Jess stood to the side, mouth slightly open. He was just about to speak up and reveal that the man before them was a Fatui Harbinger from Snezhnaya—but then the thought shifted, and he swallowed the words back down.
After all, Lady Furina had already made her stance clear. Surely she had some plan to keep this man in check.
Even someone notorious for having cruelly slain two gods and tamed one in the past had come to apply as Furina's personal guard? As expected of Lady Furina!
Shajin leapt gracefully from the tall platform, his movement elegant and composed. Upon landing, he even bowed slightly like a true gentleman, placing a hand over his chest in a formal salute.
"Lady Furina, please allow me to extend my sincerest respects. Unless something unexpected arises, I'll be serving as your personal bodyguard for the foreseeable future."
He smiled as he spoke.
Furina leaned in with interest, studying him closely.
He looked familiar, yet she couldn't quite place where she had seen him before.
"Hahaha… To be fortunate enough to serve as my personal guard—now that is an honor worthy of celebration!"
Furina laughed gleefully, hands on her hips, practically radiating pride.
Shajin narrowed his eyes slightly. Her performance was… excessive—no, outright theatrical.
There wasn't a shred of the solemn dignity one would expect from a god. Instead, she resembled the imagined version of a divine being—aloof, capricious, and flamboyant.
With grace, Furina turned and gave Shajin a subtle nod. The gesture, though light, carried unspoken authority, instructing him to follow her closely.
His eyes flickered, thoughts racing behind them.
Then, turning his head, he gave Charlotte a slight nod as a casual greeting before falling in step behind Furina at a steady pace.
…
As they walked, people along the street would occasionally call out greetings to Furina.
Some were ordinary townsfolk, others were officials familiar to her.
Regardless of who it was, Furina always returned their greetings with a warm smile.
Her bright expression was as dazzling as a springtime bloom, capable of lifting anyone's spirits.
But for some reason, Shajin saw only numbness and sorrow.
As they strolled, Furina suddenly glanced sideways at Shajin, curious.
"By the way, I never asked—what's your name?"
He replied calmly, "Shajin."
She nodded thoughtfully, then asked again, "Oh? Shajin, huh. And where are you from?"
He hesitated slightly.
"I'm from Liyue, currently working for Snezhnaya. I've also had business trips to Mondstadt and Inazuma. As for Fontaine—well, I just came looking for a little side gig."
Furina couldn't help but chuckle.
"Oh my, who would've guessed—you're quite the well-traveled man~"
Shajin narrowed his eyes slightly. Surely, with Charlotte's skills, his reputation had already spread throughout Fontaine. Yet this Hydro Archon seemed entirely unaware. Could she be a shut-in, like the Raiden Shogun?
The two continued their idle conversation until they reached the Palais Mermonia.
"Neuvillette! Look at my new bodyguard!"
"Lady Furina, I've asked you not to shout in the h—"
"Hm?"
Neuvillette had already heard about Furina recruiting a new bodyguard. That, in itself, wasn't surprising.
What was surprising… was the man she had picked.
Neuvillette glanced at Shajin, then at the file of a certain Fatui Harbinger sitting quietly at the table—The Gambler.
Neuvillette: "…"
…
Meanwhile, the streets of the Court of Fontaine bustled with activity. People hurried by in both directions.
Suddenly, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky.
"Huh? It's raining?"
A crisp voice rang out. A woman in a yellow hat looked up at the darkening sky with a mix of surprise and resignation.
She stretched out a hand, feeling the cool touch of raindrops land softly in her palm.
Two men in suits beside her bent down slightly.
"Miss, it's time to return."
Just then, a child's voice called from a short distance away:
"Hydro dragon, hydro dragon, don't cry!"
…
Shajin smiled and gave Neuvillette a casual wave.
"Greetings! You must be the esteemed and widely revered Chief Justice of Fontaine—Monsieur Neuvillette! I've heard tales of your greatness, and now that we've met in person, I must say—you live up to every word. I am—"
Before he could even finish introducing himself, Neuvillette raised a hand and cut him off without hesitation.
The move immediately drew a pout of protest from Furina. She frowned, hands on her hips.
"Hey! Neuvillette, what's the big idea?! He's my bodyguard, you know!"
But Neuvillette paid her no mind. His gaze remained fixed, intense, and unblinking as he stared at Shajin.
And Shajin didn't flinch. He held Neuvillette's stare without the slightest sign of discomfort—calm and composed.
For a long, tense moment, the two simply looked at each other. The air between them grew heavy, the atmosphere unnaturally still.
After what felt like an eternity, Neuvillette finally broke the silence with a slow, deliberate question.
"Then tell me—what exactly is your purpose here?"
Furina blinked her bright eyes and immediately answered for him.
"Shajin's here to find a side hustle, of course!"
Shajin rubbed the back of his head and shrugged, responding innocently.
"Well, Monsieur Neuvillette, Miss Furina's absolutely right—I'm just looking for a bit of extra work."
"But," he added with a sly smile, "I figured I might as well help take care of a little problem or two while I'm here~"
Even before the words finished leaving his mouth, Neuvillette's eyes turned sharp, his gaze cold and piercing.
"Hmph. From where I stand, your very presence is the biggest problem we currently face."
Furina looked increasingly confused. Why did it sound like Shajin was some kind of big deal?
Neuvillette rubbed his temple in frustration. Fighting him wasn't realistic, but there wasn't a better option to get rid of him either.
"I don't know why you're here," he said flatly, "but let me make one thing clear—this is Fontaine. Mind your behavior."
Shajin gave a nonchalant shrug.
"Relax. I'm not here to stir up trouble… probably…"
_
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