Fu Ning knocked on the table, interrupting the others' chatter.
"Stop, stop, stop. I don't recall ever agreeing to lend my strength to help you see the body of the Geo Archon."
Paimon looked at Fu Ning in confusion.
Fu Ning tilted his head. "I don't intend to get involved in this matter. This isn't my mission. My task is only to discuss things with the God of Contracts, not to send him off."
"Besides," he continued, "as Fontaine's top combatant, I have some thoughts of my own."
He turned to Zhongli and asked, "Mr. Zhongli, do you really believe that the Geo Archon is dead?"
Zhongli: "…"
"I won't speak too loudly of it," Zhongli said at last, "but the Geo Archon's divine body fell before the public. I believe he has met with misfortune."
Fu Ning laughed heartily. "Honestly, I don't believe the Geo Archon is dead at all."
"You don't have that kind of power. But I do."
"The Geo Archon, Morax, is known as the God of War. Even if his strength has declined with time, he is still one of the top existences in Teyvat."
"And I, as Fontaine's strongest combatant—and a demon god—naturally understand just how tenacious our kind truly is."
Zhongli remained silent.
Fu Ning leaned back in his chair. "I know my own strength best. There's no way a group of ordinary mortals could assassinate someone like me."
He stood up and continued, "Think about it—who in this world could assassinate the Geo Archon without a trace? Even I couldn't do it."
"The Fatui? The Qixing? Haha. People say the top three Harbingers have powers comparable to the gods, but Morax is a true Archon. As for the Captain and Columbina… No, she doesn't have the power to kill the Geo Archon."
"Think for yourselves. Maybe the Geo Archon is just somewhere, watching everything silently?"
With that, Fu Ning turned and left, choosing not to participate further.
Lumine, Paimon, Tartaglia, and Zhongli exchanged glances.
Paimon asked hesitantly, "Uhh… Is the Geo Archon really dead? Zhongli, what do you think?"
Zhongli closed his eyes. Fu Ning's interruption had been unexpected, yet not beyond his expectations.
"I don't know," Zhongli said slowly. "The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor doesn't concern itself with such things. All we care about is ensuring that Rex Lapis receives a proper farewell."
"Moreover, if Rex Lapis truly isn't dead and is simply hiding somewhere in Liyue, it would be impossible for us to find him."
"Because this is the Geo Archon's own matter. We have no way of knowing the truth."
"So… this is the only path forward."
Tartaglia thought to himself: since Fu Ning didn't plan to make a move… perhaps the contingency plan could still proceed.
***
Later, Fu Ning met Zhongli privately at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
"Let me guess. You faked your death and crafted a test for the people of Liyue."
"To see whether they're capable of protecting Liyue on their own. Then, you'd depart this world with peace of mind… relinquishing rule, and leaving everything to mortals?"
Zhongli silently sipped his tea and nodded.
Fu Ning paused for a moment. "I come from Fontaine. My perspective differs from yours."
"Can a nation—or an organization—that has lost its god truly withstand the many external threats it may face?"
Zhongli shook his head. "The gods will eventually fade away. But humanity will continue to thrive across generations, becoming more vibrant with each passing age."
"Their potential is limitless."
Fu Ning looked at Zhongli seriously. "I once met the Anemo Archon. He saw through my true identity in an instant. Look at me—what do you think I am?"
Zhongli hesitated. "Not a demon god?"
Fu Ning nodded.
"Some… higher form of human? I'm not sure."
Fu Ning nodded again.
"You haven't left the realm of humanity?"
Fu Ning nodded once more.
"A visitor from beyond this world?"
Fu Ning smiled faintly.
"An Adventer?"
"If Barbatos can perceive this, then you should be able to as well."
"But what you said earlier… was slightly off. Start from this: I am human."
"I am human, yet I surpass humanity. I may not embody the full divinity of your kind, but I'm not far off."
"Thanks to my experiences, I have a much clearer understanding of what humanity is—and what might happen to humans without gods."
"…But let's not talk in circles. I won't change your mind. How about we strike a new contract instead?"
Zhongli sighed. "What kind of contract?"
Fu Ning smiled. "A gift suited for the coming age of human governance. In return, you'll tell me more about the Adventers—and you're not allowed to reveal this to anyone else."
"Barbatos knows too little, and I'm not satisfied."
Zhongli considered it and agreed.
After all, this would bring no harm to him.
"Although contracts have restrictions," he added, "they're not immune to loopholes based on common sense."
"But regarding the Fourth Adventer… I'm bound and cannot speak too freely."
Fu Ning nodded. "Fine. As a sign of good faith, I'll show you the culmination of humanity's ultimate wisdom—formed over a thousand years in my world."
"Democratic Republic!"
"Don't resist. Activating—Knowledge-based talent: Sequence Nine."
A blue light enveloped Zhongli and Fu Ning. Zhongli felt his consciousness being pulled into a vast spiritual realm.
Fu Ning was confused. Zhongli's spiritual body… seemed damaged—worn out, even.
He waved his hand and offered an extra gift.
"Activating—Support-type talent: Sequence Five."
He repaired Zhongli's consciousness, then began explaining the concept of the democratic republic via Sequence Nine.
A democratic republic disperses state power through separation of powers, making it harder for authority to be abused.
Its head of state and key officials are elected and serve fixed terms.
Depending on the relationship between the legislative and executive branches, the system can be split into parliamentary and presidential republics.
What Fu Ning showed Zhongli was the parliamentary republic model.
In it, legislative, executive, and judicial powers are divided across three bodies: parliament, government, and courts.
The president serves as head of state, while political activity centers around the parliament.
This revelation left Zhongli deeply shaken.
He had never imagined… a nation could be governed like this.
"From a purely rational standpoint… the parliamentary republic is indeed far more advanced than Liyue's Qixing system."
"But… if we try to introduce it all at once, I fear…"
Fu Ning raised a hand. "Who said anything about rushing it? This needs to be implemented gradually."
"Anyway, digest that for now. Now tell me about the Adventers."
Zhongli thought for a moment, suddenly realizing that his mind felt clearer.
"You… my consciousness…"
"Oh, it looked worn out, so I repaired it for you," Fu Ning said casually.
Zhongli looked at him, visibly surprised.
This Fifth Adventer was even more powerful than he'd imagined.
That's right—he was an Adventer, after all.
"I am the oldest among the Seven Archons," Zhongli said slowly. "Naturally, I know things that mortals cannot."
"The First Adventer was the Heavenly Principles. But the one on Celestia… is not the true Heavenly Principle."
Fu Ning nodded. "I understand. She calls herself the 'Sustainer of Heavenly Principles.'"
Zhongli paused, clearly surprised. "You've seen her?"
"We've fought before," Fu Ning replied offhandedly. "I'm being patient with you because I want to know more about the Fontaine prophecy."
Zhongli exhaled. "I see… After all, you are an Adventer."
"The Second Adventer—I saw something unknown. He was called the King of Dragon Kings: Nibelungen."
"He obtained forbidden knowledge from beyond this world and became the Second Adventer. Eventually, he was defeated and slain by the First."
"The Third Adventer is extremely mysterious. I don't know much, but I suspect…"
"You know Columbina, Fatui Harbinger No. 3—'The Damselette'?"
Fu Ning nodded. "I know all the Fatui Harbingers."
"Columbina belongs to the fae lineage, and she seems to have a connection to the Third Adventer."
"You've already met the Fourth Adventer—that would be the Traveler."
"As for the Fifth Adventer… no one understands the Fifth better than you do." Zhongli offered a small smile.
Author's Note:
This fanfic uses the setting that the Captain holds the First Seat among the Fatui, and that The Jester (Pierro) does not attend executive meetings.