Chapter 206: Compensation for Breaking One's Word

After Luo De explained his helplessness and difficulties.

Although he was very unwilling.

But Diluc and Kaeya still chose to reluctantly accept.

There was nothing they could do.

Snezhnaya played this card too ruthlessly.

Not to mention Sumeru, if any other nation in Teyvat had the chance to receive Snezhnaya's free industrial aid, they would surely make the same choice as the Dendro Archon.

"I'm really sorry."

Luo De was still apologizing for going back on his word: "I didn't expect this to happen; I had already prepared to do it."

"It's not your fault."

Kaeya shook his head and said: "If it were us, as long as the Anemo Archon doesn't mind, we would also make this choice."

That was a bit offensive.

But it's the reality.

"Let's not talk about this."

Kaeya changed his expression, recovering to a smiling look much faster than Diluc beside him: "Our communication with the Dendro Archon has been pleasant, thanks to your mediation."

"Given our relationship."

"No need to flatter me."

Luo De waved his hand: "Before, the Academy was stubborn, but now there's a chance for more cooperation, and Nadixa won't miss it."

As his words fell.

The silent Diluc interjected: "Dawn Winery will build a new winery here, and later also open tavern business."

"Here?"

Although Dawn Winery investing in building a winery and tavern in Hope City is a good thing, Luo De didn't think highly of this project: "This place is a desert; think it over, don't regret a momentary impulse."

Whether out of friendship or some other reason.

In short.

Diluc's intention to invest in the winery is good.

It's a pity.

If he were planning to build the winery in the rainforest area, Luo De might not have any other objections.

But in the desert, this matter is worth discussing thoroughly.

Hope City is merely a city under construction; although it lies in an oasis, it is not the most suitable region for developing the brewing industry.

Especially, Dawn Winery's fame isn't just due to its unique brewing technique; Mondstadt's fruit wine lake is also key.

And Sumeru,

lacks such top-tier brewing ingredient as a fruit wine lake.

Moreover, it's not just an ingredient issue; transportation and storage are also completely different from Mondstadt's eternal spring, from developing new drinks to opening the market in Sumeru, the required effort and cost are astronomical.

So Luo De is not optimistic about Diluc's investment.

In his view,

this project will definitely result in a total loss.

He has money.

and he's not that wasteful!

However, his dissuasion did not change Diluc's mind.

"I have discussed this with a merchant named Dori."

"She is willing to serve as the general agent for Dawn Winery's Sumeru branch."

After briefly sharing his thoughts, Diluc mentioned another name Luo De is very familiar with.

"Huh—?"

"You've met Dori? When?"

Luo De was speechless; how long have Diluc and the others been in Hope City?

Weren't they just arrived this morning?

Moreover, before going to the Purity and Benevolence Palace to see Nadixa, they had been together with me all along.

When did Dori find Diluc and incidentally reach a cooperation agreement?

"Before you came."

Kaeya replied for Diluc: "That merchant came to us on her own; she's an excellent merchant, worth cooperating with."

He finished speaking.

Diluc then continued: "What you said are indeed things that need to be considered, but I also have my own considerations."

His face sank slightly: "Dawn Winery has remained unchanged for hundreds of years; it's time to make some changes."

"Is that so."

Luo De stopped arguing, his brow slightly easing: "As long as you're mentally prepared, but I need to remind you of one thing: it's best not to bring your work from the Northern Continent Intelligence Organization over here."

"."

Hearing Luo De so directly point out his organization behind him, Diluc's face showed no change, merely staying silent briefly before saying: "I know."

Not to mention Teyvat, any normal country would not allow another country to plant its intelligence organization on its soil.

As for how Luo De knew about that organization behind him,

Diluc has no doubt about this; on the contrary, if Luo De didn't know, that would be strange.

After that, the chat became much more relaxed.

Most are suggestions regarding Hope City.

Diluc and Kaeya are after all people with considerable status in Mondstadt, and they are still more experienced than Luo De in management.

Sumeru and Mondstadt have different national conditions.

Among them, the conflict of the Three Gods' followers is especially sharp.

This point actually reminded Diluc and Kaeya of the class conflict between the ruling aristocracy and commoners during Mondstadt's old noble era.

"It's somewhat like that."

Luo De stroked his chin and pondered: "By the way, I've always had a question: how do you people of Mondstadt manage to hold a grudge against the Lawrence family for a thousand years?"

He had thought of this question even before he went to Mondstadt.

A grudge spanning ten generations can still be avenged.

This saying does exist.

But in practice it is very hard to achieve.

Luo De would rather believe that a gentleman's revenge is never too late after ten years, rather than like now, stirring up a conflict that continues for a thousand years and achieving a hatred similar to the ethnic conflict between Sumeru's desert dwellers and rainforest peoples.

What makes Luo De even more unable to understand is.

The people of Mondstadt hate the Lawrence family to the point of not forgetting for a thousand years; anyway, the Lawrence family aren't even human, so why not simply expel them—out of sight, out of mind?

Unless

"Could it be related to that Klaus Lawrence?"

Luo De thought of a name.

The founder of the Northland Intelligence Organization, in which You Lang Rustan and Diluc participated, that traitor of the Lawrence family.

"Is it because of his existence that the West Wind Knights have retained the Lawrence family's bloodline?"

"The so-called thousand-year grudge."

"Is it a means of suppression by the West Wind Knights?"

"Hmm, that is also reasonable."

"If it weren't deliberately passed down by word of mouth, it would still be quite difficult to make the Mondstadt people's opposition to the Lawrence family reach the level of Sumeru."

Luo De muttered to himself, speculating on the origins and developments, completely oblivious to Kaeya and Diluc, whose foreheads had already broken out in cold sweat.

Just as he was continuing to speculate.

Diluc and Kaeya in unison said, "Stop saying that."

Both wore bitter smiles.

Then Kaeya said: "It's not really a matter of deliberate suppression, after all the Lawrence family's affairs are real historical events, and they live in Mondstadt City; even if we wanted to mediate the conflict between Mondstadt and the Lawrence family, we cannot arbitrarily alter history."

"As long as the history of the old noble era remains, the people of Mondstadt will never let go of their hostility."

"As for why you say they didn't take the opportunity to eliminate the Lawrence family back then, I can only say the matter is very complicated, not something that can be explained in a few words, and besides, this issue has always been quite controversial within the West Wind Knights."

Having said that.

Even though he usually hides his feelings behind a smile, he couldn't help but sigh and say: "Think about it—if someone had repeatedly told you from childhood about the evil deeds of the Lawrence family, and the history books also made this period a required course, would the Mondstadt people's hostility toward the Lawrence family still need the West Wind Knights to suppress it? Going deeper, if during the Knights' selection they let those with more radical attitudes toward the Lawrence family rise to high positions, what do you think would happen?"

"Um"

"Have there been bloody incidents?"

Luo De guessed in a sentence.

"Yes."

"Not just once."

Kaeya spread his hands and said: "So this matter is also a historical poison that's hard to get rid of in Mondstadt today; back then, because of Senior Klaus Lawrence's relation, Captain Wen nisha did not exterminate the Lawrence family, thus planting this seed."

Although many details weren't mentioned, Luo De also roughly figured out this matter.

Klaus Lawrence.

The main cause of the Lawrence family's current state still lies with him.

This person is a hero of Mondstadt, or rather a great hero.

How important a perfect intelligence organization is to a country.

This goes without saying!

As the founder of the Northland Intelligence Organization, Klaus Lawrence ought to have left a bold and vivid mark in Mondstadt's history.

But.

Because of the family's stigma, his name simply cannot appear in Mondstadt's history books.

It is also precisely because of him.

The Lawrence family escaped the purge after the old noble turmoil, and even after a thousand years they could still maintain the family's archaic noble etiquette.

For a family that in history did many evil deeds to Mondstadt and clearly committed blasphemy, its existence is to the Mondstadt people who grew up learning this history like a thorn in the flesh, a splinter in the eye.

Yet Klaus Lawrence's deeds cannot be made public.

Such contradictory behavior thus gave rise to this conflict that has lasted a thousand years.

"Rather than letting Eula Lawrence alone serve as this buffer."

"You'd be better off making a clean break early on."

Luo De put forward his opinion.

As for Eula, his impression of her is still good.

I don't know whether it's because Luo De is an outsider, or because their relationship isn't close enough, but he has never heard her say, as a catchphrase, "I will remember this grudge."

On the contrary, her meticulous attitude left Luo De a very good impression.

But relying solely on her efforts.

is still not enough.

I have met other members of the Lawrence family once.

Luo De lied without changing his expression.

He had only met Eula, one person from the Lawrence family; he truly hadn't seen those pedantic noble old men who are stubborn to the point of losing teeth.

However, this does not hinder what he will say next.

"Say something unpleasant."

"As long as those old fogeys are around for a day, your historical poison cannot be eliminated for a day."

Luo De spoke frankly, then shifted his tone: "However, your contradiction cannot compare to that of Sumeru; over there it involves a matter of faith, the brains of fanatics—you understand."

Luo De tapped his own forehead, then said: "I also know Eula; I've chatted with her several times at Jingfu Port."

"She told me that many of their descendants are like her, unwilling to uphold that aristocratic way, but due to the authority of the family elders, they ultimately have no choice but to yield."

"Moreover, the hostility from the surrounding people toward them is too deep."

"Just as you just said, the hostility of Mondstadt people toward the Lawrence family has grown from childhood onward."

"Think about it: even if someone in the Lawrence family wanted to abandon the family's ideology and integrate into Mondstadt like Eula, placed in an environment full of hostility, even a blank slate would eventually be stained with an antisocial personality."

"This thus becomes a vicious cycle."

"The Lawrence family's descendants wish to integrate into Mondstadt, but the hostility of the surrounding people provokes them into hostility toward Mondstadt; then Mondstadt's hostility toward them deepens, and this hostility continues to affect the next generation—tsk, no wonder this hatred can be passed down for a thousand years without diminishing."

"Hmm, if you want to break the situation,"

"I now have a good plan."

Luo De said with a smile: "Send the Lawrence family's people over to us; consider it compensation for my earlier broken promise."

"Upon saying that, it was as shocking as heaven splitting and earth shattering."

"Even Diluc couldn't keep a straight face; he had countless retorts he wanted to spit out, but in the end they all turned into the exact same word as Kaeya's."

"Ah???"

"Send the Lawrence family's people to Sumeru?"

"What is this?"

"Shift the target of hatred?"

"In response."

Luo De's response was the same shrug as Kaeya's: "Anyway, the Lawrence family is also a troublesome big problem for you; moreover, you can't act against those extremely pedantic old fogeys, and as long as those old fogeys are around, you can't hope to break this mutual hostility vicious cycle."

"Then simply send these troubles over to us."

"For dealing with such old stubbornness, Sumeru has plenty of ways to make them behave."

Luo De wore an expression of it being only natural.

Seeing this, Diluc and Kaeya momentarily didn't know how to respond.

Because what Luo De said actually made sense.

"As long as Mondstadt's history books remain, and as long as those elders who corrupt the family's descendants alongside them are present, the hatred between the Lawrence family and Mondstadt people cannot be reconciled."

"The Grand Master bringing Eula to the Knights of Favonius was merely a temporary measure."

"Now, indeed a portion of Mondstadt, in recognition of Eula's genuine contributions to Mondstadt, will look at her separately with a different eye."

"But it's only a portion of people."

"Most Mondstadt people don't even harbor goodwill toward the Lawrence family; upon hearing Eula's surname, even this diligent Knights of Favonius knight is met with hostile words."

"For this, the Grand Master has even sighed."

"To reconcile such a contradiction, the task is heavy and the road long."

"Luo De's remarks also count as opening a new line of thought for Diluc and Kaeya."

"Where is the root of the contradiction between the Lawrence family and Mondstadt?"

"It's simply because they are too close."

"A grudge spanning ten generations can still be avenged."

"Why can it be avenged?"

"That's because the enemy is right before our eyes."

"What if the enemy is gone?"

"In conclusion, Luo De summed up: 'Anyway, the Lawrence family's sins already received their due punishment a thousand years ago; what you are now considering is also reconciliation with them, so why not send away the unstable elements and keep those who can and wish to integrate into Mondstadt? That would solve the problem.'"

(End of chapter)