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"Rewards and bonuses!!"
The moment those two words came out, Paimon's eyes practically turned into Mora signs.
She floated in a circle, counting on her fingers like she was auditing debts. "Speaking of which… Kaeya and Amber still owe us Honey Roast!"
Kaito didn't even hesitate. "Kaeya's hurt pretty badly. Don't expect him to treat you anytime soon."
Then he added, calmly but firmly, "Go collect from Amber first."
Paimon brightened—then immediately frowned like she'd discovered a flaw in her plan.
"But… Amber doesn't have much money, right?"
Kaito glanced at her. "Exactly. Don't fleece her too hard."
Knights still underage didn't receive proper pay, and Amber wasn't exactly living off a noble allowance. Saving Mora for her wasn't easy.
Paimon's cheeks puffed out. After a moment of intense internal struggle, she sighed in dramatic sacrifice.
"Fine! Then I'll only order one!"
Kaito felt a cold sweat form for some reason.
If Amber's wallet could speak, it would probably be thanking him for saving its life.
After lunch, Kaito wiped his hands, wrote down the recipe for Three-Bird Matsutake Soup, and handed it to Sara.
Then he wrote a letter of his own and tapped the envelope lightly.
"I'm going to the Adventurers' Guild to mail this," he said. "After I'm back, we'll go to the Knights' headquarters together."
Paimon perked up. "The place with that Adventurer artifact set?"
"Yeah," Kaito replied.
"I wanna see too," Lumine said, standing up and—without hesitation—picking up Paimon, whose stomach was still round from eating.
Paimon didn't resist. She looked like she was one step away from falling asleep midair.
Kaito led them down from the Fountain Plaza steps toward the main street.
The Adventurers' Guild was a major organization in every nation of Teyvat.
A lot of legendary adventurers, after living their lives and finishing their stories, would return to the Guild and leave behind generous "thank-you gifts"—treasures, rare materials, journals, maps, and even information networks.
Over time, those gifts became a terrifying foundation.
In Mondstadt, the Guild had bought an entire adventurer hall right across from the city gate, and they even had a counter set up outside for easy access.
Deeper inside the city—facing the direction of Springvale—they had an office building used for internal administration.
Kaito headed straight for the counter.
From far away, the receptionist waved enthusiastically.
"Kaito! And the Traveler!"
It was Katheryne.
Kaito raised an eyebrow. "What is it? Don't tell me you've got a commission for me."
"No, no!" Katheryne waved both hands quickly, almost flustered. "My real target today is… her."
She leaned forward and looked straight at Lumine.
"The Traveler who helped drive off Stormterror."
Lumine blinked. "Me?"
"Yes." Katheryne's tone became extremely serious, like she was delivering a judgment. "I observed you multiple times this morning."
"I can see it clearly—"
"In you, I see the potential of a legendary adventurer."
Paimon immediately clambered onto the counter like it was her personal stage.
"Woooow! Then what about me? What about me?!"
Katheryne hesitated for a heartbeat, then said carefully, "You… might be the legendary adventurer's… partner?"
Paimon froze.
Then she nodded proudly like that was the most prestigious title in the world.
Lumine, however, looked more suspicious than flattered.
"You can tell all that just by looking?"
"Of course," Katheryne replied without a trace of doubt. "I'm very confident in my judgment."
Then she reached under the counter and placed an item down with a neat, professional motion.
An Adventurer's Handbook.
Katheryne pushed it forward slightly.
"Congratulations," she said. "You've joined the Adventurers' Guild."
Lumine stared at the handbook like it was a trap.
She opened it.
On the very first page, the name written neatly was—
Lumine.
The speed was terrifying.
Too terrifying.
"…Huh?" Lumine's brain visibly stalled. "Wait—when did I agree to that?"
She grabbed Kaito's sleeve, eyes widening. Her face went pale in a way that didn't match "surprised" so much as "genuinely alarmed."
"Kaito… did my memory get deleted?"
"I don't remember her asking me if I wanted to join!"
Kaito paused.
Then flicked her forehead.
"You didn't forget," he said. "She just never asked."
"Ow…" Lumine covered her forehead. Somehow, that answer made her feel safer.
Katheryne's smile looked a tiny bit stiff.
Paimon gasped, suddenly enlightened.
"So it's that kind of trick?!"
Kaito nodded. "It's the classic 'membership-card' routine."
He spoke with the calm certainty of a man who had seen too many sales tactics in his life.
"First, you praise the customer until their brain overheats and they can't think straight."
"Then you state the 'result' as if it's already happened."
"And by the time they realize something's off… they're already halfway home holding the card."
Paimon looked like her worldview had shattered.
"Why is that so evil?!"
Katheryne's face turned red. "Kaito, please—it's not that bad…"
But she couldn't deny it. The method was… familiar.
Receptionists did have "numbers" to hit.
Still, the Adventurers' Guild wasn't supposed to sound like a street stall selling memberships.
Katheryne coughed lightly, trying to regain dignity.
"Miss Lumine, don't worry. Joining the Adventurers' Guild costs nothing."
"No membership fees. No forced obligations."
"You only gain benefits: you can meet companions, form teams, accept commissions for rewards, or even submit requests for other adventurers to help you."
Lumine didn't trust her. Not even a little.
She turned to Kaito.
Kaito nodded once. "She's telling the truth on that part."
"The Guild is basically an organized support network for adventurers across the Seven Nations."
"If you're traveling, it's useful."
He tapped the handbook with one finger. "Keep it."
"…Okay." Lumine finally accepted it, though she still looked like she'd been forcibly "adopted" by an organization.
Katheryne exhaled quietly, like she'd just secured a major win.
And to be fair—recruiting the Traveler who fought off Stormterror wasn't just "a number."
It was a trophy.
Only then did Kaito slide his own envelope forward.
"I need this delivered," he said.
"Send it to the Adventurers' Guild in Inazuma City, addressed to Fischl."
"Use the Guild's route."
He looked Katheryne straight in the eye.
"How much is the fee?"
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