"It's time to reveal the truth, let's go take a look."
Led by Feng Yi, everyone arrived on Ting Lan's red carpet.
"Evil red girl, you've finally arrived. I've waited for so long, I'm so bored!"
The moment Klee stepped onto the red carpet, the giant gramophone suddenly blared to life.
"You dare to face me, the ruler of the Dodo tribe – the Great Dodo Demon King. You're quite brave!"
"Bravery is admirable, but it's meaningless now, because..."
"Because the Great Dodo Demon King is me, your mother, Alice!"
Upon hearing this, everyone present was stunned. Only Feng Yi and Jean let out barely perceptible smiles.
The moment Jean heard the gramophone speak, she recognized the voice as Madam Alice's.
Recalling the past few days, Jean found it all increasingly logical.
"Huh? Mom?"
Hearing such a familiar voice, Klee was both surprised and happy.
"Alice? Is that the person who wrote 'Teyvat Travel Guide'?"
Paimon was a little surprised. She had read the book, and the author's name was Madam Alice.
"Klee, and everyone accompanying Klee to the island, hello. How is it? Is this island fun? Summer sun and beaches, hmm~ it must be a nice holiday, right?"
After a pause, as if allowing time for the shocked crowd to react, the gramophone continued.
"No need to look around, I'm not beside you. This machine in front of you, is my invention, the 'Alice Gramophone', used to convey Mommy's love!"
"Haha, so that's how it is..."
Paimon, as if being called out, withdrew her searching gaze and chuckled to ease the awkwardness.
She hadn't expected her actions to be predicted. What an unfathomable woman!
"Oh dear, did I scare everyone? So sorry, so sorry. My Klee loves all sorts of little toys, and as her mother, I naturally have to support her."
"It's a shame we can't meet, but I will be watching your every move from afar, just as I've always watched over you... Perhaps you all find this strange, why would a mother who is thousands of miles away go to such lengths to build this water park?"
"Ding ding! That's right, I've also visited the island myself. I'm quite fond of the ancient ruins and unique terrain there. To let everyone enjoy this happiness, I made these arrangements..."
"Looking at it this way, it seems Klee's mother is very much like Klee, someone who loves to play... No, someone with a childlike heart."
Paimon nodded thoughtfully.
Paimon thought, low EQ: loves to play.
High EQ: childlike!
"Oh ho ho, is someone speaking ill of me?"
"Eh? N-no! Does this thing have a listening function? I feel like I've been seen through..."
Paimon quickly waved her hands. This thing was too advanced. She wanted one too, to put in Feng Yi's room at night.
She always felt that Feng Yi and Lumine were doing something behind her back, but she never had any proof.
If there was a listening gramophone like this, she could finally hear what Feng Yi and Lumine were up to at night.
"No, it's not that troublesome. Klee's mother, Alice, is an extremely mysterious and almost omnipotent witch. Don't be too surprised, just get used to it..."
Jean, despite spending a long time with Alice, couldn't quite figure her out.
Alice always acted unpredictably, her ideas were wild and left people baffled.
Paimon: What a shame, the eavesdropping plan is foiled before it even begins.
"You must be wondering about those letters, those ships, those buoys, the energy shield..."
"Mhm mhm, I admit it was a bit elaborate, but this was the only way I could invite everyone here, wasn't it?"
"That island itself has many stories – natives, shipwrecks, mysterious machinery... So many coincidences converged here. If I didn't make some arrangements, wouldn't that be a waste?"
"Everyone, thank you for accompanying Klee here, for letting this child have a wonderful summer. Everything on the island is my gift to you. Thank you for being with her. However, by the time you hear this recording, I should already be traveling elsewhere. Ahaha, that's just how life on the road is, rushed yet enjoyable..."
Listening to the gramophone chatter on and on, everyone seemed to picture a lively, mischievous, and slightly verbose young woman.
"Madam Alice, is this because you were too busy to accompany Klee?"
Jean felt she had guessed the initial reason behind Madam Alice's actions.
"Everyone, if you are now thinking about a deeper meaning, I must say, the situation is not as complicated as you imagine..."
Alice preempted Jean's prediction.
"The reason I favor the city-state of Mondstadt is because freedom is also the wish of my daughter and I. My wish is simple: I hope Klee grows up with curiosity and kindness. As long as she wants to, she can do anything, go anywhere..."
"I see... It is indeed Madam Alice's style. I apologize, I misunderstood."
Jean smiled slightly. It seemed she had indeed overthought things.
"Mommy is the best mommy!"
Klee laughed happily, her cute eyes crinkling.
"Mommy, this time we caught fish, fried fish, sailed boats, and ate fish... We played so many things! Everyone was suuuper nice to me and very gentle! You should come next time, and we'll play here again!"
Klee spoke to the giant gramophone as if talking to her mother, believing she could hear her.
Feng Yi secretly recorded it with the Witch's Society's communication bead, planning to send it to Alice later.
In return, asking for some exclusive bomb designs wouldn't be too much, right?
They didn't need to be too powerful, just enough to stun Osial, the Vortex God, with one blast...