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Chapter 56 - Chapter 57: A bottle of wine in exchange for a Barbatos

Venti and Traveler obtained information from Ellin.

Mondstadt's The Great Adventurer, Stanley, was going to explore the Domain of the South Wind Lion with Jacques.

By the time Traveler and the others arrived, Jacques and Stanley were already surrounded by monsters, their lives in danger at any moment.

This confused the readers; Mr. Stanley was a legend in Mondstadt.

How could The Great Adventurer who conquered the Junjiji Sea be surrounded by some weak monsters?

"Meddling!"

"Do you really think I, Stanley, can't handle such a simple situation?"

Stanley's reaction seemed a bit agitated, as if being rescued was a terribly humiliating thing.

After rescuing Stanley and the others, Traveler and his companions continued forward.

Along the way, Stanley kept mentioning his name and experiences.

Stanley: "Junjiji Sea... there's a deafening silence there, and the 'sea' as far as the eye can see is made of ashes."

"My companion was swept away by a vortex stirred up by a monster, but thanks to me holding onto him tightly!"

As he said this, Stanley's tone was firm yet melancholic.

Was he regretting not being able to save the other person?

Jacques pressed, "Whoa! Is he okay?"

Stanley replied, "Unfortunately, I was the only one who finally stepped foot on our homeland again."

He died, that's right, he was already dead.

In the end, only Stanley returned to Mondstadt.

Seeing Jacques a bit dejected, Stanley quickly comforted the adventurous young man.

"Jacques! You're going to be a Great Adventurer! How can you cry so easily!"

"Remember, our ideal is to die in a windy place, and let the wind carry our souls back to Mondstadt!"

Jacques: "I know, Mr. Stanley, our greatest achievement is to die on the path of our last adventure!"

"And, absolutely, absolutely! We cannot die in a place without wind!"

Stanley nodded, that's right, he must never die in a windless place.

'Stanley' didn't die there; someone else died there.

Venti listened quietly from the side, not saying a word.

"Although he loves to brag, those are indeed words a Great Adventurer would say," Lisa commented.

"Yes, Mr. Stanley is indeed a great Adventurer," Jean nodded.

Conquering the Junjiji Sea, what kind of achievement is that?

Venti, who had been silent in the book, spoke after exploring the Domain.

"Traveler, I have a small discovery."

At Venti's reminder, Traveler and Paimon then realized.

Even an adult like Stanley had an "imaginary friend."

"A battle-hardened warrior, covered in scars, with a very resolute expression."

That "imaginary friend" was performing the same actions as Stanley.

Just like Stanley described himself, perhaps this was his idealized self?

Whether in the book or in reality, people at this moment became interested.

Why would an adult like Stanley have an "imaginary friend"?

And why was it so much like how he described himself?

Everyone continued reading.

Jacques found Traveler and said he knew a secret.

The relics of 'The Great Hero' Vennessa.

The Blazing Courage Sword and the Luminous Will Shield were both in Dadaupa Gorge.

He hoped Traveler would accompany him to find these two relics.

Upon hearing this information, many Mondstadters' eyes lit up.

'The Great Hero' Vennessa's relics!

Regardless of whether they were divine artifacts, they were quite valuable!

Only the high-ranking officials of Mondstadt looked bewildered.

"Did Senior Vennessa leave behind these relics?" Jean asked.

Lisa shook her head, saying she didn't know; at least the books in the library hadn't mentioned it.

The reason the two weren't sure was that Venti had also gotten involved.

This was the Anemo Archon! Don't you believe the Anemo Archon?

Could it be that the dignified Lord Anemo Archon was really bribed by a bottle of fine wine?

However, everyone quickly became speechless.

Because the first item found, the Blazing Courage Sword, was just an old, worn-out sword.

Even Jacques didn't believe this was the Blazing Courage Sword.

At this point, Venti began to display his eloquence as a Roving Bard.

"Jacques, have you ever seen a Crystalfly?"

"These butterflies are unremarkable during the day, but at night they glow brilliantly, like flying jewels."

"Isn't courage the same? Those who have a smooth journey won't understand its preciousness."

"But when you're in a desperate situation, courage is the only light that helps you rise up, fight back, and escape the predicament."

After he finished speaking, not only Jacques but even Jean was moved.

Truly worthy of being Lord Anemo Archon; his saying that this sword was the Blazing Courage Sword indeed had his profound meaning and reasoning.

Lisa, on the other hand, was mortified. He spoke well, but that didn't change the fact that it was a broken sword.

Lord Anemo Archon, you're trying too hard for a bottle of fine wine!

Lord Anemo Archon's efforts were still to come.

Everyone then found the Luminous Will Shield—a wine barrel lid stained with wine, held by a Hilichurl.

This was even more outrageous than the broken sword.

One could argue that the broken sword was due to erosion over time.

How could a wine barrel lid be defended? Did Vennessa really use a wine barrel lid to hit people's heads back then?

It didn't matter if no one believed him; Venti had a way to trick you.

"Warriors are proud of their scars, and so are shields."

"The more perfect a shield is, the more it indicates it has been far from the battlefield."

"Doesn't the shield's worn state just show that it has been through countless battles?"

"Even with a broken body, one must fight on the battlefield until the last moment, fighting until the last drop of blood is shed."

"Isn't such will precious?"

"Truly worthy of being Lord Anemo Archon! His thoughts are indeed profound!" Jean nodded in approval.

"Jean..." Lisa helplessly rubbed her forehead.

For Jean, the Anemo Archon and Vennessa were both beings she worshipped.

So, regarding the Anemo Archon's remarks...

Even if she didn't believe these two divine artifacts were real, she was still encouraged by his words.

However, there was something even more exaggerated.

For the sake of fine wine, Venti could not only trick people, but he could also play for a Hilichurl.

The way to retrieve the shield from the Hilichurl was for the great Lord Anemo Archon to perform a song for it.

At Angel's Share, Diluc smiled invisibly.

"The greatest Roving Bard, performing a solo for a Hilichurl."

"Ehe, if the Reward is fine wine, I can also perform here."

Venti didn't feel shy at all.

At this moment, Barbara had a bold idea.

A bottle of fine wine could make Lord Barbatos work so hard.

Then if I worship with fine wine, wouldn't I be able to entice Lord Barbatos...?

Oh, no, bring him here?

——————

Character Voice Line · Venti: About Hobbies

"Fine wine! Poetry! And wind!

Hmm, if only I could brew wine with wind."

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