The free wind blew from across the distant ocean, carrying with it a faint trace of wine and poetry.
A green-clad figure drifted above Inazuma's skies.
"Been a while, Baal. Didn't expect you to be alive again."
"Barbatos?"
Raiden Makoto turned toward him. Of course, she knew this small green man—the Anemo Archon of Mondstadt and an old friend.
He'd always been a little… self-destructive.
His arrival in Inazuma didn't surprise her in the slightest.
"It really has been a long time," she said. "Several hundred years, at least."
"You little windbag, back to running around again? Didn't Dvalin have anything to say?" Raiden Makoto laughed.
"Dvalin sent me," Venti replied cheerfully.
The dragon hadn't been pleased, muttering curses as he flew him across the sea. Still, it was convenient transport—better than walking.
"With you as a companion, Dvalin really has it rough," Koji muttered.
"Hey, I'm not that bad! Baal, back me up here," Venti said quickly.
Raiden Makoto's expression twisted slightly as old memories surfaced. She didn't reply, but the look in her eyes was answer enough.
Venti deflated.
"Anyway, I heard the little grass goddess got imprisoned. The other Archons must know, right?" Venti asked.
"Zhongli probably suspects it," Koji said. "The rest definitely know. As for you, well—remind us again, what kind of god are you supposed to be?"
Venti grinned. "A wind god. The wind brings me every whisper from across Teyvat—even those from Sumeru."
Makoto nodded. For all his laziness, the wind god's power was no joke.
"The Dendro Archon guards the World Tree," she said. "That she could be imprisoned by mortals… it makes her look rather pathetic."
"Maybe she just needs time to grow," Venti mused. "But honestly, it'd be faster to resurrect her predecessor, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata."
Koji sighed. "Yeah. That little one's decisions in the game were… questionable. Letting Scaramouche access the Irminsul was an absolute disaster."
Any Archon who knew about it would never have allowed it. The World Tree was Teyvat's foundation—the lifeline of all the Archons.
"Rukkhadevata was reliable," Makoto agreed.
Venti nodded too. The two original Archons were in rare agreement.
"That gentle goddess truly was something special," he said softly.
"So," Koji asked suddenly, "what brings you to Inazuma, Venti? Don't tell me you got bored again."
"Actually, Klee wanted to come play," Venti said, smiling. "Alice and Jean approved it, so I brought her over. Jean wasn't worried—she knew Klee would be safe with you."
Koji's heart sank.
The demolitions expert from Mondstadt… together with Inazuma's own fireworks master?
Sure enough, Venti's next words confirmed his fear.
"Klee met a girl named Naganohara Yoimiya. The two hit it off instantly. They're chatting and tinkering together right now."
Koji covered his face. "Oh no. The meeting of the century—two arms dealers united."
"The what now?" Venti blinked.
"Nothing. Yoimiya works with fireworks, and Klee works with explosives. Put the two together, and…" Koji sighed.
"Oh." Venti's smile stiffened. "Yeah, that could be… problematic."
"What are you all talking about?" Raiden Makoto asked curiously.
She didn't know either of the two girls, much less their reputations.
"How should I put it," Venti began, "if Klee goes all out, she could blow up Inazuma City. And since Yoimiya runs a fireworks shop, she's naturally good with gunpowder."
Klee might be small, but her bomb-making skill came straight from Alice herself. Few in Teyvat could rival her.
Destroying Inazuma City would take a god—but Klee could come dangerously close.
"Isn't that a bit exaggerated?" Makoto asked, frowning.
"Don't underestimate her. But don't worry—she's well-trained now. Klee only blows up fish these days," Venti said. "Jean made sure of that."
Meanwhile, in Naganohara Fireworks, Yoimiya examined Klee's handiwork with amazement.
"So this ratio works? Incredible!" she exclaimed.
Klee beamed. "If we combine bombs and fireworks, we can make them fly even farther, right?"
Koji, just stepping into the shop, froze. That's… literally a rocket launcher.
Klee truly was evolving.
"Koji!" Klee waved happily.
Yoimiya turned to see a handsome stranger entering. She hadn't met him before.
Koji, meanwhile, found himself staring at her—her outfit, the bandages around her thighs, the ribbon-tied slime charm. She looked almost too detailed in person.
He remembered rolling for her back in the game for the same reason.
Still, one question lingered in his mind: Does she wear anything under those bandages?
"Miss Naganohara Yoimiya," Koji said seriously, shifting into his 'official' tone, "you were involved in producing counterfeit Visions during the Vision Hunt Decree, correct?"
Yoimiya froze. "That… isn't a capital crime, right?"
She had indeed forged some fake Visions to protect their owners back then. Being confronted now made her panic.
Koji chuckled. "Relax. The current Raiden Shogun doesn't care about that anymore."
Yoimiya exhaled in relief. "Thank goodness. I thought I was about to be arrested."
She still had her elderly father to look after—she couldn't afford prison.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Naganohara Yoimiya. If you ever need fireworks, come see me. I promise you'll be satisfied."
Koji nodded. Liyue had once bought a huge shipment of fireworks from her store—the quality was unmatched.
Maybe next festival, he'd buy from her again.
(End of Chapter)
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