Genshin Impact: My villain system is a little different.

"Acting Grand Master Jean is resting due to illness?"

When Jiang Ning heard this news, he was first stunned, then asked worriedly: "Is she alright?"

Kaeya before him looked troubled: "Nothing serious, just overworked and caught a cold, so she collapsed. She just needs good rest..."

"But if Jean doesn't appear... Eula's situation becomes dangerous,"

Jiang Ning said.

Kaeya was also troubled: "Tell me about it."

Right now, Jean was the only one holding things together. 

His own position as cavalry captain sounded good but had little real power. As for Lisa, though she was the Knights' advisor and usually consulted on matters,

her opinion became irrelevant in this "power struggle."

Now that Jean had collapsed, they realized that while their side held the advantage in combat power, they'd awakened to the fact that Jean held the majority of political power.

"No one could have predicted this. It's a wake-up call - even if we don't plan to get involved in power struggles, we shouldn't be left helpless when one person falls..."

Lisa held her head, not even in the mood to tease Jiang Ning.

"They say Jean couldn't see the situation clearly being too involved, but in the end, we were also blinded being in the middle of it."

Kaeya had been too focused on monitoring and handling the Abyss Order and Fatui, while Lisa had grown too comfortable due to her special circumstances, causing her vigilance to drop from before.

"Then what about Eula's situation?" Amber was very dejected.

Eula's face was poor, slightly pale: "It's... it's fine, I'm used to it anyway..."

Though she said this, the incident had dealt her a heavy blow.

She had worked so hard, gradually improving her reputation among some groups, when suddenly this happened - her clan was gone, she was labeled a suspected Fatui spy, and when trying to prove herself innocent, found herself suspended.

Her biggest supporters - one on an expedition, the other bedridden - no one could speak for her politically anymore.

This feeling of isolation made Eula feel suffocated.

Kaeya, go find Albedo. I'll try to make some alchemy potions to suppress Jean's illness in these two days..."

Lisa narrowed her eyes. 

She knew how terrible Jean's accumulated illness could be when it all broke out at once. 

Basically, she had been in a delirious fever since last night and through today.

Barbara was also at a loss, and the doctors all said this illness was purely from overwork - it just needed rest.

So Eula, who talked about revenge but truly cared for her friends, didn't let Amber and others disturb Jean anymore.

Lisa felt they couldn't leave things like this, so she thought that at least they should get Jean conscious, even if just for a day, to sign and announce a Knights order about Eula. At least keep Eula's position as a Knight, and deal with the captain position after she fully recovers.

They had to compromise.

Lisa's thinking was simple - if Jean became conscious, even if they had to prop her up, they needed to get her to sign this order. They could discuss principles later - just ask if she wanted Eula to be dismissed or not.

Right now, they were racing against time with the other side.

To be honest, Lisa's alchemy was a bit uncertain, and she wasn't sure if it would work immediately. But Albedo was different, which was why she sent Kaeya to find him.

He was the Knight's Chief Alchemist, and with him present, they might have some voice among the Knights' leadership, though it would be minimal.

Kaeya nodded: "I'll go right away."

Without waiting for others to speak, he hurriedly left.

"Um, I..."

Eula's voice was hoarse, but Lisa raised her hand slightly:

"Don't worry, Eula, we'll ensure you get fair treatment."

Lisa now showed a dangerous smile. 

Really, did they think her side was a soft target?

If they pushed her too far, she'd have Klee contact her mother, then have Alice find Varka. 

Once Varka's orders arrived, they'd start a major purge...

The former Rose Witch of the Academia was no pushover.

...

Though Lisa and the others had good intentions, they were still a step too late. Kaeya and Albedo arrived in Mondstadt at night.

With Lisa and Albedo's help, Jean woke up at dawn, and they drafted the documents in the morning. But before they could issue them, the other Knights' leadership had already sent out their documents.

Basically stating that because Eula Lawrence was suspected of being a Fatui spy and attempting to help the Lawrence clan's restoration, they were stripping her of her Spindrift Knight title, removing her from the reconnaissance team captain position, and expelling her from the Knights of Favonius.

It was a complete execution in one step.

Presumably, the next step would be to make Eula leave Mondstadt city.

Like other Lawrence clan members who just wanted to live normal lives, she would be driven out and marginalized.

In other words, exile.

And it bore the Knights of Favoniu's official seal.

With their deliberate instigation, in just one morning, all of Mondstadt knew.

Many applauded and gloated, though some spoke up for Eula, like Noelle and Fischl.

But being few in number, their voices were quickly drowned in the ignorant praise.

Then when Jean heard this news, she was so angered that, combined with her unrecovered condition, she collapsed again.

At this point, Albedo and Lisa didn't dare let Jean appear anymore, fearing what else might happen.

"Wait, is your Knights of Favonius this ridiculous? You have two official seals? One with Acting Grand Master Jean and another with those higher-ups?"

Jiang Ning was shocked by the Knights' absurd operation. Wasn't this just inviting others to check their power and divide their authority?

"Mondstadt emphasizes democracy and freedom..."

Lisa's expression was very poor.

"What democracy and freedom? Your Knights' leadership is just using these as excuses... This is ridiculous."

Jiang Ning sighed.

Kaeya's already dark skin seemed even darker now as he stood silently with his arms crossed.

The announcement had already gone out. Even if they issued a statement in Acting Grand Master Jean's name or even Grand Master Varka's name to nullify the previous one, it would be useless.

Those people were probably waiting for them to do just that. As soon as they issued anything, the other side would immediately incite the citizens to pressure them, making the situation even worse.

"One step behind leads to being behind at every step..." Lisa said.

Jiang Ning said: "That's why I think Mondstadt is so absurd. You let Jean handle everything big and small. Now look what happened - she collapsed at a critical moment. What if next time she collapses during a life-or-death battle for Mondstadt?"

"We know, we know, stop scolding. I'm sure Jean didn't want this either."

Kaeya could only try to mediate.

"Eula, are you okay?"

While Jiang Ning was still expressing his dissatisfaction, Amber looked worriedly at Eula.

In just a few days, Eula had been expelled from the Knights. Though it wasn't her friends' intention, Eula still felt terribly hurt.

As a political sacrifice, Eula could now empathize with what happened to Diluc's father back then.

"Huh? I'm... I'm fine..."

Eula looked up, tear stains on her cheeks, her eyes hollow and lost.

Although usually very strong and able to handle Mondstadt's difficulties calmly, when truly facing this feeling of shattered dreams, Eula felt somewhat desperate.

After all, she was just a young woman.

At this moment, Havria appeared quietly, looking at Eula with sympathy:

"Eula, come to Liyue with me. Sister will take care of you."

"You are..."

Lisa and Kaeya's expressions were uncertain. Amber and the others had been so busy with Eula's situation since returning that they hadn't had time to introduce them to Lisa and the others.

"This is Havria, the Salt God from Liyue who recently reawakened,"

Amber explained.

"The Salt God..."

Lisa was uncertain. Usually, she would be full of curiosity, wanting to chat with Havria, this reportedly very gentle deity from the records.

But now, even Lisa wasn't in the mood.

"Go... to Liyue?"

Eula was still dazed.

Havria nodded: "Yes, come to Liyue. If they won't keep you here, Liyue can offer you good opportunities for development. And there, you won't be discriminated against for being from the Lawrence clan."

"There's a good saying in Liyue: People's prejudices are like a mountain. Without the courage of Yu Gong who moved mountains, don't try to shake it."

"Even for Yu Gong moving mountains, it took several generations or even dozens of generations... and that was with an entire family united in purpose. But in your case... I'd rather not say."

Havria was being very tactful.

Eula fell silent. After all, regarding generations... honestly, Eula had no confidence. And while Yu Gong had unity, her side had people actively dragging them down.

However, the words "go to Liyue" lit up a spark in Eula's eyes.

After this incident, Eula realized that with the historical stigma and Knight's leadership obstacles in front, and her brainless family dragging them down from behind... even her friendship with Jean and her own efforts were futile.

Combined with the seed Jiang Ning had planted earlier, watered by Havria now, and fertilized by the Mondstadt people's reactions, it seemed about to sprout.

"Eula, actually, we can wait for Jean to wake up, or for Varka to return, and discuss strategies together."

"And then what? How long? How long must Eula endure this unfairness? Even if this incident ends with Eula regaining everything she had in the Knights, can you guarantee people won't talk behind her back? Or make things difficult for her?"

"Though I am merciful, that's only towards those I care about. If I don't care..."

Havria took the lead in challenging them, a flash of coldness passing through her eyes.

"I like this child Eula, so I can't bear to see her suffer."

A flower blooming defiantly in the cold wind was something Havria greatly admired.

Being merciful to the point of weakness towards one's own people didn't mean she would be saintly towards others' people... Retreating during the Archon War was because they truly couldn't win, fighting would only cost her people's lives.

Lisa opened her mouth but had no words. Facing a god who spoke such reason, their side had nothing to say.

"Sister Havria."

Jiang Ning said softly.

Too much pressure would be counterproductive; don't force Eula to make a decision.

Havria sighed: "I understand. But I'm serious, Eula, please think about it."

With that, she disappeared again.

"Let me think, let me think about it."

Eula said softly. At this moment, she was curled up in a corner, hugging her knees, like a porcelain doll that might shatter at a touch.

...

"So things have come to this step after all."

Diluc wiped the glass in his hand, hinting at something.

"This is all because of a certain Anemo Archon who doesn't do his job properly, refusing to manage his overly indulgent people."

Diluc didn't even use the word 'freedom' anymore, directly calling it 'indulgence'.

"Be careful that too much indulgence doesn't lead to destruction, just like the Lawrence clan back then,"

Diluc warned.

"Then at such times, heroes like that knight from back then will step forward."

"This is a cycle. Time breeds dark shadows, and along with them come heroes filled with light - this is the epic of legends."

Venti maintained his casual attitude.

Though it might sound disrespectful, situations like Eula's were nothing new to Venti after all these years.

Whether it was Diluc's wrongly accused father back then, or Eula now, it was all the same.

The God of Freedom couldn't interfere too much, otherwise, the land of freedom would become unfree.

Diluc snorted coldly, saying nothing.

Jiang Ning said: "I'll probably be leaving in a while, what about your power? Give me a portion."

"You're really impatient, you should know..."

Venti was mumbling but was interrupted: "Master Diluc, bring your finest wine for this bard."

Venti's expression instantly changed: "Being eager is good, shows ambition. Good lad."

Watching his Anemo Archon's embarrassing behavior, Diluc coldly placed the best aged wine in front of Venti, then left for the kitchen without looking back.

He was afraid he might punch Venti if he stayed longer.

"This is exactly the taste..."

Venti opened the bottle and took big gulps, his spirits lifting.

"So, about that power?"

"Right here."

Venti raised his hand, green anemo energy condensing in his palm.

Under his deliberate suppression, only Jiang Ning and he could sense the power's aura.

"Here it is, absorb it."

Jiang Ning was delighted: "Absorb."

The anemo energy gradually disappeared, temporarily storing itself within him.

The Anemo Archon's power was obtained. He'd carefully absorb it after returning.

----

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