"Miss Navia... It's not that I'm unwilling to help, but I simply don't have the funds."
"Ever since Monsieur Callas was accused of murdering his friend, my business—as a sister company of the Spina di Rosula—has suffered significant losses. I've only recently managed to barely cover the previous deficits."
"Of course, I absolutely refuse to believe Monsieur Callas would do such a thing. He must be innocent!"
Seeing Marcel's troubled expression, Navia felt little emotional turmoil. The relentless blows had left her heart numb.
Even if they could somehow raise the funds, the city wouldn't accept them. Their only alternative to leaving Fleuve Cendre would be the monster-infested forests and Clockwork Meka-filled mountains plagued by program anomalies.
Setting aside the immense cost of carving out a safe haven in such a place, transporting daily necessities for tens or even hundreds of thousands of people would strain their already meager budget to the breaking point.
"Miss Navia," Marcel said, gritting his teeth after a long silence, "Monsieur Callas was very kind to me. I wouldn't be where I am today without him."
"I'm willing to sell some of my assets to raise funds for Spina di Rosula."
"Please don't do that, Uncle Marcel," Navia said, her face paling at his words. "Thank you for your kindness, but Spina di Rosula's funds are still sufficient for the time being. We can discuss other solutions when they run low."
Navia gazed at Marcel, her eyes filled with an indescribable sorrow.
If Poisson had been willing to accept the Fleuve Cendre residents, she would have swallowed her pride and begged for a loan to ensure their safety. But now, no city in Fontaine would take in the vast majority of them. Even if Marcel sold all his assets, it would be a drop in the bucket.
"I'll keep searching for other options. Thank you for believing in my father, Uncle Marcel."
A peculiar smile crept onto Marcel's face as he heard Navia's words. But the three of them were too preoccupied with their troubles to notice his strange expression.
"Miss Navia, Monsieur Callas's character is beyond reproach. He must be innocent. We hope you catch the real culprit soon!"
"I will!" Navia declared, her eyes blazing with determination and anger.
Realizing she had wasted too much time in Poisson and worried about the situation in Fleuve Cendre, Navia had to bid farewell to Marcel.
"Very well, Miss Navia. Please take care on your journey."
"If there's anything I can do to help, don't hesitate to ask!"
"I'm one of you now. I'd give everything I have to help!"
As Navia and her companions disappeared into the distance, the facade on Marcel's face crumbled, revealing a fleeting hint of murderous intent before he quickly masked it again.
"There's no need to get my hands dirty. The Spina di Rosula will become history on its own."
"But Fontaine must be in chaos right now. Oversight of other cities has likely weakened considerably. Perhaps this is an opportunity..."
"Vigneire, wait for me. I'll bring you back to my side as soon as possible!"
Returning to the Fleuve Cendre District, Navia and her companions walked along the banks of the Fleuve Cendre. The roads, now cleaned, were no longer as filthy and chaotic as before. Cleaning such a vast area must have cost countless hours of labor and sweat, yet the residents had undertaken the task with little complaint. For many, the Fleuve Cendre had become their home, and some had never even set foot in the Upper District.
While the people of the Upper District enjoyed cleanliness, beauty, and sunlight, the residents of the Fleuve Cendre endured filth, crime, and darkness. Yet even so, the nobles refused to leave them in peace, relentlessly driving them to the brink.
Navia longed to rebel, to seize those damned nobles and force them to kneel before all the Fleuve Cendre residents and beg for forgiveness!
But rebellion was easier said than done. The mere thought of the overwhelming tide of Gardemeks converging into a steel flood made her face pale.
How could they possibly fight? It was impossible! They were up against the full might of a nation!
As they drew closer, Navia's legs grew heavier.
She didn't know how to face those who had placed their hopes in her, especially after the confident promises she had made before leaving.
The immense pressure threatened to crush Navia's fragile shoulders, and her breathing grew labored.
Melus and Silver, standing beside her, watched Navia with deep concern, but they didn't know how to comfort her.
Just then, an unusual commotion reached them from the distance, and all three immediately noticed.
"Miss Navia, it sounds like an explosion!" Melus exclaimed.
Navia's face paled at his words.
"Let's go see if anyone's hurt," she said.
Without hesitation, the trio hurried toward the source of the sound.
As they approached, the explosions grew clearer, and their hearts grew heavier.
Navia silently prayed that no one had been harmed.
Perhaps her prayers were answered. When they arrived at the scene, they found no hellish tableau of carnage.
Navia's heart skipped a beat when she first spotted the Gardemek, but then a figure engulfed in flames materialized before it, intercepting every bullet and shell. A deafening explosion shook the air once more.
Before the trio's eyes, the figure swung their weapon with ferocious force, smashing it into the Gardemek's head. The moment of impact produced a metallic clang accompanied by strange, dissonant tones.
Under the brutal strike, sparks erupted from the Gardemek's head before it crashed to the ground in a lifeless heap.
Navia noticed two Gardemeks already lay defeated. Following the same method, the figure swiftly took down the third and final guard. With the task completed, the figure turned coldly to the two Maison Gardiennage officers standing nearby, their faces twisted with terror.
"It's not time yet. Are you so eager to prove your loyalty to your masters?"
"Get lost now, or you won't get another chance."
"You'll pay for this!"
Without hesitation, the two officers spat out their threats and fled in disarray.
With the crisis averted, Navia and her companions visibly breathed a sigh of relief. Only then did Navia turn her attention to the figure before them.
It was a middle-aged man in a black formal suit, his sleeves rolled up to reveal muscular arms that radiated strength.
Only now did Navia realize that what she had mistaken for a weapon was actually a guitar!