Menma and Hashirama, what happened in Teyvat

(The next morning, Mondstadt, near the Knights' Headquarters)

"If we don't find the 'Dark Night Hero'..."

Hoffman was pacing back and forth anxiously, waiting for Sora and Paimon, or other colleagues who had discovered clues to bring news about the "Hero of the Dark Night".

"How will the Knights deal with the "War"?" At this moment, Sora's voice suddenly rang out from beside Hoffman, startling him. He turned around and found that the two people he had been waiting for had already arrived beside him.

"Ah... it's you guys." Hoffman scratched his head and said in a complicated tone, "To be honest, it's a bit of a headache. The course of action for this incident was just determined in the meeting just now. Guess what?"

"Hmm...are we just going to leave this matter alone and let the Dark Night Hero solve it on his own?" Sora guessed.

"You are kidding me. The Knights will not stand idly by and watch anything that endangers Mondstadt's safety." Hoffman waved his hand to indicate that this was incorrect. "Otherwise, more people would choose to rely on the Dark Night Heroes instead of the Knights."

"Well, what is your plan?" Paimon asked.

If Diluk had heard what Hoffman said above, he would definitely have immediately mocked that the Knights would definitely choose to interfere with or even take over his actions, and take advantage of the situation to gradually dilute the influence of the "Dark Night Hero" in this matter and even in the entire Mondstadt.

After all, doing so is the only way to maintain the image of the Order.

But what Hoffman said next completely deviated from this direction -

"Find out the true identity of the "Dark Night Hero" and try your best to... cooperate with him."

When he said this, Hoffman had a very strange expression. After all, he, like many other knights, didn't understand why Captain Qin gave this order.

"Eh, cooperate with him?" Paimeng was a little confused.

"Although I don't know why Captain Qin chose to go against the crowd and resolutely issue this order that almost no knights support..." Hoffman said, "After all, doing so is equivalent to supporting the existence of the "Dark Night Hero". Encouraging this kind of personal heroism is a loss of the authority of the Knights...

However, since Captain Qin made such a decision, there might be some important factors that we have not considered."

Although like many knights, this order was full of doubts in Hoffman's eyes, and even had some meanings that were against Tian Gang, he finally chose to believe Captain Qin.

What's more, he was just an ordinary knight. He could give suggestions to Captain Qin, but the final right of interpretation and the qualification to issue orders still belonged to Captain Qin. All he needed to do was obey the orders and execute them.

"What does it mean to lose the authority of the Knights Templar?" Paimon caught a sensitive point in Hoffman's words and asked quickly.

“Shh—” As several citizens happened to pass by, Hoffman was so frightened that he hurriedly asked Paimon to be quiet. He finally breathed a sigh of relief after those citizens walked away, “Well, since you have helped the Knights before... I will tell you clearly.

In fact, the initial discussion among the Knights’ high-ranking officials was to find the “Night Hero” and “protect” him. Even many ordinary knights, including me, held the same view.”

"'Protection'? With his strength, does he still need the protection of the Knights?" Paimon became even more confused.

"'Protection' is just in name only, but the real purpose is that the Knights are ready to take over this matter completely."

"Don't let the "Night Hero" take action? Why do you want to do this?"

"This is to prove the strength of the Knights, and to tell the people that even without the 'Hero of the Night', the Knights can handle everything." At this point, Hoffman sighed again, "Originally, the result should have been like this, but all these statements were completely denied by Captain Qin alone."

"Well... the Knights also have their own difficulties." Paimon sighed, "But why would Captain Jean deny all this?"

"I don't know either." Hoffman shook his head. "At the meeting, the captain of the 8th team, Nymph, even stood up and slammed the table excitedly to question Captain Qin's decision. But to her surprise, Captain Qin just said a few words to her and to us..."

"What did she say?" Hearing Hoffman's seemingly doubtful tone, Kong also urged curiously.

"Do you know what the real purpose of a mirror is?" Hoffman began to paraphrase, "What is your purpose when you look in the mirror?"

"Look...in the mirror?" No matter how hard Paimon tried, she couldn't figure out what Jean meant by that. On the contrary, Sora seemed to have heard something from it, and he rested his chin on his hand, looking thoughtful.

“To be honest, I don’t really understand what Captain Jean means.” Hoffman spread his hands. “But no matter what the final result is, whether it is ‘protection’ or cooperation with the ‘Dark Night Hero’, we have to find him first.

If we don’t know the identity of the “Hero of the Night”, nothing can be discussed.”

"There's no need to worry, Hoffman. Just do as I say."

But at this moment, a familiar voice came from not far away. Hearing this, Kong, Paimon, and Hoffman looked to the side and immediately saw a dark-skinned man wearing a black eye patch.

"Captain Kaia?"

"Mr. Diluk has been filling in as the bartender at Angel's Gift every night recently." Kaeya walked over and said, and he looked as if he didn't notice Sora and Paimon standing beside them, "You just need to be responsible for keeping an eye on him.

How about it, is it a good job?"

"That's no problem." Hoffman nodded, "But... Captain Kaia means...

"The Dark Night Hero" is Mr. Diluk?"

"Hmm~?" Kaia seemed to know nothing and said ambiguously, "Who knows? Maybe it's just my feeling."

After saying that, Kaeya turned around and left. Hoffman, who had received Kaeya's order, apologized to Sora and Paimon and quickly went to prepare for work.

"The Knights actually thought this way..." After the two walked away, Paimon said to the air, "Also, why does Kaeya seem to know the identity of the "Dark Night Hero"? "

"Perhaps Kaeya has investigated all of Master Diluk's details." Kong said, "After all, the two of them have been fighting each other for so many years. In order to defeat Master Diluk, Kaeya may have done enough homework."

"No matter what, it's best to get to the winery as soon as possible and tell Master Diluc about this."

"Well, don't forget Mr. Uzumaki."

……

……

……

(Some time later, Chenxi Winery)

“Master Diluk!” As soon as he entered the gate of the winery, Paimon began to shout loudly, “Listen to me…”

Eh? Why does this scene feel familiar?

In short, with Paimon's loud shouting and Sora's occasional detailed supplements, the two of them carefully described the situation to Diluk.

"Hmph, that guy Kaeya..." Diluk snorted coldly. Since Kaeya was mentioned, and this matter itself happened to be closely related to him, then such a development was not unexpected by Diluk at all.

"I should have realized it earlier. Now is the best time for him to get back at me."

"The grudge between you always feels so weird..." Paimon couldn't help but complain.

"Let's not talk about that for now. The Knights' original idea was pretty much what I expected." Diluk waved his hand and got down to business, not paying attention to Paimon's complaints. "However, I really didn't expect Jean to be able to suppress the opposition from the higher-ups and make such a decision."

At the same time, he was thinking in his heart: [It seems that Qin has really changed a lot. I don’t know whether her change is because of me or something else.

Hum... I have to admit that you did a great job. As for what the Knights will become under your leadership in the future, let me wait and see. 】

Although Diluc didn't know when or why Jean wanted to reform the Knights, he had at least recently felt it. Although the Knights hadn't changed much yet, with Jean's lead, there would probably be a good new direction in the future.

At that time, he might be able to make some appropriate changes to the Knights. After all, this was what Qin was trying to achieve.

However, despite this, Diluk has another plan for this matter -

"I appreciate Jean's kindness, but I don't want to reveal my identity to the Knights yet, so I don't need their cooperation." Diluk said, "If I agree to cooperate with them, my identity will be exposed."

"Then Master Diluk, you might as well not take over at the tavern tonight." Sora said, "After all, Kaeya..."

"No." Diluk shook his head before Kong finished speaking. "Both Charles and my father have things to do tonight. Even Georg, the only person in the winery who can take this position besides the three of us, is currently on a business trip in Xumi and won't be able to come back in a short time.

Moreover, since the Knights already knew that I was taking over, whether I didn't go or just closed the door, it would arouse suspicion. This was also Kaia's calculation. "

Hearing this, Paimon felt a little anxious: "What should I do then?"

"Don't worry." Diluk's expression remained calm, signaling Paimon not to be so nervous, "I have already thought of a solution for this matter.

Since he wants to monitor me, then let him do as he wishes. We can definitely create a perfect "alibi".

"'Alibi'? What does that mean?"

“You’ll know when the time comes.” Diluk deliberately kept it a secret. “This is also the result of my discussion with Mr. Uzumaki last night.”

"Why are you still keeping us in suspense..." Paimon was immediately unhappy, "But... speaking of Mr. Uzumaki, where is he now?"

"He has already gone to make preparations for tonight's action. If you want to know, please do me a favor." The corners of Diluk's mouth rose slightly by two pixels. "To the northwest of the winery, there is the best place to produce ice mist flowers in Mondstadt. There are also some scattered flowers in the surrounding areas.

Please help me collect a few plants and bring them back. I will make some other preparations here, and at the same time... it is also to reduce some of the pressure on Mr. Uzumaki."

……

(The production process and experimental process of elemental bait are omitted here)

……

"Huh... just a little bit has such a strong effect. Fortunately, my work was not in vain." After finishing the battle with a large group of slimes, Paimon breathed a sigh of relief and said, "So now can we tell you? What is Master Diluk's plan?"

"Well, the plan is actually like this..."