<h4>Chapter 151: Viin Simtor, Ch 150</h4>


    "This battle will be a swift victory—returning undefeated!"


    It didn''t need an borate speech; these eight words were enough to showcase their determination.


    "No wonder Varka chose her as Acting Grand Master," murmured Venti, who was standing beside Lucas. "Jean and <i>that woman</i> are so alike."


    "That woman?" Lucas caught the hint and asked, "Are you talking about Vennessa?"


    "You actually know about her?" Venti looked surprised. "For an outsider, it seems you''ve studied Mondstadt''s history quite well."


    "I''ve learned a little," Lucas replied with an awkward chuckle.


    A little? More like he had rewritten it.


    In the simtor—or rather, in a parallel world—Vennessa had been killed by his own hand.


    At the end of the procession, another knight wearing a helmet like Venti''s quietly fixed their gaze on Lucas''s back, moving forward as the group marched.


    "Finally, they''ve set off," a voice said from a nearby terrace.


    The Doctor, calmly enjoying breakfast, observed the departing squad and smirked. "Let''s hope they move quickly. I can hardly wait."


    While most Mondstadt citizens dined on simple fare like bread and bacon for breakfast, the Doctor''s table bore arge te of steak, cooked to a rare degree. Each slice carved by her knife oozed faint traces of blood.


    Beside her stood the "modified weapon" Ursa, wearing a mask over her mouth. Her sharp eyes were fixated on the steak.


    "You want some, don''t you?" The Doctor''s voice was soft yet cold. "Sorry, not yet. Only by keeping you hungry can you achieve maximumbat effectiveness."


    Her words were followed by a cruel smile as she gestured toward the squad in the distance. "See those Knights of Favonius? If you want to eat, go feast on them."


    But beneath her mask, Ursa muttered faintly, her voice muffled and hesitant. "Human flesh... cannot be eaten..."


    Hearing this, the Doctor''s casual demeanor instantly vanished, reced by a chilling expression.


    "You dare to have your own will?" the Doctor hissed "You are my property. My will is your will. I can modify you, and I can destroy you. Do you understand?"


    Like a lifeless puppet, Ursa whispered, "I will always obey the orders of ''Master.''"


    "That''s better." The Doctor''s face transformed again, this time into a sinister grin. Stroking Ursa''s cheek gently, she cooed, "Don''t waste the effort I''ve spent on you these past few years."


    ....


    The Stormterror''s Lair was not close to Mondstadt. A lone rider at full speed would need at least half a day to reach it, let alone a squad of hundreds.


    ording to their n, the subjugation squad would camp midway for the night, regrouping to resume their march in the morning.


    The journey had been uneventful. Although monsters frequently roamed the wilderness, the closer they were to the main roads, the fewer monsters appeared. And against such a well-equipped force, any monsters they encountered fled long before posing a threat.


    Still, a few hapless Hilichurl bands crossed their path, attempting to rob the squad. They were swiftly dealt with, bing practice dummies for the younger knights.


    By nightfall, the squad had reached their designated campsite near a modest-sizedke.


    Dinner was nothing fancy. Along with their rations, some of the knights had managed to catch fish to supplement the meal.


    At moments like these, many couldn''t help but miss Klee. If she were here, at least the fish would be plentiful and cooked to perfection.


    Interestingly, Dawn Winery, one of Mondstadt''s most prestigious estates, was just a few kilometers away. Staying there would have spared them the trouble of setting up camp, allowing them to enjoy a hearty meal and rest properly.


    However, Kaeya''s suggestion to do so had been vetoed by Jean. She didn''t want to trouble their esteemed predecessor, Diluc. Furthermore, given his tendency to avoid the Knights of Favonius, it was unlikely he would wee them.


    Lucas stood by theke, staring at the shimmering water in a daze.


    The uncertainty of the mission weighed heavily on him, and a sense of unease gnawed at his mind.


    "Good evening."


    Jean''s voice startled him. She had approached silently, smiling warmly. "Why are you standing here all alone?"


    "Captain Jean?" Lucas scratched his head awkwardly. "Maybe I''m just nervous about tomorrow''s battle with the Stormterror."


    "Actually..." Jean hesitated, her gaze faltering slightly. "You don''t need to call me ''Captain Jean.'' Just call me Jean, like you do with E."


    "Like E?" Lucas pondered aloud. "But you and E are entirely different."


    So, it''s true, Jean thought to herself, lowering her head in slight disappointment. In Lucas''s eyes, she really wasn''t the same as E.


    "E never hides her feelings. She''s always straightforward, daring to love and hate openly," Lucas continued. "But you... you''re always wearing a mask, constrained by your identity. You''re the eldest daughter of the Gunnhildr n, the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius... but never just Jean."


    Lucas''s words struck Jean deeply.


    He was right. Her entire life had been shaped by expectations, molding her into the person she was "meant" to be, not the person she wanted to be. She was taught to be courteous,posed, and to embody the perfect "Acting Grand Master Jean."


    Perhaps the only time she felt like her true self was when she could chat with Lucas about her favorite romance novels.


    "Lucas, can you promise me one thing?" Jean mustered her courage, lifting her head to meet his eyes. "When this mission is over, spend a day with me—just one day—where I can be... truly myself."


    "Of course!" Lucas replied with augh. "We can y music and sing in the square."


    Jean nodded. "And get drunk at a tavern!"


    Lucas added, "Or read as many romance novels as you like!"


    Jean grinned. "Or take a nap on the grass!"


    Getting into the spirit, Lucas eximed, "Or go blow up fish with Klee!"


    Jean smirked yfully. "Then I''ll lock both you and Klee in solitary confinement."


    Lucas froze, but Jean chuckled softly and said, "Just kidding."


    "So you can joke after all?" Lucas said with a smile. "That''s the real Jean. I like it."


    You... like it?


    Just as Jean was about to question whether Lucas''s use of the word "like" held deeper meaning, an unusual disturbance rippled across the otherwise calmke surface.


    Always vignt, Jean immediately sensed something amiss. Her hand instinctively went to her sword hilt, preparing for any potential threat.


    "Everyone, stay alert!" she called out. "Theke is behaving strangely!"


    At her warning, the group quickly became tense, hundreds of eyes focusing on theke. Each member of the subjugation team was a seasoned warrior; their heightened alertness reflected their expertise. Even if a terrifying beast lurked beneath theke, it would find itself hard-pressed against such a well-prepared force.


    However, as the ripples and mist cleared, theke revealed not a monstrous creature, but an irregrly shaped, glowing water sphere gently floating above the surface.


    "What is that?" Lucas asked, puzzled. "A Hydro Slime?"


    Yet, even a Hydro Slime should have discernible facial features. This sphere, however, was featureless and amorphous.


    Suddenly, Jean, who had been standing beside Lucas, seemed to lose herposure. Her eyes dimmed as though her soul had been drawn away. She began to walk toward the water sphere in a trance-like state, murmuring softly, "Father... Mother... are you reconciled? And Barbara... our family can finally be whole again..."


    It wasn''t just Jean. Other Knights of Favonius members were also entranced, dropping their weapons and moving toward theke with dazed expressions, mumbling various desires aloud.


    "Such a beautiful sword! With it, I could be a great warrior..."


    "Annina, I''ve loved you for so long. Please ept my proposal!"


    "So much money... With this, I could retire early and open my fishing shop..."


    Even Lumine and Paimon were not immune.


    Lumine kept whispering "Brother..." repeatedly, while Paimon''s mouth rattled off a litany of foods as though reciting a menu.


    Strangely, Lucas alone seemed unaffected.


    "So that''s it," said Venti, who no longer bothered to conceal his identity. His brow furrowed as he observed the scene. "It''s a ''Hydro Mirage.''"


    "What''s that?" Lucas quickly asked.


    "It''s a type of illusion that uses Hydro elements to manifest the deepest desires or dreams of those ensnared," Venti exined. "To us, it appears as a simple water sphere. But to the victims, it might resemble a mountain of Mora, a breathtaking beauty, or even long-lost loved ones."


    "What happens if the illusion isn''t broken?" Lucas pressed further.


    "The illusion will draw them in until they walk into the water and drown," Venti answered grimly, though he seemed puzzled. "But such mirages are usually exclusive to the pure-water spirits of Fontaine. They''re defensive rather than offensive and rarely attack other creatures."


    Realizing the urgency, Lucas stepped forward and grabbed Jean''s wrist, forcibly halting her steps. However, the other entranced members continued toward the water, some already waist-deep in theke.


    Though Lucas considered freezing theke with Cryo elements, hisck of precise control over his abilities made it risky; he could inadvertently harm those already in the water.


    "How can we break this illusion?" Lucas asked, a hint of panic creeping into his voice. "You must have a way!"


    "There is a solution," Venti replied casually, a mischievous grin ying on his lips. "Strong stimtion can disrupt the illusion."


    Strong stimtion?


    Lucas, desperate to save Jean, acted without hesitation. He raised his hand and pped Jean''s cheek in an attempt to awaken her through pain. Yet, even as her cheek turned red, she remained unfazed, continuing her mechanical march toward theke.


    Years of rigorous training had evidently dulled Jean''s sensitivity to pain.


    Then Lucas remembered something. In the simtor, Jean had a particrly sensitive spot—one that elicited a sharp reaction whenever touched...


    Without hesitation, Lucas moved behind Jean and reached for that spot, grabbing her soft ass and giving it a light squeeze.


    "Ah!!"


    Jean, previously entranced by the Hydro Mirage, suddenly snapped back to her senses. Reflexively, she spun around and pped Lucas across the face with a resounding "smack." A delicate red handprint appeared on his cheek.


    Yet, Lucas didn''t seem angry in the slightest. Instead, he sighed in relief and asked, "Jean, are you awake now?"


    "What... happened?" Jean murmured, still disoriented. "I think... I saw my estranged parents reconciling..."


    It seemed this vision was a reflection of Jean''s deepest yearning.


    "Unfortunately, it was all just an illusion," Lucas quickly exined. "Everyone''s been ensnared by a mirage. I had to... uh... take action to wake you up."


    At his words, both Lucas and Jean turned red, clearly aware of what had just transpired.


    "But..." Jean frowned as realization dawned. "Why weren''t you affected by the illusion?"


    "Good question. Why wasn''t I...?" Lucas pondered, suddenly pulling out a small, ornate pouch from his chest. The faint, calming scent of Qingxin Grass wafted from it.


    With his [Medical Sage] talent, Lucas quickly pieced it together. The shredded Qingxin Grass inside the pouch not only calmed the mind but also emitted a fragrance that could dispel specific types of illusions—including Hydro Mirages.


    Whether it was coincidence or something more deliberate, Lucas wasn''t sure.


    "I''ve got a n!" Lucas eximed. He opened the pouch and poured the Qingxin Grass fragments into his hand. "I''ll scatter these, and you can use Anemo to disperse them across the area. That should break the illusion."


    "Good idea!" Jean nodded. "I''m ready when you are."


    Though it sounded simple, executing it was anything but. Precisely manipting the tiny fragments with Anemo required immense control over elemental energy. Miscalctions could lead to failure, leaving the others trapped in the mirage.


    "We only have one shot!"


    ---


    Author''s Note: Extra chap :)


    Next one at 400 p.s - only if we hit it today!


    P.s ugh that garbage botter at top of ranking again