Wendy could shamelessly cheat for food and drinks, but he could not accept others treating him once they recognized his true identity as the God of Wind. In his opinion, these were two entirely different matters.
Wendy was Wendy, and the God of Wind, Barbatos, was the God of Wind, Barbatos.
"By the way, has a blonde stranger arrived in Mond recently? One accompanied by a small, floating white spirit?" Smith asked Diluc.
"A blonde stranger with a floating white spirit?" Diluc frowned slightly, thinking for a moment. "Sorry, I don't know. But if you need, I can keep an eye out."
"Then I'll leave this matter to you. If Albedo can't solve the issue with Dvalin, then he might be our best hope," Smith replied, standing up from his seat and heading downstairs.
Hope of solving Dvalin's problem?
Diluc's eyes flickered with interest. He wasn't sure where Smith had obtained this information, but he was inclined to trust him. After all, Smith had no reason to deceive him.
---
Smith strolled along the streets of Mondstadt but soon turned into a quiet, empty alleyway. His steps halted, and his voice broke the silence.
"Come out, Barbatos, God of Wind."
As soon as Smith's words fell, a green figure materialized a short distance away. Wendy stood there, but unlike his usual carefree and mischievous demeanor, his gaze was sharp and serious.
He studied Smith intently for a long moment before speaking. "I sense the aura of the God of Grass and the God of Water... You even carry the divinity of two gods within you. Who exactly are you?"
Wendy had overheard much of Smith's conversation with Diluc but not all of it.
"Me? I'm a traveler from another world, currently a seven-star consultant of Liyue, and I maintain a good working relationship with Morax." Smith's lips curled slightly. "So, Barbatos, will you join us?"
Smith continued, "Though there aren't many in Mondstadt qualified to join us right now—and you've certainly raised the people of Mondstadt like spoiled children—I still acknowledge you as a god."
With that, Smith tossed a small bean toward Wendy. "This is something special from another world. It should be of great help to you."
Smith could see that Wendy was not in the best condition. Despite his weakened state, Wendy still maintained the Millennium Grand Movement to protect Mondstadt, likely at great personal cost.
During the Khaenri'ah War, Barbatos had seemingly suffered serious injuries. Smith suspected that he had never ceased the Millennium Grand Movement during the war, which had only worsened his condition over the centuries. Now, his injuries hadn't healed, his divine power was severely depleted, and there were signs of significant wear and tear.
Smith also wanted to use this as an experiment—to see whether Senzu Beans could repair divine wear and tear.
"A bean from another world?" Wendy caught the Senzu Bean, rolling it between his fingers curiously before glancing back at Smith.
As the God of Wind, Wendy trusted his intuition. Smith wasn't lying.
"This is a miraculous item," Smith explained. "Even someone on the verge of death could recover completely."
Wendy stared at him for another moment before swallowing the bean. Immediately, a powerful gust of wind swirled around him, spiraling outward.
"It seems that my hidden injuries and divine power have been restored! But… the wear and tear hasn't fully recovered," Smith observed aloud.
Wendy was astonished. "This is incredible. The injuries that have plagued me for five hundred years are gone in an instant! Even my divine power has been restored significantly. If not for the issue of wear and tear, I would have fully returned to my prime."
Despite knowing that his power would gradually deplete again over time, Wendy was relieved. Now, he could maintain the Millennium Grand Movement for another thousand years at least.
The so-called God of Freedom had never truly been free.
"It seems that Senzu Beans have no effect on divine wear and tear, nor on the influence of the Abyss," Smith noted with mild disappointment. They were powerful, but not all-encompassing.
"I'm already grateful for this much," Wendy said sincerely. He understood that this bean must be an invaluable treasure.
Even Celestia might not possess something that could directly restore a god's power like this. If such a thing existed, Phanes would likely have consumed it immediately.
"So, will you join us?" Smith extended the offer again. "I've already invited Morax, Beelzebul, and Focalors. I think my sincerity is clear."
Wendy took a deep breath, considering. "The old man and the others have already joined? Well… it's a little different from what I originally intended, but fine. Let me witness your plan."
Ding! Congratulations, Wendy, on joining the Dimensional Guild.
---
[Guild Chat]
Diluc: "...It's you? A drunkard? I didn't expect the president to invite you in. Since we're guild members now, remember to pay back the wine money you owe."
Zhongli: "...As expected of you."
Ningguang: "Emperor, who is this?"
Wendy: "Zhongli? So Morax is what you go by now?"
Zhongli: "Yes, long time no see. In the guild, there's no need to hide our identities. I trust that the guild members won't reveal anyone's secrets. Nahida is the Little Auspicious Grass King of Sumeru. I assume you already know the names Furina and Focalors."
Diluc was speechless. He had always suspected Wendy was more than just an eccentric bard. The fact that he knew so many secrets hinted at something more. But learning that he was actually Barbatos, the God of Wind, was a shock.
Wendy: "Could it be that Focalors' situation is similar to mine?"
Focalors: "Senior Barbatos, Furina and I are indeed the same, but my situation is a bit more complicated, so it's inconvenient to explain in detail."
---
Wendy chuckled as he closed the chat, his gaze shifting toward Smith once again. "This guild of yours is interesting."
"It's just the beginning," Smith replied with a smirk. "We have much to accomplish."