Chapter 401: Fontaine, the Nation of Waters! The Kingdom of Steam!

Fontaine.

This is the nation ruled by the second Hydro Archon.

You can reach it by heading north from Sumeru.

The most technologically advanced nation on the Teyvat continent—【Fontaine】—is located here.

Compared to other nations, the difference between Fontaine and them is vast.

Because Fontaine,

is a nation situated upon the water.

It is extremely massive.

One can see highly developed urban clusters rising one after another; some land in the water has been utilized to build foundations for the city.

Mechanical and steam components can be seen everywhere, with large-scale mechanical skeletons perfectly integrated into the city.

There are enormous mechanical gears, half submerged in the water and half exposed, constantly rotating.

They provide a steady stream of power to various steam workshops, large factories, and building-like structures.

There are also many smaller gears, densely packed everywhere.

It is as if they are a signature feature of the city.

Operating in an orderly fashion.

Even underwater, there seem to be structures.

There are even things like diving halls.

Residents of other nations, upon seeing it for the first time, would immediately show expressions of astonishment.

Fontaine has actually achieved a high-density, close cooperation between water and machinery, using water to drive the power of an entire urban cluster.

Moreover, the industry here is highly developed, with factories and heat everywhere.

Looking as far as the eye can see, it is entirely in the style of a steam civilization.

What is most astonishing is that because Fontaine is situated in a water domain, unlike other nations that have land for transportation,

their roads are actually built in the sky.

Connecting the ports and buildings below.

It can be described as extending in all directions.

On those sky roads, whistling steam trains run, capable of reaching desired destinations at extremely high speeds.

The number of such trains is quite large.

Other nations are generally aware of this situation in Fontaine.

And in the skies of Fontaine, there are also quite a few hot air balloons flying.

Compared to the high-altitude hot air balloons originally seen in Mondstadt, this place is even more advanced.

Logically speaking.

Such an urban cluster possesses astonishing vitality.

However, it seems to be an illusion; this nation has a layer of shadow.

In that courtroom, the fanatical voices of people seem to ring out.

"Judgment, judgment, he is not righteous!"

"He is guilty, he is a sinner!"

Countless people in such buildings are judging others.

And praising the nobility and purity of the Hydro Archon.

Here, what is pursued seems to be justice as balanced as the surface of water.

Not tolerating a single speck of filth.

But it seems that because of overly procedural justice, the justice of the outcome has been distorted.

It is prone to producing unfair verdict results.

The 【God of Justice】 loves all the farces above the courtroom.

Her justice has been distorted; it is more about judging for the sake of judging.

This god even longs to judge other gods!

She has already deviated from the love and justice of the first Hydro Archon.

Causing those Oceanids to not recognize this new god and defect one after another.

From the God of Justice, she has become the God of Injustice.

Looking elsewhere.

There are also palaces, parliament buildings, and a series of other solemn and grand structures, and even a giant guillotine.

After the new god ascended, she sent subordinates to pursue those familiars of the previous Hydro Archon.

There were Oceanids who were captured and processed at this guillotine.

This is a struggle between the forces of the old and new Hydro Archons.

Fontaine is a nation that is, in name and reality, wearing the mask of justice.

At this moment, this nation is in the Age of Enlightenment; people are pursuing romanticism and fashion, the new and old eras seem to be burning, and there are earth-shattering undercurrents in the dark.

It seems, it is waiting for some blond-haired person to ignite all of this, right?

However, on the surface, it remains quite prosperous and advanced.

People live here, going about their daily affairs.

Even Sumeru does not have such a highly developed level of civilization.

Sumeru, as the Nation of Wisdom, indeed possesses a massive amount of knowledge.

But it has not been properly utilized.

And in the residential area of Fontaine.

There are Fontaine people walking back and forth; their clothing styles are all inclined toward being gorgeous and elegant.

Quite a few people are eating breakfast while looking at the newspapers in their hands.

One can see more than one mechanical bird flying at the newsstand, with sounds coming from their beaks.

"Today's news from 'The Steambird', anyone want a copy?"

"Extra! Extra! An ancient Demon God event has actually occurred in Liyue, attacking Liyue Harbor. Is this a distortion of human nature, or is there a shocking conspiracy hidden within? Please come and read our Steambird."

"Men weep after reading it, women can't keep their legs together after reading it. Mondstadt has actually invented a brand-new alchemical electrical technology; the entire city is like daylight even at night!"

"It is called the city where the sun never sets."

"Shocking, something happened in Sumeru..."

"A sage of the Akademiya actually did that kind of thing to an ordinary woman in broad daylight!"

"Because of her lowly status, the woman could only be forced to submit!"

Following the calls of these Steambirds, after hearing the information about a Demon God in Liyue, some people immediately became interested.

"Hey, give me a copy."

"I'll take one too."

"A Demon God? This is too shocking, I want one too!"

"Give me that one about Sumeru, I want to see what kind of enviable—ah no, what kind of detestable behavior that sage committed!"

"I want to criticize him thoroughly!"

"The sage of the Akademiya is too scummy!"

For a moment, it was very lively here.

A certain young astrologist girl wearing a mage's hat also bought a copy, looking at it curiously.

She also wanted to see what exactly happened.

Moreover, this marketing method of the Steambird really has no integrity!

She despised it very much.

In any case, she had no intention of submitting articles here.

She swore it on her integrity.