"Oh my, that matter..." After hearing Jean say that, Venti scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed. "It's been so long. I didn't expect Acting Grand Master Jean to still remember it."
"Although providing funds for Lord Venti should also be considered part of the Knights of Favonius' duties, it would be best if such situations did not happen too often. The Knights' finances cannot cover everything..." Jean looked at Venti and said this helplessly.
Last time, it had only been the windows of Palais Mermonia.
What if, next time, Palais Mermonia itself was damaged?
Then it would not be as simple as compensation. It would become a diplomatic matter between Mondstadt and Fontaine!
Although Jean felt that Lora, the Hydro Archon, was very kind, no matter how one put it, damaging someone else's home... was still not good.
"Hehe, don't worry. I didn't come here this time to ask you to pay for me!" Venti reassured Jean so she would not worry.
"Then may I ask why you have come?" Jean looked at him in confusion.
Venti looked around and said, "This isn't the place to talk. Come on, let's go inside first. Oh, right, we should also call Master Diluc, Lisa, and the others over! In short, this matter is very important. Acting Grand Master Jean, invite whoever you think needs to know."
Hearing him put it that way, Jean's expression also turned serious. She nodded and said, "Understood."
Since Venti had spoken so directly, Jean understood how important the matter was. She summoned Diluc, Lisa, Albedo, and the other influential figures in Mondstadt.
"Oh my, looks like everyone's here!" Venti smiled as he looked at everyone in the room.
"Acting Grand Master Jean, you called us here in such a hurry. What exactly happened?" Albedo looked at Jean and asked with a frown.
"It would be better for Lord Venti to explain it to everyone," Jean said, looking toward Venti and waiting for his explanation.
Everyone else's eyes also turned to him.
Among those present, only Jean and Diluc knew that Venti was the Anemo Archon. The others knew he was no ordinary person, but most of them did not know anything more than that.
"Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to come here."
Venti first greeted everyone briefly, then said, "I called you here for only one reason. I hope all of you can once again fight for Mondstadt's freedom."
"Once again fight for Mondstadt's freedom?"
After hearing Venti's words, everyone was somewhat confused, unsure what exactly had happened.
Venti played his lyre, stirring the Anemo element. A gentle breeze brushed past everyone, bringing with it information from the Ley Lines and allowing them to see the terrifying power surging within.
"These are..."
Jean's expression shook after seeing it.
"These are the abnormalities in the Ley Lines. The gods of the distant past are about to awaken. They may no longer love humanity, or they may have already fallen into madness. They will be stronger than they were before, and even more terrifying," Venti said slowly to everyone.
Everyone remained immersed in shock.
No one had yet begun to question why Venti could do such a thing, why he could let them see what was happening inside the Ley Lines, or why he could tell them about the gods' awakening.
"Lord Venti... is everything you said true?" After a while, Jean finally asked.
Her words brought the others back to their senses, and everyone looked at Venti.
Venti nodded. "Of course. I would not lie to you about something like this. Snezhnaya, Liyue, Fontaine, Sumeru, and Inazuma have all already begun making preparations!"
"May I ask how Mr. Venti came to know this?" Eula voiced her doubt, watching Venti with a puzzled expression.
After Eula asked that question, the others also looked at him. Although they did not ask aloud, their eyes were full of scrutiny as they waited for his answer.
Jean glanced at Venti and was still wondering how to explain his identity to everyone when he put away his lyre and looked at them all.
After taking a deep breath, he said slowly, "Everyone, the one standing before you now is none other than the legendary Anemo Archon, Barbatos!"
After hearing Venti's words, Eula's expression changed. She was silent for a moment before saying to him, "Mr. Venti, if this is a joke, it is not a very funny one."
"Indeed. If you say this person is the Anemo Archon, it is rather difficult to believe," Albedo said from the side, nodding in agreement with Eula.
Lisa did not speak.
She looked Venti up and down as she recalled what had happened before.
She remembered that Jean had once asked her about a Hydro deity. At that time, it seemed to have been when Venti and the Traveler named Lora were active in Mondstadt.
If that Miss Lora was the Hydro deity Jean had mentioned, then Venti, who had traveled with her, being the Anemo Archon was not so difficult to believe.
"Ah, hearing you say that actually makes me quite happy." Venti looked at everyone and smiled.
But immediately afterward, his eyes turned serious, and his smile slowly faded.
A brilliant teal light radiated from his body, pulling everyone into an ethereal space.
Here, the Venti they saw shone with divine radiance.
"I am very glad that you have held fast to freedom. But from this point onward, I ask that you all fight together with me for Mondstadt's future freedom," Venti said slowly, looking at each of them.
"You..."
Everyone looked at Venti.
In that moment, they all believed his identity.
Jean gave Venti a Knights of Favonius salute and said solemnly, "The Knights of Favonius will, as always, carry out your will, defend Mondstadt, and fight for freedom."
Venti smiled as he looked at them. He withdrew his power and reminded them, "Of course, unless there is truly no other choice, I would still prefer not to appear before the people of Mondstadt as the Anemo Archon. Please understand that too."
"We understand your concerns," Jean said with a nod.
Venti then discussed some details with everyone.
It was not until late into the night that this temporary meeting concerning Mondstadt's future finally ended.
Everyone left the Knights of Favonius one after another. Venti stood on the rooftop of the Knights of Favonius headquarters, gazing out at Mondstadt under the night sky.
At some point, a bottle of wine had appeared in his hand.
After finishing the wine, he opened his arms. Green Anemo energy spread from his hands, covering all of Mondstadt and forming an invisible barrier above the city.
In the distant Dark Sea, terrifying gods twisted and struggled within filthy, corrupted power.
They cast hateful gazes toward Teyvat.
Some roared.
Others murmured.
Countless whispers surged through the turbid power, eventually gathering into a single sentence.
"Teyvat, we're back!"