After realizing that Dottore most likely harbored ill intentions, a faint worry flickered in Jean's light-purple eyes. She looked at Gu Chen and asked softly,
"Vice Captain… should we reject them?"
"Reject them?"
Gu Chen rubbed his chin, thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"No need. Rejecting them would only make us look afraid. Besides, the Fatui already have plenty of spies inside the city. We might as well put everything in the open. If he wants to come and see, then let him come."
Seeing the confidence radiating from Gu Chen, Jean froze for a moment before nodding.
"Alright… I'll reply right away."
As Jean carefully chose her wording, Gu Chen said casually,
"Just keep it formal. No need to be overly flowery."
"Also—"
As if remembering something, Gu Chen looked at her with concern.
"You've seemed a bit off these past couple of days. Did something happen?"
"Huh?"
Jean's hand trembled slightly as she held the pen, and she hurriedly looked up.
"I-Is something wrong with me?"
"There's a bit of qi and blood leakage," Gu Chen observed calmly.
"It doesn't affect your strength much, but your mental state hasn't been great either. Did someone give you trouble?"
By the end of his sentence, his brow had already furrowed in displeasure.
Whether inside or outside the Knights, anyone with half a brain knew Jean was Gu Chen's assistant.
Who would dare bully her?
Even Eroch didn't dare nitpick anymore after the warning—let alone anyone else.
Seeing Gu Chen's worried and puzzled expression, Jean's cheeks flushed red. She lowered her voice until it was barely audible.
"It's… it's just… a girl's private matter…"
Her voice was too soft, and Gu Chen wasn't deliberately listening closely, so he didn't hear clearly.
Just as he was about to ask further, he noticed Jean lowering her head, her face burning red in embarrassment. After a moment of thought, realization dawned on him.
"Oh."
He said with concern,
"I'll have the kitchen pay attention to your meals these next few days. Get more rest, and push your workload onto Diluc. That kid needs more training."
As he spoke, the cool water in his cup warmed in his hand. After placing it on the desk, he coughed lightly.
"I'll go do an inspection."
With that, Gu Chen left.
Jean held the warm cup with both hands, her palms—and her face—burning hot.
[Nilou]: Hehehe…
[Collei]: Hehehehehe…
[Tighnari]: It's over. These two are so excited they're about to go brain-dead.
[Kaeya]: A strange development, but considering Jean's age at this point, it actually makes sense.
[Jean]: @Kaeya Come to my office. Now. Immediately. To receive work!
[Kaeya]: (kneels) Captain Jean, I was just stating facts! I didn't slander anyone! Spare me!
[Diluc]: Someone like Kaeya deserves eighty lashes a day.
[Lisa]: Jean's face in that video could probably fry an egg by now~
[Yae Miko]: A bit exaggerated, don't you think~?
[Baizhu]: Medically speaking, every girl goes through this phase every month. Drinking warm water helps. And gentlemen with partners should pay extra attention to their emotions during this time.
[Paimon]: @GuChen Did you hear that? Take care of Jean!
[GuChen]: What, crawl through the screen to do it?
[Furina]: Paimon means you should hurry up and go take care of the real Jean in Mondstadt!
[Neuvillette]: …
[Jean]: Um… it's not time yet…
[Lisa]: So when the time comes, you'll let Gu Chen take care of you?
[Jean]: I'm not! I didn't! Stop teasing me!!
[Kaeya]: Got it. I totally get it.
[Lisa]: Same here.
[Ningguang]: (smirks)
Evening
Varka returned.
"I found that child living with the wolves," he said with a sigh.
"I don't think he even knows whether he's human or wolf anymore."
"What are you planning to do?" Gu Chen asked, leaning back and sipping grape juice from Dawn Winery.
"I invited him to Mondstadt, but he wasn't very willing, so I didn't force him. I taught him some techniques instead… and gave him a name."
"Oh?" Gu Chen grew interested.
"What name?"
"Razor."
Gu Chen raised his eyebrows slightly.
"That's a good name. Rarely good taste from you."
"What do you mean rarely?" Varka protested.
"My taste is always excellent."
Gu Chen nodded, then said casually,
"Dottore from the Fatui is coming soon."
Varka didn't look surprised.
"I know. You can handle him, right?"
Gu Chen thought for a moment… then shook his head.
"You can't?" Varka laughed.
"Looks like this old man has to step in."
"That's not what I meant," Gu Chen replied calmly.
"I mean I don't know yet. I've never dealt with him."
"Then we'll take it one step at a time."
Varka smiled, utterly fearless.
Even without Gu Chen, he wouldn't be afraid—let alone with Gu Chen around.
The Knights were far stronger than before.
There was simply no reason to fear.
"Dinner time," Gu Chen said, glancing at the clock.
After saying goodbye, he left.
Varka paused, then noticed Gu Chen and Jean leaving neighboring offices together.
After a moment of thought, realization hit him, and a satisfied smile appeared as he followed from afar.
Some Time Later
Lisa Minci returned to Mondstadt.
The genius witch, hailed as "once in two hundred years" by the Akademiya, carried an elegant, intellectual aura, with a lazy charm like a gentle older sister.
Jean was sent to receive her.
The Knights' library was massive, even containing resting rooms.
Jean submitted the request, Gu Chen approved it, and Lisa was allowed to design her room freely.
Thus, Lisa became the Knights' librarian—while also handling potion research and production.
She'd known about body-refinement techniques for a long time, but previously lacked the knowledge to study them deeply.
Now, as a Knight, she naturally gained access.
With Gu Chen's permission, Lisa began researching martial cultivation in her free time.
Days passed.
Correspondence between Snezhnaya and Mondstadt increased.
Even Liyue joined in—its new Tianquan had sent a letter, also requesting exchanges to study body-refinement techniques.
Gu Chen and Varka shared the same attitude:
Indifferent.
The basic techniques spreading posed no threat.
Advanced techniques were firmly in Gu Chen's hands.
Reverse-engineering them? Possible—but extremely difficult.
Some knowledge gaps were like math: if you don't understand, you just don't.
Gu Chen wasn't worried.
Varka even less so.
That year, Diluc was three months from turning eighteen.
Gu Chen was seventeen and a half.
And finally—
The Fatui diplomatic delegation had departed…
and arrived outside Mondstadt City.
[Dvalin]: This is bad…
[Osial]: What now?
[Dvalin]: Don't mention Diluc's growth! The more you say it, the more pressure I feel! At this rate, I won't even make it to Gu Chen—I'll be taken down by the Knights alone!
[Azhdaha]: You're this weak? You're not allowed to call yourself an Elemental Dragon!
[Apep]: Are you really an Elemental Dragon?
[Neuvillette]: According to my understanding… this shouldn't be the case.
[Dvalin]: Don't start! Duvalin's blood is still corrupting me, the Abyss Order is controlling me—if I can use even one-tenth of my peak strength, I should be thanking the heavens!
[Venti]: True, but does that stop us from roasting you?
[Zhongli]: Give up. These people never use logic when slandering.
[Furina]: Exactly! We don't even use logic when slandering the boss—why would we use it on you?
[GuChen]: …
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus (GI)Chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus (GI)Chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read 60 (GI)Chapter ahead on P@treon if you're interested: patreon.com/SwipeSage