"You dare defile Her Majesty the Goddess!"
Signora's body trembled, rage spilling from those icy eyes.
But in the end, she forcibly suppressed it.
She truly did look down on others, but with the gulf in power so obvious, if she kept courting death, she likely wouldn't leave alive today.
If she died here, the Fatui who came with her wouldn't be spared either, and Her Majesty the Tsaritsa would never know just how powerful this otherworldly visitor, gifted with grand prophecy, truly was.
Though the top three Harbingers can rival archons, archons too have strengths and weaknesses.
As for Ken's power, Signora didn't have a precise measure, but she could clearly sense it far outstripped even the top three Harbingers.
"Are those your last words?"
Ken looked down at Signora, a kind smile on his face.
If she struck at him again, it would no longer be within the bounds of a duel. Even if it sparked a diplomatic incident between Mondstadt and Snezhnaya, he would kill her.
"I thought we were already friends."
Sensing Ken's undisguised killing intent, Signora staggered to her feet, a hint of wistfulness in her eyes. "I'm leaving Mondstadt. Is this how you see off a friend?"
"Friend?" Ken looked at her with a half-smile.
Staring at the man before her—smiling, yet with eyes deep and cold like amber—she gritted her teeth and took out a delicate wooden box from her Delusion.
Inside lay a dozen or so Crimson Agate.
"Of course we're friends. This is my parting gift to you. I hope we meet again."
She pushed the box into Ken's hands.
Ken raised a brow. "Mm… take care, my friend."
Signora: "…"
Grinding her teeth in secret, she let out a long breath, then limped away.
But not far along, she saw her subordinates' corpses.
Anastasia had been waiting for Signora—if anything happened, they would rush to help. But they never had the chance.
Under that overwhelming pressure just now, Anastasia and the dozens of Fatui agents all died at Starsnatch Cliff.
"Ken… we will meet again."
Looking at her people's bodies, Signora glanced at her own disheveled state and forced herself to calm down.
…
Starsnatch Cliff.
Ken looked at the dozen-odd Crimson Agate, then handed them to little Klee behind him.
"Absorb the power inside. It'll make you stronger."
He didn't need them for now.
Mainly, he could freeload peak-level powers; these agates weren't that useful to him. Better to boost Klee.
"Thank you, Daddy!" Klee hugged the box of agates, voice sweet as sugar.
Jean stepped up to Ken, her light eyes gentle. "Thank you for holding back against her just now."
Though Mondstadt doesn't welcome the Fatui, if a Harbinger were harmed in Mondstadt, it could trigger a serious diplomatic crisis with Snezhnaya—troublesome indeed.
Ken clearly could have killed Signora, yet spared her.
Jean felt he did it for her—for Mondstadt.
The usually poised Acting Grand Master now found herself thinking like a girl in a novel, unconsciously flagging herself.
"It's fine. I mainly wanted to test my weapon on her," Ken said honestly. The power of his signature weapon pleased him, unassuming as it looked.
"Right! What was that weapon? It was amazing—three different elements!" Paimon's eyes went wide with curiosity.
It looked like a plain chain—but when he used it, it was so cool, blazing across the sky like a swimming dragon.
"It's a signature weapon I forged myself," Ken said.
"Amazing… Boss even knows forging!" Mona marveled. Judging by that power, it was at least a five-star legendary.
Lumine sighed a bit. "The commotion you made was really, really big. Feels like even a few more Signora wouldn't be your match."
Ken could only be a bit helpless at that.
After gaining various abilities, he hadn't had a chance to really let loose. He'd done it on purpose just now, to see how much of a spectacle three elements could make.
And the display satisfied him.
Especially Venti's full constellation power…
No wonder Barbatos survived the Archon War—truly strong. He hadn't even gone all out, and it was already that grand.
As he mused, Ken looked at Lumine and Paimon. "By the way, you said you were leaving Mondstadt. When?"
"After watching your duel, Paimon and I are heading out now," Lumine said, a bit reluctant.
She'd stayed long in Mondstadt—not only growing close to Ken, but forging deep bonds with Jean, Klee, and the others. Leaving felt wistful.
But even having found her brother, traveling the Seven Nations to gain experience and strength was her goal now.
Leaving was a matter of time.
"Eh? Big Sis Lumine is leaving? Klee really can't bear it."
Klee came to Lumine's side, big eyes full of reluctance.
Lumine patted Klee's head and smiled. "I'll miss everyone too. But with Mr. Ken around, next time we can meet on Blue Star."
Perhaps because of that, the faint sadness in her heart faded a lot.
After all, whenever she wished, she could go to Blue Star to see Ken.
"And Liyue's a nation that values contracts. If we go now, we can catch the Rite of Descension and watch the Geo Archon's show."
Having been spoiled, Lumine knew quite a bit about Liyue's affairs.
"All right then. Safe travels. If you need anything, you can always return to Mondstadt. The Knights will do everything we can," Jean said gently.
Lumine nodded, then looked to Ken.
If not for her brother's grand ideals—and her being his blood, unable to stand aside—she really wanted to settle in Mondstadt, or go to Blue Star.
But life demands journeys to grasp life's true meaning and reclaim one's own power.
"Safe travels. Here's a parting gift."
Ken took the Flute from his system space.
After obtaining the weapon's blank, he'd forged it while crafting the The Flute Sword.
Perfect for a wind-element Lumine.
And as a farewell, it felt right. Even if they could meet anytime, basic ceremony matters.
"So pretty…"
Lumine accepted the wooden long box. Seeing the sword lying quietly inside, she was overjoyed.
The pale blue blade glimmered faintly.
Delicate in shape, with a touch of mottled shadow, yet its ornate decoration shone through.
"So light… I can feel the flow of elemental power!"
Paimon couldn't wait to pick up the Flute and give it a try. Its light weight let her swing it a few times. With each motion, a clear flute tone rang out.
"This seems to be the Flute," Jean said, amber eyes a bit odd. "Traveler uses Anemo—this sword suits her well."
Compared to Aquila Favonia, the Flute wasn't top-tier.
But as a gift from Ken to Lumine, it showed their rapport—stirring a faint awkwardness in Jean's heart.
Not even rumors about Barbara and Ken had made her feel this way.
But seeing Lumine's radiant smile and Ken's slightly doting gaze, a complicated sense of crisis slowly rose within Jean.
"Judging by Jean's reaction, this sword must be super valuable, right?" Paimon cheered, little money-grubber mode engaged—even though it wasn't for her.
"In terms of grade, it's a four-star weapon," Jean said with a soft smile.
Four-star?
Lumine's smile turned to fluster. "That's too valuable. Ken, take it back—I can't accept something so expensive!"
"You're an Honorary Knight of the Knights of Favonius and my close friend. You're leaving Mondstadt—giving you a gift is normal," Ken said casually.
In the original game, four-star weapons are common.
But in the real Teyvat, a blacksmith's fine work is only two-star; three-star is already rare.
Four-star is another level entirely.
That was the real reason Lumine hesitated.
Hearing Ken, Lumine bit her lip lightly. "Then I'll accept it. If you ever need my help, you must tell me."
"Mhm! Is there a gift for Paimon?" Unlike Lumine's embarrassment, Paimon had a very thick skin.
Ken helplessly pulled a snack pack from his system space and shoved it into Paimon's hands.
"Paimon doesn't get a sword?"
Snacks are tasty, but a four-star sword has collector's value. Paimon was hopeful.
Lumine huffed, "You can't even swing a sword. Don't you dare ask Ken!"
"Hmph… Not even married yet, and Lumine's already protecting her husband," Paimon pouted.
M-Married?
Klee's eyes went round. "Big Sis Lumine is marrying Daddy? Then what about Klee's mom? Is Lumine going to be Klee's mom too? Klee will have two moms?"
Lumine's face flushed scarlet. "Paimon, don't talk nonsense!"
It was one thing to joke when no one else was around, but in front of Jean and the others? Lumine wanted to crawl into a hole.
Especially at "two moms," strange images popped into her head, and she grew even shyer.
"Woah." Mona's eyes widened, staring at Lumine and Ken, ready to devour the gossip.
Jean's expression, however, grew a bit odd. Her gentle gaze slid past Lumine and settled on Ken.
That uneasy feeling in her heart, tinged with a thread of sourness, kept rising. The always composed Jean felt out of sorts.
Was she… jealous? But why not jealous of Barbara?
Jean pondered, doing her best to suppress that strange emotion.
"Don't worry, Paimon. When Lumine and I do get married, I'll definitely stew you as a side dish for drinks," Ken said very kindly, tugging Paimon's ear.
"Ah! Paimon is not bar food! Traveler, do something about Mr. Ken!"
"Paimon, zip it." Lumine covered her face. "I—I'm leaving now. I won't go back to the Knights to say goodbye. Jean, please let everyone know. G-goodbye, everyone."
They could meet anytime if they wished.
The goodbyes were said. Afraid Paimon would say something even more explosive, Lumine grabbed the Flute and dashed off.
Still, though Ken's words made her shy, her heart felt sweet as Sweet Flower.
He didn't deny or reject it—instead, he went along with Paimon's tease.
Did that mean…
Thinking of it, Lumine's heart grew even sweeter. She looked at the sword in her hands, even more enamored.
"Traveler, why are you running so fast? Why not have Mr. Ken take us to Liyue Harbor?"
Paimon flitted over, clutching her snack pack.
Lumine rolled her eyes. "If I rely on Mr. Ken, what's the point of traveling the Seven? I found my brother, but I still need to grow stronger."
Especially after seeing the immense power Ken displayed, Lumine's resolve only hardened.
Only by reclaiming her power and growing stronger could she stand by his side.
…
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