"I see."
"Then give me an independent alchemy workshop. But let me make one thing clear first."
"My real specialty is bio-alchemy. When it comes to other branches of alchemy, I might not be able to match Albedo."
Rhinedottir lowered her head, looking a little dejected.
She had originally thought Rowan had taken a special interest in her.
Even though she hadn't known him for long, this was a man who would boldly stand up to protect his wife.
What woman wouldn't feel a little flutter in her heart seeing that?
Don't be fooled by how Naberius had run off to hide; in truth, she was terrified of letting anyone see how much her heart stirred whenever Rowan was involved.
As her other half sharing the same soul, Rhinedottir naturally sensed all of that.
It was just that her own skin was a bit thinner, so she had chosen to flee the scene altogether.
"But you can't deny that Albedo's alchemy was taught by you."
"If Albedo can do it, but you can't?"
"If that gets out, what color do you think your old face will be?"
Rowan wasn't worried in the slightest about Rhinedottir trying to slack off.
The more someone had been a teacher or a mother figure, the more they cared about their reputation.
He didn't believe for a second that if Rhinedottir really handed in some trash, and he then went around telling the whole world about it, she'd still sit there unfazed.
She'd probably want to run all the way out of Teyvat.
Especially since she was also one of the witches of the Hexenzirkel.
If Rowan went and borrowed Venti's Dodo-Communicator and used it to broadcast to everyone that this esteemed veteran witch of the Hexenzirkel had failed to reproduce something her own student could make…
Rhinedottir would be socially dead on the spot.
"You…!!!"
As expected, the moment Rowan finished speaking, Rhinedottir's cheeks flushed scarlet.
She pointed a trembling finger at Rowan's nose, but couldn't get a single word out.
Who threatened a great beauty like this—
And not just any great beauty, but Istaroth's friend, Albedo's teacher, and Klee's aunt on top of that.
Was this really how you treated the relatives of your own household?
Rhinedottir didn't even dare imagine what it would be like if her friends found out she couldn't reproduce what Albedo had already developed.
She'd be mocked to death, no doubt.
Especially by those two rascals, Alice and Barbatos.
"This is your task," Rowan said calmly. "I hope you can complete the research as soon as possible."
"Otherwise, don't blame me for not showing any mercy when the time comes."
He reached into the deepest part of his King's Treasury and drew out a stack of blueprints.
These were the designs Rowan most wanted to see realized.
They were also what he looked forward to the most.
Teyvat: Elemental War.
From the moment he came to Teyvat, he had wanted to do this.
That's right—what Rowan handed Rhinedottir were weapon schematics.
Designs of modern firearms.
They covered all kinds of guns: pistols, assault rifles, submachine guns, sniper rifles, shotguns… weapons of every imaginable caliber and function.
And on the last few pages, there were even diagrams for helicopters, tanks, and other heavy firepower platforms.
Rowan could, of course, simply project all of these things himself.
But there was no need.
If he were just a businessman, it would be fine.
As long as he could make the items and sell them for money, that would be the end of it.
But he wasn't. He was Mondstadt's Knight King.
He needed Mondstadt to become self-sufficient.
Getting Rhinedottir to come under Mondstadt's banner was already a massive cheat.
If he then went on to personally project weapons for them on top of that, he really would be treating them like oversized babies.
Rowan couldn't take care of them for their whole lives.
They had to toughen up themselves.
Besides, in a certain sense, Rhinedottir counted as a Mondstadter as well.
Her friends were in Mondstadt, and her child was in Mondstadt.
The Hexenzirkel's first meeting place had been in Mondstadt too.
She had too many ties to this nation.
In a way, Mondstadt was her second homeland.
So for Rhinedottir to serve Mondstadt was only natural.
"These are weapons?"
"They're pretty similar to what those people from Snezhnaya have been researching—just without elemental power."
"If these weapons are really developed… aren't you afraid Mondstadt and the whole of Teyvat will fall into chaos?"
Rhinedottir took the blueprints and studied them carefully, immediately seeing what they were for.
She looked up at Rowan in surprise.
It was obvious at a glance that these weapons were designed for ordinary people to use.
Even without elemental power, ordinary people could fight with them.
If these things were really mass-produced and spread out into the world, who knew what the consequences would be?
Especially those lunatics in Snezhnaya who wished for nothing more than the world to burn.
Originally, their weapons still needed Delusions as a power source.
But if they now had a "civilian version," Rhinedottir could easily imagine how terrifyingly aggressive the Fatui would become.
And those ordinary people who obtained these weapons—what kind of thoughts would they have in their hearts then?
"That's not something you need to worry about," Rowan replied.
"When the time comes, I'll have Seamus pass strict laws limiting access to firearms."
"Mondstadt will implement a complete gun ban. Aside from the Public Security Bureau and the Knights of Favonius, ordinary citizens will be strictly forbidden from possessing or trafficking guns."
"Anyone who violates the law will face at least ten years in prison. At worst, they'll be executed."
"Under those conditions, I don't believe anyone will dare to cross that line."
Weapons of war were, after all, the most profitable business in the world.
Hadn't America once risen to prominence by making a fortune off the Second World War?
In the same way, Mondstadt could now do something similar.
Rowan had both the capability and the personnel to make it happen.
That was why he wanted Rhinedottir to research modern weaponry.
"I understand. Then where's my alchemy workshop?"
Seeing that Rowan had already thought things through so thoroughly, Rhinedottir didn't ask any more questions.
She put the blueprints away, ready to throw herself into her work.
As an alchemist, the urge to explore the unknown was still very much alive within her.
With such extraordinary technology placed before her, she was already eager to begin.
"Go find Albedo," Rowan said.
"He's the director of the research center. From today onward, you'll be the deputy director."
"I'll be counting on you, Lady Rhinedottir."
He waved a hand, indicating that she was free to leave.
Rhinedottir shot a jealous look at Istaroth, who was still curled up quietly in Rowan's arms, saying nothing at all.
Then she silently left the palace and went to look for Albedo.
Her disciple was probably still in the ruins of Stormterror's Lair.
"Rowan, after you provoked her like that, will she really behave herself and focus on experiments?"
"Aren't you worried she'll try something?"
When it came to Rhinedottir, Istaroth didn't have much trust.
Rowan smirked, the corner of his mouth curling slightly.
"Of course I'm not worried."
"Even if she wants to cause trouble, she has to think about the consequences first."
"This is Mondstadt—the only nation that's still willing to accept her, given the sins she's committed."
"No matter where else she goes, she'll basically be treated as a mortal enemy."
"For someone in her position, this is the last place she can still call home."
"Under those conditions… she won't dare gamble with it lightly."
(End of Chapter)
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