"Armed conflict is forbidden within Mondstadt's walls. Perhaps Sir Su Bai, being from Liyue, was unaware. But surely the people of the Lawrence clan know this rule?"
Acting Grand Master Jean, gripping her Favonius Sword, rebuked Schubert angrily. Schubert, however, paid no heed and motioned for his guards to proceed. This infuriated Jean. Clenching her teeth, she prepared to give Schubert one final chance.
"Sir Su Bai is an adeptus from Liyue, an honored guest of Mondstadt. By attacking him, do you intend to provoke a war between Mondstadt and Liyue?"
Faced with Jean's anger, Schubert showed no sign of calling off the guards. In his mind, as long as he could become Mondstadt's ruler, war was irrelevant. What concern were the lives of commoners to him?
Jean was incensed by Schubert's dismissive attitude. She pointed her Favonius Sword at the approaching guards, Anemo energy already swirling around its tip.
"I order you to stand down in the name of the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius! Do you not hear me?"
"Since when do the Knights interfere with the affairs of the Lawrence clan? Jean, I am your elder. Is this how you speak to your elders?"
Schubert's words made Jean's grip on her sword tighten further. Anemo energy surged uncontrollably around her. Anyone could see she was furious.
These Lawrence guards had long heard of Jean's prowess. Fighting her now, on Schubert's orders, was practically a death sentence. But since Schubert had given the command, they could not disobey.
Seeing the vast difference in elemental power between themselves and Jean, the guards had no choice but to charge forward with gritted teeth. Seeing the Lawrence clan shamelessly trying to overwhelm Jean with numbers, the Knights of Favonius behind her drew their swords, ready to join the fight.
"Stand down. I will handle them alone."
What followed was a demonstration of the Acting Grand Master's formidable combat prowess. Alone, with just her sword, she had all the guards groaning on the ground in under a minute.
No wonder Klee is so afraid of Master Jean. If I had such a formidable guardian as a child, I'd be scared too.
Su Bai silently mourned for little Klee for five seconds in his heart. It seems it's up to me to rescue little Klee from her plight. I hope Jean will agree to let me take Klee to Liyue.
Seeing Jean defeat all his men, Schubert's face darkened. Gunnhildr. The Gunnhildr clan. Always meddling, just like their ancestor Vennessa. This Jean is just as detestable.
"Sir Su Bai, please forgive this disturbance. We of the Knights of Favonius will handle the rest."
Jean performed a knight's salute to Su Bai, hoping to end the matter there. But this time, Su Bai had no intention of granting her that courtesy.
"Acting Grand Master Jean, on previous occasions, your Knights detained me in the confinement room due to misunderstandings. I said nothing because I recognized you were performing your duties, and also because I needed a favor from Venti. But now, members of the Lawrence clan are openly harassing me, and you still wish to shield them?"
"Let me remind you, in Liyue, disrespecting an adeptus is a grave offense."
Jean was left speechless by Su Bai's words. Recalling that Su Bai hadn't pursued the matter of the Knights' previous mistakes, she felt a pang of shame. I've been so busy lately... After Kaeya reminded me about compensation, I actually forgot. This is a serious failure on my part.
"My apologies, Sir Su Bai. We will provide compensation for the previous misunderstandings. Regarding today's incident, we will certainly give you a satisfactory explanation."
"An 'explanation' is unnecessary. Today, I merely wish to meet the bold individual who dared to vandalize my home."
Su Bai did not yield an inch. Jean fell silent for a moment. She was not one to use force, and given Su Bai's status as an adeptus, she could not resort to it anyway. Doing so would surely cause a conflict between Mondstadt and Liyue.
"Very well, Sir Su Bai. I hope you can promise not to... utterly exterminate the Lawrence clan. If the clan were wiped out, it would be difficult for me to explain to the citizens."
"As for the one who showed disrespect to an adeptus... you may deal with them as you see fit."
After careful consideration, Jean chose to concede. Su Bai was not an unreasonable person. As an adeptus, he had to consider the relationship between Liyue and Mondstadt. Since Jean had yielded, he knew when to stop.
"Agreed. I only wish to deal with the one who vandalized my home."
Su Bai's fox-like eyes turned toward Schubert. He didn't need to guess; it was obvious this man was behind it. Cold sweat broke out on Schubert's brow. He hadn't expected Jean to actually give in.
"Jean! As the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, how can you yield to an outsider?"
Hah. Now you remember I'm the Acting Grand Master when you're in danger? You didn't think of that earlier. Jean completely ignored Schubert's words. This tumor harming Mondstadt can die for all I care. I won't say another word.
"You... you... stay away from me! It... it wasn't me!"
Su Bai's steady advance put immense pressure on Schubert. The hand brimming with adeptal energy made Schubert feel a pain emanating from the depths of his soul.
Indeed, Su Bai intended to turn Schubert into a breathing, living corpse. After all, Cloud Retainer had taught him not to kill indiscriminately. A living corpse probably doesn't count as killing. Ah, I truly am a kind soul.
"It was I who vandalized your dwelling. It has nothing to do with Master Schubert. Please, sir, kill me instead."
Just as Su Bai was about to let Schubert taste the agony of having his soul torn from his body, one of the guards on the ground suddenly spoke up, taking the blame upon himself.
"Yes, yes! It was him! It was all him! I know nothing! Kill him! It has nothing to do with me!"
Hearing someone take the blame, Schubert immediately nodded in agreement, indicating his innocence, while also giving the guard a kick, though his intention was unclear.
The guard's expression was one of resolute determination. Jean raised her hand as if to say something, but forced herself to lower it again due to her position.
"You have some courage. To have a man like you willingly be a dog... it seems this old fellow Schubert has some tricks up his sleeve."
Su Bai did nothing to the guard. Instead, he dispersed the adeptal energy from his hand, plucked the Vision from the guard's waist, and began to toy with it idly. He then seemed to offer an offhand remark to the guard.
"However, sometimes a man needs to use his brain more, to think about the 'why.' Otherwise, it's easy for one's mind to rust."
Excellent. Everything is proceeding according to plan. Su Bai rejoiced inwardly. If the plan succeeds, I can secure benefits for Liyue while making the Lawrence surname disappear. Killing two birds with one stone.
"Acting Grand Master Jean, I've given you face today. As an adeptus, I also wish to secure some benefits for the people of Liyue. I trust you understand what I mean."
A flicker of disappointment passed through the Knights behind Jean upon seeing Schubert escape death. To placate Su Bai, Jean had to offer something substantial.
"Liyue merchant caravans will receive a ten percent reduction in commercial taxes for three years. The fee for Liyue caravans to request protection from the Knights of Favonius within Mondstadt will be halved."
"Deal. It seems the Acting Grand Master is not only powerful but also exceptionally fair. Then today, I shall spare the lives of the Lawrence clan."
Su Bai continued to toy with the Vision in his hand and, without looking back, vanished from the Lawrence clan grounds. Jean surveyed the devastated clan grounds, left a warning for them to "behave themselves," and also departed.
With Jean's departure, the Knights' disappointment grew. They had thought today would be the day to root out the Lawrence clan. Who knew that adeptus Su Bai would give up such a perfect opportunity for Liyue interests? It seems this tumor will remain in Mondstadt. How aggravating.
---
From a High Vantage Point
Once all the Knights had left the Lawrence grounds, Su Bai, observing from a high vantage point, smirked sinisterly. He activated a formation he had laid over the Lawrence estate. An imperceptible ripple of adeptal energy subtly altered the minds of every male within the Lawrence clan.
Tsk, tsk. I wonder what Eula would think if she knew that from now on, all Lawrence men would only be attracted to other men and would retch at the touch of a woman.
But this is their own doing. Trying to kidnap me and showing disrespect to an adeptus... they brought this fate upon themselves.
Ah, what ill intentions could a little fox like me possibly harbor? I'm merely a bit... vindictive. Isn't that right, Barbatos?
What was it Eula always says? 'I will have my vengeance.'
Venti, who had just emptied the Lawrence clan's wine cellar, felt a chill upon hearing Su Bai's words. When did this little fellow learn to stab people in the back so coldly?
To make the Lawrence surname vanish without shedding a drop of blood, leaving no trace leading back to him, all within a few decades... That's truly chilling. I wonder if old man Morax knows his little Bai has been led astray by that pink-haired fox.
Fortunately, Bai is only this ruthless to his enemies. As long as I lend him my Gnosis, he probably won't hold a grudge against me, right? Probably...?