"So you say there was a group called Sunutrians running an illegal lumber operation?" Jean asked, as she sat down in her office with Stas in one-on-one meeting.
"Correct, my Lady."
"Hm, thank you for reporting. You can now go." Jean responded, observing Stas stand up from the chair, give a quick, silent bow before turning around and leaving her office as Kadiq and Kaeya walked in instead. "Please, report."
"Remember the whole crisis between us and Liyue?" Kadiq asked.
"By us, you mean Iramati?" Kaeya requested clarification.
"Yes."
"I do." Jean picked up her turn to speak. "Why do you ask?"
"Sunutrians are a group led by Dragel. You know, the one who caused that mess." Kadiq continued. "This means they are also actively interfering in our new crisis."
"... I heard earlier you aren't willing to fight your brothers." Jean continued, giving him a serious glare. "Does it mean Iramati won't show up to fight them?"
"What brother of ours runs an illegal lumber camp in allied territory of all places? There is nothing brotherly there." Kadiq shaked his head in disapproving manner. "If you allow, I'll depart to my real brothers, tell Khan and Hakh what happened and they'll hopefully see the reason behind my exception."
"Thank you, now go. Kaeya, please escort him just in case." Jean added.
"Sure thing." Kaeya smirked, as the two turned around and left her alone in the office.
"... Alright then." Jean sighed, then immediately reached for another twelve or so pages of a single document. "Next on the agenda is…"
"Hmm…" Sans wondered, sitting down in front of Goth Hotel with one of Fatui's members. "You know, I kinda wonder about something here."
"Sure, go on."
"What does the national make-up of Mondstadt look like?" Sans asked, turning his head left to look at him.
"Hmm… Oh wait, I know." Fatui guy quickly smirked, fisting the ignited light bulb above his head into thin air before taking out a guide-like piece of paper and unfolded it before them. "Locals, as in, Mondstadtian Mondtsadians are, like, thirty percent. Recent influx of Liyue farmers bump these people up to thirty, so these two groups are even. But the city doesn't show it as rural people work in rural areas that are, surprise, not in the city."
"So that's why crowds are so uneven over time." Sans commented. "Actually, why didn't they return to Liyue after the crisis?"
"Sansy my boy, Liyue has life all around contracts." Fatui guy explained. "Farmers working in the field also do so by contract rather than their own interest."
"But they own their land, right?" Sans asked.
"Nominally, yes." Fatui guy continued. "But that also is regulated on contract basis. A fine girl there named Keqing is responsible for Liyue stuff with lands, grounds, stuff on the lands and so on. Including contracts of those who own or work on them."
"Mhm, that explains one thing." Sans nodded implying he wanted to hear more.
"Well… Iramati situation kinda screwed her over since Liyue contacts for farmers include legal and military protection from bandits." Fatui member almost chuckled. "And remember what Ira- Kh-kh. Dragel band did?"
"... Threw them out of the lands and homes." Sans ended with a sorrowful tone.
"And that isn't even the most of it." Fatui man added. "Since being thrown out of your home is, in fact, a violation of security. Liyue was… Was, obligated to protect their farmers there, and elsewhere, from bandits. Let alone military campaigns on their soil. Now, remember what stopped Iramati folk from ravaging the land and making it their own?"
"Knights of Favonius stepping in as mediators."
"So neither Liyue government or their subordinates such as Millelith." Fatui said. "You see the problem?"
"Contracts were broken by the government's fault?"
"Yes, stupid." Fatui member responded. "And they aren't coming back. But it is Keqing that ends up being grilled the most by others since Millelith at least had an idea to hold joint exercises with other nations to improve their tactics and performance afterwards. Girl behind a desk can't do such stuff so easily."
"Damn, that's an issue." Sans nodded, looking up into the sky before standing up. "Whatev', I gotta go do my work now. Thanks, I'm Useless To My Team."
"No need to, Sans. We know you're a fine guy."
rumbling*
"What's that?" Sans asked, looking ahead towards the incoming shadow of human form.
Rumbling*
"New guy for our place." Fatui guy explained. "His name is-"
"OOOHHH RUMBLING!"
"Yup, that's his name."
"Ooohhh Rumbling?" Sans asked, almost baffled.
"Yeah, get used to it."
"I got the runner." Imposing character said, now suddenly in front of the two with another Fatui member resting on his left shoulder like a towel after beach. "Put him in a naughty corner?"
"Put him in a naughty corner." I'm Useless To My Team nodded.
"Oh, hi Knighty." Imposing figure added, nodding to Sans before squeezing through the doors with the guy over the shoulder as if he was sucked.
"... I won't question it." Sans objected.
"You bet you don't."
"Yaaay!"
"Nice shot, little!" Vstanko commented, cheering as Klee and Holke grabbed a weirdly wide fish falling down from the sky.
"Yup, that's six." Sigurd commented, noting something down with a feather as the two threw the fish into a fishing bucket. "Beats me how we got that fishing license."
"We didn't, Simon did." Vstanko corrected him. "Diluc tried to block the way towards Jean's office, but we were faster. And Besides, it is Klee…"
"I do agree on Diluc being weird, though." Sigurd added.
"Didn't ask." Vstanko rebottled. "Also, where is Vanko?"
"A bit south off here." Simon answered him. "He said he had a gut feeling to check something."
"Welp, seems like he supposed something." Vstanko nodded. "Can't argue with that."
"Makes me wonder where it leads him…" Simon nodded, before suddenly snapping to the south and staring ahead.
"Oy, what happened?" Holke asked, making a worried look as the whole gathering stared at the oldest one.
"I suppose our Commander was right." Simon said, pointing ahead as the whole gathering turned around and saw Vanko walking ahead rows upon rows of red, rectangular shields behind them. Needless to say, they all felt very familiar.
"So, there is The Sparkling Star your prayers called to our ancestral lands." One of the new men in the first row stated, as Vanko stepped aside to reveal formation forming shield walls along the middle pass for a young man with long blonde hair, cunning hazel eyes and long, brown scar extended sideways from bottom left to upper right of his lips, further contrasted by near-snow white skin.
"Friends, for a time of war in protection of what is right, I will be the leader of our army." New man stated, raising his right hand upward in a peaceful sign. "My name is Harald. And I will be our General Commander for the incoming hostility."
"Thanks for the help, Sans!" Random man in Liyue-like farmer clothing said, waving his hand as Sans exit the home all in smoke.
"Just doin' my job, eh?" Comedian responded cheerfully, before coughing twice with black smoke going off his clothes. "You may want to change your fireplace a bit, though."
"If I had Mora to do it, though." Man shaked his shoulders before taking a B-boy stance with crossed arms. "Still, thanks for the help."
"Sure thing, pal." Sans smiled, walking away from him only to instantly stop for 2+3 family to pass before him. "Oh, hello Commander." He added.
"Sans! What happened to you?" Noelle asked full of worry, dashing ahead up to him with Amber following soon.
"Dealing with smoke collecting in the home. Basic stuff." Sans responded, soon seeing Noelle swing a broom all over him like a ninja. "You don't need-" He tried to protest, but had to close his mouth as the sweeping end reached for his head.
"Sans, Sans, Sans." Amber almost laughed. "There is no stopping Noelle helping you now, thanks to you that is."
"There! And now the back…" Noelle said to herself, a bit preoccupied with the task as people all around just didn't bother with the weird scene, proceeding ahead with the day.
"Meh, guess I got what I wanted." Sans smirked, feeling the itch of a broom all over his back. "But I kinda wonder who is responsible for, y'know, civilian stuff here."
"What do you mean?" Amber asked, slightly confused.
"Canalization, Fire safety laws, construction and campfire permits. That stuff."
"Campfire is a thing for Outriders and Knight Captains." Amber said. "As for the previous two… I-I t-think it all goes directly to Jean."
"The stutter implies to me that you weren't sure." Sans commented.
"Done!" Noelle announced, peeking from behind him. "How do you feel?"
"Great. Thanks."
"The thing is, I genuinely don't know where all the civilian things go." Amber responded. "And if something isn't in the attributed power of any Regular Knight or a Captain to resolve, it goes directly to the Grand Master for answer."
"Hmm… That sounds complicated." Sans responded. "But that kind of explains Jean's work overload."
"So you will now want to take this work off of her and give it to someone else?" Amber asked.
"... I just started to like solving problems recently." Sans responded. "No need to say No-elle to it."
"... What?" Noelle asked.
"-ompffffftttt…" Amber spitted out with a chuckle, grabbing herself on the waits and almost bowing down.
"Sorry, just making a bad pun to loosen up the mood." Sans answered to her confusion. "Still, Jean can't take so much stuff on herself."
"Erm… Aaarm… Aaand who can instead?" Amber asked him, getting hold of the funny.
"That will have to be thought of." Sans responded. "But for now I kinda have to be a decent person, soo… Maybe a visit to Eula?"
"You sure?" Amber asked.
"I mean, maybe not me since it would be my third today, and there is a three strikes rule." Sans suggested. "So maybe you two could?"
"You sure she would want us?" Amber asked him.
"She isn't a loner by nature. Plus, having me roll on and on all the time would be irritating." Sans explained. "We have to shake the visitor list up a bit. Don't you agree?"
"Did Jean got to decide on new drug restrictions by now?" Albedo asked, standing in a hallway of Favonius HQ.
"I wish she did." Kaeya responded, leaning against the wall to Albedo' right. "She's buried in paperwork… I wanted to say again, but that would imply that she wasn't for some time."
"I mean, Traveler helped us give her a thank-you party this one time..." Albedo said with a tone full of wandering thoughts.
"Fair, but one offs don't usually solve recurring issues." Kaeya responded. "And I was kind of scheduled to meet her here like a quarter ago about the Inazuma affair, so…"
"Yeah, Inazuma." Albedo said. "That's where the drug comes from, I assume?"
"Yyyup, I'm almost certain." Kaeya nodded. "Can't say more though, people at the port were very persuasive."
"Those here are as well." Albedo nodded, crossing his arms. "Here is my question, however. What do we do about it?"
"Solver it without pulling Jean in." Kaeya suggested. "It is our job after all. She has other stuff to do."
"Well then." Kaeya nodded, moving his back off of the wall. "... What's the plan?"
"What do you think, my Khan?" Kadiq asked as he, Hakh and Huzarib sat in a triangle within the latter's yurt.
"Hmm, no Iramati oversteps their brother's allegiance." Huzarib concluded, stroking himself by the beard. "And wood stealing is just petty. They are no brothers to us."
"Your opinion, Hakh?" Kadiq asked, turning to the third person present.
"I believe our allies deserve priority over traitors." Hakh stated. "If the message from Mondstadt says we must come, we come."
"Thank you."
"With that, I believe our debate is settled." Huzarib agreed. "Now, you two, please step out and spread the word to brothers and sisters."
"It will be done."
"... Permission to install a furnace in a building number… floor third, room to the left near… Witj-With a view on Goth Hotel, occupants, four…"
Crack*
"Hah?!"
"Ahuhu~" Lisa chuckled, deviously satisfied with catching Jean by surprise. "Drowning in paperwork?"
"No, I am perfectly fine, thank you." Jean responded. "But I need to ask you to tell Kaeya I can't meet him today. Urgent matters demand my attention today." She added, swiping for another document over the still going one.
"Don't worry, I'll do it just now." Lisa said, slowly turning around. "If you changed your mind on help, just tell me. Alright?"
"Sure, sure. I'll get to it if I need." Jean nodded, before going down into paper. "Petition for a cracked brick replacement in the building of… Eastern side, floor zero, fifth from bottom, somewhere behind flower pot…"
screeck*
"Master Jean is busy?" Noelle asked, as she and Amber just conveniently took a stop while passing along.
"If you aren't busy at work, you are just lucky." Lisa responded, turning around from closed doors and to face two girls. "What's the occasion?"
"Nothing, we were just going to check on Eula and thought of it, but then we saw you leaving Acting Grand Master and… Aaand…" Amber tried to explain, losing herself on the way.
"Sans been putting ideas in your head my lovelies, didn't he?" Lisa asked with a cheeky tone.
"What? What, no. No, no. He didn't." Amber denied.
"Hmm… And you, Noelle?" Lisa asked again.
"He asked where all the civilian cases go." Noelle said in response.
"Hmm, that is a good question." Lisa smiled. "But I can't help with that. After all, I am just a librarian."
"Understood. Thank you for telling as much." Amber responded, proceeding ahead, away from her."
"Have a good day, Miss Lisa." Noelle added in a hurry, following Amber.
"Hmm…" Lisa hummed, looking after the two walking away from her and then to the opposite side. "I never had a one on one conversation with Sans and it's been two days since he joined us. But he already did so much… Kind of like Traveler."
"Is The Acting Grand Master capable of meeting us?" Harald asked, as he and Vanko sat down on a wooden log at the edge of the forest.
"No, she's not." Vanko answered. "Our small group had luck to find her with only one pile of papers to go. The regular number however is claimed to be three or four."
"Four? Morals be damned..." Sigurd sighed deeply, showing up from nowhere. "Could she be cursed by The Mad God of Paperwork?"
"By Biurax?"
"You're not familiar with him?"
"My mom claimed our Grandpa tried offering her as a life sacrifice to him in exchange for a pen when he really needed to finish property tax form when moving into the city." Vanko responded. "Lucky, my dad stopped him and the two soon fell in love like in these weird romances Zirte knights adore."
"Cringe."
"Having dumb parents isn't a crime, General." Vanko rolled his eyes. "Still, we kinda have to do something better than say who was what."
"Fair enough. Ygh-kh." Sigurd nodded, almost coughing something while gulping. "And that better of yours is?"
"Meeting our allies of course."
"Sure, but we can do that tomorrow. Now we have to rest after a long journey over sea."
"Yeah, and we may have to get Klee back home for a night…"
