Genshin Impact, I'm Slime

The traveler gazed at the lantern, still completely ignored by Pantalone, radiating its own dreamlike stardust-like glow. That soft halo now seemed like a cold mockery, reflecting the confusion and chill in her heart.

Faced with Pantalone's dismissive attitude towards the lantern, the traveler's gaze shifted from the lamp to the young executive in the main seat, still focused on the lights outside the window. His voice, slightly hoarse, betrayed his hesitation as he spoke:
“Mr. Pantalone,” the girl tried to make her tone sound purely inquisitive, “you spent so much money to buy the Floating Shadow of Return, but you don’t seem to care about it at all? I’m really… curious.”

Upon hearing this, Pantalone finally slowly turned his gaze away from the window.

He didn't look at the traveler immediately, but first elegantly put the cleaned ring back on his finger, and then his gaze slowly focused on her face, which held an almost naive doubt.

"Don't care?"

Pantalone seemed to have heard an extremely interesting question, softly repeating the four words, the corners of his lips curving upwards into a perfect, slightly cynical arc, and letting out an almost inaudible chuckle.

"How could that be, dear Miss Traveler?"

The banker leaned slightly forward, his hands casually resting on the edge of the table, fingers interlaced. The cold metal rings on each finger reflected a sharp, fragmented light under the lamp.

"I don't care about things, so I don't even want to look at them."

"The reason I still carry it with me is because it still has value that I cherish."

Pantalone paused for a moment, his gaze like a precise probe, firmly locking onto the traveler's eyes.

Just when the traveler thought Pantalone was going to continue discussing the value of the lanterns, he abruptly changed the subject, cutting into another area with surgical precision and coldness:
"However, rather than a lantern that is only suitable for shining for a moment at night, I would like to hear your opinion now, traveler."

Pantalone's voice remained gentle and clear, yet it carried an undeniable guiding quality, instantly seizing control of the conversation.

"Regarding that new gadget that United Bank just launched recently..."

Pantalone deliberately slowed her speech, clearly pronouncing the name:
"Sky Lantern Coupon".

"What do you think of these interesting pieces of paper?"

The conversation jumped so abruptly, like a blow to the traveler's unprepared mind.

"Lantern Festival Tickets?"

The word instantly disrupted the traveler's rhythm as he tried to figure out if the lanterns were real or fake, causing a momentary blankness on his face.

She hadn't expected Pantarone to be so direct and unreserved in bringing the real main course of the dinner—this game concerning the financial lifeline of Liyue—to the forefront.

The room instantly fell into a deathly silence in a different sense.

The hustle and bustle of Tiger Rock outside the window seemed to be blocked by an invisible barrier, leaving only that solitary lantern radiating divine light, and Pantalone's eyes, which gleamed with all-knowing light through his glasses.

After a brief period of blankness, the traveler's mind begins to work rapidly.

She certainly knew about the Lianhe Qianzhuang's Xiaodeng coupons; Zhongli's warnings were still ringing in her ears. This was a crucial move in Pantalone's financial game, and the mastermind was sitting right in front of her.

But what should she say now? Accuse him of the risks inherent in the lantern vouchers? Expose his conspiracy?

But this would only expose Ningguang and Zhongli's vigilance, potentially playing right into their hands.

The traveler felt he needed to be more cautious.

After a few breaths, the girl managed to suppress her surprise, and her voice regained its apparent calmness, but every word was carefully chosen and squeezed out:
"The lantern coupons are indeed quite novel."

The traveler carefully chose his words, his gaze not evading Pantalone's scrutiny.

"It can conveniently symbolize the value of the Sky Lantern, which objectively promotes the trading activity in Liyue Harbor, especially large-scale transactions. In the short term, it has indeed brought a lot of convenience and economic activity."

The traveler paused slightly. Of course, she couldn't have uttered such economically meaningful words; these were all Zhongli's analyses at the Hall of Rebirth, and the traveler was merely trying to recall and repeat them.

The girl looked directly into the unfathomable eyes behind Pantalone's glasses and finally pointed out the core issue, the one that everyone was most worried about:

"But this convenience and value are rooted in people's general trust and expectation of the value of the Lantern itself, but this expectation is not backed by the credit of the Liyue Septim, nor is it guaranteed by the divine oracle of the Geo Archon."

“Mr. Pantalone”.

The traveler's gaze became serious.

"In the land of Liyue, when a symbol of value is detached from the secular order constructed by the seven stars and the guarantee of the contract symbolized by the Geo Archon, its reliability is like a castle built on quicksand."

"The temporary excitement may not be able to conceal the fragility and uncertainty of the foundation."

The traveler clearly and forcefully pointed out the core weakness of the Sky Lantern Ticket: the lack of guarantee from Liyue's highest authority. As soon as he finished speaking, only the faint light emanating from the Sky Lantern and the faint sounds of the bustling city outside the window remained in the room.

The silence lasted only a few breaths.

"Crack, crack, crack..."

A crisp, rhythmic round of applause suddenly broke the silence.

Pantalone slowly raised his hands, adorned with several glittering rings, and clapped them leisurely.

The cold metal rings clinked together, producing a delicate and clear sound, which contrasted beautifully with the unreserved, almost exaggerated smile of approval on his face.

"Brilliant! Truly insightful and to the point!"

His voice was filled with sincere admiration, as if he were truly impressed by the traveler's insightful analysis.

"A pavilion atop quicksand? A secular order constructed by the seven stars? Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Miss Traveler, I never imagined you possessed such profound and accurate insight into the foundations of Liyue's financial order?"

"This vision is beyond the reach of ordinary adventurers."

With each word of praise from Pantalone, the traveler's cheeks would unconsciously warm up a little.

Those precise metaphors about the Seven Stars and the Geo Archon were not economic principles that an adventurer who traveled all over Teyvat could casually utter. She had merely borrowed Zhongli's words, but now they had become profound insights in Pantarone's mouth.

A noticeable blush quickly crept up the traveler's ears and cheeks. She subconsciously avoided Pantalone's gaze, her eyes flickering slightly.

Paimon blinked his big eyes, glancing at the clapping rich man and then at the suddenly blushing traveler, his little face full of confusion:
"Huh? Traveler, your face is so red... But what you said was really great! I didn't know you were this amazing..."

Pantalone took in the traveler's embarrassment at being exposed, and his smile behind his glasses deepened, carrying a hint of understanding.

He knew very well that a traveler who spent years adventuring and dealing with Hilichurls and Slimes could never have such insightful understanding of the core contradictions of the Liyue financial system.

The only person who could say such things is Zhongli, the guest elder of the Hall of Rebirth who knows Liyue inside and out, seems carefree but is insightful about the world.

But the big banker didn't point it out; he simply maintained that perfect, encouraging smile, as if he truly believed that this was the traveler's own insightful observation.

"Hehe, no need to be modest, Miss Traveler."

Pantalone leaned back slightly, returning to the chair, his fingers gently stroking a ring on his thumb engraved with intricate celestial patterns, his tone carrying a gentle, expectant tone like that of an elder.

"Your analysis has been very helpful, especially your explanation of expectations and trust."

"However, the market value of the Sky Lantern Coupons is currently on the rise. Would you be interested in investing some, Miss?" (End of Chapter)