"And also…"
Jean paused slightly.
"I might know a place."
"You already have a lead, Acting Grand Master?"
Venti asked in surprise.
"I'm not certain yet," Jean replied, shaking her head.
"It came from information provided by Lynn, a survival expert from the Adventurers' Guild."
"One of our knights happened to record what she mentioned during a conversation."
Jiang Chen sighed.
"Of course you'd know."
"You even read every patrol report submitted by the Knights personally."
Jean answered calmly.
"It's simply part of being responsible for my duties."
She didn't think there was anything unusual about that.
Another Lead
At that moment, Diluc spoke up as well.
"I can provide a clue too."
"A hunter once saw a dragon landing in Stormbearer Mountains."
"On the road toward Cape Oath?"
Jean recognized the area immediately.
Stormbearer Mountains were a rugged region with long valleys and steep slopes.
To the south it even connected to Dragonspine.
Diluc's information covered a large area though.
They would probably need the hunter to guide them.
"My lead is more precise."
Jean continued.
"Thousand Winds Temple."
Hearing that, Venti's expression dimmed slightly.
"It's very possible Dvalin would go there…"
"Then we shouldn't waste time."
"I'll return to the Knights headquarters and finish my arrangements."
"Tomorrow we begin the search."
Once Jean made a decision, she acted quickly.
A Problem
"Wait."
Venti stopped them.
"You won't succeed with just the two of you."
"What do you mean, bard?"
Diluc asked.
Although he had already guessed Venti's identity, if Venti wanted to keep pretending, he would play along.
"You won't be able to retrieve the Tear Crystals yourselves."
Venti explained.
"Dvalin's tears contain extremely corrosive curses."
"Ordinary people could die from touching them."
"And their curse repels elemental power from Visions."
"You won't even be able to carry them."
Jean hesitated.
"Then…"
"You'll need the Lumine, the Honorary Knight."
"She can purify the curse from the crystals."
"Once purified, they can be safely carried back."
"In that case…"
Diluc nodded.
"We'll have to search one location at a time."
"I'll find the hunter and locate the tears in Stormbearer Mountains."
"You can investigate Thousand Winds Temple first."
A New Suggestion
"Actually…"
Lumine suddenly spoke.
"We could split into two teams."
"Oh?"
Venti looked curiously at Paimon.
"Does that mean little Paimon can do it too?"
"Me?!"
"I didn't know I was that amazing!"
Paimon waved her hands frantically.
"Jiang Chen can."
Lumine said instead.
"Boss Jiang Chen?"
Venti looked thoughtful.
"Could it be that travelers from another world can all do this?"
"Probably."
Jiang Chen shrugged.
"Then we'll split into two teams?"
Venti asked everyone.
Carefully excluding himself.
Paimon narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
This bard didn't seem to be planning to help at all.
"That works."
Jean nodded calmly.
"We'll investigate the two confirmed locations."
"The Knights will gather additional intelligence."
"That's the most efficient approach."
"I'll also activate my own information network."
Diluc added.
Jiang Chen had probably invited them precisely for this reason.
More people meant faster progress.
Paimon's New Nickname
"Ah, how wonderful."
"Heroes trusting each other and setting off on a journey together…"
"It's always such a beautiful scene."
"Allow me to play a song to send you off."
Venti picked up the Holy Lyre and walked to the open space.
Paimon immediately became suspicious.
"Hey!"
"Are you trying to slack off… and only contribute with your mouth?"
"Playing the lyre requires hands!"
Venti smiled.
"Uwaa! I'm so angry!"
Paimon stomped her feet.
"I've decided to give you a terrible nickname!"
She pointed at him dramatically.
"From now on…"
"You're Tone-Deaf Bard!"
Jean wanted to stop her.
But after hesitating, she decided not to.
Mondstadt was a city of freedom.
Perhaps this was exactly what Barbatos himself would want.
The moment was ruined anyway.
Venti gave up on performing.
Team Assignments
Diluc spoke first.
"Then Lumine and the little one will come with me."
Jiang Chen stared at him strangely.
"Ha… feeling guilty, are we?"
Jiang Chen teased.
"I just don't want to run errands for you."
Diluc replied calmly.
Outwardly, it sounded like he disliked Jiang Chen ordering people around.
But inwardly—
He had a different reason.
If he had to travel with Jiang Chen…
The awkwardness would be unbearable.
Yes, he had sent two bottles of wine to repay the favor.
But the difference between valuable and priceless debts was something Diluc understood very well as a businessman.
If they met briefly, like now, it was fine.
But traveling together?
Jiang Chen would definitely bring up the Artifacts he had taken.
And Diluc—
needed to keep his dignity.
"I'll go with Jiang Chen then."
Jean said quietly, placing a hand over her chest.
For some reason—
her heart had skipped a beat.
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