Mondstadt.
After a wonderful night's sleep at Noelle's house, Ruola woke up very early. After bidding Noelle farewell, Ruola went to her own house in Mondstadt.
As the younger sister of Mondstadt City's richest man, it's not strange for her to own a property in Mondstadt City, right!
Ruola had only visited this house a few times in total; she used to sleep at Dawn Winery.
Occasionally, she would also go to Noelle's house.
Her main purpose for coming this time was to retrieve things she had stored there, as well as the Mora kept there, which was her private stash, unknown even to her brother!
She had previously promised Lumine and Paimon to give them gifts, and these were the gifts she had prepared.
Ruola had started preparing very early, and she had put a lot of thought into these gifts.
Lumine and Paimon had always been allogene characters Ruola really liked. These gifts were not only for them, thanking them for accompanying her in her previous life, but also a prepayment for the emotional DMG she might cause them later.
To obtain emotional feedback, allogene characters are still in the minority; the key lies with the players.
And to 'knife'… to obtain emotional feedback from players, she naturally had to manipulate Lumine and Paimon.
At the same time, the gifts were also for the players behind them, to increase their friendship with her!
She just didn't know if this gift-giving would gather enough emotional feedback this time.
She hoped it would at least unlock another function of her system, helping her understand the situation in the Player World, so she wouldn't be completely lost when arranging future plots, which would make things much, much easier.
Understanding players' opinions of her would also make it easier for her to adjust her plans at any time.
After putting everything into her Vision's space, Ruola went out to find Lumine and Paimon.
If she remembered correctly, the next part of the plot would be Lumine and Paimon meeting Venti, then being tricked into stealing a lyre, and finally fleeing all the way to Angel's Share Tavern.
She just forgot the exact time.
Anyway, since she was idle now, she might as well wander around Mondstadt City.
After wandering around Mondstadt City for a long time, she didn't find Lumine and her, but she found Bennett furiously eating at the Good Hunter restaurant.
He looked as if he hadn't eaten for days.
Seeing Bennett eat with such gusto, Ruola also walked over.
"Sister Sara, I'd like a serving of Mondstadt Grilled Fish!"
Bennett noticed someone sitting across from him and looked up.
"Ruola, long time no see!"
"It has been a long time, Bennett. Where have you been these past few days?"
Bennett looked a bit embarrassed and smiled shyly: "Well, I accidentally got locked in the Temple of the Thousand Winds, and I just got out this morning~"
"Ah?"
Ruola's expression froze. She knew Bennett was unlucky, but...
No wonder, she had seen Fischl the day before yesterday, but Bennett hadn't been seen for several days.
"Are you alright then? Are you hurt anywhere?"
"No, just a little hungry."
Watching Bennett eat heartily, Ruola ordered two more drinks and handed one to Bennett.
"Have something to drink, eat slowly, don't choke."
"Tha- thank you!"
Despite being locked up for so many days, Bennett still seemed very cheerful, looking completely unaffected.
"Bennett, who came to rescue you?"
"Uh, it was Razor~"
Ruola nodded, as expected.
"Bennett, you have very bad luck. Always remember to be careful in whatever you do. Look at this time, if it weren't for Razor, the consequences would have been unimaginable..."
Ruola and Bennett had a very good relationship, and she was genuinely concerned about him.
"Mhm!"
Bennett nodded earnestly, feeling warm inside.
Although he was unlucky and very unfortunate, he was also very fortunate to have so many good friends who cared for him, and his dads.
After finishing a serving of grilled fish, Ruola's hunger was gone. She chatted with Bennett for a while longer, then left Mondstadt City.
Had Lumine and Paimon gone to do quests?
Yesterday, Lumine and Paimon said they were short on Mora. Would they be doing quests outside now to earn Mora?
Ruola circled around Cider Lake and saw someone unexpected.
The Fatui?
Ruola's identity was very well protected by Diluc, even excessively so, to the point that she only knew her father was gone, but didn't know why he was gone.
Besides, even if she wanted revenge, the target should be Dottore.
Rosalyne stood on the shore of Cider Lake, looking at Mondstadt from a distance, lost in thought.
"Hmph, if you're here, just come over. Why are you sneaking around?"
Ruola pulled back her head, which had been peeking from behind a tree trunk, and walked out awkwardly:
"Sister Rosalyne..."
This wasn't Ruola's first time meeting the Fatui. The name Rosalyne was told to her by the Fatui herself.
"Stormterror has caused so much trouble for Mondstadt City. Why isn't a hero knight like you, who claims to be a candidate for the Knights of Favonius, helping out? Why are you here with me?"
Rosalyne's voice was cold, but Ruola was used to it; the Fatui always spoke that way.
Since she had been discovered, Ruola walked over boldly and stood beside Rosalyne.
Rosalyne's brows furrowed slightly, but she didn't say anything.
"I believe everyone in the Knights of Favonius will successfully overcome this crisis, and Lord Barbatos will bless us!"
"Barbatos? Heh..."
Rosalyne's expression was full of disdain. She was about to say more but suddenly stopped.
Last time, just for mentioning Barbatos, this girl argued with her for a long time, making her almost lose her composure.
If it were anyone else, she would have already turned hostile, but facing Ruola, she simply couldn't be fierce.
She really resembled him, just as passionate, just as dedicated to protecting Mondstadt as her lifelong pursuit, and just as trusting of that damned god!
Hoping for that rat is not as good as relying on the Fatui!
"Sister Rosalyne, what are you doing here?"
"Waiting for someone."
"Waiting for someone, who?"
"Why should I tell you?"
"Uh, okay, actually I'm looking for someone."
"I didn't ask you."
"I'm looking for the Traveler and Paimon. Have you seen them?"
"No."
"Then if you see them, could you tell them that I'm looking for them and ask them to find my brother at Angel's Share Tavern..."
"..."
"And..."
"Shut up!"
"Oh~"
Crunch, crunch—
Rosalyne's interest in the scenery instantly vanished, and several black lines immediately appeared on her forehead.
Raising her voice: "What are you doing?!"
Ruola had just bitten off half a potato pancake and had only chewed a few bites. Startled by this, she was still a bit confused.
Crunch~ crunch~
Stared at coldly by Rosalyne, Ruola felt a little guilty and quickly handed over the potato pancake in the lotus leaf beside her:
"I just packed this from Sister Sara's place. It's still hot and crispy."
Ruola knew Rosalyne's personality, so she certainly wouldn't take it...
Uh, hmm?
Rosalyne snatched the entire portion and turned to leave in Ruola's astonished gaze:
"The person I'm waiting for has arrived. You're on your own."
Thinking of Ruola's dumbfounded expression just now, Rosalyne's lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile.
Ruola put the remaining half of the potato pancake in her mouth, looked in the direction Rosalyne had left, wiped her hands on her clothes, and then rubbed her little face.
The person she was waiting for had arrived?
Ruola quietly followed a few steps and vaguely seemed to see someone—a Electro Cicin Mage!?
Ruola's little brain finally clicked for a moment, immediately connecting it to the allogene plot.
Oh, if she goes to the tavern to find her brother, maybe she can tag along with the plot again!