"You're back. You look rough. Is anyone hurt?"
Su Bai and Albedo had been discussing the communication devices when Hu Tao and the others trudged in, covered in dust and debris. Assuming they had been injured, Su Bai dropped the conversation and rushed over to check on them.
Hu Tao and the others shook their heads. The explosion had only left them dusty and disheveled. Aside from a shallow cut on Bennett's arm from a fragment, no one else was injured.
But several in the group seemed distracted. Even the usually energetic Hu Tao was deep in thought. Su Bai was curious. Normally, she'd be telling him all about what had happened by now. Why the silence?
"You encountered a bomb on the way, didn't you?"
"Ah! Albedo, how did you know?"
Paimon, Lumine's external speaker, was surprised. Could those bombs have been Klee's Jumpy Dumpties? They hadn't triggered any on the way there—only on the way back. That was strange.
"I say, Albedo, do you have some kind of enemy? Your director suspects someone's trying to get rid of you. You should be careful."
"Of course, you could always buy one of our Wangsheng special packages. They come with Su Bai carrying the coffin, Zhongli playing the suona, and your director personally presiding over the funeral."
"Whether you're murdered or pass away peacefully in old age, as long as Wangsheng is still in business, this package remains valid."
Albedo paused in assembling the communication device, gave Su Bai a strange look, and let out a regretful sigh.
"Honestly, I'd be quite interested in having Su Bai carry my coffin. But realistically, I'm strong enough to hold my own in a fight and escape if needed. And as an artificial human, my lifespan is practically as long as Teyvat itself."
"So, I appreciate the offer, Director Hu. If Wangsheng ever needs someone to test out their packages, and I have the time, I wouldn't mind giving it a try."
Seeing Albedo's completely serious expression, Hu Tao was at a loss. In Liyue, aside from her more eccentric employees, no one dared sleep in a coffin. Now Albedo was volunteering to be a test subject? Wasn't he superstitious at all?
"Don't worry, Director Hu. As an artificial human, I don't have such qualms. Besides, having Su Bai carry my coffin sounds quite entertaining."
Su Bai's eye twitched. Was Albedo really this upset about being asked to invent a self-rocking chair? Still, he couldn't back down now.
"If that's what you want, Albedo, I'll carry you from Liyue Harbor all the way to Mondstadt."
"A contract is a contract. Those who break it shall suffer the Wrath of the Rock."
"Hey, hey, Albedo, isn't that a bit off for someone from Mondstadt? Watch out—Barbatos might come have a word with you."
"Heh, Mondstadt is the land of freedom. I believe the Anemo Archon isn't that petty."
Albedo chuckled and returned to the alchemy bench to continue assembling the devices. He had made some modifications, and a few parts needed adjusting.
Seeing Albedo go back to work, Eula shuffled awkwardly over to Shenhe. Under Shenhe's confused gaze, she flushed red and stammered out her thanks.
"Um... thank you for saving me. But saving me without my permission—I'll remember this grudge!"
"Eula is still as tsundere as ever. She's clearly grateful to Shenhe but has to say it like that. Hey, hey, don't come after me! I didn't say anything wrong!"
Paimon zipped around the group, dodging Eula's grasp. Lumine made no move to stop her. Paimon really did need to learn to keep her mouth shut—she had embarrassed Lumine in front of everyone more than once in Liyue Harbor.
"Alright, alright, Eula. Let little Paimon off this once."
Paimon had ducked into Su Bai's tails, making it hard for Eula to reach her. If Shenhe weren't there, it might not have mattered, but after just being saved by her, Eula didn't feel right grabbing at Su Bai in front of her.
"Eula, do you know much about Albedo? If you have time, maybe you could tell us about him."
Su Bai stepped in to change the subject. Everyone perked up with interest. Except for Shenhe, who instead pulled Paimon out of Su Bai's tails and started playing with them herself. Paimon pouted, but Eula felt a small sense of satisfaction.
Seeing Paimon's huff, Eula didn't keep them waiting. She had read about Albedo's background in the Lawrence clan's intelligence files.
"About Albedo... it all starts with Klee's mother, Alice..."
As Eula spoke, everyone learned more about Albedo. Hearing that he had been brought to Mondstadt by Klee's mother explained why he showed no reverence for Barbatos—he wasn't even from Mondstadt.
"Don't let his appearance fool you. Albedo is actually very strong. So far, no enemy has ever escaped from him alive."
Eula glanced at Albedo with curiosity. She had never actually seen him fight. What did his combat style look like? Did he just throw alchemical potions? After letting the information sink in, she continued.
"Though he joined Mondstadt with Alice's guarantee, very few people know about him. And because he's at risk of losing control at any time, he spends most of his time in this remote snowy mountain."
"Of course, this information about his potential instability was obtained by our Lawrence clan intelligence at great cost. Whether it's true or not, only Albedo himself can confirm."
Listening to Eula's account, Albedo didn't deny any of it—because it was all true. He didn't know when he might lose control and destroy Mondstadt, the place he considered his sanctuary.
Though he noted that the Lawrence clan had investigated him, Albedo didn't stop working at the alchemy bench. It was only natural that some people would look into him when he suddenly appeared in Mondstadt.
Still, he silently acknowledged that the Lawrence clan, despite its decline, still had capable members. To uncover something like this was no small feat. Perhaps the main reason for their fall was simply that their leaders were incompetent.