"Lord Ausbilder!"
Krobber wasn't too surprised by Bai Luo's sudden appearance from the sky, as he had witnessed such feats before.
However, even in Bai Luo's presence, Krobber couldn't relax.
Those who earned the admiration and praise of his master might not always be the most outstanding, but they were invariably terrifying.
Moreover, Krobber still remembered the missions Bai Luo carried out before he became a Harbinger.
Just standing next to him sent chills down Krobber's spine.
Many of those whom Bai Luo had dealt with were people similar to Krobber himself.
"Let's go, it's time to set off."
"Yes!"
Mondstadt, located in the northeastern part of the continent of Teyvat, is known as the "City of Freedom and Song."
According to a certain unnamed nun, the Archon they worship is called Barbatos. As mentioned earlier, this nation and its deity represent freedom—freedom so profound that the god does not wish to constrain their people, allowing them to develop on their own.
This laissez-faire approach is often humorously described as "fishing," implying a laid-back attitude.
However, this very attitude once plunged the nation into corruption and its darkest times during the period of aristocratic rule.
Under the leadership of Vennessa, the people rebelled against the tyrannical rule of the Lawrence Clan, and since then, Mondstadt has been free of nobility.
Without a god or rulers, the city is now managed by the Knights of Favonius, an organization founded by Vennessa.
Compared to Inazuma, Mondstadt's territory, while also inhabited by monsters, is relatively safe.
The landscape is picturesque, with a mild climate year-round.
The wind of freedom, carrying the scent of dandelions, sweeps across Cider Lake, bringing the blessings of the Anemo Archon, Bartobas, to Mondstadt, a city nestled on an island in the lake's heart.
Wait... wasn't it Barbatos?
Ahem...
In any case, for Bai Luo, coming to Mondstadt felt no different from returning to a starter village.
In contrast, Inazuma City was an absolute nightmare of a beginning.
After catching a glimpse of the mist-covered Dragonspine in the distance and sailing past the towering Cape Oath, the fleet finally landed near Falcon Coast.
The people in Mondstadt who had received word of their arrival were already waiting there.
After tidying up his attire, Turs approached.
Following his master's instructions, he knew the people on this ship were esteemed guests, and he had to be very cautious in dealing with them.
Krobber, who often acted subserviently around Bai Luo and the Doctor, transformed into a figure of high status when in front of others.
Dressed in an expensive suit and sporting a meticulously groomed mustache, he cut quite a respectable figure.
"Mr. Krobber, my master has already prepared rooms for you at the winery and has sent us here specifically to receive you and your companions."
Krobber, as one of the Doctor's most loyal subordinates, had managed to earn a bit of a reputation in Mondstadt.
It wasn't surprising that when the Windblume Festival approached, Mondstadt would go out of its way to send an invitation to Snezhnaya.
After all, Krobber was known to be more persuasive than the more serious members of the Fatui.
Upon hearing Turs's words, Krobber's face lit up with greed.
Not only was the master Turs mentioned known for their generosity, but the mention of the Dawn Winery also piqued his interest.
The winery housed some of the finest wines, each bottle worth enough to purchase a house in Mondstadt.
During his last visit, Krobber had managed to acquire nearly ten bottles, which sold for a fortune back in Snezhnaya.
However, noticing someone stepping off the ship behind him, Krobber quickly hid his greedy expression.
"There's no need. Please convey my thanks to your master for their kindness. Our group has already booked the Goth Grand Hotel. If there's anything you need, you can find us there."
Krobber couldn't openly ask for a bribe in front of Bai Luo, so he subtly hinted at it instead.
However, Turs's attention had already shifted to Bai Luo, who was standing behind Krobber.
In contrast to Krobber's expensive suit, Bai Luo, dressed in a black trench coat, seemed much more inconspicuous, almost like a bodyguard.
However, Turs did not underestimate him.
He noticed that Krobber, who had been full of himself a moment ago, instinctively bowed lower in Bai Luo's presence, and his earlier attempts at soliciting a bribe had become less blatant.
This implied that the seemingly ordinary man was of a much higher rank than Krobber.
Perhaps this man was the true esteemed guest mentioned by his master.
"I understand. Please, Mr. Krobber, do accept this."
Realizing what was happening, Turs retrieved an envelope and handed it to Krobber.
"Hmm?" Krobber's eyes lit up upon seeing the envelope.
Perhaps this was the generous master's gift to him, he thought.
"This is an invitation to the Windblume Festival's pre-banquet. The banquet will be held at the Dawn Winery in one day. To prevent our esteemed guest's invitation from getting lost, my master instructed me to bring an extra one for you."
Krobber was annoyed upon hearing this.
Not only had there been no bribe, but this was also some kind of test.
Did they think so little of him that they assumed he might lose the invitation?
Before he could express his anger, a pale hand rested on his shoulder.
Realizing who it was, a cold sweat broke out across Krobber's back.
"Please convey my thanks to your master, and give him my regards," Bai Luo said as he took the invitation from Krobber, smiling kindly.
Unlike Krobber, Bai Luo understood that this invitation was intended more for him than for Krobber.
As if confirming Bai Luo's suspicion, Turs bowed, then left with his entourage.
"Lord Ausbilder…"
Forcing a smile, Krobber wiped the sweat from his forehead.
During the days they spent at sea, Bai Luo had not done anything too out of the ordinary; he had mostly slept in his cabin or written new novels.
This mild behavior had almost made Krobber forget that this was the same man who caused many of Snezhnaya's higher-ups to lose sleep.
Bai Luo glanced at Krobber, fully aware of the petty thoughts swirling in his mind.
It was clear why the Doctor had sent this greedy man.
While someone like Krobber could be a significant liability to the Fatui, he also served as the perfect bait—a fat, juicy lure to attract the big fish hiding in the shadows.
By granting him some minor authority and leaking irrelevant information, those bloodthirsty sharks would undoubtedly take the bait, even if they knew it was a trap.
And once the big fish took the hook, the bait would no longer matter.
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