"There's no need to worry so much. This person is well-versed in old noble etiquette, how could he be one of those ignorant knights who reject propriety?"
Schubert scoffed at the impossibility. No one understood old noble etiquette better than he did.
Those knights had always disdained such things, so how could they have deceived his eyes?
"But..."
"No buts! Don't you even trust my words anymore? Don't forget who is supporting your actions in Mondstadt. Without the support of the Lawrence family, you would have been driven out by the knights long ago!"
Schubert frowned, pointing at the other person and reprimanding him loudly.
"You should immediately offer my sincerest apologies to my offended friend!"
"Tch... Fine, fine, since you say so, I won't pursue it any further. Let's get straight to the point. Did you bring the Mondstadt city defense map you promised?"
Sergei pouted. If this old geezer wasn't somewhat useful, he would have already run him through.
He didn't have much ability, but he caused endless trouble.
However, he would endure it for now until the Mondstadt city defense map was in his possession.
"Ah, of course, it's right here."
Schubert replied, stepping forward and handing the other person a rough sketch.
He had played his part well enough. Pushing it further would be difficult to manage, especially since the Lawrence family's usable strength was almost nonexistent, leaving them with only the title of old nobles. It would be unwise to fall out with the powerful Fatui.
Since the other party had offered a way down, he would take it. As for the offense against the Lawrence family, he could settle the score later after the family's restoration.
"Let me see... Uh, why is it so ugly? The lines are crooked, and what do these squares and circles mean?"
Sergei looked disgusted. Was this old geezer incapable of anything but putting on airs?
"What did you say? I spent a long time drawing this piece by piece! Those aren't squares and circles, they represent the Knights of Favonius!"
Schubert's anger flared. You can't understand it, and you blame me for drawing poorly? This is aristocratic art!
"Sigh, alright, it's crude, but it's barely understandable. Can you guarantee all this information is reliable?"
Sergei sighed. Crude was better than nothing.
"Naturally. Rest assured. And don't forget our agreement: the flag of the Lawrence family will fly atop the Knights of Favonius headquarters. Ownership of that building, as well as direct management of the entire city, belongs to the Lawrence family."
"Yes, it's a win-win transaction. No need to haggle."
Sergei outwardly agreed, but inwardly he sneered. Once their remaining value was squeezed dry, it would be time to discard them.
"We will make good use of this intelligence. Oh, and for diplomatic reasons, please do not reveal our identities in any situation."
"Don't worry, don't worry. Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, I know, and my friend here knows. There won't be a fourth person."
Schubert solemnly agreed.
"When the time comes, I will stand atop the Knights of Favonius headquarters and denounce their weak rule over Mondstadt. All citizens will once again bow before the Laurels! Hahaha, they're back, they're all back!"
Before anything was even set in stone, Schubert was already fantasizing about the Lawrence family's return to rule Mondstadt.
Clap, clap, clap—
Elegant applause suddenly sounded. Everyone turned to see Eula and some Knights of Favonius approaching.
"How did you find this place? Our movements were so secret..."
Schubert stood frozen in shock, unable to believe what he was seeing.
"Damn it..."
Sergei felt that something was terribly wrong. Since they came from that direction, it meant the soldiers guarding the ruins entrance had already been dealt with.
To neutralize the Fatui soldiers without raising an alarm was indeed worthy of the legendary Guerrilla Squad Captain.
"Everyone, this is not a place to talk. Why don't you accompany me to the Knights of Favonius prison for a chat?"
Eula blocked the exit, and the accompanying Knights of Favonius immediately fanned out, strictly guarding the escape routes of Schubert and Sergei.
"Tell me, how did you know we were here?"
Schubert looked coldly at Eula, never expecting this family traitor would disregard family ties so completely and bring the Knights of Favonius to arrest him.
"Sir, Madam, I apologize. I'll drop the act. I am Eula, an Honorary Knight of the Knights of Favonius..."
At this moment, Feng Yi also stopped pretending and dispelled her illusion, revealing her true appearance.
"You, you, you dared to deceive me! Using our proud politeness and elegance to gain my trust!"
Schubert trembled with rage. The comrade he had chosen was actually a spy from the Knights!
"Uncle, you relied too much on such things. True politeness and elegance are merely useless obsessions. The era of the old nobility is over. Instead of living in fantasies of the past, it is better to live in the present..."
Before Feng Yi could explain, Eula spoke first.
People like her uncle Schubert were unwilling to accept their own mediocrity and incompetence, clinging to the fantasy of regaining the old nobility's rule through external forces.
This way, he could use his noble status to return to a life of a ruler.
But the reality was that under the leadership of the Knights of Favonius, the people of Mondstadt lived in peace and happiness. No one wished to return to the past, nor would they allow anyone to disrupt this hard-won peace and freedom.
"Eula, if you still have any regard for me as your uncle, then take these Knights of Favonius and leave. I will consider forgiving your past impulsiveness and accept you back into the Lawrence family..."
Even at this point, Schubert still considered the Lawrence family to be noble and beyond reproach.
When Eula had rashly left the Lawrence family and joined the Knights of Favonius, enduring the family's scorn, Schubert believed that allowing her to return to the family was a great bestowal of favor and honor upon her.
"My dear uncle, please allow me to address you as such one last time. If you are still unwilling to abandon that so-called honor, then please spend the rest of your life in the Knights of Favonius prison, along with your elegance!"
Eula bowed slightly, offering her final farewell to her uncle in the manner of nobility, and simultaneously bidding farewell to her noble status.
From this day forward, there would be no more Eula Lawrence of noble status in the world, only Eula, an ordinary person!
From the moment she led the troops here, she had been prepared to uphold justice over kinship!