Jean stood firm outside Galehaven Comics, her voice cutting through the alley's tension. "Stormterror is Mondstadt's burden—we'll handle it, and the Fatui have no place meddling here."
Mondstadt's safety hung in the balance, a duty she'd never cede to outsiders, no matter how thin their strength stretched.
Even with the Knights depleted from Varka's expedition, her resolve burned brighter than any weakness.
She closed her eyes briefly, drawing a steadying breath as her new power stirred within her chest.
A low rumble erupted—her Conqueror's Haki unleashed invisible shockwaves, roaring outward like a tempest from her core.
The cobblestones beneath her cracked, walls shuddered, and the alley's edges splintered as if hammered by an unseen forge.
Anastasia and her Fatui squad faltered, their smug confidence fracturing into panic at the sudden onslaught.
"What's happening—this isn't normal!" Anastasia stammered, her voice lost in the chaos as the waves struck.
Her underlings, weaker than their leader, crumpled instantly, knocked senseless by the Haki's unrelenting force.
Only one Fatui stood, dazed and trembling, spared by Jean's deliberate restraint—a messenger for her warning.
She'd wielded her aura not to kill, but to proclaim Mondstadt's defiance against their overreach.
"You—do you mean to wage war with the Fatui and the Tsaritsa's might?" the lone survivor sputtered, his nerve fraying.
Mondstadt's sudden steel baffled him—where was the timid diplomacy he'd expected?
Lisa lounged against the wall, her chuckle light. "War? Nonsense—they just tripped and fainted, didn't they?"
She caught Jean's intent—a show of strength to stall the Fatui, buying Mondstadt time to grow.
The Fatui pointed, his hand shaking. "You're twisting this—I saw what she did!"
Jean's gaze sharpened, her tone unwavering. "Tell your Lady we seek peace with Solstice, but our principles are non-negotiable."
"We've noted this slight—the Fatui won't forget it!" the survivor barked, his bravado a thin mask over defeat.
He glanced at his fallen comrades, frustration simmering—dragging them back to the Goethe Hotel would be a humiliating chore.
Their mission had flopped, their pride trampled, and the Lady's wrath loomed as a grim specter.
As they retreated, Lisa smirked at Jean. "I've never seen you so commanding—quite the sight!"
In her years beside Jean, she'd known a diligent, earnest leader—never this bold, domineering figure.
Jean shot her a mock glare, then turned to Harlan with a bow. "Boss, I'm sorry for the mess—I'll have it repaired soon."
Her Haki's outburst had ravaged the alley—cracked stones and sagging walls framed Galehaven Comics like a warzone, spared only by its strange resilience.
Thankfully, the remote spot housed no residents, limiting the damage to mere scenery.
She marveled inwardly at her own power—only now did she grasp Conqueror's Haki's devastating reach.
This strength fueled her defiance against the Fatui, a confidence born from Harlan's comic-borne gift.
Lumine and Barbara's reverence for this shop clicked into place—its magic hit hardest when you wielded its fruits firsthand.
Harlan's true nature eluded her still—a man granting such might defied ordinary bounds.
He nodded, unfazed by the wreckage. "No worries—I'm more intrigued by what's next for Mondstadt."
Jean's display had lit a spark in him, his curiosity piqued for the city's Haki-charged future.
Jean and Lisa bid farewell, their steps brisk—clashing with the Fatui demanded preparations back at headquarters.
They vowed to spread word of Galehaven Comics, rallying more Mondstadt folk to claim its rewards and bolster their strength.
Alone again, Harlan summoned the system panel, its glow reflecting his tally: six customers, two draws ready.
"Time to pull new comics—what'll it be this time?" he murmured, anticipation curling through him as he gave the command.
"System, draw two comics now," he instructed, leaning back as the process whirred to life.
The first result flickered into view: Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai!—a tale of Yuta Togashi shedding his delusional junior high past.
Yuta aimed for a quiet high school life, sealing his "chuunibyou" antics with a final dramatic flourish on day one.
Fate, though, paired him with Rikka Takanotsume, a current chuunibyou case who spotted his lingering quirks and roped him into a "contract."
Her antics drew classmates, family, and old friends into a whirlwind, blending Yuta's hidden past with a chaotic, heartfelt present.
Harlan smirked—its quirky charm could hook Mondstadt's dreamers, maybe even spark some oddball powers.
The second draw flashed: Yu-Gi-Oh—a saga rooted five millennia ago in ancient rites of fate and prophecy.
Dark Games, once rituals for pharaohs, resurfaced when a teen completed the Millennium Puzzle, embracing justice as the Duel King.
Light and shadow clashed through two souls—Muto Yugi and his alter, Atem—card battles deciding destinies in a modern twist.
"Card duels and delusions—quite the mix," Harlan mused, already picturing Wendy dramatizing these for crowds.
Six customers down, twenty-four to go—new tales promised fresh lures for Mondstadt's curious and bold.
***
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