Mondstadt City Plaza, the sun was shining brightly.
The four visitors from another world, wearing Hilichurl shells, were listlessly sprawled out by the fountain.
Zane adjusted his newly repaired mask: "Since that's the case, let's go to the Cat's Tail Tavern and try Diona's skills."
Jesse immediately threw cold water on the idea: "Hey, Diona is the bartender today, and you still want to go?"
He pointed at the long queue stretching all the way to the city gates in the distance.
"See that? Even the Merchant Guilds from Liyue brought their own deck chairs to wait in line."
At the front of the line, a Snezhnaya merchant was holding up a sign: [High price acquisition of Diona's Special Blend, 1 million Mora per cup].
"Then how about we go find Noelle?"
Elliot's eyes lit up.
"That little girl has such a good personality!"
Jesse sighed and pulled out a pocket watch: "After Noelle learned that Lumine was hospitalized..."
He pressed the button on the pocket watch, projecting a scene from ten minutes ago:
The moment the Maid Knight heard the news, her teacup fell to the floor with a *smash*.
The next second, she immediately broke the sound barrier rushing toward the Cathedral.
The shockwave raised behind her sent three Knights of Favonius tumbling to the ground.
The final frame captured the moment Noelle slammed open the hospital room door.
"Ah?!"
Elliot frantically tugged at the bandage on his head.
"How can that girl be so lucky! I knew I shouldn't have recovered so quickly!" (Completely forgetting that Zane had put him in the hospital with the thunder hammer).
Matt was spread flat on the ground like a Melted Slime: "So what are we supposed to do..."
Even the Electro Lawachurl's horns were drooping listlessly.
Just as the four were at a loss—
"Yo, you all seem pretty leisurely today~"
Kaeya walked over with an elegant stride.
"Kaeya!"
the quartet immediately perked up; even Matt, who was lying on the ground, stood up with a Carp Jump.
"I just happen to have something I'd like to ask of you."
Kaeya lowered his voice mysteriously and pulled out a stack of Wanted Posters from his coat.
"Recently, a group of Treasure Hoarders has been committing crimes everywhere, specializing in stealing Mondstadt's Historical Artifacts."
Jesse took the Wanted Poster and saw a drawing of a shifty man, with the note: [Codename "Weird Bird," skilled in disguise and evasion].
"This guy is as slippery as an eel."
Kaeya spread his hands helplessly.
"He has escaped the Knights' encirclement three times in a row."
Elliot suddenly rubbed his hands excitedly: "So you want..."
"Exactly."
Kaeya showed a cunning smile,
"I hope to utilize your 'special' methods to deal with this slippery character. As for the Reward..."
He shook his bulging Coin Pouch, the Mora clinking with a crisp sound.
The four exchanged glances, and Jesse said: "Deal! But we have an additional condition."
"After we catch him, let us 'entertain' him for ten minutes first."
Zane added.
Kaeya looked at the quartet's dangerous smiles and suddenly felt a twinge of sympathy for Weird Bird: "Ahem... just leave him breathing."
"Don't worry!"
Elliot pulled out a giant Bird Net from who knows where.
"We are the best at 'entertaining' guests~"
After watching Kaeya leave, the four immediately found Venti.
"Eh? You're asking me about Weird Bird's Hideout?"
Venti blinked his large, innocent eyes, poking his cheek with his finger, looking exactly like a wrongly accused fawn.
"Why would you look for me, a completely harmless Bard~"
He plucked the Lyre Strings, his tone sounding pitiful.
"I'm afraid I can't help with this sort of thing..."
"Clatter!"
Without a word, Jesse pulled an entire crate of Dandelion Wine from his four-dimensional pocket. The wooden crate even had a gold-stamped label reading "Angel's Share Special Supply."
Venti's Adam's apple clearly bobbed, but he still stubbornly waved his hand: "No... this isn't about the wine!"
"Clatter!"
Zane pushed his mask, revealing a bottle of Death After Noon as if by magic. The amber liquid shimmered seductively in the sunlight—it was the cherished reserve from Diluc's Cellar.
Venti's fingertips were already unconsciously slipping on the Lyre Strings: "Th-this really isn't about the wine..."
"Clang!"
Matt suddenly set down a Golden Wine Jug. The body of the jug was inlaid with gems, glittering brilliantly in the sun.
The moment the lid was slightly lifted—
A wisp of rich aroma drifted out, seemingly condensing the essence of the sun and moon from thousands of years.
Venti's nose twitched violently, and his emerald eyes instantly turned into Star Eyes: "Th-this is—"
"A treasure from another universe, the Hero King's private collection."
Zane calmly added.
"It's said that even the gods would become intoxicated drinking this."
The next second, Venti completed the following actions at a speed that broke physical laws:
Pulled out a detailed, marked Map from nowhere and stuffed it into Jesse's hand.
Swiped all the alcohol away like a whirlwind.
Put on a professional smile: "Alright, esteemed Godfathers, Weird Bird often throws parties in this Cave~ Thank you for your patronage!"
While the four were looking down at the Map, when they looked up again—
The wine crate was gone.
The wine bottles were gone.
The Golden Wine Jug was gone.
Even Venti himself was gone.
Only the lingering scent of wine in the air and a faint *hiccup* sound coming from the distance proved that the previous event wasn't an illusion.
Weird Bird's Hideout · Ruin Perimeter
The four stood at the Ruin Entrance of the dilapidated ruins. Jesse unfolded the Map Venti gave him and confirmed repeatedly: "This is it, Weird Bird's Lair."
Elliot flexed his wrists: "Charge straight in?"
Zane fiddled with the thunder hammer in his hand: "According to calculations, a frontal ascend is the most efficient."
Matt had already pulled out his "Friendly Communication Special Hammer."
A giant spiked mace inscribed with "Persuasion Education."
"Charge!"
Following Jesse's command, the four rushed into the ruins like tigers and wolves.
Over the next five minutes, the entire ruin seemed to come alive:
The walls strangely retracted and expanded, as if undergoing some indescribable spasm.
Black smoke continuously spewed from the door cracks, and Treasure Hoarders members could vaguely be seen tracing graceful parabolas in the air.
Screams rose and fell, forming a strange symphony:
"A-ho! A-ho ho ho ho ho ho!!"
"Yao—!!!"
"Ah ah ah ah ah ah!!!!"
"Aoo!!! Ho ho ho ho ho ho!"
The highlight was Weird Bird's own escape performance—he activated the Ruin Mechanism intending to flee, but the passage was crushed by Matt sitting on it, leaving the man flattened against the wall like a frog run over by a steamroller.
When everything settled down—
"Creak..."
The Ruin Gate slowly opened, and Matt walked out pushing a giant Handcart.
The cart was piled high with bruised and swollen Treasure Hoarders members, stacked neatly like sardine cans.
On the top layer was Weird Bird, tied up like a dumpling. His Bird-Beak Mask was skewed to one side, and his face bore a clear imprint of the spiked mace.
Zane was counting the people: "23 of them, not one missing."
Elliot thoughtfully pinned Number Tags on every captive: "To make it easier for the Knights of Favonius to tally."
Jesse held up a sign: [Attached: List of Stolen Goods].
In front of the Knights of Favonius Headquarters.
Kaeya was leisurely sipping coffee when he suddenly heard a distant *rumbling* sound.
He looked up—
Four Hilichurls were pushing a mountain of Treasure Hoarders members toward the Headquarters, leaving deep tire tracks along the way.
Passing Mondstadt Citizens applauded and cheered, and some children even followed behind, picking up the teeth the Treasure Hoarders dropped as souvenirs.
Kaeya's coffee cup fell to the ground with a *plink*: "Half an hour... they actually managed to..."
Grand Master Jean rushed over upon hearing the noise, and after seeing this scene, she silently crumpled the Operation Plan she had just finished writing into a ball.
Lisa flipped through the List of Stolen Goods with interest: "Oh my, even the book I lost at the Library last time has been recovered~"
Paimon poked his head out the window: "Wow! Did you guys demolish the Treasure Hoarders' Lair?"
On top of the Cathedral in the distance, Venti watched the scene, happily taking another swig of the Hero King's fine wine.