Once inside Mondstadt, the Abyss Mage grew extra cautious.
Having personally experienced the Stormterror incident, it knew all too well how powerful Mondstadt's top combatants could be.
Even without the Anemo Archon, Mondstadt's strength was nothing to underestimate.
With that in mind, the Abyss Mage decided it had to tread carefully—
If it was discovered, things would get troublesome fast.
Keeping low, it drifted through the alleyways,
Planning to first gather some information from ordinary townsfolk.
As long as it didn't run into any Vision holders, there shouldn't be a problem.
Soon, voices drifted from up ahead.
The Abyss Mage quietly floated closer.
"Have you heard about that place called the solace Book House?"
"Of course! Practically everyone in Mondstadt's been talking about it today. They say you can get rewards just by reading manga there."
"That's no rumor—it's real! I got a telescope from there. Try it!"
"Whoa! You can see distant objects so clearly!"
"And that's just a common item. I heard Captain Jean and the Honorary Knight—the Traveler—went there too, and got something really amazing!"
"Seriously? Then I'm going tomorrow to try it myself."
"Captain Jean… and the Traveler?
The one who can unleash shockwaves… and His Highness's blood relative?"
The Abyss Mage frowned in confusion.
What kind of manga shop has such incredible powers?
Although it found the matter odd, it made a note of it—
And then promptly knocked out the speakers, stealing everything they had.
All to report to His Highness later.
As it continued roaming, it noticed something strange—
Many people in the city were talking about that manga shop.
Some even claimed they'd already received rewards.
Naturally, the Abyss Mage was not shy—
It knocked all of them out and took their prizes.
Should I check out that manga shop myself?
The idea came to mind,
But it quickly dismissed it.
The three-headed silver-white dragon was the top priority—
It concerned His Highness's crucial plans!
Recalling the general direction it had seen the dragon earlier, and piecing together bits of overheard gossip,
The Abyss Mage quietly made its way toward the Lawrence Clan's territory.
"This should be the place, right?" it murmured.
Just as it was wondering how to find the dragon,
Two girls approached from a distance.
The Abyss Mage immediately ducked into hiding.
They were Eula and Amber,
Chatting about golden fried rice.
"A dish that actually glows?" Eula was curious.
Her clan had once ruled Mondstadt,
But she had never heard of such a thing.
"It's real—Captain Jean told me so," Amber replied confidently.
"And most importantly, it came from Boss Han's shop."
To Amber, Han Feng's manga shop was so magical
That a glowing dish didn't even seem that strange.
"I see. Then it's possible," Eula nodded, thinking the same way.
That shop again? Just how magical is it?
The Abyss Mage's curiosity deepened.
At that moment, Amber remembered something.
"That three-headed silver-white dragon we saw this afternoon—was that yours?"
Amber had been patrolling the skies on her magic staff earlier.
From high above, she'd spotted the massive Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon.
She'd never seen it before,
But it reminded her of Eula's Blue-Eyes White Dragon—just… bigger.
"Hm? Three-headed silver-white dragon?"
The Abyss Mage's heart leapt.
Speak of the devil!
It had been searching for clues,
And here they were, dropping into its lap—
And apparently connected to one of the girls.
"Yep. But it's not called a three-headed silver-white dragon—it's the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, formed by fusing three Blue-Eyes White Dragons," Eula said with a smile.
"Cool, right?"
"Not just cool—downright majestic! Boss Han's shop really has amazing stuff," Amber gushed.
Seeing such an awe-inspiring dragon, she wanted one herself.
The Abyss Mage, listening from the shadows, was shocked stiff.
That Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon… also came from the manga shop?!
On its way here, every rumor it heard was about that place—
People getting common items…
Glowing dishes…
Even His Highness's blood relative had received something from there.
And now, the terrifying dragon it saw earlier
Was also from there?!
What kind of person is that shopkeeper?!
This was big.
The Abyss Mage was now certain that this manga shop was a major lead.
It seemed tied to everything that had happened lately.
"I have to check it out myself—then report to His Highness," it muttered.
Unfortunately, that mutter was just loud enough for Amber to hear.
"Who's there?!"
"Crap!"
The Abyss Mage's face sank.
In its shock, it had spoken aloud.
It had to escape—
These two had Visions, and wouldn't be easy to deal with!
By the time Amber and Eula rushed over,
All they saw was a fleeing blue silhouette.
"Not good—that looked like an Abyss Mage!" Amber's expression hardened.
As the Outrider, she knew these creatures all too well.
"We have to follow it!" Eula's voice was equally grim.
The Stormterror incident had been their doing,
And now it was suddenly back in Mondstadt—
It had to be plotting something.
"I can fly now, so I'll go. You report to Captain Jean!" Amber said.
With her magic staff, she could move much faster.
Eula didn't argue—she nodded and let her go.
Amber summoned her staff and used the Fly card to give chase.
Her speed in the air was much improved,
But her opponent was different this time—
The Abyss Mage was an expert at aerial movement.
And Amber, having only recently acquired the staff,
Was still new to flight.
In the end, the Abyss Mage slipped away.
"Damn it!" Amber clenched her fists.
Twice now the enemy had escaped right under her nose.
After searching the area to no avail,
She reluctantly returned to meet up with Eula.
"Whew, thank goodness I shook her off."
In a shadowy corner, the Abyss Mage finally exhaled.
If it had been caught, things would've turned ugly.
It had to leave Mondstadt at once—
Lingering would be dangerous.
But as it turned to go, it froze.
Right there, not far ahead… was a shop.
Solace Book House.
Staring at the characters on the signboard,
The Abyss Mage gasped.
By sheer coincidence…
It had found the place!
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