29 Dark clouds, dark days [1/3]
Shortly after having a nice breakfast, Albert walked with Jean to the Gunnhildr estate before bidding farewell.
"See you in a few days," Albert said with a soft smile.
Jean nodded with a warm smile. "Yes."
Soon, the two separated. One was going to go to work while the other was seemingly going to his work too.
However, unbeknownst to Jean, Albert had ulterior motives. After a short while, he left the Gunnhildr estate.
Shortly after entering the dark parts of Mondstadt, Albert's figure disappeared.
Due to him almost completing his template, he had gained most if not all of Ezio's abilities when he was at his peak.
He can disappear and reappear whenever he wants to as long as no one was looking at him and perform even the most intense and muscle-tearing acrobatics. Of course, not to mention his high pain tolerance.
While Albert was calmly walking while using his stealth, he had suddenly gained a few fame points.
[+20...]
[+20...]
[+20...]
Albert looked at the notification confused. 'That can't be right... I'm not tricking anyone right now...'
'System, where did those fame points come from?' He asked.
Soon, the system had answered his call. [Answer. It came from an individual known as Dainsleif.]
'...Oh.' Albert stopped walking and caressed his chin. 'That must mean he already stalked and studied me...'
Albert knew that man quite well. After all, he is a major plot character in the game. Dainsleif would appear in one quest, drop a lore bomb, and disappear until the next region gets unlocked.
Drops a lore bomb, elaborates further, and disappears until the next patch. A true chad he is.
However, when the thought of a 500-year-old stalker stalking him crossed his mind, his reaction was different. Rather than anger and nervousness, he felt curious.
'I wonder...' He smirked. 'Did he find out about my real abilities or just the ones for show?'
However, he soon shook his head, amused. 'Let us see....'
'Have I or have I not fooled the King of Tutorials?' He thought before vanishing into the shadows of the city.
* * *
Deep inside the forests of stormbearer mountains, a small broken-down hut can be seen in the middle of seemingly nowhere.
However, inside the but is a ladder going underground and into a cave.
Inside the said cave, Albert, who had his hood on, looked at the six out of ten members that were across the long table in front of him.
"...This is what I had gathered," Albert said as he explained the info he just received from the system.
Of course, he had modified it. He just told them that the Abyss Monsters would invade Mondstadt through unknown means— and did not mention anything relating to the Holy Lyre.
Albert's impression of them was an experienced assassin that works in the dark to serve the light. He cannot break that by stealing the Holy Lyre— something all the people of Mondstadt value as a national treasure left behind by their God.
As such, he'll steal it himself without them knowing.
"This..." A tall muscular man said as he heard Albert. "Mentor, if this is true, then it is a great threat."
"I agree," A man with a bushy beard said. "Without knowing where they would appear from, it would only lead to a disaster."
"Perhaps we can inform the knights?" A woman with a small figure raised her hand. "If we can somehow convince them, then perhaps they can help stop it."
"I've also thought of that," Albert said as he shook his head. "But the Pigeonaire already informed me that the Grand Master and the knights are busy in the north, along with him are his elite knights. It would take at least another week for them to return. By then, things have already happened."
"So that waters us down to one person." On the side, with her red hood, Amber spoke. "Knight's Master Jean."
"Correct," Albert nodded. "Since Grand Master Varka is not here, then the Master shall take over his role."
"She should be able to guide the other knight captains." The tall man said. "But there's a problem— this is a double-edged sword."
"In return for informing her, she will deploy more knights, limiting our movement."
"Indeed," The man with the bushy beard said. He then looked at Albert. "Mentor, if I have your permission, I think I already know what to do."
"Same here," Amber rose her hand. "I'll go with him."
"Then I guess that leaves communication to me?" The tall man said with a smile. "Alright, I'll do it."
"Mentor, I think I can convince them to temporarily stop the festi..." The woman with the small figure was saying something when Albert interrupted her.
"No, let Ludi Harpastum continue." Albert insisted. "We'll only deal with the enemies in the dark so that the innocents can bask in the light."
Ludi Harpastum was a festival and tradition that has been passed down for a thousand years as it represents Mondstadt's freedom. Stopping it would dishonor the Anemo Archon's fight and sacrifice for the people of Mondstadt.
"Understood?" Albert did not need to explain further as the other members nodded. "Remember, we work in the dark to serve the light."
"Yes, Mentor." All of them synchronously said.
"Good, let us begin. I'll contact the others to inform them of the plan soon."
All of them nodded, and soon, the Assassin's Order began to move.
* * *
For the last five days, Albert and the other members of the brotherhood have never once taken a long break.
They had searched Mondstadt from top to bottom, seeking if something can let the abyss monsters in.
During this time, Albert had also sent a letter to Jean— not as Albert, but as Ezio. He did this on the fifth day to let the other members search Mondstadt first.
And sure enough, a lot of knights were deployed all around Mondstadt, not resting and only changing shifts— making it hard for Albert and the rest to move.
This year, Ludi Harpastum was held in Springvale— a town outside of Mondstadt. Much to Albert's relief.
After ensuring that citizens won't be affected, Albert sighed in relief.
Finally, the day had arrived.
Sitting on top of the Favonius Church, a lone figure wearing a cloak with a hood can be seen. His cloak is seen flapping in the wind.
'System, can I not just steal the Holy Lyre now and run away?' Albert thought.
Shortly afterward, he received his answer. [Answer. Although it is possible, it is not recommended]
Albert raised an eyebrow. 'How so?'
[Please think, host. Once you run away with the Lyre, where would you go? You will just be hunted down everywhere you step foot on.]
[Is it not the best option to stop everything in one location to avoid future troubles?]
Albert read the system's reply and couldn't help but notice how cold it is. 'It seems like you only care about the results and don't care about the casualties...'
'Won't that only affect the people of Mondstadt?'
[You are correct and wrong, host.]
[The system is only giving you the best advice in this scenario.]
'...Alright...' Albert sighed. Honestly, even though he did not want to admit it, what the system said was logical.
It was the trolley problem all over again. Sacrifice the minority to save the majority...
[Moreover, it is recommended to follow the system's advice as the host might encounter a fortuitous encounter and more rewards.]
'A chance encounter?' Albert questioned. 'What do you mean?'
However, for some reason, the system didn't answer him and stayed silent.
He then sighed. He knew how stubborn the system was sometimes. 'Fine, keep your secrets then...'
He then looked at the distance, into the horizons of the world.
'...I better hurry and finish this as soon as possible...' Albert had never forgotten his promise to Jean, as such, as soon as the quest starts, he would rush to the Favonius Church and steal the Holy Lyre and return to Jean.
Looking down, outside Mondstadt, he saw the stalls and the liveliness of the people as they celebrated the festival outside the city.
...Completely ignorant of the battle that was about to ensue. 'At least they're far away from the Church...'
Looking at the timer in front of him, Albert's heart pounded with excitement, anxiety, and most importantly, determination.
[0D, 00H, 00M, 10S]
[9]
[8]
[7]
[...]
[3]
[2]
[1]
[Quest: Foil— started.]
After seeing this, Albert wasted no time and moved every part of the muscle in his body and entered the Church.
Even when he was on top of a building, he was barely seen.
Well, that was until the loud sound of glass shattering was heard.
"What was that?!" The knights that were near the church were alerted and quickly looked at the source of the sound.
Looking up, their eyes looked at the source of the sound, only to find nothing.
"Huh? Was it a bird?" The knights thought together, not knowing that the most wanted man in their region has just entered the church.
Albert paid no heed to them and continued running toward the secret passage to the underground vault where the Holy Lyre was located.
Boom—*
However, as he was just about to forcefully break-in, a loud explosion from outside was heard by Albert.
Dust covered the entrance, making it difficult for Albert to see who had infiltrated the church.
But he knew that it was an Abyss Monster, and as such, he kept his guard up.
Soon, a sound came from the fog of dust. "Gāng, Gāng, Wōō!"
Albert recognized those savage cries. It was the same crowd those cursed beings made in the game. 'Abyss Mages!'
Soon, he was able to take a clear look at them. One blue, one red, one light blue, and finally, one purple.
'Hydro, Pyro, Cryo, and Electro elements?!' Albert analyzed them and realized the severity of the situation. 'The most annoying combination of enemies...'
Without wasting time, he forcefully broke the hidden passage door and entered.
'I must finish this quickly!' He thought. 'The others should be doing their parts by now too...'
After running down the spiraling staircase, Albert finally reached the underground vault.
It was a wide space that also seems to contain some bookshelves that are filled to the brim.
There were also quite a few guards, but with his stealth, he should be able to easily get past them.
Due to the commotion that just happened, the guards that were on standby were of what happened and all walked to the exit.
Albert immediately turned behind and closed the door behind him and locked it. After that, he hid in a corner. 'That won't hold them for long...'
He then started running to the opposite side of the large open space—
It was then that Albert saw it.
Not far away, hidden behind the guards, something that glows with green can be seen.
'There it is!'
