Chapter 386

The experience of taking a boat is actually quite boring.

At least Luo De thought so.

But this didn't prevent Ke Lai and Tadelia, who had never left Xu Mi, from being extremely excited.

Starting from the day they boarded.

The two of them had endless energy; they weren't fishing, they just ran around on the ship, and even when they sailed into the middle of the vast sea, they didn't find it monotonous and would even jump into the sea to catch fish for fun.

As for danger,

With Luo De watching over them, it would be strange if they encountered any danger.

"I really envy them."

On the ship's rail, Dixiya smiled as she watched Ke Lai and Tadelia dive in and out of the water, occasionally throwing up a sea fish bigger than Ke Lai, having a great time.

"If you envy them, you can go down too."

Luo De suddenly gave a wicked laugh, drawing out his voice: "Oh — I get it, you're a land duck, you haven't had much contact with the sea since childhood, so you don't dare go down, right?"

"Who said that."

Having her little thought exposed by Luo De, Dixiya's face instantly turned red.

Having grown up in the desert since childhood, she actually has an unconscious reverence for the sea.

This sense of reverence makes it hard for her to develop an interest in playing around in the sea.

That's Ke Lai and Tadelia.

If it were someone else,

she estimates she wouldn't even bother to glance at it, let alone develop an interest in playing in the water.

"If you want to play, just go together."

"If you're afraid of water, I'll help you out."

Luo De said with a hearty laugh.

It's just playing in the water; he only needs to slightly allocate a bit of authority, it's a simple matter.

Dixiya felt moved.

"Give it a try?"

As soon as the words fell,

Luo De lightly tapped her, then grinned, and taking advantage of Dixiya's lack of preparation, he swept her up in a hug and threw her into the sea with a startled cry.

"Luo! De!!"

The splashing sound of her falling into the water was mixed with Dixiya's angry shout, making Luo De burst out laughing there.

As for their frolicking and playing,

the crew on the ship had long grown accustomed to it.

These crew members representing the officialdom of Fontaine were all of military background and had undergone extremely strict etiquette training.

Normally, they would not gossip behind the backs of distinguished guests who could board the Hydro Archon's exclusive vessel.

Unless they couldn't help it.

That's exactly the situation now.

When Luo De boarded, he didn't say he was the current god of Xu Mi, the Red King, but boarded under the pretense of being a friend of the Hydro Archon.

But after boarding,

Furina rarely came out; according to Egeliya, she had been anxious and frightened these days in Xu Mi Cheng, leading to abnormal mental fatigue, so she was recovering her energy by catching up on sleep.

Navelait was also on the ship, urgently processing the government reports sent from Fontaine during this period to Xu Mi.

Thus Luo De and Dixiya and the others began to move freely on the ship.

They were very casual.

They freely entered the kitchen, ate Furina's sweets at will, and did everything that the safety manuals prohibited.

Considering he was nominally a friend of the Hydro Archon,

the crew dared not say anything to their faces, so they could only whisper behind their backs about who they really were.

You should know that in Fontaine, stealing the Hydro Archon's sweets is a crime punishable by imprisonment.

And these few didn't just sneak a bite; they openly grabbed them, even daring to lift the lid of sweets sent to the Hydro Archon's chambers to see what they were, and whenever the green-haired girl said they were tasty, the leading black-haired boy would snatch them away, then politely ask the chef to make another serving for Furina.

For this, the chef did not fail to go complain to Furina.

After all, making another dessert would delay his duty of delivering meals to the Hydro Archon, causing him to neglect his responsibilities.

However, after Furina learned of this, she still said nothing, merely instructing that this guest was very important and to satisfy his every request as much as possible.

Thus, the crew members who were unaware of the inside story became even more puzzled.

What identity could this guest from Xu Mi possibly have? Surely he couldn't also be a god?

But someone immediately raised an objection.

"If such an ill-mannered fellow were a god, then I could also be one of the Seven Worldly Executors."

Such remarks.

Until Navelait stepped in to stop them did they finally subside.

Especially when Navelait proactively approached Luo De at this meeting, all the discussion voices instantly ceased.

"You seem to be deliberately provoking Miss Furina?"

Having finished his duties, Navelait's face bore a relaxed expression, and he still held a cup of fresh dew gifted by Nadixa, taken from the highest peak of the Xu Mi Water Heaven Jungle.

Navelait really liked this flavor.

In his words,

From these dews, he tasted the rising morning sun and the vibrant vitality of all things sprouting; the flavor was most wonderful, compelling him to savor its changes carefully.

Former Luo De also didn't understand why a cup of water could contain so many strange meanings.

And when he also gained control of part of the water's authority.

Then he could understand Nawelait.

Give me one too.

Luo De did not answer Nawelait's question, but instead asked him for a cup of fresh dew.

He was a little hungry.

Upon hearing that,

Nawelait's face instantly showed a hint of heartache.

The dew gifted by Nadixa wasn't much, only two catties in total.

On one hand, this dew is harvested from a special plant, making it difficult to collect; on the other hand, drinking it is about that freshness—if you take too much and can't finish it right away, you waste its fresh essence.

Thinking that he himself only had enough for three or four cups of Nawelait left, after a brief hesitation he still gave Luo De a cup.

However, Luo De was not very satisfied.

Looking at the delicate little cup in his hand, he complained, 'Stingy.'

Nawelait was slightly embarrassed, but he still managed to keep a normal expression and said: 'You still haven't answered—why have you been persistently provoking Lady Furina? Even though you are the Red King of Sumeru, provoking the Hydro Archon of Fontaine like this still requires a reasonable explanation.'

Stubborn.

Luo De gave Nawelait, who was being serious, a glance, then complained again: 'What exactly do I want to do, don't you know?'

You mean?

Lady Furina's curse?

Nawelait hadn't finished speaking.

Luo De then interrupted him: 'Just knowing is fine; don't go spouting nonsense. The identity of the one who cursed her is special, I can't mention it.'

Now Nawelait was speechless. He had indeed figured out why Luo De was so fixated on provoking, or rather bullying, Furina.

Because he too was suspecting whether Furina had some problem.

There was nothing to be done.

It was simply because Furina's performance in Sumeru was too much—uh, eye‑catching.

Her feeble strength and the curse's aura on her were simply too strong.

Nawelait had once made a speculation himself.

That Furina likely received a curse from Heaven's Principle for Fontaine's prophecy, weakening or sealing her power, thus depriving her of the ability to fulfill the prophecy.

Now listening to Luo De's words.

It seems this Red King of Sumeru already has accurate information? He glanced at Nawelait's serious face.

Luo De felt like he was about to burst out laughing.

He really wanted to go ask Ege liya.

Even though it was both of their first encounters with Nawelait, why does she understand this newly born Water Dragon King so well?

Even the fact that he would indulge in wild imagination over a single misunderstanding and then conjure up a plausible explanation, she could state that so precisely.

Yes, that's right.

The incident of snatching Furina's dessert was actually planned by Ege liya.

She said Nawelait had developed great doubts about Furina in Sumeru.

Although Nawelait's current doubts haven't yet reached whether Furina is truly the Hydro Archon, such suspicion will eventually turn to questioning her true identity.

That would be very troublesome.

For Furina, it would be a severe mental trauma.

To prevent this from happening.

At the same time also to protect Furina and Fukalos's safety.

Ege liya proposed this method of guiding thought.

Simply put.

Namely, using Nawelait's talent for over‑imagining, by creating a false impression of probing Furina, then conveying an ambiguous answer to Nawelait, letting him mentally fill in what he believes to be the correct answer.

This way, it could possibly extend the time before he genuinely doubts Furina.

This is a small matter.

Luo De casually helped with it.

The effect was also not bad, able to satisfy people.

The ship Luo De and they were on was a very distinctive cruise ship that Fontaine had specially prepared for Furina.

Many technologies from the Fontaine Academy were used on this ship.

Later, many new technologies were further upgraded, turning this ship into a super cruise ship that integrates comfort and attack defense.

If such consumption were placed on an ordinary person, they would long ago have been accused of wasteful extravagance.

But placed on Furina, this beloved Hydro Archon, the Fontaine people felt genuine satisfaction from the heart.

Frankly, I think Furina did pretty well—at least she's much better than those Inazuma good‑for‑nothings.

When speaking with Ege liya, Luo De couldn't help but vent again about the Inazuma bugyo.

Even though the Inazuma affair had nothing to do with him.

But no matter when, whenever the topic came up, Luo De still liked to diss the Inazuma elite.

There's nothing to be done.

Who let those people be so useless, with the things they do being utterly disgusting.

Purely speaking of destructive power.

This bunch of old bastards even has greater destructive power than Sanbing's damage to Inazuma.

A group of old-timers who have maneuvered the power echelons for decades, when they act, are far inferior to Furina, an ordinary little girl who ascended to the Hydro Archon's throne in Fontaine at its most perilous moment.

And here, Luo De, who has been in contact with so many national leaders.

He has always been generous in praising Furina.

For a little girl who was thrust into a position not her own shortly after birth, Furina's handling is practically textbook.

First, facing the Fontaine people's overwhelming doubts, she immediately sensed that Fontaine people essentially love appearances, switched to another persona, and with her innate perfect actor's physique, convinced those doubters.

Then she began establishing a new intelligence organization and single-handedly created an intelligence agency touted as the strongest in Teyvat's operations.

Regarding monitoring Fontaine's water levels, technological development, and major event decisions, she missed none.

Although she is merely an ordinary person cursed with immortality, she nevertheless used five hundred years to push Fontaine, which had just finished the black disaster and was in utter chaos internally, to become what can be called the wealthiest, most technologically advanced nation in Teyvat.

Excluding the fact that she bore pressure alone for hundreds of years, just considering her accomplishments, the title of Hydro Archon is wholly deserved by her.

Egegeliya also strongly agrees with this.

In her view.

Whether it's Fukaluosi enduring five hundred years of solitary sword-tempering torment, or Furina holding the Hydro Archon's position for five hundred years.

They are both true Hydro Archons.

On the contrary, this coward of myself is unworthy of being called a Hydro Archon.

"You see, you're starting to belittle yourself again, aren't you?"

Luo De feels he might have the potential to be a spiritual mentor.

No matter who is feeling upset, they always come to him to vent their grievances.

Today is no exception.

With just two hours left before disembarking, Egegeliya suddenly came over, and Luo De still remembers her expression then—it was almost as if she were about to break down from distress.

Seeing this situation, Luo De naturally asked what was going on.

Then she spoke of her gloom.

Basically, seeing Furina being bullied by her own idea and lying in bed crying quietly, she felt somewhat guilty, thinking she had committed an original sin, and since she couldn't resolve it, she had to let Fukaluosi and Furina bear such pain.

This can no longer be described as merely feeling guilty.

In the end, confiding to Luo De.

Egegeliya said: "I feel wronged but can still come to you to confide; what about Furina? Fukaluosi? They've all been bearing this pressure inexplicably for five hundred years because of me."

Regarding that.

What could Luo De say?

He could only change the subject, meanwhile praising Furina, so that Egegeliya would agree with his viewpoint and stop thinking about things that make him unhappy.

This method also works.

After Egegeliya's attention was diverted, her mood indeed stabilized considerably.

Taking this opportunity.

Luo De reminded her: "You really need to watch your speech lately; I've seen you several times these days, you always feel too much pity for Furina, which is inappropriate, because you're overly kind-hearted; once you soften your heart, to comfort Furina you might accidentally spill something, and that could ruin everything."

Egegeliya bit her lip, nodded, and said: "Mm, I know."

The spiritual chicken soup time ends here.

The time ahead is the real business.

Luo De and the calm Egegeliya reviewed the process, confirmed some preliminary preparations needed, and discussed a few details.

All these matters have been fully discussed.

Only then did Egegeliya leave satisfied, her mood becoming many times better than before she came.

(End of chapter)