Genshin Impact: I, the Winter Prince, reign supreme.

Today, both he and Qin were tricked by Prince Zhidong. The so-called compensation agreement was nothing more than bait to lure them here.

But to some extent, he was not convinced of his defeat.

Six months ago, Grand Master Falgar led the main Mondstadt army on an expedition to the north. Mondstadt's defenses were currently weak, which allowed the Fatui to seize the opportunity.

Qin stared at the towering flames outside the window, hearing shouts and screams all around her.

As gunshots rang out, it felt as if every bullet pierced her heart.

Seizing power often means bloodshed.

Every gunshot could mean someone's death.

Thinking of this, she felt heartbroken, and at the same time became certain that what Schubert said was true.

The headquarters of the Knights of Favonius has probably fallen; otherwise, they would certainly have sent someone to rescue it.

However, Qin was someone who had experienced big events, and she quickly calmed down.

“Prince Winters, you have secretly supported the restoration of the Lawrence family and overthrown the Knights of Favonius’ rule over Mondstadt. This is tantamount to Winters’ Kingdom declaring war on Mondstadt and violating the peace pact between the two gods.”

"The other five nations of Teyvat will not stand idly by and allow your Winterborn Kingdom to invade Mondstadt. Soon, a five-nation coalition will attack your Winterborn Kingdom!"

"Furthermore, once news of the capture of Mondstadt spreads, reinforcements from all over Mondstadt will rush to your aid immediately. You won't last until tonight."

As expected of Falga's appointed acting leader, Qin made Schubert nervous with just a few words.

Although His Highness the Prince is here to oversee things, how can they withstand the pressure from the five kingdoms?

All eyes were focused on the imposing figure on the sofa.

While sipping his tea, Su Yu calmly said, "Apart from those present, the outside world will only know that it was the Lawrence family that was restored. The fall of Mondstadt has nothing to do with the Fools, nor with the Winterlands. This is a power struggle within Mondstadt, or you could call it a coup."

Qin immediately said, "Do you think everyone else is an idiot? Prince Winter was on a mission to Mondstadt and this happened right then and there. Winterland can't clear itself of suspicion."

“Jane, this is precisely why I used the compensation agreement to lure you to me. The Lawrence family can use the emperor to command the feudal lords, and you, with your reputation as the Dandelion Knight, are the ‘emperor’ of Mondstadt. The forces outside Mondstadt will be hesitant to launch a full-scale attack for fear of harming the enemy.”

"Next, all the Lawrence family needs to do is imprison you and issue orders in your name, and the situation will gradually stabilize."

Jean was thrown into a panic and angrily said, "The people of Mondstadt will absolutely not tolerate the restoration of the Lawrence family. They will rise up and attack the Lawrence family!"

"Qin, you're really confused. Do you remember your city-state's other name? The City of Freedom."

Su Yu began to analyze the situation for her, undermining her fighting spirit and completely crushing her mentally.

"A free people, a free will, free laws, yet without the call and command of your Knights of Favonius, the Mondstadt people, long accustomed to freedom, are nothing but a disorganized mess. At most, they'll take to the streets and shout a few things, protest for a while, and then they'll return to normal life."

"The absence of the Knights of Favonius will not have a significant impact on the lives of the people; they will quickly adapt to Mondstadt without you."

"While we shouldn't underestimate ourselves, we also shouldn't think of ourselves as overly important. The world will continue to turn no matter who leaves."

Upon hearing this, Qin's face turned pale, and she was speechless.

Mondstadt is most proud of its spirit of freedom, but the people have become so accustomed to this free and undisciplined lifestyle over the centuries that they have developed a serious dependence on the Knights of Favonius.

When the people were no longer under the command of the Knights of Favonius, the "brain" of Mondstadt, they lost their purpose and unity, and wandered around aimlessly like headless flies.

This is the price of freedom.

The situation that follows will most likely be the same as the scenario Su Yu described.

People take to the streets and cause trouble for a few days, then return home and give up the fight. A small number of people may choose to continue fighting, but that won't amount to much.

Qin could barely stand, supporting herself against the wall with one hand, feeling as if the world was turning dark.

"Prince Winter, can you tell me what you really want from your visit to Mondstadt?"

"The Heart of the Wind God".

Only Qin could hear Su Yu's reply; Kaiya, Schubert, and the others could not hear Su Yu's words.

This is the effect caused by Su Yu controlling the propagation of sound with divine power.

Jean can be seen as Barbatos's agent in Mondstadt, and as the highest-ranking administrator, she is qualified to know the true purpose of this trip.

Furthermore, even if Su Yu concealed it today, Barbatos would still tell her.

A bitter smile appeared on Qin Jiaomei's face; she realized that all was lost.

Su Yu was sent to Mondstadt by the Ice Queen to obtain the Heart of God from the Wind God, and the Ice Queen must be backing him up.

The game and struggle involving the divine realm were beyond her comprehension and even beyond her capabilities.

If the restoration of the Lawrence family was orchestrated by the Ice Queen, then the only one who could stand against them is the Wind God Barbatos himself.

But where is the great Wind God...?

In fact, during the decades that Barbatos, the wind god, disappeared, she, like many others, once suspected that the wind god had abandoned Mondstadt.

Su Yu said calmly, "Commander Qin, you still owe me an apology for the sword you used to stab me two years ago."

"You plotted a rebellion and now you want me to apologize? I should have killed you with a single sword back then."

Since things were already at their worst point, and she had become a prisoner, Qin didn't mind saying some harsh words to provoke Su Yu.

"Mondstadt has the 'Four Winds of Protection.' You may be able to subdue the people of Mondstadt, but don't even think about making the Knights of Favonius completely submit!"

At this moment, Qin was portrayed as an iron-willed woman, a stark contrast to her usual composed, elegant, and mature self sitting in the office.

Such a zither has a unique charm.

Sensing the strange look Su Yu was giving her, Qin asked, "What are you looking at? I will absolutely not apologize to you."

"It's nothing, haha. I was just thinking that this is the kind of demeanor a Dandelion Knight should have."

Su Yu's sudden praise made Qin uneasy.

The man showed no reaction whatsoever when he heard the words "Guardians of the Four Winds".

"what do you want to say in the end?"

"Dvalin, the Dragon of the East, and Andrius, the King of the North, will not be coming to reinforce us. Let me tell you, the reason I left the mission halfway to Mondstadt was precisely to take control of them in advance."

"Despicable! You've been plotting against Mondstadt from the very beginning!"

After saying this, Qin was on the verge of a breakdown.

This was a level of despair and helplessness she had never experienced before.

"Commander Qin, even Barbatos avoids the will of the Winter Kingdom. Why should you, a mere acting commander, be so stubborn? As long as you cooperate, I will guarantee your personal safety."

Su Yu further crushed her will to resist.

He wanted to find out the psychological bottom line of this female leader.

Jean gazed affectionately at Mondstadt outside the window, then turned and glared angrily at Su Yu.

"For the sake of Mondstadt, I will never allow your treacherous scheme of 'using the emperor to command the princes' to succeed!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Qin suddenly drew her sword and pointed it at her own neck.

Qin attempted suicide but was knocked unconscious by Su Yu.

As she fell, Su Yu caught her in his arms around the waist.

Ignoring Kaiya's curses behind him, Su Yu instead channeled a divine thought into Qin's mind.

When Qin wakes up again, she will hear what he wants to say—

"Congratulations, Jean, you have completed the test. This is the dying wish of your mentor, Grand Master Falgar, the Knight of the North Wind."

Chapter 36 Last Wish

Su Yu's thoughts drifted back to the scene before this mission, when several executives presented him with gifts at his residence.

The gift presented to him by Capitano, the executor of the Fools, is secret intelligence from Nata, the fire elemental kingdom, one of the seven kingdoms.

At the same time, he also reported an important situation to Su Yu.

"Your Highness, Mondstadt's expedition in the North has been a temporary success, but Grand Master Falgar of the Knights of Favonius has unfortunately perished."

“Capitano, Grand Master Falga’s strength is on par with yours. In the border region of the ancient kingdom of Kanria, there are not many things that can kill you.”

Falgar is the Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius in Mondstadt, one of the top fighters in Mondstadt. Even Yura, Jean, and Kaeya combined cannot defeat him. [Captain] Capitano has fought him several times, but the outcome was not clear.

Su Yu was somewhat surprised by his death.

"Your Highness, a massive horde of monsters has appeared outside the city walls on the northern border. There are tens of thousands of Beast Hounds and hundreds of large Ruins Guardians. Although the Mondstadt Expeditionary Force successfully stopped their offensive, they paid a heavy price in casualties... When I retrieved Falga's remains from those alchemical monsters, he was already on the verge of death."

Five hundred years ago, Tenri led the seven Teyvat gods to destroy the nation of Kanriar.

After that battle, Kanria ceased to exist.

The people of Kanria, cursed by the laws of nature, were transformed into Hilichurls, wandering the continent of Teyvat in a state of utter misery.

But for some reason, in the last hundred years or so, various alchemical monsters have frequently appeared at the Kanria Ruins, such as Beast Hounds and Undead Poison Dragons.

There are also quite a few naturally formed monsters and mutated beasts.

Last year, after learning that a small town on the border of winter had been massacred by monsters, Su Yu killed two undead poison dragons, the Overlords, that same day, and then immediately annihilated the three-headed Beast King, the Golden King Beast.

I still remember that day, Su Yu was covered in blood, like a god of death, standing on the city wall of the northern border.

The powerful aura terrified the demons, causing them to tremble and retreat in fear.

For the next six months or so, they dared not make any rash moves.

It was from that time onwards that Captain Capitano and the eleven executives of Winter were completely convinced of Su Yu's abilities.

To truly win over a proud and arrogant executive, one must ultimately rely on overwhelming personal strength.

In addition to various monsters, a large number of ruin guardians have been resurrected. They have joined forces with the monsters and are attempting to breach the borders of the ancient kingdom of Kanria.

The border is sealed off by the Heavenly Principles, the purpose of which was naturally to prevent people from the Seven Kingdoms from trespassing into the Kanria ruins for exploration.

Normally, with this seal separating them, outsiders can't get in, and things inside can't get out.

However, the blood of the young beasts and hunting dogs of the Beast Realm can erode the boundaries of the world, and the seal set up by Heaven's Law has developed weak holes under the corrosion over the years.

As a result, more and more Ruins Guardians and Beastland Wolves escaped. The vast majority of them were wiped out by the Legions of Winterbreak and Mondstadt, with only a small number escaping to other regions.

However, this was the first time in history that such a large-scale animal tide had occurred.

There is only one possible explanation for this: the guardian of justice responsible for suppressing the ancient kingdom of Kanria, for some unknown reason, has further weakened her power.

In fact, Su Yu had been thinking that the reason why the Ice Queen was able to save herself from the maintainer of the Heavenly Principles three years ago was because that maintainer of the Heavenly Principles was in a weakened state.