Inside the bushes.
Arkz let out a deep sigh.
"Alas!"
"To have such an outstanding older sister as Acting Head Jean, I truly wonder if it's a blessing or a curse for Barbara!"
"If Acting Head Jean could be my sister, I think I would be very happy."
Noelle imagined a wonderful scene of herself being Acting Head Jean's younger sister, but then she thought of Barbara, and upon seeing the terrifying image of herself becoming a burden to Acting Head Jean after becoming her sister, she was instantly startled awake.
"Ugh!"
Noelle wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and said, "Being Acting Head Jean's sister is indeed not an easy task."
Rosaria shook her head and said, "I don't have any sisters, so I can't understand Barbara's way of thinking. However, I suppose it's similar to those who desperately pursue a Vision but cannot obtain one."
"In my opinion, being able to obtain a Vision proves that Barbara's talent far surpasses ordinary people."
"It's just that in front of Acting Head Jean, a person who became one of the four winds at the age of twenty, any genius seems a bit lackluster."
Becoming the highest leader of Mondstadt at the age of twenty, even gaining the recognition and support of everyone in Mondstadt, including the gods, was as absurd as Fujiwara Chika becoming Prime Minister.
Fischl also sighed helplessly. In her view, Barbara was already outstanding enough and worked hard enough, but unfortunately, Acting Head Jean was more outstanding and worked harder than anyone else; this was truly undeniable.
The gazes of the crowd once again shifted to the pavilion, only to see that the two had already walked out from within.
Barbara stood with her hands clasped in a prayer gesture, and an artifact shining with golden light appeared on her chest.
Barbara waved her hand gently, and the feather sparkling with dazzling golden light obediently hovered in front of her.
A five-star artifact, Feather of Death, 'The Maiden's Gentle Thoughts,' with a Crit DMG/Crit Rate substat combination.
The golden light illuminated Barbara's face, making her look sacred and noble.
"Sister, do you know?"
"I originally thought I had accepted the fact that I lacked combat talent."
"But the trial of the North Wind Wolf made me realize that I am not a weakling after all!"
"Even gentle water can transform into a destructive tsunami!!!"
Inside the bushes.
Arkz kept his head down, pretending not to know anything, but the three icy gazes on him made it impossible for him to deceive himself.
Fischl: "Stare—!"
Noelle: "Stare—!"
Rosaria: "Stare—!"
Arkz could only raise his hands in surrender helplessly: "Alright, alright, I didn't expect that the top-tier artifacts I gave away would actually become the fuse for a quarrel between Barbara and Acting Head Jean."
Rosaria said faintly, "After all that, the root of all evil is you, kid!"
Fischl crossed her arms: "It was you, kid!"
After hesitating for a second, Noelle also imitated the two, crossed her arms, and said: "Kid!"
Looking at Noelle's bewildered eyes, it was clear that this simple girl hadn't understood what she had just said.
Seeing the flames of war about to engulf him, Arkz immediately used his old trick again and diverted the trouble eastward: "Look over there, Barbara is making a new move!"
Acting Head Jean looked at the Feather of Death in Barbara's hand and said dejectedly, "Barbara, I never thought you were a weakling."
"You... have always been my little sister!"
Barbara smiled.
She walked behind Acting Head Jean, reached out, and wrapped her arms around her neck, acting spoiled like a little girl:
"Then Sister, why did you stop me from joining the Adventurers Guild?"
Acting Head Jean was immediately speechless.
Inside the bushes, Arkz and the others cautiously peeked out, trying to get a little closer to hear. They hadn't clearly heard what Barbara whispered into Acting Head Jean's ear just now.
Therefore, the four of them unconsciously leaned sideways, trying to shorten the distance to hear more clearly.
Barbara let out a cold laugh, her originally light blue eyes turning a deep black, and a mocking smile appeared on her face as her arms exerted more and more force.
"You don't dare to say it?"
"Then I'll say it!!!"
"Because you worry about me!"
"Because you are afraid that I will encounter danger!!"
"Because you think I am—a weakling!!!"
Black mist emanated from Barbara's body. Her originally charming and lovely face became ferocious, and her tied-up twin tails scattered and were blown high up by the wind.
Acting Head Jean, whose neck was being gripped by Barbara, felt pain at this moment but was unwilling to struggle for fear of hurting Barbara. She could only reach out a hand and say with difficulty:
"Ba~ba~ra!"
"I never thought you were a weakling!"
"You are my—sister!"
Upon hearing the word "sister," Barbara's pupils constricted, her gaze cleared, and the strength in her hands lessened. Acting Head Jean, having lost support, slid down and collapsed onto the ground.
Thud!
Just then, a loud crash came from inside the bushes. Arkz and the other three fell down in a heap, with Arkz at the bottom acting as a human cushion.
It turned out that when the four of them saw the two sisters actually starting to fight, they got so excited that they forgot they were all stacked on top of each other, resulting in them crashing into each other, creating chaos on the spot.
The group struggled to their feet. Arkz, standing at the very front, scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly.
"Uh, what a coincidence. We were just taking a walk earlier and thought the scenery here was nice, so we stopped here for a rest."
Barbara revealed a sarcastic smile: "A walk! Can a walk lead you all into the bushes!!!"
"Forget it. It has nothing to do with me who you, you fickle playboy, like."
"Since you are all here, be my witness!"
Fischl asked curiously, "A witness? What witness?"
Barbara pointed at Acting Head Jean, who had just been helped up by Noelle, and said coldly, "Right here, she and I will have a match!"
"Sister, I am very curious whether you are truly stronger than me!!!"
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