"Mm!" Lumine jolted, the food catching in her throat.
"Mmmph! Mmmph!" She clutched at her neck frantically. Su Xuan quickly handed her a glass of water.
*Gulp gulp gulp~~~* "Ah..." Lumine exhaled in relief. "Thought I was gonna choke to death. Thanks, Su Xuan—the water came right on time."
Paimon gave her an exasperated look. "Lumine, slow down! I'm not stealing your food."
Only after speaking did Paimon notice the open Diary replica by Lumine's hand. The contents made her eyes bulge.
"This..." Paimon stared at Su Xuan in horror.
Su Xuan shrugged lightly. "That's how it is. Your brother was named crown prince by Khaenri'ah's last king, Ilmin."
"After Khaenri'ah's fall, he blamed the Seven Archons who destroyed it and seeks revenge on the Seven Nations."
"But from his invasion tactics, I have no idea what's going on in his head."
"No Dvalin, no Abyss cultists—just the weakest, dumbest hilichurls."
"Not even a splash."
The developments far exceeded Lumine's imagination.
She had no clue how Kong became Khaenri'ah's crown prince or why he'd seek revenge on the nations for its fall.
But Lumine knew: if Su Xuan's words got out, Mondstadt's Diary holders would turn their spears on her as his sister.
Should she leave Mondstadt?
Her heart wrestled.
Kong was launching war on Mondstadt—staying might let her see him.
But if she stayed, the Diary holders wouldn't ignore her.
"No worries. Only Diary holders know—and Wind God Barbatos knows too."
"But Barbatos is tailing you to trick you into helping save Dvalin."
"He sees you and Kong as separate. Mondstadt's Diary holders won't act against you over your brother."
Lumine's eyes sharpened, tense and wary. "You sure?"
"Because I wrote about your past and your awakening." Su Xuan calmly toyed with his water glass. "These Diary holders have solid character—at least they're not the type to pin crimes without reason."
"Plus, Barbatos wants you to save Dvalin."
"They won't attack you over your brother. At worst, temporary surveillance."
With no one to turn to and her only kin a Khaenri'ah remnant...
Lumine realized the only ones she could trust in this world were Paimon—and the Diary in her hand, i.e., Su Xuan.
It took her a while to calm down.
Taking a deep breath, she said, "If you're so certain, I'll trust you."
"But I recall you don't help people lightly. Why tell me Kong's whereabouts this time?"
"Just info—I didn't bring him to you. Doesn't count as help." Su Xuan replied indifferently.
But seeing Lumine's hopeful gaze, he shook his head. "Even if you meet, it won't mean much."
"You can't sway him."
"Instead of chasing him, reclaim your power and reintegrate into this world."
Su Xuan pointed to a small house under the eaves near the city gate.
The Snezhnayan AI robot Catherine stood there as usual.
Due to the Dragon Calamity, the Adventurers' Guild had more quests lately.
"That's the Adventurers' Guild. It offers tasks for outlander adventurers—complete them for rewards."
Lumine and Paimon followed his finger.
Lumine was sharp—she knew Su Xuan was deliberately changing the subject, avoiding Kong talk.
Kong's situation clearly wasn't simple.
Su Xuan wasn't being stingy; maybe he was right—meeting Kong now wouldn't help and might just add pain.
Wandering unfamiliar lands alone? Finding Kong intel would be impossible.
For now, staying near Su Xuan was the easiest way to learn about Kong. One slip from him in a good mood would beat blind searching.
After mulling it over, Lumine looked up. "Your goal is traveling, right?"
"I'm free anyway. Can I tag along as a travel companion?"
"Of course, I'll earn my own keep. Just notify me before you leave Mondstadt and take me with you. Sound good?"