Invasive Fish Wrangler/Story

A Very Fishy Encounter

Main article: A Very Fishy Encounter

Quest Description

In waters south of Lumidouce Harbor, you encounter a rather peculiar individual who calls herself an "Unchained Hunter." She's currently in the midst of doing everything she can to contain an impending ecological crisis...

(Talk to Jala)

Jala: Perfect, it looks like I'm all set...

Jala: Put your back into it, Jala! You'll round 'em all up in a few days!

R—Round up?

A p—poacher?

Paimon: Eek! A poacher in Fontaine... Does animal trafficking make so much money nowadays?

Paimon: Not on Paimon's watch! You're coming to the Maison Gardiennage with us!

Jala: ...Huh. It's you two.

Jala: Well, sure. I just came from the Maison, in fact. Need me to show you the way?

Paimon: ?

Good. I like straightforward people!

Paimon: Wait, something's not right... You're not scared by the thought of being arrested at all. You must be a regular offender... Or maybe...

Maybe... there's been a misunderstanding?

Paimon: True. She's not scared by the thought of being arrested at all. She must be a regular offender... Or maybe...

Jala: I could be standing on the right side of the law, eh?

Jala: More accurately, the Maison has hired me as a special environmental protection consultant — an "Unchained Hunter."

Jala: Specifically, I'm hunting invasive species of fish that have made their way into Fontaine's waters.

Paimon: Invasive... species?

That sounds familiar.

Paimon: Right! Paimon thinks we heard about something like that back in Mondstadt...

What's that?

Paimon: Paimon's memory is fuzzy, but we heard about something like that in Mondstadt ages ago, she's sure of it...

Jala: Well, let's not dwell on the past. What matters is the here and now.

Jala: These invasive species were let loose by some merchants who hold strange beliefs.

Jala: Some of the fish are extremely aggressive, others reproduce incredibly fast, and others were raised on special feed. All told, they're a huge problem for all the local aquatic life.

Jala: If these fish occupy the habitats of local creatures and mess up the ecosystem, Fontaine's water quality might be affected.

Jala: The impact on Fontainians' health might be something we'd only feel in the future. But the flavor of a drink like Fonta could change instantly, and that'll spell untold trouble for the economy.

Fonta shall not fall! Not today!

I don't really drink Fonta, but I understand its importance.

Paimon: All this understatement makes the problem sound worse! We can't just sit back and do nothing!

Paimon: Now, we're old hands at catching fish, so why don't we help you out?

Jala: Yes! I've been waiting for you to say that!

Jala: I've already set up a capture zone into which we can lure all those invasive fish using bait...

Jala: So it's time to strut your stuff, Honorary Knight and Helper in White! As for me, I'll support you from the rear!

Paimon: Is it just Paimon, or does she... understand us really well?

An Invasion on Hold

Main article: An Invasion on Hold

Quest Description

After a spate of spirited fishing, you manage to halt the spread of invasive fish in Fontaine's waters. Meanwhile, you receive some good news from the Maison Gardiennage...

(Approach Jala after earning 3000 Wrangler Points)

Jala: Honorary Knight and The Helper in White, good news!

Jala: This is Enghiene of the Maison Gardiennage. She has already arrested the supplier behind The Unchained.

Enghiene: Hmph! The scoundrel was still counting money even as I kicked the door down... A proper piece of work, that one!

Jala: And it looks like your fishing spree's had the desired effect — there's been a clear reduction in the number of invasive species in these waters...

Jala: The way things are going, I'd say it won't take long before the problem's been thoroughly dealt with.

Paimon: That's awesome! So, there's no need to worry about the Fonta... Uhh, Paimon meant, the quality of Fontaine's water!

Enghiene: You're clearly a very capable hunter! It's not just anyone who can enlist the help of (‍‍), the Grand Chef Supreme of Valor...

Enghiene: How does that old phrase go...? That's right, like shooting gulls with a cannon!

Anything to keep those seabirds off my Fisherman's Toast...

I wouldn't mind learning how to shoot a cannon!

Paimon: Now that Paimon thinks about it, Officer Enghiene looks a little familiar...

Paimon: Is it because we're always helping uphold the peace? Paimon must have seen a million officers by now!

Nice to meet you, Officer We've-Never-Met-But-Looks-Familiar!

Enghiene: Hahaha! There's no need to act so formally. I'm sure we'll be working together a lot in the future, so let's try to keep it casual.

Enghiene: Otherwise, I'm going to have to act all serious every time I run into trouble and need your help. Can you imagine how exhausting that would be?

Have we worked together before, officer?

Enghiene: So you do remember me? That's wonderful!

Enghiene: The next time we see each other, it'll be just like meeting an old colleague... There'll be no need to tip-toe around and carefully consider each word.

Au naturel is fine by us!

If there's any trouble in the future, we can be sure to help each other out!

Enghiene: *sigh* I've been up to my eyeballs with this case for so long, but it looks like I can finally clock out...

Enghiene: I think I'll take a trip to The Rusty Rudder for a drink or two. Wait and see if that scumbag and the Unchained make an appearance on the news... Wanna join me?

Jala: Thanks for the offer, Officer Enghiene, but I can't let my guard down just yet. These invasive fish don't give up easily, y'know. Who knows what new trouble they might cause?

Jala: I can't stop until these waters are completely free of invasive species... but once I'm done, I'll come and find you for a drink!

Enghiene: Wow, now that's motivation! Well, guessing it might take you a while, but I'll see you there when you're done!

Enghiene: Give it your best and give 'em what for!

Jala returns to the water's edge to continue monitoring the situation...

Paimon: Paimon thinks that Miss Jala works a bit too hard...

Enghiene: Well, I guess... there must have been someone in her past with a really strong sense of responsibility, who had a profound effect on her... It's easy to see how she feels.

Enghiene: Watching her work, I don't dare slack off myself.

Motivation is good...

Paimon: Working hard is important, but sometimes it's also good to be like (‍‍). Everyone needs a good work-life balance!

But work-life balance is even better.

Paimon: Paimon agrees! (‍‍) is an expert when it comes to not working too hard!

Enghiene: In that case, if one day I come to you for professional time-management tips, you'd better not turn me away!

Enghiene: Anyway... I'll put in an application to the higher-ups to have the expenses for this operation — especially your remuneration — upgraded to the "Main-Cannon-Operational-Expenses" band.

Enghiene: Hopefully, the next time I run into trouble, you two will already be there...

Enghiene: With any luck, you'll be standing there, hands on hips, greeting me with a smile and a resounding "The problem's already been solved!"

Challenge

Jala: How about it, Honorary Knight and Helper in White? Catching some pre-corralled fish should be as easy as... Well, shooting fish in a barrel, right?

Let's start fishing and cooking!

Jala: You two look raring to go... let's see what you've got!

We'll shoot those fish up real good!

Paimon: But... Paimon has a question. You mentioned a bunch of "merchants who hold strange beliefs." What's their deal?

Paimon: They're the ones who caused this mess. They should be the ones in the barrel right now!

Jala: Those guys... I wouldn't call most of them malicious. Just overly naive...

Jala: ...Who trusted this rumor: "Release some animals into the wild before you do anything important. It will bring you good fortune!"

Jala: People like that have spread from Sumeru to regions all over Teyvat, calling themselves "The Unchained." Some merchants caught the scent of the business opportunity at hand...

Jala: ...And they started smuggling various animals from all over and used strange feed to make them look more beautiful, before selling them off to members of The Unchained at exorbitant prices.

Paimon: That's crazy! What sort of people would fall for that?

Jala: The same sort who'd fall for something as silly as "releasing animals brings you good fortune," that's who.

Jala: The way some see it, releasing more expensive or beautiful animals accumulates more "merit."

If they're so eager to part with their Mora, I'm right here.

Paimon: Geez, all that Mora down the drain for nothing— no, less than nothing, considering the trouble they've caused others! The only ones who profited are those scummy merchants!

And if it's worthy, convincing causes they need, I'm right here.

Paimon: That's right! Giving (‍‍) Mora guarantees you some help with your problem, at least!

Jala: Don't worry. An officer from the Maison Gardiennage is following the clues I provided to track down those charlatans. We'll know the outcome soon enough.

Jala: We won't need you two to personally catch the culprits this time, Honorary Knight and Helper in White!

Putting that aside, have we met before?

Paimon: Right! You're dressed like you're from Sumeru, but you called (‍‍) Honorary Knight, and Paimon the Helper in White, which is what the people in Mondstadt say...

Jala: Ah, right. I understand your confusion.

Jala: Everyone in Mondstadt says you two can do the work of seven, eight, or even ten people in one day, so you must've met many fascinating people on your travels. By contrast, I doubt you'd remember someone like me, no matter how sharp your mind—

Jala: A long time ago, I too believed that releasing animals could bring me fortune. When I was in Mondstadt for business, I released some invasive fish from Sumeru into Cider Lake and caused a whole lot of trouble...

So that was you!

Paimon: Oh! You were having a picnic at Cider Lake back then, weren't you?

Jala: That's right. After encountering you two there, I realized my error and accepted the punishment I deserved.

That's not ringing any bells...

Paimon: Paimon kinda remembers an incident of that sort...

Jala: Well, the details are best left in the past anyway. So, after meeting you two, I saw the error of my ways and accepted the punishment I deserved.

Jala: Fortunately, the situation wasn't yet unsalvageable, and the good people in the Knights of Favonius managed to fix my mess, but the dread stuck with me...

Jala: After returning to Sumeru, I tried to warn those who habitually released animals. Some were willing to listen, some ignored me, and some started antagonizing me.

Jala: As someone who messed up badly in the past, I can't bear to see others repeat my mistakes...

Jala: So I read up more on the subject and worked with relevant organizations within the Akademiya to help the "Corps of Thirty" track down The Unchained and those crooked merchants alike.

Jala: The latter are active in many nations, so I've been traveling a lot. This time, as you can see, my quarry is a Fontainian.

Jala: I have the relevant documents and proof from the Akademiya on hand. The Maison Gardiennage also has a record of similar cases in the past. And considering how I've hit it off with the local officers, we'll have the culprit behind bars in no time.

Congratulations on turning things around!

A little brutal, but well played!

Paimon: From someone who made mistakes to someone who stops others from making them... Paimon's seeing you in a whole new way, Jala!

Jala: Well, I couldn't have done it without your help.

Jala: The Maison Gardiennage has paid me a considerable commission for this. Since traveling expenses are all I need, I'll leave the rest to you two as a token of my gratitude!

I've got something else to do right now...

Jala: No worries! I'm sure you'll settle this in no time, even if you do only show up later!