"Then what will we do with the bodies?" Kaeya asked casually. "If we leave them here, the Fatui will notice their elites have vanished. They will investigate."
"Everything must be removed without trace," Jean said. Her voice was steady and clear. "No one must discover that a battle occurred here. The death of Fatui elites cannot cause unrest inside the city."
"We do not need to report it to the Fatui, nor ignore it. If they become suspicious, they will investigate on their own. If they already know the cause, it has nothing to do with us. Right now, we do not know enough."
Her tone carried the authority of a commander. The Knights moved immediately.
Cleanup. Removal. Burning.
Every step had to be flawless.
Time slipped by. When the final corpse was dealt with, Jean closed her eyes for a moment and breathed deeply. She raised her hand and gathered a gentle swirl of Anemo in her palm.
A soft gust spread outward, sweeping across the entire scene. Blood, scorch marks, and lingering elemental traces were erased in an instant.
Moments later, the street looked untouched. Calm, clean, and quiet, as if no battle had ever touched this place.
Kaeya clapped lightly. "The acting commander's Anemo control is still as precise as ever. Not even a hint left behind."
Jean ignored the tease. "Everything tonight must remain confidential. No unrelated person can know."
"Understood."
The Knights answered in unison, their discipline sharp. They dispersed swiftly.
Kaeya lingered, looking over the now-pristine street. The faint reflection of torchlight flickered in his grey-blue eyes.
"The Abyss Order. Delusions. Fatui elites dead. The Fatui pushing at Mondstadt's defenses. Stormterror's attack. Mondstadt's situation is growing complicated."
He rubbed his forehead and murmured to himself.
Jean soon departed. Kaeya followed, planning to rest a bit before heading to Starfell Lake at dawn.
The night passed quietly.
…
Morning sunlight filtered through grey clouds and spilled across Mondstadt's red rooftops. Warmth returned to the city, washing away every lingering shadow from the night before. The scent of fresh bread drifted through the air. Merchants opened their shops. Hawkers called out their wares. Adventurers prepared for quests.
Life returned.
Kael Arclight stood by his window and stretched. Despite the intense battle last night, his body had recovered well. More than that, he still held an entire bag of materials he had collected.
Philanemo Mushrooms, along with several Mondstadt specialties rich in elemental energy.
"Let's sell these today," he said quietly. He picked up the heavy bag, slung it over his shoulder, and stepped outside.
The morning breeze drifted through the streets. The city felt relaxed and lively.
As Kael walked, he passed the place where the Fatui elites had died last night. His steps paused. His expression cooled slightly.
Everything had been cleaned perfectly.
The cobblestones were spotless. No blood. No scorch marks. No trace of Delusion black flame. It was as if the night's violence had never existed. Only one thing differed from yesterday: the number of patrol Knights had doubled. Their eyes were sharp, sweeping the area with deliberate focus.
They were clearly assigned here for a reason.
Kael glanced at them and smiled faintly. "The Knights of Favonius are as efficient as expected."
Jean's leadership was decisive. The Knights' cleanup would always be swift.
He continued walking, blending into the morning crowd like any other citizen.
Soon, he reached Mondstadt's main plaza. The Adventurers' Guild stood ahead, lively as always. Adventurers gathered near the entrance, comparing commissions and sorting loot. Clerks behind the counter worked briskly.
Kael stepped inside.
Behind the counter, Katheryne lifted her head with her usual warm professionalism. "Ad astra abyssosque. Welcome back, adventurer Kael."
Kael nodded and placed the heavy bag on the counter. "I went out yesterday. Collected some materials. I'd like to exchange them for Mora."
Katheryne reached for the bag almost reflexively. She expected a handful of herbs or ore.
The moment she opened the knot, her movements froze. Her pupils tightened.
"…this many?"
Her voice rose slightly in genuine disbelief.
She sifted through the bag. It was filled with Philanemo Mushrooms and several rare Mondstadt specialties. Enough for multiple restoration drafts.
"These…" Katheryne blinked. "How did you gather so many?"
Even she rarely reacted like this.
Philanemo Mushrooms were Mondstadt specialties found in Windrise and similar areas. They grew sparsely. Most adventurers struggled to gather even a few dozen in a day.
Yet Kael had brought an entire bag.
Before she could say anything more, nearby adventurers caught sight of the contents and immediately gathered around.
"Wait… what is happening?"
"Are those all Philanemo Mushrooms? How did he get that many?"
"Did he comb through the entire Windrise? That is impossible!"
"I searched all of Windrise last week and didn't find half of that!"
Voices rose one after another, bewildered and jealous.
Kael simply stood there, calm as always.