Venti shook his head and gently turned down Yun Jin's offer.
"I'll be heading back to Mondstadt soon. I won't stay in Liyue for long. And honestly, I'm pretty lazy. If I'm under pressure, I lose inspiration."
Hearing that, Yun Jin felt a pang of regret, but she respected his choice.
She smiled softly. "In that case, I won't insist. But Mr. Venti, you're always welcome at the Yun-Han Opera Troupe. We truly need new voices like yours."
"Sounds good. I'll stop by for sure."
Wanmin Restaurant had always been busy, but it hadn't been this lively in a long time.
After his performance, Venti simply picked an empty table and started drinking, leaving Chef Mao, Xiangling, and Kael running around nonstop.
Xiangling darted across the restaurant like her legs were about to fall off.
"If only Mona were here. She uses magic to deliver dishes. The plates just float straight to the customers—so convenient."
She began to worry. "Big bro, do you think something happened to Mona? It's already this late. She never misses dinner."
Kael flipped a wok, poured its contents onto a plate, and answered calmly.
"She's been cooped up here for days. She probably needed a break. She'll be fine."
Mona wasn't the strongest fighter in Teyvat, but she was still a five-star astrologist with more than enough ways to protect herself.
And Kael had given her money earlier. She was probably eating her way through Liyue and had simply lost track of time.
"…Alright."
---
Kael, Chef Mao, and Xiangling kept working until nearly ten o'clock before the customers finally left.
The huge dining hall was quiet now except for one drunk bard sprawled across a table, snoring loudly.
Only then did Kael begin to feel a real flicker of worry.
He'd been gone for days.
Even if Mona went out in the afternoon, she always came back by evening to pester him.
There was no way she'd skip tonight.
Mona would never willingly miss the chance to cling to him.
Kael stood. "I'm going to look for her."
Before he could step out, three ragged-looking men entered Wanmin Restaurant.
Kael had visited the Alcor during his life simulation.
He recognized the clothes immediately—they were crew members of the Alcor.
What were Alcor sailors doing here at this hour?
"Which one of you is Kael?"
Kael straightened. "That's me. What's going on?"
"You know a woman named Mona?"
"I do." Kael's expression darkened. "What happened to her?"
"She tried to steal something from the Alcor. Our Captain caught her. She's on the ship right now. She told us to bring you over to bail her out."
"…"
One of the sailors eyed him up and down. "She your woman? Impressive. The Alcor hasn't run into someone bold enough to mess with us in a long time."
"This is definitely a misunderstanding."
Mona was proud to a fault. She refused to even use astrology to earn Mora. She would never steal anything.
"Take me to her."
Kael quickly informed Chef Mao and Xiangling, then followed the sailors back to the Alcor.
They brought him to the largest room aboard the ship.
"Our Captain and your woman are inside. Go on."
Kael pushed the doors open.
It was the Alcor's grand reception hall, decorated with treasures the crew had collected.
Beidou sat on the highest seat, with three familiar boys standing behind her.
Kazuha too?
Seeing Kaedehara Kazuha confirmed his suspicion.
The Vision Hunt Decree had begun in Inazuma.
The Traveler would arrive in Liyue soon.
"Kael!"
Mona, tied to a chair, immediately jumped up as far as the ropes allowed when she saw him.
She hurried to complain. "They framed me! They accused me of stealing, and then two of them attacked me at once. Totally unfair!"
Beidou laughed loudly.
"For a thief like you, fairness doesn't matter."
"The thing you tried to steal was something the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing asked us to retrieve."
"You know you didn't just offend the Alcor. You offended the Liyue Qixing too."
Ningguang's property?
Kael looked at Mona. "Tell me exactly what happened."
Mona's face twisted with injustice.
"I saw the Sacrificial Fragments at the dock. I just wanted to touch it. That's it. Then they accused me of stealing."
"Yes, the Sacrificial Fragments are rare, but I have plenty of priceless tomes and manuscripts. Why would I steal from them?"
"And their Captain couldn't beat me alone, so she called for backup!"
"Otherwise there's no way they could've caught me!"
After hearing Mona's account, Kael raised his head toward Beidou.
"You heard her, Captain. It was a misunderstanding. Please untie her."
Beidou felt something twist unpleasantly in her chest when he instantly took Mona's side without question.
She stood abruptly, glaring at him.
"You're just going to believe her? You're not going to ask me what happened?"
Kael answered without hesitation.
"I know Mona. I trust her."
Beidou froze for half a heartbeat, then anger flared.
"So you're saying I'm not trustworthy?"
The moment the words left her mouth, she noticed Kazuha staring at her in surprise.
Only then did she realize how irrational she sounded.
She had only met this man today, yet some part of her felt he should understand her better than anyone.
He should have been on her side without hesitation.
Not defending another woman in front of her.
Beidou let out a sharp breath.
Kael sighed.
It was just a misunderstanding. Why was this becoming so dramatic?
"How about this, Captain Beidou. Whatever the Sacrificial Fragments are worth, I'll pay double their value in Mora."
Beidou scoffed.
"You think this is about money?"
"…"
So paying wasn't the answer.
What did she want?