Chapter 571

"So even Furina herself doesn't know the truth? And you never told her your complete plan?" Neuvillette asked.

Focalors nodded, with some emotion: "Yes, to deceive the Heavenly Principles, first you have to 'deceive yourself'."

"She is truly remarkable. These five hundred years, as long as her will had any slack, Fontaine would only have the worst ending."

"'Believe in humanity,' it really was the correct choice."

Neuvillette already understood and said: "Up to now, I have been able to understand how you 'deceived the Heavenly Principles,' but this should only be half the truth, right?"

"The key is... on this basis, how exactly are you going to save Fontaine people from the prophecy?"

"Very good." Focalors nodded and said: "The logic of Fontaine's Iudex is indeed clear."

"You should have noticed long ago that the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale is not that simple, right?"

Neuvillette nodded: "I did suspect all along that the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale has self-awareness, and Lyney also once pointed out hearing 'human voices' in the core room of the Oratrice..."

"Now it seems, it should be your consciousness hidden within it, right?"

"Hmm~ hmm~ not bad, from the appearance, it is indeed like this. I carry Fontaine's Gnosis and have 'merged' with the Oratrice."

"But your understanding of the Oratrice is probably not deep enough."

"Actually, the Oratrice is not a machine used to execute justice... the truth is, the Oratrice is a machine used to kill the god of justice."

Hearing Focalors say this, Neuvillette was moved: "What?"

"Oh no, to be precise, it is a machine that will destroy the throne of the god of justice along with it."

Focalors chuckled and said: "I am not the kind of guy who watches Furina suffer while I enjoy myself with peace of mind."

Focalors told Neuvillette that her work over these five hundred years was to continuously accumulate Indemnitium in the Oratrice. She said that actually, someone had already discovered that only a small part of the energy produced by the Oratrice is used to supply power to Fontaine's cities, while the vast majority of the rest was accumulated for the execution of the death penalty today.

Neuvillette was very stunned; today's trial and death penalty were all part of Focalors' plan!

"Over five hundred years, continuously accumulating, enough energy to support Fontaine's people for a thousand or even ten thousand years, is all stored in the Oratrice. Only this magnitude of energy could possibly shake the rules set by Celestia, could possibly break the pattern of the Seven Archons, and destroy the Hydro Archon's throne."

"So..." Neuvillette suddenly realized: "The result given by the Oratrice, the one sentenced to death is not Furina, nor Focalors, but the 'Hydro Archon'? Destroying the Hydro Archon's throne... if I'm not mistaken, what you mean is..."

Neuvillette looked at Focalors in extreme shock.

"Of course, it is to return what originally belonged to you. In other words, everything is to return the 'Hydro Archon's' authority to the Hydro Dragon of this planet."

"But..." Neuvillette's expression was complicated.

"What's wrong, are you going to be sad again?"

"The Authority of the Ancient Dragon is about to return to your hands, and the Water Dragon King of Teyvat is showing this expression?"

Neuvillette asked with a complicated expression: "From five hundred years ago, until now, you did so much, and all this... just to be able to 'sacrifice yourself'?"

"I have never thought so. At this moment, I am still feeling smug about successfully deceiving the Heavenly Principles~"

Neuvillette didn't know if Focalors said this to comfort him or for other reasons.

His heart was extremely complicated.

The Authority of the Ancient Dragon was about to return; he should feel happy about this.

Why was his heart so complicated at this moment?

"Water Dragon, Water Dragon, don't cry."

Silence, Neuvillette was just silent.

"If possible, let me judge the Heavenly Principles. Didn't the Heavenly Principles commit a crime similar to Egeria's?"

"Egeria stole the power of the Primordial Sea, while the Heavenly Principles stole the power of you ancient dragons."

"Since I am the god of justice, then returning the power that originally belonged to you to you is the way to implement justice, worthy of the name of justice."

"Speaking of justice, I have always felt that justice is the process of tracing back to the existence of humanity itself~."

"If stealing the power of the Primordial Sea is Fontaine's original sin, then transcending all right and wrong in behavior, the birth and existence of Fontaine people as humans in the world is Fontaine's original justice."

"In other words, 'existence' is Egeria's justice... and for me, justice should mean 'continuation'."

"Breaking the prophecy and letting Fontaine's people live should be the justice that is above everything else at this moment."

"Now, whether it is me or all the Fontaine people, bearing this 'sin' has been for too, too long..."

"Iudex, Neuvillette, after you take back all the power of the Elemental Dragon, what kind of verdict will you give us?"

Neuvillette was moved and said: "Back then... I was invited to the Court of Fontaine to become the Iudex. Now it seems it was also your idea."

"I finally understand the true meaning of this position."

"Originally, I wasn't interested in the existence of humans, but the interaction with humans over these five hundred years has allowed me to gradually understand this race and try to feel what they feel... Truly cunning, Focalors."

"Up to now... you know that it is impossible for me to make a guilty verdict again, right?"

Neuvillette asked himself, having lived with Fontaine people for five hundred years, he could not make a guilty verdict no matter what.

Focalors really calculated everything...

"G, it seems the time for 'execution' is almost here. I, this 'sinner,' should also prepare to take my final bow."

Focalors looked up at the energy body like a giant sword above her head and slowly said: "Although it is said easily, facing death, it is indeed still a bit fearful..."

"Perhaps, this is a rare common point between gods and humans?"

Focalors smiled: "Goodbye, Neuvillette, I hope you like the part that has belonged to you for five hundred years."

Neuvillette was stunned.

Only to see Focalors turn around after saying goodbye.

She hummed lightly while taking light dance steps, spinning, jumping.

And in another space, Lumine sat below the stage, watching Furina dancing the same dance on the stage.

The god's posture danced like a butterfly fluttering in a sea of flowers. Clearly, it was a light dance step, but the two audience members, Lumine and Neuvillette, felt endless sadness gushing out like a spring.

Finally, Focalors bowed and saluted in a standard final bow.

The giant sword energy body above her head stopped rotating and slashed down steadily.

Furina's hat fell onto the stage.

Neuvillette, watching Focalors being executed, was even more incredulous.

A strong Hydro energy erupted and gathered, injecting into Neuvillette's body.

Neuvillette looked at his palms, a thousand thoughts unable to describe his inner heart.

He finally took back the authority that originally belonged to him, but the price was the fall of a god who had exhausted her efforts for her people...

In the Opera House.

Furina sat in the chair, her eyes listless.