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She didn't understand why Acting Grand Master Jean suddenly looked like this.
Acting Grand Master Jean didn't speak any further, just quietly looked at Klee, who was full of questions.
A subtle softness flashed in her steady eyes.
She knew that Klee wasn't lying.
Klee genuinely didn't know about the Abyss Order's affairs.
But precisely because of this, she and Albedo were unwilling to ask any more questions.
Klee was still a child.
A carefree little girl who only thought about fishing with bombs and adventuring all day.
There was no need to involve her in these dark, complex schemes and conflicts.
"...It's nothing."
Acting Grand Master Jean gently shook her head, her gaze softening, and then she showed a gentle smile.
She nodded slightly and said in a gentle tone: "Congratulations, Klee."
"From now on, you don't have to stay in the solitary confinement room anymore."
"You are free again."
"...!!"
Klee's eyes suddenly widened!
"Really?!"
Klee's voice even trembled slightly, as if she had suddenly heard the most wonderful music in the world. She suddenly jumped up from the spot, her golden hair tracing a graceful arc in the air.
"Wow! That's great!"
Klee cheered, instantly transforming into a storm, excitedly running a lap around the solitary confinement room, her face full of uncontrollable joy.
"Klee finally doesn't have to be locked up for seven days!"
"Woo-hoo, Klee will definitely be obedient from now on!"
"Klee will be good from now on and won't bomb Cider Lake!"
Klee, as excited as a little rabbit, hopped and skipped to Acting Grand Master Jean and Albedo, blinking her big eyes, looking at them with anticipation, afraid she had misheard.
Acting Grand Master Jean and Albedo exchanged glances, then couldn't help but smile, shaking their heads helplessly.
— After all, she was still a child.
Seeing Klee's pure happiness, Acting Grand Master Jean also couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.
Albedo gently rubbed his forehead, his tone calm: "...Now that you're out, you must be careful from now on."
"Mhm mhm!"
Klee nodded vigorously, smiling as if she had just received the most precious gift in the world.
"Then I'm off!!"
Klee waved her small hand excitedly, and the next second, she transformed into a gust of wind, dashing out of the solitary confinement room and running towards the free world outside!
Acting Grand Master Jean watched Klee's cheerful retreating figure, paused slightly, then sighed softly, "...Ah, what a headache of a child."
"But at least, she's still so innocent and naive."
Albedo, on the other hand, gently curved his lips, looking at the distant sky with deep eyes, a hint of contemplation hidden within them.
Acting Grand Master Jean and Albedo stood still, watching Klee's figure disappear into the distance, a rare look of relaxation on their faces.
But this relaxation lasted only for a moment.
"Sigh."
Acting Grand Master Jean ultimately couldn't help but sigh, her brows slightly furrowed, her voice carrying a hint of undeniable weariness.
"...The clue, it's broken again."
Albedo nodded slightly, his tone calm: "Klee certainly couldn't have any understanding of the Abyss Order's affairs. From the beginning, we shouldn't have held too much hope for information from her."
"But... what exactly is the Abyss Order's goal?"
Acting Grand Master Jean was silent for a moment, then slowly said: "They are lurking in the shadows, yet at the same time, they have caused so much unrest..."
"First, the elite Fatui of Mondstadt died silently and tragically, followed by the explosions at Cider Lake and Starfell Lake..."
Acting Grand Master Jean rubbed her temples, a hint of weariness in her eyes: "Things are getting more and more complicated."
Albedo nodded gently, his eyes flickering slightly, as if he was contemplating something.
— The Abyss Order couldn't be acting without reason.
They must be planning something.
However, he and Acting Grand Master Jean had no definite clues.
"We can only wait for the next opportunity..."
Acting Grand Master Jean was just thinking.
Suddenly, a sharp cry of an eagle resounded in the air!
"Chirp—!"
Acting Grand Master Jean and Albedo looked up almost simultaneously.
They saw a Falcon of the West, with snow-white feathers and golden patterns on its wings, swooping down from high in the sky.
It circled twice in the air before landing steadily on Acting Grand Master Jean's arm.
Acting Grand Master Jean was startled, and her expression instantly turned serious when she saw the letter tied to the Falcon of the West's leg.
The Falcon of the West was an important means for the Knights of Favonius to transmit urgent intelligence.
She quickly reached out, tore open the envelope, unfolded the parchment, and swiftly scanned its contents.
But as she read, her brows furrowed tighter and tighter, and the look in her eyes gradually grew more solemn.
"Kaeya's message?"
Seeing her troubled expression, Albedo's gaze flickered slightly, and he spoke slowly.
Using a Falcon of the West for communication meant the distance was not short.
He also knew about what happened last night; Kaeya had left Mondstadt today to find Eula at Starfell Lake.
Acting Grand Master Jean did not speak, but instead handed the letter directly to him.
Albedo took it, his gaze quickly sweeping over the handwriting on the paper, and a hint of surprise and solemnity also flashed in his eyes.
—Kaeya's message was simple, yet highly impactful.
"An abnormal destruction event occurred at the Hilichurls camp north of Whispering Woods; battlefield remnants indicate—"
The battle happened in a very short time, and the Hilichurls had almost no chance to retaliate.
A large amount of strong Cryo power traces remained at the scene; it was not ordinary Cryo ability, but some kind of extreme, intensely cold power.
Destructive aura was detected in the air, consistent in nature with the Starfell Lake and Cider Lake incidents last night.
It is speculated that it might be related to the Abyss Order, which may be conducting some dangerous experiment, possibly involving Cryo, Pyro, and an unknown destructive energy.
Considering the Abyss Order's frequent activity around Mondstadt recently, it is recommended to raise the alert level, strengthen patrols, and immediately conduct a more in-depth investigation.
—Kaeya, Eula
Albedo put down the letter, his brows slightly furrowed, with a thoughtful expression.
Acting Grand Master Jean, on the other hand, took a deep breath, a flicker of vigilance in her eyes.
"According to their investigation, this time, a new aura has appeared again, and it's an extreme, intensely cold power."
Acting Grand Master Jean turned to Albedo, her voice low: "Albedo, in your Alchemy research, do you have anything similar to that violent, destructive energy?"
Albedo pondered for a moment, then slowly shook his head: "No… this energy completely exceeds the scope of conventional elemental power."
"Its existence itself signifies an anomaly."
"Moreover, now another power, different from Cryo, has appeared."
"The Abyss Order is very likely researching something dangerous."
Hearing this, Acting Grand Master Jean's eyes darkened, and she felt a faint unease in her heart.
The Abyss Order, Evil Eyes, destructive aura, and now the abnormally cold energy—
All these clues were gradually converging, intertwining into a vast web.
Yet, they were still unable to glimpse its full picture.
Acting Grand Master Jean gently clenched the letter, her gaze deep: "It seems we need to find out as soon as possible what is truly hidden behind this."
"For now, we can only rely on Eula and Kaeya."
Albedo rubbed his temples: "Fortunately, things are still calm within Mondstadt. I will rebuild the Alchemy Workshop in the next two days; you also need to be careful."