"You're called… Mod Ganqing?"
"You're a traveler?"
A trace of something strange flickered in Jean's eyes.
"That's right."
Lin Mo smiled and nodded. "I've been traveling around the Mondstadt region recently. Along the way, I happened to meet Klee. She told me a lot about you."
"Traveling to Mondstadt during the Dragon Crisis?"
Jean's gaze grew increasingly peculiar.
The Dragon Crisis in Mondstadt had been going on for quite some time now.
Merchant caravans, worried about being affected by it, had temporarily suspended all trade with Mondstadt.
"Uh…"
Lin Mo knew full well that his excuse wasn't very convincing.
But there was no helping it—"traveler" was the best identity he could use.
He couldn't exactly say he was with the Fatui or the Treasure Hoarders, could he?
"It's dangerous outside the city right now. Let's head back to the Knights of Favonius first."
Jean didn't press the matter further.
She decided to bring Lin Mo back to the Knights for now and figure things out later.
After all, although she was fairly certain that the man before her was Lin Mo,
she couldn't be sure whether he still possessed the insight and capability of "Grand Master Lin Mo."
Because, in her heart,
Grand Master Lin Mo was someone who dared to act, dared to take responsibility and shoulder duty.
To meet again in reality after stepping out of a dream…
She believed that if the Lin Mo standing before her truly knew her,
he would bravely acknowledge it, give her a warm embrace,
and never brush her off with a false name like this.
Unless… there was some unspeakable reason that forced him to do so.
A resolute glint flashed through Jean's eyes.
"Once we're back at the Knights of Favonius, I'll have my own way of finding out whether you're truly the Grand Master Lin Mo I know…"
…
On the way back, Lin Mo was utterly miserable.
Walking ahead of Jean, he felt as if thorns were pressed against his back.
He could clearly sense it—
Jean's resentful gaze was fixed firmly on him.
"Has she recognized me or not…?"
That question echoed endlessly in Lin Mo's mind.
He really didn't want Jean to recognize him!
With her sense of responsibility toward the Knights and Mondstadt,
if she did recognize him, she would absolutely make him stay in Mondstadt, join the Knights of Favonius, and lead Mondstadt toward prosperity.
If this were just an invitation quest, Lin Mo would naturally shoulder it without hesitation.
But his mission in this life was to defeat the Heavenly Principles!
After the Dragon Crisis ended, he was supposed to follow Lumine to Liyue.
There was no way he could stay in Mondstadt and carry out reforms or city development.
Thankfully,
Jean's resentful gaze wasn't fixed on him the entire time.
They had already crossed the Mondstadt Bridge.
Jean had gone to the city gate and was speaking with the two guards stationed there.
"Big Brother Ganqing~"
Just then, Klee tugged at Lin Mo's sleeve.
"What is it, Klee?"
Lin Mo bent down,
skillfully lifting Klee up onto his arm.
Klee leaned in close to his ear and whispered,
"Daddy~ Acting Grand Master Jean is so strange. She didn't scold Klee at all along the way~"
"Sigh…"
Lin Mo let out a soft sigh.
After hearing that, he was almost completely certain that Jean had been suspecting his identity the entire time.
Just as the system had said,
his existence, to certain people, was like a story experienced in a dream.
And Jean might not have recognized him immediately like Klee did
because the memories from her dream were hazy.
So instead, she had been following behind him,
scrutinizing the back of his head with a mixture of resentment and suspicion.
That was also why she had forgotten to scold Klee for sneaking out of the city.
"Klee, you must remember—no matter what, you absolutely cannot reveal Daddy's identity."
Lin Mo reminded her solemnly.
"Mhm~"
Klee nodded vigorously.
"Daddy, don't worry~ Klee will definitely keep Daddy's secret~"
…
…
After walking through Mondstadt for more than ten minutes,
the three of them finally arrived at the Knights of Favonius headquarters.
"Let's talk in my office,"
Jean said calmly, her tone betraying no emotion.
Even so, Lin Mo could still detect a hint of suspicion lingering in her eyes.
But at this point,
there was no turning back.
Lin Mo could only take Klee with him and step into the all-too-familiar Grand Master's office.
As soon as they entered,
Jean turned to Klee and said first,
"Klee, how many days do you think you should spend in the confinement room this time?"
"Ah—I—I…"
Klee immediately tensed up.
She quickly hid behind Lin Mo, peeking out with half her little head and asking timidly,
"Acting Grand Master Jean~ can Klee not go to the confinement room?
Klee didn't cause any trouble this time~"
"Didn't cause trouble?"
Jean's tone was stern.
"To find you, the entire Knights of Favonius, along with the Church of Favonius and the Adventurers' Guild, all went out of the city to search for you."
"During the Dragon Crisis, so much manpower was wasted—and you still say you didn't cause trouble?"
Clearly, Jean was genuinely angry about Klee sneaking out of the city.
Of course, it was also because she cared so deeply about Klee.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have mobilized so many people to search for her,
nor would she have been this furious.
"Waaah…"
"Klee… Klee knows she was wrong…"
Little Klee lowered her head, looking utterly pitiful and heart-wrenching.
"Well… Acting Grand Master Jean, let's let it slide this time."
Lin Mo forced a wry smile and spoke up on Klee's behalf.
"Look, Klee already knows she was wrong."
"And with the Dragon Crisis still ongoing, she won't sneak out again."
"Instead of locking her in the confinement room,"
"why not let her help the Knights comfort the citizens who've been frightened by the crisis?"
…
"Hm… that's not impossible."
Listening to Lin Mo's suggestion, Jean nodded thoughtfully.
Maximizing the use of resources—
that was indeed the style of Grand Master Lin Mo.
Seeing that Jean was no longer sending her to the confinement room,
Klee immediately clenched her little fists in excitement.
Her big, sparkling eyes and the way she lightly bit her lip
made it seem as though she was afraid she might jump up with joy.
It was incredibly adorable.
"Speaking of the Dragon Crisis…"
At that moment, a sly glint flashed through Jean's eyes.
"Oh, right. Mr. Ganqing."
"The books detailing Stormterror's habits are on the bookshelf beside you.
Could you help me grab one?"
…
"Sure."
Lin Mo didn't think much of it.
He turned around and, out of habit,
pulled a dark green book from the shelf.
That single action caused excitement to flash through Jean's beautiful eyes.
He knows exactly where the books are…
As expected—you really are Grand Master Lin Mo!
At this moment, Lin Mo still hadn't realized the mistake he'd made.
Following Jean's request, he held the green book out toward her behind the desk.
But Jean didn't take it.
Instead, she looked straight into Lin Mo's eyes, smiling warmly.
That knowing smile made Lin Mo's heart skip violently.
Oh no—my cover is blown!
Just then,
Jean's rosy lips parted as she spoke with a gentle smile:
"Mr. Ganqing, would you be willing to end your travels and join the Knights of Favonius?"
--------
T/N:
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