Keqing and Ningguang exchanged glances, and after a long pause, Keqing finally spoke. "Mondstadt was indeed unfair to the Lady at the time, but that issue stemmed more from the actions of Mondstadt's higher-ups. Public opinion and authority can guide people, but they can also mislead them. However, the Lady has since chosen to join the Fatui and align herself with those individuals. She's not a good person either."
Ningguang, however, had a different perspective. "The Kingdom of Winter arranged for the Lady to be sent to Mondstadt, likely with ulterior motives. But compared to the Doctor's time as a diplomat there, which marked the period when the Fatui's reputation was at its worst, the Lady did at least restrain their actions."
Smith frowned at this. He was well aware of the Fatui's true objectives. He had no interest in the Heart of God; compared to the power beyond the heavens, the Heart of God was insignificant. However, the Lady's presence as a diplomatic envoy had undoubtedly been beneficial to Mondstadt. Did she still care about her homeland?
Smith narrowed his eyes before shaking his head. Even if the Lady still had feelings for Mondstadt, it was likely because this was the city her lover had once protected. Perhaps even now, she remained a deeply conflicted person. But there was no empathy between them. Even if a means of resurrection existed in the future, Smith had no intention of helping the Lady revive her fallen lover.
If resurrection was possible, wouldn't it be better to bring back figures like Raiden Zhen or the Great Tree King instead?
Keqing scoffed. "Regardless, the Fatui have harmed the people of Mondstadt, haven't they? I've even heard that they once tried to recruit soldiers from Mondstadt!
"Even if the Lady kept the Fatui in check, the Fatui are still the Fatui. They continue to cause chaos in various nations. In my opinion, we should sever all ties with the Kingdom of Winter and refuse entry to their people. Honestly, whenever I see merchants from the Kingdom of Winter in Liyue, I can't help but suspect they're spies for the Fatui. The General Affairs Department has arrested plenty of them over the years."
Ningguang rolled her eyes at Keqing's impatience. "How can we just sever ties so abruptly? We still rely on the Northland Bank for international trade. At the very least, we should wait until we've established our own banking system in other nations."
Sighing, she rubbed her temples. The mess left by the previous generation of the Qixing was enormous. How had they allowed the Northland Bank to embed itself so deeply into Liyue's economy? If she hadn't consulted the Geo Archon himself and confirmed that those former leaders were simply short-sighted rather than outright traitorous, she might have suspected them of being Fatui puppets.
Otherwise, why had they turned a blind eye to the Fatui's infiltration of their financial systems?
Thankfully, those incompetent officials were gone. If they were still in power, she would have had to drag them down herself.
Keqing, however, snorted. "You always prioritize strategy over immediate action. But sometimes, short-term pain is better than prolonged suffering. Liyue is the wealthiest nation in Teyvat. If we block merchants from the Kingdom of Winter, it won't be us who suffer—it will be them. If those spies are cut off, Liyue will be much more stable."
Smith, listening to their argument, turned to Nahida. "Nahida, what do you think Liyue should do in this situation?"
Nahida, happily nibbling on a roasted mushroom, paused to consider. "The Fatui are dangerous, and caution is necessary. But I see value in both of your perspectives. If Morax were to sign a contract with the Tsaritsa to ensure her people don't cause trouble in Liyue, she would likely honor it. The Ice Queen has great respect for Morax."
Morax's influence was immense. During the Archon War, he had earned his title through sheer power. The Ice Queen would likely give him this respect.
Nahida had already deduced what the Kingdom of Winter was truly after, and she found it unsettling. She could understand their motives, but she would never forgive them for their crimes—especially their human experiments on Sumeru's children.
"Indeed," Smith nodded. "The Ice Queen would honor a contract with Morax. But so what? If a nation brings suffering to my people, then that nation does not deserve to exist. No matter how noble the goal, if it is built upon the suffering of others, then it is no longer noble—it is despicable."
As he spoke, he ruffled Nahida's hair, a gesture he would later insist was merely to wipe sauce off his fingers.
Nahida nodded thoughtfully. So this was how Smith thought? If he were a Dendro Archon, Sumeru would likely have undergone a bloody purge. The sages of the Akademiya and the desert factions would have all faced retribution under his rule.
Keqing, hearing Smith's words, immediately grew anxious. "Smith, you're being too radical!"
She had always considered herself strong-willed and aggressive in her political stances, but compared to Smith, she suddenly felt moderate.
She had no doubt that, given time, Smith would possess the power to wipe the Kingdom of Winter off the map.
"Radical? Perhaps," Smith said with a faint smile. If the Kingdom of Winter was defeated in the future, then it would naturally cease to exist. But for now, they had yet to cross the line.
When he truly examined the situation, the Fatui's actions were indeed disruptive, but they were also… calculated.
After each nation faced turmoil, they ultimately emerged stronger. Mondstadt's crisis with Durin, Liyue's trial, Inazuma's internal strife, Sumeru's conflict between the Akademiya and the desert, Fontaine's flood—all of these were problems exacerbated by the Fatui, yet somehow, once resolved, those nations stood firmer than before.
Had this been the Ice Queen's intention all along?
If so, then she was a much more remarkable deity than he had initially thought. Still, her control over the Fatui was clearly flawed. Smith strongly suspected that she had long since lost her grip on certain figures, such as the Doctor and the Balladeer.
In the end, though, it didn't matter. The Doctor alone was enough to make the Fatui irredeemable. And if the Ice Queen had tolerated him, then she was equally responsible for his sins.
What a contradictory god.
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