Knock, knock, knock!
The door to the Acting Grand Master's office sounded.
Lisa straightened and moved aside.
Jean recovered her composed authority. "Come in."
A Knights of Favonius guard opened the door, saluted, and reported, "Acting Grand Master, Boss Kaito and the Honorary Knight have returned to the city."
"Understood," Jean said, waving him away.
In Kaito's party, besides Kaito himself—already something of a living legend among the citizens—there was also the newly appointed Honorary Knight, Lumine, the maid Noelle, and the Church's deaconess, Barbara.
Both the Knights and the Church were deeply concerned for their safety.
Jean tried to resume work—
But she was clearly distracted now, repeating several pointless steps in a row.
Lisa looked like she was enjoying the show.
"Hah…"
Jean inhaled, as if finally making up her mind.
She stood and lifted a box from beneath her desk.
"I'll bring the Favonius Warbow over," Jean said.
Then she paused at the door. "And… I'll check on Barbara while I'm at it."
…
Outside Good Hunter.
A beautiful maid with light-brown short hair had been waiting there—so consistently these past few days that she'd become part of Mondstadt's scenery.
Even Kaito froze slightly when he returned and saw her.
"Adelinde?"
"I'm honored you remember my name, Boss Kaito," Adelinde said with a formal bow. "By Master Diluc's instruction, I've been waiting here for you."
"For what?" Kaito asked.
"This is Master Diluc's token of thanks," Adelinde said. "He specifically ordered that I place it into your hands."
"Two bottles of vintage wine from the winery's private cellar. The grapes were harvested under the finest weather of that year. Master Diluc hopes you will accept them."
At her signal, a carriage rolled out from the alley behind the restaurant.
Servants from Dawn Winery carefully carried down a wooden case holding the two bottles.
Their hands were shaking.
Each bottle was worth tens of millions of Mora.
If one broke…
Had they seen what happened to Barton, the burly greeter outside Angel's Share?
Barton had only broken a display bottle.
These two were true Dawn Winery reserves.
If something happened here, being sent to mine ore for life wouldn't be impossible.
"…Right."
Kaito rolled his eyes.
So Diluc intended to use two bottles of wine to offset "the favor" of two artifacts.
After all, he'd already taken two last time.
Now he'd taken two more—his face probably couldn't handle it.
"Fine. I'll take them," Kaito said, nodding.
He never expected Diluc to return them anyway. Getting something back was better than nothing.
And besides—
These Vision holders becoming stronger and leveling faster meant Kaito grew stronger too.
He wasn't losing.
He casually lifted the case in one hand.
The servants went pale with terror.
"Then we will take our leave," Adelinde said, perfectly proper. "May you enjoy a pleasant life, Boss Kaito."
Her etiquette was flawless.
"Kaito… I should go back and report that I'm safe," Barbara said, a little regretful.
Then she brightened again.
It was already past noon. She'd report in, clean up, then head to the cathedral.
She had a performance tonight.
Mondstadt must have missed her terribly.
Barbara bowed quickly, mumbled a shy thank-you, and hurried off.
"Mmm…"
Lumine watched her go, then glanced at Kaito as if she wanted to say something—only to swallow it back.
Noelle followed them inside Good Hunter.
Kaito blinked. "Noelle, you're not going back?"
"I… I want to help you clean up first, Boss Kaito," Noelle said seriously.
"…Sara already handles cleaning," Kaito said. "And no one's lived here for days. There isn't even dust."
"Oh."
Noelle hesitated, then said, "Then… I'll help prepare hot water."
After coming back from an expedition, they should bathe.
Kaito shook his head.
"You've done enough. Go home and rest—Kaeya and Mondstadt still need you."
Noelle paused, visibly relieved.
"Understood."
She bowed neatly and hurried away.
"Noelle is… a bit too earnest," Kaito sighed.
Lumine stood a step behind him, hands loosely at her sides.
After a moment, she said softly, "I'll go wash up."
"Go on," Kaito said.
She nodded and went upstairs.
Paimon, who had been hovering nearby, looked between them—then promptly zipped off toward Sara's place below, already sniffing out food like it was a life mission.
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