Harlan Flint sat behind the counter at Galehaven Comics, his eyes occasionally glancing at the system panel in his mind. The display showed: four customers served—Lumine, Paimon, Barbara, and Wendy. He needed thirty customers for an exclusive reward, and two more customers to unlock another comic draw.
"The first three draws came easily, a new shop's bonus from the system, but now it's ten guests per chance," he thought, a slight frown on his face. The shop's hidden alley location was a challenge; ordinary people rarely found it, slowing his progress. This explained his quick agreement to Wendy's work-for-reads deal, as he was counting on the bard's fame to spread the word. Advertising through a wind god's songs could attract crowds, a clever way to increase Galehaven Comics' reach.
Knights, Fatui, or Abyss Order—it didn't matter to Harlan; as long as they paid Mora and read comics, they were welcome customers. However, troublemakers would receive no mercy here, a rule enforced by the shop's unseen power. "I just hope Wendy takes this job seriously for once," Harlan thought, sipping his tea as the door opened.
Two figures entered: one in white with gold accents, wearing a black cape that reached her calves, exuding authority; the other in purple, with a wide-brimmed hat adorned with a rose, her Thunder Vision glinting.
"Welcome, Acting Grand Master Jean and Miss Lisa—here to read some comics?" Harlan greeted, his smile warm and knowing. Jean's stern demeanor and Lisa's relaxed grace instantly identified them as key figures of Mondstadt, drawn by his shop's growing rumors. Their eyes showed surprise at his recognition, a hint that he had correctly identified every guest so far with unusual ease.
Jean straightened, her voice steady. "Hello—what comics do you have available?" She had come for the rewards Barbara praised, but the stories themselves remained unknown to her.
Harlan gestured to the shelves, his pitch smooth. "We have three: One Piece: East Sea Saga, a story of sea adventures with powerful fruits; Cardcaptor Sakura's Magic, full of magical feats; and Digimon: First Frontier, where eight kids battle monsters across worlds." He added, "It's 100,000 Mora per person, one read a day," watching their faces as they considered his words.
Jean didn't hesitate, sliding 200,000 Mora across the counter with a decisive clink. Harlan pocketed the payment, and the system updated—six customers now, two more draws secured, though he decided not to claim them yet.
Jean and Lisa approached the shelves, making careful choices as they looked at the colorful covers. "I'll take this one," Lisa said, picking up Cardcaptor Sakura's Magic and settling onto a sofa, intrigued by its magical appeal. A reward related to spells could interest a genius like her, once considered Sumeru's rarest talent in centuries.
Jean hesitated, then chose One Piece: East Sea Saga, her fingers tracing its spine before she joined Lisa on the cushions. Barbara's Snowballmon might evolve into a mighty Gatomon, but Mondstadt's crises—Stormterror and the Fatui—demanded immediate strength. Lumine's wind powers proved this comic offered instant power, a lifeline she couldn't delay grasping.
Meanwhile, at the Knights' headquarters gate, a group of Fatui approached, their masked faces and black coats radiating menace. Anastasia, their leader, stared haughtily at the guard. "I demand an audience with your Acting Grand Master Jean." Backed by the Tsaritsa's power, the Fatui swaggered through Teyvat, and Mondstadt's weakened state only increased her disdain. She had come to take advantage of Stormterror's chaos—if Jean failed, the city's defense plans could fall into her hands.
The guard bristled but kept his tone polite. "Captain Jean's out—not at headquarters right now."
Anastasia's brow furrowed, suspicion flaring. "Not here—hiding from us, perhaps?" She moved to push past, but a subordinate hurried forward, speaking in a low voice. "Reports say Jean and Lisa headed to a bookstore."
"A bookstore?" Anastasia repeated, her surprise turning into a sneer as she processed the absurdity. In this tense hour, with a dragon loose and Fatui nearby, Mondstadt's leader was Browse books? "Such leisure—she's practically handing us the advantage," she scoffed, her confidence growing. "Let's track them down there," she ordered, leading her group toward the alley, the city's map now temptingly within reach.