In the bustling harbor of Liyue, a strikingly handsome young man in his twenties sat across from another figure clad in dark yellow robes. His golden eyeshadow shimmered under the light, his calm demeanor as unwavering as a mountain. The young man spoke with a confident smirk, his voice carrying the weight of an unusual proposition.
"Morax, what do you think? Do you wish to collaborate with me in transforming Liyue and, by extension, the entire continent of Teyvat? As the God of Rock, you must already understand the current state of this world. Time is not on your side."
His name was Smith—a time traveler, a man who had arrived in Teyvat unexpectedly after nothing more than an ordinary nap. He possessed a mysterious ability, a "golden finger," that had now awakened. However, it came with a condition: he had to recruit four special individuals before he could truly unleash its potential. Without them, he was no more than an ordinary mortal.
Winning over these individuals, however, proved to be a daunting task. Now, in Liyue, he had found one of them—Morax, who currently lived under the guise of Zhongli.
Zhongli took a slow sip from his tea, exhaling softly. He wasn't particularly fond of these tea outings, especially when they involved this peculiar young man. After all, Smith was even poorer than he was. Every time they went out, the bill ended up on him.
Yet, what truly intrigued Zhongli was Smith's depth of knowledge. The man before him knew not only of Liyue's history and traditions but also of Zhongli's true identity. No matter where he went, Smith always managed to find him.
But what concerned him even more was the insight Smith had into Liyue's governance. He spoke as if he could see cracks forming beneath the city's golden surface.
"Is Liyue really in such dire straits?" Zhongli finally asked, his voice calm but tinged with curiosity.
He had spent millennia shaping Liyue, ensuring its prosperity. But Smith had repeatedly pointed out its flaws.
Smith chuckled, shaking his head. "Liyue appears prosperous because of you, Morax. You are the force holding everything together. But once you step away, the problems will emerge."
Zhongli frowned slightly, allowing Smith to continue.
"Let's take merchants, for example. They should not be the ones running a nation. Yet, Liyue is built upon commerce. In my brief time here, I've observed that Ningguang's wealth has doubled since becoming Tianquanxing."
Zhongli took another sip of tea, nodding slightly. "That is true. But Ningguang has performed her duties exceptionally well. She is perhaps the most capable Tianquanxing in history."
Smith leaned forward, his eyes sharp. "That's precisely the problem. She views everything through the lens of business. When she looks at people, she measures their value. For now, Liyue's prosperity aligns with her ambitions. But what happens when it no longer does?"
Zhongli remained silent, contemplating the question.
"A nation should not be governed by merchants, for they will inevitably prioritize personal profit over the people's well-being. In the world I come from, there was a country much like Liyue, where capitalists controlled vast power. Their greed led them to sell weapons, even to opposing factions, fueling endless wars."
Smith's gaze darkened as he added, "Without your oversight, Liyue could easily follow the same path. And even you, as Morax, may one day find yourself powerless to stop it."
Zhongli sighed, rubbing his forehead. "You certainly have strong opinions on Ningguang. While I understand your concerns, she is currently more beneficial than harmful to Liyue. As for the future, it is beyond my control."
He then turned his piercing gaze toward Smith. "However, what confuses me is this—why seek my cooperation? You possess remarkable knowledge of Teyvat. Why approach me instead of the other Archons?"
Smith smiled knowingly. "Because you are the most reliable."
Zhongli raised an eyebrow, prompting Smith to elaborate.
"Barbatos, the God of Wind, loves his people, but he is too carefree. He would make a fine collaborator, but not a dependable ally. As for Baalzebul, the God of Thunder, she is still mourning the loss of her sister. Right now, I wouldn't even be able to meet her, let alone gain her trust. If I attempted to, she'd likely cut me down without a second thought."
Zhongli remained silent as Smith continued.
"Nahida, the God of Wisdom, might be a good ally, but she is currently imprisoned by the sages of the Akademiya. I lack the power to free her."
Zhongli's expression darkened. "What did you say? The Dendro Archon has been imprisoned? That is impossible. No matter how young a god may be, they remain a god. The Great Lord Rukkhadevata has been gone for over five centuries—surely that was enough time for Nahida to grow."
Smith shook his head. "A child who is constantly told they are weak will come to believe it. Nahida was never given the chance to flourish. The sages saw to that. They wanted control, and they got it. This is the sad reality of human rule—greed and ambition know no bounds. We've seen it in Mondstadt's past, in Inazuma's present, and now in Sumeru. And Liyue is not exempt. The only reason things haven't spiraled out of control is because of you."
Zhongli's grip on his teacup tightened, his mind processing Smith's words.
"As for the Hydro Archon, Focalors," Smith continued, "she would indeed be an ideal partner. If I had landed in Fontaine, I would have sought her out. She values justice, and I believe she would have been open to cooperation. But fate brought me to Liyue instead."
Zhongli watched him carefully as he went on. "I know little about the Pyro Archon. And as for the Cryo Archon… well, judging by the Fatui's actions across Teyvat, I doubt my visit to her would end well. More likely, I'd find myself on a dissection table."
Smith then met Zhongli's gaze with unwavering confidence. "But you, Morax—you are different. You are powerful, wise, and bound by the principle of contracts. You are the ideal protector while I establish myself. And Liyue's culture closely resembles the land I once called home. I feel at ease here."
Zhongli remained silent for a long moment before finally exhaling. He swirled the tea in his cup, contemplating Smith's words.
"Contracts… I see. You seek a pact with me, then? You wish for my protection as you grow. And in return, you claim you can help me transform Liyue and even safeguard the continent of Teyvat."
Smith smirked, leaning back in his chair. "That's right. So, what do you say, Morax? Will you hear me out?"
Zhongli took another sip of tea, his golden eyes narrowing slightly.
"Speak, then. Let's see if your vision is worth my protection."
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