Chapter 10: The First Meeting with Lumine
Angel's Share.
"Are you sure about this?" Venti held the fine wine he could usually only look at but not touch, feeling it was particularly hot in his hands.
Jun Bai crossed his arms: "If you don't want it, put it back."
"I'll take this one. He's paying."
Venti decisively placed the wine on the counter.
Jun Bai also picked up a bottle of Applebloom Cider and set it on the counter. The bartender quoted a price in Mora that would take Venti probably three months of busking to afford.
It was very expensive. Yet Jun Bai's eyes remained calm and unruffled as he paid. Back when he was designing his background, he had considered the issue of Mora and specifically emphasized that he had been accumulating wealth throughout his 3,000 years as an Archon.
That is, he added a "rich guy" setting for himself.
After the two Archons bought their drinks, they found a spot to sit down in the tavern.
Venti opened the cork, his movements full of impatience.
Jun Bai poured himself a glass of Applebloom Cider but didn't drink it immediately. He hesitated for a moment, then asked: "Venti, about Dvalin… how do you plan to handle it?"
Venti stopped mid-gulp, put down the bottle, remained silent for a long moment, then smiled lightly: "You're still as direct as ever, Jun Bai."
"For things that must be faced eventually, it's better to be straightforward."
"True." Venti was silent for a while. "Dvalin is now endangering Mondstadt. If it continues like this, I can only fulfill my duty as one of The Seven."
The duty of The Seven is to protect the people of the seven nations.
Venti never took action against Dvalin for two reasons: first, under his secret protection, the people of Mondstadt hadn't suffered any true casualties, only property damage.
Second, because of Venti's relationship with Dvalin.
The bond between an Archon and their familiar cannot be explained in just a few words. Venti needed time to mentally prepare himself to take action against Dvalin.
Jun Bai said solemnly: "You know Dvalin is innocent. And it has done so much for Mondstadt in the past."
"But there's no other way. Being in this position, some things aren't optional just because I don't want to do them." Venti smiled. "No matter how close Dvalin and I are, if it harms the people of Mondstadt, then I have no choice but to act."
Although, for now, with Venti around, Dvalin hasn't managed to hurt anyone. But as time passes, the Abyss's erosion of Dvalin will gradually accelerate.
And Dvalin will become more and more ferocious.
By then, will Venti still be able to protect Mondstadt from an increasingly rampaging Dvalin?
This delicate balance will be broken sooner or later.
The atmosphere gradually became oppressive.
Suddenly—
"Ehe." Venti stuck out his tongue. "Of course, that's the last resort, only if things reach an irreparable point."
"The best plan, naturally, is to purify the Abyssal curse on Dvalin. As long as it breaks free from the Abyss's control and returns to its former self, then all problems cease to be problems."
Jun Bai pretended to be puzzled: "From the sound of it, you already have an idea?"
"Correct." Venti nodded proudly.
Jun Bai, who knew the main storyline inside out, really wanted to ask what he had to be proud of. Purifying the Abyssal curse didn't seem to have much to do with him, did it?
I was the one who stole the Holy Lyre, I was the one who collected the tears, I was the one who purified the curse, and I was even the one who fought the dragon.
As for you, Barbatos, the Anemo Archon, weren't you just slacking off?
"Speaking of which, Jun Bai, thank you." Venti personally poured Jun Bai a glass of wine. "Thank you for protecting the people of Mondstadt City today."
"Even without me, you could have protected them."
"That's one thing — this thank you still needs to be said." Venti smiled and raised his glass to Jun Bai.
Jun Bai raised his glass in response: "If there's any way I can help, just say so. Dvalin is my friend too."
"Don't worry, I'm not the polite type."
"But I've just finished my Nirvana, and my strength hasn't recovered to its peak yet, so my help is limited."
"..."
After that, the two Archons chatted freely over drinks.
The conversation ended with Venti finishing two bottles of wine and passing out drunk on the table.
At this point, Jun Bai received a notification from the system: Lumine had already resolved the issues with the three temples and returned to the Knights of Favonius.
"Venti, I have to go. This money is for you to buy drinks." Jun Bai left a bag of Mora on the table, then got up and left Angel's Share.
The sound of the door closing rang out. Venti, who had been lying on the table, "revived at full health," his eyes shining as he looked at the bag of Mora on the table. "If I use this Mora sparingly, it should last me three months. Jun Bai, my good friend, you really understand me!"
"Bartender, another bottle!"
...
In front of the Knights of Favonius headquarters.
"So, the dragon crisis is temporarily over." Paimon floated beside Lumine, her tone carrying a slight complaint. "Running around three temples in a row, I'm so hungry now. Lumine, let's go to the Good Hunter and have a big meal."
Lumine rubbed her stomach: "I am a bit hungry. Conveniently, Acting Grand Master Jean gave us a decent reward. Let's do as you say and have a good meal."
"Yay!" Paimon spun in the air, then flew ahead. "Hurry, hurry!"
Lumine smiled helplessly from behind, then followed Paimon to the Good Hunter.
Paimon took the menu and ordered over a dozen Mondstadt specialty dishes in one go, with Lumine paying the bill behind her.
"You really can eat. This meal cost fifty thousand Mora," Lumine teased, looking at the table full of dishes.
Paimon looked a bit embarrassed. At this point, their relationship wasn't as close as in the later story.
So when spending such a large amount of Mora all at once, Paimon still felt a little embarrassed.
"After we eat, let's go to the Knights of Favonius to inquire about my brother, and also information related to the Anemo Archon."
"Okay, I'll go with you." Paimon nodded vigorously.
"The Anemo Archon?"
Just then, a youth approached Lumine: "Might I ask, do you two have business with the Anemo Archon?"
Lumine followed the voice and was greatly surprised.
Although he had changed his clothes and his hair color was now black, Lumine recognized Jun Bai at a glance.
"You're the one who repelled Stormterror!"
Paimon's eyes widened: "So you're the one who launched that fire phoenix!"
Jun Bai frowned, looked Lumine over, then pretended to have a sudden realization: "So it's you."
"Please keep your voices down, you two. I'd rather not attract attention." Jun Bai placed a finger against his lips, signaling Lumine and Paimon not to disturb the people around them.
He pulled out the chair in front of Lumine and sat down. "Ladies, a pleasure to meet you for the first time. I am Jun Bai from the Liyue Millelith."
"I'd like to know, do you two have business with Mondstadt's Anemo Archon? And also..." Jun Bai looked at Lumine. "Might I ask, is your brother a man who looks very much like you and wears foreign attire?"
Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
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Raw:宝可梦:我的冠军老婆沙奈朵