It didn't take long for the wind to purge the poison from Dvalin's blood.
Regaining his senses, Dvalin gently caught the young boy before him with his claws and slowly flew toward the group.
"The power of the Anemo Archon's familiar... yet I am no longer one of the [Four Winds]."
Dvalin set Venti down, his tone no longer frenzied or angry.
"Like I said, Mondstadt no longer needs an Archon or its protectors. From now on, fly more freely with my blessings," Venti said with a smile.
Dvalin fell silent, then gestured for everyone to climb onto his back—the ruins could collapse at any moment.
Lumine was thrilled. "See? I told you the boss would drop a 'reins' item after we beat it."
High in the sky, Venti asked, "Dvalin, what was it you wanted to say earlier?"
Everyone quieted down, curious about what Dvalin had intended to say at that moment.
"If you were me... if you had seen your figure freely singing upon the earth, you too would wonder."
"Mortals have no wings. They are bound to the earth—so why are they [free]?"
"Like me, you would ask, 'Why do all living things in this world wish to listen to your songs?'"
"You sang upon the earth, while I watched you from the skies above."
"I listened to your poetry, learned from your songs, and sought to understand the source of your [freedom]."
"In the end, like all living things, I was drawn to your voice and found the answer to my question."
"I discovered my own [freedom], Barbatos. Becoming one of the [Four Winds] was not a [freedom] you forced upon me."
"Is that so? I see..."
Venti lay on Dvalin's back, eyes closed, feeling the wind brush past his ears, a faint smile on his lips.
A dragon, a boy, and a song—that was the entirety of their tale.
The storm had ceased. Mondstadt's dragon crisis was resolved, but the story of Mondstadt was far from over.
In Lucian's plans, the second act of the story offered little opportunity to gain Emotional Value—and neither did the third.
Thus, Lucian needed to create some major events through other means to harvest that Emotional Value.
For example:
Venti's story quest, If You're Trapped in a Windless Land, already in reprint.
The shocking retrial of the "Unjust Callas" case, soon to stun the public.
The grand reveal of the prophecy book author's identity.
With these three events unfolding simultaneously, Lucian refused to believe the Emotional Value wouldn't skyrocket.
Speaking of these three events, two of them were connected to the serial disappearances of young women.
That was why Lucian couldn't wait to deliver the news about locating Vacher's factory to Navia.
Navia had only collapsed from exhaustion—her condition wasn't serious. Now awake, she listened eagerly to Lucian's good news.
"This is wonderful! Truly wonderful!"
Navia was overjoyed. If not for her lingering weakness, she might have jumped for joy.
After all these years, her father's name could finally be cleared.
"Lucian, thank you!" Navia hugged him tightly.
Lucian didn't push her away. Instead, he patted her back gently.
"You've worked hard too."
Yes, Navia had been incredibly strong and persistent.
She had never given up, not even for a moment.
Even the slightest possibility was enough for her to pursue—and that was how she had met Lucian.
Opportunity hadn't come to Navia; Navia had seized the opportunity herself.
Clorinde watched the two embrace, genuinely happy for Navia.
But she wasn't one to wear her emotions openly, so she spoke calmly.
"I'll personally arrest Marcel (Vacher)."
Those words alone conveyed her stance.
"Thank you, Clorinde." Navia steadied her emotions and pulled away from Lucian's embrace.
"We've already compiled all the other evidence. Once we have proof, he won't escape judgment."
Navia had waited far too long for this moment.
Lucian suddenly sighed. "It's a shame Charlotte isn't here. She's going to miss this huge scoop."
As Fontaine's star reporter, Charlotte's articles carried immense authority.
With her coverage, the entire nation would learn of Marcel (Vacher)'s crimes within two days.
"The Unjust Callas" would overnight become "The Just Callas."
"Thinking about me?" Charlotte's head suddenly popped out from behind the door.
Regarding the key—both Navia and Charlotte had keys to Lucian's home.
Lucian trusted them, but the keys weren't just about trust.
Navia had one because his place had essentially become her secret base.
And, well, she was his boss.
Charlotte had one because sometimes Lucian was too lazy to submit his drafts, so he'd let her deliver them instead.
Since she always wanted to read the latest stories first, why not have her send them in afterward?
"Charlotte?" Lucian was stunned.
When he'd entered the city earlier, he'd seen Charlotte leaving.
They'd been too far apart to greet each other—so how was she back already?
"Hehehe, when I left the city, I suddenly had this strong feeling that a major story was about to break! So I came back." Charlotte grinned.
What terrifying intuition. Still, her return was good news.
Lucian quickly briefed her on Marcel (Vacher)'s crimes.
"What? Marcel is the culprit behind the serial disappearances?!" Charlotte gasped.
She never would've guessed—the mastermind behind the case she'd investigated for so long was actually the president of the Capriole Merchants' Guild.
A man of considerable standing.
"Now this is a headline!" Charlotte cheered.
Not just because of the scoop, but because no more young women would vanish.
"I'll also provide the information I've gathered to you, Miss Navia," Charlotte added.
"Thank you," Navia replied with a smile.
Clorinde would handle Marcel's arrest.
Charlotte would write the article.
Navia would confront Marcel in court.
And Lucian? His role was most critical—to retrieve the evidence during Marcel's trial.
"Once this case is over, Charlotte, you can reveal my identity," Lucian said.
"Really? I can finally publish it?!" Charlotte was even more thrilled.
Today was full of good news.
Not only had they cracked the serial disappearances, but she could also release the bombshell she'd been sitting on.
"Then I'll head back to the Spina di Rosula first."
Navia was the first to leave.
She needed to retrieve the materials the Spina had gathered—they might prove useful during the trial.
Even if they weren't enough to secure a conviction, they could buy time until Lucian returned.
"Mm. Be careful with water—especially drinking water," Lucian warned.
The mechanical ambush had failed, so Marcel would surely try other methods.
"I'll head back too. On the day of the trial, I'll give Miss Navia all the materials I've collected."
With that, Charlotte also left.
Lucian's gaze shifted to Clorinde.
Clorinde met his eyes expressionlessly.
"..."
"..."
"Miss Clorinde, aren't you going back? I only rented a single room, you know."
In the end, Lucian was the one who broke the silence.
"I'll sleep in the living room," Clorinde said matter-of-factly.
"...That's not what I meant," Lucian sighed.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voiceline · Lucian: About Clorinde
"Though she seems aloof, she's oddly... comfortable with imposing herself?"