Noticing Sucrose's gaze, Jiang Bai looked over. Sucrose, caught as if she'd been doing something wrong, twitched her ears and buried herself in her food, nearly dipping her whole face into the bowl.
Jiang Bai tilted his head in confusion. Do I really look that scary? Maybe this was just how Sucrose was.
Albedo, seeing Sucrose almost disappear into her bowl, explained to Jiang Bai, "Sucrose isn't very good with people. Don't take it personally."
"I don't mind at all. Her research is incredible—she even gave me a bunch of Sweet Flower seeds."
"She loves studying plants. If you ever come across any rare specimens, bring some for her next time."
"I'll remember that."
---
While Jiang Bai enjoyed his meal, things weren't going so smoothly for Aether and Paimon.
They only had 10,000 mora, and on top of that, they had to treat a certain freeloader—a glutton who loved drinking.
Paimon glared at the one wolfing down their food, who insisted on ordering a wine-flavored drink.
Just 10,000 mora, and it's borrowed money! Can't he be a little more considerate?
"Mondstadt Grilled Chicken with Sweet Flowers is really something else!" Venti munched on his chicken leg, sipping his drink with delight.
He would've preferred actual wine, but the owner wouldn't serve him—insisting he was underage—so he had to settle for the next best thing.
Paimon crossed her arms, staring at Venti in annoyance. "You've got a lot of nerve, freeloading like this—and you even called yourself Barbatos in the cathedral. Who are you, anyway?"
"Ehe~ Didn't I say? I'm Mondstadt's most beloved bard!"
Venti's gaze fell on the Wild Mushroom Skewer in Paimon's plate, and he reached for it. "Are you still eating this? If not, I'll take it off your hands."
"No way!" Paimon shrieked, snatching her food back with record speed and stuffing it in her mouth.
Chewing, she glared daggers at Venti. "Trying to steal my food! Unbelievable!"
"You weren't eating it, so I thought you didn't want it."
Aether could only watch helplessly as Paimon and Venti squabbled.
Honestly, he never imagined the Anemo Archon would have this kind of personality—or bicker with a child over food.
...
Night had fallen by the time Aether and Paimon arrived at the statue, right on time.
Jiang Bai and Klee were already waiting. As for Venti, he was perched in the palm of the statue's hand, one leg up, the other dangling, his robe fluttering in the wind.
Down below, Mondstadt had settled into a peaceful evening. Warm lights glowed from the pointed houses, silhouettes moving behind windows.
Venti rested one hand on his knee, eyes closed, savoring the breeze.
"Where's that bard?" Paimon scanned around, not seeing anyone.
They'd split up after dinner—who knew what mischief he'd gotten into now.
Jiang Bai nodded upward. "Look up."
Paimon puffed her cheeks at the sight of Venti, perfectly content atop the statue, enjoying the wind.
"Seriously! He asks for our help and then sits up there enjoying the breeze, not worried at all!"
She cupped her hands and shouted, "We're all here! Get down here already!"
"Coming!"
Venti opened his eyes, smiled, and leaped gracefully from the statue, landing lightly in front of them.
"Alright, we can begin."
"Any concrete plan?" Aether asked.
"The plan is—we'll wait outside for you, and you improvise inside. Once you have the lyre, we all make a run for it."
Listening to Venti's so-called plan, Aether's mouth twitched. "You guys aren't going to at least cause a distraction? Draw some attention so I can sneak in?"
"Nice idea, but from what I've seen, the cathedral's empty at night. If we make a commotion, we might actually draw the Knights' attention instead."
"…Alright."
If Venti said so, Aether could only go along.
With Jiang Bai giving him a you've got this look, Aether quietly slipped through the cathedral doors.
Since there was nothing else to do but wait, Jiang Bai turned to Venti. "Venti, let's at least plan out our escape routes!"
Venti blinked, surprised. "Aether just went in, and you're already thinking about how to run?"
Jiang Bai couldn't be blamed—everything about this plan screamed "unreliable."
Venti could easily reveal his true identity and ask for the Holy Lyre der Himmel; instead, Aether was sent to steal it.
They didn't even know the cathedral's security details, nor did they have a real plan—just "go with the flow."
If this succeeded, it would be pure luck. If Aether got caught—well, that'd be no surprise.
"Better safe than sorry."
Jiang Bai continued, "If Aether gets spotted, you run with him when he gets out. Klee and I will cover for you—mislead the pursuers and buy you time. You two hide somewhere safe."
The Knights all knew Klee, and with her by his side and keeping some distance from Venti, Jiang Bai wouldn't arouse suspicion.
"That's a great idea! Let's see… where to hide… Got it! Diluc's tavern, the Angel's Share!"
Jiang Bai couldn't make sense of Venti's logic. "Why a tavern? Isn't a crowded place the worst for hiding?"
Klee frowned. "Klee isn't allowed in the tavern."
Jean had told her: no kids in the tavern.
Venti grinned. "Sure you can—just don't order any drinks. And the Cat's Tail Tavern has a bartender about your size!"
"Really?!"
Klee's eyes lit up, both fists raised by her cheeks in excitement.
"If it's Lord Barbatos, you'd never lie to Klee, right? Klee doesn't want Captain Jean to put her in solitary again!"
She had no idea what "ehe" meant, but figured it just meant "yes."
Children's minds are simple. She didn't really know what the Anemo Archon should look like, but if Venti said he was the Anemo Archon, and he wanted to save Dvalin, she believed him.
Venti was stunned for a moment, then smiled gently. "Whether Barbatos would lie to kids, I'm not sure—but I would never lie to a child!"
Jiang Bai crossed his arms, a bit speechless at how Venti ignored his question. "Hey, you still haven't explained—why the tavern?"
"Because of Master Diluc, of course!" Venti said mysteriously. "According to my sources, Master Diluc will be tending bar tonight. If we tell him the truth, he'll definitely help us!"
Jiang Bai had no idea where Venti got his confidence, but based on their last, chance encounter at the temple, it seemed like Diluc… probably, maybe, just might help them out.