"Stop right there. Wind gliders are prohibited within Fontaine territory. Violators are subject to a fine of 5,000 Mora."
Just as the group landed at Hailu Harbor after gliding down from the waterfall, a security officer in blue uniform stepped forward and blocked their way.
He barked, firm and righteous:
"Are you unaware that Fontaine strictly forbids the use of wind gliders within city limits?"
To see travelers blatantly gliding into the harbor…
Clearly, they weren't taking Fontaine's laws seriously.
"Eh?"
Paimon froze, eyes wide.
"You can't use wind gliders in Fontaine?! Since when?!"
A traveler's guide — Teyvat's Number One Guide, in fact — actually forgetting something about a nation?! Impossible!
"This law was personally issued by Lady Focalors one year ago. What? You got a problem with that?"
The inspector explained, but as soon as he mentioned "Water God," his eyes shone with unmistakable fanaticism.
Lumine immediately picked up on it, quietly noting the detail.
So the second Hydro Archon held significant authority here…
Nahsita, take notes.
Remembering how the Dendro Archon had been imprisoned by her own people when she first arrived in Sumeru, Lumine couldn't help mentally sighing.
Hopefully this nation would be easier to deal with.
"Ohhh, issued a year ago… thank goodness."
Paimon patted her tiny chest in relief.
So it wasn't her fault as a guide—
It was just that no one updated her info!
(…Though that is part of guiding, right?)
Never mind! Not her fault!
"That… Mr. Security Officer, sir… we're new here. Can we get a small discount on the fine?"
Paimon's eyes turned watery and pitiful — the classic Paimon Begging Technique.
But the officer shook his head firmly.
"No. Fontaine's laws do not bend."
Fontaine prided itself on justice — clean, strict, and absolute.
Everyone had it engraved in their hearts.
The last secretary caught taking bribes?
Straight out of the country — exiled.
(Exile from Fontaine was arguably worse than being thrown into the Fortress of Meropide.)
Thinking of that, the man's expression became even more righteous — a modern Bao Zheng determined to tolerate no evil.
"O-okay…"
Paimon shrank back; fine, fine, 5,000 Mora, so be it.
But then she heard laughter behind her.
Good.
Good.
It's him — Ye Luo.
A Fontaine native. Somebody who absolutely knew the law about gliders.
Did he warn them?
No.
And now he was laughing.
"Oh you— YE LO! You knew we couldn't use a glider here! Why didn't you tell us?!"
Paimon flew up and angrily grabbed Ye Luo's cheeks, stretching them fiercely.
"You didn't give me time to say anything."
Ye Luo caught Paimon mid-air and held her helplessly.
They had jumped off the cliff almost instantly — he had zero chance to speak.
"Wait… did you just say… Lord Ye Luo?"
The officer suddenly spoke again, eyes widening with disbelief.
Paimon froze.
Lord… Ye Luo?
Hey…
Wait.
Could it be—
Ye Luo had some kind of hidden identity in Fontaine?
A mystery heir to a prestigious family?
Born with immense talent, but envied and betrayed?
Framed by a villainous rival, forced to flee to Sumeru seeking academic asylum?
Growing stronger in exile, now returning to reclaim everything he lost?
Lumine and Paimon were secretly asked to escort him back to Fontaine for a coming political war?
A three-year promise?
A dragon-king's return?
…Ye Luo… was incredible.
Don't blame Paimon for overthinking — she'd simply read too many Inazuman light novels.
Plus Faruzan and the others never explained anything clearly to Lumine.
Every time they met, everyone's face turned strangely red, they exchanged a few words and fled.
No one followed up afterward.
Eventually, everyone acted like the matter never existed.
Thus, Ye Luo's identity remained a complete mystery to the duo.
"Of course it's Ye Luo! Why? Does Fontaine have lots of Ye LOs?"
Paimon puffed up proudly, dragging Ye Luo out from behind Lumine like she was presenting her trump card.
She looked like someone who had just discovered her backing.
"Oh Archons… it really IS you — Secretary Ye Luo!"
The officer practically vibrated on the spot, shaking like he'd just stumbled upon a pile of pure Mora.
"Hmm? Secretary?"
Lumine and Paimon glanced at each other and gasped in unison.
Secretary of who?
In Fontaine, only the Water Archon's Secretariat held that much power.
So—
Ye Luo was the Water Archon's personal secretary?!
Then…
Why the heck was he running around in Sumeru?!
Who could force him to flee?
Wait.
Could his enemy be…
the current secretary?!
Lumine's pupils tightened.
She and Paimon had arrived in Fontaine for less than a minute and were already caught in a political war?!
"Ahaha… long time no see."
Ye Luo screamed internally — Paimon, I swear, I'm going to strangle you.
A simple fine…
Now turned into a full-blown diplomatic mess.
Also — since when was the glider ban applied to all of Fontaine's territory?
It used to be only the city's inner district!
Furina, you little demon — you set me up!
But with the officer staring at him so intensely, Ye Luo had no choice but to lift his head.
"Secretary Ye Luo!!"
The inspector burst into tears, shaking with excitement.
He grabbed his communicator and yelled:
"Special Training Unit?! I've caught a big one — get here immediately!!"
Then he whipped out a notebook and began scribbling like crazy.
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
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