Genshin Impact: Towards Godhood

Babel did not trust Rama.

Adopted sons were merely tools to her, and she had many of them.

The answer was simple: Rama had the capability. Regardless, he should first shed blood and sweat for the tribe, expand new territories, and capture some new slaves.

Rama also stated that he hoped to help the tribe achieve the great task of unifying the desert and establishing a kingdom in the Red Sands.

So before establishing the kingdom, wouldn't he need to help the tribe defeat some enemies and gather some resources?

And the matters that come after?

We'll discuss those later.

Do you really have to make the situation irreparable in front of him, watching such a capable fighter leave the tribe alone?

Babel couldn't do that.

She was an adult, and adults need to think long-term.

Reasoning with Rama was futile. She couldn't convince him, and she didn't want him to leave.

So she acknowledged that Rama made sense.

Sure, whatever you say, you're right because you're useful.

But just because you're right doesn't mean we should follow your words and act according to your reasoning.

That's not correct.

This attitude was clear, and of course, Rama could see it.

But it didn't matter.

Attitudes and words are irrelevant; the key is whether he is willing to do something.

If she takes action, the complaints don't matter.

Once the tribe starts the wheels of war, the situation will be out of their control.

"People often think they can control the beast of war," Rama murmured, "but who can truly control war?"

"Once the wheels start turning, whether they stop or not is no longer up to you."

He held no particular feelings towards the tribe's elders, neither fondness nor dislike.

The tribe's elders were responsible for the tribe's direction and took the lead in external conflicts.

This is a responsibility equivalent to their power. Wanting to hold the scepter means bearing its weight.

There was no direct conflict between him and Rama.

But enmity doesn't need hatred; the crown can only rest on one head. Who will that be?

Of course, it has to be me.

So anyone who hinders me from wearing the crown is my enemy.

This is a straightforward conflict of interest.

"An observer has been watching for a while. Are you not planning to show yourself?"

Walking towards a hidden corner, Rama suddenly stopped.

"Adfi said you are someone who can be persuaded, filled with ambition and desire."

The masked figure in black spoke in a hoarse voice, "It seems he was right."

This was a standard opening, as if you could see through someone's heart.

In reality?

In reality, no one walks through the world without desires.

"The scent of the northern snow country... Elder Babel is blinded by ambition." Rama's smile was gentle. "She seeks the Fatui's support to unify the tribe's power and obtain more resources and technology."

"But everything has a price. If you are willing to give, you naturally want something in return."

"So, what do you want? Essential oils, fake medicinal cures... No, no, those are too cheap."

At this time, Babel should have just started considering cooperation with the Fatui.

Adfi is the tribe's merchant, usually responsible for external trade.

This time, the tribe sent Asarig to do the task, evidently because Adfi had reasons he couldn't leave.

"Everyone knows that only the relics of the Scarlet King and the Flower God in the desert are worth attention." The Fatui debt collector, tasked with covert operations, spoke without change in tone.

This was too easy to guess.

The desert has so little of interest; if it's not this, what else could it be?

Concern for the desert people's plight?

"Elder Babel has already agreed to cooperate with the Fatui. Your tribe needs our resources."

"Before your arrival, the Tanit tribe was one of the strongest in the desert." Rama shook his head. "We are not your only choice, and in the desert, you are not indispensable to any tribe."

Is the Fatui a faction to engage with?

Of course.

Even if you gathered the names of all current antagonists, they wouldn't be enough to challenge the Fatui.

Among the five nations in the story, even the sect burdened with the hatred of their country's destruction appears less frequently.

But the Fatui are different. In every nation, behind every enemy character Lumine encounters, the Fatui's hand can be seen.

They specialize in stirring trouble.

But still, they wouldn't pay much attention to a small place like the Tanit tribe.

What interests them is the legacy of the Flower God and the Scarlet King.

This is ideal; they need local desert people as cannon fodder.

Snezhnaya is not an enemy of the desert people because they don't care about them enough to stir up trouble in the desert.

No hatred, no conflict of interest—this can be a basis for friendship.

Verbal conflict doesn't impede deeper cooperation.

His willingness to show himself was already a behavioral indication.

Similarly, Rama's decision to talk instead of immediately attacking was also a clear signal.

Bring money, I want money, and I can work for you.

If there was no interest in cooperation, they would have started fighting instead of wasting time talking.

He wanted to seize control.

The Fatui are rich, but spending less is always better.

Spending large sums of Mora for trivial matters is the privilege of the neighboring Liyue's executive known as "Childe."

"Babel wants power. What do you want?"

He spoke first.

"What can you offer me?"

Rama was composed.

The debt collector's answer was crisp and straightforward: "What I can offer depends on your value."

"I want to be the king of the desert." Rama asked with interest, "Can you help me with that?"

"The Fatui's strength is far beyond your imagination." The debt collector's tone was calm.

"Even Sumeru is not beyond our reach, let alone a mere desert."

This wasn't boastful talk but a genuine reality.

He wasn't flaunting the Fatui's power nor belittling the desert people's strength; he was merely stating a fact calmly.

And the truth doesn't need exaggerated tones or words to describe it.

"But why should the Fatui support you?" The debt collector countered. "The cost of taking over the desert is too high for any tribe to bear."

"You always need a puppet. What I want is what I want," Rama's expression remained gentle, unaffected by the officer's words. "There's no reason that just because I want it, you have to help me achieve it."

By the way, did the cover load for you when you viewed it? It seems it didn't load for me every time I checked...

(Chapter ends)