The moment these words left his lips, not only did the Knights of Favonius freeze in place—even Tartaglia looked at Gu Sanqiu with wide-eyed disbelief.
As an ally, wasn't this request of his just a bit too… audacious?
No, it was beyond audacious!
Here he was, a so-called villainous Harbinger, and even he had never dared to make such a demand!
Honestly, who's the real Fatui here, him or this guy?
"Alright, everyone. I know what you're thinking, but rest assured, things aren't as extreme as they may seem."
Gu Sanqiu's tone was as calm as ever. "This cross-border enforcement authority I'm suggesting is mutual. In other words, Mondstadt would gain this ability as well."
"For years, because our two nations share a border, numerous Treasure Hoarders, and even some more vile criminals, have learned to cross into the other nation as soon as they commit a crime."
"This situation is especially rampant near Stone Gate. The meaning of cross-border enforcement is exactly what it sounds like."
"Why do these people choose this method? Despite our friendship, entering each other's territory for a capture or coordinating an operation involves a lot of bureaucratic delay, which, for these criminals, can be extremely valuable."
"So, to ensure we catch all those idiots, I thought I'd bring this up while I had the chance."
Kaeya spoke up, "This cross-border enforcement—is it the kind of power that would allow us to act first and report later?"
"Exactly. If you're worried, we can add specific conditions to the contract, such as 'only under certain circumstances' or similar constraints."
"Hm, if that's the case, we could actually gain some benefits from this."
Gu Sanqiu nodded. "That's right. If this goes through, we could even have the master forgers from both nations collaborate to create a special token solely for official use, helping us prevent people from exploiting the situation."
"When I first considered this, I did wonder if it would affect ordinary citizens. But apart from the occasional caravan with a full guard, few people use that route, so there's little need for concern."
"This proposal is interesting, but, Mr. Gu, are you authorized to make this decision on behalf of the Qixing?" Jean asked. "This involves policies between our nations, after all. Can you represent the Qixing?"
"It's not an issue."
Gu Sanqiu replied with an air of indifference. "I'm only here to discuss a general direction. The final agreement would obviously require professionals to draft."
"Also, I have another request."
He added, "I'd like to obtain some Mondstadt notes on wind-elemental insights. Any type is fine, as long as it's not some random academic drivel made up to fleece the budget."
"That's no problem; we can agree to that right away. Anything else you'd like?"
Gu Sanqiu furrowed his brows slightly. What he really wanted was a meeting with Barbatos.
But unlike the Geo Archon, who could be seen at the Rite of Descension, Barbatos was a notoriously elusive Archon, and Mondstadt didn't exactly have a reliable way to get in touch with him.
Maybe praying at the Church of Favonius? That might work.
So, unless he brought the Geo Archon's official seal, there was little chance of contact.
And if he did bring that, he'd have to be a lot more careful with his questions.
"Never mind, that'll be all. Although, if you could throw in some Mondstadt specialties… or maybe…"
He stroked his chin, pulling a list from his coat. "These merchants here have a good rapport with me. Perhaps you could offer them better goods or open up a bit more of the trade inventory next time they deal with you."
In Liyue nowadays, Mora and reputation are the best ways to fuel action.
Reputation, as he and the Qixing both agreed, wasn't something just anyone could have; it was for true heroes only.
However, expecting the horse to work without feeding it wasn't an option either, so Mora would have to do.
"Understood, that won't be a problem."
Noelle stepped forward to take the list, giving Gu Sanqiu a courteous nod before handing it to Jean.
"Then, does that conclude our discussion for today?"
Kaeya glanced between Gu Sanqiu and Tartaglia. "It'll take us some time to finalize the details of the cross-border enforcement agreement. Plus, we'll need permission from the Cardinal for the texts in the church's archives, so we'll have to ask you both to wait a few days."
"No issue with that."
Both of them looked entirely unfazed. A few days of waiting was nothing as long as they got their promised compensation.
"Huh—Eh? Is everyone here?"
At that moment, Klee, who had timed her nap perfectly, woke up and scrambled over to greet everyone, clinging to Gu Sanqiu's arm.
"Klee!"
Jean's voice took on a warning tone. "Please get down from Mr. Gu."
Klee launched into her Rapid Hop, which managed to drop the Boss Level Jean's Aggro meter.
"Klee!"
Jean's tone sharpened. "Did you forget something?"
"Oh… Oh! Right!"
Klee clapped her tiny hands and gave a polite bow to Gu Sanqiu, her little red hat bobbing as she did.
"Thank you, big brother~!"
(*′▽｀)ノノ
"No problem."
Gu Sanqiu handed her a lollipop. "Now go play."
The meeting adjourned, and the two men politely declined Jean's invitation to join the Knights for a meal, although Gu Sanqiu did suggest they could all gather for a drink at the Angel's Share.
The reason was simple. Official dinners drained the fun right out of things. Now, if Jean had invited them out for a private, more casual meal with the Knights, that would be enjoyable.
As they exited the Knights' headquarters, Tartaglia gave Gu Sanqiu a little nudge with his elbow.
"Hey, what's with the sudden request for cross-border enforcement? Didn't that sound kind of… out of place?"
"Out of place? Not really."
Gu Sanqiu shrugged. "If we were negotiating, by certain unwritten rules, we'd be kept separate. It allows them to bargain more effectively without us exchanging information."
"Huh, yeah, that actually makes sense. Does this mean they're telling us outright that they're not going to give us anything of real value?"
"That's one way to see it. Or maybe it's part of Mondstadt's so-called 'freedom.'"
Gu Sanqiu glanced at Tartaglia. "Besides, don't you think the things I'm asking for are pretty superficial?"
"Funny you mention it. I almost forgot to ask why you're going for stuff that's so easy to copy—like random wind-element notes and a preferential list of merchants. It doesn't really match the effort you've put in this time."
"Anyone can see you're the hero of this Domain expedition. If these demands weren't coming from you, I'd be worried you'd been threatened or something."
---
T/N: Fuckkk I forgot to change Secret Realm to Domain the other chapters
If you notice anything that feels off, just let me know—I don't mind fixing things up.
Oh, and don't forget to sit up, grab some water, and take it easy while you're here. No rush, right?
If you're into this, consider checking out [patreon.com/WiseTL].
Your support helps me keep going, and I'm grateful for every bit of it.