Outside the Favonius Cathedral.
Venti leaned quietly against the railing, gazing up at the vast night sky. Mondstadt's night was clear, dotted with stars, and the moon hung high, casting a soft silver glow.
A gentle breeze brushed against Venti's face, carrying the cool, tranquil essence of the night. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath of the fresh air, feeling the tender touch of the wind on his cheeks.
It was as if he could hear the whispers of the wind, sensing the freedom and ease it brought.
"Ah, the nights of Mondstadt..."
Just as Venti was lost in his reverie, a sudden commotion erupted from behind him at the Favonius Cathedral.
Turning around, he saw Shao Yun carrying Lumine as they burst through the doors, shouting, "Run!"
Judging by the situation, it wasn't good news, but it wasn't the worst either—at least they hadn't been trapped inside.
Venti didn't waste any time. He waved his hand and summoned a wind current and a wind circle, taking off into the air.
Shao Yun, however, didn't have a glider. With his build, it would take a tornado to lift him off the ground. They'd have to split up.
"Lumine, Paimon, you two take the wind current to Angel's Share. I'll go on foot and meet up with you after losing the Knights!"
He set Lumine down, watching as she used her glider to follow Venti's wind current. Shao Yun glanced back at the cathedral doors, where Knights armed with spears and swords were already pouring out.
Shao Yun let out a loud shout, drawing their attention. "Over here! Come and get me!"
The moment he had their attention, he turned and bolted.
[Current Task: Escape pursuit.]
[Bounty: Dead or Alive!]
Seeing the words "dead or alive," Shao Yun understood the gravity of the situation.
---
The Knights of Favonius had launched a city-wide manhunt for the thieves who had stolen the Skyward Harp. Stealing Mondstadt's treasure would undoubtedly make them public enemies.
The cold glint of the Knights' armor flickered in the distance as their footsteps and shouts echoed through the streets.
"City-wide lockdown! We must find the thieves who stole the Skyward Harp, dead or alive!"
Shao Yun weaved through Mondstadt's narrow alleys. Despite his large frame, he moved like a nimble fish darting through a rushing stream, perfectly timing his movements to avoid the Knights at every turn.
Under the glow of the city's streetlights, Shao Yun's figure flickered in and out of the shadows. He used every inch of Mondstadt's terrain to his advantage, engaging in a game of cat and mouse with the Knights.
He regulated his breathing, not daring to slack off for even a moment.
This was a "dead or alive" situation. If the Knights caught him, no one would believe he was just out for a midnight stroll.
The slightest misstep could land him in the Knights' encirclement. Shao Yun wasn't afraid of a fight—he could even go on a rampage if necessary.
But the Knights of Favonius weren't his enemies—or rather, they weren't Lumine's enemies. Starting a fight would only cause trouble for her.
Finally, after darting through another alley, Shao Yun spotted the tavern Venti had mentioned—Angel's Share. He let out a sigh of relief and quickly climbed onto the second-floor balcony to hide.
Shao Yun leaned against the balcony wall, not daring to make a sound. He wasn't out of danger yet; the Knights were still searching for him.
The tavern's chimney emitted a wisp of smoke, and Shao Yun took a deep breath, catching the scent of alcohol and roasted meat in the air. But he had no time to savor it.
After catching his breath, he removed his mask and pushed open the balcony door, stepping into Angel's Share.
He had planned to blend in as a regular customer, but as soon as he entered, Lumine, Paimon, and Venti all turned to look at him.
"Shao Yun, when did you get here?!" Paimon exclaimed, surprised to see him appear on the second floor.
The three of them had been focused on the front door and hadn't expected him to come in through the balcony.
"Just now. The whole city's on lockdown. It took a lot of effort to shake off the Knights tailing me," Shao Yun replied, casually taking a seat and using his hat to fan himself.
He took the opportunity to rest and recover his stamina. That had been exhausting.
---
Outside, two Knights—one thin and one slightly overweight—approached the tavern's entrance. Unlike their usual confident demeanor, they hesitated, each waiting for the other to go in first.
After a quick round of rock-paper-scissors, the thinner Knight, Ott, won, and the heavier Knight, Miles, reluctantly opened the door and stepped inside.
The owner of Angel's Share was none other than Diluc Ragnvindr, the wealthiest man in Mondstadt and the owner of the Dawn Winery.
Diluc had pale skin, striking red hair tied into a ponytail, and red eyes that glimmered with golden light. He wore a black and gold coat over a white shirt, with a Vision hanging from his belt. His black gloves had red interiors, and he wore black pants with a white leg ring on his right leg, along with black boots adorned with buckles.
At that moment, he stood with his arms crossed, waiting for the two Knights.
Seeing Diluc's cold expression, the Knights gulped. Ott was the first to speak.
"Master Diluc, have you seen a green guy, a blonde girl, and... someone else we're not sure about?"
Diluc's expression remained indifferent as he asked, "What's going on that has the Knights of Favonius in such a frenzy?"
Miles looked at Diluc in disbelief. The theft of the Skyward Harp had spread like wildfire across Mondstadt. How could Diluc not know?
"Master Diluc, you haven't heard? Three thieves tried to steal the Skyward Harp! It's a priceless cultural treasure, played by Lord Barbatos himself! And one of them even knocked out one of our Knights!"
Diluc's dismissive gaze seemed to say, Why should I care about something so worthless?
"Hmph, why should I care about something with no value? I'd rather spend my time making sure the wine in my winery hasn't gone bad."
Miles was left speechless, awkwardly lowering his head. But Diluc's next question caught his attention.
"Also, you said a Knight was knocked out by a thief? Has the Knights of Favonius become so weak?"
Ott slapped his thigh, clearly agitated. "Master Diluc, you don't understand. The thief who knocked out the Knight was even bigger than you!"
Diluc raised an eyebrow, skeptical. The description didn't match the three people currently hiding in his tavern. Lumine and Venti were hardly imposing figures, and Paimon was so small a strong gust of wind could probably blow her away.
"In the end, it's just a matter of your own incompetence. But I am curious—why would anyone steal something that's practically worthless?"
"..."
Diluc shooed the two Knights out, pointing them in a random direction to get rid of them.
As he stood at the tavern entrance, he pondered their words. A thief bigger than him? Knocking out a Knight? It all sounded exaggerated. The three hiding in his tavern didn't fit the description at all.
---
Meanwhile, inside the tavern, the four of them had come downstairs.
Venti stood in front of the bar, eyeing the array of bottles on the shelves, licking his lips as he debated what to drink.
Lumine, Paimon, and Shao Yun sat quietly at the bar, waiting for Diluc to return.
Lumine looked at Shao Yun with concern and asked softly, "Shao Yun, were you in any danger while escaping?"
Shao Yun smiled faintly, brushing it off. "No, those guys would need a lot more practice if they want to catch me."
He then turned the conversation to Lumine and Paimon. "What about you two? Did you have any trouble getting away?"
Hearing Shao Yun's reassurance, Lumine's worries eased. She replied, "No, it was smooth. We didn't run into any trouble. With Venti's wind current, we made it to Angel's Share in less than a minute."