An ancestral sword was indeed a treasure, yet its whereabouts remained a mystery.
By blood, she was the rightful heir to the sword, but by status? That was less certain. For now, however, such trivial matters didn't need consideration.
Jean, realizing Luna was also the daughter of a hero, softened her expression slightly.
"Welcome back, Luna—you don't mind if I call you that, do you?"
Luna smiled warmly. "Of course. May I call you Sister Jean as well?"
Is she starting again? Chiori shot her a disdainful glance.
"Sister Jean..."
Jean seemed to recall something, her expression softening with nostalgia. It was likely related to Barbara beside her, but the sisters' relationship remained a closely guarded secret, known only to a few.
"Ahem, Luna," Furina interjected, "seeing as I was the Former Hydro Archon 500 years ago, shouldn't you give me a respectful title too? Of course, only occasionally."
Luna smiled faintly. "Fufu."
"Why that?!"
Jean smiled warmly. "The two of you seem to get along so well."
Her words seemed to plunge the atmosphere into freezing silence.
Chiori said expressionlessly, "Yes, they get along very well. How could they not, living together?"
Navia forced a few dry chuckles, but her eyes still held a hint of complexity. Lynette, true to form, folded her cat ears back, her expressionless demeanor radiating clear displeasure.
Arlecchino remained composed. "Miss Jean, could you take us to see the Hydrell Clan's residence?"
"Hmm? Ah, of course."
Jean was slightly confused. Had she said something to trigger such a reaction?
Their relationships are certainly complicated.
-
Jean led Luna and the others out of the Knights' Headquarters.
Along the way, she recounted the history of the Hydrell Clan, though not with the familiarity of someone reciting family lore, but rather with a thorough understanding of their legacy.
As they crossed the plaza, the melodious music caught Furina's attention.
"Piano music? Quite well played," she murmured.
Luna followed the sound to its source, spotting a young man sitting on a bench, playing the piano.
Accompanying the music was a clear, resonant voice, singing tales of past heroes. As the song ended, a cascade of glittering Mora coins clattered into the box before him.
"Wow, a wandering bard!" Navia's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Where there are knights, there must be wandering bards!
In truth, wherever heroes dwell, there must be storytellers to immortalize their deeds. In Liyue, they were storytellers; in Fontaine, opera singers; and in Mondstadt, naturally, wandering bards.
Furina nodded appreciatively, stepped forward, and dropped some Mora into the box.
"Well played."
The bard smiled faintly. "Thank you for your appreciation. You seem to be from Fontaine?"
"That's right."
"A pleasure to meet you. I'm Venti."
Jean's expression flickered briefly before she quickly regained her composure.
Barbatos himself? Arlecchino thought. First Morax in Liyue, now Barbatos here. We certainly have an affinity for deities.
Luna, Navia, and Lynette each tossed in a few Mora coins.
Chiori, however, eyed him suspiciously, sensing a similarity between this man and the Zhongli she had met earlier...
Venti's delight grew even stronger. "Wow, so much Mora already, and I just woke up! Today must be my lucky day! Heh heh heh, you all seem to be esteemed guests of Acting Grand Master Jean. In that case, I'll serenade you with a few songs for free!"
"Free?"
"Free. Though, if you'd like to treat me to a drink, I wouldn't object."
Furina sighed. "Why does he feel like an old man, just like that Zhongli we met earlier?"
"He's the old man, not me! I'm still quite young, ehe!"
Venti's gaze swept across the group, landing first on Furina and then on Luna. Noticing Luna's crimson eyes and golden hair, he nodded sagely.
He gently plucked the strings of his lyre and began to sing an ancient ballad:
Flames ignited within her eyes,The blood of foes and monsters etched in her pupils,Staining all in crimson hue.Though unseen by others,With her own body and righteous spirit,She forged a blade that could cleave iron like mud—A sword unbreakable, invincible—The Azure Radiance of Hydrell!
"Thank you for enjoying The Sword of Hydrell."
Furina's expression shifted to surprise. "How did you know about Luna's—?"
Venti chuckled and closed the box. "One day, let me enjoy your performance too, Lady Furina, Miss Luna. Alright, Mora acquired! Time for some fine wine! Eheheheh."
Ugh, what a drunkard! Didn't he just say he'd just woken up? Furina involuntarily took a step back.
Venti skipped off cheerfully.
"Why do we keep running into such strange characters along the way?" Chiori sighed.
"Same here," Lynette nodded in agreement.
Jean hesitated, wanting to say that Mondstadt wasn't usually like this, but—
"Ohohoho! My familiar, Oz! Let us celebrate! Fate has once again guided us from our slumber..."
A flamboyant laughter echoed from the distance.
Chiori's eyes widened. "Furina, could your sister be here?"
"Impossible!"
Jean cleared her throat. "Let's keep moving. Don't be surprised; this is quite normal in Mondstadt."
Because Mondstadt is a land of freedom.
-
"This is the Hydrell Clan's mansion," Jean explained. "We send people here regularly to clean, so you don't need to worry about it being dirty or in disarray."
With that, Jean bid them farewell and departed. Though still wary of Arlecchino, she seemed to trust Luna—or rather, Luna as the daughter of a hero.
"This mansion is quite grand!" Navia marveled.
Lynette nodded. "It certainly looks like it's been here for ages."
The mansion's interior was decorated in a simple, antique style with ample natural light, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere. Jean had also mentioned that if they wished to stay in Mondstadt, they could use the mansion as their own.
After all, it already belonged to Luna.
"Looks like a house just dropped from the sky, Luna," Chiori teased.
"Would you like to live here?" Luna asked.
"If you live here, I'll live here."
Luna smiled. "I wouldn't live here."
This was the home of knights, not a Phantom Thief's lair. As she thought this, she glanced at Furina, who was admiring a painting, and at Arlecchino and Lynette, who seemed deep in thought.
Feeling her way up the stairs to the second-floor study, Luna began searching through the many records of the Hydrell Clan's past.
Every generation of the Hydrell Clan produced heroes, the only difference being the scale of their renown.
Even her mother, Gwendolyn Hydrell, who never served as a knight, mentioned in her letters home many deeds she had accomplished.
Luna picked up the letter, its yellowed paper bearing elegant script.
"This is from my mother..."
She glanced at the portraits on the wall.
Generations of Hydrell Clan members gazed down at her in silent judgment.
"It's a pity I'm not a knight, and never will be," Luna murmured with a soft laugh.
Her mother's portrait wasn't yet among them, but then another caught her eye.
Long golden hair, crimson eyes, and a sharp, uncompromising gaze—this woman clearly wasn't someone to be trifled with.
Yet this formidable woman had given birth to Luna, bestowed upon her the name "Luna," and left her at the orphanage's doorstep.
Luna's fingertips traced the portrait lightly.
Such an unfamiliar face, she thought. Yet somehow... familiar.
She heard footsteps approaching.
"Luna, you've now seen with your own eyes and heard with your own ears many stories about your biological parents."
Arlecchino approached Luna from behind and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"It's time you learned the full story," Arlecchino said gently. "Of course, you can prepare yourself first. I'll reveal everything when we return to Fontaine."
"There's no need," Luna replied with a faint smile. "I'd rather hear it here and now."
Arlecchino studied Luna, detecting no trace of confusion or sorrow on her face. Perhaps her acting is so refined it can even deceive "Father," she thought.
"As you wish," Arlecchino said, producing a document and handing it to Luna.
"Your birth parents were elite members of the Adventurer's Guild. They dedicated their lives to saving lives and upholding justice, earning the trust of many. However, their unwavering principles also drew the attention of enemies who sought to crush them."
Were.So they're dead after all. Luna wasn't surprised.
She opened the folder and began reading the information inside.
"At the time, they had already given birth to you. Their enemies used their friends as bait, luring them deep into enemy territory where they ultimately met their end at the hands of their pursuers."
"The Sword of Hydrell, a family heirloom, may also have fallen into their hands—most of the gang members 'confessed' to the murders."
"Though doubts remained, the Court of Justice declared the case closed due to insufficient evidence after the trial."
Arlecchino leaned close to Luna's ear.
"But the true killers of your biological parents are still alive. They faked their deaths to evade further investigation, washed their hands of their crimes, and now live in seclusion in a remote corner of Fontaine."
"I've had them under surveillance this entire time, and they haven't left their hideout. If you remain uninterested in your origins, I'll eliminate them soon—that was one of my original plans."
"However, if you wish to uncover your family history and learn everything, I'll leave the decision to you."
"Luna, what do you intend to do?"
What do I intend to do?
Luna raised her head and gazed at the portraits of past Hydrell Knights lining the wall. Their silent gazes seemed to echo the question: What do you intend to do?
Luna Hydrell, what do you intend to do?
"I..."
Luna moved her lips, then a smile curled across them. She picked up the white mask.
"...Wherever there's treasure, Phantom Thief White Cat will be there."
Arlecchino smiled faintly. "Yes, Luna. Take your revenge. Make them realize who the true prey is. I'll help you achieve this goal."
Let's consider this a long-overdue "father-daughter" collaboration.
Luna turned her gaze back to the portrait, her decision made.
"It's a pity, but I have no intention of inheriting the Hydrell name. My name is Luna Snezhevna, and I am also the Phantom Thief White Cat, who steals treasures."
"Even if you're ashamed of me, it won't affect me."
After two or three days, once Furina and the others had enjoyed Mondstadt to their hearts' content, Luna declared it was time to return to Fontaine. The journey to uncover her origins had come to an end.
Only one thing remained.
To steal the treasure!