Supporting the enemy?
I'm not an idiot.
How could Su Han fail to understand the situation before him?
The plan had already failed, yet she still wanted to make one final desperate attempt. Unless she was simply insane, there was only one explanation.
She had nowhere left to go.
As a man determined to become the king of a harem, Su Han naturally would not miss such a perfect opportunity.
"If giving you freedom requires me to seize the hearts of other gods, I would do it without hesitation."
Those moving words shattered Rosalyne's defenses.
At that moment, memories from the past surged into her mind.
"Rostam, is my singing beautiful?"
"You said my songs could ease your exhaustion. Then I'll make sure to sing my best from now on!"
"I believe a pure and flawless nation will be born, just like our dream..."
The fragments of memory gradually faded away.
At this moment, Rosalyne only wanted to live.
She opened her hand.
Requesting the Geo Gnosis.
Su Han took out a Den Den Mushi and spoke a few words into it. Only a few seconds later, a golden Gnosis descended before them.
It resembled a chess piece.
The constantly flickering light represented the terrifying power contained within it.
Rosalyne slowly reached out her hand, but stopped at the very last moment.
"You really won't regret this? It seems you don't know the Tsaritsa's plan..."
"Even if I knew, I wouldn't regret it! Rosalyne, it seems you still don't understand my power. Using a Gnosis merely to create extraordinary power is far too primitive."
Su Han interrupted her.
With a single sentence, he saw through Snezhnaya's secret.
Seizing the Gnoses.
The reasoning was actually quite simple.
The Tsaritsa's goal was likely one of two things.
First, creating a god.
Second, using the immense power of the Seven Divine Thrones to create a god that surpassed the Heavenly Principles.
But regardless of which it was, Su Han found it laughable.
Because the Gnoses were issued by the Heavenly Principles.
That fact alone was enough to determine the outcome.
Even if they gathered every Gnosis, it would still be futile.
True powerhouses did not need such things to possess immense strength.
Only then did Rosalyne truly believe Su Han's sincerity.
With a sweet smile, she threw herself into his arms and whispered,
"From now on, I'll be relying on you. Just don't make me a widow."
Hearing that, Su Han replied seriously,
"That will never happen."
He had no intention of dying yet.
If he couldn't cause trouble for tens of thousands of years, he wouldn't want to die at all.
A few minutes later.
Terrifying fluctuations of power erupted above the coast.
Then the spectators saw a cluster of flames fall from the sky.
The Fatui officers hiding in the shadows all revealed looks of despair.
Had this lady failed as well?
Just as they were thinking this—
A golden streak of light arrived near them with the aid of the Hellfire Butterfly.
The officer's eyes lit up.
"So Her Excellency has already obtained it. Quick, let's go!"
Afraid that something might change, the officer immediately ordered a retreat.
However, everyone else looked at one another and remained rooted to the spot.
Especially the female counselor who had always followed Rosalyne. She immediately cursed angrily,
"Dorzan, are you saying Her Excellency is dead?"
"I never said that. But Her Majesty the Tsaritsa's orders are supreme. The Gnosis must be returned to Snezhnaya!"
"Then I'll go find her myself."
The female counselor refused to believe that her lady had died so easily.
She immediately steered a ship toward the sea.
Meanwhile, the others retreated under the officer's command.
Several hours later.
Aboard the Jade Chamber.
Su Han looked at the sleeping Rosalyne and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"If not for Xi Yao this time, things really would have been troublesome."
To avoid arousing suspicion, Rosalyne had staged a performance with him.
After all, she could never return to the Fatui. Faking her death was already the best solution.
However, after unleashing the power of Hellfire and discarding the Delusion that suppressed it, Rosalyne suffered an immediate backlash from her own power and lost consciousness.
Fortunately, Xi Yao had been observing the battle from above the clouds, allowing disaster to be avoided.
Looking at the beautiful woman on the bed, Xi Yao finally remembered her identity.
"I remember her. She's from Mondstadt. When she attended my lectures, she performed exceptionally well. What happened in between?"
"Well, that's a very long story."
Su Han explained as they walked.
After arriving outside, Xi Yao finally learned Rosalyne's story.
What she had not expected was that someone could go so far for love.
The female counselor beside them immediately knelt upon hearing that her lady was safe.
"My lord, what should we do from now on?"
Although Rosalyne could not return, she still needed attendants by her side.
This woman could fill that role.
Su Han had a good impression of her.
She was beautiful, and more importantly, loyal.
After thinking for a moment, he turned to Xi Yao.
"Can you alter her appearance? If other Fatui see her, it might arouse suspicion."
"Completely transforming her is impossible, but partial changes won't be a problem."
Xi Yao placed a hand atop the former Fatui counselor's head.
A green light enveloped her.
She felt a cool sensation spread across her face.
"All done. Su Han, what do you think now?"
After finishing her spell, Xi Yao proudly displayed the result.
"Not bad at all."
Su Han couldn't help but praise her after seeing the woman's altered appearance.
Overall, she hadn't changed much.
But the details were vastly different.
For example, her eyes had previously been very sharp, giving her a fierce appearance.
She looked like someone difficult to approach.
Yet after Xi Yao's modifications, her entire expression had become much cuter.
Temperament was the hardest thing to change.
This adjustment alone made her seem like an entirely different person.
In addition, Xi Yao removed various facial blemishes and birthmarks.
It was essentially a beauty treatment.
When the female counselor saw her transformed appearance, she was stunned.
"Th-This is really me?"
She could hardly believe her eyes.
But without such changes, how could she live under a new identity?
Looking at the dumbfounded woman, Su Han reminded her,
"Your old name is no longer usable. Let's give you a new one. What do you think of Xi Yue?"
Still staring into the mirror, the woman immediately nodded.
"Thank you for granting me a name, my lord! From now on... I'll be called Xi Yue."
The name itself wasn't important.
What mattered was being able to stay by her lady's side.
Earlier, she had worried that she would never again see the light of day.
But now she no longer had to worry.
Su Han shook his head.
"This opportunity was something you fought for yourself. Don't thank me."
Several hours earlier.
He had been taking Xi Yao away for treatment when he noticed a small boat approaching.
At first, Su Han thought it was the Millelith searching for sea monsters.
He never expected it to be Fatui personnel looking for Rosalyne.
The woman shouted desperately, completely disregarding the risk of being discovered by him.
It was precisely because he saw her determination that Su Han was willing to bring her here.
Xi Yue froze for a moment before shaking her head.
"No. My life belongs to my lady. If she wasn't here, I wouldn't want to live either. Besides... I believe you wouldn't be so cruel."
"Alright, go take care of Rosalyne. I still have other matters to attend to."
"Yes."
Xi Yue bowed and turned to leave.
With that matter settled.
Su Han returned to the conference room.
Most of the people were gathered there for a meeting.
The moment he appeared, everyone fell silent in tacit understanding.
"How severe were the losses?"
Su Han sat down, wanting to hear the battle report.
As the secretary responsible for statistics, Ganyu immediately took out a report and began reading.
"In the battle for Liyue Harbor, the Mora losses were approximately 1.5 billion."
"A total of sixty-eight ships of various types were destroyed."
"Among them, civilian vessels suffered the greatest losses. Ningguang has already decided that Liyue's government will compensate for all of them."
Su Han nodded approvingly.
No matter how difficult things became, the people must not suffer.
That was the correct approach.
After a brief pause, Ganyu continued.
"Other than that, structural damage was minimal. Overall, there are no major issues. No civilians died, though some were injured, with a small portion suffering minor wounds. My report is complete."
At this point, Ningguang summarized:
"In fact, this war has benefited Liyue. According to public opinion surveys, everyone has learned the truth behind the conflict and now harbors deep resentment toward Snezhnaya. At the same time, enthusiasm for martial training has increased significantly."
Valuing martial strength was a good thing.
If an entire nation became weak and timid, it would become another Sumeru.
Regarding this matter, Cloud Retainer spoke of the council's decision.
"We've decided that those who performed exceptionally during the war will receive generous rewards and honorary titles. I must say, Su Han, your method of motivation was very effective. The civilian adventurers have already classified this event as a quest, and all of them are eagerly discussing the rewards."
Su Han smiled.
"That's perfect. We aren't lacking in supplies at all. As for fame, that's something that costs nothing."
Mortals lived for fame and profit.
If they wanted those things, then give them those things.
As long as people's enthusiasm increased, that was enough.
As discussions continued.
One policy after another was quickly released.
First, the official definition of the war.
This had been a conspiracy meticulously planned by Snezhnaya. The mastermind was a Fatui Harbinger, a witch who wielded the power of Hellfire. She had now been executed.
Second, judgment was passed upon the machine of war itself, Osial.
Although he was a god, punishment would not be exempted.
His sentence consisted of three points.
First: Osial and his wife were forbidden from leaving Liyue and would remain under lifelong supervision.
Second: If war broke out, Osial, as a criminal, must obey orders.
Third: He would be responsible for repairing all damage caused to Liyue.
Though these punishments did not seem particularly severe.
The very fact that a god had been judged filled the people of Liyue with immense pride.
As for the remaining policies.
They focused on benefits for the citizens.
First, anyone injured in battle would receive monetary rewards based on their merits.
Second, those who contributed to the war effort would receive promotions, martial arts rewards, and various enhancements to their strength.
Finally, brave adventurers would receive the title of Great Adventurer. Their deeds would be celebrated throughout Liyue, and monuments would be erected in their honor so that future generations would remember them forever.
The other rewards were nothing special.
But the final one completely ignited the Adventurers' Guild.
"Hey, it's the title of Great Adventurer!!!"
"My heavens! If I'd known, I would've charged in too. Having your name carved onto a monument is like becoming a hero from a legend!"
"Waaah... people will still be singing their stories hundreds or thousands of years from now. I'm so jealous."
Ordinary adventurers were nearly crying from envy.
Meanwhile, the wounded heroes raised their cups and drank heartily.
"Hahaha! I told you Liyue wouldn't let us suffer for nothing. Not only do we get good food and wine, but we also become heroes remembered by future generations!"
"Exactly! We may not compare to the heroes in Adventure King, but we're heroes now too."
These tough men who had mastered Haki paid no attention to their injuries.
Instead, they proudly recounted their achievements.
After all.
Why did people risk their lives?
For fame, of course.
From now on, wherever they went, people would address them as Great Adventurers.
Just thinking about it felt wonderful.
Meanwhile, in Snezhnaya.
After receiving the news, The Jester slowly lowered the brim of his hat.
Looking at the snow drifting outside the window, the old man let out a deep sigh.
"You've worked hard, Rosalyne. It wasn't in vain that I gave you a second life. Even if you became mad, so what? I will bring you that pure white nation..."
"Jordon, inform the other Harbingers. Prepare a funeral for Rosalyne. To complete the Tsaritsa's mission even at the moment of death, that alone earns our respect."
The messenger named Jordon immediately rushed out.
The news quickly spread throughout Snezhnaya.
It also spread among the Fatui.
Inside one of their outposts.
After hearing the news, a man headed toward the restroom.
He took a Den Den Mushi from his pocket and tapped his foot against the floor.
After the transmission ended, he casually left.
In a hidden underground facility beneath the snowy lands of Snezhnaya.
Intelligence personnel were receiving signals.
"We've got it! A report from Ghost!"
"What's the information?"
"A few minutes ago, the Harbinger codenamed Lady was reported dead. The Jester has decided to hold a funeral."
"Understood. Send the information to Sky Eye."
"Yes."
Sky Eye was the intelligence organization established by Ningguang.
Its purpose was to gather information from all seven nations.
At present, not only had the Fatui been infiltrated, but even Sumeru's scholars had been infiltrated.
Large volumes of intelligence flowed in every day.
A few minutes later.
A secretary delivered the report to the Jade Chamber's conference room.
After hearing it, Cloud Retainer asked in surprise,
"The news spread that quickly? I mean on the Snezhnayan side..."
"They may not have Den Den Mushi, but they certainly possess their own methods of transmitting intelligence. We can't let our guard down."
Su Han offered a reminder.
Just because they possessed advanced technology didn't mean they could become careless.
At times like these, vigilance was even more important.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
However, Yae Miko was far more interested in his journey to five hundred years ago.
She immediately asked,
"Hey, what happened when you went back five hundred years?"
"I was about to ask you. You were sitting on my face every day back then. Don't tell me you don't remember any of it?"
Faced with Su Han's question.
Yae Miko looked completely bewildered.
At that moment, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata seemed to realize something.
"Could it be that before you left, you altered the memories stored within Irminsul? With the authority I gave you, that should have been possible."
If he truly wanted to avoid affecting history,
then erasing those memories would have been the most likely explanation.