"Instructor!"
Klober had seen Bai Luo's ability to descend from the sky before, so he wasn't too surprised.
But facing Bai Luo, Klober didn't feel the slightest bit relaxed.
Someone who could earn his master's admiration and praise wasn't necessarily outstanding, but they were definitely terrifying.
Add to that the missions Bai Luo had carried out before becoming a Harbinger...
Just standing next to him made Klober's back go cold.
Because a significant portion of the people Bai Luo had "sent away" were people just like him.
"Let's go. It's time to set off."
"Yes!"
Mondstadt, the City of Freedom, is located in the northeastern part of Teyvat and is known as the "City of Wind and Song."
According to a certain nun who wished to remain anonymous, the god they worship is called Barbatos.
As mentioned earlier, this nation and its god represent freedom.
So much so that the god doesn't even bother to restrain his people, letting them develop on their own.
This seemingly hands-off approach has another, more soulful descriptor—slacking off.
But it was precisely this slacking off that once plunged the nation into corruption and its darkest hour.
That was the era of aristocratic rule.
Later, under the leadership of Vennessa, the tyranny of the Lawrence family was overthrown by the people, and Mondstadt has been without nobility ever since.
This nation, without a god or rulers, is now managed by the Knights of Favonius, created by Vennessa.
Compared to Inazuma, while monsters still roam Mondstadt's lands, it is undoubtedly much safer.
The scenery here is beautiful, with spring-like weather year-round. Between the mountains and vast plains, the free wind carries the scent of dandelions across Cider Lake, bringing the blessings and grace of the Anemo Archon, Barbatos, to the city of Mondstadt, situated on the lake's central island.
Hmm? Isn't it Bartobas?
Ahem...
In any case, for Bai Luo, coming to Mondstadt felt like returning to the starting village.
While Inazuma City was definitely a nightmare-level starting point.
Gazing at the mist-shrouded Dragonspine and bypassing the towering Cape Oath, the fleet finally made landfall near Falcon Coast.
The person who had received the news from Mondstadt was already waiting there.
After straightening his attire, Thors stepped forward to greet them.
According to his master's instructions, the people on this ship were important guests, so he had to handle them with care.
It had to be said that Klober, when he was around Bai Luo and Il Dottore, was the epitome of a sycophant.
But in front of subordinates, he transformed into a lofty figure.
With his expensive suit and meticulously groomed mustache, he actually looked somewhat respectable.
"Mr. Klober, my master has prepared rooms for you at the winery and sent us to welcome you."
As one of Il Dottore's lackeys, Klober had some reputation in Mondstadt.
Otherwise, with the Ludi Harpastum Festival approaching, Mondstadt wouldn't have sent an invitation all the way to Snezhnaya.
Mainly because, compared to proper Fatui members, this guy was easier to manipulate.
Hearing Thors' words, Klober's face lit up with greed.
Not only was Thors' master incredibly generous, but more importantly, the winery he mentioned housed many rare and expensive wines.
Just one bottle could buy a house outright in Mondstadt City.
And the last time Klober was in Mondstadt, he had walked away with at least ten bottles of such wine.
When he brought those wines back to Snezhnaya, they sold for astronomical prices.
But when he noticed someone disembarking behind him, he quickly wiped the greed off his face.
"No need, thank your master for his kindness. We've already booked the Goth Grand Hotel. If there's anything, you can find us there."
The "anything" naturally referred to bribes.
But he didn't dare say it outright in front of Bai Luo, so he could only hint at it like this.
However, Thors' attention had already shifted to Bai Luo, who was behind Klober.
Compared to Klober's expensive suit, Bai Luo, in his black trench coat, seemed rather unremarkable.
He gave off the vibe of a bodyguard.
But Thors didn't underestimate him.
Because he could clearly see that after Bai Luo disembarked, Klober, who had been strutting around arrogantly, had subconsciously hunched his back a little.
And he didn't dare to solicit bribes so blatantly anymore.
This meant... this seemingly unremarkable guy was of a much higher rank than Klober.
Perhaps this person was the important guest his master had mentioned.
"I understand. Please make sure to accept this, Mr. Klober."
Having figured it out, Thors shifted his gaze away from Bai Luo and pulled out something resembling an envelope, handing it to Klober.
"Huh?"
Klober's eyes lit up when he saw the envelope.
Maybe... this was the generous gift his master had prepared for him.
"This is an invitation to the pre-Ludi Harpastum Festival banquet. The banquet will be held at Dawn Winery in a day. To prevent the guests from losing their invitations, my master instructed me to give you an extra copy."
Hearing this, Klober was annoyed.
Not only were they not giving him a bribe, but they were also pulling this stunt.
What did they mean? Did they think he was so careless that he'd lose the invitation?
But before he could throw a fit, a pale hand rested on his shoulder.
Considering the only person on the ship who would dare do this was that person, cold sweat instantly soaked through his shirt.
"Thank your master for me, and give him my regards."
Bai Luo took the invitation from Klober's hand, a friendly smile on his face.
Klober might not have caught it, but Bai Luo understood perfectly. This extra invitation wasn't just a backup—it was meant for him.
As Bai Luo had guessed, Thors tipped his hat in a polite bow and left with his entourage.
"I-Instructor..."
Klober forced a smile and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
During the days at sea, Bai Luo hadn't done anything too out of line, mostly sleeping in his cabin and working on his new novel.
This mild demeanor had almost made Klober forget that this man was the terrifying figure who kept many of Snezhnaya's higher-ups awake at night.
Bai Luo glanced at him. Klober's little schemes couldn't possibly escape his notice.
He also had a vague understanding of why Il Dottore had sent this guy.
While someone as greedy as Klober could cause a lot of trouble for the Fatui, he was also the only weak link in the organization.
But this weak link was like a juicy piece of bait, capable of luring out the big fish hiding in the shadows.
By giving him a little power and leaking some unimportant information, the sharks who couldn't resist the scent of blood would definitely bite.
Even if they knew it was a trap.
And that meant that once the big fish took the bait, the bait itself would no longer matter.