Hearing this, Mr. Yuto was slightly taken aback, seemingly not expecting Ms. Arlecchino to pose such a question.
His conjecture about Arlecchino was akin to a behavioral prediction based on diplomatic logic.
In Mr. Yuto's view, meeting in a private capacity was for the matter of the orphanage, while a public capacity... that would be for the god's heart.
Regarding the god's heart, Mr. Yuto's stance was simple: you go talk to Neuvillette, don't come to me, I'm not responsible for this.
The reason was simple—the god's heart wasn't in his hands!
He would have liked to make the Fatui bleed profusely again, he would have liked to make the Fatui pay some price, but he had no cards in his hand, so how could he play?
Although if he were to make the Fatui bleed profusely for the benefit of Fontaine, Neuvillette probably wouldn't say much about it, but such an act of acting first and reporting later was fundamentally... somewhat disrespectful to him.
Mr. Yuto wasn't the type to disregard everyone's feelings for profit, so... he needed to kick this ball to Neuvillette first.
If Neuvillette could understand what he meant by doing this... he would probably kick the ball back, stating that diplomatic affairs were not his responsibility, and once again ask Mr. Yuto to step forward.
This way... Mr. Yuto could not only make the seemingly arrogant Fatui suffer, but also severely fleece them.
But as for the Immortal Spirit matter... Mr. Yuto didn't know what trick Arlecchino was up to.
Thinking of this, he slightly raised his head, his sea-blue eyes narrowed slightly, staring intently at Arlecchino in front of him, and after a long while, he finally asked:
"What exactly are you plotting?"
Looking at the wary Mr. Yuto in front of her, Arlecchino smiled softly, then answered quite seriously:
"Mr. Yuto, I'm not plotting anything. I'm just conveying this matter to you on behalf of Columbina. As for what's behind it..."
"I'm afraid you'll only know the true result after you've met Columbina in person and had a brief chat with her."
At this point, Arlecchino paused slightly, then diverted the topic from this point.
"This is the first thing I want to tell you in a private capacity, and the second thing is about the orphans in the House of the Hearth."
Hearing this, Mr. Yuto slightly raised his head, deeply looked at Arlecchino in front of him, and then said:
"Although from an emotional perspective, I don't particularly like what the children of the House of the Hearth did during this Prophecy storm, after all, they genuinely hurt Furina."
"But from an information logic perspective, what they did was indeed for the people of Fontaine, so... I will still keep my previous promise."
"However, compared to before, I have an additional condition."
Hearing this, Arlecchino nodded without any surprise.
In her opinion, what Mr. Yuto needed to strive for was nothing more than greater benefits, whether it was increasing taxes for Northland Bank or demanding concessions from the Fatui in diplomacy... these things were all justifiable.
After all, her goal was to obtain the god's heart and hand it over to the Ice Queen, and the rest... had nothing to do with her.
Arlecchino knew very well that if she didn't agree to this temporarily added condition... let alone her personal ideas, even the acquisition of the god's heart would become extremely difficult, and even require paying a greater price.
"I'd like to hear the details, Mr. Yuto."
"I hope to see Lyney's attitude, provided that neither you nor I interfere excessively in this matter."
"As I just said, Lyney's intentions are good. From their information perspective... what they did was right.
But now that the veil behind the resolution of The Prophecy has been lifted, the information asymmetry no longer exists, and they should also realize what they have done.
Since they have done these things, they should be prepared to accept the corresponding costs and consequences, don't you agree, Ms. Arlecchino?"
Hearing Mr. Yuto's words, Arlecchino was momentarily stunned.
She had already prepared to accept a 5% tax increase for Northland Bank in Fontaine, but instead... Mr. Yuto gave her a moral question?
"What is he thinking...?"
Arlecchino couldn't help but ask herself inwardly.
Her eyes, marked with blood-red, deeply gazed at the composed Mr. Yuto in front of her, as if trying to see through him in this way.
But... unfortunately, from Arlecchino's perspective, Mr. Yuto was like being shrouded in a thin veil, completely indiscernible.
"Never mind... from a profit perspective... there hasn't been much loss, and given the children's personalities... even if I don't say anything, they will still do something."
Thinking of this, Arlecchino nodded, then continued:
"I agree to your additional condition, and I also assure you that I will not overly participate in this matter, because I believe in my children."
Having received Arlecchino's affirmation, Mr. Yuto nodded without surprise, then added as if suddenly remembering something:
"Ms. Arlecchino, I hope you can erase the corresponding memories of those children who were sent, as this will benefit the information security of both Fontaine and the Fatui."
"Mr. Yuto, you don't need to worry about this. I will naturally handle these matters properly."
With that, Arlecchino stood up and said:
"If Mr. Yuto has no other questions or diplomatic matters he wishes to discuss... then I'll take my leave first.
The Prophecy disaster has had a considerable impact on Northland Bank, and there are still some matters that I need to handle personally."
In response, Mr. Yuto merely nodded lightly, then picked up the teacup in front of him and softly said:
"Please inform me, The Knave, after you have settled the children from the House of the Hearth, so I can make the appropriate preparations."
"Of course."
Arlecchino nodded lightly, then left Palais Mermonia.
Mr. Yuto, meanwhile, took a small sip of tea, propped his chin with both hands, and fell into deep thought.
"Columbina, the Third of the Fatui, also an Immortal Spirit... why would she propose to see me at this time?"
"Could it be that she really wants to lure me into the Fatui? Or is it..."
"Does she want to classify me as being on the front line against the heavenly principles, based on our shared race?"
Thinking of this, Mr. Yuto slightly lowered his head, lost in thought.
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