Harlan Flint sat at his corner table in the Deer Hunter restaurant, his expression shifting subtly as Amber's praise for his shop rang in his ears.
He hadn't expected the Scout Knight to hold him—the mysterious owner of Galehaven Comics—in such high regard without even knowing it was him.
"Hey, you okay over there—feeling off, or is the fried pork not sitting right?" Amber asked, her warm concern cutting through as she noticed his odd look.
"I'm Scout Knight Amber—need any help?" she added, her friendly nature shining through, bolstered by their shared table's small bond.
Eula's cool gaze flicked to him too, a spark of curiosity igniting—she'd braced for the usual Mondstadt disdain tied to her Lawrence name.
Most locals shunned her, their eyes sharp with old grudges, yet this stranger showed no flicker of scorn or hesitation.
Had he not heard of her family's tarnished legacy, or was he simply not from around here?
Harlan smiled, shaking his head. "No, the fried pork with carrots in honey sauce is delicious—I'm just intrigued by that comic shop you mentioned."
"There's really a place like that in Mondstadt, huh?" he said, his tone genuine—the dish was a savory delight, a Deer Hunter hallmark he'd savored.
Amber beamed, her enthusiasm bubbling over. "Oh, you should totally check it out—it'll blow your mind, I promise!"
She hadn't visited yet herself, but that didn't stop her from singing Galehaven Comics' praises to anyone who'd listen.
"Definitely," Harlan replied, his eyes glinting with amusement—someone recommending his own shop to him was a twist he hadn't seen coming.
Sarah approached then, balancing two steaming plates. "Here's your fried pork with carrots in honey sauce, you two."
The aroma hit like a wave, rich and sweet, sparking Amber and Eula's appetites as they dug in without a pause.
"I couldn't help overhearing—you were talking about that comic shop?" Sarah asked, her curiosity piqued as she lingered.
A place where reading granted rewards sounded too wild to ignore—she needed details.
"Yep, Galehaven Comics," Amber confirmed, swallowing a bite before diving back into her pitch.
"What would you want from a comic, Sarah?" she asked, tilting her head with a grin.
Sarah paused, then nodded firmly. "I'd love new recipes—imagine the Deer Hunter with a lineup of signature dishes!"
She pictured herself mastering exotic flavors, earning enough to ditch her boss and run the place herself one day.
"Food, huh?" Amber mused, scratching her head—she wasn't sure comics offered culinary secrets, but the idea intrigued her.
"There might be," Harlan cut in, his smile sly. "I've heard tales from far-off lands of dishes that glow or make your clothes burst when you eat them."
He thought of comics like Food Wars! or Toriko—if he drew them later, someone could claim those fantastical recipes.
"Glowing dishes? Clothes-exploding food?" Sarah's eyes sparkled, her imagination igniting with the possibilities.
Amber and Eula exchanged a glance, doubt creasing their brows—such dishes sounded like bard's tales, not reality.
They opened their mouths to probe further, but distant shouts sliced through the chatter. "Catch the thief! Don't let them escape!"
"Thieves?" Amber snapped to attention, her knightly instincts flaring as she and Eula turned toward the commotion.
Down the street, dozens of Favonius Knights chased two fleeting figures—one in green, the other blonde—dodging through the crowd.
Eula flagged a panting Knight rushing past. "What's going on—report, now!"
"Captain Eula, Scout Knight Amber—perfect timing!" the Knight gasped, relief washing over him. "Two thieves just stole the Sky Lyre!"
Amber's jaw tightened, her voice sharp. "The Sky Lyre—stolen?"
Eula's expression darkened—the lyre, touched by Barbatos himself, was a sacred relic, its theft a blow to Mondstadt's heart.
"Sara, we'll be back for the food—we've got to handle this," Amber said, already rising with Eula in tow.
"No problem—go!" Sarah replied, nodding as the pair bolted off to join the pursuit.
As Knights, they couldn't sit idle while Mondstadt's treasure slipped away—duty called, loud and urgent.
Harlan watched them go, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Looks like Lumine's about to be a wanted woman again."
He'd clocked the thieves instantly—Wendy's green cloak and Lumine's golden hair were unmistakable, even in the chaos.
Wendy's silver tongue had likely roped Lumine into this heist—whether they'd nabbed the lyre with her boosted strength was the question.
"Not my circus, not my monkeys," he shrugged, curiosity lingering but business taking precedence—he'd stick to running his shop.
"Miss Sarah, that fried pork was fantastic—I'm off now," he said, standing with a polite nod.
"Thanks—come back anytime!" Sarah called, her smile bright as he headed out.
Her mind lingered on his words—glowing dishes, explosive flavors—could they crown the Deer Hunter's menu and make her a culinary legend?
"That comic shop sounds like a goldmine—I've got to see it for myself," she resolved, already plotting a visit.
***
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