Seeing Budew getting drunk and clinging to Eula was such a heartwarming scene that Rosaria turned her head and asked Kaeya, "Is this what a Pokémon is? Looks just like a child."
Kaeya simply released his Machop from the Poké Ball, saying, "Say hello, Machop."
"Maaachop..." Machop struck a hand chop pose toward Rosaria, full of spirit.
Rosaria glanced down at the little green fellow, noting its muscular build. "What can it help you with?"
Kaeya rested his chin on his hand. "I heard it can go toe to toe with a hundred grown men without breaking a sweat."
"An ancient gladiator, huh?" Rosaria commented nonchalantly. It might be stronger than most people in Mondstadt, but so what?
Guarding Mondstadt wasn't all about brute strength; it needed a darker, more secretive touch to maintain peace—like what she herself provided.
Kaeya shrugged. "I won't be having Machop enter any coliseum fights, but I think it'll be a good partner to bring along on missions."
"I'd rather trust myself," Rosaria replied dismissively, losing interest.
"You should check out the Pokémon shop. It might change your mind." Kaeya remembered how he'd initially refused, only to be dragged there by Amber. Despite spending a fortune, he didn't regret it at all. In fact, he found his life full of challenges again, adding a stroke of color to his otherwise calm existence.
Rosaria didn't answer.
Behind them, two drunk patrons at another table were talking.
"Gurara..."
"Hey, did you hear? Some girl in Springvale got bit by wolves."
"Oh? Is it that Siegfreya? She's always running errands between Mondstadt and Springvale."
"Yeah, heard she got attacked while picking wild greens near Wolvendom."
"Isn't she a hunter, though?"
"Ah, even hunters can't live on meat every day..."
"Heeheehee..."
Wolvendom? Springvale?
"I have something to take care of at the Knights of Favonius," Kaeya said, downing his dandelion wine in one go, leaving Mora at the counter, and heading out with Machop.
After Kaeya left, Eula and Rosaria continued to drink quietly, the silence between them unbroken. There was nothing they had to say to each other.
Kaeya brought Machop to the Knights of Favonius headquarters, making his way to Jean's office and knocking gently.
"Come in."
Kaeya opened the door and entered. "Acting Grand Master Jean."
"Take a seat."
"I came to ask about the Treasure Hoarders."
Jean put down the document she had been reading and handed him the testimony Eula had submitted that morning. "Eula already took care of it."
Kaeya took the testimony and read through it briefly. "So it's confirmed? How will we deploy our forces?"
Jean clasped her hands together. "It's already been assigned to Eula and Amber."
Kaeya rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Their leader, the Treasure Hoarder boss—it may not be that simple. We should exercise caution."
"I tried to persuade her," Jean's eyes narrowed slightly, "but there's nothing else we can do but trust her."
Seeing the matter was already decided, Kaeya chose not to argue further. "I'll be on my way then."
"Kaeya, is that a new Pokémon?" Jean finally noticed the Machop standing by the door.
"Yeah."
"It looks quite spirited. Would you be interested in a battle with my Charmander?" Jean brought out her little red Charmander from beneath the table and placed it on her desk.
"Chaar..." Seeing a stranger, Charmander got a little nervous and clung tightly to Jean's arm.
Machop had just fought a fierce battle and needed a break... Kaeya gave a knightly bow. "Next time, for sure."
With that, he left Jean's office and wandered over to the Windrise statue to enjoy the breeze.
"No, it's best to call on Mondstadt's Darknight Hero." He whistled, summoning a hawk, jotting down everything he knew on a note, and tied it to the hawk's foot before sending it off. "Go."
---
On another note, let's talk about Master Diluc and his Bagon.
Dawn Winery always smelled of grapes and rich wine, no matter the time.
It was lunchtime. Diluc sat by the table, holding a wineglass, savoring the newly brewed wine.
Bagon sat in the middle of the table with two boxes of advanced Pokéblock and five plates of braised beef in front of it.
Diluc slowly sipped his wine and chewed his steak, watching Bagon devour its meal with gusto.
These days, the battles had gone well. Diluc had taken Bagon to fight Hilichurls to the east and slimes to the west (except for Cryo Slimes), without meeting a worthy opponent.
He felt a kind of loneliness—a sense of having no rivals to challenge his might.
Was there no one left to challenge him?
Should he have Bagon clash with Cryo Slimes in a burst of passion, just so that he might finally have a reason to draw the Wolf's Gravestone strapped to his back?
Being unbeatable was so lonely.
"Baaagon..." Bagon cleaned up all five plates of braised beef and the two boxes of advanced Pokéblock, still looking unsatisfied, pointing to its open mouth with its little claws.
Diluc looked at Bagon's slightly rounded belly. "Take it easy, little one. It's not that I won't let you eat; I'm just worried you might overeat."
"Baaagon..." Bagon looked full of energy, signaling that it could easily eat a few more plates of braised beef.
Diluc shook his head. Bagon's appetite seemed to be growing. At first, a single Pokéblock would fill it up for a meal. Now, two weren't enough, and it also needed several plates of meat.
But that made sense. This was a pseudo-legendary after all—more capable of eating, and therefore growing, than the average Pokémon.
"Adelinde," Diluc called over the head maid standing by, "please bring a few more plates of braised beef."
"Yes, Master Diluc." Adelinde gave a small bow before reminding him, "Master, if Bagon keeps eating at this rate, our daily meat supply may run low. We might have to ask the hunters in Springvale for more deliveries. Also, I heard that errand-runner Siegfreya got injured by wolves, so we'll need to find someone else."
"Yes, leave it to you. Just make sure Bagon's meat supply is sufficient for every meal."
"Understood, Master Diluc." Adelinde turned to head to the kitchen.
"Baaagon (More meat, yay!)" Bagon was as happy as a 200-pound bundle of joy.
At that moment, outside the house, maid Moco saw a hawk swooping by and perching on a rack of hay.
Figuring it must be an important message from Mondstadt, she quickly untied the letter from the hawk's foot and hurried inside. "Master Diluc, a message from the hawk."
Diluc's hand, swirling his wineglass, paused. He immediately straightened, took the letter, and walked into his study, closing the door behind him.
He sat down, opening the note:
"Tomorrow, 5 p.m., Wolvendom. The Treasure Hoarder boss. Wave Knight and Amber will face off."
He placed the note into the fireplace, watching it burn, before setting his gaze on the dusty red mask on the shelf.