After his meeting with Jean ended, Lin Yide leisurely walked out of the Knights of Favonius headquarters.
Just as he stepped out the door, a call came from nearby, "Director Yide!"
He turned around and saw Kaeya leaning against the wall, arms crossed, saying lazily, "Director Yide, I must remind you, Mondstadt isn't a closed-off, backward place like Inazuma."
Lin Yide smiled and responded calmly, "Thank you very much for your reminder, Captain Kaeya. My visit this time is actually to seek commercial cooperation opportunities."
Kaeya's eyebrow raised slightly, asking in confusion, "Commercial cooperation?"
"Precisely," Lin Yide nodded affirmatively. "I hope to promote the free circulation of Fontaine goods in Mondstadt, breaking the existing trade barriers. Furthermore, to show my sincerity, I will help Mondstadt solve the current Dragon Crisis."
After a brief thought, Kaeya saw through Lin Yide's intentions.
Fontaine goods are good quality and cheap, far more cost-effective than local goods.
Once these goods circulate freely in Mondstadt, they will undoubtedly cause a huge impact on local industries.
If Fontaine takes this opportunity to acquire these damaged industries at low prices, Mondstadt's economic lifeline will likely gradually fall into Fontaine's hands.
"Director Yide, give up. The Knights of Favonius will absolutely not accept such conditions," Kaeya said directly.
"'Yes," Lin Yide continued, "When I proposed this suggestion to Master Jean, she immediately refused.
However, Captain Kaeya, if you can tell me your true identity, I am willing to solve Mondstadt's Dragon Crisis for the Knights of Favonius free of charge.'"
Kaeya was momentarily stunned, then laughed. "Regarding my background, many people actually know about it; it's not some big secret."
Lin Yide gently shook his head. "What I want to know is not the part that is widely known. What I am truly curious about is, as a mixed-blood Khaenri'ahn survivor, why you didn't turn into a Hilichurl like others."
Kaeya, full name Kaeya Alberich, shares the same surname as the founder of the Abyss Order, Chlothar Alberich. This is no coincidence.
After the fall of Khaenri'ah, Chlothar had been persistently seeking a method, hoping to restore his son Caribert, who had turned into a Hilichurl, back into a human.
Lin Yide suspected that Chlothar might have already found a method to turn Hilichurls back into normal people, but this method might be extremely complex and difficult to implement.
When he mentioned this, Kaeya's expression suddenly changed drastically.
This was the deepest secret buried in Kaeya's heart, and also the hope of Khaenri'ah.
After a brief astonishment, he quickly recovered. "Director Yide, I don't know the answer to your question either. How about you solve Mondstadt's Dragon Crisis first, and when I know, I'll tell you."
Lin Yide smiled after hearing this and said sincerely, "Captain Kaeya, I greatly appreciate you. If you feel unhappy in the Knights of Favonius, the door of West Factory is always open for you."
His words made Kaeya feel welcomed.
Kaeya smiled and said, "If such a day truly comes, I will seriously consider it."
"'Okay, I look forward to that day," Lin Yide waved his hand. "Goodbye.'"
"'Goodbye," Kaeya waved back.
After saying goodbye to him, Lin Yide walked towards an elegant cottage not far from the Knights of Favonius headquarters.
Gently pushing open the door, he saw Kaedehara Kazuha and Thunderclap lying on the sofa like two salted fish, utterly bored.
As soon as they saw Lin Yide enter, Kaedehara Kazuha immediately sprang up from the sofa and stepped forward to say, "Director, please give us some tasks. We've been so idle these past few days our bones are about to fall apart."
Lin Yide smiled slightly. "So impatient already? Alright, since you're so eager to move, I'll find something for you to do."
Hearing there were tasks, Kaedehara Kazuha and Thunderclap immediately became energetic, looking at him with anticipation.
Lin Yide calmly assigned the tasks: "You are to do two things: first, collect information on all citizens affected by the Dragon Crisis;
Second, contact the descendants of the Lawrence Family in the name of the Fatui, and then have them incite the public to protest against the Knights of Favonius."
"'Understood!'"
Kaedehara Kazuha and Thunderclap quickly took action after receiving the tasks.
...........
Night, Dawn Winery.
Diluc sat alone in the spacious study, gazing at the slightly old photo frame in his hand, lost in thought about the distant past.
Suddenly, a somewhat urgent knocking sound broke the study's silence.
Before Diluc could respond, the door was gently pushed open, and a familiar figure walked in.
Diluc looked up and saw who it was, frowning slightly, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure. "Captain of the Cavalry of the Knights of Favonius, do you not even understand the most basic etiquette?"
Kaeya, however, looked completely unfazed. He chuckled and said, "Between us, do we still need to be so formal?"
Diluc gently snorted, not dwelling on the matter.
His expression turned serious, and he asked, "Did you come today for something?"
Getting down to business, the smile on Kaeya's face gradually receded. He said in a deep voice, "Yide has arrived in Mondstadt. He proposed a condition: if the Knights of Favonius can completely lift the restrictions on Fontaine goods, he will help solve Mondstadt's Dragon Crisis."
Diluc was stunned for a moment, then fell into thought.
After a while, he slowly spoke. "Jean will definitely not accept this condition.
Once the restrictions on Fontaine goods are lifted, those cheap and quality goods will quickly sweep through Mondstadt, occupying all markets. This will lead to a large number of lower-class citizens losing their livelihoods."
Kaeya said with concern, "Jean indeed resolutely refused Yide.
But besides West Factory, the Fatui's activities in Mondstadt are also increasingly frequent. If they take the opportunity to cause trouble, I worry that Master Jean will not be able to withstand this immense pressure."
Diluc couldn't help but scoff, "This is all 'thanks' to our current legendary Grand Master Varka.
Under his brilliant leadership, the Knights of Favonius not only launched the most glorious expedition in human history but also bestowed unprecedented freedom upon Mondstadt."
His words were full of dissatisfaction towards Varka.
Kaeya replied, "Frankly, I also agree with your view. But, we must now deal with the current problem.
Today, Sister Grace, using the matter of little Klee bombing the pigeons, once again put pressure on Jean, firmly demanding that the Knights of Favonius must not harm Dvalin."
Diluc said seriously, "I likewise do not advocate harming Dvalin. Not only is he a Divine Retainer, in terms of standing, he is comparable to Varka and Jean.
During the Khaenri'ah disaster, he once saved countless Mondstadt people's lives.
Furthermore, as Mondstadt's East Wind Guard, his power is indispensable to us."
Hearing this, Kaeya immediately gave up his original idea of getting rid of Dvalin.
Because Mondstadt's geographical location is special, very close to Fontaine and Snezhnaya, these two superpower nations.
If one day, Fontaine and Snezhnaya sign a non-aggression and friendship treaty.
Then, Mondstadt must be prepared.
At this time, Dvalin's existence is particularly important. As an extremely rare aerial combat force, he can determine the outcome of a battle.