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The tavern buzzed with the sound of laughter and the clinking of glasses. Venti, the carefree bard, had just finished a lively set when a drunken resident leaned forward, eyes wide with wonder. "Tell us, O best bard in the worldâdo you know about the legendary Wind Mystery Treasure?".
Venti blinked, a look of genuine confusion crossing his face. "Wind Mystery Treasure? I've never heard of such a thing.".
The tavern erupted as patrons began to argue and offer their own descriptions of the treasure. Some spoke of a great artifact used by two heroes that contained the power of the Anemo Archon, allowing them to transform into a single, powerful knight. Others described smaller items that could command the weatherâflying through the sky, summoning sandstorms, or blasting away those who dared to use the "power of dead gods" .
Venti couldn't help but laugh at the sheer innocence of the Mondstadters. "There's no such thing. Lord Barbatos didn't leave many treasures behind. The Holy Lyre der Himmel is the most famous one, and it's safely tucked away in the Cathedral. There's really nothing else.".
But as the crowd continued to chatter, Venti finally realized what they were talking about. This "Wind Mystery Treasure" wasn't a historical artifact; it was a plot point from Ye Ruo's latest novel, Detective of the Windy City . The book featured two young men using magical items to fight an evil organization called the Museum, which sold props infused with the remains of demon godsâa description that bore a striking resemblance to the Fatui's Delusions .
"What a genius," Venti whispered, a playful glint in his eyes. "To turn the fear of the Fatui into a thrilling detective story where the Wind God's power always prevails. No wonder everyone is obsessed." .
A refined scholar stood up, his face reddening with indignation at the bard's skepticism. "You're just a bard! How can you deny the existence of such treasures? I've studied the history of Lord Barbatos deeply, and I believe these items could truly exist!" .
The tavern cheered in agreement. "He's right! We're the children of the Wind God! How can you not trust his power?".
Venti could only scratch his head and offer an embarrassed smile. "Hey, well... maybe you're right. Perhaps there really is a treasure." . Satisfied, the residents returned to their drinks, leaving the bard to sigh in relief. It was truly interesting to see how his own people were reinventing his legend through the pages of a novel .
Determined to celebrate his earnings, Venti hurried to the counter and slapped his Mora onto the wood. "Mr. Bartender! A plate of beans and two bottles of your finest wine!".
The bartender looked at Venti, hesitated, and then frowned. "Wait a minute. You're not an adult yet, are you? No alcohol for minors. I'll give you two glasses of juiceâon the house." .
Venti's jaw dropped. "But I grew up ages ago! I can drink!".
Despite his desperate pleas, the bartender remained firm. Venti lamented the new rules that seemed to have appeared since his last visit to the city. "Really, there was no such rule when I came to Mond last time. Why is it like this now?".
"Mr. Bartender," a clear, elegant voice called out from a quiet corner. "Give the bard his wine. He's an adult. I can guarantee it.".
The bartender looked up, recognized the speaker, and immediately bowed with respect. He pulled two bottles of dandelion wine from the shelf and placed them before the stunned bard . Venti turned to see Ye Ruo, the Wind Knight, watching him with a knowing smile.
"Thank you, little brother!" Venti chirped, hugging the bottles. "Who are you? I owe you one.".
"Me? Just an ordinary person passing by. Don't mind me.".
As Ye Ruo turned to leave, Venti watched him thoughtfully. He noticed the Anemo Vision on the man's waist and the incredible elemental resonance emanating from his bodyâsomething far beyond what a normal Vision could provide.
"So that's the Wind Knight," Venti whispered to the bartender once Ye Ruo was out of earshot.
"Yeah," the bartender replied with a sigh of admiration. "Since the Grand Master left, Master Ye Ruo and Master Jean are the reasons everyone feels safe. Mondstadt is still the free, beautiful city we love.". He paused, then shot Venti a suspicious look. "But even if the Wind Knight says you're an adult, you're only getting those two bottles. No more!" .
Ye Ruo, meanwhile, had caught sight of two Fatui diplomats, Mikhail and Lyudmila, whispering on a street corner . As he walked past, Mikhail's face went pale, and he abruptly stopped talking. Only after Ye Ruo had disappeared into the crowd did the diplomat dare to breathe.
"Why are we stationed in this city?" Mikhail wiped sweat from his forehead. "If that God of Killing is in a bad mood, we're dead in a heartbeat.".
"Don't be so dramatic," Lyudmila said, though her voice wavered. "We have diplomatic immunity. He won't act rashly." .
"You didn't see him take down the Doctor's elite team," Mikhail hissed. "They all died, Lyudmila. He destroyed several of our bases. He looks like a gentleman, but he's a killer.".
The two diplomats shared a look of pure dread, hoping that whatever Harbinger arrived next would be less provocative than the Doctor . They were just soldiers, after all, and they had no desire to be caught in the crossfire between a mad scientist and the Wind Knight .