"Naturally!"
Klee puffed out her cheeks, her eyes shining as she looked at Kael. "Big Brother Kael, we have to play together tomorrow too!"
She extended her small hand, solemnly making a "pinky promise" gesture.
"En. Tomorrow."
Kael smiled and hooked his pinky with hers.
"It's a promise!"
"It's a promise!"
Klee jumped up happily, her face full of excitement. "Then Klee needs to make more bombs tonight!"
She put on a serious expression. "Today's bombs weren't enough. Tomorrow I must bring more!"
Kael: "..."
Hearing this, Fischl thought of the power of those bombs and fell silent for a moment.
She subconsciously scooted a bit to the side, coughed, and said, "Our journey has not yet ceased. Tomorrow, the Wheel of Fate shall turn once more, carrying us toward a more glorious future!"
Oz, who was slurping meat at his own table, translated: "My Lady means: She will continue with you tomorrow."
Chatting and eating, the three continued to gorge themselves.
Time passed.
After eating and drinking their fill, the three walked out of Good Hunter and parted ways at the street corner.
"Big Brother Kael, see you tomorrow!"
Klee waved her small hand and skipped toward the Knights of Favonius Headquarters, preparing to go to her room to "manufacture" new bombs.
Fischl draped her black-purple cape around herself, lifted her head with full momentum, and walked toward her home. "The journey of destiny is not yet over! Tomorrow, we shall face battle once more!"
This time, Kael understood Fischl without Oz's translation.
See you tomorrow.
After watching Klee and Fischl leave, Kael walked leisurely toward his home.
Mondstadt at night lacked the hustle and bustle of the day, gaining a touch of silence and warmth.
Lights flickered around him, and the air was mixed with the tipsy scent drifting from the taverns.
When passing a relatively secluded alley...
Kael suddenly stopped.
On the street ahead, several dark shadows appeared silently, blocking his path.
Looking at the three Fatui elites who appeared, Kael's expression became increasingly strange.
This scene... seems familiar.
"Hello, Genius of Mondstadt."
In the next second, a Fatui elite walked up to Kael and asked calmly, "May I ask you a few things?"
Kael: "???"
Seeing such a polite Fatui elite, Kael fell into deep thought.
Since when were the Fatui so polite?
But thinking that he currently had no weapon in hand, Kael was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "What is it?"
"We are the Fatui. Before we came, did anyone else from the Fatui come to find you?"
The Fatui elite who spoke first asked directly, "After discussion in our meeting, we decided to invite you to join us. Did anyone come to find you before us?"
As this Fatui elite emphasized it twice, Kael's expression became even stranger.
So... these Fatui really don't know that the previous group came to find me?
"No."
Kael lied without skipping a beat. "This is the first time I've seen a Fatui talk to me."
Since these elites came to ask him, they definitely didn't know he was the killer.
Then he couldn't possibly confess.
He even considered whether to keep these three Fatui elites here forever.
But the problem was, he had no weapon.
And there were people walking not far away. It seemed difficult to deal with three elites without alerting anyone.
In an instant, Kael gave up the idea of eliminating them.
"No?"
Hearing this, the Fatui elite frowned tightly.
Then where did Kurdt and the others go?
He didn't think Kael would lie to him.
As Fatui, even the Knights of Favonius usually dared not speak against them.
Let alone lie to them.
Most importantly, Kael was a person without a Vision.
Kurdt had a Delusion.
And they were all elites moving together. How could they be silently eliminated by an ordinary person like Kael?
So he instantly believed Kael.
So the question is, where did they go?
The three Fatui elites looked at each other, confused.
Looks like we have to investigate in other directions.
Thinking this, the elite snapped back to reality, looked at Kael, and spoke. "Then, are you willing to join the Fatui? I invite you on behalf of the Mondstadt Fatui. For a genius like you, the Fatui organization is your best choice. If you are willing to join, we can transfer you to Snezhnaya later."
"There, you can get better training, resources, and everything else."
Since we're here, might as well invite this genius swordsman.
However, just as the Fatui elite spoke...
Kael found the virtual panel floating up in front of him again.
[System Update]
…
[The disappearance of the Vagrant Elites will attract the attention of the Vagrant Organization. You have encountered an investigation by the Vagrant Organization's high-level members, as well as the attention of other forces.]
[Because of your active contact with Clara and Seele, you have entered the sight of certain existences.]
[You are once again being questioned by high-level members of the Vagrant Organization. The Organization does not believe that a medical worker who only knows how to bandage wounds could eliminate their elites, even if you dealt with their ordinary members before. Ordinary members and elites are not comparable.]
[Please note: Svarog is currently watching you through mechanical guards. You have triggered the first Faction Choice.]
[ OPTION 1: ACCEPT THE INVITATION ]
You decide to go with the flow and enter the core circle of the Vagrants. It won't be easy, but it's a chance to see their cards. You will walk in the shadows and be rejected by other factions.
Reward: [Ancient Engine] (Old World tech powered by Geomarrow.)
[ OPTION 2: BLUNT REFUSAL ]
You refuse decisively. To avoid being passive, you decide to go straight to Wildfire, confess everything, and clarify your stance. You choose Wildfire over the Vagrants.
Reward: [10 lbs of Star-Iron Sand] (Rare crafting material.)
[ OPTION 3: PLAY TAI CHI (STALL) ]
You smile, neither agreeing nor refusing. You stall for time, dealing with them superficially while observing their cards. You might use them for benefits before slipping away. This means no faction will fully trust you.
Reward: Light Cone [Shared Feeling] (Contains the power of Abundance. Grants Healing.)
Kael: "..."
Damn it. This isn't right.
Seeing these three options, Kael sucked in a breath of cold air.
What the hell is this Faction Choice?
The "Vagrant Organization" (The Strays from HSR)... aren't they just stray dogs?
If not for Svarog's protection, this bunch of idiots would have died long ago in the Underworld.
Why do the options make them seem somewhat formidable?
And "Svarog is watching through mechanical guards"... Who is Svarog here?
Kael's face darkened. He subconsciously looked around but saw nothing special.
As for Wildfire... is that the Knights of Favonius?
Fischl corresponds to Seele, and Seele is a backbone of Wildfire.
But Fischl isn't a Knight; she's an Adventurer.
Klee corresponds to Clara, but Klee is a Knight.
Svarog, who takes care of Clara, is nominally the manager of the Robot Settlement... maybe the boss of the Vagrants?
That's not right either.
Kael's eyelid twitched wildly.
My brain is going to grow a brain.
What kind of connections are these options making?
Speechless.
It's too chaotic.
In the Underworld (Belobog), what factions are there?
To some extent, I count as Wildfire.
Because Natasha is the doctor of the Underworld and the true leader of Wildfire.
Oleg is the open leader of Wildfire, former Silvermane Guard captain.
I was a Silvermane Guard too.
I came to the Underworld, studied with Natasha, and even helped build Wildfire. Why does this thing not judge me as a Wildfire member?
Damn it. What a retarded system.
According to the current options...
Svarog/Vagrants are one column.
He is another column.
In Mondstadt: Klee is Knights, Fischl is Guild, Fatui is Fatui.
Does Svarog count as the Knights?
Kael fell into deep thought.
"Well?"
While Kael was pondering...
The Fatui elite opposite him frowned at the silent Kael. "Is it necessary to think for so long? Yes or no. Once this village is passed, this shop won't exist anymore. We Fatui have seen plenty of geniuses."
Hearing this, Kael analyzed.
Apart from agreeing and refusing, there was "sitting on the fence."
But refusing meant going to "Wildfire" (Knights) and confessing everything about the Fatui.
Did that mean he had to go to the Knights of Favonius and report the Fatui blocking the road? Express his desire to join the Knights?
Looking at the reward for accepting... it was trash to him.
As for the third option.
Light Cone.
Kael's heart beat faster.
A Light Cone sealing Path Power.
And it was an Abundance Light Cone. This was a divine artifact for healing.
Even without walking the Path, he could use the Light Cone. He just couldn't awaken the extra power.
But with this Light Cone, if he encountered danger in Teyvat and got injured, he could heal anytime, anywhere using Abundance power.
Thinking of this, Kael narrowed his eyes and made his choice instantly.
Light Cone!
"It's too abrupt."
Having made up his mind, Kael frowned. "I didn't expect the Fatui to invite me."
"Too fast?"
Hearing this, the Fatui elite paused.
But this guy didn't refuse. That means there's a chance?
Thinking of this, the Fatui elite's face softened. "Is it too much of a surprise? Don't worry. We Fatui don't force anyone. It's all voluntary. You can think about it. If you have an idea, come to the Goth Grand Hotel to find me anytime. As long as we are stationed in Mondstadt."
"Let's go. Time to find Kurdt."
Saying this, the elite instructed the two beside him and turned to leave.
Compared to making Kael join the Fatui now, their priority was finding Kurdt.
The Debt Collector's business couldn't be forgotten.
Seeing this guy leave so decisively, Kael raised an eyebrow.
Unexpectedly smooth?
At this time, the text on the virtual panel appeared again.
[Faced with the Vagrant Organization's invitation, you neither agreed nor accepted. Svarog saw this scene. Svarog began calculating but produced no result.]
[However, because you did not accept the Vagrant Organization's invitation, Svarog's calculations do not reject your continued contact with Clara. But he will not actively let Clara contact you; instead, he chooses to let nature take its course.]
[You acquired Option Three Reward. Light Cone: [Shared Feeling]. A Memory Light Cone containing the power of the Path of Abundance. The wielder can release the sealed healing power. If stimulated by Abundance energy, it awakens extra power.]
"That was... fast."
Looking at the text, Kael took a deep breath.
If every option could yield rewards this quickly, that would be great.
With a thought, the Light Cone appeared in Kael's hand.
Kael stared at the object that suddenly materialized.
It was a slice of light as thin as a cicada's wing.
Like a folded memory, emitting a soft glow.
It hovered quietly at his fingertips, so light that a breeze could blow it away.
However, when Kael focused his gaze on the Light Cone, he could feel the rich energy contained within.
It was a vibrant power of the Path of Abundance, beating like a pulse in the core of the Light Cone.
The surface of the Light Cone displayed two figures, frozen in time.
A young girl in a bright red cloak (Clara), her eyes bright, focused on adjusting a mechanical device in her hand.
Beside her was a woman with a gentle temperament (Natasha), holding a doll, a faint smile on her lips, quietly watching the girl's movements.
Red light rippled gently, and iridescent inscriptions floated on the surface.
Kael gently stroked the Light Cone, as if he could hear the memory it carried.
The energy of Abundance flowed within, radiating warmth and vitality.
It's hard to imagine how effective this thing will be...