"Barbatos?"
Diluc looked at Kai with some surprise.
This guess clearly made him feel it was a bit too bold. As for Venti, he showed a surprised look, couldn't help but look at Kai, anticipating his answer.
"Yes, it should be Barbatos."
Kai organized his thoughts and explained: "The Fatui's purpose in seizing the Holy Lyre der Himmel should be the same as ours: to summon Dvalin."
"But there's a difference: our purpose in summoning Dvalin is to purify him, but the Fatui... should be trying to use Dvalin's identity to lure out Anemo Archon Barbatos."
"The Anemo Archon has been gone from Mondstadt for nearly a thousand years, why do you make such a judgment?"
At this moment, the real Barbatos, disguised as a Bard, stood before him. Hearing this guy, who had seen through his identity, seriously explaining, he couldn't help but show a look of extreme confusion.
"The reason is very simple, isn't it?"
Kai answered with extreme ease.
"Dvalin is, after all, The Anemo Archon's former familiar and one of the Four Winds. If his conflict with Mondstadt has reached an irreconcilable point, even leading to the brink of being hunted down,"
"Even if Anemo Archon Barbatos is as free-spirited as ever, he clearly wouldn't ignore it and would have no choice but to personally appear to resolve this trouble."
At this point, Kai paused.
He then continued: "The Fatui's coveting of The Anemo Archon's power is not a new thing."
"Given that, whether it's the so-called small vial containing The Anemo Archon's aura, or The Anemo Archon's former familiar, Dvalin... the power they possess, how can it be as valuable as Anemo Archon Barbatos himself?"
"After all, even the weakest Archon is still an Archon!"
This reasoning, if analyzed carefully, isn't impossible to deduce, but no one except Kai dared to even consider it.
Although there were many contests between the Fatui and Mondstadt, to say that the other party dared to set their sights on a god, even Jean probably couldn't imagine it.
For most people on the continent of Teyvat, the Seven Archons were supreme beings, practically the foundation of the world's order.
In such circumstances, mortals... even those with a Vision, could only worship them. How could anyone dare to harbor thoughts about a god?
"Kai, your guess... is too bold."
Taking a deep breath, slightly alleviating the horror in her heart, Jean couldn't help but say.
"But it's not impossible. After all, the current Anemo Archon is widely recognized as the weakest of the Seven Archons. Having left Mondstadt for over a thousand years, he probably doesn't have much power left, right?"
Barbatos spread his hands and showed an innocent smile, completely without hesitation in admitting his weak strength.
"Of course, no matter how weak, an Archon is still an Archon."
"It's hard to say what would happen if we really fought, oh."
Why do I feel like he's saying that specifically for me?
Noticing Barbatos's somewhat evasive gaze, Kai couldn't help but ponder.
Hmm... the more one fears something, the more one tries to act as if nothing is wrong and conceal it.
Which means this guy Barbatos is still thinking about what I said in the tavern, and is really afraid I'll beat him up?
"That's truly quite good."
Kai couldn't help but smile.
The more afraid he was, the more he could extort. This was a good sign.
Barbatos was a bit unnerved by Kai's smile and quickly looked in another direction, lightly coughing.
"In any case, there's no time to lose. Let's head to Starsnatch Cliff now. However, Mr. Kai's consideration is also correct. What if the Fatui's target really is The Anemo Archon himself?"
"Perhaps our current operation will also be interfered with by those guys?"
"In that case, I'll monitor Snezhnaya's diplomatic delegation in Mondstadt."
Lisa stretched lazily like a sleepy cat, her voice extremely languid, making one's heart tingle a bit.
"After all, Starsnatch Cliff is really too far. I don't want to make another trip. Compared to summoning Dvalin..."
"It's clearly more befitting a mage's identity to play hide-and-seek with Snezhnaya's envoys, you know."
Lisa was not only the librarian of Mondstadt City but also belonged to the Hexenzirkel, excelling in various strange and unusual magic.
Having her stay in Mondstadt was indeed a good idea.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Lisa."
Jean said with utmost seriousness.
Although this task seemed easy, monitoring Snezhnaya's diplomats clearly carried a certain degree of risk.
"Don't worry, I'll wait for everyone to return in Mondstadt."
"I'll go on ahead."
Waving his hand, Lisa quickly left the office after saying that.
"Without further ado, we shall depart immediately."
Jean turned around.
Taking a deep breath, she said with a serious expression, "This mission concerns the future of all Mondstadt. I hope everyone can stay focused and give it their all."
"May the Anemo Archon protect you all!"
"Yes, Acting Grand Master!"
Kai responded cooperatively.
Noticing the atmosphere was a bit off, Jean suddenly realized that this wasn't a Knights of Favonius expedition.
She lowered her head, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"My... my apologies, I thought I was still leading the Knights of Favonius on an expedition. It's a habit."
"Ah ~ it's fine, it's fine. After all, in our hearts, Jean will always be the Acting Grand Master."
Kai smiled lightly and stepped forward to defuse the situation, naturally taking Jean's hand and whispering in her ear, "I don't care what others think, but Jean will always be my Acting Grand Master."
"Mm…"
Her earlobes turned red.
Noticing that no one else seemed to have noticed, Jean breathed a slight sigh of relief, facing her husband's smiling face.
Suddenly, something came to mind, and she instinctively blurted out, "Then what is Kai?"
"I'm your Knight, why even ask?"
Leaving the Knights of Favonius Headquarters, Kai narrowed his eyes, looking at the bustling streets of Mondstadt not far away.
"A Knight specifically guarding the Acting Grand Master."
"Or to be more specific…"
"A Knight who wants to protect Jean, and everything Jean wishes to protect."
Kai turned around and looked at his wife beside him.
He scratched his head and smiled, "Anyway, that's roughly what I think."