On a winter day, warm and clear sunlight pierced through the clouds, gently falling upon the ancient cobblestone road in front of the towering Knights of Favonius headquarters. The sunlight intertwined with the cold stone surface, reflecting a quiet and majestic beauty.
Lin Yide walked towards the building with steady steps.
Kaedehara Kazuha and Thunderclap followed on his left and right sides, respectively, like two loyal guards.
The three of them, wearing sharp West Factory Guard uniforms, exuded a daunting presence as they walked along.
As the group gradually approached, Knight Athos, who was guarding the entrance, felt an unspeakable sense of pressure.
The surrounding air seemed to freeze in that instant, making him feel his breathing become difficult.
Soon after, the three of them walked into a spacious meeting room.
Inside the meeting room, Jean, Diluc, and Grace were already seated formally by the long rectangular meeting table, waiting for their arrival.
Lin Yide pulled out the chair reserved for him and calmly took his seat, while Kaedehara Kazuha and Thunderclap stood straight as pine trees behind him.
He lightly tapped the table with his hand, signaling the formal start of the negotiation.
The first to speak was Jean, who said resolutely, "The circulation of Fontaine's goods in Mondstadt must be restricted, otherwise, countless Mondstadters will lose their jobs and livelihoods."
As soon as she finished speaking, Grace immediately raised an objection.
Her tone was serious and firm: "Acting Grand Master Jean, I cannot agree with your point of view. Mondstadt is a nation that values freedom, and the circulation of goods should also follow the principle of freedom."
Jean's brows furrowed. She understood that the root of Grace's opposition to her view lay in the benefits brought by the 16% share dividend.
Apart from donations from believers, most of the revenue of the Church of Favonius comes from the funding of the Knights of Favonius, and their financial situation is not optimistic.
Most people in the Church live relatively poor lives.
Therefore, when faced with the temptation of a 16% share dividend, the Church chose to support the free circulation of Fontaine's goods in Mondstadt without hesitation.
Jean said seriously, "The circulation of goods should be free, but not now. It needs a gradual process."
At this moment, Lin Yide interjected in a calm tone, "Fontaine's goods can circulate freely even in a relatively backward country like Inazuma. Why do they encounter obstacles in Mondstadt?
Doesn't this mean that, in terms of freedom, Mondstadt, this so-called free nation, is actually less free than Inazuma, a feudal nation?"
Jean was momentarily rendered speechless, not knowing how to answer.
Inazuma is indeed more ignorant and backward than Mondstadt, but Inazumans have one advantage - diligence. They are enthusiastic about work, even willing to work overtime, to earn a better life.
By contrast, Mondstadters' character seems much more laid-back. They only work about five or six hours a day, and the rest of the time is spent immersed in the lively atmosphere of the taverns.
When Fontaine's goods flood into the Mondstadt market like a tide, Mondstadters will not improve their lives through diligent work like Inazumans; instead, they might become poor and destitute as a result.
However, this reason was truly hard for her to voice in such a public setting.
Seeing her predicament, Diluc gave a light snort and spoke up, "Acting Grand Master Jean, since you won't say it, then allow me to explain the reason.
It's simple: Mondstadters' laid-back character makes them unable to resist the powerful impact of Fontaine's goods."
Upon hearing this, Jean's expression turned somber, and she chose silence.
Grace said even more bluntly, "The people of Mondstadt should go to church more often, listen more to Lord Barbatos' teachings, and work hard to better embrace freedom."
Lin Yide again lightly tapped the cold table with his finger, the "tap-tap" echo reverberating softly in the empty meeting room.
He did not speak, but simply watched Jean quietly.
Jean's heart was suddenly filled with bitterness.
This was Lin Yide silently reminding her that she had no room for resistance.
After a long silence, Lin Yide slowly stood up from his seat and stretched slightly, saying, "Since no one objects, then this matter is thus decided."
Jean, Diluc, and Grace, who were present, all chose silence, and this silence was their tacit agreement.
Seeing their reactions, Lin Yide was quite satisfied. He continued, "In two days, representatives from the Furina Foundation will come specifically to discuss this matter with you in detail."
Just as he was preparing to leave, Jean suddenly spoke up and asked, "Master Yide, who is the 1% share dividend reserved for?"
Lin Yide casually pointed towards the direction of the Statue of the Anemo Archon, then calmly turned around and left the meeting room.
Meanwhile, Diluc, Jean, and Grace, who remained in place, were completely stunned.
Just as Lin Yide stepped out of the meeting room, a small red figure suddenly bounced out happily from the confinement room opposite.
"Handsome bad guy uncle!" Klee shouted angrily, recognizing at a glance Lin Yide, who had once lured her to bomb pigeons. "It's all because of you that Klee was confined for a long time."
Lin Yide crouched down and said to Klee with a smile, "I was actually doing a good deed. Those pigeons were always circling around the City Gate Bridge, and many passersby have been 'attacked' by their droppings.
Now that you've dealt with them, the people are all thanking Spark Knight."
Klee's face immediately bloomed with a brilliant smile. "Really? Spark Knight Klee finally did a great good deed!"
"Klee," Lin Yide continued to instigate, "there are still quite a few remaining pigeons on the City Gate Bridge."
"Klee will go blow them all up right now!" Klee impatiently picked up her little backpack and ran off.
Lin Yide and the other two had just walked near the city gate when they suddenly heard a loud bang from the direction of the City Gate Bridge not far away.
Lin Yide stopped, turned around with Kaedehara Kazuha and Thunderclap, and returned into the city, keeping a low profile.