Genshin Impact, all those behind-the-scenes big shots are me

You absolutely cannot buy it all!

"No, this can't go on any longer. My working capital is almost gone!" Andrei's face darkened.

After spending a large amount of Mora to purchase food, the nobles, realizing that something was wrong, planned to use their power to interfere in the war.

But it was quickly stopped by Qin, who was prepared.

Although current food prices are still unaffordable for many Mondstadt citizens, they are already more than half the price of those from the merchant guilds run by nobles.

More importantly, if the food supply can be stabilized, then most of the problems in Mondstadt will be solved.

Therefore, at Su Chen's suggestion, Qin personally led the guards to supervise the merchants, in order to prevent the nobles from secretly attacking them.

Left with no other choice, the noble merchant guild had to sell at the same price, even if they couldn't make a profit, at least to avoid letting the grain rot in their hands.

However, their plan was quickly thwarted.

The large merchants lowered their prices, and all the small vendors seemed to have agreed to do so at the same time, but their prices were still more competitive than those of the large merchants.

As a result, the nobles had no choice but to lower their prices as well.

But their cost price is too high.

If the price is lowered, it means selling at a loss.

If we don't lower the price, we can't sell them.

The fundamental problem is that after they lower their prices, those small business associations will also lower their prices, as if they don't need to pay any costs—or rather, their costs are far lower than the current selling price.

Moreover, anything that those merchants sell can be bought at even lower prices in these small shops!

Even ordinary people realized that something was wrong; a force had emerged in Mondstadt that dared to challenge the nobles.

All goods competed by leveraging price advantages, plunging those who wanted to profit from the national disaster into crisis.

After all, monsters are everywhere outside the city now, and the nobles' interests have been greatly damaged by the dragon calamity. Many manors have been abandoned, and only the merchants in the city can make up for their losses.

But now, the chamber of commerce's channels are completely restricted, and before long, they will have to use their own savings to fill these gaps.

Even Qin was shocked.

Inside the office.

The blue-haired youth reported the information to Qin.

"...I can only find out that these small vendors are related to the Yanhuang Chamber of Commerce, and it seems that they were all acquired by the Yanhuang Chamber of Commerce in the last few months. There's nothing else I can do," Cavalry Captain Kaiya shrugged.

"The Yanhuang Merchant Guild?" Jean frowned slightly. "Isn't that Liyue's merchant guild? It's said to be comparable in size to a seven-star guild in Liyue. How come it's here?"

Lisa pondered for a moment and said, "Large chambers of commerce like these have noses that are more sensitive than dogs. It's not surprising that they'll appear anywhere, as long as it's beneficial to the situation. My advice is not to get involved."

Qin nodded slightly and looked at Su Chen, who was calmly drinking tea to the side.

"What do you think?"

"Isn't this a good thing?" Su Chen smiled faintly. "With them around, the nobles can no longer act recklessly. Moreover, without the food crisis, it will be difficult for Di Huo to use this to incite the people's emotions. At least your predicament is temporarily resolved."

“This isn’t just restricting those noble merchant guilds, it’s practically pushing them to the brink of collapse! All commodity prices are being lowered, wow~ what a generous move.” Kaeya grinned. “No wonder it’s a merchant guild comparable to a seven-star guild in Liyue. Everyone in Liyue is rich.”

"That's not necessarily true. Look at Su Chen, he's very poor, isn't he?" Lisa said with a smile.

Su Chen rolled his eyes. "Do you believe I can easily come up with hundreds of millions?"

“I know all that, but... their appearance is too suspicious, and when exactly was so much food transported into Mondstadt?”

Qin couldn't understand it.

Since the outbreak of the Dragon Plague, Mondstadt has implemented very strict controls on entry and exit from the city.

If a large quantity of grain were to be transported in, she would definitely receive the news immediately.

However, it does not.

Is that so-called Yanhuang Chamber of Commerce really that powerful?

This question didn't give her much time to think about, because shortly after the price war broke out in Mondstadt, the 'judgment' operation on the other side of the Earthfire began.

Chapter 20 Judgment and Desperate Situation [First Update]

In the eastern part of Mondstadt, there is an elegant cluster of detached mansions.

The knights rushed to the scene of the crime.

The nobleman Andrei was found dead in his home, and obvious flame marks were found inside, clearly indicating that this was another act of subterranean fire.

Moreover, the fact that he was able to successfully kill Andrei in the heavily guarded noble mansion sent chills down the spines of all the nobles, as if they were reminded of the fear they had felt when they were shrouded in the shadow of the subterranean fire not long ago.

It was thought that with the increased guards, Di Huo's assassination attempts would cease.

However, the result shocked everyone.

"How on earth did they do it?"

The knights were shocked.

All the guards were frozen by frost.

Andrei, on the other hand, was nailed to a cross and burned to a skeleton.

"Such a large-scale operation, yet it didn't cause a commotion last night, which is enough to show that the assassins are much stronger than them."

After inspecting the scene, Qin said with a solemn expression.

Another nobleman has died, and it was Andrei, a nobleman with great influence.

If this matter is not handled properly, it may provoke a riot by the noble groups.

"Is it the Eye of God?" a knight captain asked.

Only the Eye of God could achieve this level of skill.

Qin did not answer, but looked at Su Chen, who had a deep understanding of elemental forces and should be able to make the judgment.

After all, not all use of elemental power is related to the Eye of God.

"Hmm...it doesn't look like something an ordinary person would use, like an elemental bottle."

Su Chen touched his chin.

"That's the Eye of God?" the knight captain said worriedly. "I didn't expect that even a powerful being with the Eye of God could be found in the Earth Fire. This is troublesome."

It's not the Eye of God, it's the Eye of Evil.

Su Chen continued upstairs and arrived at Andrei's room, where there was only a huge cross covered with burn marks.

It's just ordinary flames; if you don't die before being burned, it must be very painful.

Trial.

On the ground, in addition to the symbol of earth fire, a large sword also appeared.

That sword was the two-handed sword that Su Chen had simulated five hundred years ago.

"It's Rosalyn..."

Su Chen preferred to call her Rosalin rather than "Ms."

Qin also came in and looked around the room.

Then he pulled Su Chen to the balcony.

"This must have been done by the force controlling the subterranean fire."

She had always suspected that the sudden reappearance of the previously vanished subterranean fire, and the sudden commotion it caused, must be due to another force controlling and supporting its actions.

Given the defenses of Andrei's residence, even a God-level expert would not be able to kill Andrei silently.

Of course, if multiple powerful beings with the Eye of God cooperate, that would be a different story.

If the Earth Fire possessed this level of power, it would have emerged long ago, without having to wait until now.

"What do you think?" Su Chen asked, "Who's behind this?"

Qin scoffed, "Besides the Fools, I can't think of anyone else, but they've already gained the right to assist. What good would killing Andre do them?"

This is what puzzled Qin the most.

What use is killing Andrei to the Fools?

But she couldn't think of anyone else besides the Fools.

“Actually, that’s not important.” Su Chen smiled. “With Andrei dead, the nobles will panic again, facing attacks from both sides. It will be much easier to get them to compromise at this time.”

Qin shook her head: "Selfish nobles do deserve to be punished, but not in this way. If we use violence to solve everything, what's the point of laws?"

“I don’t think so. Laws are just for maintaining overall stability and are a means for administrators to govern the country. Since they are a means, can’t we choose other methods?”

At least in Mondstadt, Su Chen didn't believe that laws alone could restrain everyone.

Furthermore, most of Mondstadt's laws today are only established to satisfy the needs of the noble. Is it possible to use the laws to punish those who made them?

Qin immediately fell silent.

She knew that she would never be a match for Su Chen in a debate.

Even so, she still adhered to her belief that using violence to punish evil would only breed greater evil in the end.

"You look a lot like him."

Su Chen said with a smile.

"Who?" Qin asked, puzzled. "Who do I look like?"

“An old friend of mine.”

Erendel, the Lion of Light, is also a nobleman, and he also upholds his firm beliefs. Despite being a nobleman, he has not been assimilated by corrupt ideas, but has his own inner convictions.

With such a leader, the Knights have hope for the future.

Or rather, the Knights need someone like that to lead them.

As for Su Chen himself, he actually felt that he was not suitable to be the leader of the regiment, because absolute rationality meant losing human touch. A leader without human touch, no matter how well he governs the country, will not make the people happy.

Moreover, while being rational, Su Chen also employs many ruthless methods.

Benevolent ruler? Tyrant?