A bright light streamed from the ceiling of Galehaven Comics, covering Jean in a brilliant glow as she sat filled with expectation. The light merged into her, a powerful force of will surging through her veins, vast and commanding. Her strength, sharpened by years of duty, held firm, where a weaker person might have collapsed under its weight.
The light faded, and Jean opened her eyes, an invisible wave of influence radiating outward from her. Her blonde hair, previously tied, came undone in a sudden gust of wind, and her presence became formidable and unyielding.
Lisa stepped back, her usual calm breaking into rare shock. "This aura—it's overwhelming." She felt the raw power coming from Jean, a force capable of sweeping enemies aside without a single attack. "Jean has hit the jackpot with this shop's gifts," Lisa thought, genuine happiness for her friend filling her scholarly heart.
Jean blinked, controlling the force as she composed herself. "What a potent energy flowing through me." She felt its power coiled within her, an untested weapon, its limits a mystery she was eager to explore. "What is this, Boss?" she asked, turning to Harlan Flint with a mix of awe and curiosity.
"Conqueror's Haki," Harlan replied, his smile light but knowing as he watched her adjust. The fusion seemed seamless, a testament to Jean's resilience and the system's precision.
"Conqueror's Haki?" Jean repeated, a flicker of confusion on her face—she hadn't seen it in One Piece: East Sea Saga. Devil Fruits like Lumine's Wind-Wind Fruit had dominated the story, their flashy powers etched in her memory.
Harlan leaned forward, his voice patient. "It's a hidden human potential from later chapters—there are three types: Observation, Armament, and the Conqueror's Haki you've gained." He explained, "Conqueror's is a trait for kings—your spirit alone can intimidate, stun, or knock out weaker foes, and at its peak, it can split the sky when clashing with another's." He added, nodding at her potential, "This was your first awakening, an unconscious burst—master it, and you'll use it intentionally."
Jean's eyes widened, her breath catching. "Stun with aura alone—and tear the sky apart?" The sheer scale of this power stunned her—far beyond a mere trinket, it was a force of dominance. She dismissed the "kingly" label—Mondstadt valued freedom, not crowns—but its usefulness excited her. "With this, I can protect Mondstadt more fiercely," she thought, her heart swelling with renewed determination.
Just then, the shop's quiet was shattered as a group walked in, their black coats and masks marking them as Fatui. Lisa's brow furrowed, her voice low. "The Fatui—here, of all places?" She wondered if rumors of the shop's wonders had attracted them, a prospect both intriguing and troubling.
Jean stood, her tone steady. "They're likely after me—not the comics." She then bowed slightly to Harlan. "I'm sorry, Boss, for bringing trouble to your door—I'll handle it." She couldn't risk the Fatui ruining his good intentions toward Mondstadt; that would be too great a loss.
Harlan nodded, his expression calm. "Go ahead—I'm curious to see this play out." He leaned back, eager to see how Jean's new Haki would change her approach against the Fatui's usual bullying.
Outside, Anastasia smirked, her voice dripping with scorn. "Mondstadt is suffering under Stormterror, yet its Acting Grand Master is relaxing with books?" Her gaze flicked to Harlan, suspicion narrowing her eyes—who was this man earning Jean's respect?
"This is my personal time—what's your purpose here?" Jean countered, her tone even, neither intimidated nor provoked.
Anastasia sneered, emboldened by the Tsaritsa's power. "If you can't control Stormterror quickly, surrender Mondstadt's defenses to us Fatui." She pressed, her arrogance clear, "We'll tame that beast ourselves—hand it over, and your dragon problem ends."
"Beast?" Jean's calm broke, her voice cutting through as she stepped forward.
Anastasia smirked, hands on hips. "What's that, Acting Grand Master—got a problem?"
Jean exhaled, her gaze hardening into steel. "I advise your diplomats to show a shred of professionalism." She declared, her voice ringing, "You dare call one of Mondstadt's Four Winds Guardians a beast? I will not tolerate such nonsense before the Knights!" Her Conqueror's Haki subtly flared, a pressure that made Anastasia's chest tighten despite her bravado. Why did this Mondstadt leader feel so formidable now, when she had seemed so agreeable before?
She steadied herself, clinging to the Lady's shadow and the Tsaritsa's power. "A godless land—what can you do against us?" She scoffed, her tone stiffening to hide a flicker of doubt, "This isn't as crazy as you claim, surely." She snapped, turning to leave with her group, "This discussion is over—I'll report it as is." If Jean wouldn't cooperate, the Fatui would bypass her—they would subdue Stormterror themselves and let the Knights' failure pave their way. With the old Lawrence nobles as allies, Mondstadt's defense map would fall, and the city with it.
Jean saw their plan clearly, her jaw tightening—she had long endured such threats due to past weakness. Diluc had once called the Knights timid, ineffective against Stormterror, and spineless with the Fatui—words that felt true. But that was yesterday—today, armed with Haki, she would no longer let them dominate Mondstadt unchecked.
"Mondstadt's affairs are ours to resolve—no outsider's hand will meddle here!" she proclaimed, her voice a clear call.
Anastasia turned, mocking her. "Oh? And how do you plan to stop us?"
Jean's eyes blazed, her willpower a silent storm brewing for the confrontation ahead.