Not long after, Thierry reappeared before Navia, presenting her with organized reports and clues.
"Oh, Miss Navia."
Just as Navia was about to leave with the evidence, Thierry called out to her.
"I'm truly sorry I couldn't help more with your father's case."
"I can't believe someone like Monsieur Callas would kill his friend. There are many suspicious points in the case, but I don't understand why he didn't defend himself."
"While I was stationed in Poisson, Monsieur Callas helped me a great deal. I'm grateful to him and admire him."
"I'm glad to see you've recovered so quickly. I'm sure Monsieur Callas would feel the same if he knew."
"I know you want to investigate the truth, but please be careful."
"When someone dies, everything ends. They can't feel anything anymore - honor, reputation, my pain and sorrow..."
"Sometimes I feel so angry. My father would rather die than tell me anything!"
A flicker of pain and fury crossed Navia's face, but she quickly turned away, striving to regain her composure.
"Miss, there must be reasons beyond your father's lips," Melus said, bitterness clinging to his tongue. He knew the truth, but for Navia's safety, he couldn't speak it—not yet.
The recent events had tempered Navia's spirit, but it wasn't enough. She hadn't grown strong enough to face every storm.
More crucially, even Callas hadn't uncovered the critical clue. Revealing what he knew now would only endanger her.
"There's no need to comfort me, Melus. I've already moved past that."
Navia pressed a hand to her eyes, blocking the tears. Only after a long moment did she finally master her emotions.
"Thank you for sharing this with me. Thank you for still believing in my father, Thierry."
"Miss Navia, if there's anything I can do to assist in your investigation of Monsieur Callas's case, please come to me. I'll do my utmost to help."
At Thierry's words, Navia nodded.
"Then I wish you a swift resolution to your troubles with the reporters."
Upon hearing Navia's words, Thierry's expression crumbled instantly, as if a knife had been thrust into his chest.
Seeing Thierry's pained expression, Navia let out a hearty laugh, the gloom in her heart lifting slightly. She then departed with Melus and Silver...
-
Meanwhile, near the House of the Hearth:
Charlotte crouched low, using cover to conceal herself, her expression grave.
Though her investigation had just begun, Charlotte had already noticed numerous anomalies. The streets and houses around the House of the Hearth were unnaturally clean, as if scrubbed countless times. The vendors on the street appeared unnervingly young, and some house owners were even children who hadn't fully grown.
Despite being Fontaine's largest orphanage, the House of the Hearth offered an eerie silence devoid of children's laughter or chatter.
The place's tranquility felt unnatural, almost oppressive.
Most of Fontaine now knew the House of the Hearth served as the Fatui's branch in the city. People avoided it like the plague, and even reporters refused to investigate there, resulting in a dearth of information about the orphanage.
The various anomalies at the House of the Hearth made Charlotte realize that it might have become one of the Fatui's bases in Fontaine.
"Lofan grew up here."
Charlotte gripped her camera slightly tighter. Though she could sense the faint danger, her eyes showed no trace of hesitation.
She had to uncover why Lofan had done this.
If Lofan hadn't been involved in the serial suicide case, Charlotte would have thought he was using his life to bring the abandoned people of Fleuve Cendre before the Fontainians.
But Lofan's involvement in the case, along with the letter on his body containing some information, meant that what Lofan wanted to remind her of wasn't so simple.
Charlotte carefully recalled. Lofan's final abrupt declaration seemed to hint that what he wanted to tell her was related to the Fatui. Combined with the fact that Lofan himself was a Fatui, this made the conjecture more likely.
To investigate all this, Charlotte came alone to the vicinity of the House of the Hearth.
In fact, Charlotte's initial plan was to openly interview the local residents, then piece together information about the House of the Hearth from their fragmented words.
When Charlotte realized the House of the Hearth's sphere of influence extended beyond the confines of the mansion itself, she immediately shifted from overt investigation to covert operations, careful not to alert the enemy.
Of course, Charlotte had no intention of throwing herself recklessly into danger. Without first gathering crucial intelligence, she refused to sneak into the House of the Hearth's interior for investigation. Instead, she stationed herself outside the mansion, waiting for a big fish to swim into her net.
Soon, Charlotte's hopes were answered—Lyney emerged from the House of the Hearth.
The moment Charlotte saw Lyney's figure exit the mansion, she knew he must possess vital information.
Lyney and Lynette, as the renowned Magician Twins, enjoyed immense fame in Fontaine. Many foreign travelers came specifically to Fontaine to witness their magical performances. Charlotte never imagined they could be members of the Fatui.
Suddenly, Charlotte felt a chill run through her. Just how deeply had the Fatui infiltrated Fontaine?
Shaking her head vigorously, Charlotte dismissed the thought. Now wasn't the time for such considerations.
She knew well that Lyney and Lynette, as brother and sister, rarely ever separated. With Lynette conspicuously absent and Lyney hurrying alone, Charlotte sensed this might be her best chance to obtain the clues she sought.
Watching Lyney's figure gradually fade into the distance, Charlotte stealthily began her pursuit.
She moved with deliberate caution. Given Lyney's current status and capabilities, his standing within the Fatui must be substantial, and his vigilance would undoubtedly be heightened.
With no other leads to follow, even tracing his movements would be a significant gain. Charlotte refused to risk exposure through impulsive actions.
Unbeknownst to her, a spotted cat resting by the street had opened its eyes at some point. Its gaze remained fixed on Charlotte's every movement until she disappeared from sight. Only then did the feline leisurely lick its paw...