Chapter 23: Acting Suspicious in Front of Acting Grand Master Jean, Heh, Hehehe
Paimon: "Cor… corrosion?"
Venti: "It's the black blood flowing into its heart that torments it, denying it peaceful slumber all these years."
"So when it awakened this time, its mind had already been corroded by the Abyss Mage's curse."
"I don't know where they come from. I only know they harbor an immense malice toward the world of humanity."
"The Hilichurls in the wilds obey their commands, becoming their weapons."
"They can even control Hilichurls?"
Both Lumine and Su Han's expressions grew grave. Ordinary Hilichurls were nothing remarkable—after proper training, even a normal person without a Vision could handle them.
But gathered together, organized as a force, Hilichurls were not to be underestimated.
If that was the case, then the Abyss Order was far more troublesome than they had imagined.
"Before coming here, I was also being corroded by the curse, just like Dvalin," Venti continued.
"But the place we stand now is a symbol of heroes, the very origin of Mondstadt as it is today."
"The wind between the trees is wonderful. It carries a scent I love…"
"Staying beneath the shade with Lumine, just like when we purified the dragon's tears earlier, can drive the toxins from my body."
"Su Han is someone who makes me feel an unusual sense of closeness. The aura around him gives me the feeling…"
"Like how the Anemo element instinctively draws close to its source. Being near him brings comfort to both body and mind."
"And what about Paimon?" Paimon demanded, unwilling to be outdone.
"Hmm…"
"Let me think…"
"Well, Paimon is very cute." Venti reached out and pinched her soft little cheeks.
"Hehe, Paimon thinks so too!" she declared proudly, puffing out her tiny chest without a hint of modesty.
"So basically, aside from being cute, Paimon's useless…" Su Han muttered under his breath.
"Shh…" Lumine gestured for him to be quiet. The truth could hurt more than a lie. Let the little one enjoy her pride for a bit.
…
The midday breeze drifted gently across the grass, bringing a cool, refreshing touch. The group sat cross-legged on the meadow, chatting about Mondstadt's history and anecdotes from past and present.
As they talked, they realized Venti's knowledge truly was vast. Even dry history became vivid and engaging when told through his voice.
Lumine: "I never imagined Mondstadt's great hero, Vanessa, had such a past."
Paimon: "Yeah! It sounded so real, like Venti had actually met her!"
After a while, Venti stood and stretched. "Phew… I feel much better now."
At that moment, Paimon asked curiously, "So how did you get poisoned in the first place?"
Venti: "Well… I tried to communicate with Dvalin before, but I was… um… interrupted…"
"Not only did I fail to cleanse his curse, I ended up being invaded by the Abyss's poison instead."
Lumine: "Uh, so… that means…"
Su Han: "That means Paimon bears primary responsibility."
"Exactly!" Lumine nodded decisively.
Paimon stomped her feet in outrage. "Hey!"
Venti clapped his hands lightly. "So, to make up for it, why don't you accompany me to Mondstadt Cathedral?"
Paimon blinked. "Mondstadt Cathedral? What are we going there for?"
"To retrieve a harp… called the 'Sky.'"
"'Sky'? A harp? What's that?"
Su Han recalled, "In one of your poems, you mentioned—'The singer of the winds plucks the strings, and the Sky Harp answers in turn.'"
"The 'Singer of the Winds' should refer to Lord Barbatos the Anemo Archon, right?"
Lumine nodded. "And the Sky Harp is the harp once played by the Anemo Archon."
Paimon's eyes widened. "So you're asking us to steal the Sky Harp?"
"Eh… let's not call it 'stealing,' that sounds so unpleasant," Venti protested. "Don't worry, I have a foolproof plan."
"With the Sky Harp, I can awaken Dvalin's true nature from his nightmare."
Paimon hesitated. "Will that really make the Stormterror stop destroying things?"
Venti smiled confidently. "Of course. I am the greatest bard in the world, after all."
"Past, present, and future—there isn't a single song I don't know."
"Look into my eyes. Don't I seem trustworthy?"
Su Han: "…"
Lumine: "…"
Paimon: "…"
"Why are you all silent?" Venti looked genuinely wounded.
"Anyway, the plan will likely require your cooperation."
"I've heard it's enshrined deep within the cathedral, in a secure location."
"I'll scout things out shortly. You can come along and have a look."
At that moment, options suddenly appeared before Su Han's eyes.
[Option One: Refuse to cooperate and report Venti to the Knights of Favonius.
Completion Reward: 1,000,000 Mora, increased Knights of Favonius reputation, increased favor with Acting Grand Master Jean, awarded the title (Model Citizen of Mondstadt).]
[Option Two: Have Lumine and Paimon steal it, then persuade Venti to report them to the Knights of Favonius.
Completion Reward: 3,000,000 Mora, reduces pain by 30% when being beaten up by Lumine, increased favor with Acting Grand Master Jean.]
[Option Three: Under the cover of night, when Acting Grand Master Jean is exhausted and drowsy, drug her.
Without anyone discovering Jean's identity, publicly carry the drugged Acting Grand Master to the location of the Sky Harp.
Completion Reward: S‑Rank item (Mysterious Wrench (3/3)), 100 Shop Points.]
[Note: Option Three is a high-difficulty choice. The gap between your strength and Acting Grand Master Jean's is too great for direct confrontation. A single misstep will cause your relationship with the Knights to collapse.]
Su Han pondered briefly, then decisively chose to exchange for the [Strategy Gift Box]. The first purchase only cost 100 Shop Points—using it here was perfect.
[Obtained: (Cherry Bomb) ×3, (Unknown Powder) ×1, (Extra-Strong Coffee) ×1, (Grand Library Key) ×1, (Tracking Potion) ×1, A+ Rank Strategy Guide ×1.]
I, Su Han, am merely experiencing the thrill of cheating with hacks… and I'm also curious what an S‑Rank item can do. Is it powerful or not?
I absolutely have no thoughts whatsoever about Acting Grand Master Jean.
Even if her figure really is that good…
I… have no thoughts!
Heh 🤤… hehehe 🤤🤤… Acting Grand Master Jean… my Acting Grand Master Jean.
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