Seeing Qin's expectant eyes, Smith hesitated. Should he tell Qin these things? Their relationship wasn't particularly close. Even though this knowledge was no secret to him, it was still a significant revelation for ordinary people in this world.
Why should he share such valuable information for free? If Qin expected answers, there had to be something in return. Even if she didn't know what to offer, there should at least be some sort of consulting fee, right?
Qin quickly understood what Smith meant. She was not someone ignorant of the ways of the world. In the original plot, she had bestowed the title of Honorary Knight upon the traveler—not only as a means of drawing the traveler closer but also as a tangible form of assistance. Titles and privileges carried weight.
However, Qin was at a loss regarding what to offer Smith. Selling out Mondstadt's interests to secure cooperation was clearly not an option. Moreover, the knowledge Smith possessed wasn't necessarily tied to Liyue's interests, making it difficult to negotiate terms.
For a moment, Qin hesitated.
"I know a little about this matter. Consider it a favor from me," Smith finally said after a brief pause.
"Alright. As long as it does not harm Mondstadt's interests, I can agree to it," Qin responded without hesitation.
Right now, Mondstadt needed Barbatos more than ever. Even if it didn't, Qin would still go to great lengths to aid the Anemo Archon. Barbatos himself might not care, as his carefree nature had left Mondstadt without much direct guidance. However, as one of his citizens, Qin felt a duty to take action.
Smith smiled at her. "Even if it does harm your interests, you'd still be willing."
Keqing, seemingly understanding his intent, pinched Smith's waist in dissatisfaction. Until now, he had always been the one teasing her, and this was the first time she retaliated.
Sure enough, pinching someone's waist was an innate skill possessed by all women, regardless of the world they belonged to.
"Of course," Qin affirmed firmly. As a member of the Gunnhildr family, she had always carried a strong sense of duty and sacrifice. If it was for Mondstadt, she was even willing to lay down her life without hesitation.
"Alright!" Seeing her determination, Smith finally revealed, "A portion of a god's power comes from the faith of the people. There's a saying that gods gain strength by fulfilling their roles.
"Of course, I don't believe that's the whole picture.
"Barbatos' contributions to Mondstadt are undeniable. He has fulfilled his duties by maintaining Mondstadt's climate. However, I believe your people have not sufficiently reinforced his presence through devotion and recognition."
Qin was quick to counter. "We Mondstadt citizens have unwavering faith in Lord Barbatos."
"Perhaps," Smith conceded. "Maybe some truly do, but for most, their belief exists only in slogans. Let me ask you something—some of your Knights of Favonius slack off and even sleep while guarding the city gates at night. If a monster invasion were to occur, wouldn't that spell disaster?
"Do those people truly have faith in the Anemo Archon?"
Qin's face flushed with embarrassment. She knew all too well that some knights preferred to laze about. While she usually turned a blind eye, she sometimes took matters into her own hands by personally inspecting the city gates late at night. However, she hadn't expected Smith, a foreigner, to be aware of these issues. It was humiliating.
Smith turned to Keqing. "Keqing, what happens if a soldier of the Qianyan Army is caught drinking or sleeping during duty?"
Keqing didn't hesitate in her response. "For the first offense, a warning is issued. If it happens again, the soldier is dismissed and publicly criticized throughout Liyue.
"After all, if a person can't even handle such basic responsibilities, they are unworthy of being a Qianyan soldier. If someone is unwell, they may request leave. But drinking and sleeping on duty? Unacceptable.
"Such behavior would only corrupt the discipline of the Qianyan Army. If not handled properly, it could lead to catastrophic consequences for Liyue."
Keqing turned to Qin, her gaze filled with pity.
She had always regarded Qin highly, even though they were not as close as Qin and Ningguang. She had considered Qin a fellow traveler—a kindred spirit. But now, she was beginning to question that perception.
Mondstadt's internal issues seemed far worse than she had expected. Qin had to be aware of them, yet she hadn't taken any decisive action to correct them.
As the acting Grand Master, Qin bore undeniable responsibility for the failures of the Knights of Favonius.
If Keqing had once admired Qin, she now felt a tinge of disappointment.
A leader should set the standard. If a leader worked tirelessly, subordinates would follow suit. But if the leader overworked herself while allowing her subordinates to slack off, then what was the point?
Keqing had assumed that Qin, like herself, pushed everyone to work as hard as possible. But the reality was that Qin had simply been exhausting herself while ignoring the laziness around her.
By the time Qin left Yuehai Pavilion, she looked completely lost in thought.
Keqing, watching her leave, couldn't help but ask, "Is this really okay?"
She hadn't expected the problems within the Knights of Favonius to be so severe.
If these issues truly existed, then Qin, as the acting Grand Master, was ultimately responsible for them.
Smith chuckled. "Without facing some harsh truths, she won't be motivated to make necessary changes. In the future, Liyue will inevitably be tied to Mondstadt. Do you want an incompetent ally that will only slow us down?"
Mondstadt's carefree attitude was frustrating.
However, there were limits to how much Smith and Liyue could intervene. They couldn't risk jeopardizing future cooperation by taking direct action. Instead, it was up to Qin and the others to make the necessary decisions themselves.
To be honest, if he had to choose a long-term partner, Smith would much rather align with Inazuma.
Inazuma was, at its core, under the direct control of Raiden Ei. If he could gain her favor, cooperation with the entire nation would be effortless.
Even though he found the Tri-Commission troublesome, Inazuma as a whole was still a viable ally. Worst case scenario, Raiden Ei could simply clean house and deal with those who opposed collaboration.
Fontaine was another promising option. Its strength and resources made it a valuable partner.
As for Mondstadt? The Knights of Favonius weren't even the biggest problem. The real issue was Mondstadt's people. They had an alarming lack of responsibility and a tendency to take things for granted.
A nation filled with entitled individuals was not an ideal partner.
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