Whether they would accept the title of Honorary Knight was ultimately up to Jiang Chen.
His first question was blunt:
"Is there a salary?"
Lisa blinked.
She didn't expect that to be his concern.
But Jiang Chen had immediately seen through her real motive.
Lumine's eyes lit up.
Jiang Chen… was planning to take Mond for monthly income?
That actually sounded pretty nice.
"There is~," Lisa said with a charming smile. "So? Interested?"
She hadn't expected him to consider salary first, but paying two people wasn't difficult for the Knights.
Jiang Chen shook his head.
"Not me.
Let Lumine join instead.
She'll have to interact with Mondstadt while she searches for her brother anyway.
Being an Honorary Knight would help."
Lumine froze.
Huh??
What kind of operation was this?
Why was she being signed up instead?
"You're not joining?"
This suddenly smelled suspicious—
like Jiang Chen was tricking her.
"I'm not joining," Jiang Chen said calmly.
"I've always lived freely.
If I become an Honorary Knight, Mondstadt will expect me to help every time something goes wrong.
Salary isn't free—it comes with obligations.
So… better you than me, Lumine."
"???"
Lumine was speechless.
This sounded like a hole she was being pushed into.
And then—
"Lumine!! Let's become Honorary Knights!! There's a salary every month!!"
Paimon's "divine mouth" activated instantly, sealing the deal before Lumine could resist.
Lisa followed up sweetly:
"If it's Miss Lumine, of course it's fine.
The monthly salary is fifty thousand Mora.
Even if you do nothing, you can still collect it."
"Really!?" Paimon's eyes sparkled.
"Then Lumine and I join!!
Jiang Chen, you should join too—fifty thousand Mora every month!
Think of how much food that is!"
Both Jiang Chen and Lumine rolled their eyes at her.
"I'll pass," Jiang Chen said.
"If you need my help later, just pay me directly.
As long as there's Mora, I don't mind stepping in.
But Honorary Knight? No thanks."
Lumine considered it seriously.
Jiang Chen's reasoning actually made sense.
She would inevitably work with the Knights while searching for Aether.
Having a formal identity might be useful.
So she nodded.
"Then I'll join."
Lisa smiled in satisfaction—one accomplished.
But her gaze returned to Jiang Chen.
"Handsome boy~ are you truly not tempted?
The Knights have lovely Amber, beautiful Jean, and even me~
Are you sure your heart won't waver?"
She leaned forward just slightly, voice dripping with charm.
Jiang Chen didn't even blink.
"Nope. I'm good."
Honorary Knight?
He'd rather go to Liyue and be invited as a consultant to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor!
Liyue had Keqing, Ningguang, Yelan, Hu Tao, Shenhe, Ganyu, Qiqi…
Even Cloud Retainer.
Compared to that lineup, Mondstadt couldn't compete.
He chose Liyue.
Seeing his firm gaze, Lisa sighed regretfully.
"Well, that's a shame."
Jean too felt it was unfortunate, but she didn't push further.
Insisting would only annoy him.
After a short pause, Jean withdrew a check from her Vision's storage space.
"Even if you refuse the position, please accept this token of gratitude."
She placed it before him.
Jiang Chen and Lumine's eyes instantly widened.
Ten.
Million.
Mora.
Jiang Chen didn't even pretend to decline.
"Ah, how polite of you."
He casually swept the check into his hand.
Lisa's eyes curved with amusement.
A little money-lover, hm?
Good—
that made him easier to hire later.
Lumine was thrilled as well.
Money!
Finally!
Paimon practically stuck her face to the check.
"Whoaaa—how many zeroes is that!?
Think how much food that buys!!"
Jean couldn't help smiling at the tiny mascot's reaction.
Ten million Mora wasn't much to the Knights—
but to normal people, it was a fortune earned over a lifetime.
Jiang Chen tucked the check away, already planning to convert it at the Northland Bank later.
With this, he didn't have to worry about money for a while.
He could even buy a house in Liyue when they arrived.
Perfect plan.
If Jean knew this was how he intended to use her generous gift, she might actually regret giving it.
Then Jiang Chen added casually:
"If you're searching for the Anemo Archon, I suggest finding someone named Venti."
Lumine and Paimon both froze.
Didn't he promise not to expose Barbatos??
Jean and Lisa blinked.
"Venti?"
"Does he know the Archon's whereabouts?"
Jean immediately sat a bit straighter.
"Yeah," Jiang Chen said without missing a beat.
"He does.
When we first saw him, he was with Dvalin."
Not wrong.
Exactly what they saw.
And Jiang Chen said "Venti," not "Barbatos."
Totally not breaking the promise~
"I understand," Jean said gratefully.
"We'll look for this person right away."
She didn't know she was about to chase a drunk bard.
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