Mondstadt Goethe Hotel.
Rosalyne pulled open the curtains, her gaze fixed on the distant Mondstadt City Gate.
She then turned to the light screen that had appeared in the diary before her.
That green-clad bard in a pair of white stockings was grinning foolishly as he chatted with Su Xuan about something.
Rosalyne seemed utterly furious, her chest heaving up and down.
The first time she learned that Barbatos had been tailing Lumine outside the city, Rosalyne had immediately rushed out with her men to search, but found nothing.
The second time—yesterday—Rosalyne had spotted Barbatos right at Mondstadt's Windswept Plaza, only for Su Xuan to be standing right there with him.
Uncertain of Su Xuan's stance toward the Fatui, she hadn't dared act rashly, fearing she might provoke him and end up twisted into a pretzel.
This time, Barbatos had shown up directly at Mondstadt City Gate, but just as Su Xuan had predicted, the god had come straight to him.
At that moment, a mass of black-red light surged from the room's floor, and a Debtor appeared before the Lady.
"Lady, a man matching your description has appeared at Mondstadt City Gate. Shall we move in?"
The description of Wind God Barbatos's appearance hadn't come from the diary's contents leaking to Rosalyne.
Before setting out for Mondstadt, she had long since received a detailed rundown on Barbatos's looks from the Tsaritsa herself.
So she was able to paint an accurate picture of the target for her subordinates.
"Wait a little longer. The timing isn't right yet. We strike when he's alone."
Hearing Rosalyne's response, the Debtor paused before continuing, "Lady, are you concerned about that black-haired young man standing beside him?"
"We can just take him out."
Rosalyne's eyes sharpened, glaring at the Debtor with utter fury. "Are you deaf or something?"
Take him out? You'd have every Fatui stationed in Mondstadt twisted together into a giant knot.
No, you'd have all of Snezhnaya twisted into a knot.
"If there's nothing else, don't bother me. And absolutely do not touch that man talking to the green freak."
"Get lost if that's all."
The Debtor shuddered, stunned that a single sentence could provoke such rage from the Lady.
Moreover, the Lady seemed far more concerned about the black-haired man chatting with him than about Wind God Barbatos himself.
Could there be something between that black-haired man and the Lady?
After all, word was that the Lady hailed from Mondstadt.
But the Debtor didn't dare pry. He quickly replied, "Yes," and vanished in a puff of smoke.
Meanwhile, at Mondstadt City Gate.
"Hehe, we meet again. Remember me? The bard from last night, Venti..."
Su Xuan rolled his eyes at Venti, who had sidled right up to him, and nodded lightly. "The bard who's won Mondstadt's Most Popular Bard award for three years running."
"You've got a good memory." Venti scratched his head and glanced around. "Your companion from yesterday isn't with you today?"
"You mean the golden-haired girl and the silver-haired glutton?" Su Xuan grinned playfully.
That smile threw Venti off completely; it felt like there was some deeper meaning behind it.
"Uh..." Venti forced a calm facade. "Yeah, them."
Su Xuan waved him off. "If you want to find those two, just use your authority over the winds. What do you need me for?"
The moment his identity was pierced, Venti froze for a second, but he quickly plastered on a smile again. "Ever since you flew in from the sea to Mondstadt, I've known you're no ordinary—"
"Stop." Su Xuan quickly signaled Venti to shut up. "Some things don't need to be spelled out."
"I can guess why you're here, but there's no need for us to get too entangled."
"I'm just honoring a promise to a certain upstanding knight to help Dvalin purge his corrupted blood. You get it, right?"
Venti blinked in stunned silence for several seconds before exclaiming excitedly, "You're going to help Dvalin?"
"Wait—you can purge Dvalin's corrupted blood?"
Venti had no idea how this man could purge Dvalin's corruption, but if he knew the reason behind Dvalin's madness, he must have some real skill.
This was absolutely joyous news for Venti.
"I was hoping you'd convince your companions to help Dvalin, but it turns out you can do it yourself."
"My deepest thanks." Venti bowed his head sincerely to Su Xuan.
But the next second, a hint of puzzlement crossed his face. "You don't seem prepared for anything. How do you plan to find Dvalin?"
"If you don't have a good plan, I might have an idea to help."
"Forget stealing the Skyward Harp. I've got my own way. No need to worry." With that, Su Xuan walked off on his own.
Venti's breath hitched.
He was astonished that Su Xuan had seen right through his scheme.
"What a terrifying guy. Can he read minds or something?" Venti muttered to himself.
Seeing Su Xuan about to leave, he thickened his skin and hurried after him. "Can I at least tag along?"
Su Xuan didn't reply, merely nodding faintly as his thoughts stirred.
[Today's dose of helplessness: Got blocked by Barbatos the moment I left Mondstadt City.]
[He insists on coming with me to deal with Dvalin's corrupted blood.]
[Whatever. If he wants to follow, let him.]
[After all, Dvalin's his familiar. No one cares more than him.]
[Once Dvalin's issue is settled, I can ask for his Gnosis as thanks and run an experiment.]
[See if the Herrscher of Reason Authority I unlocked this morning can analyze its structure and replicate the Gnosis.]
Rosalyne, mid-sip of her tea, couldn't hold it in and spat all over her chest.
"What did he say? He's going to take Barbatos's Gnosis for an experiment?"
"What about me then?"