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Chapter 57: The Lady Who Fell from Grace
"Anyway, your goal is to find the Anemo Archon, right? If you want Mondstadt's help in finding your brother, making them owe you a favor is a good strategy," Aiden explained, glancing at Barbara.
"That actually makes sense!" Paimon nodded approvingly.
If the Traveler could deal with the Stormterror issue, Mondstadt would indeed owe them a great debt of gratitude.
Barbara also agreed enthusiastically. "If you can help Acting Grand Master Jean resolve the issue with Stormterror, I'm sure she will do everything she can to help you find your brother!"
Ying sighed. She understood the logic, but she had no idea how strong the dragons of this world were.
Still, she agreed. Partly because Aiden's reasoning was sound—this could be a great opportunity. What if Stormterror was easier to handle than expected? And even if she couldn't defeat it, she could always escape.
On the other hand, she thought to herself, who could say no to a sweet girl like Barbara?
With the decision made, Aiden ended the live stream.
---
[Keqing: "Why did you end the stream? Are you back in Mondstadt? I still wanted to see that infamous statue of her."]
[Ningguang: "It's a shame the chat group can't save images. Otherwise, I would have shared that statue with all of Liyue."]
Ningguang had not forgotten how La Signora had arrogantly declared Aiden to be "her property." This was payback.
[Venti: "Oh? Do you want a picture? I can head back and take one! How much Mora are we talking about?"]
[Ningguang: "One million Mora."]
[Venti: "Deal! Expect delivery by tomorrow! I'll go borrow a Kamera now."]
---
Aiden sighed as he read the messages. It seemed that La Signora was about to become the center of a major scandal. And Ningguang was far more vindictive than he had initially thought. Had he ever offended her before?
Not that he could recall. Everything had been Childe's wild guesses—it had nothing to do with him.
Still, he silently mourned for Childe. Ah, Ajax, don't open the door—Ningguang's people are outside.
As they traveled back, Barbara shared more details about Mondstadt's current state. Ying quickly realized things were worse than she had thought—the people were struggling, the Knights of Favonius were overwhelmed, and the Anemo Archon had been absent for centuries.
Mondstadt needed a hero.
And though she was reluctant, Ying knew she couldn't just ignore their plight.
She also gained a better understanding of the world's power system from Aiden, Barbara, and Paimon. This knowledge would undoubtedly help her in the days to come.
However, when she entered Mondstadt, she was immediately stunned.
Not far from the city gates stood a petrified figure, heavily guarded by elite personnel.
Ying took a closer look. The statue was too lifelike. It wasn't just a carving—it was a person, frozen in stone.
The guards surrounding it were no ordinary knights; they carried themselves with an air of elite discipline. Their presence alone made them seem more formidable than the guards at the city gate.
Thankfully, Barbara's presence allowed them to enter without issue.
"What's going on?" Ying asked Aiden, noticing the wary glances the guards shot in his direction.
"She ambushed me," Aiden replied nonchalantly. "I defeated her and sealed her like this. She'll return to normal in a few days."
As the chat group had speculated earlier, there were several theories about why La Signora had attacked Aiden in the first place. One popular idea was that she had done it to provoke Ningguang.
After all, publicly, Aiden was seen as Ningguang's person.
But Venti had proposed another possibility. Before becoming La Signora, Rosalyn was once like Barbara—a gentle girl with a beautiful singing voice, beloved in Mondstadt.
Perhaps, despite her bitterness towards the city, some part of her still held sentiment for people like Barbara.
When she saw the "notorious scoundrel" Aiden acting so friendly with Barbara, she might have acted out purely on instinct.
When Aiden heard this theory, he didn't know how to respond. It sounded ridiculous… but also strangely plausible.
Regardless, La Signora had deliberately spread rumors about his so-called "scumbag" reputation. It wasn't meant for him—it was meant for Barbara.
He had nothing to say to her anymore.
Jean, Barbara's older sister, was also conflicted about the situation. Should she be grateful to La Signora or furious at her?
Either way, La Signora had still attacked Mondstadt's guests.
For now, she would remain a statue.
Aiden couldn't help but wonder—when she woke up, would she immediately unleash her wrath upon Mondstadt?
---
"Whoa… So if we anger Aiden, we'll end up like her?" Paimon shuddered, hiding behind Ying.
Ying examined the petrified La Signora thoughtfully. The elemental power that sealed her was terrifying—but completely different from the divine force that had once imprisoned her.
Right now, she wouldn't stand a chance against something like this.
Seeing this level of mastery over elemental power made her realize just how dangerous Teyvat could be.
"By the way, Traveler, you don't have a place to stay in Mondstadt, do you?" Barbara suddenly asked.
"Not yet," Ying admitted. "But judging by how packed the city looks, I doubt we'll find a room at an inn."
"Then how about staying with me?" Barbara offered with a bright smile. "My sister is stationed at the Knights of Favonius headquarters, so I usually stay at the Church of Favonius.
Aiden is already staying at our house, so if you and Paimon join, I'm sure my sister won't mind!"
Along the journey, Barbara had come to see Ying as a friend. And besides, she wanted to introduce Ying to her sister.
Maybe the Traveler could help Jean in some way.
It would be a win-win for everyone.