Yes, Lady Funina!

Fulina thought this through and told Richard her decision, hoping that he could come along with her.

Richard has no problem with it, he just hopes that Funina won't drop the little pearl.

But this way, it saves him the trouble of going to see Arecino alone.

Soon the appointed time arrived, and Funina and Richard went to the reception room in the Mo Mang Palace.

Originally, Funina thought this would be just an ordinary diplomatic meeting, but when she saw the [servant], she froze on the spot.

Without a doubt, Funina recognized the servant the moment she saw him.

Although Funina did not see the attacker's true face that night, she had a very deep impression of his appearance, figure, and overall demeanor.

Those pitch-black hands, gray hair, and eerie X-shaped pupils—without a doubt, the Winter Solstice Envoy before him was the very person who attacked him that night!

“Thank you for accepting my invitation despite your busy schedule, Miss Funina,” said [Servant] Arecino.

"..." Funina did not reply, her pupils flickering. This unexpected encounter had caught her off guard, leaving her in a distracted state ever since she saw the [servant].

The servant, seemingly unconcerned by Funina's rudeness, continued, "Speaking of which, it seems this is our first formal meeting. Let me reintroduce myself. I am Arecino, the eleventh executor of the Winter Fools."

"Although today's meeting can indeed be described as a diplomatic meeting, I prefer to regard it as a regular tea party."

"You must think so too, Miss Funina."

Arecino's tone was slow and rhythmic, and her voice did not give off the cold and sassy feeling that her appearance suggested. On the contrary, it was somewhat intellectual and gave people a very rational feeling.

"..." Funina seemed to still be in shock and did not give any reaction.

"Lady Funina?" [Servant] Arecino emphasized slightly, as if reminding Funina that it was time to speak.

“Ah… um, um… that’s right, just as you said, a tea party. And thank you for the invitation.” Funina glanced at the abundant desserts on the table and added, “...and thank you for the pastries you specially prepared, they look delicious.”

Although it looked delicious, for some reason, Funina had no appetite. To hide her fear, she could only keep drinking the black tea in her cup, hoping to relieve her tension.

In fact, if Richard hadn't been by her side, Furnessa would probably have already started trying to find ways to escape.

She absolutely refused to be alone with this dangerous woman in front of her.

In fact, Funina also wanted to tell Richard directly that this was the woman who attacked her that night.

However, she dared not say it, at least not directly to the other person's face.

Although she knew that the "servant" was the one who attacked her that night, the other party should also have realized that she was not a true god.

If Funina were to complain to Richard in front of him, there's no guarantee that the "servant" wouldn't become enraged and expose her false identity as the water goddess, thus shattering the illusion Funina had woven over hundreds of years.

This is something that Funina absolutely cannot accept.

That's why we have this scene where Funina is angry but dares not speak out.

I'm different from others; if you mess with me, it's as if you haven't messed with me at all. (Funina version)

Unlike Funina, who was hesitant to act rashly, the servant seemed much more relaxed, as if he wasn't worried at all about Funina exposing him.

She even had the leisure to smile at Richard and say, "I never expected that besides meeting Miss Funina today, I would also have the honor of meeting Secretary Richard. It's a pleasure to meet you."

“As the permanent secretary-general of the city hall, it is naturally my duty to assist Lady Funina in meeting with envoys from other countries,” Richard said calmly.

He didn't know what Arecino was planning, but whatever her schemes were, Richard wouldn't give her a friendly look.

Richard viewed the servant's attack on Funina as a provocation, and knowing full well that Funina had a close relationship with him, he took advantage of Richard's absence while he was away on a business trip to attack Funina.

There is no doubt that the other party's behavior has crossed Richard's bottom line. If the servant does not provide a suitable reason, Richard will obviously not let it go so easily.

Although the Hearth House, led by the [Servant], had provided Richard with many conveniences, Richard had long since returned those conveniences and favors in the spirit of the wind god.

It's fair to say that Richard owes the Fools nothing now.

'It seems my probing of Funina last time, as expected, has displeased Richard.' Arecino noticed the change in Richard's attitude and thought to herself.

Her gaze then fell upon Funina, whose expression was somewhat stiff, and a thought flashed through her mind: 'Funina seems to have recognized me too, but she still hasn't directly exposed me, as if she's wary of something.'

'She's probably afraid I'll reveal what happened that night, which would cast doubt on Funinna's identity as the water goddess. That's what she's worried about...'

'But then again, since I could see through the anomaly in Furnessa's identity, there's no reason Richard couldn't. Besides, the power Richard left in Furnessa when I attacked her that day blocked the blow for her.'

'Richard definitely knows something, perhaps far more than I imagine, not just about Funina's identity, but maybe... even the true location of the Water God and the Heart of God.'

Having thought this through, the servant had already made up her mind. She probably wouldn't make any more moves in the near future, since she wouldn't be able to withstand Richard's wrath with her current strength.

Having obtained so much useful information through a single probe is already a huge gain; we should know when to stop.

"Although I have been busy with official duties recently, I have also heard that although Fontaine has encountered some setbacks, these setbacks have not hindered Fontaine's progress. I think this is inseparable from Miss Funina's wise leadership."

"You flatter me. I can't really call myself a brilliant leader; it's all thanks to everyone." Funina wasn't pleased by the servant's praise and waved her hand to decline.

“In a wolf pack, the alpha wolf that gives orders determines the direction of the entire pack. The prosperity of a wolf pack is often closely related to the alpha wolf, so Miss Funina doesn’t need to be modest,” Arecino said with a smile.

Funina simply smiled, not taking the servant's words seriously. It was just mutual flattery; anyone who believed it would be a fool.

Moreover, Funina would never believe that a 'thug' who attacked her would sincerely praise her.

In Funina's mind, the Winter Executor in front of her was basically equivalent to a terrorist.

No matter how elegant or intellectual the other person's demeanor, Funina knew very well that beneath this facade of 'humanity' lay a heart as wild as a beast.

“May I ask you, Madam Servant, what is the purpose of this meeting?” Richard asked.

“Hmm, it seems Mr. Richard doesn’t quite like these diplomatic phrases. Well then, let’s get straight to the point,” said [Servant] Arecino.

The female executive picked up her black tea, gently blew on the steam rising from it, took a sip to moisten her throat, and said, "My purpose in coming here is very simple. The cultural exchange event jointly held by Fontaine and Liyue was very well received. I heard that Fontaine and Liyue have established some deeper cooperation, and Winter is also very interested in this."

"If possible, Zhidong also hopes to further deepen its relationship with Fontaine, and it would be best if they could participate in the cooperation together."

Upon hearing Arecino's words, Funina's first reaction was to refuse. Whether from the perspective of the Water God of Fontaine or out of personal selfishness, Funina did not want to have too much involvement with the Winter Executor in front of her.

The other party was too dangerous. Funina instinctively felt that the other party's purpose was not simple, and cooperating with them would be tantamount to seeking help from a tiger.

Frynn remembered that back in Mondstadt, the Lady, who was also an executor of the Fatui, dared to attack even the gods for the Heart of God.

If Richard hadn't been there, the "lady" might have actually succeeded.

Of course, in the end, the Heart of God still fell into the hands of the Fools.

That night, the servant Arecino attacked me, probably for the Heart of God. This also explains why she stopped after launching an attack; she must have discovered that the Heart of God was not hidden on her.

As for this collaboration, it's likely that it's being used as a pretext to explore the heart of the water god.

After sorting out her thoughts, Funina quickly chose her words and said, "Fontaine also hopes to cooperate more with Zhidong. If there are suitable projects, I will send someone to inform Zhidong."

Arecino sensed the evasiveness in Furness's words, but she didn't care. In fact, she herself knew very well that the cooperation she proposed was impossible to achieve.

After all, he had just attacked Funina, and then immediately sought cooperation with her, which showed that he didn't take Funina seriously at all.

Unless Funina is a masochist or a born saint, it's impossible for them to cooperate.

“In that case, I’ll await Miss Funina’s good news,” Arecino said with a smile.

The diplomatic meeting ended abruptly and abruptly. After it was over, Funina returned to her office first, while Richard stayed behind under the pretext of seeing the guests off in Funina's place, intending to meet with the "servant" Arecino alone.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve had a one-on-one chat like this,” Arecino said first.

Unlike before, Arecino now concealed her sharpness, and her originally fierce and cold temperament softened somewhat, though only slightly.

"Why did you attack Funina that night?" Richard had no intention of reminiscing and asked directly.

"I just wanted to verify some guesses, and besides, I didn't hurt her at all." Arecino was quite confident in her control over her own power. That night, she indeed did not hurt Funina in the slightest, but merely exhausted the power in the ring that Richard had given Funina.

Only in this way can Arecino see through Frynn's true nature. Otherwise, even with the ring's cover, she wouldn't be able to observe Frynn's abnormalities, let alone determine whether the Heart of God is on Frynn.

“If she had been hurt, you probably wouldn’t be sitting in front of me today,” Richard said calmly.

"From what you're saying, if I really did something to Funina, you wouldn't just stand by and do nothing?" The servant looked at Richard with interest. "It's rare to see you so concerned about someone."

“It’s not uncommon. Fryna is my friend, and Lynette is my friend too. I’m always pretty protective of my own people.” Richard paused. “Besides, if you really lay a hand on Fryna and endanger her life, even if I don’t intervene, someone else will.”

"You mean the real water god hidden behind Frinina?"

“No, I meant Villette.” Richard shook his head, revealing nothing.

Admittedly, if Funina's life were truly in danger, Fucaros would certainly not stand idly by, but he estimated that she would not take action herself and would most likely notify Navelette or seek his help.

Unless absolutely necessary, Fucarus will not leave the Cardinal of Decree.

“Supreme Judge Navelette? He’s certainly a troublesome fellow.” Arecino nodded; there was no denying Navelette’s formidable strength.

She didn't want to confront the Supreme Judge unless absolutely necessary.

“Don’t worry, I’ll only do this kind of probing trick once. Some things are enough once, aren’t they?” Arecino said.

Richard replied noncommittally, "I hope so."

"There is one more thing I need to tell you: this action was taken out of my personal will, and the children were unaware of it."

It's obvious that the 'children' Arecino was referring to were Linne and the others.

"I know."

If Arecino really tells Lynette about this, Lynette certainly won't hide it from her.

Although Alegino had adopted Lynette several years ago, Richard had saved Lynette's life, not to mention that the kitten had always been fond of Richard.

If she really had to choose between Richard and a servant, Lynette had already given her answer, which is why she is now a secretary, not a magic assistant.

"Now that we've said all that, let's talk about you. What is it about Fontaine that attracts you, that made you, who was once second only to the emperor, abandon everything and set foot on this land?"

"To correct you, I did not abandon everything. I merely ended my cooperation with the Fools. This is hardly everything to me; at most, it is just a small episode in my long life."

"An interlude... Ah."

"Secondly, why I chose to stay in Fontainebleau seems to be none of your business, Ms. Arecino," Richard asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Just curiosity," Arecino said, her expression unchanged.

"Stop having such useless curiosity, Arecino. I've never seen you ask so many questions before."

"When you encounter something you care about, you naturally have more questions. One last question: how much do you know about the doomsday prophecy?"

"A calamity that was bound to happen, one that neither I nor the Winter Queen behind you could prevent."

“Just because it can’t be stopped doesn’t mean it can’t be avoided…” Arecino said after a moment of contemplation. “If there’s anything I or the House of Hearths can do to help you, please let me know.”

"The greatest help you can give me is to refrain from any unnecessary actions."

"Is that so? If it weren't for me, would that big star from Fontainebleau be so attached to you?"

People are most vulnerable when they encounter crises they cannot solve on their own, and when someone steps forward to lend a helping hand, the gratitude of the person being helped will be amplified.

This is what people often call 'hero saves the beauty'.

“There’s no need for this between us.” Richard didn’t buy into Arecino’s explanation. Even without Arecino, his relationship with Funina was already extraordinary.

Even without the Arecino affair, he could still share a bed with Funina. It was never a matter of being able or unable, but simply a matter of wanting or not wanting.

"Alright, it seems I was just being presumptuous. It's getting late, so I should take my leave. I probably won't be in Fontainebleau for a while. As compensation for this incident, I'll tell you some information: the young master might come to Fontainebleau for vacation in a while."

Chapter 154 Clarinde, do you still want to take pictures?

Richard wasn't surprised that the young master was coming to Fontaine for a vacation; it was part of the deal between him and the lady. He just didn't know when the other party would arrive.

After all, the schedules of the Fatui Enforcers are not shared. Unless someone is paying special attention to them, or someone like the [Prince] is on vacation in the [Servant]'s territory, it can be quite troublesome to find out the specific schedule of a Fatui Enforcer.

The only thing that surprised Richard was how fast the lady moved; he wondered how she did it.

However, things might not actually go as Richard thought; the arrival of the "young master" had no necessary connection with the "lady."

According to the original plan of the "Young Master", after obtaining the Heart of Geo, he would immediately set off for Inazuma next door to start plotting the Heart of Thunder. However, after dealing with the huge debts in Liyue, the "Young Master" had just arrived at Narukami Island when someone told him that the Heart of Thunder had been taken back by the "Lady".

No? Are all my colleagues this efficient?

The same question was raised by the Fatui's [Skirmisher]. He had originally planned to secretly support the Coral Palace resistance forces after the Evil Eye project was completed, but now that the factory was built, [Skirmisher] was also preparing to stop investigating the strange meteorite that suddenly fell in Mondstadt and head to Inatsume.

As a result, while the player was still in Mondstadt, Thor's Heart was already close to Winter's End.

For some reason, the "Scattered Soldiers" always give off a feeling of having their luck stolen.

Ultimately, Thor's Heart only stayed in Winter for a short time before being secretly sent to Mount Sumeru. It is currently under the control of the Fatui Enforcer, Dr., and the Skirmishers have also received the notification and are heading to Mount Sumeru instead.

Richard was unaware of all this, and even if he had known, he wouldn't have cared much. After all, he was truly unfamiliar with Mount Sumeru, and during his travels through various countries, he had spent the shortest amount of time there.

Richard's impression of Sumeru was mainly that it was a conservative society with a lack of entertainment for the people. However, it did have some merit in training scholars. At least the Academy of the Order is still a well-known institution of learning in Teyvat, and scholars from all over the world go to Sumeru for further studies every year.

Oh, there might be fewer in Fontaine this year. After all, the remaining researchers in Fontaine are barely enough to keep the Academy of Sciences running. In fact, many of the teachers in the Academy are retired senior researchers who have been rehired.

In addition, the funds for the reconstruction of the Fontainebleau Academy of Sciences are currently in short supply, so where would they find spare money to send researchers to Sumeru for exchange and learning?