Seeing Jean make the conversation serious again, Kaeya stepped forward with a teasing remark, taking up his usual role as the expert at lightening the mood.
"Oh my, Acting Grand Master, you really are serious. Miss Lumine hasn't even clashed with the Fatui yet. Why do you make it sound as though the Fatui are bound to attack her?"
Jean blushed at Kaeya's words and hurriedly explained in a fluster, "Ah, no, um, what I meant was that I truly am deeply grateful to the Traveler for volunteering to help us."
Lumine smiled and leaned affectionately against Amber. "Not at all. Amber helped me first, after all. Besides, Acting Grand Master Jean, you've all agreed to help me find my brother. Friends should help each other-but the problem now is..."
With that, everyone turned toward the bard slumped beside the liquor cabinet, pretending to sleep while his little hand had already reached for the Dandelion Wine inside.
Or rather, they ought to have called him Barbatos.
His expression unchanged, Diluc stepped forward and slammed shut the half-open cabinet door.
What a joke. He was Master Diluc of Mondstadt. Even the Anemo Archon wasn't getting free drinks here.
At her senior Diluc's action, and especially the pitiful kitten expression Venti put on to match it, Jean's mouth twitched. She pressed a hand to her forehead helplessly. "Lord Barbatos, if you want a drink, I believe anyone in Mondstadt would be willing to treat you."
Venti sprang up from beside the cabinet. "That's exactly what makes it boring! Why else would I refuse to reveal my true identity?"
For the shameless Anemo Archon, swindling and tricking his way into drinks was perfectly fine, but accepting offerings from believers because he was the Anemo Archon was something he couldn't stomach.
Watching his god behave so unreliably, Diluc wondered for the first time whether the competition he had stirred up with the Fatui over a bottle bearing the Anemo Archon's aura had really been worth it.
Oh well. It was his own god. What else could he do?
Diluc looked at the apple cider bottles scattered around the Anemo Archon's feet, brimming with his aura and possibly even containing his bodily fluids, and resolved to give the Fatui a proper fleecing later.
"Well, in that case... Master Venti?"
At Jean's tentative form of address, Venti nodded in satisfaction.
Actually, Venti would have been happier if Jean could have dropped the "Master," but considering her serious, earnest personality, even he thought that was unlikely. Her addressing him by name was already a rare step forward.
Reassured, Jean spoke freely. "Then, Master Venti, do you have any suggestions for dispelling the Dragon of the East's confusion?"
"I actually came close to solving that problem back in the Whispering Woods~."
Venti explained with a smile, though his gaze drifted toward the Traveler and Paimon, who were watching the show from the side.
Lumine and Paimon guiltily looked away.
"But never mind. Thinking about it now, since I haven't been carrying out my duties and have little divine power left, even if I temporarily soothed Dvalin, the corrosion from Durin's poisonous blood isn't something I could easily resolve. This really does call for a hero!"
"A hero?"
At Jean's question, Venti planted both hands on his hips and spoke as though it were obvious.
"Mm-hmm~. Isn't that how epic tales always go? A hero with special powers just happens to have the ability to solve the problem."
Hearing that, Lumine thoughtfully took a crystal brimming with an ominous red glow out of her backpack.
Unexpectedly, before long, the ominous crystal turned into a blue-green, teardrop-shaped crystal filled with exceptionally pure Anemo energy in Lumine's hand.
"Just as I thought, partner! You have the power to purify the corruption in Dvalin! You purified one of his tears so easily!"
Lumine studied her hand thoughtfully. If she hadn't been mistaken just now, when the crystal was purified, some kind of power seemed to have flowed from it into her body.
"So this power of mine can purify the corruption in the Dragon of the East-uh, Dvalin. Then how do we do it? Beat Dvalin into the ground, then I grab it by the neck and purify it?"
Whatever had occurred to her, Lumine suddenly looked eager to try. If Venti agreed, she might well head straight to Stormterror's Lair, beat Dvalin down, and drag him back to... ahem, detoxify him.
Even the frivolous Venti broke into a cold sweat at that. "Uh, there's no need to be so brutal. We just have to purify enough tears, then use them to replenish the Holy Lyre der Himmel's Anemo energy. I can then soothe Dvalin, and you can remove his corruption at close range."
"I still think beating Dvalin down and then purifying him would be simpler."
Everyone present offered an awkward yet polite smile.
Paimon swallowed the last piece of pizza in her hand and addressed Venti without ceremony. "Mm, Tone-Deaf Bard, where are we supposed to find these tears? Lumine and I only have this one."
"Tone-Deaf Bard?" Venti paused at Paimon's overly familiar words, then immediately smiled. "Ehe, I like that name. Mm-hmm, don't worry. Dvalin has been flying all over Mondstadt lately, so there must be plenty of tears. Gathering them might be a little troublesome, though. We'll have to ask the Knights and their considerable manpower to handle that."
Jean and Diluc nodded to each other, then Jean stepped forward. "That makes things straightforward. I'll borrow the Holy Lyre der Himmel from the Church. Senior Diluc, Eula, Amber, you'll lead teams to search for the dragon's tears. Kaeya will handle negotiations with the Fatui for now, and Lisa will provide technical assistance."
Watching Jean assign the tasks swiftly and neatly, Paimon gazed at the commanding Acting Grand Master with stars in her eyes. "Ohhh, as expected of the leader of the Knights of Favonius! Amazing! Oh, right, what should Lumine and I do?"
Jean smiled. "For now, little Paimon and Lumine, please get some proper rest. Of course, there's one other matter I'd like you both to keep an eye on."
As she spoke, Jean looked out the window.
Without them noticing, the sky had already brightened, and Teyvat had welcomed the next morning.
Which meant-
[System: The "Genshin Impact" video observation station is now online. Esteemed users, today's videos will begin playing in one hour. Please make your preparations during this time.]
"I keep feeling that if this screen stays around indefinitely, it'll have a major impact on the daily routines and work of the people of the City of Mondstadt."
Lisa patted Jean on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Jean."
Jean turned to look at Lisa.
Lisa continued, "Our residents have long since become overgrown babies who can't survive without you. Having a screen to occupy some of their attention is actually a good thing."
"..."
Lisa's blunt honesty left Jean unsure whether to laugh or cry. For a moment, she didn't know whether to be happy or sigh over how Mondstadt had come to this.
With the screen back online, the discussion area, which had fallen quiet, grew lively again.
[Xiangling: It's here, it's here! Aha, I just entered Mondstadt, too~!]
[Mona: Strange. My earlier divination clearly said I should wait in Liyue. Why... mm, never mind. Xiangling's food is delicious, anyway. Coming to Mondstadt now is fine, too.]
[Xingqiu: Uh, from the sound of it, are you two together?]
[Xiangling: That's right! I happened to find Miss Mona lying by the roadside yesterday, so we teamed up for the last stretch of the journey. Don't worry, I'll be back in Liyue soon. Then I'll show you the results of this training trip!]
[Chongyun: I already have a bad feeling about this.]
[Xingqiu: Don't worry. I'll be there with you.]
[Chongyun: Oh, please. You're always the one who tricks me the worst!]
Chongyun remembered how Xingqiu always solemnly assured him that those suspicious dishes contained no spicy ingredients and urged him to eat them, yet every time, there were Jueyun Chilies...
No. Chongyun no longer wanted to recall that embarrassing scene of "Young Master Chongyun is paying for everyone tonight."
[Yoimiya: Good morning, everyone! Another day full of energy!]
[Klee: Good morning, Big Sister Yoimiya! This morning's escape plan went smoothly. I've already blasted several fish! You can have some!]
[Yoimiya: Haha, thank you, little Klee.]
[Jean: Klee...]
Jean remembered putting ten new locks on the confinement room yesterday. How had Klee gotten out?
[Klee: Awoo, um, Klee was actually dreaming in the confinement room just now.]
[Sayu: So noisy... mm, I can't sleep.]
[Arataki Itto: Ha! The little tanuki's sleeping again.]
[Kirara: Ah, I happen to have a delivery for Mr. Itto here. Where should I bring it?]
[Kuki Shinobu: I'll receive it. Hmm, would Hanamizaka work?]
[Kirara: All right. Please leave a five-star review.]
[Kaveh: Aaaah, Alhaitham, where did you put the keys this time?!]
[Alhaitham: ...This system should offer a do-not-disturb function.]
[Lyney: Ah, Lynette, I only stepped away for a moment. Why did you order so many more cakes?]
[Lynette: It's fine. I'll use full-power mode later. I can burn off this little bit of energy right away.]
[The Knave: ...]
[Dehya: Candace, I found some new cosmetics in Sumeru City. I'll bring you a set.]
[Candace: Actually, I...]
The hour passed in a flash, and the discussion area remained lively throughout. As planned yesterday, some people from each nation provided basic information about their countries, while others chatted about everyday life. Some even arranged international deals.
At the very least, within that morning hour, Dori found a generous buyer for the Mora from Rex Lapis in her possession. Under Keqing's envious gaze as she bit her handkerchief, Ningguang signed the purchase contract with a beaming smile.
It was already the second day since the screen had appeared. Teyvat's residents were beginning to grow accustomed to its presence and no longer found it as novel as they had yesterday.
After all, Teyvat's residents were all remarkably unflappable. Even when meeting a traveler from another world for the first time, they would offer a word of amazement, then hand out quests as usual without standing on ceremony.
To everyone, although this screen and its constant revelations always brought surprises or shocks, there was more to life than the screen. They still had to work during the day. A few revelations and touching moments couldn't put food on the table, after all.
For more of Teyvat's residents, they might simply turn their attention to the screen during the few minutes when a video played. Anything beyond that was better left to the trusted leaders of their nations to worry about.
The five daily videos might total less than half an hour, so although the screen was active for four or five hours each day, it didn't really interfere with Teyvat's residents' normal routines.
[System: Now playing the first video-May the Anemo Archon fool you.]
[Barbara: Th-this is blasphemy! It should be "bless you"!]
[Jean: Uh, well...]
Jean glanced at the Anemo Archon beside her, who was shamelessly trying to fleece Diluc for a drink, and suddenly felt she had a fairly good idea of what this video would show.
"Oh well. I hope Barbara can take it."
[La Signora: Hmph. I think this video has it exactly right!]
[Rosaria: Oh? Do you need me, a sister of Batobas, to properly debate you?]
[Barbara: Sister Rosaria... (weakly) At the very least, please remember Lord Barbatos's divine name first.]
[La Signora: Hahaha! What a fitting sister for that fellow Barbatos. Hmph.]
"This La Signora has gone too far!"
Although her god was actually rather frivolous, Jean's reverence for the Anemo Archon hadn't changed.
For her, faith in the Anemo Archon came from his noble character. Whether it was having people establish a free city where no one ruled as king after he became the Anemo Archon, or spending his divine power to blow away the ice and snow and make Mondstadt enjoy spring all year round, those great deeds were why Jean believed in Barbatos.
As for Venti himself being so frivolous, without the slightest air of the Anemo Archon...
To Jean, wasn't an Anemo Archon like that rather nice, too?
Thinking about it that way, perhaps she needn't fear her little sister's faith shattering upon meeting the real Master Venti. Barbara believed in the Anemo Archon for the same reasons she did, after all, and her conviction was even stronger than Jean's as Acting Grand Master.
Instead, the behavior of La Signora, the leader of the Fatui delegation who had been staying in the City of Mondstadt lately and causing her so much trouble, seemed somewhat strange now.
Just as yesterday's final video had focused on Liyue, this one was clearly focused on Mondstadt.
Apart from this La Signora of the Fatui, who had suddenly become agitated for some reason and personally jumped in to trade barbs with the Anemo Archon's believers as though spoiling for a fight, people from other nations rarely interjected. Even when they spoke in the comments, it was at most a remark or two expressing amazement, confusion, or the like.