Wriothesely's POV
"I'll be going then."
I said goodbye to the group after handling everything that was urgent and headed back to Meropide.
As for those who remained behind...
As Trow, the other members of the Phantom, and the gardes had been directly involved in this incident as the victims and some were still somewhat shaken up, Veleda took charge of the proceedings under Lady Furina's orders.
Everyone was to go and give their statements, but I was let go and exempted for now because of the special circumstances.
Before I left, Lady Furina told me to tell Neuvillette that she would help Sedene with babysitting after she was done handling the captured criminals. Whatever that meant.
On our way back, Claude told me what happened in Meropide and allowed my anxious heart to calm down somewhat.
"So, no casualties and no major damages?"
"None at all, Your Grace. Well, none that we could tell, anyway. It is still unknown how much damage has been caused by the water that burst in before Monsieur Neuvillette stopped it."
If that's our biggest worry, then that's good.
We descended into the fortress and made our way over to the production zone.
Claude had gone ahead, saying something about salvaging the situation.
When I got down there, I found him talking to the engineers, scratching his head in confusion.
Wait.
"Where is the Chief Justice?" I asked.
I expected him to be here, handling the mess that most likely came to be because of the situation, but there was neither a mess nor Neuvillette.
"Your Grace! Wonderful to have you back!"
"Right! It is good to know that you're fine."
"Completly fine and healthy. Not injured, I hope."
They all looked at me hopefully and let out a sigh of relief when I nodded.
"Thank the archons!"
"I thought we would all die from the pressure."
Claude gave me a look that seemed to say: I told you so.
Did Neuvillette really frighten them so much?
But again.
"Where is the Chief Justice." I asked again.
An awkward silence descended.
"We..."
"We aren't sure, Your Grace."
"What?"
"Some time ago, he just took off his coat and walked off, telling us not to follow him."
Only then did I spot the familiar blue coat hanging on the back of a chair.
What is he up to?
He wouldn't do something reckless and dangerous again, right?
...
Ugh!
Come on!
Neuvillette!
Can't you stay ut for just an hour?
But surely he wouldn't do anything stupid.
I doubt there is anything down here that could hurt him anyway.
It was then-
BOOM!
"Someone-"
"Help!"
"The seal broke!"
What?!
My head shot up at the comotiona dn sure enough, one of the three glowing blue seals had disappeared and water was now once again pouring in.
What-
Why?
Did something happen to-
"Huh?"
"It stopped?"
The water that had been streaming in stopped just as quickly as it started.
What the hell is going on?!
And then-
BOOM!
Another seal broke.
Once again, water flooded in for a few seconds only to stop soon after.
This time, there was only a small commotion. Nothing compared to the first one.
And-
BOOM!
There goes the third.
For this one, everyone just stared at it in confusion and wonder.
It was then that I heard one of the engineers mumbling behind me.
"The Chief Justice wouldn't have gone to... No. There is no way..."
Gone to do what?
What no way?
"Tell me exactly what you talked about with Neuvillette before he disappeared."
Everything without missing a single word.
10 minutes ago.
"Would there be damage to the structure if the water stayed in the pipes for too long. There is quite a bit of built-up pressure in there at the moment." Neuvillette asked.
His voice was calm, but a hint of worry could be found in it if you knew him well enough to notice.
"Most likely, yes. Those pipes weren't made to bear so much pressure for long periods of time."
"How would you relieve that pressure?"
"We will have to find a few experienced divers to close them from the outside. Then, the remainder of the water will be released in here to empty the pipes."
"It takes considerable strength to operate the device outside, so it might take us some time to find a diver that capable." Another engineer added from the side.
Hearing this, Neuvillette started frowning.
"How does one operate the mechanism?"
-
"That's it, Your Grace."
That's it?
What do you mean that's it?
"And you just let that reckless idi- guy walk off like that?"
They all looked at me with an expression of: How the hell were we supposed to stop him?
And they were right.
Phew...
"I apologize. I lost my cool for a moment."
This isn't their fault.
This can all be blamed on that stupid, reckless, idiotic-
"Your Grace?"
"Don't you dare Your Grace me, Neuvillette! Just what kind of stupid- Huh?"
I started cursing without even looking at the source of the voice.
It was only when I was halfway through my rant that I realized who I was talking to.
I turned around so fast I nearly fell over from dizziness.
"Neuvillette?! What-"
What the hell?
He was completely drenched from head to toe, even his usually neatly tied hair had come undone at some point.
"What the hell have you been doing?!"
I feel like I know, but maybe he didn't-
"I closed the outer latch to the pipe." He said calmly.
F*ck!
"What the hell is wrong with you?! How could you just go out there like that?!"
"Your Grace, I-"
"Ugh!"
I know that I'm worrying for nothing.
There's no way the hydro dragon would drown, and I highly doubt whatever sea creatures he could come across could hurt him, but-
He pisses me off!
This stupid zero common-sense lizard!
And while I was left fuming, he actually dared to walk around me and over to Claude.
"Did you meet, Lady Furina?" He asked him.
"Yes. Here. She gave me these."
Claude held out the two pearls Lady Furina had given to him.
Neuvillette took one and left him with another.
Without another word, ha walked over to the water filled lower level and tossed the pearl in.
The next second, all the water started to disappear, and after just a minute, only the pearl was left behind.
The mysterious little thing flew into Neuvillette's hand, who quickly pocketed it.
"About the damages-"
"We'll take care of that!"
"That's right!"
"Please go and take a rest, Monsieur Neuvillette!" The engineers interrupted him.
He was left somewhat stunned for a split second but then finished what he had to say.
"Please record everything that is broken and file a claim for reimbursement of damages at Palais Mermonia."
It was only now that he finally turned to me.
"All done?" I asked with a smile.
"As far as I can tell, Your Grace." He smiled back.
This stupid, reckless-
I threw a glance at the engineers and guard behind him.
They nodded with so much energy that they nearly fell over.
All done.
There is nothing else left to do.
Now...
"Monsieur Neuvillette. How about we go back to my office?"
"A wonderful idea."
Wonderful indeed.
I will wonderfully scold you to death for being an idiot instead of waiting a few hours for me to solve the problem.