"Those two looked like honorary knights — let's ask them. Maybe they saw the thieves."
"Good idea — let's go!"
The two Knights of Favonius reached the Angel's Share area after chasing from the cathedral, but they'd lost sight of the two thieves. They did notice the honorary knight who'd saved Mondstadt earlier standing just ahead, so they headed over to question him.
"Honorary Knight, wait! Honorary Knight!"
Huh? Honorary Knight? Who's that?
Oh — that's me. Never mind.
Su Mo had been about to go into the Angel's Share to meet Venti when he heard someone calling for an honorary knight. Since the title hadn't meant much to him, he paused, then realized they meant him.
"It's late — do you need something?"
Though he already suspected why the two knights were here, Su Mo asked casually.
"We're sorry to bother you, Honorary Knight. Did you see anyone suspicious pass by here?"
One knight ran up and gave Su Mo a knightly salute before asking.
"What happened?"
Su Mo answered with a measured question instead.
"There were two thieves who showed interest in the Sky-String. We're tracking them down now."
"Sky-String? That sounds valuable." Su Mo's face tightened as he considered it.
"It's the Anemo Archon's instrument — very precious. You know how culturally important it is, right? It must not be stolen."
The knight explained the Sky-String's lineage. Su Mo listened, slowly shaking his head in disbelief.
"Unbelievable. I can't imagine who'd dare steal something like that."
"So — did you see anyone leave?"
"Oh! Yes — I saw two strange figures. One all green, one all yellow. That's them, right?"
"That's them! Do you remember where they ran?"
Hope flared in the knights' eyes. Su Mo pointed toward the city gate.
"Try the gate — maybe they already left town. As for me, I can't stand aside either; I'll check inside the tavern. They might have accomplices still here." He pointed and said it with the measured duty of a knight.
"Thank you, Honorary Knight! The Knights of Favonius are lucky to get your help. If the Anemo Archon knew, she'd be glad." Both knights bowed in sincere thanks and hurried off.
Su Mo watched them go, then turned toward the tavern not far away. He'd half-remembered Venti arranged to meet him at the Angel's Share earlier. Even if he hadn't, dropping by wasn't a bad idea.
"Keep an eye on them — that poet's suspicious. I'll ask around."
Diluc had been watching a blond girl climb to the second floor and told his barkeep Charles to keep tabs.
"Ask who?"
Charles didn't catch on.
"Mondstadt's guards," Diluc replied dryly.
The door swung open. Diluc expected to see knights, but instead a handsome black-haired youth walked in. He'd misjudged the knights' speed.
"Hello—what can I get you?" Charles asked.
"An apple vinegar. By the way, have you seen a bard? He arranged to meet me here — might be upstairs."
"You should ask Diluc," Charles shrugged.
Su Mo found Diluc in his usual seat and sat across from him.
"Excuse me — have you seen a green-haired bard? He was supposed to meet me here. Call me Su Mo."
"Sorry, Mr. Su Mo, no one likes that here," Diluc answered flatly.
Su Mo blinked. Has the story diverged? He hadn't expected Diluc to deny it.
Diluc, watching the black-haired youth, wondered about the relationship between him and the missing bard. The stranger's presence piqued his interest.
"But he really told me to meet him here. Maybe he's upstairs and you didn't notice?"
"I've been here all day. My barkeep didn't see him either," Diluc said. He was now almost certain the bard wasn't here.
One of the knights returned.
"No luck; Diluc says no sign of them."
"Understood. I'll check elsewhere. Stay safe, Honorary Knight."
"Will do."
The knights left; Su Mo exhaled.
"Hey, Su Mo — over here." Paimon popped up by the stairs, leading Su Mo upward.
Su Mo followed. Diluc watched as Paimon led the youth up. Something about this and the Sky-String still made Diluc uneasy.
"Don't let anyone in — we've closed up, understand?"
"I understand."
Diluc mounted the stairs to straighten things out. He wanted answers.
"Hey, Venti — you look troubled. Is everything okay?"
Su Mo saw worry in Venti's face.
"It's nothing. Sit — have a drink."
Venti visibly composed himself. He'd planned to use Lumine and Su Mo to help heal Stormterror, but he hadn't included Su Mo in the Sky-String caper. For Su Mo's safety and because the theft required fewer people, Venti had kept him out. But now the Sky-String was gone — and someone was impersonating Venti.
Who would pretend to be him? To seize power over Mondstadt? Or to draw the real god out? Venti couldn't sleep over the possibilities. If someone was imitating him, they'd likely be trying to expose him; when you know a fake exists, the real thing often shows up.
"Put the bottle from the back on the counter," Diluc ordered as he reached the table.
"All right. Now answer — what's going on?"
"Let me finish my drink first — I'll pay, or perform." Venti smiled like a mischievous child.
Diluc cut him off. "Enough. Tell me who did this."
"I'll first clarify your identity to them: this is Diluc, owner of the Dawn Winery — well, the owner behind the tavern. These two are rising Knights of Favonius."
"Oh — those rising knights stole the Sky-String?"
Diluc's tone carried thin sarcasm.
"We didn't steal it. The real culprits are elsewhere!" Paimon spluttered.
Venti smiled. "I'll explain in a moment."
Diluc watched the group and sighed. He respected Lumine and Su Mo for aiding Mondstadt, but hated the Knights' hesitance. Then Venti proposed a plan.
"If I tell the true story — will you believe me?"
"It depends."
"Will you pay me for the performance?"
"Payment ranges from 5 Mora to the Sky-String itself, depending on the tale," Diluc said dryly.
"Excellent. I'll perform." Venti began his narrative: the old song of the sky-dragon seeking answers, the call and the summons. He finished the ballad and looked at Diluc.
"Interesting. Give me…" Diluc began, impressed.
Venti lowered his voice. "But there's more. The girl who took the Sky-String claims to be an envoy of the Anemo Archon. The Anemo Archon has no envoy — that's odd. Even if she now has the Sky-String, it's unusable: centuries have leeched its wind energy. So — find the Sky-String's restoration materials, and if she tries to repair it publicly, she'll expose herself. That's our chance to catch her."
Diluc pondered and then agreed to join Venti's plan. If the fake wind-god sought to rally Stormterror or consolidate power by restoring the Sky-String, that very act would give them the opening the Knights and Venti needed.
System update: in front of others, steal (or snatch) the materials needed to restore the Sky-String, and warn them not to oppose the will of the Wind; otherwise they'll face the Archon's wrath.
Su Mo: "..."
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