Chapter 113. Meeting Acting Grand Master Jean, Lady Arrives!
After saying this, Eula herself showed no expression of holding any grudge at all.
Instead, she calmly sheathed her greatsword, then turned her gaze toward Kuki Shinobu, Futsu Mitama, and Zhongli standing not far away.
"Who are these three?" she asked.
With Klee and Albedo—two familiar faces—present, Eula did not immediately leave after dealing with the monsters, as she usually would.
"This is the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's consultant," Albedo began, gesturing lightly. "The knowledgeable Mr. Zhongli."
In Albedo's view, although Eula's way of speaking was somewhat peculiar, her character was impeccable. Among the Knights of Favonius, there was not a single recruit she had trained who did not respect her.
As the Geurrilla Captain, she had cleared countless monsters from Mondstadt's surroundings and thwarted the Abyss Order's schemes on more than one occasion. Moreover, Eula and Amber were frequent visitors to Dragonspine. They would occasionally come to train—and had even once asked him where suitable places for bathing could be found.
Though Albedo had been puzzled as to why the two of them wished to bathe in Dragonspine, he had still recommended a rare "hot spring" for their use.
"This is Inazuma's legal consultant, Miss Kuki Shinobu."
"And this," Albedo continued, "is the Raiden Shogun's Retainer, Mr. Futsu Mitama."
As the final introduction was spoken, Eula's eyes widened slightly.
She looked toward Futsu Mitama, who stood at a distance with a gentle smile, and spoke with unconcealed disbelief.
"Raiden Shogun's…Retainer?!"
The first two titles were understandable. But the last one—
Was it truly that Raiden Shogun's Retainer?
Such a figure was no ordinary guest. This was the sort of person Acting Grand Master Jean would personally receive.
"Hm."
Seeing Eula's intense reaction, Albedo nodded calmly.
"He is indeed the Raiden Shogun's Retainer. He recently left Inazuma, spent some time in Liyue, and now wishes to visit Mondstadt to experience its scenery."
"To put it simply," he added evenly, "he's here to travel. Nothing more."
To be honest, witnessing Eula's excitement over Futsu Mitama's identity made Albedo feel faintly awkward. After all—
There was also a Rex Lapis in their group.
If Eula were to realize that he was escorting both the Raiden Shogun's Retainer and Rex Lapis to meet the Anemo Archon Barbatos—
He wondered whether he might be mistaken for a traitor to Mondstadt.
"Hm." Futsu Mitama nodded slightly and spoke with gentle courtesy. "Please forgive our sudden visit."
"We are deeply curious about Mondstadt—the City of Freedom, the Land of Wind—and thus came to see it for ourselves. Though I bear the title of Raiden Shogun's Retainer, in truth I am still quite young. Hardly some ancient relic."
Kuki Shinobu nodded in agreement, her tone steady.
"Indeed. Futsu Mitama has served as the Raiden Shogun's Retainer for less than half a year."
"Later, through circumstances that were…somewhat difficult to explain, he became Rex Lapis's successor in Liyue."
"Nevertheless," she added, "he did obtain Rex Lapis's inheritance and appears to have received the Geo Archon's approval."
Hearing this, Klee immediately nodded vigorously.
"That's right, Big Sister Eula!" she said brightly. "Big Brother Futsu Mitama is super amazing!!!"
"This…?!"
Eula was even more shocked. For a moment, she could not tell whether Kuki Shinobu was joking—or whether Klee had been deceived. Receiving the inheritance of two Archons?
That was completely unreasonable. Utterly unreasonable.
Yet despite the turmoil in her heart, Eula still drew a slow breath and composed herself. She performed an old noble salute with impeccable precision, then looked solemnly at Futsu Mitama.
"Welcome, Retainer of Narukami from Inazuma."
"Knights of Favonius Geurrilla Captain, 'Splash Knight' Eula Lawrence," she declared, "extends her greetings."
Her etiquette was flawless. As a descendant of Mondstadt nobility, this was something she had never neglected. And as a Knight of Favonius, regardless of whether Futsu Mitama was truly Rex Lapis's successor, Albedo's words alone were sufficient.
He was undoubtedly the Raiden Shogun's Retainer.
After all, Eula had once overheard a conversation between two Fatui members within Mondstadt City.
They spoke of a young Raiden Shogun's Retainer who had appeared in Inazuma—one who wielded the authority of the Electro Archon to defeat and gravely injure two Fatui Harbingers.
The credibility of that information was extremely high. No one would casually impersonate the Raiden Shogun's Retainer. And Albedo was not someone easily deceived.
"Lawrence?"
At that moment, Kuki Shinobu seemed to recall something.
She looked at Eula with mild surprise.
"You are of Mondstadt nobility? A descendant of the Lawrence family?"
"Oh?"
Eula raised an eyebrow slightly, clearly not expecting an Inazuma legal consultant to know this much.
She nodded, straightened her posture, lifted her chin, and spoke forthrightly.
"Indeed. Lawrence."
"As you can see," she continued coolly, "I am a descendant of sinners. A mole within the Knights of Favonius. And I am currently seeking revenge upon them."
Her words were blunt, leaving no room for ambiguity. Yet—
Neither Futsu Mitama, Zhongli, nor Kuki Shinobu could believe her.
The reason was simple.
She did not resemble someone driven by vengeance in the slightest.
Zhongli and Kuki Shinobu were both seasoned travelers. They understood all too well the bearing of those consumed by hatred.
Eula's tone, posture, and gaze lacked every such mark.
As for Futsu Mitama, he felt something more personal stir within him.
Eula Lawrence.
One of his most frequently used companions in the open world—a rare and formidable physical DPS.
He often paired her with Rosaria, the two once rivaling Mondstadt's famed sister duo, Jean and Barbara, in popularity. Looking at her now, standing resolute beneath the open sky of Mondstadt—
He could not help but feel quietly moved.
"Sister Eula is a good person!"
Klee immediately stated her stance, afraid that Futsu Mitama and the others might misunderstand. She never believed that Sister Eula truly wished to retaliate against the Knights of Favonius—she believed, without doubt, that the other party was a good person.
Albedo glanced at the expressions of Futsu Mitama and the others. Seeing that they were calm and unperturbed, he did not offer further explanation.
Eula's personality was the kind that revealed itself almost at a glance. Even with only brief contact, one could easily tell what sort of person she was.
After introducing herself, Eula looked toward Futsu Mitama and the others and asked, "Are you heading to Mondstadt?"
Futsu Mitama glanced at Zhongli and Albedo. Seeing that neither of them objected, he nodded.
"Yes. We're heading to Mondstadt."
"It's already been two days since we left Liyue," he added evenly. "We'll need to buy a house to stay in temporarily."
When Eula heard this, a trace of strangeness flickered through her eyes.
Buy a house…temporarily? What kind of sentence was that?
Property prices in Mondstadt were reasonable, yes—but for a Raiden Shogun's Retainer to casually speak of purchasing a house here was still unusual.
Moreover, even by carriage, the journey from Liyue to Mondstadt typically took seven or eight days. Yet they had arrived in just two.
It was strange—very strange.
But despite her doubts, Eula chose not to ask further.
"If you're returning to Mondstadt, then it's perfect," she said instead. "My guerrilla mission is complete, and today happens to be the day I return to report."
"If you don't mind," she continued, "we can travel together."
Before Futsu Mitama could reply, Klee exclaimed happily, "Yay!!! Sister Eula is going back to Mondstadt with us!"
Seeing Klee's delighted expression, a faint trace of helplessness surfaced on Eula's face. One Amber already gave her headaches—she hadn't expected Klee to be just as lively.
Futsu Mitama naturally didn't mind. He nodded lightly.
"Then we'll trouble you."
Thus, a group of five became six, crossing the land of Mondstadt together.
Eula knew a shortcut and led them along it.
A journey that should have taken nine hours was shortened to three under her guidance, and before long, the gates of Mondstadt came into view.
Standing on the bridge, Futsu Mitama watched the pigeons take flight, a faint sense of nostalgia and regret surfacing in his heart.
This was the place where he used to farm fowl every day when he had first played Genshin Impact.
Unfortunately, Timmie didn't seem to be around—otherwise, he might have seen how that annoying kid behaved in reality.
"Finally back," Eula said, stretching slightly as she gazed toward the city. "I've been in the wilderness for over ten days. I'll need a proper meal and a wash later."
She paused, then added, "You're planning to meet Acting Grand Master Jean, right? I also need to report to the Knights of Favonius. Shall we go together?"
After three hours of travel and conversation, Eula had grown somewhat familiar with them, and the suggestion came naturally.
"No problem," Futsu Mitama agreed.
Having just arrived in Mondstadt, meeting Acting Grand Master Jean was unavoidable. Moreover, Mondstadt had its share of Fatui. Establishing contact with the Knights of Favonius first would make future matters far easier.
After all, knowing people and knowing no one were two completely different things.
"Mr. Zhongli and I won't be heading to the Knights of Favonius," Albedo spoke up. "We still have some research to conduct."
He and Zhongli planned to investigate certain matters—and to search for traces of Anemo Archon Barbatos.
"I won't be going either," Kuki Shinobu added calmly. "I need to purchase a house and gather intelligence on the Fatui."
This had already been discussed in the group chat. Buying property and information-gathering were precisely Kuki Shinobu's specialties.
Futsu Mitama directly handed her one hundred million mora, leaving everything to her discretion.
"Klee wants to go too!" Klee raised her hand eagerly.
"Alright," Eula nodded.
She wasn't surprised—Albedo had always been dedicated to research, and Kuki Shinobu clearly had her own responsibilities.
Thus, Eula led Klee and Futsu Mitama toward the city gates. The Knights of Favonius guards immediately stood at attention.
"Welcome back. You've worked hard on your mission."
"Mm." Eula acknowledged them with a slight nod.
Klee greeted them enthusiastically, while the guards also saluted Albedo, clearly relieved to see him calm and unharmed after escorting Klee to Liyue.
With that, they entered Mondstadt.
The city bustled with life—singers on the streets, shops lining the roads, people from many nations mingling together. Then—
Futsu Mitama's gaze landed on a Fatui member purchasing goods.
Their eyes met.
The moment the Fatui recognized him, the item slipped from his hands.
His body trembled.
Without a word, he turned and fled.
"Hey! You dropped your stuff!" the shop owner shouted anxiously.
Eula noticed the reaction immediately.
"Do you have a grudge against the Fatui?" she asked, surprised. "They're usually arrogant here—even the Knights struggle to deal with them."
"Some past grievances," Futsu Mitama replied calmly. "In Inazuma and Liyue, I disrupted several of their schemes. I severely injured one and indirectly killed a Harbinger slice—and indirectly injured two others."
The shock flashed unmistakably through Eula's eyes.
Fatui Harbingers were no ordinary foes.
Grand Master Varka himself had once stated that each Harbinger was an exceptional existence.
"And one of them is already in Mondstadt," Futsu Mitama added. "That one likely went to report."
"They probably did," Kuki Shinobu said quietly. "If Tartaglia's intelligence is accurate, La Signora may be next."
"It doesn't matter," Futsu Mitama said evenly.
If La Signora dared to move, he would answer with Musou no Hitotachi—and pose and shout I Will Have Order.
And if that wasn't enough—
He still had Rex Lapis at his side.
"Mm," Eula nodded solemnly. "This is Mondstadt. If they dare act, the Knights of Favonius will not stand by."
"Then I'll trouble you," Futsu Mitama said politely, gazing toward the Anemo Archon Statue. "Let's go. To the Knights of Favonius."
The group soon split into three teams—each with their own task—while Mondstadt's winds continued to blow freely above them.
—
Meanwhile, the Fatui who had dropped the item and fled was now panting heavily, his chest heaving as his heart thundered wildly. Panic gnawed at him.
The reason was simple: he recognized that person—an existence already classified among his peers as an extremely dangerous target.
Raiden Shogun's retainer—Futsu Mitama.
Active for less than half a year, yet the deeds attributed to him were enough to chill even veteran Fatui.
In Inazuma, beneath the might of the Raiden Shogun herself, he had severed Lord Scaramouche's arm and leg, and left Lady La Signora gravely injured.
In Liyue, he fought Lord Tartaglia to a standstill. Even in the wilderness beyond the harbor, together with a disciple of the Adeptus, he had severely wounded one of Il Dottore's slices and indirectly killed him.
That incident alone had alarmed both Rex Lapis and Her Majesty the Tsaritsa. Rumor held that the slice of Il Dottore had already been arranged by the Tsaritsa herself to be imprisoned in Liyue.
In Inazuma, he single-handedly shattered all Fatui plans.
In Liyue, he exposed and halted Il Dottore's schemes, leaving the local operatives unable to advance—and perhaps on the brink of expulsion.
Now, Futsu Mitama had appeared in Mondstadt.
To be honest, the moment he recognized him, fear and unease flooded the Fatui's heart. Thus, he chose flight without hesitation, rushing straight to the Goth Grand Hotel—long since reserved by Lord Il Dottore with mora.
Most Fatui agents operating within Mondstadt resided there.
Including… a Harbinger.
After presenting his identification, he sprinted toward the upper floors.
"Stop."
Two Electro Cicin Mages appeared before him, blocking his path.
"Lady La Signora is resting," one said coldly. "If you have nothing important, do not proceed. If you possess critical intelligence, report it to me. I will relay it once Lady La Signora has finished resting."
They were Lady La Signora's personal guards, entrusted with her daily affairs and charged with preventing any disturbance.
In Snezhnaya, the Harbingers stood second only to the Tsaritsa herself.
As such, they would not allow trivial matters—or trivial people—to interrupt Lady La Signora's rest.
"I–I have extremely urgent intelligence!" The Fatui swallowed hard.
He could clearly sense the oppressive auras before him. Unlike himself, a mere handler of odd jobs and intelligence errands, these two could kill him instantly if they wished.
"What intelligence?"
The Electro Cicin Mage's tone remained calm. "Speak. I will decide whether it merits Lady La Signora's attention."
Clearly, she had no intention of letting him approach.
Lady La Signora was dining and resting—an interval during which even her guards dared not disturb her unless the matter demanded a Harbinger's direct action.
"Futsu Mitama!"
The Fatui blurted it out.
"Raiden Shogun's retainer—Futsu Mitama—has entered Mondstadt!"
His voice trembled as he continued, "His appearance matches the intelligence exactly. There's no mistake. He's accompanied by that woman dressed like a ninja."
"The maid who usually follows him isn't present—she's likely still in Liyue. Didn't she become an Adeptus Disciple? It's highly probable she remained there."
"But Futsu Mitama himself is here. In Mondstadt!"
Seeing his urgency, the Electro Cicin Mage raised her hand.
"Enough. This intelligence is significant. I will report it immediately."
With that, she vanished in a flash of lightning, teleporting directly to Lady La Signora's chambers.
The remaining Electro Cicin Mage stood in silence.
She already knew—once Lady La Signora learned of this, she would not remain seated.
Ever since the incident in Inazuma—since she had been struck down by the Raiden Shogun herself—Lady La Signora's hatred toward Futsu Mitama had reached its peak.
She had once sworn:
If she ever encountered him again, she would kill him without hesitation.
Even if, once… she had admired him. The humiliation inflicted by Futsu Mitama was one that could only be washed away in blood.
Soon, a wave of chilling air descended from above.
The Electro Cicin Mage reappeared and stepped aside. The other followed suit, not daring to obstruct the path.
"Da. Da. Da."
Crisp high heel footsteps echoed down the stairs.
Lady La Signora emerged—tall, graceful, her presence radiating icy fury.
She looked down upon the kneeling Fatui and spoke coldly:
"Futsu Mitama. Where is he?"
Though less than a month had passed since their last encounter, that day was etched clearly into her memory.
She had been suppressed, beaten, humiliated—by Futsu Mitama, by Aila, by Kuki Shinobu.
And when she was on the verge of eruption—
The Raiden Shogun descended.
That puppet.
That accursed puppet.
How dare she strike her so grievously.
Even now, the wounds left by the Shogun's puppet had not fully healed.
The scars themselves mattered little.
What truly enraged her were the mocking gazes of Il Dottore's slice and Scaramouche.
Enemies she could neither defeat nor afford to offend.
Thus, her hatred concentrated—sharp and merciless—upon Futsu Mitama alone. If she could not vent her rage upon gods or monsters—
Then she would carve it into him.
"He went to the Knights of Favonius Headquarters," the Fatui replied, voice trembling yet strangely exhilarated. "Accompanied by a Knight."
Excitement welled within him.
Because the more terrifying Lady La Signora became, the more certain he was that Futsu Mitama would be crushed.
The Harbingers were the backbone of Fatui confidence.
"Very good." Lady La Signora nodded faintly. "You have earned merit."
Her gaze shifted toward the direction of the Knights' headquarters.
"Futsu Mitama… It has been far too long. Let me see how much you've grown."
With that, she turned and descended the stairs, her intent unmistakable.
The two Electro Cicin Mages followed closely behind.
—
Meanwhile, within the Knights of Favonius Headquarters.
Eula strode in, greatsword at her back, leading Futsu Mitama and Klee straight into the Acting Grand Master's office.
"Hmm? Eula?"
Jean looked up from the towering stack of documents, forcing a weary smile.
Then she froze. Klee aside—
The man beside her. Jean's gaze lingered on Futsu Mitama.
A faint rumble echoed in her senses, like distant thunder.
Not ordinary.
Extremely dangerous.
And yet—
No Vision sighted.
"Acting Grand Master Jean!" Klee leapt forward enthusiastically. "I'm back from Liyue! The Rite of Descension had so many yummy foods! And Brother Albedo said this one was different! Adeptus even appeared!"
"And I met a big sister named Hu Tao! She's super kind, like a saint—though she said I shouldn't call her that…"
Klee's words spilled out endlessly.
Jean listened patiently, smiling as she stroked Klee's head once she finished. Then her attention returned to Futsu Mitama.
"May I ask… who you are?"
"My name is Futsu Mitama," he replied solemnly. "Raiden Shogun's retainer."
"As for proof…I believe you have already sensed it."
Jean nodded slowly. She rose, set Klee gently down, and approached him.
"Then, may I ask your purpose in coming to Mondstadt?"
"A letter."
Futsu Mitama produced it.
"From Ningguang of the Liyue Qixing."
Jean's eyes flickered with surprise as she opened it. While she read, Eula stepped closer.
"You know the Liyue Qixing?"
"Yes. I assisted them in Liyue."
"I'll remember this grudge," Eula said seriously.
Jean soon finished reading, her expression softening.
"So many things…I truly didn't expect this. And on behalf of Mondstadt—thank you. Il Dottore finally paid a price."
"A small matter," Futsu Mitama replied evenly. "I also bear a grudge."
He paused.
"I came simply to see Mondstadt's scenery…perhaps attend a festival."
Jean sighed gently.
"I'm afraid recent crises leave us little room for celebration. The Dragon Crisis, the Abyss Order… and the Fatui."
"What about the Fatui?"
A cold voice interrupted.
Footsteps echoed.
The door opened.
Lady La Signora entered.
"Acting Grand Master," she said icily, "mind your words."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
For anyone interested, or just want to support me. Hit the membership button to my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ModerateCitizens