As for who ranked first—
There was no need to say it aloud. Everyone already knew.
Before this, Sumeru hadn't been particularly strong.
In fact, it could even be called weak.
But after Idris appeared, everything changed.
Culture, technology, population growth, internal conflicts—
under his leadership, Sumeru broke through bottleneck after bottleneck.
And this wasn't something simple.
To be precise, Sumeru's current strength could almost entirely be credited to Idris alone.
Ningguang didn't dare speculate about others, but she knew one thing very clearly:
Whoever earned Idris's support would gain an unshakable pillar—
a long-term pillar that would not fall.
This was something no other nation could replicate.
Liyue itself was developing well—stronger than all nearby nations—
yet they still hadn't dared to establish deep diplomatic ties abroad.
The risks were too great.
They couldn't afford a single misstep,
nor the possibility of internal instability during foreign engagement.
All of this stemmed from one simple truth:
They still weren't strong enough.
And yet Idris had come to Liyue.
Not only that—he stayed.
That alone proved that Sumeru's current power far exceeded outside expectations.
"Lady Ningguang, what are you thinking about?"
Cloud Retainer asked quietly after noticing her momentary distraction.
"Is it the cooperation?"
"Yes," Ningguang replied with a faint smile.
"Grand Sage Idris is an extraordinary figure. His existence doesn't just bring new technology—it shows us an entirely new future."
Cloud Retainer nodded deeply.
"Indeed. Yesterday's discussion surprised me greatly. He even has profound insight into mechanical arts. Such a comprehensive talent… If he had been born in Liyue, we might already stand at the peak of this continent."
After a pause, Cloud Retainer added with some dissatisfaction,
"Lady Ningguang, since Liyue is already doing well, why not try forming closer ties with other nations? We could follow the Grand Sage's example—learn by imitation."
Ningguang shook her head lightly, a hint of admiration in her eyes.
"You still don't understand.
Though Liyue is strong among its neighbors, compared to Sumeru, the gap remains vast."
"We cannot afford to gamble on high-risk diplomacy before fully consolidating our foundation."
Cloud Retainer frowned slightly.
"But hasn't Sumeru grown precisely because of cross-nation cooperation under the Grand Sage? Surely there's something we can learn."
"His path isn't replicable," Ningguang replied calmly.
"Behind Sumeru's reforms is an irreplaceable mind—Idris himself. Blind imitation would only backfire. Liyue must find a path suited to its own nature."
Cloud Retainer fell silent.
Ningguang was right.
There was only one Idris in the world.
If Idris knew what Ningguang was thinking, he would probably laugh—
after all, he was a walking bug.
Competing with him was nothing but self-inflicted suffering.
At that moment, Ganyu, who had overheard part of the conversation, looked up and asked softly:
"Grand Sage, when you push a nation to develop so quickly… have you ever considered the dangers involved?"
Idris smiled calmly.
"Of course.
But risk is unavoidable. What can be avoided, we avoid. What can't—we face head-on."
"Clinging to a small patch of land will never lead to national growth."
Before long, they arrived at the Jade Chamber.
Ningguang invited Idris to take a seat while she prepared tea and the cooperation documents, hoping to finalize everything today.
Idris had no objections.
This trip to Liyue wasn't just for sightseeing—
cooperation was the real objective.
With Inazuma and Liyue joining in, his military-industrial plans were advancing rapidly.
And now, with the Abyss Gate in hand, his future ambitions would only grow larger.
That meant greater manpower—and greater strength—were necessary.
As Idris sat within the Jade Chamber, his thoughts drifted.
Next nation… Mondstadt? Fontaine? Or perhaps the Dragonspine region?
After some consideration, he settled on Mondstadt.
Its free trade policies and open culture made it a natural hub.
If cooperation could be established there, not only would markets expand, but the Knights of Favonius could also become valuable partners.
Just then, Ningguang returned with the contract in hand.
"Grand Sage, please review the terms.
If anything is unsatisfactory or overlooked, say the word—we'll revise it immediately. I hope today marks the beginning of a fruitful partnership."
Idris appreciated this attitude.
No dragging things out.
No hollow pleasantries.
He disliked the phrase 'good things take time'—
More often than not, it was just about weighing interests rather than genuinely seeking cooperation.
Ningguang's decisiveness suited him perfectly.
The contract itself was straightforward:
technology exchange, population assistance, industrial collaboration.
Overall, Sumeru stood to gain significantly.
Population meant productivity.
Six thousand people from Inazuma had helped—but it still wasn't enough.
As for mechanical and technological exchange, this wasn't mere transfer—it was a fusion of ideas.
Ningguang's efficiency reassured him.
Decisive. Sharp. Reliable.
Truly worthy of her reputation.
Idris finally set the document down and spoke calmly:
"Lady Ningguang, since Liyue is willing to yield benefits, I won't hold back either."
"Sumeru doesn't like taking advantage of others."
As he spoke, he reached into his robes and took out another document.
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