Paimon slipped under the blanket as well.
She yawned.
Before long, both she and Lumine were fast asleep.
"Looks like Venti is about to steal the Holy Lyre der Himmel."
Jiang Chen muttered.
"How tragic… stealing your own belongings."
Afterward, Jiang Chen went downstairs and ate a quick meal prepared by Sara to fill his stomach.
Then he headed west across the city.
There stood a building second only in size to the Knights' headquarters—the Mondstadt branch of the Adventurers' Guild.
At the entrance, the guild's branch master was enthusiastically greeting new recruits.
"To the stars and the abyss!"
The guild master, Cyrus, noticed him immediately.
"Boss Jiang Chen! What wind brings you here today?"
"Probably the wind of the Anemo Archon."
Jiang Chen replied casually.
Then he glanced toward the building.
"Let's talk upstairs."
Cyrus looked surprised for a moment.
Then he turned to the young adventurers.
"That's all for today, kids. May the Anemo Archon watch over you."
Inside the Guild Office
The two sat down inside Cyrus's office.
"I need a map of the Ley Line Seal Ruins."
Jiang Chen explained.
Bang!
Cyrus jumped to his feet so abruptly that his knee nearly shattered the table.
"Boss Jiang Chen… you finally agreed?!"
"Yes."
Jiang Chen nodded.
"Wait right here!"
Cyrus rushed to a hidden safe and pulled out a carefully stored map.
He spread it open and began explaining the layout enthusiastically.
Jiang Chen barely listened.
With a single glance, he had already matched the location with the memory in his mind.
It was almost the same place as the World Level breakthrough trial he had experienced before.
Below Starsnatch Cliff.
At the lower level of the Midsummer Courtyard.
"So, Boss Jiang Chen, what do you think?"
"We'll escort you there personally!"
Cyrus said excitedly.
Jiang Chen thought for a moment.
He only hoped the final guardian of the ruins hadn't changed.
If it was still the Electro Hypostasis, things would be manageable.
But since he didn't know the exact monster levels inside, it would be safer to prepare properly.
"First, prepare two sets of artifacts with Electro resistance."
"Electro resistance?"
Cyrus looked confused.
"Does that mean there are Electro monsters inside?"
"You explored part of the Midsummer Courtyard, right?"
Jiang Chen asked.
"Yes."
"But our abilities weren't enough to go deeper."
"However, during the exploration we accidentally discovered a crack leading into the sealed ruins."
"Exactly."
Jiang Chen said.
"Most of the artifacts found there carry Electro attributes or Electro resistance."
"So I suspect the sealed ruins below are filled with Electro energy."
"And if there are guardians, they'll likely be Electro as well."
"I see!"
Cyrus slapped his thigh.
"As expected of Boss Jiang Chen!"
His reasoning made perfect sense.
Cyrus rubbed his hands excitedly.
If the Ley Line Seal Ruins were opened, many adventurers—including himself—could finally break through their power limits.
The Adventurers' Guild was full of hidden talents.
Even someone like Fischl, a Vision holder, had originally been just an investigator.
"Boss Jiang Chen, your request will absolutely be fulfilled!"
Cyrus promised.
"If we don't already have the artifacts, we'll organize an expedition to the Midsummer Courtyard and get them for you."
"Just wait for our news."
Cyrus hurried off to check the guild's inventory, completely forgetting his guest.
Goth Grand Hotel
Meanwhile, inside the luxurious lounge of the Goth Grand Hotel.
A Fatui diplomat sat elegantly on the sofa.
Anastasia, the Fatui Attaché, listened to a report from her subordinate.
Officially, the Fatui had come to Mondstadt as foreign allies.
The Knights of Favonius could not restrict their movements.
So the Fatui had secretly placed many informants throughout the city.
They gathered intelligence about Mondstadt and the Knights.
Even though many citizens were wary of them, information still slipped out.
"You're saying the Holy Lyre der Himmel is kept deep within the cathedral?"
Anastasia crossed her legs, gently swirling the wine in her glass.
"Yes, Your Excellency."
A Debt Collector knelt before her.
"And we've confirmed something important."
"The cathedral guards leave at night."
"It's the perfect opportunity."
Anastasia nodded slowly.
"Since the wind dragon has temporarily been driven away…"
"And since the Knights are watching us too closely for open action…"
"If we want the power of the Anemo Archon, we'll have to obtain the weapon he once used."
"We act tonight."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
The Debt Collector withdrew from the room.
When the door closed softly behind him—
Anastasia's commanding posture vanished.
She set down her wine glass and walked to a nearby door.
Then she knelt.
"Speak."
A cold voice came from inside.
Anastasia bowed respectfully.
"Lady Harbinger… tonight we will obtain the Holy Lyre der Himmel for you."
"It will serve as a welcome gift for your arrival in Mondstadt."
"A welcome gift?"
The voice behind the door carried a hint of mockery.
"That took quite a long time."
The voice moved closer.
Now it was right behind the door.
Anastasia lowered her head even further.
"This subordinate is ashamed."
The door creaked open.
Before her appeared a pair of elegant feet in black high heels.
Snow-white skin.
A seductive crimson pattern tattooed along the thigh.
Glossy red nails gleamed under the light.
She stepped forward onto the crimson carpet.
"Lady Harbinger…"
"Silence unless I permit you to speak."
The woman's voice turned icy.
She lifted Anastasia's chin lightly with the tip of her shoe.
Then she asked coldly:
"And the matter I told you to investigate…?"
"Have you found the answer?"