Chapter 49 Alt POV

"No, we will not be selling off a registered civilian and member of the Liyue Qixing, Jean Gunhildr." Ningguang all but growled as the powerful martial artist/knight sat across from her with a couple of her fellow knights behind her as well.

And sitting to her sides were the other two designated representatives of Inazuma and Sumeru with their guardians and followers. With Inazuma playing hard in sending the infamous nine-tailed kitsune's Kitsune Saigu and Yae Miko.

While Sumeru had sent a literal goddess in Kusanali or her common name of Nahida along with one of their best Forest Rangers in Tighnari to act as Nahidas... 'Guardian'

Though this whole meeting wasn't about Ningguang's biggest headache as of late over Jake Bariss and his wonderful ways of breaking tradition in the best ways to enrich the nation.

No, this meeting was supposed to be about the upcoming tournament with the four major nations here. Fontaine abstained from this tournament as they were busy dealing with corrupted water from the abyss entering their ocean. 

Natlan was a hell hole that was constantly fighting anyway. And Sneznayha had its invitation revoked but minutes ago via order of the Cloud Refining Sect, and the Mountain Guardian Sect and all the other Sect's containing divine-level cultivators within Liyue.

The meeting discussing the details of the tournament went just fine besides the typical jabs at one other's nations... But after the official details were hammered out. Jean Gunhildr started making noise about their 'lost citizen' who was missed back home.

"Jake Bariss was born in the nation of Mondstadt, and I at least want to know who... Smothered his potential at least!" Jean spoke with exasperation.

To which Keqing who was behind Ningguang due to Jake wanting to have the wedding this weekend meant that Keqing needed to 'stay in the family' and away from the groom to keep Keqing's honor.

Had something to say to Jean's words.

"Besides your muscle-headed martial artists not even registering Jake's Yang Returning Veins which would have made a perfect husband to one of Mondtstadt's noble families... The real reason Jake was smothered in Mondstadt was simple."

Even Nahida and the two kitsunes were listening out of amusement as although the representatives of Inazuma were just learning about Jake and his brand of insane innovation... They were kitsune. They lived and breathed drama like an alcoholic savored the finest of wine.

Nahida was well aware with the inventions and samples Jake had sold Sumeru for a large amount of herb and treasure samples that Jake was a mad genius that could only be seen every few millennia.

"You people are infamous... Literally infamous for breaking into your civilian's homes to steal their metal anything in order to replace the weapons, armor, and arrows you all use in your battles." Keqing spoke before a cold smile crossed her face. 

"Who is to say Jake didn't try to make his technology before in your land. And before he could get it started as even with several dozen hands here in Liyue it took him a few weeks to get his first factory going. Your people literally just stole all the metal he needed to make his inventions!"

The Lawrence family heiress slammed a fist on the table as she snarled out. "The knights didn't touch him... We didn't even know he existed despite our librarian claiming to have never seeing him in the library despite basically living there! And the knights made careful records of whatever we seized so we could pay our civilians back as well!"

The room went tense as Yae Miko giggled and said. "Oh, I heard about that... I heard you paid your citizens back with wooden utensils and many have switched to eating Inazuma-style food after picking up chopsticks haha." 

To which Eula glared at the kitsune and snarked back. "At least my people can eat full healthy meals every single day... What were the rates again? Thirty percent of your population going with only a single porridge meal a day?" 

Both kitsune glared at Eula Lawrence who sniffed elegant uncaring of the kitsune's glare.

But then Nahida tilted her head to the side and spoke. "So Ningguang, I am happy to hear Jake's second factory is going to so well... Several thousand pills, dans, and elixirs coming out every week. Most impressive... Especially with how literally no one has to raise a hand besides pulling out the treasures to make sure it doesn't overflow."

Ninggaung and Keqing's faces tightened before Ningguang said with her voice held down. "I don't recall giving out any details of Jake's second factory." Left unsaid was Ningguang threatening to kill off any spies who were getting to nosy for their own good.

To which Nahida chuckled and said gently. "Oh, dear heavens no. No spies in that factory at least. But I did authorize all of the herbs, treasures, and such that Jake needed to make said factory. And with Keqing accepting the marriage between the two. I knew that his alchemy factory was bearing fruit." 

Nahida shrugged and said openly. "I am a goddess of knowledge... I know every possible pill combination Jake is creating with the herbs and treasures he has collected. What is most... By far mind numbingly perplexing, is how he enhanced and regulated the growth cycle of the herbs and treasures to make the alchemical products." 

Then out of nowhere, Kitsune Saiguu pipped up out of amusement and obviously not believing it. "He can enhance the growth of herbs? Hmph gotta wonder how fast he could grow Treasure Rice haha." 

But Saiguu's amusement abruptly died as she saw Keqing's face twitch in amusement and the kitsune realized something... Jake was growing stuff too fast if the expression reading was correct. And a little mortal martial artist who hadn't even hit her first century?

Yeah, the multi-millennia old kitsune could read Keqing like a book.

So that left her with a very important question. How fast could Jake grow Inazuma's most important thing in their Treasure Rice which was the staple of their martial artist's diet and with higher tier of Treasure Rice, cultivation and martial art aid.

The room was silent for a moment before both Jean checked the Mondstadt equivalent of a jade stick as she had obviously gotten an important message. Then Jean made a humming noise and spoke. 

"Lady Ningguang, in any case I must ask you to excuse me. We have finished arranging the details of the upcoming tournament and I have some meetings with several merchant clans to deal with now." 

With that Jean stood up with Eula quickly following with Ningguang thinking that Jean was going to get ripped off by the local merchant clans for the metal they desperately needed.