Kaito considered the team arrangements.
The only ones capable of purifying the crystals were Lumine and himself.
Lumine teaming up with Diluc was indeed the better choice—otherwise, pairing her with Jean meant two Anemo users together, which wasn't ideal.
More importantly, Diluc clearly didn't want to travel with him, and Kaito wasn't about to force the issue.
Still, after their last expedition to Stormbearer Mountains, Diluc had gone from Lv.18 to Lv.19, while Lumine had jumped straight to Lv.20.
Having them act together almost felt like… wasted experience.
"Does Amber have any particularly important missions right now?" Kaito asked.
"…"
He glanced at Jean.
She seemed slightly distracted.
"Jean?"
Kaito raised his voice a little.
"Oh!" Jean snapped back to attention, a faint hint of embarrassment as she brushed a strand of hair from her cheek. "Sorry—I was thinking about the Knights' arrangements. I didn't catch that. Could you repeat it?"
A faint warmth crept up her cheeks, though it was hard to notice under the warm lighting of the restaurant.
"I was asking whether Amber has any important assignments right now," Kaito repeated.
"She's on routine city patrols," Jean replied.
"Then let Diluc take her along," Kaito said.
Diluc immediately understood and clicked his tongue. "You really like giving me extra trouble."
"I'm being considerate," Kaito replied calmly. "A reconnaissance knight and a hunter should have plenty of common ground. She'll be useful."
"…Fair enough."
Diluc couldn't deny the logic and agreed.
"Amber really is the only option," Kaito added after thinking it over. There weren't many other candidates.
"Yes," Jean nodded. "If I'm gone, Kaeya and Lisa must stay behind. And Klee needs to remain as a deterrent. We can't afford to spare anyone else."
If Amber heard this discussion, she'd probably feel dejected for a while.
Only those on the margins could move freely—because they weren't critical to the overall situation.
"Alright then. Jean, have Amber come over tomorrow morning. I'll give her a gift as well," Kaito said.
"Okay."
Jean's curiosity was piqued. She decided she'd come along in the morning to see it for herself.
She still had to return and arrange the Knights' response to the Fatui, as well as organize the search for Dvalin's tear crystals.
The actual departure would have to wait until tomorrow.
"To prevent the Fatui from interfering, this operation will remain confidential," Jean said seriously. "Some Knights will continue searching for the Holy Lyre to mislead them, while the rest will focus on investigating tear crystal locations in the wild."
This was a private operation.
They couldn't let the Fatui know they were trying to save Dvalin.
After all, he was the dragon that had attacked Mondstadt.
If that became public, the Fatui would seize the moral high ground and move openly to 'slay the dragon.'
Who could stop them then?
Once everything was settled, they finished their creamy stew and went their separate ways.
As Diluc walked through the streets, he reflected quietly.
At first, he'd supported eliminating Stormterror—efficient, decisive, and it would deny the Fatui their excuse to interfere.
He'd always felt the Knights, or Jean herself, were too idealistic and inefficient.
But now, with a growing understanding of Venti's identity and intentions…
Looking back, Jean truly was suited to be Acting Grand Master.
She was walking the path guided by Barbatos himself.
As for him…
He had his own road to walk.
And perhaps, on that road, only Kaito could truly walk alongside him.
…
In the back alley behind Good Hunter—
"Jean, wait."
Kaito remembered something and caught up to her a few steps out the back door.
"Did you forget something?" Jean turned back.
Under the lamplight, her delicate features were highlighted by alternating light and shadow—strikingly beautiful.
"Yes. This—give it to Kaeya."
Kaito pulled out a map from his System inventory and handed it to her.
"This is…?"
Jean's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Kaito… you didn't break into the Goth Grand Hotel, did you?"
"How should I put it… the timing just worked out," Kaito said casually.
"Please try not to do things this dangerous," Jean said softly.
There was a trace of frustration in her expression—anger at her own inadequacy.
Kaito wasn't even part of the Knights, yet he'd taken such risks to ease the Fatui's pressure on Mondstadt, on the Knights… on her.
Her chest felt heavy, like a stone pressing down, making every breath difficult.
"I just grabbed it while I was there," Kaito replied vaguely.
"Just grabbed it…?"
Jean felt like this wasn't quite what she'd imagined.
"The Fatui were planning to steal the Holy Lyre last night. Their base was mostly empty, so I took a look," Kaito explained. "Besides this map, I also found their operational plan for the Lyre—but that one's useless now. My main objective was the Lyre itself."
"So you intercepted the Lyre from the Fatui?" Jean finally understood.
She'd originally thought Kaito had taken it from the Cathedral.
"I assumed the Fatui joined the search because they saw the Knights investigating and wanted to muddy the waters," Jean said, reorganizing her thoughts. "But in reality… they lost what they stole."
Kaito hadn't meant to explain this much.
But once Jean pieced it together, she finally let out a long breath.
Yet when she remembered that all of this—stealing the Lyre, confronting the Fatui—had been done to prepare for saving Dvalin, for Mondstadt, and ultimately for the Knights…
Which meant, in the end, it was all to help her.
Her emotions tangled again.
Jean clenched her hand, her gray-violet eyes fixed on him.
"Kaito…"
A complicated emotion welled up in her chest—gratitude mixed with pressure—making her hesitate.
"Acting Grand Master Jean! Boss Kaito!"
A patrol emerged from the alley, greeting them.
"…!"
Jean startled, quickly regaining her composure. She raised one arm to her chest and returned the salute.
The patrol moved on.
"What were you going to say?" Kaito asked.
"…Nothing. Thank you."
Jean spoke sincerely, then turned and left—already planning how to use the map before the Fatui could react.
Kaito, completely unaware of her thoughts, returned to the restaurant feeling faintly puzzled.
"Gift!"
Paimon flew in front of him, blocking his path.
"Everyone who listens gets a share!"
She crossed her arms smugly.
Kaito thought for a moment, then realized. "You mean Amber's surprise?"
"Of course!"
"I'm impressed you held back this long." Kaito lifted her effortlessly. "That's the Favonius Warbow for Amber. You can't even use it."
"Hey! You had Amber come because of me!" Paimon protested. "Doesn't that mean she owes me a meal?"
"…That's true."
The thought of honey-glazed carrot pancakes the next morning made Paimon instantly perk up. She zipped off to bed, eager for dawn to arrive.
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