Genshin Impact: Towards Godhood

Never hold too many expectations for foreigners; this is a lesson repeated throughout history.

The Snezhnayans were active in the desert, supporting Babel and willing to share interests and cooperate with her because they needed desert people as cannon fodder.

Nothing more.

Every gift from fate has a price tag hidden in the shadows. You can take it, but the cost is already marked.

The chips the Fatui needed were the lives of the Tanit tribe's desert people.

"A good answer," the Debt Collector mused.

"You need desert people to fight for you, but the desert has its own rules, and you don't want to directly oppose the Akademiya."

"So you need a local to be your spokesperson," Rama spoke calmly. "As for who it is and what they think, those details are irrelevant."

"Because you are strong enough, as long as the person does what you want, you don't need to care about more."

This was the plan Rama proposed.

You don't need to consider hatred or worry about their ulterior motives.

As long as they temporarily obey, what they think doesn't matter.

You just need to drive them for a while.

After that, Rama planned to use abundant resources to divert internal tribal hatred, while the Fatui simply didn't care.

Their foundation was not in the desert, and once the plan was accomplished, whatever happened to this place was of no concern to them.

Supporting a puppet regime, does it matter what the puppet thinks?

"Many in the Tanit tribe crave power, you, Babel, and even more elders," the Debt Collector sneered behind his mask. "Babel and the others are better choices than you."

"You are a dangerous element."

"That's an honor," Rama spread his hands. "To be considered a troublesome and dangerous element by the Fatui might be a kind of honor."

It was just a matter of saying it out loud.

Babel also knew the Fatui's intentions, and the Fatui knew Babel planned to use them to achieve her goals.

Was this a secret?

Not at all.

What feelings could Snezhnayans have for desert people? Once they interact, it's naturally for interests.

The answer was clear, but no one would admit it.

The Fatui wouldn't say they wanted to use them as cannon fodder, and Babel wouldn't admit she valued their resources and technology and planned to kick them out once she got them.

These things must be done, but no one would directly say it because speaking out gains nothing and only causes trouble.

And Rama spoke it out loud.

He plainly stated the Fatui intended to support a puppet regime. So what?

Would the Fatui respect him more because he dared to say it?

Anyone who thinks so vastly underestimates the power of Snezhnaya and the Fatui.

Snezhnaya is too strong.

The desert is too weak.

This absolute disparity gave even a mere Debt Collector the courage to disdain the desert.

Rama didn't believe the Fatui would truly regard him.

These people were too busy and looked too far ahead.

Unless it was a god or a Gnosis, they had no interest in mere mortals.

"Your words are interesting, but they don't change your situation," the Debt Collector shook his head. "Even those alchemy tools you brought out are not precious."

"You don't have the value for us to support."

"You misunderstand something," Rama smiled. "We still have time, don't we?"

Cooperation wasn't urgent. Besides, given the Fatui's status, Rama indeed wasn't qualified to discuss cooperation at the moment.

"So be it." The Debt Collector handed over a map. "You want to be the King of the Red Sands. The Fatui have no interest in the desert. Whoever becomes king here doesn't affect us."

In a kingdom without a god, who the king is doesn't matter.

"This map includes the resource distribution around the Tanit tribe. Your tribe just migrated and should need this map."

"Along with the map, there's an explored but unsolvable Scarlet King relic."

"Whatever you want to do, first show your value, then you have the right to negotiate."

Rama casually took the map. "I look forward to the Fatui's final assessment."

"If you need a spokesperson, it doesn't matter much who it is, but it's best to choose someone useful."

This was a free investment.

The relics of the Scarlet King and the Flower Goddess had been rumored in the desert for hundreds of years. The Fatui were not the first to target them.

Given their abilities, it's hard to say whether the resource map or the Scarlet King relic is the bonus.

Rama believed this resource map wouldn't fall solely into his hands.

The Tanit tribe wasn't the desert's only choice, and the Fatui weren't essential to the desert people.

The Fatui needed to provoke disputes and conflicts to select suitable partners and ensure their partners became weak and needed them.

This map needed to be given to the Tanit tribe, but other tribes around would also get it, then everyone would hunt and fight, determining the final winner.

Only the victorious hound has the right to grab the master's thrown meat. Such tactics were common.

The Debt Collector turned and left.

He made no promises, just as Rama did not expect any support from the Fatui.

If you have value, they will come to you.

Conversely, if an individual is useless, no promises from others matter.

The only thing certain in this world is what you can decide for yourself.

Everything else, promises and contracts, could be waste paper.

Flames ignited at his fingertips, turning the entire map to ashes.

Rama had a more complete map. Contrary to his words, his greatest expectation from the Fatui was not their support but their disappearance.

Staying out of desert affairs was what Rama needed most.

He couldn't conquer the desert and deal with the Fatui at the same time; it was too difficult.

As for the relic... let's go take a look and improve his mechanics skills along the way.

(Chapter ends)