"Klee chased off the bad dragon, Amber-sis!"
Back on the ground, Klee ran straight to Amber, hands on her hips, chin raised proudly. She had thrown bombs to her heart's content and even done a good deed. Klee loved it.
"Uh…"
Amber's expression was complicated. Usually, little Klee only went fish-blasting, but today—seeing her unleash her full firepower—Amber realized just how terrifying she was.
So scary…
Clap, clap, clap—
A slow applause echoed as a dark-skinned man with an eyepatch approached, smiling playfully.
"Klee, even if you did drive Stormterror away, sneaking out on your own… how do you think Jean will react?" Kaeya asked with a smirk.
"Ah?"
Just hearing Jean's name made Klee shiver. She instantly imagined the scary look of an angry Acting Grand Master and trembled.
"Come on, Kaeya, don't scare her," Amber sighed.
Kaeya's gaze shifted to the strangers. "And you two—people who fought against a dragon with that kind of strength. Guests… or a new storm?"
"It was Barbatos who helped us," Koji said immediately, selling Venti out without hesitation. "He spoke to us and gave us support."
Venti: ???
I just helped you, and you rat me out this fast?
"Lord Barbatos?!" Amber gasped. For Mondstadters, the Anemo Archon was absolute faith. Hearing that he had acted filled her with joy.
So their god had not abandoned them after all.
"The Archon himself…?" Kaeya was taken aback. It had been centuries since Barbatos last performed a miracle.
"Koji, did you also hear it?" Lumine asked curiously. "The thousand-year winds lending their aid?"
At that, Kaeya's suspicions faded. If they mentioned the ancient flowing winds, then yes—the Archon truly had acted.
"Welcome to Mondstadt. May I invite you to the Knights of Favonius headquarters to exchange information?" Kaeya now smiled warmly, dropping his earlier cryptic tone.
"Will there be Mora?" Koji asked bluntly.
Kaeya blinked, then laughed. "Of course. You chased off Stormterror—of course there will be a reward."
Besides, that was Jean's problem, not his wallet.
Lumine agreed too. It was a chance to search for her brother's trail—and earning some money wouldn't hurt.
Knights of Favonius Headquarters.
The halls were wide but sparsely filled. Most knights weren't here. Koji knew why: Grand Master Varka had taken the elite away, and with the dragon crisis ongoing, the rest were scattered around the city, protecting and calming the people.
Inside the Acting Grand Master's office, they immediately saw a blonde woman pacing anxiously.
Jean.
Not bad, Koji thought. That figure alone could represent Mondstadt's spirit.
On the other side reclined Lisa, stockings wrapping her long legs, exuding a mature, seductive charm—like a blooming rose. Get too close and you'd probably feel an electrifying shock.
"Klee!!! You snuck out again!"
Jean's voice cracked like thunder. She remembered the string of explosions above Mondstadt earlier and felt her blood pressure rise.
She was already overwhelmed—her hair might start falling out from stress—and now this.
Klee squeaked and dove behind Koji, trembling.
Too scary.
Jean drew a deep breath and composed herself. "Mondstadt welcomes you, travelers carried by the wind. I am Acting Grand Master Jean. And this is our librarian, Lisa."
"Why hello~ Are you two here to help? Such sweet little cuties," Lisa purred with a charming smile. These newcomers carried an aura she recognized—mysterious, otherworldly. The last time she had sensed something similar was when she met Alice.
So, they really are visitors from beyond the world. Interesting.
"Koji, styled Defier of Heaven. Just call me Koji Sky-Defiant"
"Lumine. Just call me Boss."
"And this is Paimon, call her Emergency Food."
"Hey, hey! Paimon's not emergency food, Paimon is Paimon!"
Jean forced a polite smile. Their introductions were… unique.
"Please sit. Amber said you heard the Archon's voice?"
Jean already had her suspicions about Venti—that strange bard who appeared out of nowhere, always knowing forgotten history. If not Barbatos himself, then certainly someone tied to him.
Lisa poured steaming tea for the guests.
Koji and Lumine sipped it calmly. They couldn't describe it exactly, but it was good tea—definitely not ordinary.
"Any other drinks?" Paimon wrinkled her nose. "This one's bitter, no sweetness at all."
Lisa chuckled and handed her a glass. "Fresh apple juice for the little one. Will this do?"
"Thanks, Miss Lisa!" Paimon drank happily, face full of bliss.
Klee: ?
Her eyes went wide. That was MY juice! Lisa-sis, you bad guy!
"I see…" Jean nodded, reassured. "So Lord Barbatos is still here, watching over Mondstadt. That gives us strength."
"Since he aided you, that means he trusts you. And so, the Knights of Favonius will treat you as friends."
"Correction." Koji held up two fingers. "First, I can fly because of the Blessing of Flight—nothing to do with the Archon. Second, the Archon only helped because he didn't want Klee to get hurt. You know her background."
"Ah…"
At the mention of Klee's lineage, Jean, Lisa, Amber, and Kaeya all shuddered. Just thinking of Alice was enough to make anyone sweat.
Truly, Barbatos was farsighted. If Klee ever got injured, Alice would probably blow up Mondstadt herself.
"Blessings?" Lisa tilted her head, intrigued. She could understand the concept easily: those favored by the elements could be called blessed.
"Captain Jean, could the Knights post a missing-person notice?" Lumine asked. "If my brother sees it, maybe he'll come find me."
"Of course. A small matter." Jean agreed without hesitation.
"We just arrived in Mondstadt and don't have any Mora," Koji added. He rubbed his fingers together. "Could the Knights sponsor us a bit?"
Jean hesitated only a moment. "One million Mora. Will that suffice?"
That was a decent sum—enough for several people to live comfortably for a while.
Koji almost blurted out that Paimon alone would eat through 300,000 a month.
(End of Chapter)
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