Elysia's trip to Sumeru was undoubtedly filled with 'fury.' After all—despite harboring the mischievous thought of 'surprising bad Jiang Qiao, catching him off guard, red-handed,' she was apprehended by the city guard based on a wanted poster the moment she entered Sumeru City.
Fortunately, Nahida discovered the incident promptly and stopped this 'farce'—caused by the overly meticulous Grand Mahamatra Cyno acting before proper communication could clear up the misunderstanding—from continuing.
Of course, upon first seeing Elysia, Nahida initially thought Jiang Qiao had returned. But after a detailed conversation, she learned that Elysia was apparently the original owner of that appearance, while Jiang Qiao was the imposter.
Understanding the full story, the 55kg Miss undoubtedly added this debt to a certain someone's account.
Meanwhile, Elysia, learning that Jiang Qiao had gone to Fontaine, also set sail from Port Ormos in northern Sumeru with the help of the ever-helpful Miss Badminton Ball [Nahida], taking the Romaritime Harbor route to the nation of Fontaine.
"Just as Nahida said, it's a very prosperous nation."
Although brimming with 'fury' towards Jiang someone, as she sat on the Sumeru sailboat, gazing at the nearby high seas of Fontaine and entering the region, observing the spectacular waterfalls and the magnificent, bustling port filled with ships, Elysia couldn't help but feel pleasantly surprised.
Fontaine's scenery—compared to Liyue's ancient simplicity or Sumeru's rainforest and solemnity—offered yet another distinct landscape, something Elysia had certainly never experienced before.
"Is that bad guy Jiang Qiao here...?" she murmured. Gazing at the captivating scenery, the pink-haired girl's cheeks slowly puffed out.
She was working hard, while that bad guy Jiang Qiao was off playing in such a beautiful place, invited by other pretty girls! He even made her, who wanted to play too, come up empty in Sumeru and take the fall for a misunderstanding!
Just thinking that Jiang someone might be leisurely spending time with other girls right now sent Elysia's sense of injustice soaring, making her grind her teeth in anticipation of dealing with him.
Just you wait! Bad Jiang Qiao! All the grievances Ely suffered on this trip, I'll collect them back from you, you bad guy, with interest!
While the 55kg Miss clenched her pink fists, looking 'fierce' and plotting how to deal with a certain someone once caught... the people at the port suddenly grew agitated:
"Big news! Big news!"
"Hmm? What? Is there another spectacular grand trial happening soon?"
"Don't tell me those folks from the Fontaine Research Institute blew up the new institute again? Yesterday's weather was terrifying."
"Wow! It really is big news! Lady Furina... Lady Furina... she...! She has someone!"
"Oh... Wait, wait, what what what?! Let me see, let me see!"
"Give me a copy! Keep the change!"
Beside the kiosk selling The Steambird at Romaritime Harbor, a sudden frenzy erupted, followed by waves of gasps and exclamations. And it all seemed to revolve around the existence named Furina...
Elysia was, of course, familiar with this name; they were fellow group members in the chat group—and according to news gathered during the voyage and from people at the port, Furina was the bona fide Hydro Archon of Fontaine.
Of course—most importantly, according to Nahida, this person had gone to Sumeru... and based on the unreliable reports from that little Fairy Ely, the current Furina was bad Jiang Qiao!
Flap~
A copy of The Steambird, carried by the wind, plastered itself onto Elysia's face. Casually peeling it off, she glanced at it, and her eyes widened. Because the headline of this Steambird issue was prominently displayed:
[SHOCKING! The Hydro Archon's Secret Love Affair!]
Accompanying picture—it was none other than the photo of Furina biting Jiang Qiao. One had to admire Charlotte's professionalism and skill; despite the distance and suddenness, she had managed to capture such a relatively clear photograph.
"I never thought Lady Furina would actually..."
"It's shocking, but thinking about it, it doesn't seem problematic. After all, Lady Furina is also a very cute girl... Hmm, so gods are just like us."
"That's not the point! Does anyone know who the man in the photo is? To actually capture Lady Furina... To do that to a god... Such audacity! Truly a role model for us all!"
"Don't recognize him."
"Looks vaguely familiar. Saw him at that trial a few days ago, chatting and laughing beside Lady Furina."
"Right! Lady Furina even let him stand behind her seat! Didn't think much of it then, but I never expected their relationship was like this... Phew!"
The Fontainian citizens at the port were buzzing with discussion, all utterly shocked.
Miss Elysia, listening to these discussions, felt flames flickering in her eyes—knowing the abilities of that bad guy Jiang Qiao, she naturally knew the truth, but that didn't stop the Pink Fatso Woman (I like this) from entering a state of rising anger.
After all, according to Fairy Ely's report, that bad guy could have just waited for the 'natural swap' to recover, but instead chose the 'shortcut.'
Fine, a shortcut is a shortcut; having experienced it many times before, the accustomed Elysia could only puff her cheeks and sulk silently. But while Ely was suffering, that bad guy was having sweet moments with other girls! Just imagining that scene made Elysia's blood pressure skyrocket.
"..."
Staring at the picture in the Steambird newspaper, the 55kg Miss felt increasingly irked. Gritting her teeth, she directly... initially wanted to tear up the newspaper for catharsis, but then felt it was too crude and wasteful. So, with puffed cheeks, she folded it neatly and tucked it into the pocket of her hot pants.
This was the evidence of bad Jiang Qiao's crime! Bad Jiang Qiao, just you wait for Ely!
With fire in her eyes, Elysia boarded an aquabus heading straight for the Court of Fontaine, intending to unleash her anger upon the main culprit. After all, if she didn't retaliate, wouldn't Ely's suffering have been in vain?!
Plotting this, Elysia, while riding the aquabus, found herself quite fond of the Clementine Line tour guide, Abel—after all, who could resist such an adorable Melusine? Abel, a model tour guide, was a complete chatterbox, introducing the various sights of Fontaine to the 55kg Miss, which significantly improved Elysia's mood.
Soon, the aquabus arrived at the prosperous and magnificent Court of Fontaine. Gazing at the city built upon the waters, she felt somewhat captivated.
Until... the Gardes near the station glanced at her, nodded in confirmation, and slowly approached.
"Miss..."
Pulled back to reality by the Garde's voice, Elysia was momentarily dazed. Noticing their uniforms, she instantly became alert. ...Don't tell me that bad guy Jiang Qiao used Ely's name to cause trouble in Fontaine too? After her experience in Sumeru, the Pink Fatso Miss's vigilance level shot up.
"You must be Elysia, correct?"
The polite tone made Elysia relax slightly. ...Could it be that bad guy Jiang Qiao knew Ely was coming and arranged for people to receive me? The thought made Elysia happy, yet also dissatisfied—I came here under the guise of a 'surprise inspection'! If he knew beforehand, wouldn't all the 'mystery' be gone?!
And that bad guy! Knowing I arrived, yet didn't come to pick me up personally... Hmph! Bad Jiang Qiao must be playing with other pretty girls right now! Thinking this, Elysia's cheeks instantly puffed out.
Unhappy, but maintaining her image, she still acknowledged graciously, "As you see! The flower-like, gorgeous beautiful girl, Elysia! Accept no substitutes!"
"Alright, take me away," she declared.
The Garde looked somewhat puzzled by her statement, then signaled to his colleague beside him. They then led the excited Elysia away.
The Garde remaining behind muttered, "Honestly, never seen someone so eager to go to the Fortress of Meropide."
——Hydro Archon's Decree.
Upon sighting individuals matching the descriptions of [Fairy Ely] or [Elysia], apprehend immediately. No trial necessary. Send directly to the Fortress of Meropide!
Crime: Stealing the Hydro Archon's beloved snacks, thereby causing stagnation in Fontaine's government affairs.
Note: Do not use excessive force! Be polite!
The Gardes were baffled when they saw this decree—Wait, are they criminals or not? Why can't we use force, and have to be polite? But faced with Neuvillette's approval—although Neuvillette himself felt that bypassing trial and directly convicting seemed irregular, considering the note, he figured it was more likely a 'prank' and casually approved it; as long as his silly god was happy—they had no choice.
As for the wanted list, Fairy Ely was a given.
Regarding Elysia, Furina, while issuing the decree, was in a bad mood from being unable to get her favorite limited-edition dessert. She figured, arresting one is arresting, arresting two is also arresting, might as well add that pink one to the list.
Although she didn't actually expect Elysia to come here, the memory from Sumeru of Jiang someone using her body while thinking about other pretty girls prompted her to casually add this competitor—besides, like master, like servant.
Furina, knowing the connection between Fairy Ely and Elysia through Jiang Qiao, figured—They're in cahoots anyway, accomplices at the very least.
So, hmph hmph... One reserved luxury suite in Meropide!
However, Furina hadn't actually expected this to catch the little vixen; she mainly did it to mess with Fairy Ely's mentality—How dare you ditch me alone and travel to Sumeru with bad Jiang Qiao!
Unexpectedly, this move yielded a surprising bonus.
Elysia, processed at lightning speed and sent into the Fortress of Meropide, had expected to meet bad Jiang Qiao. She had even deliberately neatened her appearance, trying to look more fierce.
However...
Now, before Miss Elysia, stood only a screw-tightening machine. Most importantly—it was a single cell. The very considerate Miss Furina had even specifically ordered a private cell prepared for Fairy Ely, where she could handle everything from screw-tightening to daily life within her room, fully demonstrating Fontaine's hospitality.
Regarding this...
Elysia, emerging from her dazed state, finally understood what had happened. It seemed... she had been screwed over by that bad guy Jiang Qiao again!
Figuring it out, the 55kg Miss finally couldn't hold back anymore.
In the Chat Group, within the newly added voice message function, a new entry appeared:
"BAD—JIANG—QIAO—!!!"
....
Things always change with the passage of time. Like the Previous Era, Jiang Qiao's starting point—the Current Era's time—was not static. Though slow, it continued its steady march forward.
Nearly half a month had passed since the Fifth Honkai Eruption. During this time, the Tuna and Bronya, having left the Elysian Realm, remained at Anti-Entropy's Salt Lake Base, continuing their respective 'training.'
Welt felt both happy and heartbroken about this. Towards the original Bronya, he, the old man, could finally act as a teacher again, imparting his experiences as the former Herrscher of Reason. Although it encroached on his leisure time, it also gave him a sense of youthfulness, a feeling of achievement that he wasn't entirely useless.
As for the heartbreak... the original super-sized 'Bronya' turning into a small version needing cultivation felt like being knocked back to square one after immense effort, akin to having 76 meticulously built game accounts and records wiped clean in an instant—though Welt's contribution to Jiang-Bronya's strength was really only the initial 'dropping gold coins' [dying and passing on the Herrscher Core].
Of course, there were aspects Welt found helpless and hard to bear. For example, Bronya's 'trains two days, fishes three days' attitude—Didn't we train yesterday? Why do we need to train again today?!
Apologies, Bronya has important matters to attend to today! Yes, saving the world! (Confident)
—Bronya, already a slacker big salted fish, completely lost her motivation to work hard after Seele was delivered right to her doorstep.
Welt felt very weary about this. His successor was a slacker—though he himself was also quite the slacker, from the perspective of a Herrscher of Reason predecessor, if this continued... Us Herrschers of Reason are doomed sooner or later!
Yet, he couldn't really say much—because Bronya wasn't actually weak. She already possessed ample combat experience, and her talent as the Herrscher of Reason inherently surpassed Welt's. More importantly—Jiang someone, while using [Bronya], had already tuned this vessel's form to its absolute limit.
Even if Bronya didn't try, her body had already been played to its maximum potential—max level in game terms... Although she couldn't fully unleash [Bronya]'s proper power, losing to an outsider as the body's owner was shameful in various ways. After a brief period of diligent effort, Bronya honestly gave up trying.
Jiang Qiao's leftovers are quite tasty too, even pre-chewed; Bronya just needs to open her mouth and enjoy—why bother working so hard!
Of course, the most important thing actually was—she had gotten Seele back—no, the correct phrasing is, while that bad guy was away, the Silver Wolf of the Urals finally reclaimed her identity as the true Bronya, and her important little sister, through a war of attrition!
Hmph hmph, viewed this way, Bronya is still very capable! That bad guy Jiang Qiao only managed to catch Bronya off guard because Bronya wasn't paying attention. Once the renowned Silver Wolf of the Urals reacted—Mere Jiang Qiao, trying to steal Seele from me?! Seele belongs only to the strong!
Bronya, hugging her game console, felt incredibly happy and smug. She just glanced at the time, finding it a bit strange. Usually, Seele would have come looking for her by now.
Hmm... perhaps she was delayed by something. Although puzzled, and even feeling a faint sense of crisis, Bronya, unable to put down her game, found this explanation and happily began her 'world-saving' journey.