Across Teyvat, each god had their own approach to governance, each with its own distinct character. It was hard to say who was right and who was wrong. What mattered was that their people's needs were met.
In Mondstadt, the people wanted freedom, and Barbatos gave it to them, granting the Knights of Favonius considerable authority. All administrative affairs were handled by the Knights. All major decisions were made by humans themselves, without needing to consult the great Anemo Archon. This freedom wasn't just what Mondstadt's ordinary citizens wanted—it was what Diluc wanted too. Even he wouldn't refuse it.
Besides, when it came to governance, Ei's puppet, the Raiden Shogun, though diligent, had caused great chaos with the Vision Hunt Decree. She was in no position to criticize Barbatos.
While Barbatos and Ei debated governance, Zhongli remained silent, calmly sipping his tea. Let them argue—he had already stepped down as Rex Lapis. No new Geo Archon would arise in Liyue's future. The nation would belong to its people.
Now, beside them, Tartaglia glanced at Barbatos, then at the red-haired Diluc. A faint smile appeared on his face as a plan formed in his mind. It was clear that Diluc bore a grudge against the Anemo Archon. This was the opportunity Tartaglia needed—to win Diluc over and use him against Barbatos.
He extended a hand to Diluc. "Hello, my name is Tartaglia. You must be the famous owner of Dawn Winery, Diluc Ragnvindr. I've heard so much about you."
In truth, Tartaglia wasn't in the wine business, nor did he particularly enjoy drinking. He knew nothing about Diluc.
Diluc replied flatly, "Yes, I'm Diluc."
Though he had never met Tartaglia, the moment he laid eyes on him, he felt something off about the man. There was a repulsive aura about him.
Just as Tartaglia was about to continue his pitch, Barbatos cut in.
"Eh, you two are meeting for the first time, and you're already getting along so well? Let me introduce you—this is Tartaglia, a Fatui Harbinger from Snezhnaya. The Delusion that killed your father was created by his fellow Harbinger, The Doctor."
Barbatos smiled as he ruthlessly exposed Tartaglia's identity.
The moment Diluc heard that Tartaglia was a Fatui Harbinger and a comrade of The Doctor, both men's expressions changed drastically. Diluc's hand flew to his sword hilt, trembling with rage. He was ready to strike Tartaglia down and avenge his father.
Tartaglia's face drained of color as his identity was revealed. He had been about to recruit Diluc to oppose Barbatos, but now the Anemo Archon had exposed him first, putting him on the defensive. Once again, Tartaglia had lost—and badly. Not only had he lost, but he now faced Diluc's wrath.
Though Tartaglia wasn't afraid of Diluc, this was Liyue, not Snezhnaya. This was enemy territory, surrounded by gods ready to pounce. He couldn't afford to fight—one wrong move and he'd be overwhelmed.
Just then, Diluc's gaze dropped to Tartaglia's waist, where he spotted a glowing Delusion. So that was the source of the strange aura he had sensed. His already red eyes burned even brighter, as if flames were consuming everything before him.
In a flash, Diluc drew his sword, ready to cut Tartaglia down.
But Barbatos intervened, using his Anemo power to block the strike. "Eh heh, Diluc, don't be reckless! That Doctor may be a monster, but Tartaglia here isn't a bad person. In fact, he's quite generous—he's been covering all our bills every day!"
Barbatos didn't want Diluc to be swayed by Tartaglia, nor did he want them to fight. A fight would end badly for one of them, and either outcome would hurt Barbatos's future wine supply.
Startled, Tartaglia quickly added, "That's right! The Anemo Archon is right. Though The Doctor and I are both Harbingers, we're not allies—I can't stand him!"
In the face of danger, Tartaglia had no choice but to distance himself from The Doctor.
Calmed by Barbatos's intervention, Diluc realized he had acted rashly. But that didn't change his feelings toward the Fatui Harbingers. He snorted coldly. "If you see The Doctor again, tell him to keep his neck clean."
With a swift motion, he sheathed his sword. Tartaglia's expression twitched, but he forced a smile. "I'll be sure to pass that along."
His smile was worse than a grimace. "Tell The Doctor to keep his neck clean"—it was the boldest thing he'd heard in years. The Doctor was a mysterious figure who created all sorts of strange contraptions, and even Tartaglia was wary of him.
After defusing the situation, Tartaglia breathed a sigh of relief. He glanced at Barbatos and saw the smug grin on his face. His anger flared. What a failure!
Just when he thought it was over, Barbatos spoke again. "Diluc, this Mr. Tartaglia is very generous. He's covering all our expenses today and going forward. Order whatever you like—put it on his tab."
Tartaglia was dumbfounded. How dare that wretched Anemo Archon! Wasn't he going too far?