Acting Grand Master Jean's office was unusually quiet.
Klee stood before the desk with her head lowered, fingers tugging nervously at the hem of her clothes. She looked as small and obedient as a child could look, though her wide eyes kept sneaking glances at Jean before darting away again.
Jean was reviewing documents when she finally lifted her gaze. Seeing Klee standing there without being summoned made her brow rise.
"Klee?" She set the papers aside. "You came to confess on your own? Did the sun rise in the west today?"
Klee bit her lip, lifted her head just long enough to meet Jean's eyes, then lowered it again. "Klee… Klee knows she was wrong."
The voice was barely louder than a whisper, but sincere.
Jean stared, genuinely surprised.
Most of the time Klee caused trouble, she either ran, hid, or pretended she had no idea what anyone was talking about. To walk in and confess like this was something Jean had never seen.
Jean exhaled slowly and softened her tone. "Then you plan to tell me what happened at Dawn Winery Lake?"
"It… it was Klee's bomb." Her voice shrank even further. "Klee didn't mean to. Klee just… threw it in the lake and then… then it…"
"Then the explosion shook the city walls and sent the guard corps into panic?"
Jean's voice cooled, carrying the authority of the Acting Grand Master.
Klee's shoulders flinched. She nodded quickly. "Klee is sorry. Klee really didn't mean to…"
Jean held her gaze for a moment before relaxing just a little.
At least it was not a monster assault or an Abyss plot. For a moment earlier, even she had thought Mondstadt was under siege again. Learning that the culprit was Klee did not erase the headache, but it removed the life-or-death fear.
"Very well. Since you came on your own, I will be lenient."
Jean clapped once. A Knight entered almost immediately.
"Escort Klee to confinement."
"Confinement?"
Klee's eyes widened. Her little face protested silently. "But Klee already said sorry… Jean, can't Klee not go to confinement this time?"
Jean's expression cooled again. "The explosion alerted the entire Knights of Favonius. Do you know how many resources were dispatched? Even with your confession, this incident cannot be dismissed."
Klee deflated instantly.
But after a moment, she lifted her face again with pitiful determination. "Then… then how long? Klee does not want a long confinement. Klee will be very obedient…"
Jean rubbed her temple but stayed firm. "Seven days."
"Seven?!"
Klee nearly jumped. "Before it was only three!"
"This situation is different." Jean crossed her arms. "The city barely recovered from Stormterror. Then something like this happens. Seven days is already lenient. Say another word and it becomes ten."
Klee closed her mouth immediately, misery all over her face. "Seven days is fine… Klee will stay still…"
"And one more thing."
Jean pointed at the oversized backpack on Klee's back. "That backpack will be confiscated temporarily. You cannot bring bombs into confinement."
"Ah?"
Klee hugged her backpack like someone about to lose a limb. "No, that is Klee's treasure. Without bombs Klee will be so bored…"
"Klee."
Jean's tone sharpened. "Do not let me repeat myself."
Klee froze, then slowly placed the backpack on the desk as if parting with her soul. Her hands lingered on it. "Fine… but Jean must keep it safe. Do not lose Klee's bombs…"
"No one will touch them."
Jean massaged her brow and waved her toward the door. "Go. And do not cause more trouble."
Klee trudged after the Knight, head low, yet still turning back every few steps to stare longingly at her backpack.
"Seven days is so long… Klee will really behave…"
"Klee wants to go fish-bombing again soon…"
Jean watched her disappear down the hallway and sighed. "This child will be the end of me someday."
"Ah, so it really was Klee."
A calm, slightly amused voice came from the doorway.
Jean turned as the door opened.
A figure stepped into the sunlight. Pale blond hair. White coat lined with blue. The Vision at his collar shimmered faintly when he moved.
Albedo, Chief Alchemist of Mondstadt, entered with a notebook tucked under his arm.
"I was preparing for a monster incursion." He closed the notebook and smiled. "So it was Klee again. The commotion was impressive. I thought Mondstadt might need reinforcements."
Jean let out a breath that was half sigh, half tired laugh. "It was more than a small mess. Dawn Winery Lake looks like it suffered a natural disaster. Even the city defenses were shaken."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Albedo, perhaps you should stop making so many bombs for Klee?"
"Me?"
Albedo blinked, visibly confused. "My bombs?"
Jean nodded. "Who else would give her explosives? The impact this time was significant."
But Albedo did not relax. His expression sharpened slightly.
"I have not made bombs for her recently." His tone was calm but serious. "And even the ones I crafted previously would never produce destruction on this scale."
Jean paused.
"You mean… today's bombs were not yours?"
"It is unlikely."
Albedo touched his chin thoughtfully. "I know my calculations. My bombs have fixed blast parameters. The sound today… the radius of impact… even the seismic vibration… all exceed what my formulas allow."
"I suspected high-level fire-aligned monsters or a coordinated attack, so I came to check." His gaze cooled slightly. "But if you tell me Klee is responsible, then something else is involved."
He lifted his eyes to Jean.
"My bombs cannot do this. Someone either modified Klee's explosives…"
"Or Klee was using bombs that did not come from me at all."
Jean fell silent, the implications settling heavily between them.
And somewhere in Mondstadt, Kael Arclight walked unaware that his earlier "assistance" was about to ripple into yet another problem.