"No."
The moment Yae Miko brought up the topic of a political marriage, Idris rolled his eyes without hesitation.
Why did everyone who dealt with him always think they could take shortcuts like this?
Was it because he looked young—so they assumed he had a soft heart?
Seeing how decisively Idris rejected her, Yae Miko abandoned the idea of "marriage alliances," but she had no intention of giving up on reviving Raiden Makoto either.
That meant there was only one battlefield left.
Labor.
Thus began a tug-of-war over manpower.
"Ten thousand workers…" Yae Miko sighed.
"Inazuma truly can't spare that many. Can't you lower it a little, Grand Sage?"
"Then nine thousand," Idris replied calmly.
"Nine thousand is still far too many! Inazuma isn't a continental power like Liyue—our total population just isn't that large!"
"Eight thousand."
Yae Miko shook her head.
"If we forcibly conscript eight thousand people, the Shogun will be labeled a tyrant all over again. That's unacceptable."
"Then let her be called a tyrant," Idris said indifferently.
"I was called a tyrant every single day myself."
"Besides—what does her being a tyrant have to do with me?"
Yae Miko was momentarily speechless.
Inwardly, she cursed.
You really are a self-centered villain through and through…
Other people becoming tyrants doesn't even faze you? Incredible.
Still, eight thousand was impossible.
Inazuma had only just repealed the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree. Ei had finally stepped down from the image of a despot—Yae Miko had no intention of pushing her back into that role.
So she changed tactics.
"Cough… Grand Sage, Inazuma just ended a civil war."
"Even if we gathered that many workers, many would be elderly or infirm."
"You wouldn't need people like that, would you?"
Idris thought for a moment.
"Fine. I'll make one last concession."
"Six thousand."
"Lady Yae, don't keep expecting me to drop the price endlessly."
"The more you haggle, the more half-hearted I'll be when reviving a god."
"Choose carefully."
"…Alright."
Yae Miko exhaled slowly.
Six thousand workers would still strain Inazuma—but it wouldn't cripple them.
Inazuma's development pace was slow to begin with. Sending young laborers to Sumeru wasn't catastrophic.
As for Idris—
Six thousand was already more than his minimum expectation.
He'd originally aimed for five thousand.
An extra thousand was pure profit.
But Yae Miko wasn't done yet.
"Grand Sage, may I add one more request?"
"Speak."
"It won't be long before a young woman named Sangonomiya Kokomi comes to see you."
"She may ask to learn from you—perhaps even how a human can subdue a god."
"When that happens… please don't teach her anything."
Idris raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Learning how he subdued gods?
Kokomi really dared to ask.
But then again, it made sense.
The so-called Wisdom Archon was a child.
The Divine Priestess was a strategist with no command talent.
Such ironies were common in Teyvat.
Idris waved it off casually.
"First, I doubt she could learn anything."
"Second, even if she wants to learn, I'm not obligated to teach."
"Being my student is very expensive."
Yae Miko finally relaxed.
"Good. That's a relief."
She really didn't want Kokomi learning anything dangerous from this man.
With all terms settled, Idris pulled out two Liyue-style contracts and placed them on the table.
"One contract covers the resurrection agreement."
"The other marks the formal restoration of diplomatic relations between our nations."
Yae Miko reviewed them carefully, found no traps, and signed.
Afterward, she chuckled.
"Contracts written on Liyue paper. Tea from Liyue as well."
"Grand Sage of Sumeru—you really do like Liyue."
Her tone carried clear irritation.
Idris nodded shamelessly.
"I like what I like—and I still do my job well."
"In that regard, your Archon doesn't compare to me."
"…"
One sentence.
Yae Miko was completely shut down.
But Idris wasn't finished.
"Especially when it comes to cleaning up problems your nation couldn't solve."
"That Raiden puppet—Raiden Kunikuzushi—nearly caused a catastrophe in Sumeru."
"I handled it personally."
"…Fine," Yae Miko sighed.
"You win."
"Still—thank you."
"If you hadn't stopped him, he might've caused even greater calamities."
"No need for thanks," Idris replied flatly.
"Safe travels."
Yae Miko stood, then paused at the door.
"One last thing, Grand Sage."
"When will you act?"
"When your materials are gathered and the workers arrive."
"Roughly… after Lantern Rite in Liyue."
"No objections?"
Yae Miko smiled slyly.
"So you're attending the Lantern Rite?"
"Yes. Just going to enjoy the festival."
"I see."
She nodded, then left.
Once she was gone, Nahida peeked out from hiding and sat beside Idris, gently massaging his shoulders.
"Handling foreign dignitaries must be tiring, Grand Sage."
"If you think it's tiring," Idris said,
"learn well. As a princess, you'll have to attend these occasions too."
Nahida giggled.
"That's fine. As long as I don't meet someone at your level, I can handle diplomacy easily."
"That's for the best."
Idris returned to work—planning accommodations for the six thousand incoming workers.
With enough manpower, Sumeru could finally begin large-scale road construction.
Roads. Canals. Transportation networks.
Only then could the modern blueprints he possessed truly shine.
After more than an hour of work, a new message arrived—
From the desert.
From the sealed Apep.
The Akasha terminal's power supply was already half depleted.
Apep knew what awaited her when it ran dry.
Permanent sealing.
Unless she chose death—triggering the birth of a new Dendro Dragon Sovereign.
Which made no difference to Idris.
He'd simply tame the next one.
So before the power ran out, Apep finally contacted him.
"This is the first time I've used one of the Wisdom God's little inventions…"
"Does this thing really reach that… human king?"
Idris smiled.
"Of course. So—have you decided, Apep?"
"Hmph!"
She was clearly unwilling.
But unwillingness changed nothing.
"If you called me just to huff," Idris said coldly,
"you might as well prepare for eternal confinement."
"…I understand!"
"But I have a condition!"
"If you want me as your mount, prove your strength surpasses mine!"
"Restore my full power—then fight me!"
"If I lose, I will submit!"
Idris nodded.
"Agreed."
"But you will swear it upon your true name and inner demon."
"If I heal you only for you to flee, I'd suffer a terrible loss."
"And one more thing."
"I'll restore your strength with a pill."
"I added a little… extra."
"If you keep your word, nothing happens."
"But if you betray me—"
"I promise you'll wish you were dead."
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