Chapter Text
“Monsieur! We found something!”
The Maison Gardiennage Garde burst into the Chief Justice’s office, panting slightly from hurry and panic. Said Chief Justice stood up from his desk in contrasting calmness, though the very subtle sad squint of his eyes betrayed his mask of composure.
The air was filled with tension, and the faint smell of tea revealed a failed attempt at soothing distressed nerves. The rain droplets that hit the window with such intensity were enough to make anyone wince.
The garde came forward holding a lifeless vision, extending it towards his superior, wrapped in a silky cloth. If the garde were to squint hard enough, he would’ve recognized an uncharacteristic tremble in the Iudex’s gloved hand as it reaches for the colorless orb that belonged to one of his dearest acquaintances, dare he say one of the dearest people to him.
He neither noticed the garde leaving, nor noticed the concerned look he sent his way. He didn’t care; all his thoughts were consumed with countless questions that remained unanswered as his gaze never left the vision’s shell.
The dragon sovereign focused his powers on the little clue he held in his palm, the one hope of solving this agonizing mystery and ending it, which was being covered with the hydro element washing away at its shell, wishing to reveal any kind of clue.
He couldn’t lie to himself and say that he wasn’t infuriated. Two months after the incident, he got reports that a Fatui harbinger was responsible for it, and then four months after that, they barely managed to find another clue. Which was her vision.
But the Vision’s location wasn’t even close to where she was last seen near the new research institute, heading east. It was found west of the Liffey region, roaming around the outskirts of Mont Esus, the complete opposite direction. It made Neuvillette believe that it was some kind of trick to put them off, to make them lose any drop of certainty that they thought they had about her location.
The moment he resonated with the vision, memories of its owner flashed before his eyes, painting him a clear picture of what had actually happened that day.
“You Fatui already have what you were after in your possession; I really see no other reason for you to be causing any more trouble.” The champion duelist and the Iudex’s secret agent, [Name], stood before the Regrator with a hardened expression.
She was sent here by Neuvillette to investigate suspicious activity reported by a few concerned researchers and was met by an eerily calm face neither she nor the Iudex himself had expected.
“I terribly apologize; we are merely here for some small business. I’m sure we’re causing no harm, yes? Lest there’s a need for harm to be done,” he smiled, though the politeness of his smile clashed with that dangerous glint hidden behind his lenses, eyes squinted in near amusement.
The champion glanced behind him with narrowed eyes, watching the meka machines dig various holes through the ground, followed by Fatui agents planting funny-looking seeds into them. She turned her gaze back to the Regrator with a frown, weapon materializing out of thin air.
“I have been sent here by the Iudex himself,” she declared, voice unwavering and authoritative. “I was ordered to seize any activity that may cause disturbance to our researchers, especially if it’s unauthorized or illegal acts that are done on Fontainian grounds without a permit.”
The Regrator chuckled, the corners of his eye wrinkling in joy. “My, there’s no need for such hostility! We’d never think to do harmful things to your darling Fontaine, dear champion.”
Now it was the champion’s turn to chuckle, and the mere idea that his words were being laughed at was enough to make the Harbinger’s smile falter. “That’s funny, though I’d appreciate it if you’d actually save face and stop lying for once. The Fatui’s reputation goes lower every time they’re merely witnessed in another nation’s grounds.” The Regrator tilted his head slightly, patience unmistakably running thin. “Why is it that when you decide to do your funny little experiments, you go everywhere but your own nation? Are other nations just lab rats that you use for your own leisure?” She continued.
It was calm for a few seconds, that eerie smile on Pantalone’s face growing ever so slightly. It all happened in seconds, the champion’s arms filled with goosebumps, a violent shiver coursing through her body in an attempt to warn of an unknown danger approaching. She wasn’t fortunate enough; she didn’t have time to turn around when the stinging pain pierced her neck.
“Pass my regards to the Iudex, if you can,” the Regrator approached. “Or perhaps there’s no need. Correct, dear Iudex?”