"The real culprit behind the Serial Missing Girls Case is actually Vasche."
"Vasche?" Navia looked puzzled. It was a name she'd never heard before.
"He's going by 'Marcel' now."
"What!?" Navia was utterly incredulous. "Uncle Marcel?"
Navia could hardly believe it. The true culprit had been right by her side all along, someone close to her? And since he'd been so near, while she'd been investigating him no less, why hadn't he made a move against her?
If not for her willingness to trust Lin Qiu, she'd almost think he was a con artist right now.
"If it's Marcel, then why hasn't he made a move on me?" Navia asked.
"For one thing, you never found any key evidence against him. And for the other..." Lin Qiu trailed off, turning his gaze toward Myles.
Myles chimed in at just the right moment. "I'll explain the other reason."
Though he didn't know who the culprit was, he did know why they couldn't act against Navia.
"Myles?" Navia hadn't expected Myles to be holding something back from her.
"Miss, the truth is, you were already targeted for the Serial Missing Girls Case back then. The boss used the intel he had to intimidate the culprit. As long as you remained unharmed, that intel would stay under wraps."
"Miss, the boss didn't tell you because he'd contracted a rare illness. He had less than five years left to live. If the boss died, you'd be exposed to danger. That's why he used his own life..."
"Yes, your father traded his life for many things, including Clorinde's protection."
"Clorinde? She's been protecting me? And Father chose to die in silence... all to protect me?" Navia struggled to accept it.
Her strong facade crumbled as two streams of clear tears rolled down her cheeks.
'Emotion Value obtained: 100'
'Emotion Source: Navia'
'Emotion Content: Father sacrificed so much for me, yet I couldn't do anything for him.'
"Miss..." Silver wanted to comfort Navia but didn't know how to start.
"If you need a hug, I can be your pillow," Lin Qiu offered.
"No, thank you. I'm fine." Navia wiped away her tears.
"I'll keep playing the 'clueless' young miss and bide my time. I absolutely won't act rashly and alert the enemy."
"That said, how exactly did he pull off the crimes without leaving a single trace of evidence?"
Navia was puzzled. Normally, any contact left traces behind, yet the victims in the Serial Missing Girls Case had vanished into thin air without a clue. But how could people just evaporate like that?
At this moment, Lin Qiu grinned smugly. This all-knowing, all-seeing feeling was great—like an old captain watching a newbie botch Honkai Impact 3rd.
And when you spoiled things for others, they didn't get mad; they thought you were awesome.
It was pure prophet vibes. Like being a plain villager with no seer powers who hard-claims prophet and doesn't get doubted. Too satisfying!
"It's the Primordial Fetal Sea Water," Lin Qiu said. "It can dissolve Fontaine residents into water."
"People dissolving into water? How is that even possible? And what's Primordial Fetal Sea Water?" Navia exclaimed.
Strange knowledge increased.jpg
Even Myles and Silver looked baffled. People dissolving into water?
Lin Qiu had no intention of explaining in detail right now. It was too much hassle—it'd require starting from Fontaine's original sin. And even if he explained it fully, it wouldn't help; they couldn't stop the Fetal Sea Water's outbreak anyway.
If they panicked and rushed off to confront Furina prematurely, that'd be trouble. For now, it was enough for them to know it was dangerous.
"In any case, Baishang Town will be the first area hit. You all need to be extra careful, especially you two." Lin Qiu pointed at Myles and Silver.
To be precise, the Fetal Sea Water first erupted in Meropide Fortress, but it was contained there without causing disaster. Baishang Town ended up as the first true victim.
"What? Myles and Silver, you mean..." In Navia's mind, Lin Qiu was no ordinary person anymore, so she naturally trusted his words.
'Emotion Value obtained: 100'
'Emotion Source: Navia'
'Emotion Content: Myles... Silver...'
This meant her two dear companions were likely to die in the disaster in the future.
"What about you, Miss? Are you alright?" The usually silent Silver finally spoke up.
"Navia, you're fine. You two kept her safe."
"Is that so? That's a relief." Silver gave a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
'Emotion Value obtained: 200'
'Emotion Source: Silver, Myles'
'Emotion Content: Great, the young miss is safe.'
"Miss, please don't be sad. Knowing we protected you is enough to satisfy us," Myles hurried to console her as he saw her tears. "Besides, the future hasn't happened yet."
Navia bit her lip, saying nothing, trying to hold back her tears, but they just wouldn't stop.
The future hadn't even arrived, and just knowing about it had her emotions spiraling. Navia had always been a sentimental person. As president of Spina di Rosula, she often had to suppress her feelings.
She probably couldn't even cry right away in the future after Myles and Silver died, right?
She was the boss of Spina di Rosula. If she wasn't strong, how could she reassure everyone else?
Navia secretly resolved herself: from today on, she'd train even harder. Knowing the future, she absolutely wouldn't sit by and let it happen.
"Don't worry, I won't let that happen," Lin Qiu said.
He'd transmigrated into Genshin, after all. If he didn't change anything, what was the point?
Lin Qiu had been clowning around in front of Charlotte and Navia precisely to farm Emotion Value faster and gain the power to alter these events.
Of course, his personality was naturally cheeky, so it was a perfect fit.
Seeing Lin Qiu's confident assurance, Navia felt a weight lift from her heart.
She was already inclined to trust him, and in her eyes, he wasn't ordinary at all—clearly someone with great abilities. If he said he could do it, then he could!
Still, relying solely on others wasn't Navia's style. She'd keep pushing herself too.
"Mr. Lin, thank you for sharing this intel with me."
"No need to be so formal. Just call me by my name." Lin Qiu waved it off hurriedly. A name basis was the first step to closeness.
Navia smiled. "Alright then, Lin it is."
Lin Qiu nodded approvingly. Nice. Since arriving in Fontaine, no one had called him that. All the "Mr." and "sir" stuff made him feel like an outsider. This was way more intimate.
Back when he'd first transmigrated and worked at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor for a living, Hu Tao had called him "Little Qiuqiu." He'd thought it sounded like calling a hilichurl, super weird. Now, it felt nostalgically endearing.
Too bad Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's emotions were low-volume compared to Opéra Épiclese.
But hadn't Navia wondered at all how he knew all this? Or questioned if it was real?
Did outworlders come with a built-in affinity buff? The Traveler got trusted easily too.
Of course, he had no idea Navia wasn't doubting him because she'd already imagined an extraordinary backstory for him.
Plus, Myles's cooperation helped a ton. Navia trusted Myles implicitly, so she chose headcanon over suspicion.
"Lin, would you be willing to join Spina di Rosula?" Navia asked tentatively.
She wasn't sure of his background, but given the intel he had, he was no ordinary figure. Logically, Spina di Rosula might not be worthy of him. But he'd been so approachable, so she tested the waters.
What? Work for you? Even if I jumped off this spot and died outside, I, Lin Qiu, would never work a job!
Working was impossible. Not in this lifetime.
A real man born between heaven and earth—how could he stay under someone else's roof forever!
Lin Qiu was about to refuse when Navia spoke first. "Just as a nominal member. Full pay, no need to show up for work. Just help out in key moments. And... I might come to you with questions sometimes. Hope that won't bother you."
What? Free ride? Sign me up!
Spina di Rosula rocks! Everyone there is talented, and they talk so nicely. I love it!
If the president doesn't mind, Qiu is willing to call you godmother!
Just helping in clutch moments? I was planning to do that anyway.
And her coming to ask questions? That's a reward! Perfect for building favor!
"Deal!"