Knights of Favonius Headquarters
"Acting Grand Master? You're still working this late?"
Barbara happened to arrive just as "Jean" was briskly walking through the main hall. She had hesitated for a long time before coming… only to realize she might've chosen the worst timing.
Though honestly, her sister was always this busy.
"Barbara? You're here for the Holy Lyre?"
Venti—currently transformed as Jean—lifted his head. For a moment he hadn't noticed her. Without waiting for her reply, he instinctively assumed she'd come to reclaim the lyre.
Hmm? Where is it…?
He patted himself down.
Nothing.
"I'm not here for that, I—"
"One moment! I think I left it in the office!"
Before Barbara could even finish, Venti turned on his heel and hurried off again.
Barbara exhaled a long, long sigh.
Honestly… does she have to be this frantic every time?
But she was used to it.
And since Jean said the Lyre could be returned, Barbara assumed whatever crisis had required it was resolved.
"Jean—what's wrong?"
Lisa had almost called him Venti, but with Barbara present she immediately corrected herself.
"Barbara wants the Holy Lyre. I'll give it to her now."
Venti grabbed the instrument from Jean's desk and moved toward the door—
"Jean."
Lisa called sharply.
He paused.
"What is it?"
"Stay with Barbara for a moment. We'll handle the… other matter."
The look Lisa gave him carried the whole meaning:
Storming the Fatui without evidence is suicide— diplomatically and literally.
But Venti shook his head instantly.
"No."
He didn't even think.
He couldn't just sit still anymore.
He refused to repeat the mistake of inaction.
"Ah—if you two need to discuss something, I'll… leave first."
Barbara clutched the Lyre and hurried out. She didn't understand the conversation, but she knew Jean's moods well enough not to get in the way.
"Venti," Rita stepped forward gently, "without evidence, confronting Fatui will escalate immediately. This concerns national diplomacy. War, even. We must tread carefully."
Venti rubbed his forehead. He knew she was right.
But—
"Venti, listen to me," Rita leaned in. "If you can transform into Jean… can you not transform into someone else?"
"…Of course I can—wait. You want me to disguise myself before approaching Fatui?"
In that instant it clicked.
Why didn't I think of this earlier?!
"Exactly. Since you're stronger than any of their envoys, infiltration is safer than direct confrontation.
Enter the Goth Grand Hotel quietly… or catch one of them alone. There's no need to confront them outright—they'll never confess anyway."
Lisa nodded approvingly.
Kaeya gave Rita a playful grin.
"As expected of Miss Rita. Beautiful, brilliant, elegant, powerful… I'm sure you have quite the list of admirers chasing after you."
This bastard…
Diluc crossed his arms, expression darkening.
But he couldn't deny Kaeya wasn't wrong.
Still—why was someone like Rita working as a maid, of all things?
Who was her employer?
He glanced at her.
The mystery only deepened.
Rita smiled at Kaeya sweetly.
"Captain Kaeya certainly enjoys discussing others. That habit may offend someone one day~"
Kaeya's smile froze.
"…Just a joke. Please don't mind me."
Yes.
A terrifying woman indeed.
"I've decided who to transform into," Venti suddenly announced.
"Oh?" Rita tilted her head. "And who might that be?"
"WENDY."
Rita: "…"
Lisa: "…"
Kaeya: "…"
Diluc: (deep sigh)
"Think about it!" Venti explained excitedly. "The Fatui have seen Wendy's power firsthand. If Wendy appears at their doorstep, they'll definitely panic and spill something. We just need a proper excuse for Wendy to intervene!"
It was insane.
Which meant it was perfect.
"Well… it could work," Lisa admitted. "But will you enter the hotel directly, or wait to corner someone outside?"
"That's what I need to think about," Venti said. "I'm not the real Wendy. I can't wield her world-breaking power."
Then he turned to Rita.
"Rita, can you help me with something?"
"Of course."
"If I use Anemo to disguise you as… Fu Hua—would you be able to play the part? The Fatui have witnessed her power too. If we show up together, no one will dare question us."
Rita went silent.
Because of all possible plans Venti could've made…
this one was dangerously close to being accurate.
She smiled softly.
"That's fine. I… know her well enough."
I can even play her perfectly, she added inwardly.
But she kept that part to herself.
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