{"Inazuma's Grand Narukami Shrine Head Priestess Yae Miko to Visit Fontaine Soon, Intends to Discuss Major Matters with Hydro Archon Focalors"}
{"Inazuma's 'Jade Steel' Prototype Successfully Developed, Seeks Fontaine Scientific Advisors to Design Mass Production Equipment"}
{"Inazuma Launches Large-Scale Investment Attraction Campaign, Rumors of Sakoku Decree Potentially Being Abolished"}
Recently, Fontaine seemed to have caught a wave of Inazuman influence, as if an invisible hand was guiding the people's gaze toward the distant island nation in the east.
Meanwhile, the Inazuman embassy in Fontaine formally submitted a request for an official working visit—a document that, after passing through several hands, eventually landed on the desk of the Minister of Administration, Furina.
"Richard, do you think this Yae Miko is coming to settle scores with me?" Furina asked nervously.
Richard frowned at the visibly uneasy Hydro Archon. "Lady Furina, did you, by any chance, offend the Guuji without my knowledge?"
"No! Of course not! We've never even met!" Furina denied in rapid succession.
"Then why assume her visit must be hostile?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Furina's eyes shone with pure, unfiltered naivety.
"Lady Furina, have you been paying attention to Fontaine's recent media trends?" Richard decided to shift the topic.
"Recent trends? Oh, you mean the Fontaine Underworld love-murder case? I didn't know you followed that too, Richard! Let me tell you, based on this Hydro Archon's reliable intel, the culprit is definitely....." Furina suddenly became animated, as if she had just woken up from a nap.
Funny how she never shows this much enthusiasm for actual paperwork, Richard mused internally.
"Not that, Lady Furina. Haven't you noticed how Inazuma-related topics have been surging in Fontaine lately?"
"Inazuma? Probably because of Yae Miko's upcoming visit, right? I heard she's a rare beauty—of course, people would be curious." Furina replied instinctively before pausing. "Wait… are you saying the sudden influx of Inazuman news is tied to her?"
Furina recalled the scandalous tabloid that had previously smeared her, likely paid to manipulate public opinion and undermine her position.
Could Yae Miko be using similar tactics to shape Fontaine's narrative for her own goals?
"Precisely, Lady Furina. That fox excels at playing with people's hearts. You'd best be cautious." Richard warned solemnly.
Furina's eyes suddenly sparkled with intrigue, as if she had caught a whiff of juicy gossip.
"From the way you talk… do you know her?"
"We've merely crossed paths. As you know, while my father is Fontaine-born, I only recently returned after traveling across Teyvat. I've met… quite a few people." Richard answered smoothly, his expression unreadable.
"Ahem, well, I don't actually know much about your background," Furina admitted sheepishly.
It suddenly struck her that her secretary general was no ordinary man, and she had never bothered to learn more about him.
Richard immediately feigned a "shocked" expression, as if wounded by his superior's lack of interest in him.
Internally, however, he was delighted. 'Good. The less she knows, the better.'
Had Furina dug deeper, he would've been the one sweating.
Falling for his act, Furina quickly backpedaled. "I-I've just been too busy lately—"
She trailed off, her cheeks flushing slightly. Who am I kidding? She had plenty of time to lounge at the Opera Epiclese; she just never thought to check Richard's records.
"Anyway, let's focus on Yae Miko. Any ideas on why she's coming to Fontaine?" Furina had, if nothing else, mastered the art of deflection these past few days.
Richard felt a flicker of pride. At least she's learning.
"Her media campaign suggests three possibilities: One, Inazuma needs mechanical experts. Two, their economy is struggling and requires Fontaine's capital. Three… internal instability."
"The first two make sense, but how'd you deduce the third?" Furina tilted her head.
The official request had mentioned the first two reasons, but the third seemed like pure speculation.
Richard didn't mince words. "A functional nation would never enforce something as extreme as the Sakoku Decree—not in an era where Teyvat's nations are integrating. It's as absurd as a civil servant volunteering for overtime!"
"The only explanation is that Inazuma is facing internal crises. And if we're being bold… the issue likely stems from the Raiden Shogun herself."
"But the Sakoku Decree has been in place for a while. Why visit Fontaine now?" Furina pressed.
"That, I'm unsure of. But whatever her motive, it's tied to recent—or imminent—events." Richard paused meaningfully. "Much like how you, despite appearing idle, are secretly working to avert the prophecy of Fontaine's destruction."
"Who, me?" Furina blinked, her confusion genuine.
Richard didn't push further. Some probes only needed to graze the surface.
"For now, we'll wait and observe. The fox's tail will reveal itself in time." He smirked at his own pun.
Furina, catching only the surface meaning, brightened. "So, no immediate danger? Back to leisure it is!"
She had no intention of overthinking Yae Miko's agenda—partly because she couldn't. Some puzzles were beyond her grasp.
But Richard couldn't afford such luxury. As Fontaine's Secretary General, duty demanded vigilance against all potential threats.
Absolutely not because Yae Miko knows too much, and he's preemptively covering his tracks.
There's a saying: "When someone holds dirt on you, make sure you hold theirs too."
While Yae had no physical blackmail (no photos, no scandalous diaries), she did know things—after all, they had once worked together.
If she accidentally (or deliberately) revealed something Furina wasn't ready to hear, it could complicate Richard's plans.
Fortunately, he kept a certain box, dubbed the "Black Archive", filled with incriminating secrets, including a few on Yae herself. So far, he wasn't overly worried.
Incidentally, Furina's tear-streaked portrait from earlier also resides in that box.