Lora sensed the eruption of the Water from the Primordial Sea almost the instant it happened.
After all, the fissure beneath the Fortress of Meropide, the one connected to the Primordial Sea, was her "greatest secret."
She immediately grabbed Neuvillette and rushed toward the Fortress.
Inside, Wriothesley had already evacuated most of the inmates. Meanwhile, he personally headed down toward the deep fissure, intending to stop the flood himself.
However, he had also heard the rumors from outside.
Fontainians absolutely could not come into contact with that water.
Wriothesley stared grimly at the surging Water from the Primordial Sea. Activating the power of Cryo, he threw a punch forward, instantly creating a massive ice wall that froze the incoming tide in place.
Beside him, Clorinde stared seriously at the barrier.
"I'm afraid this wall won't hold for long."
"I already sent someone to notify Neuvillette," Wriothesley replied. "Until then, we hold this place."
"No need. We're already here."
The moment he finished speaking, Lora emerged from behind them alongside Neuvillette.
"Neuvillette? And this lady is..." Wriothesley had never met Lora before, but he could sense an indescribable power radiating from her.
Clorinde quietly introduced her identity to him.
"Lady Furina's bodyguard?" Wriothesley glanced at Lora and muttered, "Doesn't seem that simple..."
Lora walked to his side and looked at the towering frozen wall before them, barely holding back the raging water on the other side.
Wriothesley warned her seriously.
"Be careful. The ice wall isn't stable, and that seawater is dangerous. Fontainians can't afford to touch even a single drop."
"It's fine," Lora said calmly. "I'm here now. I'll handle it."
As soon as she spoke, the Primordial Sea erupted once more.
Lora raised one hand.
Azure light gathered in her palm, and in the span of a single breath, all the violently surging water was forcibly brought under her control.
Her long blue-and-white hair fluttered behind her, the blue highlights at the ends glowing brilliantly.
Wriothesley and Clorinde were both stunned at the sight of Lora effortlessly suppressing the overflowing Water from the Primordial Sea.
The people of Fontaine knew the Hydro Dragon Sovereign existed within Fontaine, and the two of them could more or less guess that Neuvillette was the Hydro Dragon Sovereign himself.
But Lora's power had completely exceeded their expectations.
It was genuinely unbelievable.
Wasn't she Fontainian?
How could she possibly suppress the Water from the Primordial Sea?
With one hand raised, Lora slowly walked forward step by step, steadily compressing the flood back into the fissure.
Neuvillette followed her to the railing and watched as she forced the Primordial Sea back down.
"Help me seal it," Lora said.
Neuvillette nodded and immediately moved to completely seal the fissure.
Lora lowered her hand and looked down at the raging water below.
Even now, the Water from the Primordial Sea continued battering the seal, trying to break free.
But the Hydro Dragon Sovereign's seal was an insurmountable barrier the Primordial Sea could never overcome.
"Thanks, Neuvillette," Lora said.
"Even without my help, you could have handled this yourself," Neuvillette replied calmly.
Lora's control over the Primordial Sea alone was proof enough of that.
But she shook her head.
"It's different. You're the Hydro Dragon Sovereign. I'm only an artificial heart."
She could have managed it herself, yes.
But definitely not as easily as Neuvillette had.
Otherwise, she would have sealed this place long ago. There would have been no need to station people here to guard it.
Wriothesley and Clorinde walked over beside them. Seeing the Primordial Sea successfully sealed away, both finally let out sighs of relief.
Clorinde looked at Lora, clearly wanting to ask something.
Lora noticed the expressions on both their faces and immediately said, "Don't ask. Even if you ask, I won't answer."
"No matter what, we still have to thank you for your help, Miss Lora," Clorinde said with a sigh.
Lora shook her head.
"No need to thank me. This is something I should do. Oh, right. You two know Makoto and Ei, don't you?"
"You mean the three Inazuman sisters who were sent down here earlier?" Wriothesley asked after thinking for a moment. "They didn't seem like ordinary people."
"Mm." Lora nodded. "They're Inazuma's Electro Archons."
At this point, there was no longer any reason to hide it.
"Huh?!"
Both Wriothesley and Clorinde stared at her in disbelief.
"The Electro Archon? As in, the Electro Archon I'm thinking of?" Wriothesley asked carefully.
Lora nodded.
"That's right. Inazuma's gods among The Seven. Baal, Beelzebul, and the Shogun."
"But there are three of them," Wriothesley pointed out.
"Yes." Lora nodded again. "All three."
Wriothesley took a moment to calm himself. He exchanged a glance with Clorinde before sighing emotionally.
"That's honestly shocking. Good thing nobody in the Fortress of Meropide offended them... otherwise my office probably would've been demolished. The repair costs alone would've been a nightmare."
Lora then turned toward Neuvillette.
"They entered the Primordial Sea to buy time for Fontaine. Even though this place has been sealed, you still can't lower your guard. Understood?"
"Don't worry," Wriothesley declared confidently. "This is my territory. I absolutely won't allow anything to happen here."
...
Lora and Neuvillette returned from the Fortress of Meropide to the Palais Mermonia.
With Chaya around, even if both of them were absent, nothing would go wrong inside the Palais Mermonia.
In that regard, Chaya was incredibly reliable.
The moment they returned, Chaya spoke to Lora.
"Perfect timing. You're back. Earlier, that young lady under you came to report that the Traveler has already established contact with The Knave through Lyney. It seems they're planning something."
Lora did not look surprised in the slightest.
"Yes, I know," she replied with a nod. "I allowed it."
"You're allowing the Traveler to cooperate with the Fatui?" Chaya looked at her in surprise.
"Yes." Lora nodded. "I already told her that if necessary, she could cooperate with the Fatui as well."
Both Neuvillette and Chaya looked somewhat surprised by this.
Neuvillette then asked, "The Fatui's reputation is far from good. Isn't allowing them to become deeply involved in Fontaine's affairs too dangerous?"
Lora shook her head.
"No. It isn't dangerous."