"Hmph. I'd like to see who dares."
"Captain Kaeya, you really think you're something, don't you?"
"If not for us Fatui, that big Stormterror would've razed your Mondstadt long ago."
"Know your place. Don't strut around like a big wolf."
As some of the Fatui scrambled back into the Goth Grand Hotel, a leader-type soon swaggered out.
The moment he appeared, he was all bluster, not putting Mondstadt in his eyes at all.
He came right up to Kaeya and, with insolent bravado, patted him on the shoulder in warning.
"I'm telling you—don't make trouble for me."
"Or you'll answer to the Fatui Harbingers."
"I'm sure you know just how terrifying our Harbingers are?"
The Eleven Harbingers—hailed as the strongest within the Fatui.
Even the weakest, the Eleventh, was said to have the power to face Stormterror head-on.
No one in Mondstadt knew that better than they did; it was the root of Jean's reluctance to tear the mask off.
Especially the top three—Fatui boasted they had Archon-class might.
And to common folk, "Archon-class" meant the Seven.
So faced with Snezhnaya's power, the other nations were cautious to a fault.
Apart from Liyue—the economic and financial center of Teyvat—there wasn't a country that didn't fear Snezhnaya.
Hence the Fatui's arrogance across the six nations.
Fear, born of strength.
Only, to Rowan Galehart, it was laughable.
For all their seeming might, the Fatui harbored plenty of double-dealers.
Aside from Tartaglia and Rosalyne, it was hard to name many truly loyal to the Tsaritsa.
The Doctor? A pure madman—he joined because the Fatui didn't care what he did, wouldn't interfere, even funded him.
You could tell from how anyone halfway capable in their ranks sported Delusions.
Scaramouche—Kunikuzushi, the Wanderer—another turncoat. His eyes were fixed on the missing Electro Gnosis,
dreaming of becoming the Raiden Shogun and taking revenge on his "mother," Beelzebul—Ei.
As for Snezhnaya or the Fatui—no gratitude whatsoever. A thoroughbred white-eyed wolf.
The Captain—no need to say it. The one Rowan respected most among the Fatui.
All that can be said here is: the Captain is a real man.
He didn't serve the Tsaritsa; he served justice and his duty to protect the people.
For that, he took into himself the souls who'd died resisting the Abyss.
After the final battle in Natlan, he stepped into the game, defied fate, and finally found eternal rest—
fulfilling his dream of bringing everyone home.
A true hero by any measure.
Compared to a turncoat like the Wanderer, he was leagues above.
"The Girl"? Rowan didn't know—rumor had it she'd also betrayed them, entered Nor d'Kalai, and become a moon goddess.
The Regrator? He once wanted to be counted among the Liyue Qixing, but Zhongli saw through him at a glance.
He bore a grudge, joined the Fatui to spite Liyue, and supposedly plotted a "Long Winter Plan" aimed squarely at Liyue.
"The Rooster," mayor of Snezhnaya—a pure profiteer.
After Rosalyne's death, he even said that famous line: "Her passing merits half a day of mourning for all Snezhnaya."
If he could say that, you know what sort of man he is.
"The Marionette"—Rowan had no read on her and withheld judgment.
And the Jester, last of all—no need to elaborate.
He's pined after Khaenri'ah all along; joining Snezhnaya was only a path to revenge against Celestia.
Eleven Harbingers—yet few were truly loyal to Snezhnaya or the Fatui.
Most hid their own agendas; many joined for selfish desire. No wonder the ancients said:
"People flock by their kind; things sort by their class."
There weren't many good people among the Fatui.
That was why Rowan dared declare war on them—he had his reasons.
Even without King Arthur's Saint Graph, he didn't fear Snezhnaya.
So long as Snezhnaya still needed the Gnoses and still meant to resist Celestia, they wouldn't dare rip the veil with Mondstadt.
If they did, Venti could simply file a report and rouse the Heavenly Principles early.
One Nail of Cold Sky and Snezhnaya would be gone in minutes.
Game over for everyone. Could Venti actually do that?
A joke. With his connection to Istaroth, how could he fail to reach Celestia?
Whether Istaroth would oblige was another matter.
But given her nature, even if she didn't report it, she'd lend a hand to see Mondstadt through the crisis.
That was why Rowan made this call.
It was a decision that couldn't fail.
The Fatui had no real way to handle Mondstadt—let alone with the "old man" on friendly terms with Venti.
If Snezhnaya dared come for Mondstadt, the old man would walk in alone to aid them.
Worst case, he'd slap on another mask—hardly a big deal.
With the Knights holding the line and refusing to be baited, the leader lifted his chin like a conquering general, still ready to spew more threats.
"You people of Mond—"
"Pfft—"
The next second, he flew like a kite with its string cut.
He smashed into the Goth Grand Hotel's wall, punched through into the lobby, and crumpled there.
He wouldn't be living long.
The sight stunned everyone on the scene.
Mondstadters gawking in the street, Knights on all sides, even the Fatui peering down from the second floor—
all stared, slack-jawed, at Rowan as he rode in on horseback.
"Kaeya—you seem to have forgotten we're already at war with Snezhnaya."
"We merely followed the custom of sparing civilians and envoys—politely advising the enemy to withdraw."
"Since they don't appreciate it, don't be courteous. Kill and be done with it. Use his death to tell the Fatui—and Snezhnaya—"
"Mondstadt is no longer theirs to trample!"
"Next time you meet one like him, cut him down. Why waste words?"
"Understood?"
(End of Chapter)
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