To make things even more complicated, the man who Fantine asked for directions conveniently informed them: "And I am Lord Beltino."

The streets of the marketplace suddenly became very still. Fantine whistled:

"So you're the Prince, eh? Ruler of Porthos? How much did you hear just then?"

The Prince's attendants, and even Artemis and Apollodorous were shocked to hear Fantine's tone of voice so frivolous. "Speak properly when addressing the Prince," barked Apollodorous. Yet Prince Vletheron quietly ushered him.

"I heard enough," he replied coldly. "So you got a bone to pick with me, who's apparently a pussy and also some dipshit? Then what are you, lady, a bitch without an asshole?"

Artemis and Apollodorous roared with laughter; even some of the attendants smirked. Only Lord Beltino, Fantine and Valjean did not laugh. "Artemis and Apollodorous is here in Porthos," Valjean thought. "They arrived even before we did this morning. My father must be long dead by now! Oh, rest your soul, poor father!"

Fantine shook her head. "Sometimes it's better to be born without an asshole than to be born without sense."

"And it seems that you, lady, are born without either."

"That's enough, Prince," interrupted Lord Beltino before the whole assembly could begin to chuckle. "Be kind to the lady. She's not in her right mind."

"Unfortunately," said Fantine, "I have never been more sober. Prince, I accuse you of carrying out injustice." Here Artemis and Apollodorous winked at each other, and the Prince's attendants began to whisper excitedly, as if they were the audience of an upcoming farcical show.

The Prince lifted his eyebrows. "What injustice is that?"

"That you sent three men to death for undeserving crimes. One was sent without trial, although I am unwary of the circumstances of the other two."

Prince Vletheron smiled.

"Well, I am so very sorry, dear girl. Apollodorous? Artemis? Is it true you've disposed of the chain gang?"

"Yes, sir," answered Artemis. "We did."

Valjean felt like he just lost his insides.

"Well then," The Prince continued, "I give you leave to dispose of this crazy bitch as well. What do you say?"

Apollodorous beamed. "We don't mind beating up her ass a second time."

"Hey, I went easy on you two last night," Fantine spat. "If I had used my powers, you guys would've been dead in ten seconds flat."

Apollodorous patted his round belly. "Ha ha! Yeah right, douchebag!"

Fantine grimaced. "So this is the etiquette of the Prince and his trains? Bravo, bravo! The cheapest whore of any slum would be better disposed than YOU."

Prince Vletheron lost his musing smile, feeling somewhat flared at the crazy woman's words. However, Beltino signaled at him from behind Fantine's back telling him to keep it down, so he held back to urge to slay the woman. "Go now," he commanded. "I don't want you to mention this subject again or I'll really spurn you from Porthos. Come, Artemis, Apollodorous, we have a game to attend to."

With that, the whole group turned and paraded down the streets. Lord Beltino shook his head: "I guess you've said everything that needs to be said to the Prince?" and departed also.

Fantine was grinding her teeth, and her short blonde hair seem to stand up on its roots from the surge of her anger. "That prick! I swear, what will happen to Porthos as long as he is ruling it? What do you say, kid?"

There was nothing but silence. Fantine turned around, when Valjean took a deep breath:

"My father's really dead, isn't he?"

Fantine paused for a moment, unsure of what to say, and stretching the awkwardness further. "I'm sorry," she said at last, "it would appear so."

Valjean dashed his fingers across his eyes hastily, and put his palm on his forehead: "Sorry. I...I just..."

"It's alright," Fantine muttered. "You can cry if you want. I won't say anything."

Tears stung Valjean's eyes as they seethed forth from the cracks between his fingers. He was trying hard to control it, but it seems as though the harder he strained himself, the more tears there were that came. It was really embarrassing shedding tears in broad daylight in the street, but at least nobody was looking...

He inhaled, trying to regain some control. "It isn't right," he stammered. "My father was a good man. Even though...even though fate was cruel to him. He was so kind. I...I don't believe this." He wanted to say more, attempting to fill up his sadness with sounding words, but his throat cracked.

"You really look up to your father, huh?"

Fantine's words came. They were softer than what he's used to. Her voice was always rough and farcical. They shouldn't be so caressing...

She put a hand on her shoulder. "Let's go."

He looked up at her, forgetting for a moment his face was stained with tears. "To where?"

"To get ready to get to the bottom of this," said the bounty hunter. She placed a firm grip on her katana's handle.