Genshin Impact: The Road to Reversal

Chapter 565 Recalling the Past (Part 2)

"What's wrong?" Zhao Heng asked.

“It’s too ‘perfect’.” Clementine pointed at the file. “‘A respected philanthropist,’ ‘murdered for refusing a deal,’ ‘following the clues to wipe them out in one fell swoop’… The logic is sound, and the ending is satisfying. But according to Rocco, Talduffer himself was one of the masterminds, a devil in disguise as a philanthropist. And that ‘bloodstained deal slip’ at the scene was clearly evidence of Talduffer’s deal with someone! But the description in the file characterizes it as ‘evidence of the criminals attempting a deal,’ and portrays him as a hero who would rather die than submit.”

"Could it be because there wasn't enough evidence after the person died? After all, Talduffer was a well-known philanthropist at the time, so his cause of death would naturally be 'upright and honest,' meeting people's expectations," Zhao Heng pondered.

Upon hearing this, Clementine remained silent.

“Arechino…” she repeated the last name.

"What are you thinking about?" Zixuan asked.

"It's nothing." She lowered her hand and shook her head. "It's just that I've never heard my teacher mention this name before."

"It's nothing, after all, there are so many officials in the glacier, it's normal to not have heard of a few of them," Zixuan said.

Claire did not respond immediately.

Zi Xuan was right. There were many famous figures in the Ice Valley, and it was impossible to remember them all. However, those who handled such a major event would certainly have some reputation, or at least some records or rumors. But in Clementine's memory, there was indeed a blank. Especially after officially assuming her position as a paladin, she had access to many core files and personnel records, and had impressions of high-ranking officials and those who handled important events. But this name was the only one missing…

"Heh, never mind..." she sighed softly, then looked at the files on the table. "But, there are still no clues."

Zixuan pondered, "Perhaps, as the case file states, all the criminal gangs were apprehended back then. Those trafficked children, if lucky, might be rescued and resettled; if unlucky..."

“Maybe they’ll end up like Rocco and the others,” Zhao Heng added.

After he finished speaking, the atmosphere fell silent again.

Claire thought for a moment and walked towards the door, where she happened to run into the passing guard officer.

"Wait a moment."

The officer stopped upon hearing the sound, turned around, saw Claire, and immediately bowed respectfully: "Lady Claire, is there anything I can help you with?"

"Regarding this two-hundred-year-old file, do you recognize the name 'Arechino,' the person who handled it? Or, is there any more detailed information about this official in the garrison's historical records?" Claire handed over the file in her hand.

The officer took the file, carefully examined the signature at the end, frowned slightly, and tried hard to recall.

“Alejandro…” he repeated in a low voice several times, then shook his head. “I’m sorry, Lady Clévy, although I’ve been a member of the guard for a long time and have looked through a lot of old files, I don’t remember this name at all.”

"Really? I'm sorry to bother you." Clementine smiled as she took the file, a fleeting hint of disappointment in her eyes. The trail seemed to have ended there.

"You're too kind, sir. I'm truly sorry I couldn't be of any help." The officer quickly waved his hand, apologized, and left.

Claire waved, and just as she lowered her head, an elderly archivist carrying tea approached. He seemed to have overheard the conversation and greeted her with a smile.

"Arechino? That name seems familiar."

"Really?" Claire's eyes lit up.

"Yes, let me think about it."

The old archivist nodded, then tapped his gray head, trying hard to recall.

“Oh, I remember now. I heard my grandfather mention that 200 years ago, his grandfather was a member of the guard and one of the guards who assisted in solving this case.”

"Really?" Claire's eyes lit up.

The old archivist nodded and slowly said, "Yes. I heard my grandfather mention that, according to his grandfather's account, when the case was being investigated, the evidence at the scene strongly suggested that Talduffer died along with the criminals because of that bloodstained transaction slip. Originally, this matter should have been more than enough for the police force, but who knew that Lord Phoenix would suddenly intervene, and this Arecino was the one he brought along to assist him in the investigation."

"Brought by Lord Phoenix personally?" Clementine's eyes widened.

The teacher personally intervened, and even brought along an assistant whose background was vague, even regarding the garrison's records...

The old archivist nodded: "That's right. Lord Phoenix seemed to have a deep interest in this case at the time. And the final report was completed under Lord Phoenix's instructions, led by this Arecino."

"Oh right, I remember my grandfather saying that his grandfather secretly kept a photo of it, and I think it was sealed away with his own file."

"Photographs?" Clementine asked excitedly. "Where are they? Can I see them?"

"Of course you can," the old archivist nodded and smiled.

He put down his teacup, turned and walked deeper into the archives, stopping in front of an old shelf labeled "Compensation and Belongings of Former Employees Injured or Killed" and carefully searching through it. After a moment, he pulled out a thin leather folder with worn edges.

“This is it. My great-grandfather… was called Old Jack. This is what he left behind.” The old archivist carefully opened the folder, inside were some yellowed papers and a photograph preserved with special materials, the colors of which had faded somewhat.

He handed the photo to Claire.

Claire carefully took it and looked at it in the light coming through the archive window.

The photo was taken indoors, clearly at the scene of a crime, with overturned tables and chairs and scattered items visible in the background. In the center of the photo stands a woman in a white robe, exuding a cool and elegant aura – this is Phoenix.

And standing slightly behind her was another woman.

The woman was tall and slender, dressed in a simple and neat black outfit, with short, silver-gray braids. Most striking were her eyes; even slightly blurred, her unique, slanted, cross-shaped pupils were clearly visible.

“This is…Pepe?” Claire froze instantly. Her hand trembled violently, and the photo nearly slipped from her grasp.

But... how could this be? The photo was taken at the crime scene two hundred years ago, and Peruvieri was clearly someone who participated in the trial with her two hundred years ago and became a paladin afterward.

“Alejandro...is Pepe?” Claire’s voice trembled with disbelief as she looked up at the old archivist. “This photo...are you sure it’s from back then? There’s no mistake?”

The old archivist was startled by her reaction and quickly nodded: "Y-it should be right... It was something left by my great-grandfather, and he always cherished it, saying it witnessed Lord Phoenix's glorious moment of solving a major case... Moreover, the material and preservation method of this photo are indeed from that era..."

Zhao Heng and Zi Xuan also came over. When they saw the woman in the photo, Zi Xuan gasped, "My God... she looks so much like her! No, she looks exactly the same!"