Kael stared at the three options on the panel.
His eyelid twitched hard, and an expression of speechless disbelief spread across his face.
The first option was impossible.
He did not even know where the Strays' headquarters was supposed to be.
Even if he did, walking up to their door with wine and food would be madness.
The reward was the so-called dignity of a trashcan, which was utterly useless.
The second option caught his attention.
The text implied the Strays might not immediately realize who had killed these operatives.
That alone made the choice interesting.
The reward, a Silver-Shell Gauntlet of the Iron Guard, was even more tempting.
Kael knew that relic well.
He remembered the story of Lazlo Landa, the Silvermane Iron Guard officer who stayed behind to cover the retreat against destructive invaders.
The monsters had never broken through his line, even as the battle dragged on without pause.
When reinforcements finally arrived, Lazlo collapsed from exhaustion.
Both his hands had been lost.
The finest builders forged him metal gauntlets so he could raise the banner again, even though he lamented that he would never feel the tremor of a bowstring once more.
The gauntlet was blessed by the Path of Preservation.
Eight percent damage reduction sounded small, yet as part of a relic set, the true value was in collecting the whole piece.
Kael rubbed his chin, lost in thought.
If the Strays corresponded to the Fatui here in Mondstadt, then this particular squad might not be acting under the Lady's direct orders.
He remembered the earlier encounter at the outskirts, when even hilichurls had been categorized under the system as "Strays."
The organization seemed to shift according to context rather than a fixed equivalent.
The second option's implication was clear.
Whoever ordered these men to attack him might not be the official upper chain of command.
Which meant the Lady was unlikely to be the leader of the so-called Strays, despite her being the Fatui Harbinger stationed in Mondstadt.
He glanced at the third option.
The Firemane Organization.
Opposing the Strays.
If the logic followed the mapping, that would mean Mondstadt's Knights of Favonius.
But the Knights would not erupt into internal conflict based on a rumor.
No amount of agitation would force the Fatui into infighting either.
That made the option useless.
And it was almost midnight.
He saw no patrols nearby, and seeking out the Knights would be troublesome.
Reaching Jean at this hour was unlikely.
Even if he did, it would expose everything he was trying to keep hidden, including the nature of his Path abilities.
The final reward for option three was also not worth the trouble.
Weighing everything, Kael made his choice.
Waiting was the best option.
He would gain the relic piece and avoid unnecessary exposure.
"These guys are a serious loss for the local Fatui," he murmured to himself.
"What matters is taking the reward that benefits me the most."
He rubbed his brow.
His body felt tired.
He had Clara's abilities now, but his body was still that of an ordinary human.
Even with a slight strengthening from the Path, he remained flesh and blood.
There was no discouragement in his expression.
As long as he could trigger more upgrades and use his powers intelligently, he would keep improving.
Small abilities used well could turn into overwhelming force.
Tonight had proven that again.
With that thought, Kael turned toward home.
The street behind him fell silent.
Night settled heavily over Mondstadt.
Lanternlight glowed softly across rooftops and cobblestones.
The wind carried faint scents of grass and wine, giving the city its familiar warmth.
Yet beneath the peace lurked an unusual trace of heat in the air.
Invisible but sharp, like embers drifting on a quiet wind.
On a distant rooftop, Kaeya stood with arms folded, his gaze fixed on the faint trail of dissipating energy.
His brows drew closer as he focused.
The elemental wave was almost gone, but its nature was unmistakable.
It was not ordinary fire.
It carried violence, scorch, and a predatory sharpness.
As if a brief but ferocious clash had exploded somewhere in the city.
Kaeya did not believe in coincidences.
A disturbance strong enough to reach him across half of Mondstadt meant a significant fight had taken place.
And it had happened deep into the night.
"How unusual."
A glint of ice-cold clarity flashed in his gray-blue eyes.
He stepped off the rooftop in one fluid motion and landed lightly on the street below.
His dark blue hair stirred with the wind as his cloak swayed behind him.
Though his stride remained unhurried, there was sharpened focus in every step.
He followed the fading trace of heat and elemental disturbance through the quiet streets.
Only a few Knights of Favonius were still patrolling, and none seemed to have sensed anything.
Only Kaeya, still awake and far more perceptive than most, had caught it.
He turned into a narrow, shadowed corner.
The pulse of elemental residue was strongest here.
Moonlight pooled across the stones.
The surrounding air still carried scorch and blood.
Even Kaeya could not help frowning at the oppressive scent lingering in the space.
He stepped forward.
The last of his casual expression faded as his gaze locked onto the sight before him.
Shock rose sharply in his eyes.