"So, that is where we stand."
The Fatui counselor, a masked woman, stood before Acting Grand Master Jean and spoke in a voice as cold as ice.
"If you cannot immediately eliminate the dragon causing this chaos, you might as well entrust Mondstadt's defenses to the Fatui." She paused briefly, her gaze behind the mask seeming to sweep silently over the exhaustion in Jean's eyes. "We are confident we can handle Mondstadt's security better than the Knights of Favonius."
"The dragon crisis in Mondstadt can be dealt with, for instance, as long as you let us take that beast..."
"-Beast?"
Jean's voice was not loud, but it abruptly cut the woman off.
"Hmm? What do you mean by that, Acting Grand Master Jean?" The woman folded her arms across her chest, her tone dripping with insinuation.
Though she was only a lowly counselor, she dared speak this way to the nation's current highest-ranking executive because of the organization behind her-the Fatui-and, beyond them, the will of all Snezhnaya.
Her powerful backers and Mondstadt's current lack of fighting strength gave her a confidence bordering on arrogance.
Jean let out a long breath and said sternly, "I hope your nation's diplomats can adopt a more professional attitude. You want to dispose of one of Mondstadt's Four Winds? That is sheer madness."
"Heh... my apologies. Of course, we would be delighted to see the Knights resolve this themselves. But... have you not noticed, Acting Grand Master?"
"...What are you referring to?"
"That powerful being." The woman chuckled twice. "Her strength is unfathomable. She nearly subdued the dragon in their very first encounter, so killing him might not be a problem either. And afterward? What sort of relationship will she have with Mondstadt?"
"Enough! Miss Gabrielina is a guest of Mondstadt!"
Jean's expression grew deadly serious. Anyone could see that she was furious.
Yesterday, Jean had still been wary of Gabrielina. But after their brief battle side by side today, beneath Mondstadt's newly clear skies, familiar songs drifted on the wind instead of a dragon's low growls.
She could now allow herself, sincerely and without reservation, to include Gabrielina among those she called friends.
That was precisely why this woman's words angered her.
This was an attempt to sow discord.
"That will be all for today's discussion. I still have work to do, so please understand!"
"Very well. Then we shall announce that 'both sides held a frank exchange of constructive views.' No objections?"
"After all, the Knights have fallen so low that they need outsiders' help. Surely they ought to give themselves... some fig leaf of respectability? Hahahaha-ugh!?"
Before the Fatui counselor's brazen laughter had faded, a fierce gust swept in without warning. She stumbled, losing every shred of poise and looking utterly disheveled.
Yet Jean, standing just beside her, was barely affected. Only a few strands of hair by her ears were disturbed.
"Tell me, are you deaf?" The girl appeared in midair, looking down at the Fatui counselor as she spoke coldly.
"Didn't you hear the Acting Grand Master? I'm a 'guest of Mondstadt.' What's wrong with a guest doing what she can for her hosts?"
"Even if I really did act on a whim..." The girl leaned forward slightly, and the air around them seemed to freeze. "...What gives you the right to judge me?"
"Who do you think you are?"
The woman who had been so haughty mere seconds earlier kept retreating, cold sweat covering her forehead. Gabrielina pressed a little closer, her golden eyes seeming to hold churning lava even as they gleamed with an icy light.
"Y-you... I..."
"You what?"
The woman, who had been cowering a moment ago, suddenly gritted her teeth and took a sharp step forward, then-
As though she had made some great resolution, she turned and ran toward the Goth Grand Hotel.
"Heh... clown."
Gabrielina watched her flee and sneered, viciously raising her middle finger. Behind her, Jean could only look on in embarrassment.
"Acting Grand Master Jean!"
"Traveler?" At the familiar voice behind her, Jean turned and immediately spotted Lumine and Paimon running over from a distance.
They seemed to have rushed over from quite far away, and both were out of breath. Paimon in particular wobbled through the air, nearly plunging headfirst into a flower bed.
"Thank you all for your hard work." Jean gave them a relieved smile. "The elemental circulation around the city has finally stabilized, and the aftermath of Stormterror's attack has settled down for now."
"Whew... you're too kind, Acting Grand Master Jean." Lumine slowly steadied her breathing and quietly edged over to Gabrielina.
"However... as Miss Gabrielina just witnessed, the pressure from the delegation has become too great to ignore..."
"Delegation? A diplomatic delegation from somewhere?"
"I think they're called the Fatui." Gabrielina nodded to herself.
"Huh?" Paimon let out a startled cry and turned to Gabrielina. "You didn't even... you didn't know who she was, and you still rushed off that fast!"
"Tch. How about I take you along next time?"
Paimon shook her head frantically and hid on Lumine's other side in protest, peeking out with only half her head. "No way! What if you lose your grip on me? Am I supposed to float all the way back myself!?"
Watching their antics, Jean felt some of the gloom in her eyes lift.
"Paimon, even Acting Grand Master Jean is laughing at you."
"Ugh..."
"Huh? What!? I'm not!" Jean hurriedly waved her hands in explanation, only to catch Gabrielina secretly covering her upturned lips.
So she has such a mischievous streak... honestly...
Jean looked at the girl feigning innocence and sighed helplessly. "I am very grateful to you, Miss Gabrielina, but please stop teasing me... The Fatui, led by the Cryo Archon, claim they want to resolve the dragon crisis, but in truth, they covet the power of the Anemo Archon's servant."
"Everyone has really been run ragged lately."
Gabrielina could only smile wryly to herself.
Coveting his servant's power? They're actually after the Anemo Archon's power... not to mention the Abyss Order lurking behind all this.
"Speaking of power," Lumine said then, "we have something related to Stormterror that we'd like to show Acting Grand Master Jean. It might give us a breakthrough."
"Hmm? All right, then let's return to the Knights' headquarters!"
"This isn't the place to talk."
They quickly returned to the Knights' headquarters, where Jean also called over Lisa, who had just been about to take a break.
Seeing Jean's hurried manner, Lisa lightly patted her cheeks to wake herself up a little. "What is it, Jean?"
"It's about Stormterror. We may have a breakthrough. Lumine says she has something important to show us."
Lumine and Jean exchanged a glance. Then Lumine nodded and took the red stone Dvalin had left behind out of her backpack.
"It looks like... a crystal containing some sort of power?"
"Let me take a look."
She examined it closely for a while, then tentatively reached toward the red crystal-
"Ah... that hurts!" Lisa quickly withdrew her hand and rubbed it, still seeming to be in pain.
"Are you all right, Lisa?"
Jean, Lumine, and the others looked at Lisa with concern. Lisa lowered her head to examine the light radiating from her Vision, then looked at the crystal floating before her.
"I understand now. So that's it... it repels the power of Visions," Lisa said with certainty.
"This tainted power repels the elemental power within us. They become entangled and attack each other. We certainly can't keep it ourselves, so we'll have to ask our little cutie... to hold on to it~"
"Mm, all right." Lumine nodded obediently.
Lisa glanced at Gabrielina, who was watching expectantly, but ultimately did not dare give her a nickname too.
Seeing Lisa rub her hand, apparently still in some discomfort, Jean abandoned the idea of touching the crystal herself.
"Now, you two. This is the second presumptuous request from our Knights." Jean looked Lumine and Gabrielina in the eyes and spoke earnestly.
"Please accept the title of Honorary Knight of the Knights of Favonius... along with the Acting Grand Master's gratitude!"
Before you continue