"So, what we need to do next is... First, retrieve the skylyre. Second, collect Stormterror's teardrop Crystals and give them to Lumine for purification, to repair the skylyre. Finally, Venti will summon Dvalin." Jean summarized the plan they had just formulated.
"Hmm~ That's right. If everything goes smoothly, I think we will definitely be able to bring Dvalin back to the Mondstadters." Venti smiled and nodded.
With the help of these people, he felt that this plan should have no problems.
"But where should we look for the skylyre? Currently, we only know that the Fatui stole the lyre, but we don't have concrete evidence." Jean slowly asked again.
Whether it was Rosaria's previous investigation of the church's secret room or the Fatui's subsequent reactions, it was clear that the skylyre was in their hands.
But unfortunately, she lacked decisive evidence. Merely relying on the residual Electro element power to say it was done by the Electro Cicin Mage was not enough.
She couldn't use this to challenge the Fatui; if she rashly applied pressure, it might escalate into a diplomatic crisis between two nations. For Mondstadt, which was in the midst of the Dragon Disaster and with most of the Knights of Favonius's manpower absent, this was not a good move.
"There are as many lone Fatui members in Mondstadt as you want. A few disappearing occasionally won't be noticed by anyone, and I've already pried some intelligence from their mouths." Diluc suddenly said coldly.
"Ah?" Stelle looked at him with some surprise.
"...When I said disappear, I only meant temporarily imprisoning them, preventing them from returning for a while." Diluc paused for a moment before explaining.
He was often troubled by the Fatui, and he often troubled the Fatui; similar incidents were endless, and both sides had long grown accustomed to it.
"That's good. No matter what, the Fatui are Mondstadt's allies. If there were widespread casualties, the Knights of Favonius would have a hard time explaining." Acting Grand Master Jean also breathed a sigh of relief when she heard Diluc say that.
"Heh, that's why I hate the Knights of Favonius." Diluc sneered, mocking.
He had no issues with Acting Grand Master Jean herself; otherwise, he wouldn't have invited her to this tavern tonight to discuss countermeasures with them.
He merely looked down on the Knights of Favonius's weakness and cowardice, which was something Acting Grand Master Jean couldn't change.
"In any case, based on these scattered pieces of intelligence, I can roughly deduce where they've hidden the skylyre."
"Then…" Venti looked at the group, an idea forming in his mind.
"Let's split up. Lumine will go with Diluc to retrieve the skylyre, and Acting Grand Master Jean will go with Miss Stelle to collect Dvalin's tear Crystalize."
Venti's reason for arranging things this way was quite simple.
He was afraid that Stelle, an unstable factor, would get into trouble or do something beyond his expectations.
His most important task right now was to save Dvalin, not the Fatui, after all…
"I… I have no objection." Lumine subconsciously wanted to refuse, but she really couldn't think of any particularly good reasons, so she could only say dejectedly.
She was not at ease letting Stelle and Acting Grand Master Jean go together to collect the tear Crystalize.
After all, Acting Grand Master Jean was different from Amber; she was a mature big sister. Even if her age wasn't as high as imagined, having served as Acting Grand Master for so long, her knowledge and experience were incomparable to Amber's.
In other words, she was highly likely to be unable to control herself and attack Stelle.
And what if Stelle didn't refuse…
Although she had no right to question Stelle's private matters, just thinking about that possibility made her uncomfortable.
"Diluc and I will get the skylyre back as soon as possible, and then we'll go collect the tears together." Lumine looked at Stelle and said seriously.
"Hmm? Ah, um…" Stelle nodded hesitantly.
She wondered if it was her imagination, but she felt that the focus of Lumine's words didn't seem to be on the tear Crystalize.
"Lumine, I think Dvalin will be very happy that you're so proactive." Venti nodded with satisfaction, then reminded her, "But don't let your guard down; the Fatui Harbinger is still in Mondstadt."
"Speaking of which, how are we going to retrieve Dvalin's tears?" Acting Grand Master Jean asked Venti.
She already knew that Venti's identity was unusual, but she hadn't confirmed it yet. Moreover, the current matter was more urgent, so she didn't ask further.
"Ahem, if you're willing, I should be able to make it cry." Stelle stroked her chin, weighing her strength against Dvalin's, then said to Venti.
"No! Absolutely not!" Venti was startled by Stelle's words, which he wasn't sure were a joke, and quickly said.
If he really let this Damselette fight Dvalin, Venti felt it would be terrible for Mondstadt.
"Dvalin is already pitiful enough, don't bully him anymore." Paimon also couldn't help but complain to Stelle.
"Haha, just kidding, just kidding…" Stelle awkwardly rubbed her head.
Although she had really thought so just now.
To get large drops of dragon tears, making the other party cry was obviously the simplest and quickest method. If once wasn't enough, do it a few more times, and they would quickly accumulate enough.
"Actually, Dvalin has been crying incessantly during this period. His tears are scattered throughout Mondstadt, and I can feel them." Venti sighed, his emotions a bit downcast.
"What a poor big guy." Paimon sighed again.
"I'll mark the Dvalin tear Crystalize I can feel now on the map for you. If you follow the map, you'll definitely find them." Venti cheered up again, looking at Stelle and Acting Grand Master Jean as he spoke.
"Understood." Acting Grand Master Jean nodded.
"Oh, right, just in case, you absolutely must not split up!" Venti seemed to have thought of something else and emphasized to the two.
"Why?!" The one who asked was neither Stelle nor Acting Grand Master Jean, but Lumine, who was standing to the side.
"Of course, it's just in case. Dvalin might appear at any time." Venti said as a matter of course.
However, he didn't finish his sentence. He wasn't afraid of these two getting into trouble, as with their strength, they could at least escape. He was worried about Dvalin getting into trouble.
What Stelle had just said was too terrifying. If Dvalin ran into her and ended up getting seriously hurt, what would happen?
But if Acting Grand Master Jean was with her, Stelle shouldn't go too far.
"Remember, you must not split up."
"Don't worry, I'll definitely be with Stelle." Acting Grand Master Jean didn't think much of it and nodded firmly.
Hopefully, she wouldn't regret this decision later…