Tap tap tap...
The familiar sound of running echoed from the vortex.
Like tiny footsteps hurrying forward.
Barbara's eyes lit up: "Was that Klee? Is Klee back?!"
Jean and Amber said nothing, both watching the portal intently, ready to act at the first sign of trouble.
Although the sound was like Klee's running, no one could be sure.
The tapping drew closer.
Soon a small head peeked out from the portal, looking around anxiously. Seeing Jean, Klee's face changed.
Oh no! Daddy sent her straight to the Knights' HQ.
Blowing up fish and then running away—definitely two days of confinement...
Waaah, she'd walked right into a trap!
But,
Seeing the portal about to disappear, Klee ran out anyway.
"Klee? Where did you go?"
Jean hurried to her.
Only after confirming Klee was unharmed did Jean relax.
Klee hid her hands behind her back, looking a little guilty: "Jean... Amber... Albedo... Barbara... why are you all here?"
"To look for you, of course." Albedo ruffled her hair, sighing, "You disappeared so suddenly, we were all worried sick."
Albedo had just returned from searching when he saw Klee come back.
Surprisingly,
After Klee emerged, the portal vanished without a trace.
"Don't worry, that portal wasn't from the bad guys. It was Daddy's portal."
"Daddy missed Klee from Blue Star, so he summoned Klee there."
When Klee mentioned Ken, her guilty look vanished, replaced with excitement—meeting her handsome dad was her biggest joy this year.
But to Jean and the others, her words set off alarm bells.
Klee's dad?
And he's on Blue Star?
When Ms. Alice entrusted Klee to them, she never mentioned Klee's father.
So they had no idea who he was.
If Klee's dad had this kind of power, logically Alice would have told them, to avoid such a scare.
Unless she deliberately kept it secret.
"Klee, what exactly did you do on Blue Star? Tell me everything."
Jean decided to get to the bottom of things.
Someone who could silently teleport others away was a huge unknown and a potential threat to all of Mondstadt.
If people could be taken away in their sleep—just thinking about it was terrifying.
"I didn't really do much... Just met Daddy, who looks like his photo. He showed me Blue Star and gave me lots of yummy food."
Klee blinked and told them what she did with Ken.
Jean instinctively looked at Albedo.
Of those present, Albedo was closest to Klee's family.
Albedo shook his head silently.
Ms. Alice had never mentioned Klee's father.
"Acting Grand Master Jean, if that's all, can I go rest? I have to go to Blue Star again tomorrow to see Daddy!"
Klee was excited for her next meeting with Ken.
Mostly,
She was afraid Jean would confine her again—she wanted to escape.
"Alright, Klee, go rest."
Jean patted her head and exchanged a look with Amber.
Amber understood and took Klee to her room.
About ten minutes later, Amber returned: "Klee's resting, Acting Grand Master... what should we do? She's going again tomorrow."
"For now, it seems the other party isn't hostile," Albedo frowned, "But we have no idea who they are or what their intentions are."
To transport someone from Teyvat to Blue Star silently...
This might be even more powerful than Ms. Alice.
"Let me think..." Jean rubbed her temples.
Mondstadt hadn't been peaceful lately, with Abyss Mages active nearby.
Now, this incident was completely outside their experience.
The unknown is always the most exhausting.
"Acting Grand Master Jean..."
Seeing Jean's distress, Barbara said, "Let me go with Klee tomorrow. Ms. Alice told me about Blue Star, and I know a bit about it. If I go with her, I can take care of her."
Jean looked at Barbara, hesitant.
"Don't worry, they probably aren't hostile. Even if they are, I'll be with Klee. We can watch out for each other. You can't let her go alone, right?"
Barbara smiled.
Wanting to share Jean's burdens.
"Alright..."
Jean hesitated, then nodded.
They couldn't all go with Klee; that would be rude and might anger the other party.
Better to let Barbara go and see what happened.
"I'll go tell Klee!"
Barbara, relieved, went to Klee's door and knocked: "Klee, are you asleep?"
"Barbara? Come in," Klee replied sweetly.
Barbara entered and saw Klee sitting on her bed, hugging her Dodoco and looking at a photo.
Seeing Barbara, Klee said excitedly, "Barbara, look! This is my daddy—handsome, right?"
Before, Klee never showed this photo to anyone, worried it would get damaged.
Now that she'd found her dad, she wanted to share her joy.
"Indeed... very handsome."
Looking at the man in the photo, Barbara praised him sincerely. "No wonder Ms. Alice liked him—handsome and charming. By the way, I'm curious about Blue Star too. Can I go with you tomorrow? I can look after you, right?"
Klee blinked, thinking for a long while.
Finally, she said, "Okay! If Barbara wants to come, I'm happy. Let me tell you a secret—about your idol!"
...
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