Jia Changjiang's politeness genuinely caught the gatekeeping Knights of Favonius off guard.
Seeing him carrying such a massive battle axe, they'd initially assumed he'd be difficult to deal with. Instead, after stopping him, they found him unexpectedly courteous—and easy to talk to.
"Yes. Thank you for your cooperation," one of the knights replied.
"I see." Jia Changjiang smiled. "Is there anything else you need to ask me?"
"Mondstadt has no reason to turn away guests who have come from afar," the knight said earnestly.
"Thank you very much for your cooperation. Acting Grand Master Jean should be at headquarters right now. You may explain your identity to her directly."
"Much appreciated. I'll head to the Knights of Favonius headquarters right away to report my status."
With that, Jia Changjiang walked past the knights at the gate.
The knight had just let out a sigh of relief—
When Jia Changjiang suddenly turned back.
"Oh, right. There's something I forgot to ask…"
He looked a little embarrassed as he spoke to the knight.
"Just your personal opinion—this Jean you mentioned… how strong is she?"
The knight answered without hesitation.
"Grand Master Jean was chosen by a Vision. For someone so young to serve as Acting Grand Master, her strength is naturally exceptional."
"Strong, huh?" Jia Changjiang nodded in satisfaction. "That's perfect."
And with that, he walked off cheerfully.
Only after watching Jia Changjiang disappear with that massive axe did the knight realize—
Had he… just sent a walking disaster toward Acting Grand Master Jean?
Jia Changjiang, of course, had no idea what the knight behind him was thinking.
Mondstadt was far larger than he'd imagined. Though he had a rough idea where the Knights of Favonius headquarters was located, he still had to stop and ask pedestrians along the way before finally finding it.
As he approached, he saw Mondstadt's citizens exiting the headquarters, all wearing satisfied expressions.
When Jia Changjiang entered, the knights stationed inside barely even glanced at him—as if someone walking in with a giant axe was perfectly normal.
"…Is Mondstadt really this free?"
"I can just walk into the Knights' headquarters carrying a battle axe?!"
He didn't quite understand—but he headed straight for the Acting Grand Master's office and knocked.
"Please come in."
A voice answered from inside—slightly weary, yet firm.
Jia Changjiang pushed the door open.
The first thing he saw was Jean, seated behind her desk, coffee in hand.
At the sight of a stranger, Jean paused briefly before speaking.
"Hello."
"Hello, Jean!"
Jia Changjiang openly sized her up. She looked exactly like she did in the game—and in person, it was even more obvious that she'd undergone extensive training.
"I'm Jia Changjiang, a traveler from afar. This is our first meeting, so pardon my suddenness, but…"
He looked at Jean with barely concealed excitement.
"Acting Grand Master Jean—let me flip you!"
"…Hmm?"
Jean didn't react at first.
Then—
"Hm?!"
"Sorry, sorry—wrong phrasing!" Jia Changjiang immediately corrected himself.
"I mean—could you fight me?"
He cleared his throat.
"Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Jia Changjiang, a weapon master."
After a moment's thought, he added,
"If my name feels unfamiliar, you can also call me… hmm… Jax–Lancelot."
"So—could you have a spar with me, Acting Grand Master Jean?"
His eyes gleamed.
"I heard from the gate knights that you're very strong."
"No… sir," Jean replied, staring at him in confusion.
"We don't seem to have any reason to fight, do we?"
"How could there not be one?" Jia Changjiang replied matter-of-factly.
"I know you, you're strong, and I think I'm pretty strong too."
"So I want to fight you. Isn't that reason enough?"
He spoke with absolute confidence.
Jia Changjiang might not care much about the plot, but he knew one thing very clearly—
Jean was a five-star character.
Before flipping Stormterror, flipping Jean first sounded perfectly reasonable.
"..."
Jean pinched the bridge of her nose.
This traveler… was already giving her a headache.
"I'm sorry, Mr… Jax?" Jean said carefully.
"Mondstadt has just suffered a dragon attack. The Knights of Favonius have many urgent matters to attend to. I don't have time for a duel right now."
"If you don't have time now, then we can do it later, right?"
Jia Changjiang's eyes lit up.
"Don't worry—I'll probably be staying in Mondstadt for quite a while. Time won't be an issue!"
"I promise I won't cause any trouble in the city!"
He thumped his chest confidently.
"..."
Jean fell silent.
Somehow… this was getting even more troublesome.
Already exhausted by caffeine and overwork, and burdened by the ongoing dragon crisis and the Fatui situation, Jean felt her headache worsening.
"…Haa."
She took two deep breaths.
If she let this spiral out of control, things would only get worse. It might be better to agree now—on her own terms.
Still, she made one last attempt to dissuade him.
"Mr. Jax… you don't seem to possess a Vision, do you?"
Jean studied him carefully. There was no Vision on his person, no sign of elemental energy gathering around him.
Though the massive axe he carried clearly proved he was no ordinary man.
"A Vision?"
Jia Changjiang vaguely remembered it was the source of elemental power in this world.
"I don't have one. Why?" he asked.
"Does that mean I can't challenge you?"
"That's not what I meant," Jean replied gently.
"It's just that fighting someone with a Vision, without one of your own… is extremely difficult."
"Doesn't matter!"
Jia Changjiang waved his hand dismissively.
"When has battle ever been about convenience? If I hesitate just because I lack a Vision, then what kind of weapon master would I be?"
…This is bad.
Jean rubbed her temples.
In just a few minutes, her impression of this foreign traveler had already become unforgettable.
At last, she spoke—weariness evident in her voice.
"If you insist… then after one week. Once I've dealt with the current affairs, I'll accept your challenge. Is that acceptable?"
"Thank you, Acting Grand Master Jean!"
Jia Changjiang grinned, barely containing his excitement.
"I'll return in one week!"
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