Father, it's a joke...

A while before Furina's arrival, Isaac followed Arlecchino upstairs to discuss something with her.

As the sly barista followed behind her, he was able to see the rest of the House of the Hearth, as well as the passing members of it. Some were in their adolescence, some in their early adulthood, and a few children. Suffice to say, it was truly a diverse orphanage.

If Isaac hadn't known better, then he might have seriously thought that this was just another normal orphanage.

Looking at each and every child of the Hearth, Isaac inwardly sighed as he pondered their roles given by their Father.

'Should one say it's a blessing or a curse to be taken in by her?'

He wasn't trying to question her methods, and just instead viewed it from an outsider's perspective.

He was aware of the Hearth's true purpose, it's methods, as well as how valuable it is to the Fatui. After all, they were the one responsible for gathering information across the seven nations, with a vast network of sleeper agents awaiting their Father's orders.

Remembering certain characters from the original storyline, Isaac couldn't help but wonder about the children in the Hearth and their wellbeing.

However, he soon brushed those thoughts off.

'Well, if the one raising them is the fourth strongest Harbinger, then I can't really blame them.'

Though, that would probably come with a price of spilling blood. But, again, Isaac wasn't questioning their ways— he was just contemplating.

As if reading his thoughts, Arlecchino turned around and looked at the barista behind her.

Her infernal crimson crossed eyes observed him in silence for a few moments, as if surveying him.

'Man... Is her intuition that strong?' Faced with her stare, Isaac curled up a small smile and nodded at her.

She lingered for a few moments before shifting her gaze back and proceeding with her walk. It was for a brief moment, but Isaac could have sworn he saw her eyes gleam— and whatever kind of thought invoked that gleam was surely not simple.

Their walk continued in silence, and soon, they reached a certain room at the upper floor of the hotel. From the way the door of the room was decorated minimally, it was obvious that it was not something easily approached by the children.

Arlecchino opened the door slightly, and the first thing Isaac saw was...

A fairly normal office room.

The door creaks open wider, revealing more of the dimly lit room bathed in the amber glow of the sun outside peering through tinted blinders.

'That is... Unexpected... Feels like I just entered an early 20th century investigator's room or something...'

He wasn't even kidding. It was... Something he didn't expect from someone like Arlecchino. But then again, he didn't truly know her that well so he can't really say much.

He looked a bit more, finding the room interesting. With a hint of interest in his eyes, he thought with envy. 'Maybe I can copy this for my own room... Seems fun and practical.'

The air smells faintly of old leather and ink. The space is minimal, almost plain, with no clutter save for the meticulous stacks of paper lined up on a wooden desk in the center. Shelves on the walls hold only the essentials—books, folders, and a few neatly labeled files.

Arlecchino stepped in first, her heels making soft clicks against the worn hardwood floor.

Her eyes flicked briefly to the desk, reassured by the familiar order of things. She moves with purpose, her presence quietly commanding, as though this room is an extension of herself.

She owns this space, and every piece of it is in its rightful place—except for the growing stack of papers that hint at more questions than answers.

Her voice then reached Isaac's ears, carrying a sense of authority that asks for no compromise.

"Sit down."

"Yes, ma'am."

Isaac followed her figure and did as she told and sat down on one of the chairs, trying not to get under her skin. However, as he did so, his couldn't help but gaze around with curiosity.

He looked at her near desk and lingered over the papers present, noticing cryptic marks in the margins and scattered references to cases long forgotten.

His hand hovered over one of the piles but didn't touch it, respecting the precision she's imposed on the chaos.

"It seems like everyone is interested in this case," he murmured, half impressed, half amused— but still maintained his feeble look.

It was the serial disappearances case. A long running case that has plagued Fontaine for the past decade.

"You know, this is actually..." Trying to strike up a conversation, Isaac spoke with interest as his gaze shifted to Arlecchino.

However, his voice trailed off when he saw what she was doing. 'Uhh...'

Over at the corner, Arlecchino took off her grayish-white overcoat and hung it on a wooden coat rack, leaving only her fitted gray shirt. Of course, this also allowed Isaac to see her blackened arms that resemble burnt wood that laid bare open in his eyes.

She then caught his gaze and narrowed her eyes without speaking a word. For a moment, Isaac felt as if he was suffocating so he quickly stopped ogling at her. Not that he was looking at her in a lecherous manner— goodness no.

Arlecchino walked over behind her desk and sat down and soon looked at Isaac. Likewise, he looked back at her.

Then, after a moment of silence, her lips parted.

"First of all, thank you for your time, Mister Isaac. But this is where the formality ends. I want to get straight to the point."

'She sure is succinct about this...' He thought before clearing his throat and speaking. "Of course. What would you like to discuss?"

Her eyes narrowed down on him while maintaining her stern cold expression.

"Why are you here and what do you want? I believe we have nothing else to discuss after our deal in your cafe, am I right?"

Isaac smiled.

"Well, to tell the truth, I was invited here by one of your children. I won't get too much into the details, but I just needed a place to hide— and one of your children just happened to find me and suggested I stay here for a while."

She then lingered for a while and thought for a moment, trying to figure out which child it was.

However, before she made any drastic decisions, Isaac quickly intervened.

"Oh, and, if you could, please don't blame the child that invited me. He was just trying to help out his struggling mentor."

Isaac sensed that Arlecchino might give Freminet some sort of punishment for inviting outside parties in the House of the Hearth. In their clandestine organization, such an act was equivalent to openly saying that they were spies— as such, this was utterly prohibited.

But since Freminet was aware of Isaac and Arlecchino's acquaintance, he must have speculated that the former was allowed to visit.

Now, obviously, Isaac doesn't want anything bad to happen to his dear pupil, as such, he quickly tried to negotiate with Arlecchino.

She lingered for a bit and said with an amused tone.

"How bold of you, Mister Isaac. To openly question the way I handle my organization... Tell me one food reason why I shouldn't take this as a sort of provocation."

He grimaced, fully expecting that she'd say something similar to this.

"No, no, no, you got it all wrong. I'm not questioning you nor provoking you! I'm just negotiating, that's all."

"And what would you use to negotiate with me?" She questioned.

"..." Isaac fell silent.

Indeed, he currently doesn't have anything to barter with the Father of the Hearth. The best he could do is provide information, but even then, she might have already learned about them. Her network is far greater than his, after all.

Seeing his reluctant and deterred expression, she lingered for a bit before smiling lightly.

"You know... I do sometimes wonder how someone like you managed to get where you are right now."

He smirked wryly.

"Luck... And a lot of acting is all it took."

"A Clown then."

She added after him and continued speaking.

"But we digress. Regarding the child that invited you, I'll make sure to give him an... appropriate punishment. Good children should listen well."

Hearing this, Isaac grimaced slightly. He was unable to stop her from punishing Freminet in the end, and it made him a tad bit guilty. With her unconventional methods and standards, she would without a doubt issue a punishment that would remind Freminet why listening to her would result in severe consequences.

Worst case scenario is that... He'll be excommunicated and get "burned" as she refers to it. Other than her, only Isaac knew what that term truly meant when dealing with her children.

'Stay strong, my pupil... You'll get through this predicament, I'm sure of it.'

In the end, all Isaac could do is have faith in Freminet and hope that Arlecchino won't push him to the edge too hard.

Watching Isaac grimace, Arlecchino lingered for a bit and observed him with eyes looking like that of a hawk. Of course, she still maintained her cold and composed expression as she studied him.

She thought for a moment and then spoke with a tone that was as if lightly mocking him.

"And what makes you so compassionate towards the children now? After all the preparations you've done for your so-called grand plan?"

Isaac's smile faded and he frowned when he heard this.

She then smiled coldly, without any trace of amusement nor joy.

"Ah, dear oh dear, what is it? Is it the blood? The guilt? Or... The thought of executing this madness of a plan you've concocted for the sake of the nation?"

"A tad bit of a hypocrite, aren't we?"

Isaac stopped and listened to her, his thoughts trailing off somewhere else. His expression remained the same, but his deep amber eyes became much deeper as they watched her.

A pair of infernal crimson crossed eyes and a pair of deep amber eyes looked at each in silence. Hidden behind them are indescribable thoughts.

Then, he opened his mouth and smiled bleakly at her.

"You could say that. Those three... I've grown closer to them recently and hope for nothing but the best for them. As such, I want this plan to succeed without shedding too much blood."

She blinked.

"So I've heard. On one hand, you could be true with your emotions, but on the other hand, you could be feeling guilty."

Isaac had shared his plan with her, and, indeed, she agreed to it. But even then, it was obvious that she still held doubts about his dubious plan that involved a lot of people... and three measly siblings from the Hearth.

A grand plan that would set things back to the appropriate course of events, help the Hearth, and most importantly, ensure Furina's safety for the future.

For such a grand plan, Isaac had strained his mind with stress, thinking about all the potential casualties that could arise from it. But, overtime, he had concluded that it was necessary.

Conjuring a light smile, Isaac cleared his mind and looked back at her with more clarity in his eyes.

"That is true, and I won't deny one bit. But you can't deny that, for measly just my mentality, Fontaine would grow stronger for the prophecy."

He lingered for a bit before smiling softly.

"There are always things worth more protecting than one's self, after all."

Upon hearing this, Arlecchino lingered and took in what he said. She contemplated deeply and, as she looked at him, couldn't help but gradually change her expression.

Indeed, his plan was absolutely mad. However, despite it's risks, it's rewards were also worth it if everything goes smoothly. And, during their first meeting in the cafe, she agreed to it with one condition— a condition that, if the plan fails, would still benefit the Hearth.

She paused for a good bit then spoke. "...alright then, Mister Clown. I will admit that you have a way with words."

"Thank you." He replied with a light nod.

However, she quickly added more, trailing just behind her words. With a sinister look, she spoke.

"Now then. I believe you still owe a performance for my children."

Isaac raised an eyebrow.

"Erm... What performance?"

Arlecchino leaned back, observing Isaac's changing expression with her cold look.

"Hm. Did you not promise one of my children earlier that you'd swallow a dagger for your magic trick?"

After saying this, Arlecchino reached out for her drawer and took out an intricately designed dagger from it. Afterwards, she slid it towards Isaac.

"Do it. I want to see your magic tricks, Clown."

"..." Isaac stared at the dagger in front of him and looked at Arlecchino who was observing his every move.

'Father... It was just a joke! A joke!' he complained silently. However...

Could he pull off the inventory trick?

Isaac hesitated then reached out his hand and lingered above the blade, still reluctant to pick it up.

Arlecchino watched him intently, observing how he would pull off such a magic trick in front of her.

Then, all of a sudden, a noise suddenly interrupted the strange atmosphere between the two.

"Father! We're back!"

The voice was all the more familiar to Isaac. After all, it was none other than Lyney.

Arlecchino turned her head as she slightly scowled. Looking at her door, she stood up and walked towards it. The door opened and she saw her child, Lyney.

Seeing his Father's expression, Lyney realized what he had done and looked apologetic. "Oh, forgive me Father. Was I interrupting something?"

Arlecchino lingered for a bit and shook her head. "No, not at all. I was merely..."

She then shifted her gaze back to where Isaac was sitting and found... nothing. He was no longer there.

Her gaze looked around a bit more and saw an anomaly in her room.

The window was open.

"..."

Seeing this, she fell silent as if deeply contemplating whether teaming up with such a man was a wise decision.