"What should we do with the bodies?"
Kaeya asked casually, "If we just leave them here, once the Fatui notice their elites are missing, they'll do everything in their power to investigate."
"Clean up the scene completely. Leave no trace behind."
Jean's order was firm and decisive. "No one can be allowed to find out that a battle occurred here. The deaths of the Fatui elites must not cause unnecessary panic within the city."
"We don't need to report this to Fatui, nor can we ignore it entirely. Whether they grow suspicious or already know the reason behind their agents' deaths—it doesn't concern us. For now, we know nothing."
Jean's voice was steady and commanding. The Knights of Favonius immediately responded with a resounding, "Yes, ma'am!"
Cleanup began at once—burying, burning, scrubbing—
Every detail had to be handled flawlessly.
Time passed swiftly.
When the final corpse was dealt with, Jean closed her eyes briefly and drew a deep breath.
Then she raised her hand, summoning a gentle swirl of Anemo energy in her palm.
"Hu—"
A gust of wind spread outward, sweeping across the entire battlefield. It erased every trace of blood, scorch mark, and lingering elemental disturbance.
Moments later, the area had returned to a serene calm, as if nothing had ever happened here at all.
Kaeya watched the scene unfold and gave a soft, amused clap.
"As meticulous as ever, Acting Grand Master. Even the traces of wind itself are gone."
Jean ignored his teasing. Her expression remained cold and resolute. "All of this must remain confidential."
"No one outside of those present tonight can know about this battle."
"Understood."
The knights replied in unison, morale high, and quickly dispersed to resume their posts.
They knew full well how terrifying the scene they'd just witnessed was.
Kaeya stayed behind for a moment, his eyes lingering on the now-pristine street, the gray-blue of his irises glinting faintly.
"The Abyss Order, Delusions, Fatui elites being slaughtered, the Fatui trying to interfere in the city's defenses… and Stormterror's attacks…"
"Mondstadt's situation is getting messier by the day."
Kaeya rubbed his brow, muttering softly to himself.
Soon after, Jean departed.
Kaeya followed suit, intent on getting a rare good night's rest. Come morning, he planned to pay a visit to Starfell Lake.
The night passed without incident.
――――
The next morning.
Dawn light spilled through the clouds, bathing Mondstadt's red-tiled roofs in a warm, golden glow.
The darkness and bloodshed of the previous night seemed completely washed away by the tranquil morning.
A crisp freshness filled the air—the unmistakable scent of a new day.
Shopkeepers opened their doors one after another; merchants began hawking their wares.
The mingling sounds of chatter and bargaining filled the streets, bringing the city to vibrant life once more.
Kairo stood by his window, stretching lazily, rolling his shoulders to shake off the last traces of sleep.
Though he had fought fiercely the night before, after a good rest his body had recovered well.
More importantly, his bag was now filled with the spoils of that night—a trove of valuable materials.
Philanemo Mushrooms, along with several Mondstadt-exclusive plants and ores faintly imbued with elemental energy.
"Let's start the day by cashing some of these in," Kairo murmured, hefting the bag onto his shoulder before stepping out the door.
The morning air carried the gentle fragrance of freshly baked bread.
Mondstadt was, as always, peaceful and full of life.
Kairo walked leisurely down the street, passing early-rising adventurers and knights preparing for their daily duties—
some heading out on new commissions, others haggling with merchants to restock their supplies.
But as he passed the place where the Fatui elites had fallen last night, his steps faltered slightly, his gaze deepening.
The area had been completely restored.
The ground was spotless—no hint of the carnage that had taken place.
No scent of blood lingered in the air.
Every trace of battle—whether the Delusion's black flame scorch marks or the bloodstained stones—had been completely erased.
If he hadn't lived through that battle himself, even he wouldn't have believed that a massacre had occurred here just hours ago.
The only difference now was the patrols.
There were more Knights of Favonius stationed here than before—at least two additional members compared to a normal patrol.
Their expressions were sharp and alert, eyes constantly scanning their surroundings.
Clearly, they had been specifically assigned to watch this area.
Kairo glanced at them briefly, the corner of his mouth curling upward as a thoughtful gleam flashed in his eyes.
"The Knights of Favonius' efficiency is just as I expected."
He wasn't surprised.
Jean's decisiveness was well known, and the Knights' cleanup operations were always thorough.
Everything from last night had undoubtedly been contained and erased.
They had probably even used Anemo Element to purge the air itself of any lingering energy—leaving nothing that could be traced back.
"It seems the Knights have no intention of letting this incident leak out."
Smiling faintly, Kairo continued on his way, looking every bit like an ordinary citizen out for a morning stroll as he passed through the area without a care.
Before long, he reached Mondstadt's central plaza.
The familiar building of the Adventurers' Guild came into view.
The Guild was as lively as ever—
Several adventurers stood by the entrance discussing commissions, while inside, staff members were busy sorting and recording tasks at the front counter.
The air buzzed with the energy of constant activity.
Adventurers came and went, claiming quests or trading in spoils for Mora.
Kairo stepped inside, scanning the room until his eyes found a familiar figure.
Katheryne, the Guild's ever-calm receptionist, was behind the counter, meticulously recording data.
"To the stars and the abyss, Adventurer Kairo—welcome."
Katheryne looked up at his approach, her expression brightening into a professional smile. "What service can I assist you with today?"
Kairo nodded, stepping forward as he placed the heavy bag on the counter. "I went out exploring yesterday and gathered some resources. I'd like to exchange them for Mora."
Katheryne blinked, then lowered her gaze toward the bag.
She expected the usual—some herbs, maybe a handful of ores. After all, adventurers brought in similar things every day.
But as she untied the bag and caught sight of what was inside, her hands froze mid-motion.
Her pupils contracted slightly, astonishment flashing across her normally composed face.
"...This much?"
Her voice rose an octave, tinged with disbelief.
She quickly checked the contents—and found the bag packed full of Philanemo Mushrooms, along with several other valuable Mondstadt specialties.
"These… How did you gather so many?"
It was rare to see genuine surprise on Katheryne's face.
Philanemo Mushrooms were indeed a local specialty of Mondstadt—but notoriously difficult to harvest in large quantities.
They grew only in specific areas under the protection of the Anemo Archon, usually scattered and sparse.
Even seasoned adventurers could spend days searching and still come back with only a handful.
And yet here Kairo stood—with an entire sack full of them.
That's easily the combined yield of every major mushroom site across Windrise!
Before Katheryne could even continue her questions, the nearby adventurers had already taken notice.
"W-Wait! What's going on here?!"
"Archons above, are those all Philanemo Mushrooms? How did he even get that many?!"
"Don't tell me he went and turned all of Windrise upside down! That's impossible!"
"I've combed every inch of Windrise myself, and I've never seen half that many mushrooms!"
The guild instantly erupted into a chorus of disbelief, the buzz of astonished adventurers filling the hall.
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