The aura of destruction was far too strong—so strong it had already surpassed the boundaries of any normal elemental reaction.
If Klee had somehow triggered an unknown power while using those bombs—if she had, without realizing it, become part of some experiment…
Then her current safety needed to be reassessed immediately.
Klee must not come to harm.
At that thought, Albedo's expression darkened instantly.
"Jean."
He finally spoke, his voice deep and solemn. "I need to see Klee. Right now."
Jean's eyes sharpened. "Let's go."
The two wasted no more time and quickly turned toward the Knights of Favonius Headquarters.
Once Albedo mentioned Klee, Jean too realized the implications.
They needed to question her carefully.
"I'm starting to suspect," Albedo muttered as they strode down the corridor, brows furrowed, "that the Abyss Order's operation last night… might've been to find Klee's bombs."
"According to your report, Klee threw some bombs at Starfell Lake yesterday, and the explosions caused quite a stir."
"As far as I know, Klee sometimes likes to hide her bombs, usually around places like Windrise."
"So, before she retrieves them, even she doesn't always know how powerful they are."
"Yesterday she brought one back, caused that commotion at Starfell Lake, got locked up in the little Knights of Favonius Headquarters… but her backpack and the bombs were left behind."
"Then last night, the Fatui elites were attacked. They even used Delusions, yet couldn't hold their ground."
"And at the scene—traces of this exact same energy remained."
"This—"
Jean's eyelids twitched violently as the dots began to connect in her mind.
Could it be that the Abyss Order's actions last night were because of Klee's bombs?
They'd even fought the Fatui in Mondstadt over it?
And wiped out the Fatui elites stationed here?
"No, that doesn't add up."
Albedo shook his head the next moment. "For someone to slip in and out of Mondstadt unseen in such a short time… aside from Vision holders, only Abyss Mages could manage that. But why would they attack Fatui?"
"There's no reason for that."
"Unless—the Abyss Order infiltrated Mondstadt to search for the backpack, and happened to run into Fatui."
Jean hesitated, thinking it over. "The Fatui could've pursued them, and the Abyss Order fought back, killing them. That would explain the traces you found."
"Seems plausible."
Albedo's eyes flickered. "Then could it be… Klee herself was targeted by the Abyss Order last night?"
"Impossible."
Jean shook her head firmly. "The Knights of Favonius Headquarters is under multiple protective enchantments.Even the Abyss Order couldn't enter undetected. I checked on Klee myself before resting last night—she was sleeping soundly."
"This morning she only asked me for some materials, said she wanted to do a little research. I didn't give her anything like gunpowder."
"Either way, let's see her first and ask what's going on."
"I'm worried," Albedo said softly, "that the Abyss Order's plot somehow involves Klee."
At that, Jean's expression hardened.
Indeed—Klee must not be harmed.
The two quickened their pace toward Klee's confinement room in the Knights of Favonius Headquarters.
At that moment, the setting sun cast golden-red light over Mondstadt's high walls, illuminating the travelers returning home.
The streets were still bustling, people moving to and fro.
With the Knights of Favonius maintaining order, the townsfolk were beginning to calm down.
Still, that thick column of black smoke rising into the sky was a jarring sight—like a war signal in the dusk.
From afar, a corner of Mondstadt was shrouded in it, and even from outside the gate one could see the smoke billowing upward, a faint smell of burning drifting in the air.
"Hah…!!"
Fischl, crossing the great stone bridge leading to Mondstadt's gate, suddenly stopped. Her violet eyes widened as she spread her arms dramatically, her cloak fluttering in the breeze.
"Has the shadow of the Demon King already begun to devour Mondstadt's skies? Is this the prelude to the Great Calamity—!?"
Oz sighed beside her, translating in his usual flat tone, "My lady means to say, she's quite surprised at such a large explosion in the city."
Kairo, who was walking back with them, glanced up at the scene, eyes narrowing slightly.
An explosion?
Who inside Mondstadt had recklessly ignited a Pyro Element reaction?
He didn't think much of it, merely adjusted the weight of the sack on his shoulder and continued toward the city gate.
The moment they stepped through, several Knights of Favonius stationed there spotted them.
"Kairo!"
One of the knights waved cheerfully, clearly familiar with him. His gaze fell on the two bulging sacks Kairo carried and he raised his brows. "Looks like you had a good haul today—two full bags?"
Kairo smiled faintly. "Not bad."
Fischl lifted her chin proudly, her voice ringing with self-satisfaction. "Hmph! Naturally! How could the Prinzessin der Verurteilung return empty-handed from the Whispering Woods?"
Oz translated dutifully, "My lady means, our harvest today was quite fruitful."
Kairo chuckled, then glanced back toward the smoke rising within the city. "What happened there?"
The knight blinked, then quickly realized what he meant. His face grew serious. "Ah—you mean the explosion?"
"It was Albedo's alchemy workshop. There was a major blast. Acting Grand Master Jean is already there, and the Knights are handling it."
"Thankfully the surrounding streets weren't affected, but the workshop itself was heavily damaged."
"Nothing too serious otherwise."
Kairo's expression turned subtly strange.
Albedo's workshop exploded?
As Mondstadt's greatest alchemist, even if an experiment went wrong, he'd always keep it within a safe, controllable range.
No way would he cause an explosion visible across the entire city.
Wait—
A sudden thought struck Kairo. His face stiffened slightly.
Yesterday, he'd helped Klee with that backpack bomb—imbuing it with Kairo's Crimson Echo.
His lips twitched.
Could it be… Albedo had been studying those bombs and accidentally blew himself up?
No, that didn't make sense.
Klee had the bombs on her—she was confined in the little room, and she always took her backpack with her.
"Ahem."
Kairo coughed lightly and decided not to dwell on it.
Whatever it was, it had nothing to do with him.
Beside him, Fischl was still gazing excitedly toward the black smoke, eyes shining as though she were witnessing the birth of some grand conspiracy.
She clapped Kairo on the shoulder, her gaze sparkling. "Come! Since this calamity unfolds within the city, it is only fitting that we bear witness to it!"
Kairo: "..."
"Let's turn in our quest at the Adventurers' Guild first," he said with a sigh, "and settle the rewards."
With that, he started toward the heart of Mondstadt.
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