Ch 4

"[Weapons] have the most direct impact on a character's damage..." Lisa clicked on her weapon. Indeed, it wasn't even a complete magical tome but a one-star [Apprentice's Notes]. She clicked to replace it. There weren't many weapons to choose from. Lisa took a look and ultimately selected a three-star weapon—the [Philosophers of the Heart]. All its data perfectly matched her attack style. "I'll replace it with a more potent catalyst later~" Lisa was in a good mood; she had decided to cultivate herself as the most powerful character.

There were many inconveniences in reality, but in the game, there weren't as many taboos. Moreover, future enemies were bound to become stronger, and if she didn't make herself more formidable, she might not be able to progress through the later stages of the plot.

After closing the interface, the screen remained at the end of the secret realm. There was a precious chest ahead. Just as she opened it, a new plot unfolded. In the game, her character began explaining the current situation.

"Dvalin, the Dragon of the South Wind, the Wolf of the North Wind, the Eagle of the West Wind..." "They are the guardians of Mondstadt's four winds and also the attendants of the Anemo Archon, Barbatos." "Tevatline—that's the name of the Windborne Dragon." "Before being called the Dragon of Darkness, it was one of the Four Winds, Dvalin the Dragon." "This is why, among the power of the four winds, Tevatline can only borrow from three..."

Then, the Traveler was given a [Book of Dragons] to learn about the events that happened a hundred years ago. Lisa naturally knew this history and didn't need to consult the game. But for others who didn't know these things, the game undoubtedly served as "education."

And this was just the tip of the iceberg in the entire game content. There was still a wealth of information to be uncovered, and Lisa had a hunch about it.

Glancing at the clock, she realized another hour had passed unnoticed. If it were work, she would find even half an hour of continuous work boring enough to yawn. However, while playing this game, she didn't feel any fatigue. In fact, Lisa thought she could play for another two hours.

Setting her phone aside, she stretched her slightly sore wrists and neck. The power of the three temples had already been cleared, so the hurricane shrouding Mondstadt should have dissipated by now. In reality, though, these things hadn't happened yet.

However, if the game's plot truly paralleled reality, then at this point in time, the Windborne Dragon should be gathering the power of the three temples somewhere. When it gathered enough strength, it would launch an attack on Mondstadt.

To verify the authenticity of this information, all she needed to do was go to the nearest [Eagle of the West Wind] temple, enter its depths, and check for traces left behind by the Windborne Dragon. Lisa got up, ready to share this crucial information with Jean.

But before that, there was one more thing she had to do.

"Boss, I still don't know your name."

"Takumi."

"I guess there's no need to mention my name. You've already recreated 'me' so well in this mobile game. It seems you know quite a bit about us Knights of Favonius."

"It's alright."

Takumi gave a faint smile. Meanwhile, Lisa took a step closer, almost coming to Takumi's side. Under the wide brim of her hat, a pair of emerald green eyes held a profound gaze.

"Don't you know that doing this is quite dangerous..."

Lisa said softly. At the same time, she gently beckoned with her turned-back hand. A purple electric current silently appeared, like a venomous snake spitting out its tongue, emerging behind Takumi.

With a flash of light, this electric current directly attacked towards Takumi's back.

Takumi seemed completely unaware.

But in the next moment, that electric current hadn't caused any harm to Takumi at all. It simply bypassed him and came back towards Lisa.

Lisa was slightly stunned. This was the first time she had encountered such a situation. Even if Takumi had blocked this electric current with his hand, that would have been within Lisa's expectations, but he didn't make any extra movements. He simply ignored her attack!

Due to this momentary shock, Lisa didn't evade in time, and the electric current struck her abdomen.

Lisa's complexion instantly changed. This tingling sensation was quite uncomfortable, even for herself.

"Don't worry, I know how to control my strength."

Takumi smiled casually again and turned to wipe the glasses on the bar.

However, in fact, just now, he hadn't realized what had happened at all, and he hadn't expected Lisa to attack him secretly. This shop had a system with a beginner's protection, so Takumi was invulnerable here and didn't need any defenses. Therefore, Lisa's attack couldn't harm him and was redirected towards Lisa herself.

Seeing Lisa's slightly flushed face, as if she still had lingering feelings, Takumi sighed inwardly. Indeed, he was too handsome. They had only just met for the first time, and he had already stirred up such romantic feelings in Lisa. Wouldn't it be even easier in the future?

However, Takumi still intentionally maintained an aloof and reserved demeanor. He couldn't let Lisa underestimate him. Which officer couldn't withstand this kind of test?

What Takumi didn't expect was that, in Lisa's eyes, all of this was interpreted in a completely different way. That casual and indifferent attitude seemed to say, "Your attack is too weak, so weak that it's not even enough to pique my interest."

Even Takumi's deep and meaningful gaze was interpreted by Lisa as a warning. Next time, if she dared to attack him recklessly, he would use his true power. Lisa suddenly felt a tightness in her chest. Based on the way he effortlessly neutralized her attack, she could tell that this person named Takumi was definitely someone with a significant background and unfathomable strength! After so many years, Lisa felt pressure for the first time. With her eyelids slightly lowered, she forcefully supported her tingling body and slowly walked out of the shop.

On the street, Lisa took a deep breath. This time, in addition to reporting the information from the mobile game to Jean, she also needed to inform her about the strength of the shop owner. Even Lisa herself felt that this person was unfathomable, and in the entire Mondstadt, there were probably very few who could match Takumi. She absolutely couldn't act recklessly again. Lisa thought about her sneak attack earlier and broke out in a cold sweat at the thought. Fortunately, Takumi had a broad-minded attitude; otherwise, she might not have been able to leave the shop standing.

...

...

The data is a bit grim. I feel like giving up.

===

In the Knights of Favonius headquarters' office, Lisa sipped a cup of hot tea while waiting for Captain Jean's return. It wasn't until lunchtime that Jean hurriedly returned from outside.

"Lisa, how did it go?"

As soon as she saw Lisa, Jean immediately asked.

"The harvest was quite substantial, starting with the information I obtained from the mobile game..."

Lisa briefly recounted the storyline she had experienced in the mobile game today. In fact, the plot she had gone through today was quite simple: she had determined the source of the Wind Dragon's power – the Four Winds Temples – and proceeded to battle them one by one. Most of the time, Lisa had focused on studying the game mechanics and numerical values.

"If that's the case, we must send a team to clear out the Four Winds Temples immediately!"

Jean declared with determination. If they could act before the Wind Dragon gathered its strength, they might be able to prevent the attack on Mondstadt.

"We definitely need to clear the temples, but I suggest sending a small team to the nearest temple, the Temple of the Falcon, first."

Lisa spoke without hesitation. Obviously, during the waiting time, she had already thought about how to handle this situation.

"One reason is that our Knights of Favonius are currently severely understaffed, and the other reason is that, in case this incident is just fabricated by the owner of that mobile game center, we would leave behind a significant security risk if we depleted the city's forces for no reason."

"Don't forget, the Fatui's 'Fool's People' are also watching closely."

Jean nodded in agreement. Lisa, as expected, always remained calm in times like these. With her by her side, she truly felt at ease.

"Then let's have Kaeya go investigate the Temple of the Falcon first."

After making the decision, Jean turned to Lisa and asked, "You mentioned there was another piece of information, what is it?"

"It's about the owner of that mobile game center..."

At this moment, at the entrance to the headquarters' office.

A West Wind Knight had just finished patrolling the other areas of the Knights of Favonius and arrived at the entrance to continue his guard duty. His name was Duke, the son of a wealthy merchant in the city, who had secured his current position in the West Wind Knights with some financial support. However, Duke was not content with just being a guard; he aspired to achieve something significant and bring glory to his family.

As Jean returned to the office in a hurry, she only half-closed the door, and Duke probably overheard the conversation between Jean and Lisa.

"How is that possible? You couldn't even gauge the depth of the other party?" Jean was somewhat surprised.

"In the end, it's because of too many scruples. If I were to truly take action, I might be able to gain some insights into the other party's abilities, but that's clearly impossible. Our Knights of Favonius have no reason to offend such a mysterious owner of a mobile game center," Lisa replied.

"Let's wait for Kaeya's report. If it turns out to be the same as the game, the nature of this matter changes."

The mobile game center's owner? Duke was taken aback. He felt like he had seen those words somewhere. Then it clicked! It was the name of a shop at the end of a certain street he had passed by. He remembered being curious about the shop's name at the time. From the way Captain Jean and Lisa talked, it seemed that this mobile game center's owner was hiding some secrets. If he could uncover all of this, wouldn't he earn great merit? While Captain Jean and Lisa had reservations, Duke did not. After his shift, he would call his friends, and it wouldn't be surprising if they could get something out of this owner.

With a self-assured smile, Duke began to anticipate his performance tonight.

...

...

In the Angel's Share tavern, a woman with short ice-blue hair sat in a corner, drinking one glass of alcohol after another. Soon, a flush appeared on her cheeks, but there was no sign of happiness or excitement. Instead, her brows were furrowed in worry.

After placing the payment on the table, the woman swayed unsteadily toward the door.

"Isn't that Eula from the Lawrence clan... drinking like this and still a member of the West Wind Knights..."

"Why hasn't the Knights of Favonius kicked her out yet..."

In a span of just seven or eight meters, Eula heard no less than three comments about herself. Fortunately, she was already accustomed to this kind of pointing and gossip. After leaving the tavern, she leisurely made her way back home.

The reason she was in such a bad mood today, to the point of seeking solace in alcohol, was not because of the people's cold taunts but because of what she had discovered during her recent patrols outside the city. She had found traces of a large number of monsters and even extremely dangerous Abyss Mages near the Temple of the South Wind. She immediately decided to report this information to the Knights of Favonius headquarters in the hope of getting reinforcements.

However, before she could enter the headquarters, she was stopped by a guard named Duke, who used the excuse that "Captain Jean is busy with official duties" to reject her report. He even taunted her with comments like "up to no good" and "a spy within the Knights of Favonius." In the end, she couldn't enter the Knights of Favonius headquarters.

So, in her state of frustration, Eula had come to the tavern. She ended up drinking more than intended, but she still had her limits and wouldn't let herself get completely drunk. As she stumbled out of the tavern, she couldn't help but notice a new tavern nearby.

"What's this? A new tavern?"

Eula noticed rows of exquisite seats inside the shop. Only a tavern would have such decor. Moreover, there was no one inside, which conveniently spared her from the annoyance of being pointed and gossiped at by others. She walked in slowly.

"Boss, a glass of... um... fruit juice, please." She dared not drink alcohol again; Eula needed a drink to sober up.

====

Takumi was contemplating in front of the bar whether he should do some promotion. Since Lisa left in the morning, it had been a whole afternoon without a single person coming in to experience the shop. Occasionally, someone with a curious mind would see the price tag at the entrance and be discouraged.

While he was deep in thought, a woman in the attire of the Knights of Favonius walked in and ordered a fruit juice. Takumi immediately recognized her; it was Eula! Although she was wearing the Knights' uniform, it couldn't hide her impressive figure. With an angelic face and a devilish figure, her short ice-blue hair complemented her slightly flushed cheeks. She could be described as pure and captivating.

Takumi assisted Eula in sitting down and prepared a simple glass of orange juice using the versatile beverage maker. Eula took the glass, tilted her head back, and downed it in one go. Then she handed the empty glass to Takumi.

"Boss, another one, please."

Do the Mondstadt people all have such strong drinking capacity? Takumi was about to pour another glass when he saw Eula already lying on the table, seemingly asleep.

He fetched a blanket and covered Eula with it. Takumi sat at the bar, looking at Eula's gently rising and falling back, thinking that even if there were no customers, it was quite pleasant to watch a beautiful woman sleep.

However, it didn't take long for someone causing trouble to barge in.

"Are you the owner of this shop?" Four adult men entered, with the leader glaring at Takumi and asking arrogantly.

"That's me."

"One thousand Mora per hour. Why don't you just rob people?" Duke glanced at the price list, raising an eyebrow.

"I have everything clearly marked here. If you can't afford it, then just get lost."

Takumi could tell that these people had clearly come to cause trouble, so he didn't hold back.

As soon as Duke heard this, his face changed dramatically. He slammed the table hard.

"Smack!" He fiercely hit the table. "There has never been anyone like you in Mondstadt. Tell me, what's your intention for coming to Mondstadt?!"

However, this sudden commotion directly woke up the sleeping Eula. She struggled to open her eyes and saw a familiar figure in front of her.

"Duke...?"

It was because of this person that she was blocked outside the Knights of Favonius headquarters and subjected to taunts and mockery. Her head, which had been a bit heavy, cleared instantly.

"Duke, what are you doing here?"

Eula remembered that she had last come to a newly opened tavern, had a glass of fruit juice, and then fell asleep. The thoughtful owner even prepared a blanket for her. Now, seeing Duke shouting at the owner, Eula naturally couldn't stand by.

"Oh, so it's the Lawrence family's traitor!"

"Even you're here; the evidence is conclusive."

"This owner must be conspiring with the old aristocrats of Lawrence to rebel against Mondstadt!"

Eula's expression immediately turned somewhat cold. She put the blanket aside and stared at Duke, saying, "Don't spread rumors. I have no connection with the owner here. Don't try to defame good people!"

"People with connections usually won't admit it... Otherwise, how do you explain why you're here alone in this shop so late at night?"

"You...!"

Duke sneered and then signaled to his three companions.

"Get him!"

Of course, they weren't going to lay a hand on Eula; after all, she was a member of the Knights of Favonius. But the owner was a different story. This was Duke's true purpose.

However, seeing that the situation had arisen because of her, Eula couldn't just stand by. She immediately stepped in front of Takumi and intercepted the three people.

"As expected, you have connections!"

"Arbitrarily arresting people without evidence? Are you still a member of the Knights of Favonius?" Eula questioned.

"Your protection is the best evidence!"

The argument had lost its meaning. The three people swarmed in, intending to subdue Eula first and then capture Takumi.

As the central figure in this farce, Takumi showed no signs of anxiety or unease. On the contrary, there was a hint of unusual luster in his eyes. Just a moment ago, he had been thinking about how to do some advertising. Now, free publicity had come to him.

Perhaps because Eula had just woken up from her drunken slumber, her attacks were punchy and accurate. Both sides refrained from using weapons. However, as a result, the three people felt like sandbags being pummeled by Eula alone.

Seeing that the situation was turning unfavorable, Duke swiftly unsheathed the sword at his waist and shouted as he struck at Eula.

Eula's gaze sharpened, and she placed one hand horizontally in front of her. Simultaneously, a dark blue greatsword appeared in her hand, blocking Duke's attack. The other three also drew their weapons and slashed at Eula's greatsword.

It felt somewhat like a duel, but at least it hadn't escalated to a level of bloodshed.

Duke and his group only intended to drive Eula away and had no real intention of harming her. After all, this was Mondstadt, and causing a scene here wouldn't be good for anyone.

Of course, this couldn't be called a fair fight. Faced with the pressure from four people, Eula was struggling. The blade of her greatsword was now right in front of her chest, and if she didn't step back, Eula might get hurt.

"If you don't step back, don't blame us for being impolite!" Duke threatened at this moment.

However, Eula's expression turned completely cold. Faint white highlights seemed to shimmer in her pale golden irises. The temperature in the surroundings suddenly dropped several levels. Her greatsword in hand was now covered with a layer of ice.

"Buzz!"

The ice element exploded directly, and the four individuals were instantly blown away, covered in a layer of frost. Eula, with a single hand holding the greatsword, looked at them coldly. The four shivered, picked up their swords from the ground, and, seeing Eula in this state, couldn't help but feel a sense of fear. Without a word, they ran away.

Outside, due to the commotion inside, several people had already gathered around. They were pointing and talking about Eula inside. Eula had grown used to this kind of situation and could easily ignore it. However, because she had just used her elemental power, she accidentally overturned one of the tables nearby.

Takumi approached, picked up the phone that had fallen to the ground. Unfortunately, the screen was already shattered.

"I'm sorry, boss, I'll compensate you," Eula said sincerely when she noticed. She also helped Takumi upright the table and cleaned off the dust.

Seeing her skillful and serious demeanor, Takumi suddenly had an idea. It seemed like his shop was lacking a female server.