68 Sign of Peace

"Alright, everyone! Let's cut it here!"

In the film set, Furina spoke out loud as she sat up from her director's seat. Not far from her, Isaac, Lyney, and Lynette were seen in their respective costumes.

The film, titled "A Hunter's Remorse", was proceeding smoothly. So far, everything has been up to satisfaction in Furina's eyes.

A couple of days had already passed since the production started, and the deadline was not far away. But to make the film good, Furina didn't push the schedule down everyone's throats and told them to go at their own pace.

This in turn gave her a satisfactory performance from the main actors.

Hearing the break, Isaac took off his mask and retreated from the set. As he did so, he slowly unbuttoned his overshirt to breathe in more.

"You sure are sweating buckets, Monsieur Isaac." Just then, Lyney's voice drifted over to Isaac, catching his attention.

Holding a pair of water bottles, Lyney offered one to Isaac with a soft smile. "Here, I thought you might need it."

"Ah... Thanks." Receiving the water, Isaac thanked Lyney with a light nod.

Taking the water, Isaac rested the tip on his lips and slowly drank it. Soon, the mildly cold sensation of liquid passing through his throat instantly refreshed him.

"Hah... Just what I needed." Finishing his drink, Isaac took the bottle off his mouth and wiped his mouth. He then looked at Lyney with gratitude. "Thanks, Lyney. I really needed that."

"It's no problem at all." Smiling softly, Lyney nodded his head. He then placed his hands behind his back. "By the way, do you have the time to chat, Monsieur Isaac?"

"Hm? Sure." Still looking at Lyney, Isaac shrugged his shoulders. He then looked around for a moment before looking back at Lyney. He then pointed at the group of chairs nearby with his index finger, "Why don't we talk over there?"

"Sure." Lyney agreed with a light nod.

Reaching an agreement, the two then walked over to the set of chairs and sat down not far from one another.

"So, what do you want to talk about?" Taking off most of his accessories, Isaac asked Lyney with a curious tone.

"Well... This is if you don't mind answering..." Lyney spoke with a hesitant voice as if gauging out Isaac's reaction. "You see, I don't mean to pry into your personal life, but..."

"Why did you decide to join this film?"

"...?" Hearing this question, Isaac's mind raced as he quickly tried to formulate what Lyney was trying to do.

After pondering for a few moments, Isaac let out a soft exhale as he looked at Lyney with warm nonchalant eyes. "Isn't it the same as you? I got roped in by Lady Furina."

"Hm? Is that so?" Hearing Isaac's answer, Lyney fell into contemplation as he grasped his chin. He then looked back again at Isaac. "Is it because you're, well, a friend?"

"A friend, huh?" Hearing this remark, Isaac almost let out a good laugh. "Well, that's partially true. Though, she does seem to see me more of a servant more than anything..."

"Then, did she promise you something after this film?" It was then that Lyney shifted the topic.

Isaac caught notice of this sudden change and fell silent. '...Not subtle enough, Lyney.'

If it were any other person, they might have already answered Lyney's question in the next second. But since Isaac was always cautious around the Fatui, he never once let his guard around them.

'However...' Isaac, however, found an opportunity. 'If you present me this kind of opportunity, how could I refuse?'

"She did." Isaac nodded his head as his gaze left Lyney and landed upon the figure of Furina in the distance.

Watching her instruct the production crew, Isaac's gaze turned softer as he spoke gently. "And honestly... What she promised me was childish... But I still accepted it."

"And that promise is?" Lyney saw the window of opportunity in Isaac's words and decided to probe in.

Turning his head, Isaac scoffed. He then placed his finger on his mouth and mimicked the certain "Father" of the House for the Hearth.

"A secret."

"Is that so?" Upon hearing Isaac's response, a bittersweet smile emerged from Lyney's mouth. "It is as they say— you really do love to put people on the edge."

"A fun habit of mine." Isaac chuckled lightly.

However, his eyes then quickly changed and looked at Lyney. With swiftness, he quickly counterattacked. "By the way... According to proper reciprocation, shouldn't I ask a question back?"

"I suppose so." Lyney nodded his head as he leaned back in his chair. Closing his right eye, his left eye looked at Isaac. "What do you want to talk about, Monsieur Isaac?"

"Similar to you, really," Isaac answered as his gaze lingered upon Lyney. With a composed tone, he continued. "I want to know... What did Furina promise to give you after all this?"

Lyney fell silent for a few moments as a wry smile hung on his face. After a few moments, he couldn't help but chuckle dryly and looked at Isaac. "Are you sure you want to know? Similar to yours, it's a pretty childish reason."

"I'm all ears, my guy." Isaac smirked as he leaned back his head over his chair and looked at Lyney.

"Well, it's a little embarrassing to say, but..." As Lyney spoke, he couldn't help but hide his face as a red tinge spread from his face. His expression then turned shy. "It's... To let us freely perform around Fontaine for free as well as give out toys— the Magic Packets we made— to our audiences..."

"That's... Actually a cute and considerate promise..." Isaac formed a smile after listening to Lyney. 'If not for the fact...'

But of course, how could he not see the silver lining?

'This is obviously a way so that the House of the Hearth can go anywhere in Fontaine unobstructed.' Isaac deduced quickly in his mind in a fraction of a moment. 'Is this how they managed to give out those Magic Packets at the start of the Fontaine Archon Quest without any hindrances from the authorities?'

'I wonder...' His eyes then focused on the magician beside him. 'Is this a decision from Lyney or...'

'From her?' His mind then drifted over to a certain woman with ominous crossed red eyes.

Isaac doesn't harbor any malice towards the Knave. On the contrary, he sees her as a potential ally.

...if not for the fact that the two of them would try to make use of one another for some kind of benefit.

'The Knave's cause is very substantial to the fate of Fontaine, and there's no reason to be antagonistic towards her and the Hearth.' As Isaac thought of this, his deep amber eyes couldn't help but close while leaning upwards. 'My main quest of forming good relationships with her is actually a great thing on my part.'

After laying out all of his worries, Isaac let out a small sigh of relief. Soon, a carefree smile spread on his lips. 'Yeah, I shouldn't be too malicious towards her and the Hearth.'

'Moreover, it's highly unlikely that she would even find any worth in a puny cafe owner like me to make use of.' He reassured himself. 'I mean, surely at most she'd only glance at me...'

'...right?'

Looking back at Lyney, he spoke with an amused tone. "You know what? I'm actually touched by what you're doing."

"Yeah, I've decided."

Making up his mind, Isaac stood up from his chair and looked at Lyney who was sitting down not far from him.

"I'd like to support Furina's initial promise with you." He said as his deep amber eyes swept past Lyney.

"Eh?" Hearing Isaac's statement, Lyney was momentarily dumbfounded. However, he soon collected himself. Looking at Isaac, Lyney spoke with slight disbelief. "Monsieur Isaac, what do you mean?"

"I'm sure creating those Magic Packets cost a bit, didn't it?" Isaac gestured with his index finger as he spoke. "Well... To show my support, I'd like to financially sponsor this endeavor of yours."

'I have a lot of money to spend, after all.' Remembering Marcel— perhaps it was still out of guilt of letting the serial killer live— Isaac wanted to make use of his money for the greater good and make up for the lunatic's crimes.

Marcel's drug trade network was vast and deeply rooted in Fontaine and has been prominent for the past decade. He was also connected to a lot of people with power.

However, now he was in Isaac's hands— And what power the former had was now the latter's.

In other words, all those corrupt powers were now at Isaac's disposal through Marcel.

"How about it?" Extending his hand to Lyney, Isaac smiled softly as he spoke firmly.

There were a lot of things to reap from this deal, and very few to lose. To Isaac, who was all about profits, as long as it benefitted him and his cafe, he would take hold of this chance.

'This...' Looking at Isaac's thick firm hand which he extended out to Lyney for a shake, Lyney hesitated for a moment.

In that short moment, various thoughts flower inside Lyney's mind, and, after naught but a few moments later, he lifted his hand and took Isaac's.

"On behalf of my siblings... As well as our "Father", I'd like to sincerely thank you, Monsieur." Lyney smiled genuinely as he spoke with gratuity. "You would be of great help."

[+5]

'...that works?' Seeing the sudden notification, Isaac was surprised to know that he could still induce serenity even outside his cafe. 'It's unexpected, but I'll accept it...'

Looking at Lyney's face of gratitude, somewhere deep inside Isaac's heart softened. He knew he was only mending his guilt, but this act of helping others made him feel butterflies.

'See that, Knave?' Shaking Lyney's hand, Isaac's warm smile softened more. 'This is my sign of peace.'

"Then, pleasure working with you, Lyney."

With this, his relationship with the House of the Heart was solidified. It won't be too long now until he gets the Knave's attention and perhaps meets with her to finish his main quest.

However, unbeknownst to Isaac, someone had been watching him since earlier.

Not far away, sitting down on the director's seat, a certain grayish-white-haired person watched Isaac interact with Lyney with smiles and laughter.

Seeing them have fun, the woman's face sunk with suspicion as well as another unknown nasty emotion.

'...what could you and Lyney be talking about to look so happy...?' Her heterochromatic eyes glistened with suspicion.

She needed to move now.

If she wanted to know more about the man similar to her— a liar whose mask was thick.

* * *

A/N: It is as you have guessed.

Isaac is now the Hearth's sugar d— *cough* I mean financial supporter. Yeah, that's what I meant.