Chapter 124. Lady La Signora, please sit!
When the Lady first entered the dessert shop, she had still been puzzled by the situation unfolding before her.
The maid, the pastry chef, and several staff members were all gathered before the entrance to a private room, their expressions grim and uneasy. From a distance, it was impossible to discern what had happened.
Could it be that someone had eaten dessert without paying mora?
That thought struck her as unlikely. In her memory, this shop had always been known for its excellent value and attentive service.
If not for special circumstances, even the Lady herself would occasionally patronize this establishment. As a Fatui Harbinger, the mission she bore was of paramount importance—but before any plan officially began, she, like Tartaglia, would sometimes allow herself moments of indulgence.
She would come here, savor the sweetness, reminisce about better times… and afterward, hate this sinful world all the more deeply.
No matter what happened, the Lady believed she could face it calmly.
Until now.
When she followed Futsu Mitama into the private room and saw the three Archons seated within, her composure shattered.
She was stunned—utterly stunned.
She stood frozen in place, her pupils constricting almost imperceptibly, yet enough to betray the shock that surged through her entire being.
"Dear customer…"
At that moment, the maid looked toward Venti, Raiden Ei, and Zhongli. Her expression was strained, her voice cautious. "Although we understand that you are of noble status, that does not exempt you from paying mora."
Raiden Ei said nothing.
She continued eating her dessert in silence. She had already sensed Futsu Mitama's arrival. Whatever matters required handling; she would leave them to him. This body was the most exalted and revered existence in all of Teyvat; she needed only to enjoy the dessert before her.
Zhongli, likewise, remained unperturbed. He sipped his tea calmly, then lifted his gaze toward the Lady standing not far away.
"The one who will pay has arrived," he said indifferently. "You may seek her out."
"Ehe~"
Venti wore a playful smile, turning his gaze toward the Lady as well. He blinked lightly, as though signaling something only he understood. Within Mondstadt, Venti was fully aware—through the whispers of the wind—of what the Fatui intended to do.
Even knowing that he himself was their target, he chose to feign ignorance, playing the fool as though nothing were amiss.
"You… you…"
The pastry chef was about to speak again.
At that moment, Futsu Mitama stepped forward.
"Everyone," he said calmly, "this table is being treated by the Fatui Harbinger, the Lady, from Snezhnaya. Would you kindly give her some face?"
At his words, the maid and the other staff finally noticed both Futsu Mitama and the Lady standing nearby.
When their eyes fell upon the Lady, surprise flashed across their faces. They were quite familiar with her. After all, she was one of the shop's most prominent patrons.
Although most people in Mondstadt disliked the Fatui, those engaged in business understood something very well: while they might resent the Fatui, they still welcomed their patronage.
The Fatui's conduct was infamous. But their payments were equally famous. They paid readily, decisively, without hesitation. And among them, this Harbinger—the Lady—was particularly noteworthy.
She often visited the shop, always ordering several popular desserts from five hundred years ago. After finishing her meal, she would then place an order for several hundred additional servings, all to be delivered to the Goth Grand Hotel.
A customer like that would never default on mora.
And so, the staff grew confused.
They glanced at Venti, Zhongli, and Raiden Ei seated inside the private room. Then they looked at the Lady, her expression clearly darkened, and at the smiling Futsu Mitama beside her.
For a moment, the entire staff fell into silence. No matter how they looked at it, this did not resemble someone arriving to settle a bill. It looked far more like someone arriving for revenge.
"You… you…"
The Lady turned slowly toward Futsu Mitama.
Her breathing grew uneven, a dull, stabbing pain blooming in her chest.
She was furious.
Because she knew all three people inside that room.
The Raiden Shogun—there was no need to elaborate. She had met her before, at Tenshukaku.
Then there was the Geo Archon, Morax.
When Tartaglia went to Liyue, it was the Lady herself who, bearing the Tsaritsa's will, personally sought out Morax and handed him the contract drafted by the Tsaritsa.
She had not known the contents of that contract. But after reading it, Morax had said he needed time to consider—and that once he reached a decision, he would summon her back to Liyue.
From that moment on, she had been warned. If she dared reveal his current identity, the transaction between him and Snezhnaya would be immediately annulled.
The Lady did not believe Zhongli was joking. The God of Contracts was more trustworthy than anyone.
And so, she had come to Mondstadt in Il Dottore's stead, to begin the plan of collecting the Gnosis.
As for Venti, she had never met him before. Yet now, within this private room, sat the Raiden Shogun, the Geo Archon—and finally, a man holding a wine bottle, radiating an unmistakable aura of freedom.
Undoubtedly, he was her primary mission target.
The Anemo Archon—Barbatos.
Irresponsible to the extreme. Leaving everything to mortals. When calamity struck, the gods of other nations took action, yet he was nowhere to be found, allowing tragedy to unfold unchecked.
At this moment, the Lady wished nothing more than to tear out his Gnosis with her own hands. But the presence of the other two Archons—and Futsu Mitama, whose strength was no less than her own—made reckless action impossible.
Her chest burned with anger.
Yet she dared not move.
"What's wrong?" Futsu Mitama glanced at her expression and smiled faintly. "Didn't you say you wanted to treat me to a meal?"
As he spoke, his gaze shifted to the unfinished pastries on the table, and he walked forward.
Sensing that the atmosphere had become dangerously tense, the maid, the pastry chef, and the other staff quickly stepped back, clearing the way.
Futsu Mitama entered the private room.Instinctively, he reached for a pastry—careful not to take Raiden Ei's dessert.
After all, in Raiden Ei's eyes, eternity encompassed everything. And dessert existed beyond eternity.
In other words, dessert could never interfere with eternity—no matter how much one ate. However, just as Futsu Mitama reached toward one of Zhongli's pastries, Raiden Ei suddenly extended her hand and stopped him.
"?"
Four expressions froze at once.
Futsu Mitama. Zhongli. Venti. The Lady.
None of them had expected Raiden Ei to stop him so abruptly.
Was she forbidding him from eating? What was going on? Could it be that even a dignified Raiden Shogun's retainer was not allowed to eat a single pastry?
The Lady's thoughts churned violently.
But Zhongli and Venti perceived something else entirely.
Raiden Ei did not want Futsu Mitama to eat food belonging to other gods.
He could only eat hers.
And as if to confirm their suspicion, Raiden Ei picked up a piece of dessert. A fleeting trace of heartache passed through her eyes.
On the surface, however, her tone remained calm. "This one is more delicious. There's no need to eat the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Consultant's food. And you—sit next to me."
Venti and Zhongli were seated together. The seat beside Raiden Ei remained empty.
After handing the dessert to Futsu Mitama, Raiden Ei patted the seat beside her, signaling for him to sit.
Though confused, Futsu Mitama complied. He accepted the dessert and took his seat beside her.
To outsiders, it appeared entirely normal.
But the Lady could only gasp.
Futsu Mitama sitting there—did that not mean he was qualified to participate in a gathering of Archons?
Those three were all among the current Seven. And judging by the expressions of both the Anemo Archon and the Geo Archon, they tacitly approved of his presence.
Kuki Shinobu did not step forward. She stood quietly to the side, arms crossed, observing the Lady's reaction. This Fatui Harbinger must be utterly shaken now—eager to ask about the Raiden Shogun's whereabouts.
Yet Futsu Mitama had brought her directly before her.
It was…fascinating hehe~.
The two Electro Cicin Mages beside the Lady did not fully understand what was happening. But having followed her for so long, they knew that now was not a time to speak. For some reason, the atmosphere reminded them of moments in Snezhnaya when the Tsaritsa and the Harbingers stood together to deliver proclamations.
Futsu Mitama sat quietly, wonder lingering in his eyes as he ate the dessert Raiden Ei had given him. Truth be told, back in Inazuma, Aila had devoted herself to researching recipes—both pastries and main dishes alike. In Liyue, her cooking had even earned Xiangling's praise, who believed Aila possessed remarkable potential.
Yet Aila had not been satisfied. Spurred on by Xiangling's skill, she insisted she still needed to improve. Had it not been for the "Black Aila" incident, she might have devoted herself entirely to culinary study, competing fiercely with Xiangling.
Now, after tasting Mondstadt's desserts, a glimmer of surprise passed through Futsu Mitama's eyes. As expected of a place recommended by the Anemo Archon.
The flavor surpassed even Aila's carefully prepared pastries, and the presentation was equally refined. The only drawback was the portion—it vanished in just two bites.
No wonder the Raiden Shogun had given it to him. Perhaps she simply wished to share something she found delightful.
Futsu Mitama sighed inwardly.
But Raiden Ei's thoughts were entirely different. She cast a sidelong glance at Venti and Zhongli, her expression calm, her gaze unmistakably triumphant. As if to say—
No matter what authority or inheritance you bestow upon him, in the end, Futsu Mitama chooses me.
Whether sitting beside me. Or eating what I give him.
"Oh, right."
At this moment, Futsu Mitama noticed that the pastries on the table were nearly gone. He raised a hand and waved toward the maid.
"Please serve the same dishes again."
They were delicious enough that even he felt tempted to eat more. And after all, the Lady was paying. She had already agreed—surely she would not go back on her word.
Just as the Lady believed Futsu Mitama would reveal the reason General Raiden Shogun had left Tenshukaku—Futsu Mitama, too, believed she would pay.
A Fatui Harbinger would not be unable to produce such a small amount of mora.
Regrator was amassing mora across Teyvat, supplying the Fatui with vast resources. This was why they operated with such freedom. To the Harbingers, anything that could be resolved with mora was no problem at all.
"Eh?!"
The maid's expression grew subtle. She hesitated. "We can serve them again…but could the mora be paid first?"
She had felt the same earlier about Zhongli and Raiden Ei—both looked impossibly noble, yet neither could produce mora.
Now, faced with the approaching Lady and Futsu Mitama, the maid dared not assume again.
Futsu Mitama fell silent. He turned his gaze toward the Lady. As if to say—
Why haven't you paid yet?
The Lady's chest burned with fury. Her breathing quickened. She desperately wanted to erupt and leave. But throwing a tantrum before three Archons—
The Anemo Archon might be tolerable.
But the Raiden Shogun and the Geo Archon were not.
"Lady, please sit!"
If she were to throw a tantrum and leave at this moment, the crime of disrespecting the gods alone would be enough to have her struck down on the spot.
"Pay."
The Lady forced the word out through clenched teeth, ordering her two subordinates to settle the bill. The amount of mora involved was insignificant to her—insignificant even to the Fatui as a whole. Yet the fact that SHE had to pay it filled her with a fierce, smoldering resentment.
The two Electro Cicin Mages were momentarily taken aback, but they still stepped forward in silence, approaching the maid to confirm the total consumption for the private room.
The maid stated the price. The two mages paid without expression, privately thinking that the sum was, in truth, rather modest.
Once the mora was received, the maid—though still unclear about what exactly was unfolding—felt that, with payment complete, everything was technically resolved. The staff of the dessert shop exchanged glances. Faced with an atmosphere far beyond their understanding, they decisively chose not to interfere further and withdrew one after another.
Only then did the Lady enter the private room.
She did not sit. None of the three Archons had invited her to do so.
Even as a Snezhnayan Diplomat, even as a Fatui Harbinger, she was not qualified to take a seat on equal footing with gods.
Only if Her Majesty the Tsaritsa herself were present—only if she were the one seated here—would such a privilege exist.
Just like Futsu Mitama.
"You two stay outside."
The Lady gave the order calmly. Her gaze flicked briefly toward Kuki Shinobu standing beyond the doorway. Seeing that Shinobu made no move, the Lady continued evenly, "I'm going in to discuss some matters."
"Yes."
"Yes."
The two Electro Cicin Mages answered without hesitation, positioning themselves on either side of the private room entrance.
Kuki Shinobu, meanwhile, casually found a nearby seat, waved over a waiter, and ordered herself something to eat.
Through the Chat Group, she could already perceive the conversation inside. The atmosphere was unmistakably strange.
She had no intention of getting involved. Sitting outside and enjoying ordinary desserts was far more appealing.
Besides, judging by the Lady's extremely unpleasant expression, the Lady herself likely didn't want to enter that room either—but had no choice.
Kuki Shinobu sighed quietly. Something unpleasant always seemed to happen to the Lady whenever she encountered Futsu Mitama.
Truly tragic. Truly amusing.
She laughed silently to herself. As an Inazuman, Kuki Shinobu naturally harbored no goodwill toward the Fatui who had committed countless wrongs in her homeland. After learning that the Lady herself had been responsible for several incidents in Inazuma, her impression had only worsened. Seeing the Lady suffer at Futsu Mitama's hands brought her no small measure of satisfaction.
Inside the private room, the Lady fell silent the moment she entered.
The situation before her was too chaotic, too absurd, and she did not know what words would be appropriate to speak first.
Her gaze shifted to the Geo Archon—Morax. What was His attitude?
Did Futsu Mitama know that this so-called Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Consultant was Morax himself? If he did not, then every word she spoke from this point onward would have to be chosen with extreme caution.
The contract she had signed with Morax was absolute. Aside from Her Majesty the Tsaritsa, she was forbidden to reveal any information regarding His identity to anyone else.
At that moment, Raiden Ei spoke.
While calmly savoring her dessert, she pointed toward Zhongli and asked evenly, "Futsu Mitama, do you know this person?"
Her tone was tranquil, but the question was precise.
The Lady's heart stirred with secret delight.
Though she still harbored resentment toward the Raiden Shogun for striking her earlier, she now found herself grateful—this question tested both Zhongli and Futsu Mitama at once.
"The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Consultant," Futsu Mitama replied naturally, nodding slightly. "Of course, I know him. I obtained the Geo Archon's legacy from him. It's said that his ancestors received the legacy of Rex Lapis, and that it has been passed down ever since."
"He is extremely knowledgeable. The people of Liyue Harbor hold him in great respect. In a sense, the reason my strength has risen so rapidly is entirely due to his guidance."
Those words caused subtle ripples in both Raiden Ei's and the Lady's hearts.
Raiden Ei glanced at Zhongli with faint disdain, as though remarking silently: so this so-called 'folk legacy' was never from the folk at all—but from Morax himself.
Once this deception was uncovered, how would he explain it to Futsu Mitama?
Still, the fact that Futsu Mitama did not know Zhongli's true identity allowed Raiden Ei to quietly exhale in relief.
In truth, Zhongli had never intended for Futsu Mitama to inherit his position. The title of successor was merely bait—to draw attention elsewhere.
The Lady's thoughts took a different turn.
She looked between Zhongli and Futsu Mitama, her expression grave. Dealing with Futsu Mitama would require far greater caution than before. The Geo Archon genuinely seemed to be contemplating retirement—and he clearly valued this young man.
His judgment was, as ever, terrifyingly precise.
Even standing in opposition to Futsu Mitama, the Lady had to admit the truth: his talent was monstrous.
If he were to join the Fatui—setting aside all past grievances—then within a few short years, he would almost certainly rise to the rank of Harbinger, perhaps even surpassing her.
The more like-minded comrades, the better.
That was her thought. Yet everything the Fatui had done in Inazuma had already alienated Futsu Mitama completely. Their relationship now was nothing more than mutual exploitation. Had things been even slightly different, she would not be standing here now—she would be seated, conversing as an equal.
"And this one?" Raiden Ei gestured toward Venti, who was drinking.
"Anemo Archon Barbatos," Futsu Mitama replied solemnly. "He hopes I can resolve the Mondstadt Dragon Crisis. And he promised that if I succeed, he will give me a gift."
The Lady's eyes narrowed. She had already suspected the bard's identity—but hearing it confirmed made her expression darken.
Among the Seven, the Archon she loathed most was undoubtedly Barbatos.
Five hundred years ago, during that catastrophe, he had not appeared at all. Only his familiar, Dvalin, had fought for Mondstadt. Had he been present…had he fought…how could such tragedy have occurred?
Even the Raiden Shogun striking her had not filled her with such fury—because she understood her own sins.
"I understand." Raiden Ei nodded lightly and said nothing more.
She had already confirmed what mattered most: Futsu Mitama was indifferent to Barbatos, and unconcerned with Zhongli's situation.
Which meant—He cared only about Inazuma.
With that thought settled, Raiden Ei returned her attention to her dessert, sparing the Lady no further glance.
This was Mondstadt, not Inazuma.
Here, the Lady lacked both the strength and the standing to warrant conversation.
Venti and Zhongli likewise ignored her—one out of disinterest, the other out of guilt.
"Lady, aren't you going to sit?" Futsu Mitama asked, gesturing politely.
The table was large. Several seats remained empty. From his perspective, there was no issue at all. If Zhongli could sit among two Archons, why couldn't a Fatui Harbinger?
Yet the Lady hesitated. She wanted to sit—but did not dare.
Futsu Mitama had been invited by the Raiden Shogun herself. Morax and Barbatos had made no such gesture toward her.
If she sat uninvited…what consequences would follow?
She did not know.
"No need." She crossed her arms, voice low. "I'll stand. The air here is stuffy—I'll take my leave."
She had no intention of asking about the Raiden Shogun. To ask such a question in her presence was suicidal. Compared to the revelation of Barbatos's whereabouts, everything else was insignificant.
"Are you sure you want to leave?" Futsu Mitama called after her. "If you don't ask today, you'll have to pay the same price next time."
"Hmph."
The Lady snorted and left without another word.
After she was gone, Futsu Mitama sighed.
Too cautious.
Raiden Ei looked at Venti. "Her hostility toward you runs deep."
"I know," Venti replied softly.
"Compared to that," he chuckled, "your retainer's strength has improved again."
And the conversation continued.
"In a sense, you truly are a monster. Your strength increased from just a single spar."
As he said this, Venti could not help but feel a trace of emotion stir within him. There were indeed individuals in Mondstadt whose strength was not inferior to Futsu Mitama's.
Yet none of them—none—had advanced as fast as he had: from merely capable to the realm of an adeptus within the span of a single month.
And now, after sparring with the Raiden Shogun, Futsu Mitama's strength had risen yet again, steady and unmistakable. It was enough to make even an Archon feel a twinge of envy.
"Mm." Futsu Mitama nodded lightly. He casually picked up a dessert from the table and said evenly, "Because my strength is increasing too quickly, my foundation hasn't had time to fully stabilize. If not for Her Excellency the Shogun's arrival, my progress would likely have stagnated for a while."
It was true. With the Chat Group, Futsu Mitama possessed a means to enhance his strength continuously. Even without mastering techniques, brute force alone could carry him far into the future. But he himself understood this better than anyone: on the continent of Teyvat, technique mattered—immensely so.
Whether Venti, that ever-slacking bard, was truly strong or not was another matter entirely. Zhongli was revered as the God of War. Raiden Ei wielded the Musou no Hitotachi, an art that fused countless profound principles into a single, absolute strike.
Both possessed techniques befitting an Archon.
Even without invoking elemental power, relying on technique alone, either of them could utterly defeat Futsu Mitama.
Embarrassing as it might sound, that was simply the truth.
And so, he had no choice. His raw power had to continue growing—but his techniques could not be neglected in the slightest.
"Mm." Raiden Ei nodded. Her gaze briefly lingered on the dessert Futsu Mitama had taken, and a faint trace of regret flickered through her eyes before vanishing. Her tone remained calm as she said, "For now, you need to settle your mind and slowly comprehend what I taught you."
"Only then will your Musou no Hitotachi grow stronger. As for the Geo Archon's legacy…you don't need to concern yourself with that yet. Focus solely on the Musou no Hitotachi."
Zhongli continued sipping his tea, as though none of this concerned him in the slightest.
Futsu Mitama nodded again in acknowledgment. Soon after, he began asking Raiden Ei about the aspects he still did not fully understand. Earlier, during their long sparring session, Raiden Ei had taught him many things in rapid succession—almost cramming them into him all at once.
He knew those principles now, but knowing and applying were two different matters. He did not yet understand how to use them properly, nor how to use them well.
And so, he could only turn to Raiden Ei—his teacher.
He wanted to know whether she had an optimal solution.
Faced with his inquiries, Raiden Ei was uncharacteristically generous. While calmly enjoying her dessert, she answered his questions one by one, her explanations clear and precise.
Zhongli and Venti, meanwhile, remained silent. One drank tea. The other drank wine. Both quietly observed the scene before them.
Inside the Chat Group, however, the atmosphere was anything but quiet.
[Venti: "Oh my, oh my~~ It really feels like the two of us are completely superfluous here, @Zhongli."]
[Zhongli: "From a universal rational perspective, we should leave the private room and give them space. This concerns a legacy, after all."]
[Venti: "Looking at this atmosphere, we wouldn't be able to leave even if we wanted to. Let's just stay here obediently."]
[Raiden Makoto: "What happened? Tell us the details—we're very curious."]
[Azhdaha: "Alas, what a pity Futsu Mitama doesn't stream in the Chat Group. I'm quite curious about what's happening over there. Speaking of which, why has his streaming decreased so much whenever he's with Zhongli?"]
[Guizhong: "Perhaps he simply doesn't think there's anything worth streaming."]
[Kuki Shinobu: "But why did the Harbinger leave? She went in and came out almost immediately. Did she retreat in the face of difficulty? Asking the Raiden Shogun why she came to Mondstadt—right in front of the Raiden Shogun herself—is indeed… challenging."]
[Keqing: "Hmm?"]
[Albedo: "What?"]
[Keqing: "The Harbinger wanted to ask Futsu Mitama why the Raiden Shogun came to Mondstadt?"]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "That scene does sound rather amusing."]
[Kamisato Ayaka: "As expected of a Harbinger. I encountered her in Inazuma once—her arrogance was deeply unpleasant."]
[Yae Miko: "Truly… what an interesting scene! And why am I still on the way?! I'm honestly considering tying up a sea beast and heading over myself This wretched ship is far too slow!!!! And for some reason, the winds and waves keep getting worse."]
[Yae Miko: "I'm starting to suspect some god doesn't want me to arrive."]
[Venti: "Don't say nonsense. That's just your bad luck! If you don't believe me, how have your check-in results been lately?"]
[Yae Miko: "Terrible. All in the twenties."]
[Klee: "Klee's luck has been bad too! No items at all, just eighty or ninety experience points every time."]
[Aila: "Same here. Only experience, no items."]
[Albedo: "I'm currently developing an item that can increase luck. It should be finished in a few days."]
[Kuki Shinobu: "More importantly, what happened inside? Why did the Harbinger leave so suddenly?"]
[Zhongli: "Hmm… In short, she entered, observed briefly, exchanged a few words, and then left. She never asked why the Raiden Shogun came to Mondstadt. She also seems to harbor considerable resentment toward the Anemo Archon."]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "Resentment toward the Anemo Archon?"]
[Yae Miko: "That's normal. After all, the Harbinger is from Mondstadt, and her past… hehehe~ Best not to elaborate here. So the Fatui are finally about to move on the Gnosis?"]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "Seizing the Gnosis—It seems the Tsaritsa has made her resolve."]
[Venti: "Who knows? But I won't be handing over my Gnosis so easily."]
[Yae Miko: "Enough chatter. I'm going to implement my plan. I originally intended to wait until the seas calmed before sailing to Liyue, then on to Mondstadt. Now I'm tempted to bind a sea beast and rush there directly."]
[Yae Miko: "@Kuki Shinobu, give me Mondstadt's coordinates."]
[Keqing: "You should still be cautious. The seas are far too unstable. Even Beidou says that every safe sea route is hard-won."]
[Albedo: "Indeed. While sea beasts aren't a concern for you…"]
[Albedo: "…there are followers of ancient demon gods lurking in the deep sea. Their strength is not to be underestimated."]
[Raiden Makoto: "That's correct. After the Archon War, not all followers left Teyvat—especially those of the sea."]
[Zhongli: "With Yae Miko's strength, crossing the sea is feasible. However, should an accident occur, crossing again afterward would be exceedingly troublesome."]
[Yae Miko: "Hmm… I'll reconsider."]
After Zhongli's words, Yae Miko grew cautious. Death was impossible for her—even an Archon could not easily kill her, and her escape abilities were unmatched. But if something went wrong mid-crossing, reaching Mondstadt or Liyue again would take an unacceptably long time.
With that thought, she abandoned the reckless idea and chose to maintain the status quo.
—
Elsewhere, within Mondstadt City—
As the Harbinger led the Fatui back to the Goth Grand Hotel to begin planning the seizure of the Gnosis, Jean arrived with the Knights of Favonius.
This was no ordinary detachment. Aside from those on routine patrol and Klee, who remained confined at home, nearly every named combatant of the Knights was present.
Jean stood at the forefront, flanked by Kaeya, Amber, Lisa, Eula, Albedo, and others.
Nearby, Diluc—the tavern owner passing by—watched the standoff in silence, his expression unreadable.
From a rooftop above, Rosaria leaned on her spear, her brows knit with irritation as she observed the Fatui below. She disliked troublesome affairs, but if a fight broke out, she would not hesitate to act.
"You've crossed the line, Harbinger."
Jean stepped forward, her gaze cold as it swept over the Harbinger and the Fatui soldiers behind her. "Though Mondstadt is the City of Freedom, it does not welcome reckless individuals. In the name of the Acting Grand Master, I hereby place the Fatui Harbinger—and all Fatui present—under arrest."
Her tone was resolute. As Acting Grand Master, she had issued her command.
"Are you certain, Acting Grand Master?" The Harbinger stepped forward as well, her eyes icy. "We have violated none of this city's rules. To arrest us without cause is to provoke a war between Snezhnaya and Mondstadt. Can you bear that cost?"
Jean shook her head slightly, her gaze unwavering. "If that is a threat, then I accept it. In the name of the Anemo Archon Barbatos, we of Mondstadt will resist any force that seeks to oppress or threaten us."
This was a matter of faith.
The Harbinger had repeatedly caused trouble within Mondstadt—hindering the Knights, ignoring the broader crisis, and even threatening Futsu Mitama, a retainer of the Raiden Shogun.
With the Dragon Crisis and the Abyss Order looming, Jean made her decision.
The Fatui would be imprisoned.
During that time, she would lead the Knights to purge the Abyss Order and monsters from Mondstadt's lands. And once that was done, she would turn her full attention to resolving the Dragon Crisis itself. If they dared to resist—
Then Jean would not hesitate to expel the Fatui from Mondstadt entirely, sending them back to Snezhnaya.
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