Sly hooded Bastard [3/3]

"Alright, Jean," Varka said before standing up from his seat. "I trust you can finish this?"

"It will be no problem." Jean nodded as she looked at the paperwork Varka left her. "I should be able to finish it in a half an hour."

"Okay, thanks," Varka said before walking to the door to exit his office. "I'll be out in Wolvendom for the rest of the night."

"Tell the Eula to strengthen the patrol near the borders, alright?" He said while waving his hand. "That guy named Ezio might try to leave the nation and we don't want that to happen now, do we?"

"Yes, Grandmaster." Jean nodded in agreement.

"Good, bye then." And so, Varka shut the door and left.

Soon after, Jean started finishing the unfinished paperwork.

Truth be told, this is another way for Jean to channel her excitement for what is about to come.

In a few days, Varka would lead the elite knights to subjugate the nearby Abyss strongholds, as well as purge corrupt officials who sided with Eroch.

Not just that, but also the political oppression coming from the Fatui.

As Varka's assistant, she naturally would be part of all of this. It was also a chance for her to get rid of the threat inside and outside Mondstadt.

* * *

"Hyup..." Jean stretched her arms as she finished the last paperwork.

She then looked out the window and looked outside. The bustling streets of Mondstadt where the people are doing their everyday life in peace are what she works hard for.

'For Mondstadt, as always.' She thought with a smile. Those are the Gunnhildr Clan's motto, after all.

She then noticed that the sky was now dyed with a golden hue as the sun was setting.

Grumble*

She felt a great tremble in her stomach as she felt hungry. 'I should go eat...'

She then looked at the Grandfather clock in the room and nodded. 'Good, I should be able to eat for twenty minutes before going back to work.'

This is how she lives life. Strict to her schedule— and organized.

Shortly after thinking this, she cleaned up the room before leaving the Knights of Favonius headquarters.

While walking towards the plaza, she smelled something good in the air.

She then turned her head and looked at the Good Hunter restaurant.

"One for you, and one for you," Albert said while handing a plate of pizza to two tables inside Good Hunter.

"Excuse me," A customer called Albert. "Two mint jellies please."

"Is that all? Alright." He noted down the order on his notepad.

"Sara! Two Mint Jelly at table seven!" He poked his head out of the door.

"Albert?" Just then, someone called him from behind and he turned his head.

There, he saw a woman who was smiling at him.

"Ah, Jean..." Albert recognized who it was and stood straight. "You look tired, are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking." Jean waved her hand. "How about you? Have you gotten better at your elemental manipulation?"

"Ah, yes, somewhat," Albert said with a wry smile. "Forgive me, I still want to talk but..."

She then saw that he was still working. Noticing this, she apologized. "Oh yes, I forgot. Please, forgive me, I'll be going no—"

Grumble—*

"..."

"..."

Albert and Jean looked at each other with the latter slowly getting embarrassed, her cheeks slightly red. She then tried to leave. "I shall go now."

"Hold on" However, Albert stopped. She looked at him and saw his smirk. "My, my, Miss Jean, I couldn't help but notice that you might be hungry."

"As someone who oh so respects the knights and a worried citizen of Mondstadt, I would like to make a recommendation to the clearly-looking tired knight in front of me to eat at Good Hunter." Albert put on an act with a smile.

"Pft." Jean chortled. She then cleared her throat. "Ahem, if you insist, then I shall accept."

"A good choice." Albert nodded with a smile. "Here at Good Hunter, we only serve the best quality stuff."

Jean raised an eyebrow with a smile. "Is that so? Are you saying that even the Cat Tail's Bar and the Angel's Share Tavern can't catch up to you?"

"They both focus on alcohol and drinks, you know?" Albert shrugged. "But we're a restau–"

"Albert! Give this to table eleven on the second floor!" Sara called him as she took out the order from the kitchen.

"Well, gotta go now," Albert said. He then asked her, "By the way, what would you like to order? There's still a seat on the second floor."

"Hmm... I think I'll have..." Jean hummed in contemplation. "A pizza."

"A wise choice." Albert nodded. "Go and take a seat upstairs, master Jean."

"Master Jean...? Where did that title come from? Right now, I'm just Grand Master Varka's assistant..." She commented when she heard her title.

"Just think of it as a nickname." Albert said before finally leaving. 'You'll get the title of Master sooner or later anyways. Maybe in a few days.'

Looking at his departing figure, Jean shook her head in amusement.

Ever since she had met Albert, the more she knew how enigmatic and eccentric he was. He would often use strange terms and know how to quickly change the topic of the discussion.

She talked to her little sister, Barbara, about him and the latter only said how he was very supportive of her in the past.

She then thought of something. 'By the way... that Geo Vision of his... He rarely uses it to fight. And according to the people around him, he only uses his vision to help him at work.'

'He even stopped a plate from falling to the ground by manipulating Geo one time...'

'Does he really intend to stay a waiter for Good Hunter?' She speculated. 'Obtaining a vision is something not easy to accomplish... but I didn't think he would use it this way...'

She then shook her head and removed those thoughts. Jean then proceeded to go inside Good Hunter and go upstairs.

* * *

Jean looked out the Mondstadt which was mostly covered in darkness now. The street lamps were just starting to light up.

The table she picked was on the balcony, that way, she can see outside.

She then smelled something in the air. 'This smell...'

"Been waiting long?" Albert came and appeared carrying a plate of pizza. "Here is your order. A classic pizza with a bit of difference from the others."

"Different? How so?" Jean said, interested.

Albert then pointed at the pizza. "Try it yourself. It's still hot from the stove so be careful."

Jean nodded and took one slice of the pizza. Immediately, she noticed something from the crusts and the toppings. "This is..."

"Yup." Albert nodded. "Mozzarella-filled crusts along with extra pepperoni... a cheesy explosion for your tongue."

"I-I see..." Jean said. To be honest, this was the first time she had heard of such a thing.

She then placed the pizza in her mouth and ate. Immediately, cheese and meat flavors drifted inside her mouth each time she chew. The crunchiness of the crust was also perfect.

After a few more moments, she finished eating. She picked up her handkerchief and wiped her mouth. "I have to admit... that was indeed good."

"Of course it's good. After all, I made it." Albert proudly said. 'And I have an Italian template.'

"Really?" Jean was surprised to hear that Albert came up with it.

"Yes." Albert nodded. "I experienced a bit and came up with this. So far, you're one of the first batches of customers that tried it."

"I see, well, it was very good." Jean nodded with satisfaction. "I believe that it will sell quite well."

"Haha, thank you." Albert laughed.

"Oh, right, would you like to share this with me?" Jean said. "It's... a little too large than the regular pizza and I don't think I can finish all of it."

"Hmm..." Albert thoughts for a moment and thought about the time. "Well, we will close in an hour... so..."

He then took off his vest and sat down. He then took a slice. "Don't mind if I do."

"While we're at it... can I ask some questions?" Jean said as she also took a slice.

"Sure what is it?" Albert happily responded as cheese was felt in his mouth.

And so the two talked... their words only hearing themselves.

...not realizing that not far away from them, someone was watching.

* * *