"Yes!"
Hearing Jean's order, the knight was stunned.
He didn't understand why the Grand Master suddenly wanted information on an adventurer.
And it was Kael.
He knew this genius too.
He had even chatted with friends about when Kael would join the Knights of Favonius.
Did he catch Grand Master Jean's eye?
That shouldn't be it.
Jean had looked into Kael before, and the Knights had invited him, but he didn't accept.
Is she going to invite him again?
Although confused, he immediately took the order and left to notify his teammates.
Seeing this.
Jean withdrew her gaze.
Looking at Albedo, she continued, "So, your speculation is that he has a relationship with the Abyss Order?"
Albedo didn't answer directly. Instead, he looked at the deep night outside the window and said thoughtfully, "I can't be sure yet..."
"But from the current evidence, he is definitely not as simple as he looks on the surface."
"And... since this power of destruction is really related to him, then Jean, do you think... is it possible he is related to the death of the Fatui elites last night?"
Hearing this, Jean's face changed drastically. Her pupils contracted violently, and her heart shook.
She instinctively wanted to refute it, but the scene of her investigation last night flashed rapidly in her mind.
The Fatui elites were thoroughly slaughtered, with almost no survivors.
She had carefully analyzed the wounds left at the scene—
They didn't look like an explosion of elemental ability, nor a large-scale magic bombardment, but an extremely "sharp" attack method.
Like...
Swordsmanship!
Thinking of this, a complex emotion instantly surged in Jean's heart.
If Kael is really related to the attack on the Fatui...
Then what is his goal?
Why would he suddenly attack Fatui elites for no reason?
It makes no sense.
Is this adventurer a friend or a foe?
And what is his purpose?
Jean took a deep breath, reorganized her thoughts, and her eyes gradually calmed down.
She sat down slowly, looking at Albedo, and said deeply, "Then let's analyze it again after the information is delivered... Regardless, we can no longer ignore this person, Kael."
Albedo nodded gently, his eyes flickering like stars. "But collecting information will take until tomorrow at least. I'll come back tomorrow noon. I need to research the aura on the Whopperflower corpse properly and analyze it."
"The destruction aura left by the bomb before couldn't be researched, but on a dead object like the Whopperflower corpse, it's perfect for study."
"En. Sorry for the trouble."
Hearing Albedo's words, Jean nodded.
Then Albedo left.
Jean looked at Kael's information and fell into deep thought.
The night passed without words.
The next day.
Morning in Mondstadt ushered in a new day.
The sky brightened slightly, and warm sunlight spilled onto the slate-paved streets of the city.
Merchants on the street had already started bustling.
The air was filled with the aroma of fresh bread and roasted meat.
Patrols of the Knights of Favonius shuttled through the crowd in an orderly manner, ensuring order in the city.
And in front of the Adventurers' Guild, many adventurers had already gathered, ready to accept today's tasks.
A lively scene.
Kael walked slowly on the street, heading toward the Adventurers' Guild.
Compared to other adventurers, his steps seemed exceptionally relaxed.
There was no sense of tension, but rather a trace of leisure.
Yesterday's harvest was bountiful, and today he planned to continue accepting a few gathering tasks.
And see if there were any new targets.
However, when he stepped onto the stairs in front of the Adventurers' Guild...
A familiar small red figure immediately came into his view.
"Big Brother Kael!"
A milky voice rang out.
Kael froze slightly, stopped, and his gaze fell on the bouncing red figure.
It was Klee.
She was still wearing that iconic red hooded cloak.
Her back was bulging, looking like she could pull out a pile of bombs at any time.
Her small face was written with expectation, and her amber eyes sparkled.
As if seeing Kael could make her carefree.
"You came this early?"
Kael couldn't help asking in surprise.
"Hehe! Klee woke up very early today!"
Klee raised her head, looking triumphant.
"..." Kael looked at her bulging backpack and vaguely guessed something.
Did this little guy make bombs all night without sleeping?
The energy of a Vision holder is indeed far higher than ordinary people.
However, before Kael could think further, Klee's expression suddenly changed subtly.
Her originally bright eyes flickered.
Then a trace of uneasiness appeared on her small face. Her fingers rubbed back and forth on the hem of her clothes, seemingly hesitating.
Then, she looked up cautiously, her voice carrying a trace of apprehension. "Umm... Big Brother Kael... I'm sorry."
"?"
Kael was stunned, raising an eyebrow.
Did Klee do something that requires an apology to me?
"What's wrong?"
Kael looked at her doubtfully.
Klee's fingers twisted together. She kicked the ground nervously, her face showing annoyance and guilt.
"Big Brother Albedo... he asked me about Big Brother Kael yesterday..."
Speaking of this, Klee stole a glance at Kael, her voice becoming smaller, carrying a bit of guilt:
"I just... I just... told him about Big Brother Kael making Klee's bombs stronger..."
"..."
Hearing this, Kael froze.
Then he laughed dumbly.
So it was this.
He thought something important had happened.
It turned out Albedo just got some information from Klee.
This wasn't an accident at all.
Kael had long expected that Albedo would know sooner or later; it was just a matter of time.
Moreover, he didn't intend to hide it specifically.
After all, his activities in Mondstadt were too frequent.
Successive days of large-scale resource gathering, hunting Whopperflowers, enhancing bombs...
These things couldn't be hidden.
Rather than hiding, it was better to admit it openly.
But speaking of which, Albedo looked for Klee last night.
Could it be that... Svarog is Albedo?
Thinking of this, Kael's expression became a bit strange.
It seems... not impossible?
He couldn't understand Bennett being Sampo.
But Albedo being Svarog... he seemed to understand a little.
He pondered for a moment.
In the next second, Kael snapped back.
Looking at Klee, whose face was full of guilt, Kael chuckled, reached out to rub her soft golden hair, and said in a relaxed tone, "It's okay. I didn't ask you to keep it a secret."
"Eh?"
Klee froze, looked up, surprise and disbelief in her eyes.
"This was bound to happen sooner or later. It's normal for Albedo to know."
Kael shrugged, his tone casual. "Anyway, it's not some shameful secret."
"Really... it's okay?" Klee asked tentatively.
"Of course."
Kael nodded.
Klee breathed a sigh of relief instantly.
Then, a brilliant smile appeared on her face again.
She bounced in place, waved happily, the uneasiness on her face swept away, replaced by familiar vitality:
"That's great! Big Brother Kael isn't angry!"
"How did you think I would be angry..."
Kael couldn't help but laugh.
Klee giggled, completely unaware.
"Since it's okay... then Big Brother Kael, where are we going today?" Klee asked excitedly.
Kael smiled gently and thought for a moment.
"Today, same as before. Let's go to the Whispering Woods to gather resources."
Since he had returned with a full load for two consecutive days, today's goal wouldn't change.
He could earn Mora and also see what treasures the Bio-wave Probe could dig up.
This efficiency was simply higher than being a pure adventure explorer.
Hearing this, Klee patted her backpack happily. "Then Klee prepared lots of bombs today too! I can help Big Brother Kael blast open the soil layer!"
Kael: "..."
He always felt that today's "gathering" might turn into "bombing" again.
"Today we'll search inside the forest, not outside."
"Oh, oh, oh!"
Hearing Kael's words, Klee waved her small fist excitedly.
At this time, a familiar chuunibyou tone rang out in the air—
"The guidance of fate has descended! Wanderers of the Immernachtreich, thy journey shall unfold once more!"
Kael's mouth twitched.
No need to look back; he knew who was coming.
Fischl.
Immediately, the three set off under the gazes of the adventurers.
Noon the next day.
Knights of Favonius Headquarters.
Grand Master Jean's Office.
Sunlight spilled through the glass onto the spacious and tidy desk, casting a layer of pale golden light.
Jean sat behind the desk, flipping through a thick file, her brows slightly furrowed, her eyes full of scrutiny and doubt.
Steady footsteps approached, and the office door was knocked gently.
"Come in."
Jean put away her thoughts and spoke steadily.
The door was pushed open, and a familiar figure stepped into the room.
It was Albedo.
Still calm and unhurried.
His golden eyes shone with the light of reason, as if analyzing and thinking at all times.
"Jean, how is the information collection?"
Albedo walked to the desk, nodded slightly, and his gaze fell on the file in her hand.
Jean didn't answer immediately. Instead, she sighed softly, handed the file to Albedo, and said with a trace of solemnity, "After reading it, you should be able to understand my current confusion."
Albedo took the file and looked down to read it carefully.
As time passed, a look of deep thought gradually appeared between his brows.
According to the information collected and investigated by the Knights of Favonius.
Kael grew up in Mondstadt and was a very ordinary "Mondstadter."
He was intelligent as a child, had strong learning ability, and showed extremely high talent in swordsmanship.
He was even once favored by the Lawrence Clan, who tried to recruit him as a son-in-law.
But he ultimately didn't agree, choosing instead to walk the path of an independent adventurer.
Mondstadt's swordsmanship inheritance mostly came from nobles. Civilian genius swordsmen were rare, and Kael was one of the very few exceptions.
But even so, in most of the information, there was no record of supernatural abilities.
The only talent Kael showed was swordsmanship.
However, the information did show...
Kael had been invited by the Fatui many times, but he refused them all.
This meant he was not cooperating with the Fatui.
At least on the surface, he had always maintained a consistent stance with Mondstadt.
This made Albedo narrow his eyes slightly.
An ordinary adventurer, grew up in Mondstadt, high swordsmanship talent, wooed by noble families, recruited by the Fatui.
An ordinary person would have agreed long ago.
But he refused them all?
This is simply...
Too "clean".
But in the next second, Albedo saw the following information, and his pupils contracted sharply.
Noticing the change in Albedo's face, Jean tapped the table gently and said solemnly, "This is where the problem lies."
Albedo fell silent.
In just a few days, Kael's operational harvest was abnormal.
On the first day, he harvested tens of thousands of Mora at the Adventurers' Guild.
On the second day, he went to the Whispering Woods with Fischl and harvested four sacks of resources, worth 600,000 Mora.
On the third day, taking Fischl and Klee out, he harvested six huge sacks of resources.
And hunted a complete Cryo Whopperflower corpse and brought it back.
All of this appeared recently.
Looking at the silent Albedo, Jean also frowned deeply, flipping through the information, and said in a deep voice, "Previously, he did not show the ability to acquire resources efficiently."
"Even in his past records, his resource gathering efficiency was very average."
"However, in these few days, his actions suddenly seem like resources are automatically falling in front of him."
Hearing Jean's words, Albedo gently closed the file and said thoughtfully, "This shows that he likely mastered some special ability, or acquired it?"
Speaking of this, Albedo paused and continued, "I can understand his high swordsmanship talent allowing him to kill monsters, but the question is—how can he accurately find these resources?"
Hearing this, Jean nodded slightly, a flash of calm thinking in her eyes.
"So, I have three possible speculations now."
She spoke slowly, her fingertips tapping the desktop lightly.
"First possibility: Kael possesses some kind of Treasure Hunting Talent, or some special ability that allows him to accurately find the location of various resources."
"Second possibility: Behind Kael, there is a powerful faction we haven't discovered yet. They are supporting him in the dark, providing him with resources, information, and even power."
"Third possibility: Kael found a Domain, and it's a renewable resource Domain. There are many wild Domains. Lucky adventurers encounter them, go in, and get rich completely."
Hearing Jean's words, Albedo looked up gently, staring at Jean, and pondered. "But the problem now is, we have found no trace of him contacting any faction so far."
This was the most confusing part.
If Kael was really cooperating with some mysterious force.
Then logically speaking, the Knights of Favonius, the Fatui, and even various factions in Mondstadt should have noticed something.
But the problem was, there was no intelligence showing Kael had negotiated with these forces.
In other words.
Kael seemed to be a completely independent individual, yet he possessed abilities beyond ordinary adventurers.
This was too unusual.
"Yeah."
Hearing this, Jean sighed softly, holding her forehead. "To be honest, I originally thought he was just an ordinary adventurer... But now, I increasingly feel that he is not as simple as he looks on the surface."
She recalled Kaeya going to Starfall Lake to investigate.
The explosion traces Kaeya found still carried that destructive aura, which forced her to generate a new question:
"Is the death of the Fatui elites really unrelated to Kael?"
She had been to the scene. The wounds looked like sharp cuts caused by swordsmanship.
But at the same time, there was an unusual aura.
If Kael really has some special power, could he have done this?
Thinking of this, Jean and Albedo looked at each other, both seeing a trace of deep meaning in the other's eyes.
Albedo sighed softly, closed the file, and shook his head slightly. "It seems we need to understand him more deeply."
Jean nodded. "There is one last possibility..."