Chapter Text
It took two days by boat from Sumeru to Fontaine. Another day they spent staying in Fontaine to transfer luggage to the Snezhnaya-bound train. Once all passengers had boarded, the train slid smoothly away from the Fontaine station and began its journey north.
For a full day, as they traversed Fontaine’s beautiful meadows, the landscape outside gradually lost its color, shifting until they finally crossed the Snezhnayan border.
Kaveh, who had been finishing his portfolio in the first-class compartment with Pantalone, leaned against the window to look outside as Snezhnaya’s vast snowfields began to appear.
Bathed in moonlight, the snow-covered plains shimmered softly, as though the entire land had been tucked beneath a thick white blanket. Occasionally, creatures resembling reindeer passed by, casting long shadows across the snow. The Snezhnayan night, free of blizzards, was painfully peaceful.
"Welcome to Snezhnaya, Kaveh."
Pantalone set down the documents he was reading and took a seat beside him, gazing out the window as well.
"I am quite fond of Snezhnaya’s quiet nights. When I first set foot on this land, I was in a rather unstable state of mind. But somehow this snow, which seems to cover everything, had a way of calming my mind. I hope you find it to your liking as well."
"It is... strangely calming."
Though he couldn't quite put it into words, Kaveh found this scenery, so different from Sumeru, to be profoundly mystical.
"We should reach the station in another two days," Pantalone said, picking up his papers once more.
In the quiet compartment, where only the rhythmic clattering of the train could be heard, Kaveh used the scratching of his paperwork as background music and gently wiped away the white frostflowers blooming on the window with his breath.
[Our train will soon arrive at Snezhnaya Station.]
The moment he stepped off the train, the biting wind made Kaveh close his eyes reflexively. Despite wearing the thick coat he had been given on the train, it was an alien cold—the first time Kaveh, who had only ever lived in the warm environment of Sumeru, had experienced such weather.
"I knew it would be cold, but this is really… wow.."
"There are few places in Teyvat that can rival the cold of Snezhnaya, perhaps only Dragonspine.” Pantalone replied. “It is a perfectly natural reaction."
Following him off the train, Pantalone naturally draped the scarf from his hand around Kaveh’s neck. The texture of the luxurious fur and the faint scent of perfume lingering on the scarf were so pleasant that Kaveh unconsciously buried his face deep into it.
"We will head to the mansion soon, and I will find you something suitable to wear until we can get you a new set of wardrobes. But before that, as I explained on the train, the audience comes first.”
He adjusted the scarf with practiced ease.
“Dottore and I have just returned from Sumeru, so we must report to Her Majesty. You remember the procedure I mentioned, right?"
"Yeah, stand quietly until my turn comes, introduce myself as a architect, bow, and then step back behind you, right?"
"Precisely. I have already summarized the report in writing, so it will be over quickly. Just bear with it a little longer."
Several carriages were waiting outside the station. Dottore seemed to board a separate carriage, while Kaveh and Pantalone rode together with his attendants.
Snow began falling gently as they traveled.
After roughly an hour on the long road leading toward the capital, an enormous city gate came into view.
The coachman stepped down to undergo inspection. Once their identities had been verified, the soldiers slowly opened the massive gates, and at last Kaveh entered the capital of Snezhnaya.
A completely different world from Sumeru unfolded outside the window.
The parents pulling their children out of the carriage’s way were all heavily dressed. On either side of the neatly stone-paved streets stood elegant stone buildings, shedding a warm orange glow from every window.
Looking at the Snezhnayan buildings he had only ever seen in books, Kaveh took in the unique architectural styles. The steeply sloped roofs designed to withstand the weight of the snow and the tight insulation methods to seal any gaps were truly fitting for a cold country.
Mechanical soldiers, much like those in Fontaine, patrolled the streets, and strange beings mingled among the crowds of people. Pantalone later whispered to him that they were fairies.
While not as boisterous as Sumeru, there was a strange warmth in the movements of the busy people, each harboring their own sense of anticipation.
Shortly after, through the snowy mist, the Zapolyarny Palace finally revealed its magnificent grandeur.
Kaveh gasped. Located at the center of a district completely separated from the rest of the city, the Zapolyarny Palace literally looked as though the entire castle had been carved from a single, massive ice crystal. The elegant spires piercing sharply into the sky and the texture of the outer walls, polished as smoothly as the surface of a frozen lake, were nothing short of a marvel. It was an astonishingly beautiful piece of architecture, a fusion of nature's harshness and the absolute pinnacle of human engineering.
The carriage passed through the main gate and came to a stop in front of the castle. A guard carrying an elemental detector boarded the carriage and inspected their belongings and identities. After confirming that there were no issues, he handed them over to an attendant, and they followed his guidance into the castle.
The interior was even grander than the exterior suggested. The high, arched ceilings perfectly distributed the massive weight, and the windows set between intricately carved marble walls effectively drew the moonlight inside. Thanks to a structure that seemed to calculate the refraction of light, the corridors glowed softly even without separate lighting.
While Kaveh admired the masterpieces hanging on the walls, the servants they passed bowed their heads in unison. Pantalone acknowledged them with a slight nod, and Kaveh followed suit, nodding awkwardly.
After walking for what felt like ages behind the attendant, they finally arrived in front of the massive doors of the audience chamber. The attendant announced the return of the delegation to the royal guard, who then knocked on the door to request the Tsaritsa's permission.
"Enter."
At the voice from within, the heavy doors began to swing open slowly. Noticing Kaveh stiffening up beside him, Pantalone leaned in slightly toward him.
"Just a moment, Kaveh."
With a gentle touch, Pantalone tucked a stray strand of blonde hair back behind Kaveh’s ear. Straightening the slightly crooked collar of Kaveh's coat, he stared straight ahead and whispered softly.
"Do not be nervous. She is a kinder person than you might think."
Before Kaveh could even process the gesture, the doors opened completely. At the far end of the vast throne room, an elegant figure sat comfortably upon the high dais. From somewhere, a soft singing voice could be heard; turning his head, Kaveh saw a dark-haired girl sitting on the steps, cheerfully humming a tune.
The two walked along the long carpet and came to a halt before the dais. Pantalone placed a hand over his chest and bowed from the waist, and Kaveh precisely mimicked the posture as instructed.
"I report our safe return from Sumeru, Your Majesty."
"Raise your heads."
At those words, Kaveh and Pantalone straightened simultaneously to look at her. The girl sitting on the steps stopped singing at the Tsaritsa's signal and raised her head to look at them. Though her eyes were covered by a blindfold, Kaveh felt, for some reason, as if she were looking right at him.
"Pantalone, is the one beside you…?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. This is the honored guest I mentioned beforehand."
Prompted by Pantalone’s subtle cue, Kaveh took a step forward and spoke as he had been rehearsed.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. I am Kaveh, an architect from Sumeru."
The woman sitting upon the throne exuded an air of mystique far more overwhelming than she appeared from a distance. Her sky-blue vestments, adorned with all manner of precious gems and fabrics, were almost eclipsed by her silver hair gleaming in the moonlight filtering through the window. Her beautiful blue eyes, observing him intently, carried a sensation as piercingly cold as ice. Swallowing hard from the tension, Kaveh tensed his muscles to ensure his posture wouldn't waver slightly.
"I have heard much about you from Pantalone. You built the Palace of Alcazarzaray?"
"With all due respect, Your Majesty, yes."
"My expectations are high. I understand you have yet to pass the official evaluation, but since Pantalone recommends you so highly, I shall look forward to an excellent result."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will do my utmost to meet your expectations."
She then turned her gaze to Pantalone, and taking that as his cue, Kaveh carefully stepped back a few paces, returning to his position behind Pantalone. Pantalone handed the document envelope he was holding to an attendant to be delivered to the Tsaritsa and spoke.
"Your Majesty, these are the documents regarding the contracts signed between Sumeru and the Northland Bank, as well as the newly established Sumeru branch. As my guest has traveled a long distance and has not yet recovered from the fatigue of the journey, please contact us through an attendant later if you have further questions."
"Where is the Doctor? I heard he also has much to report to me."
"He took a different carriage from us, so he should be arriving shortly… Ah, speaking of which, here he comes."
At Pantalone’s words, Kaveh turned around to see Dottore walking through the open doors. Unlike in Sumeru, he too wore a magnificent Fatui coat, traversing the audience chamber with measured steps.
"You may excuse yourselves. Come see me again before the day is out, Pantalone."
"Of course, Your Majesty. May you have a peaceful evening."
Pantalone turned, and Kaveh followed behind him after offering his final respects. As Dottore passed them, his voice saying, "I shall show you the fruits of this journey, Your Majesty," was cut off by the heavy thud of the audience chamber doors closing shut.
"This way, Kaveh."
Pantalone walked unhesitatingly through the labyrinthine corridors with Kaveh, heading toward the southern wing of the castle. Arriving at the end of a hallway that was far quieter and more secluded than the others, he opened a heavy door. Inside lay a small central hall with four doors arrayed around it.
"Do you think you'll remember the route?"
"Uh, yeah. I've memorized the route from the entrance to the audience chamber, and from there to here."
"Good.” Pantalone nodded “This section of the palace has been assigned to me as a Fatui Harbinger. Other Harbingers who require laboratories like Dottore or Sandrone, or those who need combat training grounds, usually reside and work within their designated spaces inside the palace proper.
I, however, have to carry out my duty as the executive of the Northern Bank, so I spend most of my time handling the banks affairs from my private estate. Her majesty understood my predicaments and made an exception."
Pantalone continued his explanation, gesturing toward each door starting from the innermost one.
"The two furthest inside are the bedroom and the study, the one on the right is my office, and this one closest to the entrance is..."
When he opened the door, a bizarre device, the likes of which one might only see near the Adventurers' Guild, revealed itself. It was a Waypoint.
"A Waypoint connected directly to my mansion. Using this will bring you right inside my estate, so if you ever wish to return to the mansion while staying at the palace, you may use this. I will have your name added to the registry so you can use it independently even without me."
"Shall we head to the mansion, then?" Pantalone extended his gloved hand, and Kaveh carefully rested his own over it. The moment Pantalone activated the device, their vision distorted, and the landscape shifted in an instant.
Today had truly been a day of endless surprises.
Pantalone had modestly referred to it as a 'mansion,' but the place they arrived at was a grand estate of such overwhelming scale that it could easily pass for a palace. Every pillar supporting the high ceilings was engraved with intricate reliefs, and the magnificent paintings lining the walls alongside the finish of the marble floors made it glaringly obvious, even to a layman, that an astronomical sum of wealth had been poured into this place. Hanging directly ahead was a massive oil painting, presumably depicting the full view of the estate.
The two passed the grand central staircase and came to a stop before a heavy door at the end of the third-floor corridor.
"This is the room where you will be staying, Kaveh." Pantalone opened the door for him. Upon checking the interior, Kaveh nearly let out a gasp. The sheer size of the room was larger than the entire house he had shared with Alhaitham, and Kaveh easily recognized the bed, desk, and side tables furnishing the space were from the most prestigious brands in all of Teyvat.
Decorated with all kinds of ornaments, its wide bay windows offered an unobstructed view of the mansion's courtyard below.
"The door on the left leads to the bathroom, and the one on the right is the dressing room. I have already prepared a selection of garments for you to wear temporarily before we go out to purchase a proper wardrobe."
Pantalone turned back to Kaveh.
"Once I leave, your personal attendant will introduce you to the layout of the mansion. If you need anything, simply ask him, and he will bring it to you, so please make yourself at home. I intend for you to stay here until the evaluation is complete, and further until the project itself is finished. However, if the room is not to your liking, I can certainly arrange another space for you."
"No, no! How could it not be to my liking?! If anything, this room is far too extravagant! It feels like a room meant for the lady of the house. Is it really alright for you to do this much for me?"
As Kaveh waved his hands in frantic protest, Pantalone cut him off with a gentle smile.
"Kaveh, I have told you numerous times that you need not feel burdened by me.” His eyes softened. "If providing you with an environment where you can freely create art requires money, then I possess both the means and the willingness to spend it. Please don't diminish your own worth. You deserve all of this."
For a brief moment, Kaveh looked as though he wanted to argue. But before he could, Pantalone glanced at his pocket watch.
"I must return to the Zapolyarny Palace for business shortly. Do you have your portfolio ready?"
"Ah, right. Just a moment..."
Kaveh hurried over to his piled luggage, opened his bag, and retrieved the documents he had organized during their journey. Placing them into an envelope on the desk, he handed them to Pantalone.
"Thank you. I will personally review them and submit them along with my recommendation letter before the day is out."
"Then what should I do in the meantime?"
"Hmm… For now, there is nothing you need to do. You may rest and recover from the fatigue of your journey, or if you wish to tour the mansion, you may ask the attendant to guide you around. You may also venture out into the city to buy anything you need, but I must ask that you accompany the attendant, as you are not yet familiar with this foreign land and I’d rather not lose you to soon. My bedroom and office are located directly on the floor above, so if you have any pressing matters, you may find me there."
Kaveh thought for a moment.
"Mmm… Right now I just want to take a warm bath..."
"I shall instruct him to warm up the room. Leave your clothes in front of the bathroom, and the attendant will wash and return them to you later. Choose whatever you like from the wardrobe to change into.”
He offered a polite bow.
“If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave. Have a pleasant day, Kaveh."
With that, Pantalone left the room with the documents in hand.
Left alone, staring blankly at the space where he had just stood, Kaveh crossed the room and curiously opened the dressing room door, only to let out a sigh. From indoor loungewear to outdoor attire and lavish evening gowns, the clothes tightly packing the dressing room were visibly crafted from the finest fabrics by renowned designers. He couldn't even begin to comprehend how much all of this must have cost.
To be honest, the favor Pantalone was showering upon him was undeniably excessive, and at times, even bordering on burdensome.
Yet, the gratitude blooming in a corner of his heart was equally real. Beyond the relationship of an investor and a patron, almost no one had ever believed in and supported his talent so unconditionally.
He certainly had precious friends in Sumeru who cherished him—like Alhaitham, Tighnari, and Cyno—but whenever he passionately ranted about his 'ideals,' the subtle, overly rational glints that passed through their eyes would occasionally suffocate him.
'Still, Feofan is…'
The man who had appeared like a savior during the period when Kaveh was at his most broken and miserable. The man who had listened entirely to his ideals and art.
That singular fact was profoundly shaking Kaveh’s heart. Setting one of the loungewear down on the bed, Kaveh headed to the bathroom. Melting away his exhaustion in the warm water, he decided he ought to get a good rest today. Within the massive and secure enclosure Pantalone had erected for him, Kaveh, for the first time in a long while, unfurled his weighed-down wings and took a deep breath of solace.
On the third day of isolating himself in his room to escape the cold and rest, Pantalone sought him out with a visibly delighted expression. Toward Kaveh, who set down the book he was reading on the bed and approached, Pantalone lightly waved a thick document envelope.
"Kaveh, the results of the evaluation for your portfolio have arrived.”
"Already? That's much faster than I thought. How did it go?"
"Naturally, your appointment to the position has been confirmed."
Pantalone’s lips curved into a gentle arc as he smiled.
"There were five or six highly qualified candidates. However, one member of the review committee was particularly impressed by the Northern Bank project and advocated rather passionately on your behalf. You were chosen unanimously over the other candidates."
It was the result he had been anxiously awaiting for days. At the positive news, Kaveh finally exhaled the breath he had been holding and let out a sigh of relief.
"Honestly, even if I hadn't gotten the position, I was planning to participate as a regular architect anyway."
A grin spread across his face.
“But I'm so relieved to have secured the position I originally hoped for. Thank you, Feofan."
"It was entirely possible due to your genius intellect; I merely offered a bit of assistance. Not once did I doubt you'd succeed”
He lightly tapped the envelope.
“I would love nothing more than to bring a bottle of Snezhnaya's finest vintage from my room right now to share a celebratory drink with you, but..."
Pantalone stared at Kaveh, whose eyes gleamed brightly with passion.
"You must be dying of curiosity yourself, to learn the true identity of the project you will be undertaking."
Kaveh immediately leaned forward.
To be completely honest, he was. Throughout the entire journey to Snezhnaya, Kaveh felt as though his blood were running dry from curiosity. There had been countless times he wanted to press for answers, wondering what kind of massive project could make the man holding the purse strings of the continent move so covertly. However, considering Pantalone’s position, he had merely swallowed his questions. Now that his qualifications were confirmed, there was no longer any reason to hesitate.
"We've arrived in Snezhnaya, I've passed the evaluation, so isn't it about time you told me?"
"Of course. I cannot keep my dear architect waiting any longer."
Sitting across from Kaveh at the reception table, Pantalone used a small knife to slice open the envelope, laying out its contents onto the desk one by one.
Land survey reports, maps of Snezhnaya, project implementation reports, contracts, and various miscellaneous papers unfolded before Kaveh’s eyes.
"While we go over the project overview and draft the contract, I thought it best to complete all the paperwork necessary for your long-term residency here as well. It may be a bit tedious, but please bear with me."
"There goes our celebratory drink." Kaveh said mischievously. Pantalone laughed.
"There will be more than enough days for us to live and breathe under the same roof here, so we can drink then."
Pantalone picked up the thick project report first and handed it to Kaveh.
"While detailed explanations regarding the scale or specific budgets are laid out in the report, I believe it is better for me to personally explain the background of how this massive undertaking came to be. Only by understanding the long history of Snezhnaya can you truly grasp the value of this project."
Pantalone leaned back elegantly against the sofa. The gaze behind his glasses grew deeply subdued.
"Kaveh, when you think of Snezhnaya, what comes to your mind first?"
"That's a pretty sudden question..." Kaveh rested his chin on his hand, digging through the knowledge he had acquired during his days at the Akademiya.
"First, that it possesses the most formidable military might and advanced technology in Teyvat, and like Natlan and Inazuma, it operates under a system where the Archon directly rules the nation.
From an environmental standpoint, it’s a harsh, freezing climate where it snows all year round, which led to the development of many factories for energy production and architecture centered around vast indoor spaces, or so I learned at the Akademiya."
"You are well-informed.“ Pantalone nodded approvingly. “As expected of a scholar from the tree of knowledge."
Pantalone nodded, continuing his narrative.
"Though few remain who know of it today, Snezhnaya’s past was entirely different from its present. Long ago, after the fall of the ancient kingdom, when the erosion of the Abyss across Teyvat was far more severe than it is now, the fairies ruled over both humans and their own kind upon this land."
He turned to another sheet of paper, revealing a faded, ancient royal emblem.
"The fairies, content with their lot even amid a rapidly changing era, refused to change in order to preserve their status, and because of that, Snezhnaya stagnated. It was Her Majesty, Tsaritsa Anastasia Feodorovna Snezhnaya, who shattered that incompetent stagnation when she ascended to the throne some five hundred years ago, dismantling the regime of the fairies that had dominated Snezhnaya."
"Declaring that Snezhnaya would have no future if it remained stagnant, she carried out a massive restructuring of the nation. The continent stood aghast when she brutally crushed the fairy regime that opposed her and completely overhauled the military administration from its very roots.”
A faint smile crossed his lips
“No one could have anticipated that the princess, once thought to be silent and powerless, would sever the head of the White Tsar and transform Snezhnaya into an unassailable hegemonic power on the continent within a mere few decades. She absorbed talents from all across Teyvat to forge miracles of machinery and bioengineering amid the frost, while ruthlessly purging any rebellious factions."
Pantalone took a sip of tea to moisten his throat. The tone of his voice darkened sharply, as though the temperature in the room had suddenly dropped a fraction.
"However, sometimes past glory can become the heaviest shackle preventing one from moving into the future. Even the seemingly perfect Snezhnaya of today is slowly rotting from within. The increasingly harsh northern winters, the erosion of the Abyss, and a ruling class that refuses to change, these are fundamental problems that even a powerful regime cannot fully resolve…”
He lowered his cup and kept on.
"But compared to the storm that is approaching..."
A shadow crossed his expression.
"They are nothing."
"A storm…?” Kaveh frowned. “What on earth do you mean by…?"
Kaveh questioned with a furrowed brow, but instead of an answer, Pantalone unfolded a massive map of Snezhnaya across the table. At its center shone the symbol of the Ice Palace.
"Kaveh” His finger rested upon it. “The current capital of Snezhnaya, where the Zapolyarny Palace stands, is the culmination of five hundred years of accumulated prosperity. Politics, administration, military, economy, trade, education, and technology, everything in Snezhnaya flows and gathers there.”
He paused briefly before going on.
“We do not know the exact details ourselves, so I cannot disclose specific matters, but before long, a great cataclysm will occur, whether we wish it or not."
"Whether it happens decades or centuries from now, it is certain to be entirely unavoidable. Snezhnaya's history books will be forced to open a new chapter, and when that time comes, people must break free from old mindsets and shackles to move forward for the sake of tomorrow."
Pantalone rose from his seat, walking slowly past Kaveh to stand behind him. His shadow cast a long silhouette over Kaveh’s head.
"What Her Majesty expects from you is the 'true symbol' for a new era, destined to bloom in the wake of that storm.”
His voice echoed softly through the room.
"A cradle that will preserve humanity's greatest minds, its greatest technologies, and its greatest military achievements from the eternal winter that threatens Snezhnaya.
An absolute sanctuary that will stand untouched when the storm passes.
A declaration to the world that we remain standing.
That we survived, that we will usher in the new age.”
Pantalone placed a hand on Kaveh’s shoulder. Through his leather glove, a strange, overwhelming pressure weighed down upon Kaveh’s entire body. Pantalone’s voice was low, yet deep enough to resonate through the entire room.
"Representing the Northland Bank and the Snezhnayan regime, I commission you, Kaveh. Design Snezhnaya’s 'new capital'."
Turning his head to look at Pantalone’s face, Kaveh’s eyes shook violently with shock. For a moment, all the sound seem to disappear from the world. Overhauling an entire nation’s capital, it was the ultimate tribute, a feat that every architect dreamed of, something that couldn't help but make an artist's heart race.
"Create a symbol that no one would dare question, a symbol that no one could ever hope to rival. Hidden away in the deepest depths, shielded from the eyes of the world… yet magnificent and beautiful enough to declare the dawn of a new world to all of creation the moment one sets foot within it."
His fingertips reached over Kaveh’s shoulder, turning the first page of the documents Kaveh held. Bold black letters stood at the top of the document.
"[Project Elysium]. This is the name of the project."
Observing Kaveh, who sat in stunned silence, unable to find his words, Pantalone returned to his position across from him and sat down at an angle.
"Under normal circumstances, merely designing a site of this scale would take several years. And even with Snezhnaya’s finest engineering power deployed, construction alone would easily take well over a decade, an unprecedented feat in the history of Teyvat.
I would love to grant you that much leisure, but unfortunately, given the nature of the situation, we do not have much time left."
Pantalone gestured slightly, indicating for Kaveh to turn the page. As Kaveh turned a few more sheets, a page detailing a tightly packed schedule appeared.
"Just as with the Northland Bank, you must team up with Snezhnaya’s leading experts from various fields to chart the course of this massive project.
Eight months.
Within that time, even excluding the commercial and residential sectors, you must perfectly map out the master plan and future roadmap for the political and administrative facilities, military and security structures, economic hubs, transportation infrastructure, major healthcare and educational institutions… and most importantly, the crown jewel of the city, the Zapolyarny Palace."
A grave weight settled into Pantalone’s voice.
"At the end of those eight months, you will face the first and only trial that will determine the fate of Project Elysium.
The Northland Bank intends to host an exhibition at the Zapolyarny Palace to officially declare Project Elysium to the world. At that time, you, as the architect-in-chief, must personally deliver the presentation regarding the project's progress and core directives."
"I… I have to do it? Personally, at the Zapolyarny Palace…?"
"Indeed. Standing in that room will be Her Majesty the Tsaritsa herself, the highest members of the Northland Bank, political and financial investors who move massive capital, the Fatui Harbingers, representatives of hundreds of scholars and engineers who will participate in the subsequent labor, and journalists from across the continent.
All eyes will be fixed upon your words. As this is a monumental undertaking that will gather Snezhnaya’s astronomical budget and manpower whole for the next decade, we require an overwhelming result capable of instantly captivating and silencing any skeptics."
The sound of Kaveh swallowing hard echoed in the quiet room. Pantalone eased the tension with a gentle smile as he continued.
"Once your presentation concludes successfully and the project's execution is approved, hundreds of the finest elites will gather under your wings.
Experts in structural engineering, construction, and environmental systems, security specialists, urban ecologists, infrastructure planners, public health and quarantine officials, mechanical engineers, Ley Line and elemental experts, and managers of supply chains and finances… That massive collective will move solely to bring your blueprint to reality."
He tapped the stack of documents
"The specific systems for each individual building, the construction of a massive apparatus for a nation to function, everything must be executed within a span of one year and two months following the exhibition. And in the final construction phase, tens of thousands of laborers will be deployed, building the city upon the world you envisioned over the course of nine to ten years."
Pantalone folded his hands.
"You may cast aside any worries regarding preliminary preparations or recruitment. Before you ever set foot in Snezhnaya, I had already perfectly finalized the land surveys, relevant legislation, and prior consultations with our partners. I have also secured the foremost authorities in each field who will participate in every stage.
I have handled all the foundational groundwork so that your genius mind will not be wasted on tedious paperwork or administrative procedures, leaving only the architect-in-chief needed to guard this entire monument from its design to its completion."
Pantalone clasped his hands and leaned back, gazing out the window where the blizzard raged.
"I spent an immense amount of time contemplating whom to appoint to this crucial position. I met countless individuals, only to be disappointed time and again, until I thought of you, Kaveh. Though our connection in Sumeru was brief, you left me with the absolute certainty that you were the only one capable of undertaking this role. That is why I visited Sumeru under the pretext of the Northland Bank facility project to find you, bringing you here with such great effort."
He looked back at Kaveh, extending his arm to gently cover Kaveh’s hand, which was holding the documents. Kaveh flinched at the unexpected contact but made no attempt to pull away, listening to his words instead.
"Of course, it will be a truly grueling time. Though we have shortened the project duration as much as possible, you must spend a minimum of ten long years in this bitterly cold land without a single acquaintance. Reviewing all designs within a short timeframe while clashing with unfamiliar faces and facing the evaluation of the entire continent is by no means an easy position to occupy."
Pantalone stared directly into Kaveh’s eyes.
"I will take full responsibility for providing you with a comfortable residence and unlimited financial backing throughout the duration of your work. If you wish, I can act as your legal proxy to seamlessly handle all troublesome paperwork, such as long-term residency permits or complex financial management. And once this great undertaking is complete, I promise you a lifetime of compensation far beyond what you could ever imagine."
The glint in his eyes was deep and warm, like a collector who had discovered the most precious treasure in the world.
"However, if you truly find this burden too heavy to bear, you may comfortably lay it down even now. Should you choose to return to Sumeru, I will arrange the safest and most luxurious means for your journey, and if you wish to remain in Snezhnaya without participating in this project, you may accept other private commissions instead.
I will utilize the Fatui, the Northland Bank, and my own personal connections to ensure a steady stream of work demanding your hands, so that you need never worry about your livelihood or money within my enclosure for the rest of your days."
As Pantalone spoke, a faint but definitive smirk passed over the corners of his lips. He had already read the perfect answer written across Kaveh’s face.
The sense of duty and passion to throw himself entirely toward the highest realms of art and ideals, alongside the thrill and exhilaration unique to a genius confronting a monumental opportunity, it was a manifestation of human beauty that Pantalone knew best, and perhaps the thing he loved most.
"...I've never handled a project of this scale before."
"Not only you, but everyone participating in this project, no, across the entire history of the continent of Teyvat, this is an unprecedented feat that will never happen a second time in mankind."
"…Until now, it was just the reconstruction of a small village in the Sumeru desert, a portion of the harbor facilities, and at most, the Palace of Alcazarzaray and this Northland Bank building…
And now you’re asking me not to merely participate, but to lead all of this..."
"It is only natural for you to feel overwhelmed. Even if I remain by your side to cater to your every convenience, I am practically a layman compared to you when it comes to architecture, so I will be unable to offer any practical assistance. I can only provide material support as your patron."
A reassuring smile slowly spread across his face.
"But Kaveh, don’t you feel your heart race?
Tens of thousands of workers participating in this massive ark will answer solely to your command and respect your aesthetic choices. Without any interference or the constraints of reality, an opportunity has arrived for you to freely unfold the ideal world you have envisioned in your mind upon this earth. I will gladly become your steadfast support, standing with you until the very end so that you may soar freely."
His voice softened.
"So tell me, Kaveh? Will you accept this task?"
There was no longer any reason to deliberate. It was the singular dream he had fantasized about throughout his life as an architect, yearning to reach it one day. What artist in the world would refuse such a perfect opportunity?
"Of course. I will”
Kaveh's eyes shone with unwavering certainty.
"I'll see this project through to the very end."
And Pantalone's smile deepened.
Kaveh then proceeded to verify the terms of the contract alongside Pantalone, carefully reading through the document regarding his position.
For the duration of the project, Pantalone would act as Kaveh’s guarantor, confirming his residence to be the most comfortable room within this very mansion. Kaveh would reside here, utilizing the permission granted to use the Waypoint to move freely between the site and the private and communal workshops prepared in the west wing of Pantalone’s mansion to carry out his work.
When it came to the expenses for maintaining his dignity, living expenses, and other costs necessary for the project during his stay, Kaveh waved his hands in refusal, claiming it was far too excessive. However, Pantalone pleasantly dismissed his objections, effectively locking the amount to 'unlimited'.
Upon hearing the final sum of the total compensation to be paid upon completion, Kaveh nearly fainted, but Pantalone merely laughed it off, threatening to triple the amount if he refused, forcing him to sign the document.
Furthermore, following the advice of Pantalone, who knew all to well of Kaveh’s utter distaste for complex matters like asset management, Kaveh unhesitatingly signed the document designating him as his 'legal representative.'
They agreed to securely store all wealth earned in Snezhnaya within the Northland Bank, delegating full authority over all incoming and outgoing funds to Pantalone. It was a thoroughly tender and dedicated consideration on Pantalone’s part, sparing a foreigner from the exceedingly tedious and complicated administrative procedures of Snezhnaya.
By the time they had finished filling out the long-term residency visas and residential designation forms, the darkness of a deep night had already settled heavily outside the closed windows.
Pantalone carefully gathered the contracts back into their envelopes. Leaving Kaveh with the project implementation reports, land survey documents, papers containing the profiles of the experts participating in the project, and a copy of the contract, he prepared to leave the room.
"The first official meeting will take place in three days, once the experts from all fields have been assembled here.
As for the books, I shall immediately have servants bring over the Snezhnayan historical and geographical data from my study as you requested. Any remaining materials will be procured from the administrative department tomorrow morning."
He paused for a moment before continuing.
"Aside from that, if you require anything else, feel free to enter and browse my personal study whenever you wish; simply inform the servants. Let the kitchen know of your food preferences or any allergies… Ah, as the weather is cold, we must get you several more sets of clothes. Please convey your desired fabrics or styles to my secretary."
"Uh, yeah… thank you..."
Walking toward the door, Pantalone suddenly halted and glanced back.
"Is there a problem?"
"No… it's just that so much information was flooded into my head earlier that I couldn't say it..."
Setting down the stack of documents, Kaveh offered a slightly awkward smile.
"Thank you for giving me this miraculous opportunity, Feofan. I won't disappoint you, so… you can look forward to my design."
For a brief moment, Pantalone froze upon hearing Kaveh's earnest and sincere declaration.
Then a deeply satisfied smile appeared behind his glasses.
"Haha, it seems traveling all the way to distant Sumeru to find you was indeed the right choice."
"Well then, have a peaceful night." With a tender farewell, Pantalone stepped out of the room, and the heavy door closed smoothly behind him.
Left alone in the vast and luxurious chamber, Kaveh found himself unable to sleep. He stood by the window, gazing out across the endless snow-covered landscape.
Again and again he sketched the outline of the city he would build within his imagination, drawing and redrawing its future. Filled with anticipation unlike anything he had ever known, Kaveh spent one of the most exhilarating nights of his life awake.
Over the next three days, Kaveh remained at the mansion, thoroughly reviewing the reports Pantalone had handed him. While organizing his daily necessities and personal belongings received upon request, fully realizing his long-term stay in Snezhnaya, the fateful day of the first official meeting finally arrived.
Stepping through the doors of the conference room, Kaveh briefly caught his breath at its overwhelming scale. When he had designed the Northland Bank branch in Sumeru previously, there had been a mere six people in total, including Kaveh himself. However, the scene unfolding before his eyes now could not even be compared to that time.
Packing the long marble table whole, the individuals who simultaneously fixed their gazes upon Kaveh as he entered numbered in the dozens. The standardized aura exuded by Snezhnaya’s top elites, each renowned in their respective fields, heavily weighed down upon the conference room.
Swallowing hard, Kaveh stood at the podium. Given that a foreigner far younger than them, possessing no connections whatsoever, had taken charge of this massive project, it would not have been surprising for someone to harbor resentment or haze him. Bracing himself for subtle tests and disdain, Kaveh unfolded the project implementation forms and the draft of the master plan, initiating the briefing.
However, Kaveh’s anxieties concluded as a pleasant miscalculation. As the briefing progressed, the heavy silence gripping the conference room gradually shifted into a fierce and productive fervor.
Snezhnaya’s experts did not find fault with Kaveh’s young age or origin in the slightest. They gazed solely upon the unique ideas and precise blueprints Kaveh presented. Whenever Kaveh offered a broad guideline, they moved their pens relentlessly, pouring out opinions regarding the project's timeline and detailed processes. It was a world of professionals who conversed strictly through capability and results. Despite the immense number of personnel, it was an astonishingly perfect synchronization, like interlocking gears turning in unison.
The dinner gathering that followed the fierce first meeting proceeded in a much softer atmosphere. Over a table where fire water and warm dishes circulated, the team members conversed without formality regarding their previous works and architectural philosophies. Bringing the novel ideas Kaveh had proposed during the day back to the table, they added sincere improvements, like "To fully realize that aesthetic within Snezhnaya’s climate, it would be best to utilize this type of finishing material."
Feeling immensely tense in an unfamiliar foreign land, Kaveh experienced a strange comfort and deep relief among them, as they respected and lent an ear to his art. While his ideals had always been treated as 'reckless romanticism' in Sumeru, forcing him to fight in solitude, the geniuses here were willingly putting their heads together to turn his ideals into reality.
Once they had neatly organized the teams according to their respective areas of expertise and finalized the specific division of roles, the long day finally drew to a close. It was a night where the historic first step of Project Elysium concluded in a manner that was nothing short of flawless and successful.
The following day, the work began in earnest.
The large workshop prepared in Pantalone’s mansion transformed into a massive command center under Kaveh’s direction. The work proceeded precisely as discussed beforehand; Kaveh would sketch out the overall design style and spatial layout of the city, establishing the guidelines while refining the designs of the buildings alongside the designers. Following that, engineers and other draftsmen would take over, applying the exact measurements and detailed structures to the process.
Thanks to the conveniently connected Waypoint facilities, Kaveh traversed between the mansion's workshop and the freezing construction site several times a day, contemplating how to program the space while considering the foot traffic and convenience of the people. He engaged in heated debates with them daily, executing the work as they found their rhythm.
However, Snezhnaya’s barren environment, entirely opposite to that of Sumeru, presented a massive wall to the genius architect.
"This is wrong… This structure won't work..."
Kaveh harshly drew a red line over a blueprint where the ink had yet to dry. His voice, already sharp from working day and night without rest, froze the air in the workshop.
"If we incorporate an open cloister that allows the wind to pass through like the Palace of Alcazarzaray in Sumeru, the building will turn into an ice pit within a matter of minutes in this harsh winter. We must increase the thickness of the exterior walls by at least twofold, and replace all windows with Fontaine-style triple-pane insulated glass… Furthermore, how about we make the slope of the roof steeper so that snow slides off instead of accumulating..."
"Mr. Kaveh, if we do that, the cost per building will skyrocket, and it will require two to three times more materials… Of course, the Northland Bank said it would be fine, but I'm worried the investors will fiercely object…."
"...Budget is a concern, yes… but even I think this structure is too inefficient. The indoor space narrows, and wasted space increases, making it uncomfortable for people to actually reside in… If only there were a technology capable of overcoming this..."
Kaveh wiped his face with his hands, letting out a deep sigh. Striking a balance between beauty, practicality, and this merciless cold was a task that caused a greater headache than he had imagined. Moreover, instead of focusing on a single structure, he had to compose a variety of buildings overall, making it exceedingly difficult to consider the requirements for every single one.
The tasks ahead of them were truly endless, just as the workes once had said. Consequently, Kaveh naturally arrived at the workshop earliest upon opening his eyes to work, and remained the latest even after everyone had clocked out, repeatedly modifying the designs.
A few weeks after the work had commenced, on that day as well, Kaveh sent everyone home after the meeting concluded. In the quiet workshop, only the light from the lamp resting on Kaveh’s desk remained solitary.
Just as he had wiped away the frost on the window inside the clattering train, Kaveh blankly wiped away the white frostflowers clinging to the workshop window with the tip of his finger.
The Snezhnayan night sky visible beyond the glass pane was terribly chilling, and a peculiar sense of loneliness crept into a corner of his chest. While he had always stayed up late working alone in Sumeru as well, the weight of a night welcomed in a foreign land was entirely different. This place lacked Lambad’s Tavern, where he could flee from reality when his work stalled, nor were there friends with whom he could lament over drinks.
At that moment, the workshop door opened quietly, and soft footsteps approached.
"You are still awake, Mr. Kaveh."
Hearing the welcoming voice he hadn't heard in days, Kaveh averted his eyes from the blueprint to greet him warmly. Even if the Snezhnayan nights were lonely, Pantalone frequently carved out time amid his busy schedule to visit him when he remained alone in the workshop.
"Feofan, didn't you say you'd be too busy to come today?"
While Kaveh cleared a section of the desk by pushing the blueprints aside to make space, Pantalone brought over a tray adorned with a samovar, sweet jam, and cookies, setting it down on the desk.
It seemed he had just returned from the Northland, a faint scent of the cold night air wafted from his perfectly arranged coat.
“Your room’s lights never went out. As a patron concerned for his artist, I thought I should at least bring you some warm tea. Why not take a short break?”
"Where is the time to rest? Right now, there are far too many issues to consider, starting from the insulation.."
"Geniuses occasionally forget the fact that they too require rest. A brief pause assists in clearing the mind and generating new insights. If nothing else, indulge me. I’ve had a long day myself and would appreciate sharing a cup of tea with you.”
At those words, Kaveh pouted, replying in a half-grumbling tone that he had no choice, yet he didn't refuse the warm teacup extended to him, accepting it. As warmth spread through his frozen fingertips, a sigh of relief escaped him involuntarily.
Pantalone leaned against the desk, peering down at the scattered blueprints with intrigued eyes.
"It appears you are facing many difficulties. How is the progress?"
"Ah, actually, there was something I wanted to ask your opinion on."
Kaveh pulled a few sheets from the stack of papers, laying them out before his eyes. Picking up a blue pen, he indicated sections on the blueprint as he explained.
"Here, the site where the central financial facilities and government offices of the city will be established. I thought about this while riding in the carriage previously; despite this bitter cold, children wear thick clothing and run around here and there. However, because the winter is so long, there aren't many days where children can run around outside to their heart's content."
Kaveh indicated a portion of the blueprint with the pen, sketching a rough shape of a building there as he explained.
"Therefore, I want to position a large-scale school right next to this financial district. And at the center of the school, we incorporate a massive glass conservatory-style courtyard! By integrating Fontaine’s latest engineering technology, we can ensure warm air circulates throughout the cold season. That way, even if a blizzard rages outside, the children can run around inside to their heart's content while receiving sunlight.
The reason I am intentionally placing this near the plaza is because I believe the sight of children laughing brightly and running around will become the greatest strength sustaining this cold city."
Kaveh glanced sideways, gauging Pantalone’s reaction. Ordinary clients would surely have questioned it item by item, labeling it an 'excessively sentimental and inefficient design.' Snezhnaya’s draftsmen had also shaken their heads over the proposal due to budget concerns.
However, Pantalone silently stared down at the conservatory school within the blueprint, before letting out a low laugh. The narrow corners of his eyes behind his glasses curved softly.
"What a dazzlingly tender idea, so perfectly like you, Kaveh."
"……Huh?"
"It differs from the direction I had envisioned, yet it is intriguing.
You worry first and foremost about a space for the children of this frozen land to breathe. I like it. If we push the financial facilities slightly to the right of this plaza, it will also be far easier to connect the thermal energy piping for the school's conservatory structure. Centering the plaza will allow people visiting the bank to naturally share in the vitality of the children."
Resting his finger upon Kaveh’s blueprint, Pantalone began to refine Kaveh's ideals into concrete proposals utilizing a refined and capable manner of speech. Hearing Pantalone label a bold idea—even by his own standards—as a tender concept while commercially embracing it, Kaveh felt the fatigue he had accumulated thus far dissolve, his mind easing.
"Do you like children?" Kaveh questioned, observing him as he offered his opinions regarding the design. Pantalone paused his words, appearing to contemplate the question deeply.
"I prefer quiet environments, but I have no objections to the fact that the children of this land will eventually become the future of the nation. What about you?"
"It's always pleasant to watch children running around."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. I didn't realize it as much when I was at the Akademiya, but looking back, playing with friends after school, browsing the bazaar, and participating in festivals were truly immense pleasures. And even as an adult observing that sight, it warms the heart. The bright energy children provide is something I never grow tired of seeing."
Pantalone remained silent for a brief moment after listening to his words, before letting out a small laugh. Taking a sip of his tea, he spoke to him in a gentle voice.
“It will be a wonderful city, then. Because someone as good-hearted as you is shaping it.”
The words made Kaveh unexpectedly happy. Picking up a cookie to eat, he stared intently at the blueprint before speaking.
"But Feofan, this conservatory structure will likely incur an immense expense. Will it be alright?"
As Kaveh questioned cautiously, Pantalone set down his teacup, displaying a leisurely smile.
"Financial concerns are my domain, Kaveh. You simply need to implement that tender ideal upon the blueprints to your heart's content. If the children can grow up witnessing spring even upon this frozen, hellish land, then such an expense is more than worth paying.”
Pantalone himself must have reached the pinnacle of exhaustion from daily overnight public duties, yet he displayed no such signs in front of Kaveh, merely remaining as a perfectly comfortable and dependable patron, just as Kaveh needed most.
Together they spent hours beneath the deepening Snezhnayan night, surrounded by the scent of ink and warm tea, leaning over the blueprints side by side.
And slowly, the loneliness and wariness that had settled deep within Kaveh’s heart toward this foreign land began to melt away beneath the warmth Pantalone offered.
"What makes you smile so happily, Pantalone?"
"My... I haven't the faintest idea what you mean by that."
Dottore spoke as he input data into the computer, turning his head to look at Pantalone, who was perched on one of the laboratory tables, idly swirling a test tube between his fingers. When he told that shaking it would cause it to explode, Pantalone, blinking innocently, let out a small "Oh dear," and placed the test tube back where it belonged.
Back when the Segments still existed, Dottore had been too occupied with his duties as a Harbinger to notice the difference. However, now that the segments were gone, having to handle everything alone, from minor paperwork to cleaning up the lab. was a massive inconvenience.
He had briefly considered making Pantalone do some of the menial work while he waited for his examination results, but he couldn't bring himself to trust a man who kept his nose buried in banking operations all day with delicate laboratory equipment, so he had no choice but to leave him be.
Years ago, Pantalone had at least possessed enough self-preservation instincts to remember that Dottore effectively held his life in his hands. He had been more obedient back then. At some point, he took up smoking, he had grown increasingly bold. Not that Dottore had any desire to interfere or remind Pantalone of their hierarchy.
"Did you visit that architect before coming to my laboratory?” Dottore asked. Lately, every time you return from meeting him, you seem to be smiling."”
"It is simply that the individual I took in is performing exceedingly well. I suppose my eye for talent remains impeccable. Have you felt a similar sensation when you plucked me from among the test subjects back then and watched me crawl my way up to the position of Regator entirely on my own?"
"I simply found it absurd that someone who occupies themselves with the safe work of banking would manage to get shot, poisoned, and require me to replace his lungs, only to continue ruining his body through smoking."
"I always find that you are uniquely stingy with praise toward me, Doctor. And here I thought we had shared hundreds of years of camaraderie under the same roof."
"Quit smoking before you speak."
Even as Dottore delivered that piece of criticism, Pantalone paid no heed whatsoever, pulling a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it. Watching him, Dottore let out a low sigh of absurdity. Continuing to draft his document, he casually tossed out an inkling of doubt that had been lingering in his mind.
"I've examined his works. He certainly possesses a formidable array of achievements for someone his age. Some of his blueprints appeared far more intricate than the designs of those rigid Sages I observed during my time at the Akademiya."
"Have you developed an interest in him?” Pantalone asked with amusement. “Thinking of asking him to build you a small, cozy cabin to reside in after retirement? I assumed architecture would be outside your area of interest, given that his area of expertise differs entirely from yours. How unexpected of you, my dear Doctor."
"A young foreigner arriving in Snezhnaya and immediately being placed in charge of a project as significant as building a new capital city is bound to attract attention."
"Did you not monopolize a massive portion of the Fatui's budget to conduct all manner of research the moment you arrived? You succeeded in creating segments, and your research into the Eleazar was also a success."
"During my days as 'Zandik,' I did indeed undertake crucial enterprises upon my arrival," Dottore countered coldly.
"However, that was an era when Snezhnaya actively pursued the recruitment of foreign talent, offering them extraordinary treatment. More importantly, Pulcinella wasn't sitting firmly within the leadership back then. I can vividly picture the words that old man will hurl at you the moment he sees you. I can practically hear him already: 'A foreigner who didn't even grow up in Snezhnaya? You're placing him in a position that important? Rather reckless for someone as supposedly rational as the Regrator.'"
"That pint-sized old gentleman would certainly say as much.” Pantalone chuckled. “He truly is a bizarre fellow. He claims to dislike the youth due to their lack of experience, yet he readily appointed a wild novice like Tartaglia to the position of Harbinger, did he not? He lacks consistency. To my eyes, Kaveh is a far more conversational intellectual than that boy whose mind is entirely occupied by combat."
"I happen to agree with you on that point. Here, the results have been printed. Go ahead and review them."
As Dottore handed the printed data to Pantalone, the latter swiftly scanned through the document. Observing him intently, Dottore voiced the question he desired to ask most.
"Seriously. What exactly did you see in him?"
Pantalone looked up.
“You don't strike me as someone who acts out of pure goodwill. And given how much you treasured '34,' I find it incomprehensible how you could bring a new individual to your side so soon after his death…”
Dottore folded his arms.
“No matter how I attempt to rationalize it, I cannot find an answer. Why would a rational and calculating individual like yourself fixate so heavily upon a mere artist?"
"Every individual has reasons that are difficult to explain in words."
Pantalone returned the document to Dottore, a smile gracing his features.
"Just as I still fail to comprehend the principles of your research despite observing them by your side for hundreds of years, not every aspect of life can be understood by an outside observer."
Dottore accepted the document from Pantalone, setting it down on the desk as he spoke.
"Your physical condition remains similar to the previous test results. Since you ingested the elixir of immortality today, your next dose will be prescribed next year. I shall continue my nagging regarding your smoking habit, but if you truly cannot stop, try reducing it by at least a single cigarette."
"I already have." Pantalone sounded almost offended. “For your information, I have managed to reduce my consumption from a pack a day to a mere eight cigarettes. Surely that deserves some recognition, Doctor. This is the first one I’ve had in quite a while.”
Do you not feel any pity for me, a non-smoker who has to inhale this pungent smoke whole? Completely ignoring Dottore's grumbling complaint, Pantalone extinguished his cigarette in a portable ashtray.
"Well then, I shall take my leave."
Gathering the coat he had draped over his arm, Pantalone headed toward the laboratory door. Dottore stared silently at his retreating back as the door began to close, tossing a warning in a low, submerged voice.
"The existence of the project regarding the new city is already widely known among the Fatui leadership. For now, I am the only one who has subtly questioned you, but your peculiar behavior will soon draw the gaze of others. When that time comes, you must firmly establish your stance regarding that architect. Otherwise, even you might get swept up in the consequences."
Pantalone paused a moment with his hand on the doorknob, turning his head slightly. A mirage of an unreadable smile surfaced on his face as he spoke in a reassuring tone.
"Do not worry, Dottore. I am entirely aware, without a shadow of a doubt, of what I desire from him, and what emotions I harbor toward him. I appreciate your concern, but you need not delve so deeply into my personal domain.”
He opened the door.
“Well, Until the next Fatui gathering, then."
Dottore’s prediction proved to be entirely accurate. Pantalone’s actions, which mirrored an attempt to thoroughly isolate the rumored architect from the eyes of the world, naturally triggered the sharp instincts of the other Fatui Harbingers.
Consequently, exactly one month after Kaveh set foot in Snezhnaya, this very agenda was brought to the table during a regular Fatui gathering. In the council chamber where Her Majesty the Tsaritsa was absent due to official duties, Pulcinella attempted to conclude the meeting in a solemn voice, but Arlecchino, seated adjacent to Pantalone, spoke up first in a chilling tone.
"Pantalone. Last month, when the Sumeru delegation returned to our nation via Fontaine, one of my intelligence operatives reported spotting an unfamiliar individual standing by your side at the train station."
At Arlecchino’s sudden intervention, the other Harbingers, who had been preparing to vacate their seats, halted in unison and fixed their attention upon the two. A taut tension gripped the council chamber, yet Pantalone merely maintained his characteristic poker face, offering her a silent smile.
"Rumor has it that this individual is currently directing the entire design of the new city that Her Majesty has secretly commanded.” She crossed her arms. “Despite a full month having transpired since his arrival in our nation, no one has laid eyes upon him within the palace, and nothing has surfaced within my intelligence network. Exactly what sort of grand figure are you keeping so securely tucked away under your wing?"
Pantalone lowered the papers he held, proceeding to deliver an explanation regarding Kaveh. He briefly detailed the process of their meeting in a strictly businesslike tone—explaining that they had established a personal acquaintance during a past business trip, that he had formally commissioned him for the work during the recent Sumeru branch assignment, and that the results were so magnificent that he had personally drafted a recommendation letter to ensure he passed the official evaluation.
"Hmph… A foreigner who didn't even grow up in Snezhnaya? You're placing him in a position that important? Rather reckless for someone as supposedly rational as the Regrator.'"
As Pulcinella’s aging voice echoed through the chamber voicing his concerns, low murmurs erupted among the other Harbingers. As unpleasant remarks questioning Kaveh’s qualifications and expertise began to surface from all sides, Pantalone briefly pressed the bridge of his nose, icily subduing the irritation that flared within him.
"Given that he is an individual who lacked a grand environment to flourish his talent previously, it is entirely natural for you all to harbor doubts.” His voice remained perfectly composed.
“Had he encountered Snezhnaya’s capital a few years earlier, or left a greater array of works across the continent, such unnecessary skepticism would not exist.
However, though the duration I have observed him is brief, I can guarantee this much with absolute clarity. A genius of his caliber requires nothing more than proper backing and a stage to unfold his capabilities to achieve a feat far beyond anyone's imagination."
Pantalone turned his head, glancing at Dottore who was seated next to him.
"Would you not agree, Dottore?"
Behind his mask, Dottore silently stared back at Pantalone. Pantalone answered the silence with an amused smile.
Before anyone could speak, another voice cut through the room.
"Enough.
Everyone fell silent.
”Cease this useless worrying."
Seated at the head of the table, Pierro roughly gathered the minutes drafted by his subordinate, his heavy voice dominating the chamber.
"This is a matter that Her Majesty has already formally approved. The results will be proven during the exhibition to be held at the palace in a few months' time. If any doubts remain, we shall discuss them then.”
He rose from his seat.
“This meeting is adjourned; dismiss yourselves."
As Pierro opened the heavy doors of the council chamber and exited first, the other Harbingers rose from their seats one by one, vacating the room in sequence.
Dottore watched Pantalone's retreating figure. There were still countless questions he wanted to ask. He wanted nothing more than to grab Pantalone by the collar as he exited the chamber, demanding the true meaning behind the words he had uttered while invoking his name, and why he remained so fiercely insistent upon that reckless artist.
Yet Dottore refrained from halting his receding figure, watching him silently before turning his steps toward his own laboratory.
For he currently possessed experiments that were far more pressing and critical than a mere, mysterious foreign architect.