"How could it explode?! An Alchemy experiment gone wrong?!"
"No way, Mr. Albedo's Alchemy Workshop has never had an explosion before."
"Looks like there's a problem. I wonder how Mr. Albedo is doing?"
"So terrifying, that workshop is shattered. That explosive power is too terrifying, damn it."
"Mr. Albedo is a Geo Vision Holder; he should be fine."
...Thick black smoke billowed, hanging over the city gates.
The burnt Alchemy materials emitted a pungent odor.
Flickering flames inside the building suggested a violent Alchemy reaction had not yet fully concluded.
"Woo—!"
A piercing horn blast echoed at the gates of Mondstadt.
Knights of Favonius on patrol swiftly rushed over!
The Knights, clad in silver-white armor, drew their weapons and quickly cordoned off the surrounding streets, shouting loudly:
"Everyone, do not approach! Stay away from this area!"
"Clear the path to prevent a secondary explosion!"
...Experienced old Knights immediately rushed into the scene to inspect the core area of the explosion.
Meanwhile, some trainee Knights hurried to relay the message to the Knights of Favonius Headquarters, urgently reporting the situation to Acting Grand Master Jean!
"How could such an accident happen at the Alchemy Workshop?"
"Could it be that some Alchemy experiment went wrong?"
"Mr. Albedo's Alchemy experiments have never had any problems before."
"Regardless, first evacuate the people around."
...The Knights of Favonius in Mondstadt exchanged glances, their nerves taut, fearing that an even more serious situation might unfold.
And at this very moment...
Inside the Alchemy Workshop...
Dense black smoke rolled, and a strong smell of scorching filled the air.
Hot air mixed with the residues of burnt Alchemy materials swirled persistently in the corners of the room.
However, at the core of this wreckage, a golden Geo Element shield, like amber, firmly sealed the aftermath within a small area.
Geo Element patterns flickered on the shield's surface, as if resisting some invisible impact.
In the center of the barrier, Albedo stood quietly, his figure somewhat blurred by the shield's glow.
"Cough... cough cough..."
Amidst the billowing black smoke, Albedo's face and collar were stained with dark soot.
His usually impeccable appearance now looked a bit disheveled.
But his sharp, turquoise pupils remained as calm as ever, reflecting deep contemplation.
His right hand still maintained the posture of activating his Geo Vision.
The Geo Element's radiance flowed in his palm, continuously maintaining this Alchemy barrier.
If he hadn't taken precautions beforehand and set up a protective barrier constructed from Geo Element within the workshop...
This destructive explosion would likely have torn apart the entire building, even affecting the entire street!
"...I was still careless."
Albedo's gaze was heavy as he slowly lowered his eyes to look at his experimental bench, which had already shattered into countless fragments.
The bomb that was originally placed there was long gone, replaced by charred debris.
However, upon these shattered remains, there still lingered an extremely faint but unusually violent aura.
"This unknown energy fluctuation..."
Albedo squinted slightly, reaching out to lightly brush the air.
He concentrated the power of Alchemy, attempting to detect the residual energy.
As a result, merely touching this faint fluctuation caused Albedo's pupils to constrict slightly.
This energy was more violent than Pyro, more volatile than Electro Element... This was a destructive force far exceeding natural elements!
Albedo stood silently, his fingertips slowly closing.
The Geo Element radiance in his palm emerged, dispelling the residual energy fluctuations in the air, but the shock in his heart remained undiminished.
"...It's too terrifying."
Albedo let out a soft breath.
That brief sensation was enough for him to realize the danger of this energy.
If he hadn't set up the barrier, the impact of that explosion just now would have been enough to severely injure him!
Even—
If the Geo Element shield hadn't firmly sealed this energy fluctuation, perhaps the entire street around the Alchemy Workshop would have been completely destroyed!
Albedo looked down at the faint residual fluctuations still floating in the air, his eyes flickering slightly, his brow furrowed.
"How was this energy... stored in the bomb?"
He had encountered various elemental reactions in his Alchemy research.
He even had some understanding of the Fatui's "Delusions."
But this time was different—this was thoroughly destructive energy.
Even he couldn't easily analyze its essence!
"Who modified my bomb? And what is the principle behind it?"
Albedo's thoughts raced, constantly deducing possible answers in his mind.
But no matter what, the conclusion made him increasingly solemn.
"If this kind of bomb were to spread..."
Albedo closed his eyes, as if he could already imagine the scene—
Destructive energy swallowing the land, Mondstadt's streets crumbling in explosions, violent shockwaves that even elemental shields couldn't withstand raging, ordinary people having no chance to escape... This was definitely not ordinary Alchemy, nor something that common elemental reactions could achieve!
—This destructive power, if misused, would be an unimaginable disaster!
Most importantly, yesterday, Klee was carrying a backpack full of these things.
Although the bombs were made by him, the energy inside them definitely had nothing to do with him.
"Thump thump thump—!"
Just then, urgent knocking came from outside the workshop.
"Mr. Albedo! Are you alright?!"
It was the members of the Knights of Favonius; they had already rushed to the workshop entrance.
"Cough cough, I'm fine, but I need to clean up the scene for now."
Albedo coughed and said, "Also, please ask Acting Grand Master Jean to come here."
"Understood, Mr. Albedo."
Outside the Alchemy Workshop...
The Knights of Favonius who heard Albedo's words immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
That's great, Mr. Albedo is fine.
He was worried something might have happened to Mr. Albedo.
He could understand an Alchemy experiment exploding; after all, it's research.
But Mr. Albedo couldn't be harmed.
Mr. Albedo is not only an Alchemist but also a Vision Holder.
If their patrolling Knights of Favonius encountered an attack from Stormterror, or even a monster siege, as long as Mr. Albedo was present, their defense would be much easier.
Meanwhile, on the other side...
At the Knights of Favonius Headquarters...
Acting Grand Master Jean was sitting behind her desk, organizing documents while pondering the recent unsettling factors in Mondstadt.
Ever since she saw the elite Fatui tragically dead on the streets of Mondstadt City last night, her mood had been unable to relax.
Now, Mondstadt City seemed to have returned to its usual calm on the surface.
But she always felt that some dangerous shadows were secretly brewing.
"Boom!"
Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed, causing Acting Grand Master Jean's expression to change dramatically.
She stood up immediately.
What's going on?
Where did that sudden explosion come from?
How could this sound be even louder than the commotion at Cider Lake yesterday?
Especially after she walked to the window and instantly saw a street in Mondstadt in the distance emitting wisps of black smoke.
Acting Grand Master Jean's pupils sharply contracted.
Isn't that the area near the entrance to Mondstadt?