Keqing was stunned.
She oversaw Liyue's infrastructure and real estate. In her daily work, she rarely left Liyue Harbor for those impoverished, remote regions. If a place did not promise high returns from property development, it rarely entered her field of vision.
Born into wealth, raised in comfort, she had never truly experienced the lives of the poor.
Even the off-shoulder work outfit and black stockings she wore now were already the cheapest versions she owned. In her private life, she lived in a grand estate, adorned in gold and jade.
"Your temperament is impatient," Severin said coolly,
"and although you look busy every day, you are not truly working for Liyue's people. You are merely consolidating control over land and property development, strengthening your monopoly."
After that, his authoritative gaze shifted in turn to Ningguang and the others present.
"Ningguang—you were not born into wealth like Keqing. You rose from nothing. Yet it was only after becoming a great merchant and tycoon that you ascended to the position of Tianquan. You trade law and intelligence for利益 with merchants across Teyvat."
"Feiyun Commerce Guild of the Kaiyang Star monopolizes Liyue's textile and garment trade."
"Baizhu, the Tianxuan Star, monopolizes medicine."
"The Tianji Star controls shipbuilding and maritime transport."
"The Yaoqing Star's Kun family holds exclusive production and sales rights over military factories."
"And the Tianshu Star, Tian Shu, monopolizes Liyue's food and catering industry."
The truth was simple:
The Liyue Qixing were, at their core, seven great merchants—each representing the interests of a powerful industry. Together, they formed a governing body meant to balance and negotiate conflicts between those interests.
"From the standpoint of businessmen," Severin continued,
"protecting your own interests is not wrong."
"But tell me—who among you speaks for the countless ordinary people who make up the majority of Liyue's population?"
One by one, the Seven Stars lowered their heads, unable to meet Severin's oppressive gaze.
Though his words were harsh, they were not far from the truth. These people had long dominated Liyue's industries—food, clothing, housing, transport—grasping the nation's economic lifelines in their hands.
"A nation's great cities are its illusion," Severin said flatly.
"Small towns and villages are its truth."
"The prosperity of Liyue Harbor—the blazing lights and endless wealth—is nothing more than a fragment of the whole. Liyue's real face is not found here, but in those small fishing villages and mountain hamlets."
A storm rose within Keqing's heart.
The human rule she had always envisioned was merely the rejection of gods and adepti.
But was that truly the age of humanity?
The answer was no.
Only now did she realize that without caring for ordinary people—without standing for the poor and the powerless—her so-called human rule was shallow, even childish.
After this awakening, she asked quietly, with a trace of disappointment:
"Then, Your Highness… do you support divine rule?"
Severin did not answer directly.
Instead, he looked at the others.
"Tell me—what are the advantages of divine rule?"
At once, the remaining members of the Qixing felt a surge of relief.
Seeing that the Prince of Snezhnaya did not endorse Keqing's human-rule ideology, they were secretly delighted. The long-standing internal conflict between divine rule and human rule finally seemed to be reaching its conclusion.
Tian Shu, the most senior among them, spoke first.
"Divine rule ensures unity within Liyue. As Your Highness said, each of us represents different industries. Left alone, none would yield to another. But as long as the Geo Archon exists, we stand together."
The Yaoqing Star followed.
"My family oversees the Blackcliff Forge and commands the Millelith. Whenever monsters or foreign threats arise, the Millelith defend the nation. Yet with the Geo Archon present, no enemy dares truly invade Liyue. He is our shield."
The Tianji Star added,
"I manage Liyue's entire shipping fleet. Even the most ruthless pirates, intimidated by the Archon's reputation, dare not harm Liyue's sailors."
The Kaiyang Star said gratefully,
"Thanks to the Archon's protection, my textile business grows year after year. In fact, Your Highness, Snezhnaya purchased a great deal of Liyue cloth this year."
Finally, Ningguang spoke.
"The Archon guarantees the value of Mora. Even after Snezhnaya became the most economically powerful nation, Liyue Harbor remains the most prosperous port—thanks to the Golden House and its minting authority. And the adepti… they have always protected Liyue from threats beyond human reach."
Except for Baizhu, who was absent, all remaining members of the Qixing voiced their views.
Their conclusion was simple:
Liyue cannot exist without the Geo Archon.
Liyue cannot exist without the adepti.
Keqing could no longer hold back. She stepped forward, pointing at them angrily.
"All goods circulating in the market are the result of human labor! Not a single coin was forged through the Archon's divine power!"
"You make it sound so noble, attributing everything to the Archon. Then what about the workers and laborers? Do their efforts mean nothing?"
"And the Archon isn't even here today—stop acting!"
"The Geo Archon may protect us for a time—but what about a hundred years? Five hundred? A thousand?"
The debate reignited.
But this time, Keqing's human rule had changed.
Now, she saw the value of ordinary laborers and common folk.
As the argument grew heated, Ningguang raised her hand.
"Everyone—don't you want to hear the Prince's judgment?"
With Tianquan speaking, the others fell silent. It was not only her authority—Severin's status now stood second only to the Geo Archon himself.
And from what they had seen, his insight was rarely wrong.
Then came Severin's cold verdict.
"All of you—are lying."
"In a nation where wealth and poverty are so brutally divided, your support for divine rule is nothing more than using the Geo Archon's influence to redirect popular resentment."
"You invoke the name of a god to suffocate the will of the lower classes to resist."
Severin's gaze shifted toward Wanwen Bookhouse in the distance.
From the silhouette visible in the teahouse window, Zhongli was still there—watching this banquet from afar.
"In your eyes, whether the people support the Qixing does not matter, as long as profits remain untouched. Because you know—so long as Morax lives, no one dares to rebel."
"Whether you admit it or not…"
"The gods and adepti of Liyue are nothing more than tools you use."
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