Yes, Lady Funina!

"I guess you two are the heroes who fought against the dragon disaster as Captain Jean mentioned, and the foreign travelers who were awarded the honorary knights of the Knights of Favonius?" Richard said with a smile, his voice was neither hurried nor slow, and it sounded very comfortable.

"Yes, that's right. Hello, my name is Paimon, and this is my best friend Ying. May I ask what you can do for us?" Paimon, the Mouth of God, asked politely.

"Paimon and Ying, right? Nice to meet you. It's nothing big, I just thought that I happened to run into my comrades who will fight side by side against the Abyss Cult from now on, and it would be unreasonable not to say hello." Richard said.

"Abyss Cult, has Captain Jean told you even this?" Paimon did not expect that Jean would trust the man in front of him so much. You know, this is a major matter related to Mond's safety. Is it really okay to tell a high-ranking official from a foreign country?

Although he had heard that the Knights of Favonius were going to cooperate with the Fontaine Mission and that the Lord of Water would also take action, when it happened before his eyes, Paimon realized that it was not a rumor.

But why would a foreign water god get involved in Mond's affairs, and where is Mond's wind god?

All of this troubled Paimon and Ying, but there was no doubt that the man in front of them knew more inside information than them, and perhaps they could get answers to many questions from him.

However, Richard came over just to say hello this time and had no intention of having a deeper conversation.

"Yes. After all, I am half Mond. I grew up in Mond. Naturally, I don't want my hometown to suffer indelible trauma due to the conspiracy of people with ulterior motives. We can talk about the details later. Miss Charlotte is still waiting for you. I believe we will meet again soon."

Richard really just came to say hello, and after speaking, he left with Charlotte.

However, the other party's remarks were like a riddle, leaving Ying and Paimeng confused.

Paimon had to complain: "Why do these big shots all talk the same way? Why can't they make their words clearer? We'll see each other again soon, but how long is considered soon?"

"At least from the current perspective, the other party is a 'friend' rather than an 'enemy' like the Fatui." Ying said.

"That's true. As long as he can gain the trust of Captain Qin, he should be on our side. And this Lord Richard seems to be very extraordinary and reliable!" Paimon thought of the other party's extraordinary appearance just now. With such a helper, the future journey should be much easier.

Thinking of this, Paimeng felt inexplicably more at ease.

On the other side, Charlotte also followed Richard to his home...

Volume 50: Chapter 4: Charlotte's Double Life (K)

Richard's home in Mond is a villa located in the inner city of Mond, just one street away from the central terrace of the entire city.

The appearance of the villa is simple and elegant, exuding a calm atmosphere. The high sloping roof, gable walls, exquisite brick and stone carvings. In the sun, the ancient stone walls of the villa are shining, and the moss and stone patterns on them are particularly clear in the sun. Those bricks and stones that have been baptized by the years have witnessed the countless springs, summers, autumns and winters that this villa has experienced.

For five hundred years, the owner of this villa has never changed, but his neighbors have been changing all the time. Even Richard would feel sad when he thought of his childhood playmates, whose descendants have grown gray-haired after who knows how many generations.

Perhaps this is what every immortal needs to face.

"Come in." Richard did not show his emotions outwardly. He never exposed his innermost emotions in front of outsiders. After all, doing so would be tantamount to telling others about his weakness.

Charlotte walked into the quaint villa with curiosity. She found that contrary to its appearance, the furniture inside was basically the latest styles and not as retro as she had imagined.

Richard saw what Charlotte was thinking, and he said, "Furniture is replaced every once in a while. Times are always improving, and furniture will become more and more useful. There's no need to compromise yourself for a little bit of historical sentiment. Besides, in my opinion, five hundred years is not a long time."

Charlotte cast her eyes on Richard's ears and had no doubt about what he said. Perhaps five hundred years was just a growth period in other people's eyes, just like the time it takes for humans to transition from adolescence to youth.

To this Charlotte's answer was even more straightforward, "You are right."

She wanted Richard to make a request right now. If she could do it, she would do it. If she couldn't, then both sides would be in trouble!

She went to jail, and Richard went... to continue being the second-in-command of City Hall, a high-ranking official with a high salary, overwhelmed by official duties all day long, keeping him busy to death!

No, this is not a fight to the death situation!

unfair!

Charlotte thought with some grief and indignation that even when she was a freelance reporter and had not yet been recruited by Editor-in-Chief Ou Fu, she had never felt so wronged when facing those unreasonable interviewees.

"Would you like something to drink?" Richard took Charlotte to the sofa in the living room and motioned for her to sit down, while he went to the drinking area and got two cups.

However, Charlotte was obviously very wary of Richard. She said that she had drunk water before coming and was currently well hydrated and did not need to replenish water at all.

No wonder. Her throat was almost smoking when she was interviewing Ying and Paimon just now. When she was about to order a drink at the Deer Hunter, Richard came.

Even so, Charlotte did not intend to drink a drink prepared by a person of the opposite sex when they were alone in a closed private space, especially when she was forced to accept the invitation.

Richard noticed that Charlotte seemed to have a deep misunderstanding of him, so he didn't say much, but poured her a glass of pure water.

Whether she drinks or not is her business, and whether I, as the host, am polite or not is my business.

He is a very particular person.

"According to my observation, Miss Charlotte's interview was quite methodical, which was totally unlike what a trainee reporter should do. I guess you have been working in this field for a long time, right?"

"Yes, before I went to the Steambird Newspaper, I had been working as a freelance reporter alongside my father." Charlotte did not hide anything. For Richard, it would be a piece of cake to find out about this.

"Have you ever encountered a situation where an interview report could not be sent out?" Richard asked.

"Of course there are. Some big shots have threatened to 'ban' me!"

Charlotte said that this kind of situation is not too common. She is a journalist dedicated to pursuing the truth. Adhering to the principle of "the closer you are, the more real the report", she always appears in various places, capturing the "truth" of one thing after another in her camera.

Finally, the information was summarized and written into a report and presented in the newspaper to bring the "truth" to the people of Fontaine. However, there were naturally countless stakeholders who wanted the "truth" to disappear, and even hoped that she would disappear with it.

For Charlotte, 'sealing' is a common occurrence.

"So what did you do?" Richard sat on the sofa, leaning forward, and seemed to be a qualified listener.

“Of course I insisted on publishing it!”

"Aren't you afraid of being banned?"

"Of course I'm afraid, but if I don't report the truth because I'm afraid of being 'banned,' wouldn't that be equivalent to being 'banned' permanently?" Charlotte said as a matter of course.

However, what Charlotte couldn't understand was why Richard asked her so many irrelevant questions. Did she offend him in the past, or did she have evidence that was unfavorable to him in her hands, but she didn't know it?

After hearing Charlotte's meticulous logic, Richard was amazed. Is she really a genius?

"I see. It seems I found the right person." Richard nodded.

"Mr. Richard, please speak frankly if you have anything to say. Why would a big shot like you make things difficult for a small reporter like me?" Charlotte said with a bitter face.

"It's just a small matter about the interview. Of course, if you are not interested after I finish speaking, you can just refuse. I won't cause you trouble. After all, you have already made a backup plan, right?" Richard said with a smile.

Richard could certainly see why Charlotte revealed her relationship with him in front of Ying and hinted that they were friends.

This way, Richard couldn't use his own address to sue Charlotte for prying into "state secrets".

After all, it is normal for friends to know each other's addresses.

"Is that so... Then I refuse!" Charlotte refused without even listening.

She obviously also knows that sometimes knowing too much is not a good thing.

Richard was not annoyed by Charlotte's refusal. He just smiled and said, "Won't you listen to my request? It may be of great help to your career."

“I am very happy with my current career!”

Help? Staying away from you now will be the biggest help to my career! Charlotte sneered in her heart.

She would never believe that Richard would be so kind as to help her for no reason.

You have to know that she is sitting here now, still under the tyranny of Richard's "stick of law".

Even if there was no threat from Richard, Charlotte would still advocate "independent" and "autonomous" news reporting and reject all showmanship!

In other words, even if Charlotte had no news, no interviews, or was fired from the Steambird Newspaper, she would not allow Richard to interfere in her news!

"Really? That's a pity. I wanted Miss Charlotte to join the team and participate deeply in the 'Crusade against the Dragon and the Cult of the Abyss' operation... Well, since Miss Charlotte is not interested, I have to find another reliable reporter who is not afraid of power and dares to tell the truth." Richard sighed.

Charlotte was stunned. Richard kept repeating in her ears the words "subjugating the dragon and the Cult of the Abyss", so she didn't hear clearly what he said afterwards.

He just said that he wanted to find a reliable reporter who was not afraid of power and dared to tell the truth, right?

It’s not easy to find that kind of reporter... So don’t look for him, let me do it.

Charlotte feels that sometimes no matter what people do, they have to accept some external opinions. News interviews require objectivity. If you don't listen to other people's opinions, how can you be considered objective?

Besides, Sir Richard hasn't said anything yet, so it would be impolite for me to reject him just like that.

"Since Miss Charlotte is not interested in this matter, let's forget it." Richard picked up the tea and took a sip, while silently counting to three in his mind.

'three……'

Charlotte looked conflicted. At this moment, in her heart, two villains, one black and one white, were constantly quarreling with each other.

Black villain (hateful): Charlotte, Charlotte, are you really going to let such a good opportunity slip away? This is an opportunity that many reporters have waited for their whole lives! As long as you ask, Richard will definitely agree to this follow-up report.

White villain (caution): Don't listen to him. There is no such thing as a free lunch. Who knows what he is up to? If someone shows his kindness to you without any reason, he is either a traitor or a thief. You should be careful!

Charlotte: Indeed.

'two……'

Black villain (disdainful) (blocking the mouth of the white villain): Come on, what does he want from you with such a big sense? Besides, this is a follow-up report with the Knights of Favonius and the Fontaine Mission. There are so many people and the Lord of Water here, what can Richard do to you?

Charlotte: That makes sense!

Black villain (strike while the iron is hot) (knocks out the white villain): Hurry up, he is about to serve tea to the guests. If you wait any longer, it will be too late!

Charlotte was startled and quickly looked up at Richard, who happened to have counted to the last number silently at this moment.

'one. ’

Almost at the same time, Charlotte blurted out:

"and many more!"

Richard also showed a puzzled expression at the right time, pretending to be confused and looked at Charlotte and asked, "Is there anything else, Miss Charlotte?"

Because she had rejected him so decisively before and didn't leave herself a way out, Charlotte looked a little embarrassed at the moment, with a blush rising on her fair face.

"Um... isn't it hard to find a reporter?"

Richard changed his posture at this moment, from leaning forward to leaning back, which also meant that the offense and defense of both sides changed at this moment.

"It's easy to find reporters. After all, there are follow-up personnel sent by Steambird Newspaper within the diplomatic mission."

"But they also have their own work to do, right? Very busy!" Charlotte said hurriedly.

"Yeah...it's really busy." Richard had an image of a middle-aged man drinking afternoon tea and chatting with other officials in his mind.

"That's why I haven't told Mr. Eberle about this yet. But I believe that as long as I can persuade him with reason and emotion, he will still accept the job."

"How can that be?!" Charlotte was anxious. She realized that she was not the only option.

Richard looked at Charlotte in confusion, and Charlotte also realized her own gaffe. She coughed slightly and said, "Well, what I meant is that there is no need to trouble Mr. Eberle..."

"It's not a problem for Mr. Eberle... But Ms. Sonya can be one too, right?"

"Who is that?"

"Reporter from the Fontaine Daily Times."

Charlotte's eyes went dark. He was not as good as Mr. Eberle. At least Mr. Eberle was a senior of the Steambird Newspaper.

If everyone at Steambird News knew that she had handed over such big news to her competitors, she would not be able to stay in the newspaper.

"From the looks of you, it seems like you have other candidates to recommend. To be honest, I'm not very satisfied with Ms. Sonia. She's too delicate and can't endure hardship." Richard threw the subject back to Charlotte.

"Yes, yes, let Ms. Sonia do some easier work. Um... Mr. Richard, what do you think of me?" Charlotte nodded hurriedly, then pointed at herself with a blushing face and recommended herself.

"You? But didn't you just refuse?" Richard showed a strange smile on his face.

This smile made Charlotte want to find a hole to hide in. It was so embarrassing! She knew this was Richard's "revenge".

Fortunately, she has long experience as a reporter in Makino and has a strong ability to withstand pressure. She is not like a newcomer who loses face after being teased a few times.

Sometimes you have to learn to give yourself a way out.

"Yes, Mr. Richard. The reason for my refusal just now was that I didn't understand the situation clearly. I thought you wanted to assign me to write a 'custom article', which obviously violates the principles of objectivity, fairness and impartiality in news reporting."

"But what I just said, isn't it considered a custom draft?" Richard asked.

"Of course not. The follow-up report you mentioned is a reporting method that allows you to gain an in-depth understanding of the interviewee's situation and track the progress of the incident."

"Especially in the current situation where Mondstadt is hit by a dragon disaster, this kind of follow-up report is a very important way to convey information, which can help people understand the latest situation in the disaster area, the progress of rescue work, and the living conditions of the affected people."

"Your ideas are undoubtedly wise, intelligent and unparalleled. I'm sorry to have misunderstood you before, Mr. Richard." Charlotte fully demonstrated her eloquence as a reporter.

"I accept your apology, Miss Charlotte. I also believe that you are capable of deeply participating in this operation of 'suppressing the dragon and the Abyss Cult'. But before that, I have a personal request."

"Please go ahead." Charlotte said hurriedly. She suddenly felt a little thirsty and drank the water that Richard poured for her.

"I hope you can catch the main person in this incident."

"You mean, we should describe your wise image more in the reports?"

"No, I am just the most insignificant person in this incident. You can just not write it down or just mention it briefly."

Charlotte was puzzled, "Then who is the main character?"

"Of course it's our Lady Funina. Isn't she worth your time and effort to report on her?"

"……worth."