Chapter 198

Alice: "I have the right to suspect that your own purpose is simply to find someone to handle these troublesome matters."

Varka: "....."

Varka: "You cannot say it like that. I am also helping him gather public support. Why let the underclass citizens of Mondstadt join his Independent Regiment? Is it not because..."

Yuanshang: "Or is it because they are low enough that even if they hold slight prejudices, they dare not voice them like ordinary citizens? Moreover, having never seen the world, their hearts are easier to manipulate. This is indeed advantageous for Su Ye. If ordinary citizens knew Su Ye's identity, they would surely sneer."

Ningguang: "Perhaps you also wish to give the underclass Mondstadt citizens a chance to rise up. Alas... it is too difficult..."

Amber: "My head is about to explode. How can I not understand this?"

Hu Tao: "Freedom... Mondstadt is the City of Freedom. Logically, shouldn't one be able to do whatever one wants?"

Cloud Retainer: "So, freedom taken too far can also cause great distress, especially for those in charge."

Jean: "Grand Master, but according to your plan, I worry that the Knights' morale and spirit will not change. Instead, people will go looking for trouble with Su Bai."

Varka: "Then we can only rely on Su Bai Lawrence to handle it himself."

Jean: "Ah, this..."

【Headquarters of the Knights of Favonius.】

【Su Bai opened the door and left Varka's office.】

【No sooner had he stepped out than he saw Eula waiting for him in the corridor.】

【"How did your conversation with the Grand Master go?"】

【Eula stepped forward eagerly and asked anxiously, "Did he consider admitting you into the Knights?"】

【"If so, if you worry about being ostracized by other knights due to your identity, you can come to me first."】

【"I'll protect you."】

【Su Bai merely smiled and said, "Let's discuss such matters when we eat. Aren't you going to show me around Mondstadt?"】

【Seeing that Su Bai did not wish to bring it up, Eula did not press further.】

【She shook her fragrant shoulders and laughed, "Fine, I'll take you around Mondstadt first. Anyway, for someone as bold as you to go out strolling with me, there isn't a second person in all of Mondstadt."】

【Another office of the Knights of Favonius.】

【By the windowsill, Jean rested her chin in her hands, leaning against the window. Her gaze fell upon the man and woman walking shoulder to shoulder on the street below.】

【Only when a sound appeared behind her was Jean's train of thought interrupted.】

【"What are you doing?"】

【Lisa slowly walked to Jean's side, twisting her waist, and immediately looked out the window.】

【"That is..."】

【"Eula?"】

【"Who is the person beside her? Could it be her boyfriend?"】

【Lisa's beautiful eyes narrowed in surprise: "Her boyfriend is quite something, actually daring to stroll with her in Mondstadt City. Look at him; he doesn't seem to be from Mondstadt, does he?"】

【"Don't speak recklessly, Lisa..." Jean looked at Lisa with a displeased expression.】

【"That person is Su Bai Lawrence. He is Lisa's friend, not her boyfriend."】

【"If you recklessly link them together like this and it gets out, it will do neither of them any good."】

【Lisa was stunned.】

【A few seconds later, she suddenly understood and laughed.】

【"Oh, I get it."】

【"No wonder you've been peeping here secretly for so long."】

【"You wouldn't have fallen for Eula's boy... oh no, I mean, Eula's friend, would you?"】

【"Hmph!" Jean, as if her thoughts had been exposed by Lisa, immediately protested: "Don't talk nonsense."】

【"I find that since you returned from studying in Sumeru, you seem to have some issues with your whole person."】

【"I only met him once today; the Grand Master brought him along."】

【"Besides, he is a member of the Lawrence family, and I..."】

【After the words left her mouth.】

【Jean immediately closed her lips as if regretting it.】

【The irritation flashing across her face did not escape Lisa's keen observation.】

【"Sigh..."】

【A long sigh rose from beside Jean's ear.】

【Lisa shook her head and said leisurely, "Indeed. After all, you are a person of the Gunnhildr clan; no matter what, it is impossible for you to have any connection with someone from the Lawrence family."】

Lisa: "Poor Jean, it seems she is completely going to be eliminated."

Jean: "....."

Barbara: "Sister?"

Furina: "What's wrong with the Gunnhildrs, what's wrong with the Lawrences? Isn't Mondstadt a free city-state? Does that mean love isn't free?"

Lumine: "Furina, play with your pillow. The question you raised will hurt Barbatos."

Venti: "....."

Clorinde: "Sigh, the so-called freedom is merely a surface matter."

Yae Miko: "Isn't the justice of Fontaine also fraught with major problems?"

Neuvillette: "That statement is incorrect. Precisely because we must judge, there must be evidence. Once the evidence is conclusive, regardless of status or rank, if convicted, one must be sent to the Fortress of Meropide. It is a pity that perhaps some people do things that others hate to the bone, wishing to execute them, but unfortunately Fontaine has no death penalty; only indefinite imprisonment makes people feel that the wicked are treated too leniently."

Neuvillette: "But we Fontainians have always followed the rule of law established by Fontaine."

Zhong Li: "The spirit of contracts in our Liyue..."

Venti: "Ehe?"

Tevlin: "Help! Babatoss has gone mad from drinking!"

【Where Su Bai and Eula went, whispers followed behind them.】

【"Who is this young man?"】

【"From Liyue?"】

【"He's so handsome and upright—how did he end up with a woman from the Laurent family?"】

【"What a waste—he must've been deceived by that wicked Laurent girl."】

【"I bet so. If Eula became a knight, she must've gotten her position as squad leader through improper means."】

【"....."】

【For the first time, Su Bai truly understood how terrifying the people of Mondstadt could be.】

【Their venomous words toward Eula surpassed Su Bai's imagination.】

【"Phew..."】

【"I'm totally worn out by these people."】

Eula barely lifted her head and smiled at Su Bai: "Luckily, I don't return to Mondstadt often."

【"Otherwise, my notebook wouldn't be enough to record it all."】

【Hearing this, Su Bai nodded repeatedly.】

【The next moment, he deliberately raised his voice: "Hey..."】

【"So will I, Su Bai Laurent, also suffer this treatment in Mondstadt from now on?"】

【Eula immediately panicked: "You... are you an idiot..."】

【"If you don't say you're from the Laurents, who would know you're from the Laurents?"】

【"It'll be known sooner or later—what's there to worry about?" Su Bai argued back.】

【Their conversation reached the ears of the surrounding Mondstadt citizens, sparking a wave of uproar.】

【"What? This guy is also from the Laurents?"】

【"Damn it, no wonder he's so close to Eula."】

【"Wait—the Laurent family hates Eula too, so what's going on with this guy?"】

【"Who knows? But whenever Laurents gather, something bad is bound to happen."】

【"Let's keep walking," Su Bai said, completely ignoring the stares and pointing fingers around him, and casually took Eula's hand as they walked away.】

Xiao Gong: "Mmm, it's got a sweet taste."

Kamisato Ayaka: "Su Bai drew all the hostility of Mondstadt's people onto himself, helping Eula escape—so sweet."

Arataki Itto: "Right now, I just want to punch every one of these Mondstadt citizens in the face—they only gossip behind people's backs. If you hate the Laurents, just make them vanish from your sight!"