"There's no doubt that the killer is someone closely tied to sinthe, perhaps even its mastermind. Callas was obstructing him—or her—and became the enemy."

"The target is clear: How can the killer eliminate him at the lowest possible cost?"

Luna seemed not to consider Navia's feelings, but when Chiori looked at Navia, she saw only contemplation and resolve. Navia was no damsel who needed protection in every aspect.

Furina casually remarked, "Isn't this simple? We just need him to..."

Navia finished her sentence, "Yes, let him self-destruct."

"At the time, the Spina di Rosula revolved around Callas. Once he's dealt with, the Spina di Rosula won't have the strength to resist them."

Navia pondered, "Then why not uproot the Spina di Rosula entirely? If they had the ability to... to harm my father..."

Furina snorted softly, "If your enemy doesn't completely vanquish you, it's often because they can't, not because they don't want to."

"This situation is easier to understand. Callas must have some leverage over them... or rather, he claimed to have such leverage."

Feigning strength through association was a highly effective tactic, especially when the enemy couldn't discern your true capabilities.

After all, this had been Furina's modus operandi all along.

"That's right. Our opponent is a shrewd one; they wouldn't risk everything to exterminate the Spina di Rosula."

"Besides, without Callas, the Spina di Rosula likely couldn't cause much upheaval... That might have been exactly what they were thinking."

Navia remained silent, her expression unreadable.

Chiori pondered aloud, "A stalemate, then. But if neither side could gain the upper hand, why did Callas choose to sacrifice his life in that duel?"

Luna leaned against the wall. "Who knows? Sinthe's industrial empire was vast, and it's true that the Spina di Rosula had substantial resources at their disposal. However, had the deadlock persisted, it's impossible to say who would have blinked first."

"Moreover, the Spina di Rosula had two fatal weaknesses."

"Weaknesses?"

Luna nodded, raising a finger. "First, the Spina di Rosula was founded on popular support. Their reputation served as the core of their economic power."

"It's all too easy for such renown to rise and fall," Furina remarked, shrugging.

"Precisely! Yet upon closer inspection, Sinthe's empire didn't share this vulnerability."

"By selling Sinthe and making people drink this addictive drug, they can control them and make them do their bidding. From this perspective, the Spina di Rosula is at a disadvantage."

Furina asked, puzzled, "Then why doesn't he collaborate with the Court of Justice?"

This question seemed to ignite the frustration Navia had been holding back, causing her tone to darken immediately.

"It's precisely because my father doesn't trust the Opera House's justice or fairness that he founded the Spina di Rosula!"

Furina instinctively shrank back; she had only asked a question.

"I-I'm sorry," she stammered.

Coming back to her senses, Navia apologized awkwardly, "It's alright, I was the one who overreacted... Let's continue. Is there anything else?"

Luna raised her second finger.

"The next point is Callas' weakness, which is you, Nana. At the time, you were very young, and your mother also left early. They might very likely target you."

Is it really okay to say that? Furina thought to herself.

Although it was true, referring to someone as a 'weakness'...

But Navia merely responded with a serious expression, "So my father formed the Spina di Rosula to protect me..."

"It's possible that after Callass died, his opponents weren't sure if he'd left any evidence that could incriminate them. So they decided to lie low and wait for an opportunity."

"The ailing Spina di Rosula would make them confident that their adversary had no energy left to concern itself with their fate. Rather than uprooting the thornbush and drawing attention, why not let it 'reap what it sowed' and self-destruct?"

"If necessary, they'd add a bit of tinder. The citizens of Fontaine built up the Spina di Rosula, and the ones most likely to bring it down would be its supporters."

"As long as 'Callas the unfaithful' lived, the Spina di Rosula could never recover its former glory."

Luna rapped on the table.

"Returning to the key point of how to make Callas bring about his own demise, what our opponents need is evidence."

"'They fell out and are slaughtering each other'—to make everyone think along those lines, what's most telling isn't that Callas held a gun, nor that Jacques was lying there dead."

"It's those two gunshots."

"There were only two people at the scene, yet there were two shots. But what if the hypothetical third person were to disappear? Then the truth would naturally be distorted into only one gunshot."

"Jacques wasn't the only dead person at the scene. There was another."

"One without a name, who has completely vanished—and is dead in Fontaine."

After the conclusion of the reasoning tea party, Furina left the troupe and walked aimlessly. Clorinde waited for her nearby.

"Lady Furina!"

"Hmm?"

Furina turned to see Luna hurrying toward her.

"Oh, it's you. Your deduction earlier was quite good. You claimed to need my wisdom, but in truth, you didn't require it at all, did you?" she remarked casually.

Her mind remained fixated on the prophecy.

If someone has truly dissolved, then the prophecy might soon arrive... What should I do?

Furina's thoughts churned chaotically, leaving her visibly distracted. Luna, whose acting skills matched Furina's, naturally detected this dissonance. Yet she refrained from pressing the matter—some questions could only be raised at the proper time.

"I do need it," Luna stated.

"Really? Save the sweet talk. Flattering me is a wise tactic, but I won't accept such blatant attempts."

"Not at all," Luna countered. "I'm being truthful. I was simply thinking about Fontaine's prophecy."

Furina's heart lurched.

Could Luna's goal be this? Was dragging me into the tea party just to ask about this?

"The prophecy?" Furina crossed her arms, feigning ignorance. "What about it?"

Luna murmured, "Every inhabitant of Fontaine carries the mark of 'Original Sin' from birth. No judgment, however just, can cleanse this stain."

"The sea surrounding Fontaine will rise, dissolving those burdened with sin into its waters."

She paused, observing Furina's expression.

"Lady Furina, this prophecy..."

"Of course it's impossible!" Furina declared, hands on her hips and chest puffed out confidently. "I, Focalors, guarantee it shall never come to pass!"

So we must believe her, Luna thought.

Only by trusting her can our plan succeed.

We cannot entertain any doubt.

"Believe in me, Luna," Furina said, placing a hand on her heart and smiling.

"...Very well, I trust you, Lady Furina. Just please don't overexert yourself."

Furina stumbled over her words for a moment. For some reason, a slight sting pricked at her eyes—undoubtedly due to the Hydro element about to overflow. She quickly turned away.

"We Archons don't require concern from mortals, but thank you all the same," she said, drawing in a deep breath. "Focus on your preparations! Our shared performance must be grand and magnificent, or how could it possibly be worthy of me?"

With that, Furina strode off.

Luna watched her slender figure fade into the distance, a faint smile gracing her lips.

Of course I believe in Furina, she thought. Does an Archon require reason to be believed in?

No.

But belief was one thing; her actions were her own to choose.

Fontaine's prophecy, huh...

If "Tears of a Maiden" truly involved turning people into an ingredient, then both the serial disappearances of young women and the case of the "Unjust Callas" might be intricately linked to the prophecy's mention of dissolving...

Everyone will dissolve in the sea, leaving only the Hydro Archon to weep on her divine throne.

Though Luna didn't dislike seeing a lovely girl's tears glisten like dew-kissed blossoms, not all tears were created equal.

If someone must cry, it should at least uplift her spirits.

That way, even their tears would taste a bit sweeter.