This was just another typical high-society banquet, fine wine, exquisite food, and expensive tableware, all elegantly arranged within this small banquet hall.
Dazzlingly dressed women linked arms with men in suits, drifting from one conversation group to another. They spoke lofty ideals but harbored only business interests in their hearts.
The social elites babbled meaninglessly, never really agreeing on anything publicly. Any deals made were already settled in private. Still, people flocked to these hollow, pretentious events, many even fighting tooth and nail just to get in.
Clearly, there was value to such gatherings, otherwise, even someone as busy as Richard wouldn't have taken time out of his schedule to attend.
"Oh, Professor Bossuet, it's been so long since I last saw you at one of these events," a balding middle-aged official greeted the professor warmly.
"Mr. Harbour, I've just been swamped lately. You know how it is, the reports from Inazuma are being rushed, and I can't afford to be careless. I have to uphold the reputation of the Fontaine Research Institute," replied Professor Bossuet. He appeared rigid and mechanical in speech and manner, yet a shrewd glint flashed behind his eyes.
As one of only two leading figures at Fontaine Research Institute, Bossuet was clearly no ordinary figure.
"Haha, ever so responsible, Professor Bossuet. You've come at the right time today. Let me introduce you to two very distinguished guests." Harbour clapped Bossuet on the shoulder and led him toward the center of the room.
"Ladies and gentlemen, forgive me for the interruption. May I borrow a moment from our esteemed guests?"
As the host and with someone as prominent as Bossuet in tow, Harbour was reluctantly given the floor. The crowd yielded the spotlight to Lady Furina and Secretary General Richard.
Furina, long accustomed to elite gatherings, moved through them effortlessly, perfectly at ease. As for Richard, he could blend in anywhere, from high-level summits to kindergarten meetings. Besides, everything tonight was orchestrated by him.
"This is Professor Bossuet. Mr. Richard, Lady Furina, I'll leave you to chat, I've got something to attend to," Harbour said politely and withdrew.
"Professor Bossuet?" Richard feigned surprise, as though meeting him here was unexpected.
Professor Bossuet smiled faintly and offered a handshake. "I didn't expect to see you here either, Secretary General Richard, and such an honor to meet you, Lady Furina."
After some brief small talk, Richard asked, "Professor, I heard you've been busy with a project. What brings you to a party like this?"
"Yes, Mr. Richard. My project is nearly complete. The report is almost finished, just a few final details left, which I've left to my students. They need the practice, after all." Bossuet smiled with evident satisfaction.
In his view, this report would not only bring significant profits to Fontaine but also earn him more resources and greater authority within the academy, possibly even enough to break the current two-faction power balance and crush his rival, Edwin.
He also hoped for the support of high-ranking officials like Richard, and if he could gain Lady Furina's blessing too, all the better.
To Bossuet, Furina was less important than Richard. Though she was the nominal Minister, it was Richard, the Secretary General, who wielded true power. Most of her decisions were filtered and approved by Richard before she even saw them.
Much like many vice deans at the Institute, a prestigious title but lacked real authority.
"A report? One that needs a scholar of your caliber personally involved?" Richard asked with mock surprise.
"It's a safety assessment of the working environment at Tatarasuna in Inazuma. Based on our team's data, although the conditions are rather… unusual, the harm to humans is not as severe as imagined."
"It meets Fontaine's baseline occupational safety standards. In fact, it might even have some health benefits," Bossuet said with confidence.
"Benefits?" Richard was baffled. 'What benefit could possibly come from that rugged backwater?'
"Well, it's rich in Electro energy. And recent studies suggest that weak bioelectric currents run through the human body, so a moderate amount of electric stimulation may actually be beneficial."
"So you believe an abundance of Electro is good for human health?" Richard replied with feigned enlightenment, silently wondering if Bossuet had gone mad. If electricity were that good for you, Richard would gladly offer the professor a few free shocks himself, maybe even enough to prevent dementia. Or anything else. Permanently.
Perfect.
"No, I wouldn't say I believe that. I'm simply suggesting the possibility." Bossuet shook his head, his tone more cautious now, more like a proper scientist. But Richard suspected that caution was less about science and more about avoiding liability.
To Richard, Bossuet came across more like a businessman than a scholar.
Though he might not be wrong, after all, Bossuet did spearhead the new automaton concept and led its development. Perhaps that's why Yae Miko paid a hefty price to invite him to Inazuma, to produce this very safety report.
"I've been to Tatarasuna myself," Richard said. "Beautiful scenery, but…" He leaned in. "Did your team encounter anything strange while there?"
"Strange?" Bossuet blinked, puzzled.
"Like sudden thunderstorms on clear days… or eerie wailing at night?"
"Mr. Richard, surely you don't believe in such superstitions," Bossuet chuckled, shaking his head.
"Superstitions? Hmm. And what about remnants of gods? Heard of those?"
"Of course. The Fontaine Research Institute has done extensive research on that subject."
Richard narrowed his eyes and said calmly, "There's one in Inazuma. Locals call it the Tatarigami, the lingering wrath of Orobashi, the god slain by the Raiden Shogun. It's been haunting Inazuma's land for centuries."
Bossuet frowned. He'd heard of this before, but Orobashi was slain on Yashiori Island, wasn't he?
Tatarasuna is nearby, yes, but still separated by Musoujin Gorge. How could the god's resentment have reached there?
"Mr. Richard, surely that's an exaggeration. Orobashi was felled on Yashiori Island, not Tatarasuna. I've never heard of a god's lingering will acting on its own after death…" Bossuet replied, though his voice lacked conviction. The truth was, even now, the Institute hadn't fully understood the nature of divine remnants.
Partly due to a lack of samples, and partly because remnants might retain traits from the gods' former powers, causing wildly varied effects.
But one thing was certain: they were extremely dangerous. Even minimal contact could be fatal.
And so, Richard's words cast a heavy shadow over Bossuet's earlier confidence.
"I may not know everything," Richard said with a smile, "but what if your assessment turns out to be wrong?"
"Wrong?" Bossuet let out a nervous laugh, instinctively wanting to deny it, but Richard's voice still echoed in his mind.
"If Tatarasuna isn't as safe as you think… your reputation at the Institute… very bold of you," Richard added with a chuckle, letting the thought hang ominously in the air.
Furina chimed in at just the right moment, twisting the knife: "Were you discussing divine remnants? I've heard the one in Inazuma is particularly difficult. Even the Raiden Shogun couldn't destroy it, only seal it. The sealing is handled by the Grand Narukami Shrine, isn't it, Professor? …Professor Bossuet?"
"Ah? Oh, my apologies, Lady Furina. I drifted off for a moment, you know, age does that. Hard to stay focused..." Bossuet forced a smile.
Of course he knew about the Grand Narukami Shrine. The person who invited him to Inazuma for this very report was none other than the shrine's Guuji, and she was still in Fontaine.
Thinking back on her recent actions, Bossuet couldn't help but feel uneasy.
Had they shown him only what they wanted him to see? Was the so-called "safety" just an illusion carefully constructed for his benefit?
After all, they'd assigned him a shrine maiden as a guide while in Tatarasuna.
The more he thought about it, the more suspicious his trip seemed.
"If I may ask, Professor, how long did your team spend in Inazuma?" Richard continued, offering no time for reflection.
"A-a month or so…" Bossuet mumbled, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe away the sweat on his brow.
"A month?" Richard raised an eyebrow.
"A month!" Bossuet repeated, more firmly this time.
"Then your report is… truly courageous." Richard chuckled as if at a loss for words. "Very courageous."
"Well, a month is already quite long. We had matters to attend to back in Fontaine…" Bossuet's voice trailed off, barely audible.
It was clear he had begun questioning himself. Was a single month really enough to assess the safety of an entire region?
Richard noticed his uncertainty and smiled faintly.
'Sweating already, are you, old man?'
"Inazuma has an island climate," Richard added casually. "The seasons vary greatly, especially in autumn. Thunderstorms are frequent. They say people get struck by lightning all the time. Did you encounter any during your stay?"
"We did, but…"
"But, Professor Bossuet, did you ever consider…"
"…that the thunderstorm you encountered might not have been a natural one?" Richard pressed on with a casual smile, his tone light, but his words heavy.
Professor Bossuet opened his mouth, but no words came out.
He had indeed encountered thunderstorms during his stay in Tatarasuna. Once, the sky had been completely clear, but within minutes, pitch-black clouds rolled in and lightning crackled across the sky with no warning at all. He had attributed it to the island's unpredictable climate, but now…
Could it really have been something else?
"That's not possible…" he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "That kind of atmospheric instability can't be caused by residual divine power. Can it?"
Richard tilted his head slightly, pretending to consider it. "Well, I'm no scientist, Professor. I'll leave that conclusion to you. But if your report ends up covering something that later causes a major accident… well, that would be quite the scandal for the Institute. For you especially."
That landed like a hammer blow.
The implications weren't hard to understand. His reputation, his authority in the Academy, his carefully cultivated influence, it would all collapse if someone could prove he had overlooked something critical.
And if it turned out that the so-called "safe" environment of Tatarasuna was just a fragile illusion maintained by shrine maidens and seals—then his entire report could be discredited.
Sweat was now running down his back, his silk shirt beginning to stick to his skin.
"I-I'll… I'll have the team re-examine some of the collected data," he stammered. "Maybe even request a second observation phase, with… better equipment."
"Oh, I'm sure you will," Richard smiled, his words laced with quiet amusement.
Furina watched the whole exchange with thinly veiled amusement, swirling her wine lazily in its glass. "You know, Professor," she added in a breezy tone, "when the gods fight, it's always the mortals who suffer. And when mortals dig too close to what the gods left behind… well, they tend to disappear. Sometimes slowly. Sometimes all at once."
Professor Bossuet said nothing, but his knuckles whitened around the handkerchief.
Richard raised his glass toward him in a faux toast, "To diligence, Professor. And to caution. Both are needed, don't you think?"
"…Yes," Bossuet finally said, voice low. "Absolutely."