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Chapter 34: The Powerful Witches' Association
"Miss Alice?" Jean's expression became more serious at the mention of the name.
She had heard many things about Aliceâhow she had managed to offend countless people. But Alice was powerful enough not to worry about revenge.
Klee, on the other hand, was different. If people ever discovered that Klee was Alice's daughter, there was no telling who might seek vengeance against her.
Although Albedo was Klee's official guardian, Jean was the one who took care of her most of the time.
To Jean, Klee was no different from her own little sister.
---
"I just need to ask her something," Aiden said calmly. "If you ever see Miss Alice, please let her know I'm looking for her."
Alice was a master of technologyâsomeone capable of receiving objects from other worlds and possibly even traveling between them. Aiden was intrigued by her abilities. With her help, his own growth could accelerate tremendously.
Even though Aiden had a way to reach other worlds, it was still uncertain whether he could control the process.
"I see," Jean said, her shoulders relaxing slightly. She had worried that Aiden might be here to cause trouble for Alice, but that didn't seem to be the case. "There are ways to contact Miss Alice, but we can't reach her at all times. She's always busy, but when she wants to get in touch, she has her own⊠special methods."
"I understand," Aiden replied, though his curiosity only grew.
The Hexenzirkel, or the Witches' Circle, had always been a mysterious organization.
Many people once believed that Lisa was a member of this group, but that turned out to be a misconception. The title Witch of Purple Rose was simply misleading.
Lisa had no connection to the Witches' Circle.
But the true members of the organization were undeniably powerful. Alice alone was enough to shake nations, and even Rhinedottirâone of the most feared names in Teyvatâwas someone the Seven Archons had reason to be wary of.
Aiden couldn't understand how Alice and the other witches could befriend Rhinedottir. Shouldn't someone like her be seen as a threat?
And yet, they didn't treat her that way.
Of course, the Witches' Circle had been established before the destruction of Khaenri'ah, back when Rhinedottir had not yet fallen into the Abyss.
Regardless, Aiden wanted to meet Aliceâand he wanted to meet the other members of the Witches' Circle as well.
They might just be the strongest mortals in all of Teyvat, second only to the Archons themselves.
---
"It's no trouble," Jean assured him. "I hope I can be of help."
After a brief moment of thought, she suddenly asked, "Aiden, do you like to drink?"
"Drink?" Aiden blinked, caught off guard. Was she about to take him to a tavern?
"Yes," Jean nodded. "Mondstadt's wine industry is the finest in all of Teyvat. Since I'm hosting you, I'd like to treat you to the best wine we have."
She still had urgent matters to attend toânamely, investigating the Temples of the Four Winds. But she also had a guest to entertain.
Besides, it was getting late. Kaeya and the others were already feeling exhausted from the day's events. It made sense to let them rest for the night.
Jean also knew that they needed more strength to deal with this crisis. And for that, she would need Diluc's help.
There were times when Jean felt that Diluc might be a better Acting Grand Master than she was.
"That sounds good to me," Aiden said with a small smile. He wasn't a heavy drinker, but he was curious to try Mondstadt's famous wine.
---
Inside the Angel's Share Tavern
The arrival of Jean and Aiden immediately drew attention.
Jean was, after all, the most well-known and well-respected person in Mondstadt. Even in these troubled times, the people still had faith in her.
They truly believed that Jean could protect them.
As for those who had fled their homelands and sought refuge in Mondstadt, their struggles were not Jean's fault.
What else could she have done? The Grand Master had led 90% of the Knights of Favonius' elite forces on an expedition, leaving Jean to protect Mondstadt with only a fraction of their usual strength.
That she had managed to keep the city safe from the rampaging monsters was already an incredible feat.
How to reclaim the surrounding lands, however, was a different matterâone that would either have to wait for the Grand Master's return or require Jean to train a new generation of knights.
Either way, none of this was Jean's fault. It was Grand Master Varka who had left.
---
"Is the boss here?" Jean asked the bartender, Charles, after nodding to the familiar faces in the tavern.
"He returned not too long ago," Charles answered, his gaze shifting to Aiden.
The man beside Jean didn't dress like someone from Mondstadt. His clothing had the distinct style of Liyue.
Why had Jean brought him here?
Was it really just for a drink?
Charles doubted that.
And from the way Jean spoke, she was here to see the boss.
---
"Please prepare a private room for us," Jean said. "And let Diluc knowâI have important information to discuss with him."
Charles didn't ask any further questions. He simply led them to a private room and left in a hurry.
A few moments later, the door opened, and a tall man with striking red hair stepped inside. His sharp, cat-like eyes locked onto Aiden before he sat down across from them.
"Speak," Diluc said coldly. "What is this about?"
His gaze lingered on Aiden.
Of course, Diluc knew who he was. Aiden was a strategic advisor to Ningguang of the Liyue Qixing, a neighbor of Keqing, and someone with ties to Tartaglia, one of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers.
All of this had been reported by the intelligence networks Diluc worked with.
---
"Senior," Jean began, using the respectful title she had always given Diluc. "This is Aiden, a guest from Liyue. He has provided us with valuable informationâspecifically, that the recent disturbances in Mondstadt's ley lines may be connected to the Temples of the Four Winds."
Diluc's eyes narrowed.
Then, he let out a short, disdainful huff.
"It seems the Knights of Favonius have fallen lower than I thought," he muttered. "They needed an outsider to tell them something this obvious?"
He shook his head.
"Leaving the Knights was the best decision I ever made."
Jean sighed but didn't argue.
Aiden, on the other hand, simply smirked.
This was going to be interesting.