"Ahaha... Everyone looking at me like this makes me nervous."
As Master Kai's words fell, all eyes in the vicinity immediately focused, making Barbatos feel immense pressure.
Facing these few distinctly different gazes, Barbatos scratched his head, his smile extremely awkward.
"Street performer!"
"How dare you lie to us?"
Paimon flew over, huffing and puffing.
Staring at Barbatos, anger appeared on her innocent face; she seemed genuinely upset.
"I and Lumine tried every possible way to find the God of Anemo, but the actual god was right in front of us, not only did you not tell us your identity, you also pretended to be a good person and guided us to approach the God of Anemo through Dvalin."
"Wait a minute!"
"You weren't trying to trick us from beginning to end, with the goal of getting us to help solve the Stormterror problem, were you?"
No, you're just realizing that?
Seeing Paimon's questioning tone,
Master Kai was slightly stunned, and looked at the other party with a bit of disbelief.
Speaking of which, this kind of thing... basically, once Barbatos's true identity was known, it could be easily deduced, there was no need to ask another question, right?
No... it seems Paimon was the one asking the questions.
Uh... then never mind.
"Hehe... sorry, sorry."
Seeing Paimon's despairing expression, as if she had been deceived, even Barbatos, who was always known for his freedom and casualness, couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt when faced with her innocent look.
"How about when we go back, I'll play a song for everyone?"
"Consider it compensation?"
"And it's free, of course!"
Barbatos proudly raised his head, as if the last sentence would earn him significant bonus points.
"No, rather than that, I still hope you can settle the bill from the tavern earlier."
"Diluc, what do you think?"
Kai glanced at him expressionlessly.
Trying to get away with that?
Dream on!
"Agreed."
Diluc nodded in agreement.
His gaze at Barbatos was filled with something called displeasure.
"I'll go to the tavern, organize the bill, and give it to this Bard."
"Don't worry, as acquaintances who've fought alongside each other."
"I'll give you a discount."
Seeing Barbatos's face instantly show the same despair as Paimon, only to have new hope ignite as his words fell, Diluc paused slightly before continuing.
"I'll give you a discount of... ten Mora?"
"Pfft, hahahaha~"
Paimon couldn't hold back and burst out laughing on the spot.
It wasn't that the joke was that funny.
It was purely the visual impact of Diluc's poker face suddenly delivering such a line in such a cold voice that was truly terrifying.
At this moment, let alone Paimon, even Kai's lips were twitching as he tried to hold back.
He clearly hadn't expected Diluc to deliver a joke with such a strong visual impact.
Hmm... though it was still a bit odd.
"Ugh... how could this happen?"
Barbatos hung his head in despair.
As a dignified god, to be targeted by the people he governed—if this were in any other country, they wouldn't be able to imagine such a scene even if they racked their brains.
"Of course, you can also choose to run, but you know, my wife is the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius."
Kai showed a charming smile: "If you get caught, you'll go straight to jail... I imagine the people there would quite like someone as fair-skinned and tender as you, huh?"
"Kai..."
Jean's face couldn't help but show a hint of worry.
After all, she was a Knight raised in a proper noble family. Although she had roughly sensed before that this god, once regarded as free and easygoing, was indeed a bit unreliable.
But no matter what, he was the founder of Mondstadt, Anemo Archon Barbatos. Given Jean's personality, she clearly couldn't joke around as casually as Kai and Diluc.
She even worried that if they truly angered the God of Anemo, her husband might suffer some harm.
Because no matter what.
He was... the dignified God of Anemo.
"Bar... Master Venti."
She took a deep breath.
Facing this god who hadn't returned to Mondstadt for nearly a millennium, as the Acting Grand Master of the Favonius Knights, the Dandelion Knight, one of the Four Winds.
Jean's mood was a bit complex, and she had many questions she wanted to seek answers for from Barbatos.
"Acting Grand Master Jean, do you have questions for me?"
Although Barbatos's power had weakened to an unimaginable degree, his eyesight was still sharp, and he quickly understood Jean's thoughts.
"Yes..."
"Coincidentally, I also have questions I need to ask you."
Kai stared at Barbatos, suddenly remembering something.
For a moment, there was no hint of joking in his tone.
This was the truth... Regarding this world, although Kai had a general understanding through the memories in his mind, he still had a great deal of confusion about certain detailed issues. In this situation, as one of the longest-existing gods in the world, Kai should be able to obtain some answers he wanted through Barbatos.
And... he had planned to borrow something from Barbatos earlier.
Since their identities were revealed, he might as well get it done now.
"Hmm, a good idea."
Kai's heart filled with a sinister smile.
"The Traveler and I, also have questions..."
"Street performer, you seem to know quite a lot."
Paimon put her hands on her hips and looked up.
Noticing that most people present had questions, she couldn't help but exclaim.
"After all, I've existed for quite a long time, ahaha..."
Venti replied. Although being stared at by several people wasn't pleasant, it seemed that answering questions could somewhat ease the atmosphere, and Barbatos couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
However, for some reason, glancing at Kai not far away, Barbatos felt as if he saw a completely different Kai in the darkness than in reality—one with a sinister smile and burning eyes fixed on him.
Although he didn't feel much malice, it still made Barbatos's throat involuntarily twitch.
He just felt... a little flustered.
"Since that's the case, let's head back to Mondstadt first."
Kai suggested: "While we were out of the city, perhaps the Fatui might take the opportunity to do something inside. It's best to go back and check, for peace of mind, right?"
"I also agree with Kai's idea."
Jean nodded, giving her husband a gentle smile.
"In any case, let's return to Mondstadt first."
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