Yes, Furina-sama!

"According to our investigation, many years ago a drink called Luss began circulating in Poisson Town. This quickly came to Callas' attention, and he used the Spina di Rosula's influence to suppress it."

"Since it seemed like just a passing matter and didn't appear directly related to the 'serial girl disappearance case' at the time, investigators didn't look deeper into it."

"But in hindsight, this may have planted the seed that eventually linked Callas to the disappearances…"

Richard understood what Clorinde was implying. He asked, "You mean, you think Callas may have been framed? And the one who framed him… could very well be the real culprit behind the serial case?"

Clorinde hesitated briefly, then nodded and explained:

"As a duel agent, I've fought countless battles and executed many whose reputations were beyond repair."

"I've seen all kinds of reactions to death, passion, resolve, hysteria, distortion… I can tell immediately who's fighting to live, and who's prepared to die."

"On the day of the duel, Callas had no intention of walking away alive."

Furina thought for a moment, then asked, "Could it be that he feared confessing would ruin the reputation of the Spina di Rosula, and so he chose to die in the arena?"

"That doesn't hold water," Richard replied. "Dying in a duel wouldn't solve anything. If I were Callas, and I were innocent, my best option would be to gather evidence and clear my name, not to die."

He reasoned that a man capable of building the Spina di Rosula from scratch would've understood that… unless something, or someone, had forced him into a corner.

As for what kind of threat could drive a man to abandon the honor he'd built his life upon, the answer was obvious.

He had… a daughter.

"And also, this 'turning into water' trait… doesn't it strongly resemble the serial case?" Richard continued.

"If the girls were all turned into water, then of course no one would ever find them."

Furina nodded solemnly. "You're right. But… we don't even have a suspect."

"Let's see if any of the other Treasure Hoarders know anything. But I wouldn't get my hopes up. If the one who turned to water was the only target, it likely means he was the only one who knew something. No reason to silence just him otherwise."

It was very likely the trail had gone cold. If Richard were the culprit, the next step would be to erase every trace of evidence and lie low until things blew over.

"There's one more thing," Richard added. "Have either of you noticed that this 'turning into water' lines up a little too well with Fontaine's doomsday prophecy, the one that says, 'In the end, all people will dissolve into the sea'?"

He watched Furina's reaction closely as he said this.

But she wasn't surprised. She'd already thought of the same thing. She nodded and said, "As much as I hate to admit it, that prophecy does seem to be coming true, little by little. Perhaps in the not-so-distant future, everyone really will dissolve into the sea."

"But precisely because of that, we need to get to the bottom of this. This isn't just about a disappearance or an assault anymore. Luss, the serial girl case, and the Hoarder leader who turned into water, these three are connected. Somehow. And we need to find out how!"

Furina declared her determination with a fiery tone, clearly intent on unraveling the truth.

However, Richard had to pour a little cold water on his superior's enthusiasm: "Lady Furina, as much as I agree with your reasoning, you're the Minister. Your first responsibility is to the Ministry. Let the Court handle the investigation."

"But I'm not just the Minister, I'm also the Hydro Archon of Fontaine! How could I sit idly by in a situation like this?! I'm one of the victims too!" Furina shot back, eyes flaring.

"In Liyue, there's an old saying," Richard replied, "'A wiseman does not stand beneath a crumbling wall.' Literally, it means: one should avoid dangerous situations. And right now, since we don't know how this 'turning to water' works, it's best for you to not get involved directly."

"I'm a god! A god! I'm not just some ordinary person!" Furina argued, refusing to back down.

"But even so, we have no proof that gods can't also be turned into water. Don't you agree, Clorinde?" Richard turned to Clorinde for support.

"I think…" Clorinde began.

"Clorinde, you do remember whose personal secretary you are, don't you?" Furina narrowed her eyes at her.

"I think… Lady Furina makes a very valid point."

Furina smiled in satisfaction and threw a smug look at Richard, as if to say: 'See? Even Clorinde agrees with me.'

Richard remained calm, Clorinde wasn't done speaking.

"But I also think Secretary Richard isn't wrong either."

Furina's smile froze.

She turned to Clorinde. 'What do you mean by that?'

'Fence-sitter?' she thought bitterly. If Clorinde didn't give her a satisfying answer today, this wasn't going to end well!

"This concerns a doomsday prophecy," Clorinde continued. "It deserves all the attention we can give it. And Lady Furina is far too important to Fontaine for us to risk her safety."

"So?" Furina crossed her arms. "What are you proposing?"

"I'll take charge of the investigation," Clorinde said.

As a duel agent, she was familiar with the Court. And as Furina's personal secretary, she could also represent the Archon's attention and concern.

With her acting as Furina's eyes and ears, they could ensure both Furina's safety and that the case would proceed without being mysteriously buried or stalled.

There was no better candidate.

'This is what you wanted from the start, isn't it, Richard?' Clorinde thought. 'Everything you said was to set this up.

He'd taken everyone's needs into account and used them to create exactly the outcome he wanted.'

She and Furina had been steered exactly where he wanted them, since the very beginning.

Richard met Clorinde's gaze with a smile. 'If that's what you believe, then yes, you're absolutely right.'

He was genuinely impressed with her ability to grasp the deeper intent behind a single glance or gesture.

'What an exceptional woman.'

Faced with Clorinde's flawless logic, Furina had no more objections.

"Fine. We'll do it your way. After all, a wise man does not stand beneath a crumbling wall."

"Yes, Lady Furina," Clorinde said. "No matter the situation, a wise man must never stand beneath a crumbling wall."