The Treasure Hoarder members exchanged glances, then all lowered their heads.
Their leader, Strange Bird, knelt on the ground. At this moment, he no longer had even a trace of his former arrogance.
"Please let me go. I beg you. I can atone for my crimes. I know the locations of many Treasure Hoarder groups. As long as you spare me, I am willing to betray them."
Seeing their boss completely lose his backbone, the Treasure Hoarder members became even clearer about the choices they would face in the future.
But even though his attitude was so humble, Kaeya's expression did not change in the slightest.
"Forgiveness? Heh. Have you ever thought about how heartbroken the people you robbed felt afterward? Let me help you remember."
Kaeya took out a notebook and began to read aloud with a solemn expression.
"On March eighth of this year, Strange Bird stole an elderly man's property on a rainy night. He also took his wife's paintings. Driven to despair, the old man chose to end his own life."
"On December seventh last year, you stole a merchant's contract, causing his business to collapse. His mother was undergoing medical treatment at the time, but because they could not afford the expenses, she ultimately died at home."
"There are many more incidents like this. A criminal as heinous as you truly believes you can atone for your sins?"
"Strange Bird, your body has long been soaked in blood debts!"
Faced with Kaeya's judgment,
this Treasure Hoarder leader, whose name had echoed across multiple nations, finally lowered his head, because he understood that only death awaited him.
Several hours later.
Mondstadt held a grand public trial.
Countless Treasure Hoarder members were arrested, greatly boosting public morale and happiness.
...
Comic shop.
Su Han was chatting with Paimon and Lumine.
"Only after going to Wolvendom did we learn that Razor was raised by wolves, and that there was actually a giant wolf sleeping there. It was really huge. Just looking at it was terrifying. But after our unremitting efforts, the matter was finally resolved."
"What a wonderful adventure," Su Han said.
Receiving Su Han's praise, the two of them smiled brightly.
At the same time, Lumine's strength had increased rapidly during this period, especially in her use of the Golden Light Mantra and Thunder Arts, which she applied with great skill.
She had already reached the Minor Accomplishment stage.
After chatting for a while, Su Han asked about Aether.
Lumine's expression immediately dimmed. She gently shook her head and said, "Since that meeting ended, I have tried to find more traces of him in Mondstadt, but unfortunately there are no leads at all."
"Then what do you plan to do? Stay here, or head to Liyue?"
There were no major events left in Mondstadt. Continuing to stay would be a waste of time, unless that Khaenri'ah swordsman showed up.
Facing Su Han's question, Paimon did not dare make a decision and turned to look at Lumine.
"I plan to search a bit more. If that still doesn't work, I will go to rely on you next week. When the time comes, I am afraid I will trouble you again."
In truth, Lumine also understood that her brother was the Prince of the Abyss, with an incomparably lofty status.
Those who acted on his behalf were all members of the Abyss Order. Naturally, finding news about him was extremely difficult.
Therefore, she had now changed her thinking. Not only did she want to find her brother, she also wanted to uncover the root cause of his fall.
"What trouble? We are all friends. Here, take this. If you encounter anything in the future, you can use it to contact me."
Looking at the small item Su Han handed over, Paimon widened her eyes.
"Hey, wait. Isn't this a Telephone Snail? You, where did you get this?" (TL/N: Not a phone bug anymore? lmao.)
Lumine also looked utterly shocked.
She had never imagined that Su Han would possess such a treasure.
With a Telephone Snail, contacting others in the future would be much more convenient.
"Of course it is my father's treasure. Alright, let's head out of the city. I will give Lumine some guidance in martial skills, and then it will be time for me to leave."
"Mhm."
Over the next several hours,
Su Han accompanied Lumine in training. It had to be said that she was truly diligent. Not only had she mastered the Golden Light Mantra to perfection, even her Thunder Arts had reached a small level of achievement.
Techniques like Palm Thunder came to her effortlessly.
"Good strikes. Let's stop here for now."
"Huff. You have gotten stronger again."
During their exchange just now, Lumine clearly noticed that Su Han was holding back.
But no matter how she adjusted her offensive tactics, the other party could always defend with ease.
It was simply like playing with a child.
"Of course. After all, I have the bloodline of an immortal beast. Add to that a large number of treasures, so becoming stronger is only natural."
After the cultivation ended,
Su Han did not leave immediately. Instead, he sat cross-legged and explained the earlier sparring session to Lumine.
With guidance from an expert like him, Lumine quickly understood where she was lacking.
An hour later.
Su Han stood up and prepared to leave. Looking at Lumine's small face, he reminded her, "Remember, no matter what happens, never rush."
"Yes, I will."
Lumine understood what Su Han meant. So she would not be impatient. Accumulation was always the foundation of progress.
As long as she continued to grow stronger, one day she would find her blood relative.
Watching Su Han's departing figure, Paimon asked, "Why don't we just follow him directly?"
Staying for a whole week like this meant spending their own Mora.
Hearing this, Lumine shot her a glance and snorted softly. "All you know is how to take advantage of others. If you like Su Han so much, why don't you just go with him? Mondstadt is still in ruins and in need of rebuilding. If we leave, who will help the Knights of Favonius?"
"So that's how it is. You are right. Hehe."
Only then did Paimon remember that they still had several commissions on hand.
If they left just like that, those clients would definitely be heartbroken.
...
Inazuma.
Konda Village.
Kaedehara Kazuha stopped an elderly villager and asked, "Hello, may I ask where the village chief's house is?"
"You are looking for the village chief? His home is in that direction."
"Thank you, elder."
"No need, no need."
After bidding farewell to the passerby,
Kaedehara Kazuha arrived near the village chief's house. After some searching, he soon discovered that dry well.
"This should be the place that my lord mentioned, right?"
He took out his weapon, cleared away the weeds nearby, and then jumped down.
Inside, it was empty and extremely dim.
But when Kaedehara Kazuha landed at the bottom of the well, he saw faint glimmers of light flash by.
Although there was some water flow here, it was only a trickle and did not hinder movement at all.
Reaching the bottom of the well,
Kaedehara Kazuha was very puzzled. How did my lord, who had never been to Inazuma, know the secret of this small village?
Moreover, judging from the moss nearby, no one had come here for a very long time.
"Forget it. I should investigate first."
Kaedehara Kazuha groped his way forward, spending a full half hour before finally reaching a cavern.
He did not enter immediately. Instead, he restrained his breathing and stood at the entrance, quietly observing.
When Kaedehara Kazuha saw the shrine maiden, his eyes immediately lit up.
"I have found the target!"
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