Chapter 260: The usefulness of the Lawrence Family to Sumeru

"Are you Luo De?"

Luo De has heard this question more than once in the past two days.

Although only two gods have come.

But the envoys from various countries still dare not be negligent.

These high-level officials from all over the world, aside from meeting with Liyue's high-level officials to discuss future cooperation directions, spend their remaining time either wandering around Liyue Harbor looking for loopholes to exploit, or visiting each other to strengthen relations, while also checking for any possible cooperation opportunities.

Luo De originally did not want to handle these matters.

After all, Nafis is right here.

He is the Great Sage.

Moreover, Jules is also here.

One Great Sage and one sage—having these two present in Sumeru means that figures of tremendous power and influence are on the scene; even if envoys from other countries come merely to build connections, they must first seek out these two.

However.

Nafis and Jules, who both dislike such occasions, teamed up to push Luo De—who also dislikes these occasions—out to handle them; whenever envoys from other countries arrive, they have him receive them, and they even say it's because they two are scholars, not involved in other affairs, and only someone like Luo De can manage these matters.

"What do you mean by my kind of person?"

Carrying such resentment, no matter how unwilling he was, under the stern words of the two teachers, Luo De still had to step forward to receive the envoys from other countries.

After enduring two consecutive meetings that could be described as torture,

Luo De finally welcomed a group of people with whom he didn't have to clench his fists to speak.

The envoy team from Mondstadt.

They are all acquaintances.

It can be seen.

Venti's and Zhongli's relationship also has a considerable impact on Mondstadt.

Qin, who did not show up when she previously went to Sumeru to meet Nadixa, this time actually set aside Mondstadt's affairs and personally led a group to Liyue.

Those who came with her are all heavyweights on average.

All of them are high-ranking officials of Mondstadt.

Some Luo De knows, while others he has never even met.

The only one among them who doesn't quite fit this team's identity is

the West Wind Church's prayer priest, Barbara Pegg.

Logically speaking,

For such an important occasion, a lowly prayer priest like her is not qualified to participate in an official capacity; she can only come under an identity unrelated to Mondstadt's officials.

But considering that she is Qin's sister, the biological daughter of the Archbishop of the West Wind Church, and also a descendant of the Gunnhildr family,

everything then makes perfect sense.

With such an identity, as long as she isn't a pig, she is bound to become a high-ranking member of the West Wind Church; moreover, Barbara's popularity in Mondstadt is extraordinarily high, and her abilities have been unanimously recognized by the Mondstadt populace, the West Wind Knights, and the West Wind Church.

Coming early to follow the future captain's sister to see the world is also quite reasonable.

Compared to those strangers from other countries,

Qin and Luo De are old acquaintances.

She also knows what kind of temperament Luo De has.

So she didn't spout empty talk like people from other countries, constantly going off on tangents; instead, she seriously discussed with Luo De the cooperation strategies that Luo De and Kaeya Diluc had formulated during their previous visit to Sumeru.

All in all,

This meeting was very pleasant.

Qin frankly explained Mondstadt's progress and the expected time for achieving cooperation.

By the way,

She also brought up the matter of the Lawrence Family.

Getting such a troublesome family to leave Mondstadt is no simple task.

Even Diluc and his group, having returned to Mondstadt carrying the will of the Anemo Archon Barbatos, and having clearly conveyed Venti's words to the Lawrence Family, reacted by actually wanting to drive out Diluc—who represents the West Wind Knights and the Anemo Archon—refusing to leave Mondstadt no matter what, and even publicly declaring that one day the Lawrence Family will regain control of Mondstadt.

No one knows where they got the gall to utter such treasonous words.

You must know that after years of education,

Mondstadt's people can be said to have an innate aversion toward members of the Lawrence Family.

Only thanks to Eula's diligent service in the West Wind Knights have they barely managed to regain a shred of reputation.

As a result, this wave of arrogant remarks

directly pushed the Lawrence Family back into the spotlight once more, and also implicated Eula, who was in a rapid rise, causing her to once again experience the feeling of being opposed by all of Mondstadt.

In short,

Under such a public opinion storm,

the West Wind Knights finally stopped indulging the Lawrence Family, directly issuing the harshest compulsory expulsion order, forcing them to obey the will of the Anemo Archon and to set out for Sumeru within a set time.

At the same time,

the West Wind Knights also organized a convoy under the pretense of escort, forcibly sending away this toxic blood of Mondstadt City.

"Expelled."

Luo De wasn't particularly surprised that Qin would do this.

He was merely somewhat surprised by Qin's thunderous methods.

In Luo De's impression,

Qin's personality is not that stern.

Although she acts decisively, she still has a good deal of human warmth.

Originally Luo De still thought she would patiently advise the Laolunsi family.

No matter what.

Youla Laolunsi was caught in the middle; directly using force to drive people out would be very hurtful.

Especially Youla is an honorary knight who has made contributions to Mondstadt.

Moreover, she is also one of the top experts among the younger generation of the City of Mondstadt.

Furthermore, she is also Qin's close confidant in private.

Both publicly and privately.

Forcibly expelling the Laolunsi family would greatly damage Youla's reputation and also cause an irreparable rift in her relationship with Qin and Mondstadt.

But she went ahead and did it anyway.

This left Luo De surprised, and he inevitably asked: 'You just not afraid?'

"I have discussed these with Youla."

"Youla also agrees with the Wind God's decision."

"Qin said with a slightly embarrassed expression: 'It was Youla who asked me who exactly came up with this idea.'"

"You said it?"

When he asked that, Luo De already knew Qin's answer.

"Hmm."

"I said it was you."

"She said she would remember this grudge and, when she reaches Sumeru, will come to settle the score with you."

"Qin lowered her head slightly and said: 'Sorry for causing you trouble.'"

"It's fine."

"As long as people come, it's fine."

Luo De shook his head and did not continue to dwell on the matter.

Qin is someone who strictly adheres to the knight's creed.

Such a person is destined not to lie.

So when Luo De just asked, he already knew the answer must be that Qin sold him out.

But it's not really selling himself out.

Luo De isn't afraid that his behind-the-scenes advice will be exposed, after all he has the Wind God to back him up.

If the Laolunsi family really shows up, he will push everything onto himself, claiming to be the Wind God's mouthpiece.

"Let them curse, let them go curse Babatuosi."

Anyway, just make himself spotless and it's done.

Qin's efficiency is also very high.

Before she set out, the Laolunsi family's people had already set out.

If things on the Liyue side are predicted to be finished, they can also simultaneously arrive at Sumeru with Sumeru's envoy team, and Luo De can still make it in time to receive personnel.

I need to notify the Sumeru side about this, so that fighting doesn't break out later.

Since I didn't expect Qin to act this quickly beforehand, Luo De hasn't yet informed the Great Merciful Tree King about this.

Given the arrogant and domineering noble character of the Laolunsi family,

Even if Sumeru people are seen by them as no different from rainforest folk, comparable to mud‑legs, if preparations aren't made in advance, Luo De can foresee the two sides fighting like dogs.

"That..."

Upon hearing Luo De's words, Qin's expression showed some hesitation.

Seeing her hesitant look, Luo De asked curiously: "What's wrong? If there's something, just say it straight."

"Just..."

"Although the Laolunsi family came to Sumeru under the pretense of being expelled from Mondstadt, I still hope you will treat them kindly, don't"

Qin couldn't continue speaking halfway through.

No matter what.

The Laolunsi family being unwelcome is widely recognized.

Given their family members' conduct, upon arriving in the blunt‑tempered, hot‑headed Sumeru, they are likely to be despised by people and dogs alike.

Out of fellow feeling as fellow citizens of Mondstadt and also as members of Mondstadt's three great families.

Qin still hopes Luo De, out of respect for the Wind God and Youla, will give the Laolunsi family relatively fair treatment, at the very least not sending them to the desert to become slaves.

"Hey, what do you take me for?"

Luo De chuckled: "At least I'm friends with Youla, having drunk together; no matter how inhumane the Laolunsi family is, I won't stoop to treating them so basely."

"Speaking,"

Luo De simply told Qin all his thoughts: "I previously talked with Youla at Jingfu Port about her family's situation; back then Youla said the Laolunsi family actually had differing internal opinions, the elders were all hardliners, intent on bringing noble rule back to Mondstadt, but the younger generation is actually not bad, and there are still many who, like her, try to integrate into Mondstadt."

"But because the City of Mondstadt's overall attitude toward the Laolunsi family is too hostile, plus pressure from the family's elders, even if the younger generation wants to improve the family's reputation, they have no way to do so."

"I had also previously told Diluk and Kaeya."

"Those recruited into the Laolunsi family are also because their family members are not completely hopeless."

"You might not know the situation in Sumeru."

"In short,"

"It's just one thing: we are really short of people, especially those with culture and experience."

"Upon hearing this,"

"Qin blinked slightly: 'People with culture?'"

Do you know what the literacy rate in Sumeru is?

Luo De fired back a question at Qin.

Immediately afterward.

Without waiting for Qin to answer, he started answering the question himself: "In rainforest areas with free education, literacy exceeds ninety percent, basically no illiterates are seen; but in desert areas, even if someone can receive education, literacy is under ten percent."

Ten percent.

This number made Qin let out an involuntary sigh.

This is a very bad number.

This means Sumeru's current focus on desert development will rely heavily on rainforest-area people.

Regarding Sumeru's situation.

Qin still understands some of this.

Luo De had also explained to her the antagonistic relationship between rainforest and desert peoples.

So in such a mutually hostile situation, letting rainforest people manage desert people, no matter what measures are taken, this is a powder keg bound to explode sooner or later.

Ethnic integration is not just a simple slogan.

Especially when their beliefs differ.

Even if two deities insist on this, the process will still have to last a very long time.

So Luo De urgently needs an external force to break this imbalance.

That's why he set his sights on the Lawrence family.

Because their family members possess a cultural heritage.

Don't be fooled by their current decline; they still cling to outdated, loathsome aristocratic etiquette.

But they are ultimately a large family that has been passed down for over a thousand years.

The most basic education is carried out very thoroughly.

Especially in desert areas where most people have only prenatal education, Lawrence family members are no different from the Academy's highly knowledgeable scholars.

As long as we select the 'rebellious' descendants among them.

Let these rebellious descendants, scorned by their own family, act as outsiders to balance the Academy's influence in the desert; then there will be a chance to break this cultural imbalance, and the integration progress between desert and rainforest will greatly improve.

Qin understood Luo De's intention.

Qin also felt much more relieved, no longer worrying that the Sumeru people would enslave the Lawrence family.

The two then chatted for a while longer.

Mostly they were supplementary clauses to previous cooperation projects.

On this point, Luo De and Qin were no longer as easy to talk as before; eager for more benefits, they even got into an argument.

Fortunately.

It was merely a verbal sparring.

After everything was settled, things returned to calm.

Qin, who had originally agreed to everything, had her notes ready and was about to leave.

Just as she was about to leave, she impulsively turned back and asked: "By the way, have you seen the Wind God lately? He left without saying goodbye last time and hasn't shown up for a long time."

Oh, him.

He's been busking over at Scarlet Cloud Slope, his old trade; if you have time, go cheer him on.

Luo De "enthusiastically" pointed out to Qin the spot where Venti was busking, and also badmouthed him: "Mondstadt's poetry isn't popular in Liyue, that guy's business is poor, and besides, he's picked up some bad habits from certain people—he always chooses the best of everything to eat, drink, and play with; just the bills he's racked up are enough to give the funeral home he works for a headache."

Hall of Repose?

Qin was stunned again.

She had heard that name before.

Just two days ago when she entered the city, she saw that "buy one coffin, get one free" advertisement, and she still remembers it vividly.

Wind God.

Working at the Hall of Repose?

Qin struggled to get out a few words.

The Mondstadt Wind God busking is fine, after all that's his old trade; when he overthrew the Lawrence family back then, he appeared as a wandering bard.

Selling coffins—what kind of thing is that? And he's up to his neck in debt. Dealing with such a free-and-easy deity makes Qin's head hurt more than when she used to pull all-nighters at work.

She sighed again and told Luo De, "I understand."

Having said that.

She then hurried away.

We don't know whether she went to cheer on her own deity or to pay off her deity's debts.

Only Luo De remained on the spot, unable to stop bursting into laughter.

(End of chapter)