12 The Quality of the Moment

Hotel Bouffes d'ete.

While the rest of the Fontanians were busy talking about the recent news, the orphans from the House of the Hearth were quietly reading the newspaper.

"Wow..." Lyney, who was reading the latest paper from the Steambird, couldn't help but be surprised. "Someone actually dares to pull off such a performance?"

Right now, the matter about Furina and Isaac had already been spread. Almost everyone has learned of what Isaac said to Furina before leaving.

As such, the case is now being referred to as "The Case of the Nocturnus Masked Clown."

To some, it may seem like just a thief provoking a God, but to people like Lyney, they instantly saw something between the lines.

Freminet, who was playing with Pers, looked at Lyney before asking. "A performance?"

"Indeed," Lyney said with an amused smile as he put down the paper. "It seems like this Masked Clown has a game set up for Lady Furina."

"How could you tell?" Lynette, who was quietly sipping a cup of tea, asked on the side.

"A matter between performers, really." Lyney scoffed while shaking his head. He then lifted his hand and pointed at his top hat. "Once you reach a certain understanding of a performance, you'll naturally deduce and try to figure out other's performances."

"As for the Masked Clown..." He then looked at the newspaper he held and a baleful glint appeared in his eyes. "For now, we still don't know his objectives. We don't know if he works alone or if there is an organization behind him, or if what he's planning will affect ours.."

"We still have to wait for "Father" to respond to the situation. Until then, we'll just watch." He calmly said before sitting down.

"Speaking of "Father"... When will she be back?" Lynette, who was blowing on her tea which was still hot, curiously asked.

Lyney sighed in dismay. "Unfortunately, it's still unclear. "Father" is still in Snezhnaya, it would take a whole for her to return..."

That's right.

The so-called "Father" that the siblings are speaking of is, surprisingly, a woman— And it was none other than the one currently in charge of the House of the Hearth— a division of the Fatui that recruits orphans and makes them do various espionage missions.

As for their "Father"...

She was one of the 11 Fatui Harbingers of Snezhnaya serving under the Tsaritsa, and is codenamed "The Knave", "Arlecchino", and "Otets(Father)".

Everyone knows the cruelty of the Fatui and doesn't welcome them in any nation without any special reason, Fontaine included.

However, unbeknownst to the people of Fontaine, the House of the Hearth had already planted themselves inside the nation— in the form of a hotel.

Although Hotel Bouffes d'ete may seem like just a place where Lyney and his siblings stay, it's actually where the current House of the Hearth of Fontaine is.

And Lyney was the one under control while their "Father" was absent— this shows just how much potential Arlecchino sees in Lyney.

"Hm?"

"What's wrong Freminet?" Just then, Lyney, who sat down and was just about to have his breakfast, looked at Freminet and asked. "You seem to be distracted as of late. Is something wrong?"

"M-Me?" Freminet, who was playing with Pers, jolted a bit before looking at Lyney. "No, it's nothing."

"I noticed it too." Lynette joined in their conversation.

"It's hard not to notice that's something in your mind." Lynette, who was having her usual tea, said at the side. "Ever since yesterday, you've been acting unusual. Did something happen?"

"Well..." Freminet knew he couldn't hide everything from his perceptive siblings. With a soft voice, he told the truth. "It's just that... I've been craving a certain coffee for a while now."

"Coffee?" Both Lyney and Lyney asked in unison. They both looked at each for a moment before looking at Freminet. Lyney was the first to ask, "I know you don't take coffee often as it doesn't sit well in your stomach when you're diving... Did your mind change?"

"No," Freminet, with his usual light shy voice, shook his head. "It's just that a few days ago, I had... Erm... The best coffee I had in a while..."

"A good coffee, you say?" Lynette said, showing interest. "I say, what kind of coffee must have it been to make our dear Freminet want more of it?"

Lynette also perked her ears. Although she was silent, she also wanted to hear about this.

Seeing his siblings' gazes, Freminet didn't know for a moment. "I... Well..."

Freminet then calmed himself down before telling his siblings what happened when he went out the other day.

Lyney and Lynette attentively listened. After all, it was rare for them to see Freminet take an interest in something other than diving.

After a few minutes...

"A hidden cafe, you say?" Lyney grasped his chin with a smile while contemplating. "One that just recently opened and hadn't garnered that much attention, eh?"

"I can see why you like that cafe so much, Freminet." Lyney lightly chuckled. "With such a setting, you can be all alone and drink in peace."

"Plus with a skilled person serving you coffee? Why, it sounds like a delightful time." He added with interest.

"I don't believe that such a skilled person exists." Lynette voiced her opinion. "Brewing is an act of art. Unless one knows all the aspects of brewing can one truly master it."

Well, what Lynette said was true. In fact, Isaac hadn't even learned coffee-making for that long yet. In his past life, it was just a hobby he picked up that he would occasionally do with his family's old coffee machine, and not a full-time job.

The same goes for the tea he makes. He just watched a couple of tea-making videos online in the past and practiced through trial and error.

However, what makes them taste good?

Well, what makes them special— in Isaac's unique interpretation— is the moment and emotion.

Isaac believes that as long as you are having a good time, unbothered by pressure or stress, then anything you drink or eat will taste good.

That's why he loves and wants to keep the quiet and warm ambiance of his cafe.

It was not only to have a quiet environment for him but also for others.

"Still... Unless I try it, I won't believe that such an addictive brew exists." She added. She was a tea connoisseur, as such, she was naturally skeptical.

"Well, he seemed like someone skilled..." Freminet commented. He still remembers the taste of the Latte Isaac gave him. "Plus, he even drew Pers on top..."

"...drawing on top of the coffee?" Lyney crossed his arms while tilting his head. He then grasped his chin for a moment before smiling. "Now I'm truly interested in this cafe you speak of."

"Right, it's settled then." Lyney stood up with a smile on his face. "After we investigate The Case of the Nocturnus Masked Clown, we'll head down to this cafe Freminet speaks of."

"Wh-What?" Freminet voiced his concerns. "Wait..."

"I have no problems," Lynette said with her usual flat tone. "I also want to see the quality of this cafe— and judge if the taste is as what Freminet describes."

"Hold on... Don't you have any performances today?" Freminet added.

"Haha, there's always time for such things," Lyneu said with a laugh. "Now that you've piqued our interest, it's only natural for you to help us settle it."

"..." Freminet went silent for a second. He tried to resist, but seeing the determined faces of his siblings, he gave in. "Alright... After I return from diving, I'll lead you there."

"Now that's the spirit, Freminet." Lyney laughed as he patted Freminet on the back. He then asked, "By the way, what's the name of the cafe you speak of?"

"Oh, it's..." Freminet looked at his brother and spoke.

"Le Souffle du Silence."

*

*

*

Meanwhile, at Palais Mermonia, a crowd of people were looking at the Palais with interest as they talked amongst themselves.

Not far away from them, however, were three people who were also looking at the Palais.

"Someone suddenly vanishing..." One of them, a tall woman with light skin, blue eyes, and blonde hair spoke. "Keyword vanishing..."

"This might be connected to The Serial Disappearances Case." She muttered to herself. "Even if it doesn't, perhaps it will help us uncover more clues..."

"Should we investigate, Demoiselle?" An elderly man, who seems to be her butler based on his clothes, asked politely. "With just your words, me and Silver shall quickly start."

"I have the necessary investigation materials at the ready." Another person wearing sunglasses said with a solemn voice.

"Hm, that's right." The woman hummed and nodded her head. She then crossed her arms as she looked at Palais Mermonia with a confident smile on her face. "This time..."

"Spina Di Rosula steps in to investigate." Her blue eyes shined under the sunlight.