Ayaka understood just how shocking this news was. To be honest, even she had needed a full day and night before she could begin to accept it.

Partway through, someone knocked at the door and delivered food.

Lumine and Paimon didn't stand on ceremony—they immediately started eating, whispering to each other about which dishes tasted better.

No one knew how much time passed before Kamisato Ayato finally drew in a deep breath and spoke softly:

"Let me piece this together… The Geo Archon of Liyue abdicated, leaving behind a trial.

An Archon attacked, yet Liyue, relying solely on humans, defeated that Archon with zero casualties, without paying any price.

Then Liyue, Mondstadt, and Snezhnaya signed a pact to advance and retreat together, becoming allies."

Ayaka nodded, then after a pause added:

"To be precise, the destroyed harbor wasn't even ruined by the sea beasts' assault.

If I must explain… those tens of thousands of sea beasts could have been dealt with directly at sea.

But the people of Liyue deliberately let them come ashore. That harbor… was actually demolished by Liyue's own hands.

They got so carried away in the fight that they casually tore down houses, grabbed beams, and smashed sea beasts with them…"

Ayato fell silent again.

After a pause, he spoke faintly:

"So, strictly speaking, this Archon assault was even less threatening to Liyue than one of their earlier monster tides?"

"Strictly speaking… yes," Ayaka replied.

Ayato let out a sigh.

"If you weren't my sister, if I didn't know your temperament, I'd think you were telling me some fantastical fairytale."

"But it's the truth, Brother."

Ayaka pressed her lips together, saying no more.

Ayato gave a bitter smile, nodding.

"I understand your meaning. Still, for someone born and raised in Teyvat, the idea of defeating such an Archon with nothing but human strength… it is almost impossible to imagine.

And what of the filth left behind by the Archon? How did Liyue deal with that?"

Ayaka thought for a moment before replying:

"Liyue has an adeptus dedicated to such matters—the Conqueror of Demons, Xiao."

Ayato nodded, sighing.

"In the end, Liyue's heritage is simply too deep."

"And another thing—if the Fatui Skirmishers truly attacked Liyue, then how did Snezhnaya still manage to sign an agreement with them?"

"The one who signed the agreement was Snezhnaya itself, not the Fatui," Ayaka answered lightly.

Ayato suddenly understood.

"I see. So Liyue's strength is far beyond what I had imagined.

I think I understand your intentions now—you want to resolve Inazuma's turmoil quickly, then sign an alliance with Liyue, don't you?"

Ayaka let out a breath of relief and nodded.

She understood her brother well.

Since he was beginning to ask about this, it meant he had already started thinking of solutions.

"That is one part of it. The other part… concerns the true secret that binds the three nations right now.

Brother, I cannot tell you this secret—but please believe me. It is enough to overturn the entire continent of Teyvat."

"Rex Lapis, the Anemo Archon, and the Cryo Archon—this is precisely why they decided to cooperate."

"Liyue has only been undergoing reforms for four months, and their strength has already reached the point where they can easily suppress the Archons without relying on Rex Lapis."

"Brother, all I can say is this: the three nations of Liyue are trying to create a godly kingdom on earth."

"If Inazuma doesn't join their alliance soon, in the future, we will only be able to stand on the ground and look up at them ruling all of Teyvat."

"Even if they don't act against us, Teyvat will inevitably face turmoil affecting all seven nations."

"Only through cooperation can we preserve Inazuma's civilization in the future!"

"This matter is too significant; we must make a decision immediately!"

Although he had tried to imagine the severity of the situation, Kamisato Ayato never expected it to be this urgent.

Liyue, Mondstadt, and Snezhnaya cooperating—basically, this is already the strongest power concentration in all of Teyvat.

In terms of economy, military, and top-tier combat strength…

these three nations, having signed a mutual support agreement, could easily overpower the other four nations of Teyvat.

Ayato understood that the only way to ensure seamless cooperation among these nations was the presence of a powerful external enemy.

And if even these three nations were cooperating against such a foe, the enemy's strength could be imagined.

When war broke out, it wouldn't be something Inazuma could simply hide from.

Ayato rubbed his temples in frustration.

Seeing that he hadn't yet decided what to do, Ayaka grew anxious.

"Brother, we must act immediately; we don't have time to delay!"

"Ever since the completion of the Rite, the three nations have developed at a rate as if they sprouted wings."

"Brother, you must have seen the six-headed dragon with Lumine; its strength is comparable to that of an Archon's servant."

"The three nations now intend to build a 3,000-member Dragon Knight Corps!"

"Since the end of the Rite, no more than a month has passed, and Liyue has already gathered nearly three hundred dragons."

"Their Qianyan Army has also fully completed its transformation, equipped with more advanced gear and weapons."

"Brother, we cannot waste any time! Delay even a month, and we'll fall further behind!"

Ayato's heart sank as he thought of Lumine's six-headed dragon.

Honestly, it already posed a deadly threat, but he never imagined such creatures could appear in clusters.

Three thousand dragons comparable to Archon servants…

Even during the Archon War, things weren't this outrageous!

Ayato lost his composure for a moment, spinning his teacup, his mood as unsettled as the rippling tea.

After a while, he looked up at Ayaka.

"I need to know what they've been hiding to decide what to do!"

"Ayaka, you understand. This concerns all of Inazuma; it's not something I can decide alone."

"I need specific information to make proper arrangements…"

Ayaka stiffened at this. She pursed her lips, hesitated, and shook her head slightly.

"Sorry, Brother… I… signed a contract with Rex Lapis. I cannot speak of it."

~~----------------------

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