[ Perhaps there is still some green naivety lurking in this old soul, but Zhongli believes in Vash's sincerity. He had helped this bumbling old Zenith when he had overexerted himself in the Blight after all. From what he had seen, Vash was a person that wanted to help where he could and wanted to understand others. How could Zhongli not offer his sincerity as part of their negotiations when it cost him almost nothing to do so. In fact, Vash willing to listen to Zhongli's reasoning should be considered a boon in Zhongli's favor not Vash.

Zhongli lifts his head to offer a small smile despite the weight of their current circumstances, even if Vash may not see it lost in his thoughts for a moment as he is. ]

Ah, I did not mean to imply any ill intent from your faction. I do not believe the Meridian to be unkind, far from it, they love their worlds and their people so much that they wish to save them from an truly awful fate. It is something so outside of my capabilities— to tear down the stars and struggle against the very laws of the world to fight an injustice such as this. It is what I respect most about them. About you who have joined them.

But after they obtain the Oracles, I believe that they will go home and continue the lives that they were living before. And while I do not fault them for making such a choice, what does Kenos become but a land harvested for its power and then set aside when it is no longer needed? At best, it becomes a second priority and at worst...

[ Well, surely there would be a rather uncomfortable adjustment period if half or more of the Shard Bearers just up and left Kenos. Not with how entangled in the politics and decisions of the world that they were fast becoming. ]