Hearing Albedo's words, Jean frowned slightly, her fingers tapping rhythmically against the desk as she fell into brief contemplation.
It was true — Klee's bombs had always been designed and supplied by Albedo himself.
But this time, the scale of the explosion was… abnormal.
Could someone have given Klee something special?
Or was there another mystery hidden beneath the surface?
"Wait," Jean suddenly said, her tone calm but firm. She turned to the knight standing by the door. "Bring Klee's backpack here. I want to check if there's anything unusual inside."
Moments later, Klee's oversized backpack was carefully set down on Jean's desk.
Albedo stepped forward, unfastened the clasp, and began to inspect its contents.
Inside, nestled neatly among several small fish, were rows upon rows of miniature bombs — each one round, tidy, and clearly well cared for.
These were Klee's beloved "treasures."
Albedo picked up one, turning it in his hand. His frown deepened. He lightly flicked the fuse, then held the bomb close, quietly sensing its energy.
After a moment, his tone became decisive.
"These are indeed the models I designed for her… but their destructive power is nowhere near enough to cause the explosion we saw today."
Jean's brows knitted tighter. "Then that's strange… if not from your bombs, what caused such a blast Cider Lake?"
The detonation at Cider Lake had shaken half the city.
If it had been caused by a powerful Pyro-element creature, that might have made sense.
But a bomb? That was far less normal.
After a short silence, Albedo asked, "Did Klee mention anything about using something new recently? Or meeting anyone suspicious?"
Jean shook her head. "She only admitted that her bombs caused the trouble. Nothing else."
"Hmm…"
Albedo lowered his gaze, studying the bomb in his palm, eyes glinting with thought.
Then he carefully placed it back into the backpack. "I'll run some tests," he said softly. "But, Acting Grand Master Jean, I suspect this incident may not be just an ordinary accident. We'll likely need more information."
Jean nodded gravely. "Understood. I'll leave it to you."
"Take the bombs with you. Keep Klee's backpack for now — she can have it back after her confinement is over."
Albedo gave a faint smile and a nod. "Very well."
His tone softened slightly, a trace of helpless affection flickering in his expression. "That child… every time she causes trouble, I have to remind myself — growth always comes with a few explosions along the way."
Jean couldn't help but laugh quietly at that.
But her composure quickly returned. "Even so, she still needs to reflect. Seven days in confinement — not a single hour less."
"Of course," Albedo replied with a small smile. "I'll drop by to check on her from time to time."
Then, with a playful sigh, he added, "Next time she causes something like this, please catch her first before she runs off to bomb Cider Lake again."
Jean sighed faintly. "Naturally. Small mishaps before were fine — but if she keeps blowing up half the lake, the dockworkers will riot. We'll have to calm the civilians too."
"Since there's nothing else, I'll take my leave," Albedo said, giving a courteous nod before walking out, Klee's backpack and bombs in hand, heading back toward his laboratory.
Jean's eyes followed him for a moment before dropping back to the pile of documents on her desk. She had just picked up her pen when a sharp cry sounded outside the window.
A West Wind Falcon swooped down gracefully, its shadow passing across the floor before landing firmly on Jean's outstretched arm.
Her eyes widened slightly in recognition. She quickly unfastened the message tube on its leg and opened it.
As expected — it was a priority report from Eula.
Jean's eyes darted over the concise note:
"Discovered traces of a massive explosion near Starfell Lake. Residual energy unknown — seemingly more dangerous than Pyro element. Immediate attention required. — Eula."
Jean's frown deepened. Her mind began racing.
The Cider Lake explosion wasn't fully investigated yet, and now another incident at Starfell Lake?
If Klee's bombs were involved in both, the scale of destruction simply didn't add up.
"Starfell Lake… could it really be connected to Klee's explosion?" she murmured under her breath, tapping her finger against the desk in thought.
But when she turned toward the door, Klee's small, guilty figure had long since vanished down the corridor.
Jean knew Klee's bombs well — destructive, yes, but nowhere near this level. They carried concentrated Pyro energy, but nothing as ferocious as what Eula described.
Moreover, Klee hadn't even left the Cider Lake area today.
Starfell Lake was far beyond her range.
Jean slowly shook her head. "No… whatever Eula sensed, that's not ordinary Pyro energy. Something else caused that explosion."
Her voice dropped to a whisper. "But what kind of power could surpass even Pyro itself…?"
Before she could continue the thought, the office door burst open.
A young knight hurried in, face pale with anxiety. "Acting Grand Master! Bad news — the Fatui are causing trouble again!"
Jean's brows knitted instantly. "Report — what happened?"
The knight saluted and spoke rapidly: "It's in the commercial district. Members of the Fatui are in conflict with local merchants — they're demanding access to certain trade goods by force."
"Since the Stormterror attacks, many shops lost inventory, and now the Fatui are pressing to claim shipments. When our knights intervened, they produced trade permits, saying we have no jurisdiction."
"Their numbers are large and their behavior aggressive. The civilians are panicking — the situation's on the verge of chaos."
"We can't control it without your presence."
Jean's expression hardened. She set the message from Eula aside, then rose from her chair with deliberate calm.
"The Fatui…" she said coldly. "Their status as 'envoys' does not give them license to bully Mondstadt's people. If they think they can run wild in my city — they're mistaken."
"Understood!" the knight said with visible relief, stepping aside to make way.
Jean strode from the office, cloak swaying behind her, though her mind was still heavy with unease.
The blast at Cider Lake.
The strange energy at Starfell Lake.
And now the Fatui's brazen provocations.
One after another — each incident hinted at something deeper stirring beneath the surface.
As she walked, Jean's thoughts turned grim. The Fatui's activities within Mondstadt had always been delicate.
As "diplomats," they could legally move about the city — and yet they constantly stirred up trouble, exploiting every loophole in Mondstadt's law.
Ordinary knights couldn't act rashly without risking an international dispute.
But if she let this escalate unchecked, the city's peace could unravel in an instant.
And lately, the Fatui had even begun prying into city defenses — an ominous sign if ever there was one.
A faint chill flashed through Jean's eyes.
Moments later, she stepped out of the Knights of Favonius Headquarters, where several fully armored knights stood waiting.
Jean's calm, commanding voice carried across the courtyard:
"To the commercial district. Restore order immediately. Do not allow the Fatui to cause further chaos."
"Yes, Acting Acting Grand Master!"
The knights' voices rang out in unison as they fell into formation, following Jean through the streets of Mondstadt — toward yet another storm brewing in the city of freedom.
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