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Chapter 102 - The Missing Bard

Kai rushed out of the church in a hurry.

As the heavy doors opened, what appeared before him…

It was a scene that was somewhat unexpected.

The imagined battle scene did not materialize.

At this moment… just a short distance away.

Lumine was looking into the distance with a puzzled expression.

Beside her, Paimon was also scratching her head, seemingly deep in thought.

"What happened?"

Although he wasn't sure what exactly was going on.

However, the moment he saw the two of them.

An instinctive, uneasy premonition arose in Kai's heart.

Coupled with the related plot point he had just recalled a short while ago.

It made him frown involuntarily.

"Am I too late?"

No… he shouldn't be too late.

As he remembered, when Barbatos's Gnosis was stolen.

There was a rather intense battle.

Although the frail god had almost no room to resist under the attack of the Fatui, who possessed the Cryo Archon's power.

Even the ice that had frozen his feet was extremely difficult to break free from.

But even so, the power that permeated after such a battle.

Would definitely not have escaped his notice.

Master Kai had always been quite confident in his perception abilities.

But… recalling from the moment he remembered this plot point until he chased out the door.

There had been no significant battle outside the entire time.

In this situation, Kai couldn't help but feel a little suspicious.

"Could it be because of me?"

"That this plot has changed to some extent?"

In the plot, when the Lady attacked Barbatos.

She was at her peak, empowered by the Cryo Archon's strength.

That's how she was able to subdue the Traveler and even the frail Anemo Archon Barbatos in the shortest amount of time.

And then make a quick escape after taking the Gnosis.

But last night… at the Goth Grand Hotel, Kai didn't hold back at all when he made his move.

In such a situation.

If you say that they changed this plan due to combat power reasons.

It's not impossible.

But the problem is, where is Barbatos?

"Eh, Master Kai is out too?"

Hearing the question behind her, little Paimon subconsciously looked back.

Her innocent, adorable face was full of confusion.

"Master Kai just asked what happened, right?"

"Yes, so where is Barbatos?"

He nodded.

Seeing that there were indeed no elemental traces of any battle having broken out at the scene.

Kai felt a little relieved.

As long as no battle had broken out… then things hadn't developed to the worst possible situation.

"Lumine and I are wondering too."

Scratching her head, Paimon also maintained a very puzzled expression regarding Kai's question.

"When Lumine and I chased him out, we couldn't see the bard's tracks anymore."

"I don't know where he went either."

"He was gone as soon as we came out…"

Kai frowned.

He didn't detect any elemental power, so theoretically, no battle should have broken out.

So, it wasn't the Fatui who abducted him, but he left on his own?

But at this time, where would Barbatos go?

He had fought alongside him after all.

Kai couldn't help but worry a little about the guy's safety.

And what he was most worried about was the Gnosis inside him.

You know, a Gnosis.

Is an evolved form of a Vision.

Containing the severed power of the 3rd Descender.

Only with a Gnosis can one represent the Seven Archons who rule the continent of Teyvat.

As for what additional powers it contains, just thinking about it is troublesome enough.

If such an important item were to be taken by Snezhnaya.

It would not be good news for Mondstadt or for Jean.

"Lumine, use your Elemental Sight to help see if you can find any traces of Anemo left by Barbatos."

After thinking about it, since he couldn't sense anything.

Kai simply asked the Traveler to help.

After all, her Elemental Sight was quite useful.

This kind of rare superpower… even in Teyvat, is very uncommon.

"I'll try."

Although she didn't know what happened.

But seeing Kai's expression, she knew that the situation was clearly a bit off.

She nodded without hesitation.

After agreeing, Lumine immediately activated her Vision.

And began to investigate the surrounding area.

"Kai, what's wrong?"

Just then… Jean also walked out of the church.

Facing the scene with a rather solemn gaze.

She clearly sensed that something was amiss.

"Well… I have a small guess."

"In short, by intuition, I can feel that the Fatui seem to have some unusual ideas about Barbatos."

Kai, of course, couldn't say that he knew the plot and thus made the guess.

So, after thinking for a moment, he decided to use this excuse.

"Ideas about the God of Anemo?"

Hearing this, Jean was instantly stunned.

Her expression became a little unnatural.

"Kai, you're not joking, are you?"

"Of course not. Do you remember what I told you in the tavern last time?"

Kai shook his head.

Gazing into the distance, he explained directly: "If it were merely to gain control of Mondstadt's defenses."

"Then given Mondstadt's current dire situation, there would be no need for a Harbinger to come personally."

"And… this time, the Fatui's Harbinger secretly infiltrated Mondstadt, which is already enough to show that they have other motives."

Snezhnaya coveting the power of the Anemo Archon's Dependents (vassal).

This was something the higher-ups in Mondstadt were well aware of.

It wasn't any shocking news at all.

But Kai knew that compared to the so-called Dvalin.

The power of the God of Anemo was clearly more enticing.

After all… no matter how strong Dvalin was, it was merely the Dragon of the East.

The power of the Anemo Archon's vassal/kin in its body wasn't much.

Most of it was its original combat power.

But Barbatos was different.

This guy, he was the God of Anemo!

And the current God of Anemo was in a very weakened state.

In this situation, dealing with him directly.

Was much easier than dealing with Dvalin directly.

"No."

Just a moment later,

Lumine shook her head, ending her Elemental Sight investigation.

"I can't see any lingering traces."

"This is a bit troublesome," Kai murmured to himself.

No traces meant they didn't know where the other party had gone.

If someone just happened to see... hmm?

Just then, a red figure flashed by not far away.

Kai's eyes immediately lit up.

He quickly waved and called out, "Hey, Outrider Amber!"

"Come over here!"

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