The turning point came when Miller was 30 years old. Due to his exceptional abilities and ambition, he was nominated by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to become the Senior Commissioner of the UN Refugee Agency. At that time, Teyvat had been connected to Earth for five years, and there was less than a month remaining before the outbreak of the Third World War. Global tensions were extremely high—the Western Asian Republic had already declared nationwide martial law. In the South Island Strait, hundreds of landing craft, destroyers, and several aircraft carriers were poised and ready in the ports.
Less than a month after the war began, the UN Refugee Agency attempted to deliver relief supplies to Taiwan. Unfortunately, due to the complete blockade of the South Island waters by the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the UN's supply ships were intercepted. Rumors spread that UN aid workers were killed by the PLA, though the Western Asian Republic denied these claims. The truth eventually leaked when video recordings on the phones of the deceased aid workers revealed footage of the PLA killing them.
The war lasted eight months. The prolonged war of attrition intensified the fatigue among the South Island resistance, eroding both public and military support. This forced the Western Asian Republic to cease hostilities. Subsequently, nationalists came to power, sparking the Fourth World War and launching a genocidal campaign. To preserve humanity's legacy, a mass migration to Teyvat became necessary.
Miller, as the chief overseer of this migration, performed admirably and was promoted to the position of the United Nations' highest commissioner for Teyvat. After ruling Teyvat for five years, the connection to Earth was severed. During his tenure, Miller handled a wide range of affairs with remarkable skill, earning praise from the UN Secretary-General, who remarked, "As long as there are problems in the world that need solving, Miller will be the one to solve them best."
Under Miller's leadership, Teyvat's economy and industry developed rapidly. To prevent an economic crisis, he implemented an economic model resembling a planned economy. However, his greatest flaw was his highly centralized authority, amounting to near-absolute power—this laid the groundwork for future rebellion. In the military sphere, Miller exercised total control, but he could not suppress the will of the people. Despite carrying out extensive infrastructure projects, there was no trace of democracy.
After severing ties with Earth, Miller promoted a caste system in Teyvat, placing Earthlings as a superior race and emphasizing racial exceptionalism. At that time, Earthlings enjoyed a 35% discount on local goods to highlight their superiority. To reinforce this hierarchy, he established segregated zones separating the native Teyvatians from Earthlings. The local Teyvat population was essentially reduced to slavery.
The Six Archons strongly opposed this, but their resistance was futile. Although many struggled during their arrest, the United Nations' advanced weaponry proved superior, ultimately forcing them to surrender. However, Ningguang—the leader of Liyue, a nation located in the southeastern part of Teyvat—complied with Miller. Unlike other nations ruled by Archons, Liyue was governed by humans and had adopted a free-market economy and a merchant republic system. Ningguang remained the leader of the Liyue region. Any local resistance was met with immediate military suppression, though her reputation suffered as a result.
In such a high-pressure environment, rebellion from the native Teyvatians became inevitable, but they lacked a resolute leader. At this moment, an adventurer named Aether stepped forward.