Thinking about her ordeal, Mona felt deeply saddened.
She wasn't short on money, but… this money wasn't being spent the right way!
Yet, there wasn't much Mona could do about it.
After all, the autonomous construct had saved her. At this point, dwelling on it was meaningless.
What puzzled her even more, though, were the changes in Fontaine.
She turned her gaze to the autonomous construct.
This thing clearly possessed considerable intelligence.
"What exactly has happened in Fontaine during this time?"
Mona tried asking it.
"Madam, it seems you are unaware of the changes in Fontaine. May I ask if you are familiar with the Card Shop?" The synthesized voice of the autonomous construct sounded steady.
Mona searched her memory briefly before shaking her head. "What's the Card Shop?"
"It appears you have yet to encounter this information." The autonomous construct nodded almost humanely.
Then, as if reciting a grand introduction, it announced loudly, "Allow me to introduce the owner of the Card Shop, the architect of Fontaine's new era, the noble and esteemed guest from afar, the honored guest of the Court of Fontaine, the great and generous traveler—Mr. Lu Heng!"
Huh?
That long string of titles.
Mona had to admit, she was taken aback.
"Now, I shall explain the concept of cards to you…"
Ten minutes later.
Mona watched as the autonomous construct strode away.
Her eyes were filled with nothing but bewilderment.
Cards?
Power beyond this world?
Honestly, Mona couldn't quite grasp it.
Was this still Teyvat?
But such an unbelievable thing had happened in Teyvat!
Mona's head spun.
This time, it wasn't from hunger—it was from sheer shock.
Driven by instinct, she eventually found herself at the Steambird Press.
Editor-in-Chief Euphrasie, of course, wasn't standing at the entrance like some NPC but was seated in her office.
Mona entered the press.
Many people were busy working on something called a "computer," processing information.
Everyone seemed occupied.
"Hello, who are you looking for?"
"Editor-in-Chief Euphrasie."
Soon, she met with Euphrasie.
Then, Euphrasie explained many things to her in a way that made sense.
Incredible things had happened in Fontaine!
"Ms. Mona, I think you might want to reconsider spending your Mora on astrological instruments," Euphrasie said seriously.
What was the point of buying instruments for astrology now?
Wouldn't it be better to visit the Card Shop?
What if she obtained divination techniques from another world? Wouldn't that be far more powerful than any astrological instrument?!
After hearing this, Mona understood the logic.
She suddenly felt a pang of regret.
Are you telling me all those expensive astrological instruments I bought are now useless?!
For colleagues who had already accessed the cards… these were just scraps of metal?!
Mona then thought of the exorbitantly priced industry-related books she'd purchased.
They came from various nations, and their prices varied—some were outrageously expensive, costing hundreds of thousands for rare editions!
Mona silently calculated.
She had just received her payment from Euphrasie for the previous issue's manuscript. Due to her strong skills and reputation, she earned over 300,000 Mora.
After deducting 20,000 Mora for the multi-purpose急救剂, she had 280,000 left.
Then she thought of all her assets.
Their combined value had once been over a hundred million!
That's right!
Research was that expensive!
She could eat simple meals, but her research instruments had to be top-tier!
And now?
Those hundred-million-Mora assets might not even be worth a few million after depreciation?
A few million was just Mona comforting herself.
This was devastating!
Her world had collapsed!
"Ms. Mona, don't be too upset."
"At least their value to you hasn't diminished. They can still be used for astrological research, right?" Euphrasie's words, meant to console, only made things worse.
Research?
Wouldn't researching astrology from another world be far more appealing?
Even if I don't draw the right cards, someone else might. If they're interested, we could collaborate. If not, I could just buy them!
As for those piles of scrap metal and worn-out books… sorry, we're not acquainted!
"Editor-in-Chief Euphrasie, I… I should go." Mona seemed to have lost all her strength.
"Ms. Mona, don't rush off. It's almost noon—let me treat you to lunch." Euphrasie smiled. "We can also discuss the Steambird Press's website development, setting up your social media account to publish your theses and research findings, and so on."
"Ah… alright."
Mona didn't understand these new terms at all.
But they sounded impressive!
And she was also deeply curious about the man who had brought about all these changes—Mr. Lu.
She instinctively wanted to use astrology to peek into his affairs but suddenly shuddered.
Better not be so rude.
"Boss Lu, what's wrong?"
Seeing Lu Heng pause, Tartaglia was puzzled.
Just now, the cyber divination system, now stably connected to the world, had alerted Lu Heng.
Someone had tried to use astrology to divine information about him.
Thinking of astrology, Lu Heng immediately thought of Mona.
A quick glance confirmed it was indeed her.
But before Lu Heng could react, Mona gave up on her own.
"It's nothing."
Lu Heng shook his head and said, "Stormterror's Lair is just ahead. What's the plan? It's almost mealtime."
"He… has been tormented by the Abyss's poison for years and forgotten by Mondstadt. He probably hates me now, doesn't he?" Venti's expression was complicated.
The aura of the Anemo Archon emanated from him.
The towering spire was hidden in rolling dark clouds.
The howling wind carried resentment and sorrow.
Dvalin crouched atop the spire.
Several chains were attached to the violet-red crystals on his back.
Dvalin's breathing was heavy.
His mind was in chaos.
A few Abyss Mages around him continuously chanted curses from the Abyss.
Suddenly!
Dvalin slowly opened his eyes.
An overwhelming rage filled his chest.
He let out a furious roar.
His eyes burned with bloodlust.
With a sudden movement, he shattered the chains!
As he thrashed, his terrifying power crushed the Abyss Mages instantly!
In mere moments.
From within the dark clouds came a furious, mournful roar.
The winds howled in reverse.
A massive azure creature emerged from the clouds.
"Barbatos—!"
Dvalin roared in fury.
"Old friend, Tartaglia, please lend a hand!" Venti took a deep breath.
He wanted to explain things to Dvalin, but the dragon's remaining rationality was clearly minimal.
Healing him came first!
"Understood!"
Zhongli and Tartaglia nodded simultaneously.
In an instant, the two moved.
Mid-air, before Dvalin could react.
An overwhelming force!
From both sides, they pinned Dvalin down and slammed him into the ground.
BOOM!
Dust billowed.
Zhongli stood on one side of Dvalin, pressing down on the joints of his wings.
Though it wasn't a critical spot, the sheer force made it impossible for Dvalin to move.
Tartaglia stood on the other side, clad in the armor of the Uncrowned King.
His dragon-piercing spear pressed against Dvalin's neck.
"Barbatos…"
Dvalin struggled.
But it was futile.
"Did you bring them… to hunt me down?"
Dvalin's voice was accusatory, as if he already had his answer.
Tears of blood streamed from his eyes, filled with boundless despair.
Sensing Dvalin's power, Tartaglia had an idea.
Dispelling his armor, he kept the spear pressed against Dvalin's neck and smirked. "Hey, stop crying already. We're here to save you. Cooperate, will you? We've got a meal waiting."
What kind of talk was that?
You're telling me you pinned me down without a word… to save me?
Venti looked at Klee with hope. "Klee, it's up to you now."
"Mm-hmm!"
Klee had already given her portable magic projectile launcher a catchy name:
The Boom-Boom Launcher!
Setting it up, Venti, eager to save Dvalin, didn't wait for the magic circle to absorb elemental energy passively. Instead, he actively released divine power.
The gentle divine energy was absorbed by the magic circle, then circulated through its patterns, gradually forming an explosive magic projectile.
Its absurdity lay in its ability to compress energy on its own, creating an effect akin to artillery shells!
"Boom-boom! Fire!"
BOOM!
A fiery magic projectile shot toward Dvalin.
Was this execution?
At the moment of death, humans recall their lives.
Apparently, dragons did too.
Dvalin's heart ached with sorrow.
Dvalin remembered the past.
Once, the Storm Dragon was carefree.
Until one day, he heard the melody played by the God of Wind.
Enchanted, Dvalin became friends with the Anemo Archon.
The god taught him the meaning of freedom.
The dragon willingly followed him, protecting the tiny humans below.
Year after year.
The Anemo Archon was often hard to find.
Understandable—he cherished his freedom. Perhaps he was off enjoying it somewhere.
Or perhaps, as he once said, he couldn't bear to see Mondstadt's souls drifting in foreign lands. He would bring them back, letting the wind write the final chapter of their lives.
Though their time together was scarce, every moment spent with him, listening to his melodies, filled Dvalin with joy.
The dragon thought such days would last forever.
But then.
A sudden war shattered everything.
Dvalin heeded the Anemo Archon's call to protect Mondstadt.
But the god himself vanished.
A wicked dragon swept across the land, bringing with it a deadly poison!
Dvalin would never allow it to ravage his home.
He fought, staining himself with blood.
In the battle, he accidentally swallowed the dragon's tainted blood.
The Anemo Archon finally returned at the last moment.
But the gravely wounded Dvalin needed to rest.
The poison began to corrupt him.
Pure Anemo grew tainted.
A free spirit was slowly caged.
Abyssal creatures whispered to him, tempting him.
The humans he once protected gradually forgot him.
The swallowed poison, the whispers of the Abyss, the sorrow of being forgotten—all converged into the most potent venom of the heart.
Dvalin grew resentful.
In his fury, he summoned storms to blockade Mondstadt.
Yet a sliver of rationality remained.
The dragon couldn't bring himself to harm the children of the wind…
His mind began to clear.
Zhongli and Tartaglia sensed Dvalin's resistance weakening.
Tears streamed from the dragon's eyes as he ceased struggling.
As the magic projectile descended, Dvalin slowly closed his eyes.
BOOM!
A violent explosion erupted.
Amid the smoke and dust.
"I bet he was having quite the internal monologue just now."
"Objectively speaking, he clearly misunderstood our intentions from the start."
For Dvalin, the explosion wasn't painful.
Instead, a holy light descended, enveloping him.
The crystals on his back shattered under the radiance, and the poison in his body was partially purified.
His mind grew clearer.
As the dust settled.
Dvalin looked up.
The god, in all his majesty, was pleading with the little girl to heal him completely.
"Barbatos…"
Dvalin was moved, his voice choked.
The god he called turned to him, guilt in his eyes. "I'm sorry… I was too late."
Dvalin fell silent, then suddenly snapped, "So you did know!"
Venti offered no excuses, only repeated apologies.
"Klee knows!"
The kind-hearted child couldn't bear to see the Anemo Archon blamed.
She shouted, "Big Brother Venti slept for a long, long time! He just woke up and had no strength! He couldn't help it!"
Dvalin froze, then looked at Venti.
"...Yes."
Venti knew he couldn't hide it and nodded.
Dvalin was silent for a long moment before huffing. "Fine, I'll let it go this time! If there's a next time… I'm defecting to Morax!"
The Anemo Archon could only smile awkwardly.
He would never forget Dvalin.
And Dvalin would never truly leave him.
It was just anger, just resentment for not telling the truth.
But then.
Zhongli suddenly asked, "Oh? Really? Why not join me now?"
"Old man, don't you dare poach!"
Venti glared.
"Hmm?"
Zhongli, as if just realizing something, remarked coolly, "Was the Contract of the Wind's Back fair, then?"
"Hey, wasn't that already settled?" Venti grinned sheepishly.
Lu Heng pointed at the groveling Venti and turned to Tartaglia with a laugh. "See? Such a shameless god is one of a kind!"
"Feels like even I could do better!" Tartaglia said solemnly.
"Hey!"
Venti's eyes lit up.
Tartaglia did have power comparable to an Archon's!
"Want to be the Anemo Archon? I'll pass the title to you!" Venti asked seriously.
Tartaglia: "..."
Are you sick, or am I sick?
Tartaglia pointed at Venti and turned to Lu Heng. "Boss Lu, what's this condition?"
"He's so free he can't tell east from west anymore."
"In short, he's lost it."
Lu Heng hit the nail on the head.
A god of freedom could be in any mental state.
Given how close Dvalin and Venti were, the dragon coughed lightly, trying to salvage some dignity for Venti. "He's… quite good in many ways."
"Ehe!"
Venti puffed out his chest, triumphant.
"Barbatos might be reliable. Venti? Hard to say." Tartaglia rubbed his chin.
"Objectively speaking, Barbatos is also questionable." Zhongli looked pained.
Amid the teasing, Venti introduced Lu Heng to Dvalin.
Dvalin was astonished, then expressed his gratitude to Lu Heng and Klee.
During this time, the Boom-Boom Launcher had fired over fifty times.
With each explosion and wave of holy light, Dvalin's condition improved until the poison was completely purged!
"Sigh—"
Dvalin exhaled deeply.
Five hundred years!
He had finally returned to his prime!
The torment that had driven him to madness was finally gone!
"Relief" couldn't begin to describe how he felt.
Lu Heng checked his phone and said, "It's almost mealtime. There's one more to heal. If we hurry, we can make it."
"Can Dvalin take human form? We can chat over dinner. How does that sound?"
The adepti of Liyue and the youkai of Inazuma could assume human forms—surely Dvalin could too.
"Of course! I'll follow Mr. Lu's lead!" Dvalin agreed readily.
"Where's Xiao?" Lu Heng asked Zhongli.
"Wangshu Inn! I'll trouble you to—"
"Skip the pleasantries. A few more meals would be better."
Zhongli paused, then nodded. "Fine. This one's on me too."
"Heh!"
Tartaglia grinned. "Works for me. Free meal!"
"Klee…" Lu Heng pondered.
"We'll take some materials from Azhdaha as thanks!" Zhongli interjected.
"Deal. Let's go—next patient!"
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T/N:
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