Genshin Impact: My villain system is a little different.

"Um..."

After arriving at Eula's home, she still seemed hesitant.

"Still worried about that person?"

Jiang Ning and Eula were quite in sync.

Eula nodded: "Yes..."

Although this vengeful knight constantly held grudges, she was still a kind-hearted girl.

"Eula, I think you care too much about these people. He's been punished already, forget about him. Like Jiang Ning said, he won't die," Amber was still fuming.

"Amber's right, don't worry. That guy won't die, at worst he'll catch a bad cold and be bedridden for a week,"

Jiang Ning said.

Barbara said: "Well, I feel like that person's words suggested the Lawrence Clan has caused some big trouble again?"

Eula was also puzzled: "Indeed, normally these people would just mutter 'bad luck' when they see me and keep their distance, but now it feels like they're actively seeking me out to insult me?"

"Let's investigate tomorrow. I'll go to the church, Amber can ask around among the citizens, Jiang Ning, weren't you planning to see Sis... Acting Grand Master Jean? That's your task. Eula, you should probably check on the Lawrence clan,"

Barbara suggested.

"Let's follow Barbara's plan. We'll meet at Eula's house at noon,"

Jiang Ning said.

"Okay."

Amber and Eula agreed.

...

"Acting Grand Master Jean, I'm here!"

Early the next morning, Jiang Ning arrived at the Knights of Favonius headquarters.

The office was quiet, with Jean still processing paperwork. Hearing his voice, she looked up confused, surprised to see Jiang Ning:

"Jiang Ning? Why did you come from Liyue without saying anything?"

Jiang Ning said: "I came to collect some things from Mondstadt. They're needed."

Jean said: "What do you need? I'll have someone gather them right away..."

The news from Liyue had spread quickly, and at least Mondstadt knew that Jiang Ning's status was now completely different.

They thought his previous status was already high - the junior disciple of the Qixing's Chief Secretary, an adeptus disciple, with close ties to both Yuheng and Tianquan of the Qixing.

But unexpectedly, there were always higher mountains - now he had become the successor to the Geo Archon? In a few years, he might directly become the Geo Archon.

So Jean's reaction was understandable.

"No need, these are small matters. Besides, isn't the Knights of Favonius already short-handed?"

Jiang Ning said.

"Well... alright."

Being called out by Jiang Ning, Jean blushed slightly.

Jiang Ning continued: "Also, this time, Sister Ningguang asked me to inquire if Mondstadt could add more personnel to guard the trade routes. The damage rate for recent cargo shipments has been quite high."

Jean said: "This... we'll try our best."

Seeing Jean's troubled expression, Jiang Ning sighed internally: "Jean, although I can't interfere in another nation's politics, as a friend, I must advise you - you can't handle all the trivial matters yourself, can you? What about the knights under you? Are they all just collecting paychecks?"

Jean wanted to object, but found she had no counter-argument because everything Jiang Ning said was true.

"I'm worried you might break down one day. Well, this is Mondstadt's internal affair... By the way, I wanted to ask about Eula's situation. What's going on with the Lawrence clan? Why does it feel like people aren't just avoiding them anymore, but openly trying to drive them out?"

Jean said: "So you already know... I thought we could resolve this quickly, so I planned to temporarily reassign Eula elsewhere. But something unexpected happened... Well, I might as well tell you since it can't be kept secret anymore."

"A while ago, Kaeya discovered that someone from the Lawrence clan - Eula's uncle, Schubert Lawrence - was plotting with the Fatui to overthrow Mondstadt's government."

"So he approached Schubert and obtained Mondstadt's defense plans from him... though those plans were actually fakes created by Kaeya."

"We planned to resolve this quietly, considering Eula's already awkward position in Mondstadt..."

"Then at night, when all the Fatui entered our planned ambush point, we caught them red-handed."

"Unfortunately, something went wrong - Electro and Pyro elements collided and caused an explosion, damaging many buildings in that area."

"Most importantly, the Knights of Favonius suffered numerous casualties. One thing led to another, and people became very upset. Since we only caught a few Fatui, they took out their anger on the Lawrence clan."

"Then everything was exposed. You know how prejudiced people already are against the Lawrence clan, so their malice turned into action."

"We had no choice but to imprison all the Lawrence members involved in the leak, pending trial. As for those Lawrence members like Eula who just want to live normal lives... they've been forced to leave Mondstadt city and survive in the rural outskirts."

"I see..." Jiang Ning pondered thoughtfully.

He even thought that if he hadn't caused this butterfly effect, perhaps Eula wouldn't have come to Liyue? She would have stayed in Mondstadt, and with the Traveler's intervention, might have turned against her family for justice, completely changing her reputation in Mondstadt.

She might have even cut ties with the Lawrence clan, becoming the popular Spindrift Knight.

Jiang Ning was very familiar with such game plot patterns.

Surely they wouldn't still dislike Eula after such a display of justice against her own family?

Jean said: "So... please try to comfort Eula when you go back. If necessary, I can give her more leave time to help her take her mind off things."

Jean didn't know what to do anymore and was still trying to work out a solution with Lisa.

"Alright..." Jiang Ning nodded.

[Host, kill them, kill them all! Weren't you so brave back in Springvale?]

The system urged.

"Shut up, if I kill them all, how can I convince her to come back with me..."

Jiang Ning thought silently.

In the current situation, with Havria's words and Eula's favorable impression, Jiang Ning was contemplating again.

But poaching talent was secondary; the main goal was to win over his potential wife.

"Well, I'll be going then. Take care of yourself, Acting Grand Master Jean."

Jiang Ning waved goodbye.

"Mm, may the Anemo Archon protect you."

...

"Did everyone gather information?"

Back at Eula's house, the Mondstadt trio plus one were gathered.

Jiang Ning said: "Let's share what we found out."

Barbara and Jiang Ning's information was basically the same, while Amber's sources were mostly public opinions about the incident.

"Well, Diona, Bennett, and Fischl think Eula is innocent and support her. Sara feels the same way, but others... most of them... they're saying Eula was an accomplice," 

Amber said angrily.

"These people are going too far."

"Those names you mentioned..." Jiang Ning was confused.

"Oh, Diona is Cat's Tail's chief bartender, she's amazing. You might have seen her last time but didn't talk much."

"Bennett and Fischl are adventurers from the Adventurers' Guild, they're our friends..."

"Mm, I understand now..."

Jiang Ning said.

Eula crossed her arms, her expression complicated: "The Lawrence mansion is empty now. I heard many have moved away, and a large portion are directly in prison."

"Those are all Eula's relatives. Eula, if you're sad, we can take you out for a while."

"No need, don't worry, I'm not that fragile."

Eula declined Barbara's kindness.

"I'm just angry - angry at those clan members who don't understand the situation. Really, it was already hard enough to move around in Mondstadt, and now they're causing me more trouble."

"Then... what do we do now? Does Acting Grand Master Jean have any good solutions?"

Amber felt helpless.

"I heard that even the Knights' higher-ups have some opinions about Eula now."

Barbara sighed.

Although her sister was the Acting Grand Master, and Kaeya and Lisa were on Eula's side, the Knights' leadership wasn't just her sister alone.

Eula understood this logic too. Her eyes reddened, feeling like all her years of effort were going up in flames.

This situation was normal - when she first became a Knight of Favonius, and later the Spindrift Knight of the reconnaissance team, there had been many complaints.

If not for Jean and the Grand Master's protection, it wouldn't have been possible. Now with this incident, and the Grand Master absent, Jean was overwhelmed dealing with these matters alone.

"One could say Acting Grand Master Jean's good intentions backfired this time,"

Jiang Ning said.

Not wanting Eula involved was meant to protect her, but it had the opposite effect.

Who could have expected the Fatui would use an Overloaded reaction to kill many of their own companions just to let a few escape?

"Then... then why don't we go talk to Schubert and those imprisoned Fatui, have them clarify that Eula is innocent?"

Amber was getting desperate.

"You're thinking too much. Even if those Fatui told the truth, given Mondstadt's attitude toward the Lawrence clan, they would just think Eula was planted as a spy,"

Jiang Ning said.

"Then what can we do..."

Amber deflated.

Jiang Ning said: "We'll have to wait for Acting Grand Master Jean and the others. Right now, anything Eula does will be seen as wrong."

"I guess we can only wait..." Amber said.

"Wait, what about asking Lord Barbatos?"

Barbara suddenly suggested.

Amber's eyes lit up: "Right, if we go to Lord Barbatos..."

Venti was easy to find - just go to Angel's Share.

Jiang Ning said: "We can try, but don't get your hopes too high."

Mondstadt valued freedom, so Venti rarely interfered in matters. Could they really expect Venti to speak up for Eula?

When Mondstadt's people weren't willing to accept Eula, wouldn't such intervention also be a form of restricting freedom?

Unless Eula could drastically change her reputation in Mondstadt, Venti would only help push things along once people were already willing to accept her.

But now, in the eyes of Mondstadt's people, Eula was almost inextricably linked with the Fatui and the Lawrence clan.

If there had been any way to separate them, those Lawrence clan members who just wanted to live normal lives wouldn't have been driven out of Mondstadt city.

Nevertheless, they still went to Angel's Share.

Seeing Jiang Ning and the others arrive, Diluc seemed to understand something and pointed upstairs:

"That drunk bard is upstairs."

After Amber and the others thanked him, they rushed upstairs eagerly.

Jiang Ning moved closer to Diluc and said:

"Master Diluc, you know Venti is Barbatos now, yet you still call him that?"

Diluc snorted: "Have you ever seen an Archon who tries to pay his tab with songs, and regularly sneaks drinks from my establishment?"

Honestly, Diluc felt this kind of Anemo Archon was making Mondstadt lose face.

In his view, even having Jean as the Archon would be better than Venti.

Diluc said: "I heard about Eula's situation. The Knights are still as shortsighted as ever."

Jiang Ning said: "Indeed. To be honest, Acting Grand Master Jean still lacks decisive leadership... In my opinion, power should be centralized. During Mondstadt's unstable times, she should have explicitly banned and dismissed those who rely on seniority and those who slack off."

Diluc gave Jiang Ning an approving look: "As expected of the next Geo Archon, very decisive... Unfortunately, Jean is still too young."

Diluc gave Jiang Ning a glass of apple cider. Jiang Ning took a sip and praised:

"Still the familiar taste... The last batch I took back is almost gone, I'll take some more this time."

Diluc said: "Fine, it's free. Consider it me building early relations with the next Geo Archon."

Jiang Ning joked: "Wouldn't this count as bribery?"

"This is just friendship between friends," Diluc said expressionlessly.

However, after meeting his own embarrassing god and becoming somewhat friends with Liyue's future Geo Archon, Diluc felt his reverence for gods had diminished considerably.

"Speaking of which, isn't Mondstadt afraid of truly driving Eula away? She's an excellent knight with potential comparable to Jean's, isn't she?"

Disgust flashed in Diluc's eyes: "If they drive Eula away, they'll have only themselves to blame. And honestly, setting aside her Mondstadt citizenship, Eula would be better off in any other nation than here."

Jiang Ning suddenly said: "Truthfully, both as Eula's friend and as someone from Liyue, I've been thinking about recruiting her."

Diluc said: "You don't need to test me, I'm indifferent about it. The Knights of Favonius will be the ones with the headache... No, perhaps they'll even thank you for removing what they see as a time bomb."

"Eula is too exceptional, blocking the advancement of the envious ones' descendants."

"Perhaps Eula leaving would be the most beneficial situation for them."

Diluc's eyes darkened.

----

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