Chat Group: Starting by Swapping Bodies with Elysia?

Unlike in the game, nations typically had specific policies regarding foreigners. For example, in Inazuma, regardless of whether one would be struck by lightning for trespassing, the Tenryou Commission would definitely cause trouble.

Liyue and Sumeru might be more lenient due to their vast borders, but Fontaine, similarly isolated by water and founded on law, was clearly stricter in this regard.

"Since your illegal entry wasn't intentional, and considering your assistance in the 'serial disappearances' case, I personally won't pursue this charge, but Fontaine's law isn't a trifling matter… so, I hope you understand."

"Eh?" Lumine was dumbfounded, looking around nervously, then instinctively looked at [Furina] with a pleading gaze.

However, the blue and white-haired girl could only shrug helplessly.

Fontaine was a nation of justice.

Although many aspects of this nation's justice system were rather… whimsical, it was undeniable that everyone had their own sense of justice.

For example, Egeria's justice was the justice of existence, Focalors' justice was the justice of continuity.

And Neuvillette—this Chief Justice's justice was the "justice of law," the justice within the rules.

In other words, he was the one who valued the law the most in Fontaine.

Even in the original storyline, when he needed the Traveler and Paimon to investigate the Fortress of Meropide, Neuvillette hadn't fabricated charges, but instead used a clever method to induce them to commit a crime. This showed the Hydro Dragon's adherence to procedure and rules.

"It's alright, just go there for a bit. It's a novel experience. Captain Wriothesley is quite a nice person."

"Mmm, right… after you go in, remember…" [Furina]—Jiang Qiao comforted Lumine, then, remembering something, leaned in and whispered a few words in her ear. Lumine, although confused, still nodded.

"Take her away."

Under Neuvillette's orders, Lumine was taken away by the Gardes. She looked back at Fairy Ely with some reluctance—unfortunately, Fairy Ely didn't choose to go with her. After all, she had an important task.

Compared to the newly met Traveler, Fairy Ely felt she should focus on Jiang Qiao.

"I thought you would stop me."

"Why would I? Reward and punishment are distinct. I understand your style." The girl shrugged.

For Neuvillette, who valued the law, merits and demerits were separate and couldn't be compared, at least not before Fontaine law allowed for atonement through meritorious service.

"Alright, if there's nothing else, I won't disturb your work."

"Wait…"

"Hmm? Is there something else?"

"..." Neuvillette looked at the girl in front of him—or rather, at "himself," his expression slightly complicated.

[Furina] didn't seem much different from the usual Furina,

But it was as if she had gained some new qualities.

Like a powerful emperor, or a resolute saint, and the sweetness she exuded, like the aroma of a cake.

Although the previous Furina rarely displayed these qualities, after centuries of acquaintance,

Neuvillette's assessment of this seemingly different, or rather, overly composed Furina was:

"Not like she's acting," "More Furina than Furina herself."

"Is… that it?"

Furina stared blankly at Neuvillette as he hurriedly left.

Was this guy so easy to fool?

"What else did you expect?"

The blue and white-haired girl said naturally.

Neuvillette, a five-hundred-year-old dragon, how could he compete with Jiang Qiao, who had tens of thousands of years of experience?

"What did you ask Lumine to do?"

Furina hesitated, then remembered Jiang Qiao's whispered words to Lumine and couldn't help but be curious.

"It's nothing major, just asking her to deal with some… humanoid creatures while experiencing the Fortress of Meropide."

"Human… oids? Like Vacher?"

"Something like that, not anyone worth mentioning." Casually answering Furina's question, Jiang Qiao gently rubbed his smooth, ivory-like thigh with his fingertips. Seeing Furina blushing and about to speak, he stood up and said,

"Alright, let's go."

"Don't touch me…" Furina complained, but she was more curious.

"Where to?"

"Let's go to that tower."

Through the window, they could vaguely see a towering structure on an island in the middle of the lake.

"…That place?"

"Speaking of which, I saw that tower when we were on the Navia Line, but the tour guide didn't mention it at all." Fairy Ely flew to the window, looking at the cloud-shrouded tower, puzzled. "What is it for?"

Fairy Ely looked at Furina, who had an embarrassed expression on her face.

Could she say—Ah, this… I don't know?

Such a large tower, so close to the Ile d'Eros, and yet she, the Hydro Archon, who came to the Ile d'Eros every day to watch operas, didn't know what it was… so embarrassing!

Fortunately, Jiang Qiao saved her from the embarrassment—he said directly, "That tower is handled by Neuvillette. Furina doesn't know about it."

The Ipsissimus Tower—a creation of the Narzissenkreuz Ordo, built with the ideal of saving the world.

Its creators had extorted vast resources from Fontaine's nobles and officials, even infiltrating the Gardes. The Ipsissimus Tower was erected without the knowledge of most Fontaine citizens.

"…A salvation plan?"

Fairy Ely was intrigued, and Furina's interest in these two words went without saying. Even now, although she had placed some hope in Jiang Qiao, Furina hadn't given up on finding her own way to save Fontaine.

"That was five hundred years ago, initiated by a man named René."

"Through exploring the remnants of Kaenri'ah's data, he deduced the existence of something called the 'world formula'—with it, one could predict Teyvat's fate."

"He foresaw Fontaine being submerged, Teyvat losing its ability to nurture life."

"René wasn't overwhelmed by fear, nor did he hesitate. He sought a way to save Fontaine from this disaster."

The blue and white-haired girl brought the two to the water's edge, gazing at the distant Ipsissimus Tower, narrating the secrets it concealed.

"He found what he was looking for in the remnants of the ancient kingdom."

"A secret ritual called the 'Quadrangular Circle'."

"With it, he could gather the dissolved consciousnesses of Fontaine's citizens."

"And that tower is the endpoint of the ritual."

Looking at [Furina]'s outstretched hand, Furina asked, puzzled, "What?"

"We're going there, of course." The girl sighed helplessly and teased, "Or are you planning to swim there?"

The Ipsissimus Tower was located on an island in the middle of the lake, and with the expanded map, it wasn't close to the Ile d'Eros.

Unfortunately, the Navia Line didn't go there, so to get there normally, they would have to take a boat or an airship.

But Jiang Qiao clearly wasn't willing to do that.

Furina blushed slightly and took Jiang Qiao's hand—It's quite soft… she thought as she held [Furina]'s hand.

But the next moment, Fairy Ely's wand lightly tapped Furina's head—Bonk! The sound made Furina cry out, holding her forehead in dissatisfaction:

"Ow, what was that for…"

"No lewd thoughts allowed~ You were thinking something strange, weren't you?!" Fairy Ely, holding her wand, with an innocent expression, put on a "no lewdness allowed" posture and said righteously, "I can't let you take advantage of Reliable Me."

Furina blushed. Being naturally thin-skinned, having her thoughts exposed made her feel shy, especially in front of Jiang Qiao, the person involved. But the last sentence made her puff out her cheeks.

What do you mean, I'm taking advantage of him?!

It's clearly him taking advantage of me! What's wrong with holding hands?!

Besides, that body was hers! How could touching her own hand be considered taking advantage?

Thinking of this, Furina felt even more justified, and her shyness gradually disappeared—That's right! That's my own body.

What was wrong with it being soft and fragrant? She was praising herself! There was no need to be shy!

"I wasn't!"

Glaring at Fairy Ely, unlike her previous shyness, Furina grabbed [Furina]'s hand and glared back at Fairy Ely, unusually assertive:

"Let's go."

Confidence was good, but the next moment—Furina missed a step and nearly fell into the water.

Fortunately, Jiang Qiao caught her in time.

"Pfft." Fairy Ely burst into laughter.

"Really, wait for me!"

The blue and white-haired girl sighed helplessly.

Then, she snapped her fingers—a formless mass of water rose from the lake.

"Whoosh~"

Lightly jumping onto it, Jiang Qiao held Furina's hand, and the next moment—the water, or rather, the fluid mass, carried them towards the Ipsissimus Tower at incredible speed.

Unimpeded by the wind,

[Furina]'s control over fluids allowed her to "ride the waves" at high speed.

This novel experience made Furina exclaim in surprise.

"We're here."

The tower, which had been far away just moments ago, was now right in front of them. Jiang Qiao, pulling Furina onto the island, looked up at the structure, feeling incredibly calm.

In fact, in the Fontaine chapter, the most dangerous thing wasn't the rising primordial waters of the Primordial Sea,

But this tower… or rather, the person beneath it.

René—Narzissenkreuz.

The great whale grew within the Primordial Sea, its movements causing the primordial water to overflow, raising the sea level, leading to the prophecy of Fontaine's citizens dissolving in water.

From the main storyline, although Neuvillette obtaining the ancient dragon's power did allow Fontaine's citizens to shed their Oceanid nature and become humans who no longer feared the primordial water,

The actions of this important figure in the side story could completely overturn everything.

The primordial water could only dissolve Fontaine citizens who carried the original sin—and through his painstaking research, Narzissenkreuz had successfully overcome this limitation.

Just like inventing cold-resistant mosquitoes, making up for the lack of mosquitoes in winter, once Narzissenkreuz's plan was complete, the rising primordial water wouldn't just dissolve Fontaine citizens, who were essentially Oceanids,

But theoretically, everyone in Teyvat.

Fontaine was where all waters converged, and also the highest point above sea level on this planet. Once Narzissenkreuz completed his plan, the primordial water, flowing into the sea through Fontaine's inland lakes and waterfalls, would pollute all of Teyvat's oceans, and everyone in the Seven Nations would experience what it was like to be "easily dissolved in water," just like Fontaine's citizens.

Perhaps only powerful elemental beings and Archons would be spared.

Undoubtedly, this was the true disaster.

Fairy Ely pointed towards the front of the tower, "There seems to be someone there."

It was a young man with blond hair, dressed in purple.

Of course, his appearance wasn't the generic NPC model used by a certain company to save money, but more distinct and detailed.

The man in purple was surprised to see Jiang Qiao, a hint of vigilance flashing in his eyes, which quickly turned into a smile,

"Lady Furina."

"Why are you here?"

Hearing his probing tone, [Furina] smiled.

"Why, am I not welcome?"

"I recall the Steambird already investigated this place. This tower should be the Palais Mermonia's property now."

"As for you…"

"Mr. Jacob, what are you planning to do here?"

The girl smiled, looking at the man calmly, and casually revealed his name.

At this moment, Jacob's expression changed drastically.