The Bitter Waters [2]

Shortly after Furina and Clorinde sat down, the former quickly struck up a conversation with Isaac.

"So you see? Although we had a little scuffle, that was all in the past, yes?" Furina chuckled after speaking.

"I know that Lady Furina," Isaac, who was brewing tea on the counter, sighed softly. "But please, the next time you and I go to Poisson, please cooperate with the Spina..."

"Hehe, well let us all move on and embrace the present!" Furina chuckled, avoiding Isaac's statement. She then looked over to the person next to her. "What do you think, Clorinde? Didn't me and my dear assistant handle the situation quite well?"

"If you mean leaving hostile Gardemeks up a mountain for me and the Maison Gardiennage to clean up, then no." On the other side, the renowned strongest Champion Duelist of Fontaine, Clorinde voiced her opinion straightforwardly.

"Ah— but we helped, didn't we?" Hearing Clorinde's words, Furina gasped. "If it weren't for me and my assistant, we wouldn't have found those Gardemeks which is a vital clue to the Masked Clown."

"About that..." Clorinde was about to reply to Furina, but then she remembered that Isaac was still present so she didn't speak further. "... never mind."

'That's a Non-disclosure agreement for you.' Isaac lampooned as he reheated some croissants.

"So," Attempting to change the subject, Isaac decided to speak up, "What are you here for, Lady Furina?"

"Nothing much," Furina sighed as she supported her head with her hand. "I just had too many appointments today— so I thought why not relax here?"

"Well that's a pretty valid reason," Isaac said passively. He then moved his deep-amber eyes to Clorinde. "As for the Champion Duelist here...?"

"Oh, her?" Furina also looked at the composed and cold-looking Clorinde. "I bumped into her by chance. Seeing as she was also free at the moment, I invited her over with me."

"Which you should be thankful for," Furina smiled teasingly as she moved her head and looked at Isaac. "I just brought you another customer. Hehe."

"Well... You're right," Isaac shrugged nonchalantly. "Thanks, Lady Furina."

"Hey! Aren't you going to lampoon about it?" Seeing Isaac sincerely thank her, three Furina's expectations off the rails.

"...What makes you think I haven't?" Isaac grinned. If he had glasses right now, they would have shined brightly.

As the two continued to converse, the silent Clorinde couldn't help but observe Isaac.

'Isaac Alder... A normal man who used to work for the Fontaine Research Institute of Kinetic Energy Engineering...' Clorinde started to recall Isaac's information. 'After the institute blew up to the sky, he was one of the very few workers who survived and lost their job.'

'He then disappeared for a month before reappearing and repurposing the house passed down to him into a cafe...' Her gaze of suspicion never left Isaac's face as she continued to contemplate.

'So far, he hasn't shown any suspicious actions, but...' Her piercing purple eyes couldn't help but notice his face. 'The way he acts...'

'He has the eyes of someone like the Iudex— as if...' She didn't dare to try and continue her thoughts. She merely shook her head lightly. 'No, never mind that. He acts more like Lady Furina.'

Watching Furina and Isaac bicker, she couldn't help but think in silence:

'They're both wearing thick masks.'

Meanwhile, on Isaac's side, he subconsciously shivered. Trying to avoid Clorinde's gaze, he couldn't help but complain internally, 'Man, why is she staring at me like she wants to stab me?!'

'I haven't done anything to you!' He screamed in his heart.

Suddenly, Furina composed herself and changed the topic. "Anywho... Those matters aside, there's another reason I wanted to meet you."

"That tone..." Grasping his chin, Isaac instantly made a guess. "Another investigation?"

"...I wanted to say it myself..." Furina said under her breath. However, she soon brightened up. "But Indeed! It just so happens that I've obtained another major clue!"

"Do you remember the last case we've investigated?" Furina waved her hand.

She was referring to the lead she had about Isaac's Gehrman identity.

'Yeah... We never really got to find any trace about the guy impersonating my impersonation of Gehrman.' Isaac lampooned to himself. "I do. Do you have another clue regarding it?"

"Indeed," Furina slammed her hands down the counter and looked Isaac in the eye. "But this time, this lead is stronger. Do you want to know why?"

"Go on..." Taking out the tea bags in their teacup, Isaac nudged her to continue.

Hearing this, Furina smirked. "It's because I already have Masked Clown's hideout."

'Is it the Hunter's Dream?' Isaac lampooned internally. However, he soon shook this thought off. 'No— if what she's saying is true, then we can finally crack down on this guy impersonating my impersonation.'

Taking the two cups of tea that he just brewed, he handed them to Furina. "Well, you've certainly garnered my interest. When does our operation begin and what location?"

"Later at night— around this location," Furina slid a piece of note to Isaac in an incognito fashion.

Isaac held the piece of paper in his hand and looked at the location and time written on it. The moment he read the paper, his face became dumbfounded, 'This location...'

'Isn't this near Vacher's secret base?' For a moment, Isaac's mind went blank. A moment later, he recovered. 'This guy...'

Isaac was lying pretty low for the past few days and didn't actively go out to cause trouble for others.

But now that he can finally catch the person using the identity he stole, he can finally enact justice.

'Oh, Vacher, Oh Vacher...' Grinning at the piece of paper given to him, a malicious glint appeared in Isaac's deep-amber eyes. 'I'm gonna have fun toying with you later.'

"I accept this commission." Isaac gave Furina her piece of paper back and accepted without hesitation.

"Commission? No, no, this is an invitation!" Furina didn't like Isaac's choice of words and corrected him. However, she soon smiled. "But yes, I am delighted that you accepted. This case wouldn't be the same without the protagonist's deuteragonists, yes?"

"Deuteragonists?" Isaac inquired. "There are more joining us?"

"Hehe, isn't it obvious already?" Furina crossed her arms and nudged her head behind her.

Isaac's eyes moved and looked behind her. He then caught sight of the person who'd been staring at him with piercing eyes.

'Lady, I haven't done anything to you! Stop looking at me like that!' Isaac was genuinely scared that the renowned strongest Champion Duelist would do something to him. 'Fine, you want a staring contest? I'll give you one!'

Inhaling heavily, Isaac cleared his mind and looked back at Clorinde. This time, he was wearing a casual smile.

His deep-amber eyes which were always eye-catching, became more deeper and cold. It was as if indifference replaced every emotion present inside them.

...No.

It was as if his indifferent eyes looked down on her very being.

'!' Clorinde noticed this abrupt change in Isaac's face and got startled.

However, the latter didn't do anything. In the end, he only nodded without saying anything to her.

'Heh.' Noticing her subtle expression change, Isaac knew he won the staring contest. 'A true spectator knows how to intimidate others just by looking at them.'

He then turned his head away and looked at Furina. "Since we're having Miss Clorinde join us, then I can rest assured." Isaac smiled sincerely. "At least that way, if something unexpected happens, we have someone powerful defend us."

"Then it's decided!" Furina said with excitement. "Let's meet around the meetup location at around nine in the evening. Agreed?"

"No problem." Isaac shrugged. He then looked at Clorinde. "How about you, miss Clorinde?"

"..." However, Clorinde seems to have no intention of speaking to Isaac. She then turned to Furina. "I'll accompany you there, Miss Furina."

"That would be most appreciated, hehe." Furina giggled knowing that she would have two competent people accompanying her.

'With this, I can advance the case!' Furina celebrated internally.

'Alright, what drip should I wear tonight?' Isaac thought as he brewed his own tea.

'...I can't trust him for now...' Clorinde still glared at Isaac.

It seems like the three of them are in their own worlds.

Little did they know how dangerous this operation would be— and how it would change them drastically.

* * *

A/N:

You know what? Here's another chapter.

Doesn't matter anyway since this feels like a filler chapter to me— so here ya go.