Chapter 23

Liquor is fermented and brewed with grain as raw material.

In the cellar, the amount of water at the end of the brew will be less due to evaporation and seepage into the wood of the barrels.

Brewers generally interpret that part as "a portion taken by an angel", and the wine that remains is naturally "an angel's share".

[Angel's Share] is a tavern located in the east of Mondstadt City.

It is invested and established by the long-established Dawn Winery and directly supplies wine, and has very high popularity in the city.

If you need to hold a celebration, [Angel's Share] will be the best choice.

Near closing time, Diluc was checking the latest accounts in the store.

"Master Diluc, this week's accounts are like this." As a bartender, Charles is also in charge of the tavern's accounts, and he is half the manager.

He has been working in a pub for more than ten years, and he has no interest in alcohol. Perhaps because of this, the boss does not have to worry about his stealing drinking, and affecting his work.

Diluc looked at the accounts without much emotion: "This storm had a great impact on business."

"Hey, I hope this time will pass sooner!" Charles likes the lively feeling.

Click-clacking sound*

With the sound of hurried footsteps, the wind blew the door of the tavern open. If they hadn't seen the two people running in, they would have thought it was the Stormterror attacking again.

One of them is the first time they have seen her, but she looks a bit like a stranger who has been very hot recently.

The other person is familiar and often comes to beg for drinks, but he has never been allowed.

He always says that he is a popular bard for three consecutive championships, but in the tavern, he is not as popular as Six-Fingered Jose.

"Boss, we want to find a place to hide!"

Paimon spoke anxiously, causing Diluc's eyes to change slightly.

"An unknown creature that can fly and talk?"

Diluc pointed to the top: "In terms of hiding, the second floor should be fine."

Diluc has the elegance of a nobleman, even in the face of people who are chased by unknown sources.

His eyes fell on the green bard: "Aren't you a musician? Why don't you choose a lively place and come with poetry before closing time?"

"Ahaha, let's wait for the next time for paid performances. We'll go up first, see you later!" Venti smiled and kidded around.

When Lumine and her party went upstairs, Diluc instructed the bartender: "Take care of them, that bard is very suspicious, I'm going to ask about what's the situation!"

There was a trivial noise from outside the store. The knights, like the gods they believed in, never did business.

If there was such a big movement at night, something must have happened.

Stepping out of the store, he happened to meet two west knights who were about to enter the store to search.

Diluc didn't change his face: "What happened, how come so many people were dispatched?"

"Haven't Mr. Diluc heard of it? Two thieves came up with a plan to steal the Holy Lyre..."

The Knight looked ashamed: "And they succeeded!"

"Ah? It's really strange..." Diluc already understood the general situation and mocked:

"So someone would be stupid enough to steal something that can't be sold. It's better to steal my wine cellar."

The two knights were stunned. If someone else said such words, they would get angry for blaspheming the treasure left by the god of wind.

But in front of both of them is Mr. Diluc, the richest man in Mondstadt, and senior of the Knights of the Favonius...

"Sorry, I'm off-topic. Those two people, one yellow and one green seem to be running towards the city gate."

Diluc stood in the door of the tavern, obviously not letting the two go in to search.

"Okay, thank you Lord Diluc."

The two knights secretly glanced inside the tavern before rushing to the city gate.

Back to the tavern, Diluc rang the closing bell...

When everyone left, Venti strode downstairs, like a customer sitting at the bar without incident:

"To thank the tavern for helping me out of the siege, I'll pay for a drink..."

"Put down the wine you touched from behind the cabinet!"

When he was arrested, Venti stuck out his tongue: "I want to drink some ice."

Diluc leaned against the bar and looked at the flying creatures who had not calmed down:

"Before that, you should answer my question properly."

"Can't you let me finish it first? I'll pay the bill, um, pay off the debt with the performance..."

"It's not about money, you don't seem to be old enough to buy wine!"

"You can rest assured, I was drinking before you were even born..."

He couldn't find a suitable metaphor for a while. If it was too outrageous, it might cause people to get angry and be sent directly to the Knights.

Venti jumped out of his seat, faced Lumine, and introduced:

"By the way, let me introduce to you, this is the big boss behind the winery, Mr. Diluc!"

"He's a very famous man in Mondstadt. By the way, I like the dandelion wine produced by his family very much, although most of the time, I can only afford it in portions."

Most people like to listen to touts, but Diluc is one of the exceptions:

"I just learned about the thieves from the guards. First, let me know why you dare to steal the Holy lyre, which makes me astonished..."

Diluc has observed that there is no sign of the Holy Lyre: "But it seems that it has failed?"

Paimon immediately explained: "We didn't steal it. The criminal was someone else. We just glanced at it and were taken away by that person!"

Venti also explained: "This is a popular newcomer of the Knights, how could she steal Mondstadt's treasure?"

He said it one by one, completely forgetting that all of this happen because of his incitation.

"A popular newcomer? Sure enough, it's you!"

Diluc is not surprised: "As a traveler, he is willing to lend a helping hand to Mondstadt that is in distress. It is a pity for such a person to join the Knights."

"The Knights of the Favonius have always been timid and inefficient when it comes to the issue of the Stormterror..."

"Diplomatically, Mondstadt is always weak to the Fatui, and even you thieves can't get caught by them..."

Speaking of the Knights, Diluc had a slight criticism, and finally just sighed: "Tsk, forget it, I don't want to talk about this topic too much."

"Answer my question first, why did you steal the Holy Lyre!"

Venti drank a glass of ice water and played with the glass: "Do you want to know? Maybe you might get involved in trouble with the Knights?"

"Oh, I'm not afraid of trouble, I am the trouble of the Knights!"

Diluc motioned for the bartender to leave, leaving only three people and Paimon in the tavern.

Venti took a few steps to the right, holding a lyre in his hand, ready to sing.

"So, if I came to play the real story, would you believe me?"

"Depending on the situation, I will make a judgment!"

With Diluc's permission, Venti once again told the story of Dvalin in a lyric.

"So, did you decide to join?"

The fall of the Dragon of the East Wind was not considered a secret before the well-informed Diluc, but it was unexpected that the little-known bard would narrate it in such detail as if he had experienced it.

Diluc chuckled: "Interesting, give me some time, I'll see if there are more collaborators."

He believed the bard's story.