Walnut used me to boost her sales performance.

"Found it so quickly?"

"Thanks to Miss Charlotte, I was going to place an ad in the newspaper to find someone, but she stopped me and did an exclusive interview..."

Jiang Bai's dangerous gaze swept over them:

"Speaking of which, what did you tell that reporter about me? She looked at me with the same excitement a wolf sees a sheep."

Paimon's gaze darted away. "He didn't say anything, just some things you've done..."

After finishing the steak on his fork, he elegantly wiped his mouth and looked at Jiang Bai with a "I told you so, what can you do about it?" look:

"He easily defeated the Executor of the Fools, single-handedly stopped the massive tsunami that would engulf Lonely Cloud Pavilion, withstood General Thunder's blade several times, and single-handedly stormed into the Order of the Sages to expose their deification scheme..."

It's hardened; its fists have hardened.

Jiang Bai stared at him with her half-moon eyes lowered:

"How come I had no idea I had done so many things? What you're saying is way too exaggerated. And why don't you help me publicize some of the classic examples of my work as a soul-crossing practitioner at the Hall of Rebirth?"

With his hands on his hips, Paimon speaks with considerable authority:

"No way! That would be free advertising for the Rebirth Hall!"

"You wait, I'll find Charlotte and tell her all the untold stories about the blonde traveler and all the beautiful girls! We'll discuss who your true love is."

"Then, once the report comes out, I'll send a copy to everyone I know!"

Kong stared wide-eyed, her face filled with disbelief.

What unspeakable things are going on between him and that pretty girl? This guy is such a slanderer!

They also discussed true love, and he maintained that his friendships with them were purely platonic!

Vicious! Jiang Bai is truly wicked!

"You're spreading rumors! You're defaming my friendship!" Kong's face turned red with anger.

If such a newspaper were to appear, how would he face his friends afterward?

Is this guy trying to socially kill him?

"Tch, you dare say that none of the people you know have a crush on you?"

I really don't dare to say.

"Don't use these as gimmicks, or we're breaking up!"

"You're so childish. Only kids say things like 'break up'."

Seeing Kong's expression of wanting to strangle him, Jiang Bai changed the subject, "But it's not impossible not to talk about it. You and Paimon can't just talk about me with anyone, especially reporters."

"Hmph, fine, I won't say then." The air whistled as it turned away.

This guy isn't happy about being made famous.

"Wow, this meal is really good! Freebies are always the best!"

"Dream on! You're paying for this meal!"

"They haven't paid yet? I'm outta here..."

"Don't even think about running!"

Chapter 858 Navelette

Jiang Bai slipped away quickly, not giving him a chance to catch him, and also took half a steak and a dessert with him.

Back in his room, as soon as Jiang Bai opened the door, he saw a letter that had been slipped under the door.

"It seems to be a reply from the Mo Mang Palace..."

He hummed a song, picked up the letter from the ground, and began to read it while enjoying the food he hadn't finished eating.

The letter was quite official, stating that Navelette had accepted the meeting request and that the meeting would take place at 4 PM the day after tomorrow.

"Oh dear, I'm almost there to achieve both of my goals in coming to Fontaine."

He has already met Ms. Barbie Ross, and he will meet the Supreme Judge the day after tomorrow.

If it weren't for what Barbilos said, he could have prepared to return to Liyue after meeting with Navelette.

But now, he really has to see if so-called "fate" can be changed.

With nothing much to do in the afternoon, Jiang Bai wandered around Fengdanting and unexpectedly discovered a place called Grey River.

In stark contrast to the glamorous Fontainebleau, the Grey River is hidden in the sewers, and the people inside live in simple huts. Both their clothes and their people are dusty and gray, making it seem like a completely different world from Fontainebleau outside.

Looking at the poodle, dressed more exquisitely than a human, in the sunlight, Jiang Bai was filled with emotion.

"The wealth gap in Fontaine is truly extraordinary; some people live worse than a dog..."

Jiang Bai sat on a bench by the roadside, basking in the sun, watching the patrol officers walk back and forth on the street. He could hear people talking about the recent trial from time to time, as if they were discussing an opera. The suffering seemed to have suddenly become very far away.

It's hard to imagine that Fontaine will face its end in the not-too-distant future.

The time to meet Navelette arrived quickly. Jiang Bai arrived at Mo Mang Palace before the appointed time and entered Navelette's office on time.

Navelette's office was quite large, with several large cabinets standing against the wall, filled to the brim with all sorts of documents.

Beneath the clear, transparent glass window was a huge desk, on which various documents were neatly stacked.

The Supreme Judge named Navelette looked up from his desk and stepped out of it.

Jiang Bai sized up the Water Dragon King. In terms of appearance, the Water Dragon King was impeccable, noble and elegant.

He was dressed in a rather serious uniform, his long blue and white hair tied back tightly, exuding an extraordinary air of authority.

During the two days of waiting, Jiang Bai did some things; he looked for some reports related to Navelette, but there was very little useful information in them.

All that is known is that this Supreme Judge was brought back to Fontaine by the Water God five hundred years ago and has served as the Supreme Judge ever since.

He was fair and strict, rarely smiled, and was a symbol of authority and the law.

Based on my first impression, it's pretty much as described in the newspaper.

"Hello, please have a seat."

Navelette very politely gestured for Jiang Bai to sit down at the reception table next to him, where two servings of tea and desserts were laid out in advance.

Jiang Bai sat down on the sofa, picked up his cup and took a small sip. It was just ordinary water, without any tea leaves added.

He was a little surprised, thinking that the Supreme Judge would serve drinks like black tea or coffee to his guests.

Sitting opposite Jiang Bai, Navelette noticed his surprise. "Don't you like it? Would you like to have a different cup of black tea?"

"No need, pure water has its own unique flavor."

Navelette held the glass and swirled it slowly, as if savoring a fine glass of red wine.

"This water comes from Qingce Village. It's water that's been boiled with pine charcoal and then cooled. It carries a rustic charm and has a lingering aftertaste..."

Listening to Villette's narration, Jiang Bai took another sip, but apart from the taste of water, he couldn't taste anything else.

"Is this the Water Dragon's unique sensitivity to water? Sorry, I couldn't taste anything."

"I think so. So far, I haven't met anyone who can accurately describe the differences between various types of water..."

Contrary to Jiang Bai's expectations, Navelette was a very easy person to talk to, quite different from the imposing demeanor he projected.

"Are you getting used to life in the human world?" Jiang Bai asked.

He was very curious as to why this dragon had come to Fontainebleau, why it had become the Supreme Judge, and why it had stayed for five hundred years.

But these questions aren't urgent; we can ask them slowly.

"Yes, human life is very fulfilling. Living among people, I sometimes forget my true identity..."

Perhaps he was so eager for someone to tell him where he came from that he asked the questions Jiang Bai wanted to ask without Jiang Bai even having to ask.

"I don't know why I was born, where I came from, or where I'm going..."

“At the beginning of my life, I met Fucarus, who saw my confusion and brought me to Fontaine. For the past five hundred years, I have been searching for the meaning of my existence…”

"So, did you find it?" Jiang Bai looked at him seriously.

Judging from Navelette's words, this second-generation water dragon was born in the Land of Water, five hundred years ago.

In terms of lifespan, this is a rather young dragon.

He has no memory of it, and doesn't even know why he was born.

Navelette lowered her eyes. "I don't know, and I can't explain it."

Since arriving in Fontaine four hundred years ago, he seems to have completely integrated into Fontaine, becoming its highest judge and a part of Fontaine itself.

He said with a hint of apology, "We should have met earlier, but I was too busy with work to make it."

"It's alright, and a little extra time won't make a difference." Jiang Bai picked up his water and took a sip, then began to recount the stories he knew about dragons.

"I learned most of what about the Dragon Kings from Apep, the Grass Dragon. She said that dragons were the original masters of the world. Later, the primordial humans arrived, defeated the seven Dragon Kings, and drove the dragons and their descendants into the abyss..."

"Several dragon kings died in this war, and the original water dragon king may have died in this war..."

"Yes, I am aware of that."

As time passed, some memories derived from bloodlines resurfaced, though fragmented and disjointed.

"I am not in my complete state now, and neither are the elemental dragons in the world today."

"Incomplete, why?"

"Because the authority has been stolen."

Elemental dragons are the highest-ranking creatures among the elements; however, some of the power to control the elements is not in their hands, but in the hands of the seven gods.

Jiang Bai knew without asking who held the power that had been stolen.

Seven elemental dragons, seven elemental gods—how could there be no connection between them?

Even though Teyvat has more than seven elements, the other elements are not the main theme of the world and are therefore ignored.

"Your territory has been seized; do you hate humanity, do you hate the principles of nature?"

Chapter 859 The Serial Disappearances of Girls

“I do not hate the human race. This has nothing to do with humans. That history is too far away, and I do not have any hatred for the world being taken away in my current memory.”

Perhaps, when he becomes a complete dragon, he will gain all the answers and memories.

He could tell that the person in front of him could not answer his questions and knew no more than he did.

The reason for the meeting was to see what this person, whose identity I had learned by chance, looked like and what his attitude was.

As for the prophecies about water dragons and the stories about dragon lizards, they are actually insignificant.

There have always been many prophecies in this world, left behind by people who were able to briefly see the future of destiny.

Some of them will become real, while others will be ignored and forgotten.

"As for the principles of Heaven..." Navelette remained silent for a long time when asked this question.

"I do not subscribe to the laws of nature, but I do subscribe to the meaning of humanity."

He doesn't subscribe to the principles of heaven, and as for hatred, it's possible he doesn't have any.

Revenge, on the other hand, is a long-term topic.

At this point, Jiang Bai was unsure what to ask next.

He couldn't quite articulate what he wanted to ask Vilet; he simply wanted to see this humanoid elemental dragon.

How does he view people when he lives in the human world?

What's your opinion on the prophecy about Fontaine?

"Will everyone be submerged by the sea?"

"Ah."

"This prophecy has been circulating for a long time, but I haven't found its origin yet..."

The conversation with Navelette was short; as the busiest person in Fontaine, it was already quite difficult for him to spare half an hour to meet.

However, Jiang Bai also got the answer he wanted.