After listening to Lumine describe the course of events, Jean noticed something odd. The Favonius Sword was a weapon typically only accessible to high-ranking members of the Knights of Favonius. Why did this con artist have one in his possession, and from the looks of it, a brand-new one at that?
Realizing the problem likely originated within the Knights' own ranks, Jean didn't need to think twice to know it was undoubtedly the work of those old-timers.
Jean had a terrible headache. The Stormterror issue remained unresolved. After former Grand Master Varka took almost all the Knights' elite on his expedition, the various unsavory elements within the Order had begun to stir once more. The Knights were now beset by troubles both internal and external, with nearly all the pressure bearing down on Jean alone.
She had originally thought that prosecuting the traitorous Inspector Eroch before Grand Master Varka's expedition would serve as a warning to others. Yet, in just half a year, these individuals had grown restless again.
(A/N: Eroch appears in the official Genshin Impact manga. He was the one who refused to acknowledge the sacrifice of Diluc's father, attributing it to a mere accident.)
"Would you like me to help you interrogate this con artist? I have quite a bit of experience in getting people to tell the truth."
The helplessness on Jean's face was clear as day to Su Bai. It seemed the situation within the Knights was even worse than he had imagined. Otherwise, this Acting Grand Master wouldn't be letting these individuals act with impunity.
"That won't be necessary, Lord Su Bai. I already have my answer. Without substantive evidence, even if we arrest them all, the Knights can't do much to them."
"Moreover, their roots within the Order are simply too deep. Acting rashly would only alert them."
Jean leaned back weakly in her chair. Even Grand Master Varka could do little about them due to a lack of evidence. As an Acting Grand Master, with the Knights' elite virtually absent today, she simply couldn't suppress these higher-ups and could only turn a blind eye to their activities.
These senior members, relying on their seniority, always paid lip service to Jean's orders while secretly undermining them. A large portion of the authority in Jean's hands had been siphoned off by these higher-ups, yet all the trivial matters were dumped on her. Jean also didn't have full confidence in the knights under her command, so she handled everything personally.
"Don't be so disheartened. Perhaps you'll wake up tomorrow and find they've all... passed away."
Jean rubbed her temples. If all those higher-ups died overnight, it would indeed be a good thing. That way, she could fully take control of the Knights.
But that was simply impossible. Those old coots armed their personal guards with the best equipment the Knights had to offer. These guards might not even lose in a direct confrontation against the Knights' elite.
"Lord Su Bai, please don't joke about such things."
"Anything is possible. And Jean, no need for 'Lord.' Just call me Su Bai."
Su Bai stretched lazily. He planned to introduce Jean to the wealthy lady Ningguang at an opportune moment. He had a feeling the two would get along quite well.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be heading back. I need to rest up for the spectacle tonight."
Su Bai pulled out a key and tossed it to Lumine. The penniless Lumine caught it with delight. She had just been worrying about where to sleep tonight, and Su Bai had solved her problem so quickly. He was truly a saint.
"Lumine, your room is on the second floor. I carved Paimon's face on the door; you'll spot it right away."
As an adeptus from Liyue, Su Bai had no desire to get involved in Mondstadt's power struggles. If handled poorly, it could affect relations between the two nations. Besides, there was a performance by the Sisters tonight that he was very much looking forward to.
Night fell, and Mondstadt grew quiet. The wind whistled, and the moon hung high in the starry sky. From a high rooftop, Su Bai looked down upon several Sisters in black hooded cloaks in the alley below.
'A dark and windy night is perfect for killing. It seems tonight's Mondstadt is destined to be anything but peaceful.'
The Sisters advancing under cover of darkness had no idea their movements were seen clearly by Su Bai. Led by Rosaria, several patrolling guards were swiftly knocked unconscious.
Rosaria was exceptionally agile at night. Having thoroughly familiarized herself with this high-ranking official's residence, within three minutes, all the guards in the house were knocked out and tied up by Rosaria.
With all threats neutralized, Rosaria and several Sisters smoothly infiltrated the room of a senior Knight of Favonius.
The moment they stepped inside, all the Sisters, including Rosaria, were stunned by the opulent, gilded decor before them. A statue of the Anemo Archon carved from Crystal Chunks, handicrafts made from precious Liyue wood, and even Bloodblooms, a specialty of Inazuma, were planted in the corner of the room.
The well-traveled Rosaria swallowed hard. If these items were sold on the market, the Church of Favonius might not need funding from the Knights for nearly a decade.
Although the room was filled with valuables, Rosaria hadn't forgotten her purpose for coming. ''Once I send this old fart to meet Lord Barbatos, all this will be ownerless anyway. Taking it then wouldn't be stealing, it'd be... collecting.'
In the center of the lavish room, an old man slept peacefully on a bed made of various precious metals. This was Rosaria's target, one of the higher-ups of the Knights of Favonius.
Rosaria gritted her teeth. 'These parasites, using the Knights' funds for their own luxury.' Following Su Bai's instructions, she slapped the high-ranking official awake.
Still disoriented, the official stared blankly at the Sisters beside his bed. If not for the sting on his face and the knife in Rosaria's hand, he would have thought he was dreaming.
"Y-you... what are you doing? I-I warn you, this is trespassing! It's against the law!"
"Hah. If you truly abided by the law, we wouldn't be here."
The official's face instantly turned ashen. He was sure he hadn't left any clues regarding his deeds. How had he been discovered?
"You still can't kill me! I've bled for Mondstadt! Lord Barbatos will forgive me!"
Rosaria had no patience for this parasite's babbling. She wanted to finish dealing with these leeches and get off work early. Impatient, Rosaria directly activated the talisman Su Bai had given her using her Cryo energy.
"Whether He forgives you is Barbatos's business. I'm only responsible for delivering you to Him."
"Now, confess all your crimes."
Rosaria commanded the Knight official in an icy tone. She had long disliked this guy who always looked at her with a lecherous gaze. The high-ranking official, already plunged into an illusion, paused for a moment. This pause made Rosaria's heart sink.
'Is that fox boy's talisman even reliable? Don't fail at a critical moment like this.' But adeptal methods were, after all, adeptal methods. No matter how much the official resisted in his heart, under Su Bai's illusion technique, he truthfully began to recount his crimes.
"Sister Rosaria, the paper I prepared is full. If he keeps talking, I won't have anywhere to write."
Rosaria glanced at the sheet of paper densely filled with crimes in the Sister's hand. She then directly slit the Knight official's throat with her small knife. 'If there's no more space to write, just finish him off. Someone like this doesn't deserve to live anyway.'
Looking at the official's wide, staring eyes, Rosaria felt not a flicker of emotion. 'Died with grievances? Hah. Don't worry, the other parasites who colluded with you will be joining you in the other world soon enough.'
With her task complete, Rosaria pulled the hood of her cloak back over her head. From this moment on, she would become the existence most feared by all the parasites within Mondstadt's walls.
"Let's go. The night in Mondstadt is still long. It's not time to rest yet. For Lord Barbatos, we must press on."
"For Lord Barbatos!" xN
"Oh, and remember to assign a few people to take all the valuable items. These things have no owner now. We'll collect them. Leaving them here... well, it wouldn't be good if they accidentally fell and hurt some children."
"Be careful when moving the Bloodblooms in the corner. I rather like the look of those little flowers."
Barbatos, still drinking at Windrise, was unaware that his Sisters had carried out a deed that would shock all of Mondstadt. Ever since he "acquired" a stash of fine wine from the Lawrence clan, he hadn't visited the Angel's Share much.
But even if Barbatos knew of this matter, he wouldn't intervene. After all, Mondstadt was a city of freedom. Freedom commanded by Him was not the freedom He wished to see.