The Fatui's presence wasn't exactly a pleasant surprise.
Rama had anticipated this day before he even encountered the debt handler.
After all, in the future storyline, the Fatui do make an appearance.
Due to their interest in the "Eternal Oasis," they cooperated with Babel. However, once Babel ascended to power, she immediately ordered her tribal warriors to drive the Fatui out of the desert.
Even when Jebrael returned with the Traveler to the desert, the Fatui had not abandoned their goal.
Azarig had considerable connections with the Fatui and indeed intended to betray the then tribal regime. Naturally, he lost.
Many people thought dealing with the Traveler was easy, but by then, Lumine had already defeated enough enemies. The upper echelons knew of the Traveler's reputation, while the lower ranks still failed to respect the Traveler.
It's hard to understand what mindset they had when they took on the task of obstructing Lumine.
In the series of events in the desert, the Fatui's presence wasn't particularly strong.
The fact they could be fooled by Babel indicated their lack of seriousness.
Clearly, they hadn't invested much in the desert.
It's likely the direct responsible party didn't report the situation. After all, letting superiors know they were tricked by desert dwellers would degrade their standing, even if the superiors solved the issue.
"But the Scarlet King is indeed valuable."
"As a pioneer exploring powers beyond the world, the Scarlet King is extremely important. The truth of his death and his research are invaluable to Khaenri'ah."
"Khaenri'ah's fall was five hundred years ago. Before their official downfall, they evidently sensed the danger."
The relic automatons and guardian troops in the snowy mountains, the Perpetual Mechanical Array in Sumeru's rainforest... Khaenri'ah did many things.
Yet, they still lost.
While others were hit with Skyfrost Nails, Khaenri'ah faced the combined might of the Seven Archons and Celestia.
They couldn't withstand it.
However, though Khaenri'ah fell, Pierro didn't die. He seemed to carry a desire for revenge.
On that same day, the Tsaritsa also awakened, accepting Pierro and forming the Fatui, starting their efforts for an unknown goal.
In such a context, the legacies of the Scarlet King and the Flower God became even more valuable.
"Indeed, enjoying special privileges requires extra costs."
Rama shook his head. "Trying to leverage divine inheritance for technological justification—getting benefits means attracting unintended enemies."
Choices always bring two effects: gains come with troubles.
"No problem. I've prepared alchemical bombs and poisons. As long as he's still human, there's no means to kill him."
Rama remained calm.
Different combinations of medicinal properties paired with alchemy could yield significant effects.
Alchemy's applications were broad, a sort of universal solution. In any field, integrating alchemy raised the upper limits.
For example, the perpetual motion mechanism. Solely relying on technology to achieve near-perpetual energy, Khaenri'ah should have conquered worlds by now.
If Khaenri'ah had such technological prowess, it's unreasonable they only left behind one Raiden Shogun.
But with alchemy, they took a shortcut, reaching results prematurely.
Unfortunately, they didn't light up the intermediate technologies, having the energy but not the middle tech, like ancient people inventing bullets without guns, eventually sealed by official decree.
When people are killed, they die. Even gods can't avoid death, and neither can the Harbingers.
"You've set conflict and death as the final rehearsal." Nahida tilted her head. "Not surprising, very much like you."
"The Corps of Thirty is preparing to act. Be careful."
Initially, Rama refused the intel.
Nahida offered it as a bargaining chip. Accepting it meant deducting it from the final compensation.
But later, Nahida acknowledged Rama's contract, agreeing to be his deity as long as he fulfilled his promises.
Once the contract was established, the chip became irrelevant.
Deities shouldn't break contracts. Besides, if Nahida did, there was nothing to fear.
"The Akademiya's response speed is truly lacking."
Rama nodded slightly. "So, the Fatui indeed played a role."
You claim I owe you a favor and lower my price, but I won't budge.
It's not my fault your reputation is so poor, causing you to be suspected and feared.
But admittedly, the Akademiya's internal struggles did buy Rama some useless time.
"She means that because of suspicion of our involvement, the opposition hesitated, giving you development time."
"So, the buffer time you gained is thanks to the Fatui."
Nahida smiled warmly, her eyes curved. "You owe them a favor, so you should be more humble."
"But you don't think so at all."
Rama shrugged. "Just saying it's a favor. A favor means social obligations. I fought the Akademiya, not blaming the Fatui for wasting my time is enough, yet they expect me to be grateful and humble."
Such arrogance.
"That's your stance and foundation."
Through practice, you gain more experience. "The same situation: she thinks you owe them, but you think the Fatui's reputation is just poor, wasting time."
"Because of differing intel, you believe you'll win; she thinks you'll lose, hence two emotions from one situation."
Nahida nodded. "These human affairs are indeed fascinating."
Nahida spoke lightly.
The Electro Cicin Mage wasn't just angry; she'd never seen such an arrogant, ignorant bumpkin.
"If it weren't a projection, they'd likely try to control me directly."
Rama clicked his tongue. "They know about my conflicts with the tribe and my competition with Babel."
"To most, I'm seen as ruthless, but without weaknesses."
Candace's weakness is clear: attack Aaru Village, and she will submit.
But Rama... he competes for power with his foster mother, killed the tribe's elder, and told the warriors they couldn't use his methods for power because he took others' power, but they'd be taking his.
He completely vanished.
His relatives aren't weaknesses. Clearly, someone who says such things doesn't care about appearances. The tribe isn't a weakness either.
Trying to capture him directly? He's already gone, leaving only a projection.
Where is the weakness?
None.
Is he useful?
Yes.
So, they must endure.
(Chapter ends)