The azure astrological array floated in mid-air, with traces of mysterious starlight emerging from it.
Arms crossed, Mona occasionally reached out to tap the blue water screen in front of her.
After a while, Mona nodded as if suddenly enlightened and finally understood what had happened.
"I understand now!"
Turning to face everyone, Mona waved her hand to dismiss the astrological formation.
"Two thousand years ago, Mondstadt had an adventurer named Leonard. He traveled through all the mysterious domains of the world but was ultimately stopped by a giant snow-capped mountain known as the Pinnacle Peak."
"In the years that followed, he repeatedly challenged Pinnacle Peak but never succeeded."
Pointing to the meteorite fragment, Mona spoke solemnly: "Throughout the remainder of his life, he had one wish."
"To conquer that mountain and prove the strength of humanity."
"However, he died without fulfilling this wish. Even 2,000 years after his death, this wish has not disappeared."
"A thousand years ago, Mondstadt's Anemo Archon, Barbatos, altered the landscape to provide the people with a better living environment. He split the mountains, dispersing the snow and wind."
"The once-unreachable peak has since sunk into the ocean, no longer towering high."
Looking up at everyone, Mona extended her hand. "Who has a map of Mondstadt? Let me see it."
"Oh! Oh!"
Barbara, who had been listening to the story intently, quickly pulled a map from her bag and handed it to Mona before hiding again behind Kuroneko.
On a nearby sickbed, Albert, lost in thought, suddenly lit up upon hearing Barbara's voice but fainted again due to a sharp pain in his head.
Clapping her hands, Mona spread the map on the ground and carefully compared the ancient topography of Mondstadt with its current landscape.
"Found it!"
Placing her finger on what is now called Musk Reef, Mona confidently declared, "This is it! This was once Pinnacle Peak!"
"Eh!"
Paimon, who had somehow floated beside Mona, stared incredulously at the location Mona pointed to. "The mountain that once stopped such a famous adventurer is now like this!"
"Mona, are you sure you didn't make a mistake?!"
"Hmph, how could I possibly err in divination?"
Crossing her arms, Mona confidently declared, "This is definitely the place. There's no mistake."
"Moreover, Leonard's constellation core must be there. After all, it was the culmination of his life's wish."
"It's truly astonishing," Mona mused, "how such a massive mountain was submerged into the sea by the Anemo Archon. While such power isn't what I pursue, witnessing it might bring new insights."
"Indeed," Hiroshi said, chewing on a faintly glowing blue jerky. "Then let's head over there quickly. We'll ambush the culprit and send them a fireworks show!"
"Hiroshi, Paimon wants jerky too!"
Floating beside Hiroshi, Paimon poked him with a tiny finger.
"Huh? You and Lumine already finished the last batch?"
Taking another stick and stuffing it into Paimon's mouth, Hiroshi pulled out a pile of jerky and handed it to Lumine.
"There's plenty left over from before. Just let me know when you run out."
"Oh," Lumine replied, awkwardly accepting the jerky. She didn't dare admit she had been eating it as meals.
Noticing Mona and Fischl staring at him, Hiroshi crushed two purple crystals in his hands. Within the newly formed spatial domain, he stored piles of jerky.
"Here, these crystals contain pocket dimensions. They'll serve as temporary shelters and storage during your field investigations."
Curious, Mona infused her elemental power into one of the crystals Hiroshi handed her. A strange sensation flowed from the crystal, and Mona quickly grasped its value.
Just as she was about to speak, she noticed Hiroshi holding out another hand filled with more purple crystals.
Swallowing hard, Mona finally understood Lumine's words: Hiroshi truly spares no expense.
Expressionless, she took a piece of jerky and popped it into her mouth. Her expression shifted as she started chewing faster.
Beside her, Fischl smiled brightly at Hiroshi, carefully placing the crystal on her person before tasting the jerky.
"Mmm, as expected of my comrade Hiroshi, this flavor is as profound as the abyss," Fischl declared grandly.
"Now that we know the location, let's go," Hiroshi said with a cheerful grin, summoning a cloud beneath him.
"Hiroshi, I'll stay here," Kuroneko said, pulling Barbara closer. "Klee and Qiqi will wake soon, so I need to return."
Hiroshi hesitated, scratching his head. "Klee and Qiqi... Maybe I should wait until noon to leave."
Kuroneko chuckled and gently pulled Hiroshi's arm. "Don't worry about us. Just come back quickly. Make sure to deal with the culprit properly."
"Got it!" Hiroshi said firmly, glaring in the direction of Musk Reef. "I'll make sure to teach them a lesson they'll never forget!"
With a tap of his foot, the cloud carried Hiroshi, Lumine, Fischl, and Mona away as a streak of light.
Hugging her arms, Barbara watched them vanish and offered a quiet prayer. "May Barbatos bless everyone's safe return."
"Don't worry, Barbara," Kuroneko reassured her with a smile. "Hiroshi's really upset this time. Everyone will be back soon."
Across Mondstadt's land, a streak of light zipped through the skies, while adventurers and knights of the Knights of Favonius spread out to assist less affected areas.
At Musk Reef, the light descended, and Hiroshi gazed at the floating blue meteorite with a grin.
"Finally found it," he murmured.
Dispersing the cloud beneath him, Hiroshi reached into his domain and pulled out a pile of Jumpy Dumpty bombs—Klee's gifts to him.
Grinning mischievously, Hiroshi muttered, "Whoever you are, you're getting fireworks today!"