In front of the gates of the Knights of Favonius Headquarters.
The knights had already formed up, ranks neat and disciplined, standing at full alert.
Acting Grand Master Jean's stern gaze swept across the faces of each knight.
Those summoned here at short notice weren't only the Knights of Favonius.
With the dragon crisis still raging and Abyss monsters roaming across Mondstadt's lands, Jean simply couldn't feel at ease leaving Klee alone outside the city.
She had specifically requested assistance from the Church of Favonius and the Adventurers' Guild as well.
"According to the areas I just marked on the map, each of you will be responsible for one sector. Search for Klee."
Jean looked at the assembled crowd and asked solemnly,
"Does anyone have questions?"
"No, ma'am!!!"
The knights replied in unison, their voices ringing loud and clear.
It was obvious—everyone was deeply worried about little Klee's safety.
Yet among them, a few people seemed slightly distracted.
It wasn't that they didn't care about Klee.
Rather, in their hearts, there was something else—something just as important as Klee's well-being.
Barbara, Rosaria, Amber, Kaeya, Noelle, Fischl…
These few, compared to the knights who had shouted their reply with full conviction, seemed just a little less resolute.
Because their thoughts were drifting—caught in the lingering echoes of dreams.
…
At the same time.
Mondstadt, Whispering Woods.
"How did you recognize Daddy at first glance?" Lin Mo asked.
Klee blinked her big eyes, clearly puzzled.
"Daddy is Daddy. Of course Klee can recognize you right away~"
She answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"No… I mean… didn't you notice that Daddy looks different from before? That he hasn't changed at all over these ten-plus years?"
Lin Mo couldn't help but ask again.
"Hm? Really?"
Klee tilted her head.
"Klee doesn't know~"
Lin Mo looked at her innocent, guileless face.
Well, that settled it. He wasn't getting any useful information out of this little one.
No problem. If Klee couldn't explain it, then the system definitely wouldn't get to sleep peacefully.
"System! Wake up! Explain what's going on here!"
Lin Mo shouted again in his mind.
[Ugh~ You're so annoying. I just fell asleep~]
"Sleep my ass!"
"Answer me—why could Klee recognize me at a glance?"
"This body is obviously not the same one I had when I was her father!"
[Who says it isn't the same?]
[This body of yours is the fusion of all ninety-nine previous bodies.]
[So the moment Klee saw you, all she perceived was the image of you from your very first life.]
"…Why do you always manage to screw me over like this?"
[How am I screwing you over?! You got benefits and you're still complaining!]
"What benefits?"
Lin Mo asked, confused.
[Didn't you teach Sayu ninjutsu back in Inazuma?]
[In this life, you don't even need to spend time relearning it.]
[And your swordsmanship—sure, you remember it all, but I preserved your physical conditioning too. Your stamina this time around is insane!]
[Oh, right. And biological alchemy. Weren't you close friends with 'Gold' back then?]
"That's knowledge I learned myself. Why would I need you to preserve it?"
Lin Mo said irritably.
[Cough, cough. Even so, the super-enhanced heart you modified for yourself—I kept that too.]
"…That part's not bad."
Lin Mo nodded silently.
That biologically enhanced heart was the main reason he could rival Vision holders in combat despite not having a Vision himself.
More importantly, the procedure had required the assistance of the greatest biological alchemist, "Gold."
In an era without Gold, recreating that modification would be extremely troublesome.
"Wait."
Suddenly, a thought struck Lin Mo.
"You said this body has the traits of all ninety-nine of my lives."
"Doesn't that mean… everyone I met across those ninety-nine lives—including Klee—would recognize me?"
[Cough… no, no, probably not.]
[For most people, those ninety-nine invitation tasks were just dreams. They shouldn't recognize you. Trust me.]
"Probably!?"
[Cough! Dreams are like that—vivid when you wake up, but soon forgotten entirely.]
[You don't have to be so paranoid! We're on the same side! I'd never sabotage you!]
"…If they really forget everything, then I suppose that's acceptable."
Lin Mo nodded to himself.
If all ninety-nine of his identities were exposed at once, Teyvat would probably descend into chaos.
The system was unreliable, sure—but it shouldn't make a mistake that catastrophic.
"Alright. Go back to sleep."
[Roger~! Don't wake me again this time! I'm turning on silent mode!]
…
As the system's voice faded from his mind, Lin Mo finally returned to the present.
Seeing his eyes regain focus, little Klee blinked curiously.
"Daddy was spacing out for a really long time~"
"Mm, Daddy was thinking about something."
Lin Mo gently placed his hand on her small head.
"What was Daddy thinking about?"
Klee asked, her curiosity instantly sparked.
"Klee, could you promise Daddy one thing?"
Lin Mo lowered his head and asked with a smile.
A determined light immediately filled Klee's big eyes.
"Daddy, say it! Klee will definitely try her best!"
"Well… you know Daddy's been gone for over ten years. The friends I knew back then are probably no longer in Mondstadt."
"So… in front of other people, could you not call me Daddy?"
"Instead, call me Brother Ganqing. How does that sound?"
Lin Mo asked gently.
"Brother… Ganqing?"
Klee blinked, looking confused.
"Why does Daddy want that?"
"Klee, think about it. The Grand Master is currently away on an expedition."
"If he finds out Daddy's back, he'll definitely invite Daddy to join the expedition."
"Daddy just reunited with Klee. I don't want us to be separated again so soon~"
That explanation hit Klee right in the heart.
"Klee will be good! Klee promises!"
She agreed immediately.
But a moment later, she asked cautiously,
"Then… can Acting Grand Master Jean know?"
"Nope, not her either," Lin Mo said with a smile.
"Then… Mommy?"
Klee asked again.
"Uh…"
Thinking of Alice, Lin Mo felt a headache coming on.
She was his wife—there was no way she wouldn't recognize him.
And after disappearing without a word all those years ago…
If she found out he'd returned, Mondstadt might not survive the fallout.
The once-glorious City of Freedom could very well be renamed the Ruins of Mondstadt.
"Ahem. For now, Klee, don't mention Daddy coming back in your letters to Mommy."
"When Mommy returns, we'll surprise her together, okay~"
"Mm… okay…"
Klee lowered her little head, looking a bit disappointed.
It wasn't hard to imagine—she really wanted their family of three to be together again.
Lin Mo didn't want to see her so downcast.
So he smiled and changed the subject.
"Oh, right, Klee~"
Thinking of his task in this life, Lin Mo looked at her and asked curiously,
"Have you seen a traveler named Lumine in Mondstadt? She's accompanied by a small, cute flying creature."
"Klee knows!"
Klee immediately brightened.
"It's the Traveler and little Paimon~"
"Oh? You know them?"
Lin Mo's eyes lit up.
"Then where are they now?"
"They're in Mondstadt City~"
As she spoke, Klee turned her head and lifted her tiny arm, pointing toward the direction of Mondstadt Bridge.
But the moment she did, her hand suddenly trembled.
"Oh no…"
"I-it's Acting Grand Master Jean…"
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T/N:
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