Genshin Impact, I'm Slime

"Huh? So he was lying when he said he'd let us know later?"

Paimon's biggest concern, of course, is her Mora.

The little mascot immediately began to chatter and recount the events of the dinner party, including Pantalone's dangerous remarks about blasphemy, which he also poured out to Famas.

The traveler couldn't stop him in time; Paimon was speaking way too fast.

“Hmm,” FAMAS rubbed his chin with his fingers, pondering for a moment, “the part about notifying you to cash out might actually be true.”

"why?"

Paimon pressed for an answer.

"It's very simple."

The boy had a playful smile on his lips, and his tone was full of indifference.

"By informing you in time, he will earn a little less Mora at the highest point, but in return, he will gain the friendship of a famous traveler. This favor and potential value are much more worthwhile than a few Mora."

"Don't forget that he's making money using your names."

Despite the barbed words of FAMAS, this analysis still brought a sigh of relief to both the Traveler and Paimon.

The Mora they used to buy the lantern tickets was hard-earned money, saved up through frugality and hardship. If it went down the drain, the two of them would probably have to camp out in the wild for a long time, and even their boat tickets to Inazuma would be lost.

"But if you put it that way..."

Famas paused subtly, his gaze sweeping over the two people in front of him.

"You probably won't be able to go to Inazuma for the next few days."

"Eh?!"

This conclusion was like a pebble thrown into calm water; Paimon cried out in surprise, his small body even swaying in the air.

Although the traveler did not speak, his amber eyes locked onto Famas in an instant, with a question and a hint of surprise at his plans being unexpectedly disrupted.

"FAMAS!"

Paimon steadied herself and almost lunged at him, waving her little hands and her face filled with disbelief. "Could it be... you're going to Inazuma first?!"

Upon hearing this, Famas simply shook his head slightly, his movements conveying a sense of confident composure.

"No, I'm not going to Inazuma."

The boy uttered the negative word in a calm, unwavering voice, but in the next second he added an even heavier weight.

"I want to go to Mount Sumeru."

"Sumeru?!"

The name of this distant country was like a spell, successfully causing Paimon's small mouth to gape open, and the traveler's brows to furrow almost imperceptibly.

The sea of ​​Inazuma is still so close, yet Famas has not even set foot there, but he is already about to bypass the country surrounded by thunderstorms and head to that more ancient and mysterious forest of wisdom.

Neither of them knew much about Inazuma, let alone Sumeru.

"So, have you found a ship to Inazuma?"

The traveler finally asked Famas the question that had been troubling her for a long time.

How to cross the thunderstorm that General Raiden blocks Inazuma.

The girl had already learned from Zhongli about the dangers of that sea area, where ordinary ships could not pass through at all.

"I wanted to ask Captain Beidou for directions," the traveler said with some helplessness, "but I was too late. Her fleet had already left port, and I didn't even get to see her."

"Don't worry, I've already found out."

FAMAS confidently raised a finger, “The Southern Cross fleet will return before the Lantern Festival. This time they will bring back New Year's fireworks specially made by the Inazuma Naganohara Fireworks Shop, as well as other spoils.”

The boy paused for a moment, then continued, "Once the Lantern Festival is over, the fleet will set sail again to trade and transport goods to the ports of the seven kingdoms. That will be the best time for us to hitch a ride."

“You go to Inazuma, I’ll go to Sumeru. As long as we pay enough Mora, Captain Hokuto will probably give us a ride.”

The plan sounded plausible, but the Traveler and Paimon exchanged a glance, both seeing the same doubt in each other's eyes.

How did FAMAS obtain this inside information?
The boy clearly understood their expressions, spread his hands, and a sly smile curled at the corner of his mouth:
"The source of the information... is the sailor who came back to life at the South Wharf, Tide."

Famas explained that he found Tide, who had served in the Southern Cross fleet, and pried this information out of him.

Chao Xi was not a skilled seaman, but he was most famous for his womanizing ways.

"This guy is practically the Casanova of the Seven Kingdoms docks."

Famas said sarcastically, "Every time the Southern Cross fleet docked, he could find local women with great precision, and he was especially good at seducing those well-behaved, law-abiding girls who craved excitement."

“Relying on the name of the Southern Cross and the carefully crafted lie of ‘the wandering prodigal son will return in triumph and be married,’ he made empty promises that left countless lovelorn people waiting in vain in the ports of the seven kingdoms.” Famas raised an eyebrow.

The tide's behavior quickly alerted the ship's first mate, Colonel Chong.

This was not only a matter of personal morality, but also a matter of damaging the reputation of the entire Southern Cross fleet. Colonel Chong had repeatedly warned Tide to restrain himself in private, but he was always brushed off with a smile. Helpless, Colonel Chong had no choice but to report the matter to Captain Hokuto.

At first, Beidou didn't pay much attention to it.

Life at sea is inherently precarious, so it's inevitable that sailors will have some unique hobbies.

At most, Chao Xi's behavior is morally reprehensible, and Bei Dou, as the captain, cannot use this as grounds to punish him.

But BeiDou soon paid the price for this leniency.

When the tide stopped at Inazuma Island, it dared to provoke the fourth young lady of the Hiiragi family, the magistrate of Kansei Province.

The innocent and carefree young lady was captivated by his sweet words and, in broad daylight, kissed Tide on the deck of the Death Star, pledging their lives to each other.

To make matters worse, the naive Miss Hiiragi turned around and excitedly told the head of the family, Shinsuke Hiiragi, about the "marriage."

Shinsuke Hiiragi was filled with shame and anger upon hearing the news. Even though the Southern Cross fleet had considerable influence in Inazuma and the three magistrates had many trade dealings with the fleet, the Hiiragi family, one of the three magistrates of Inazuma, was a prestigious family. How could an ordinary sailor dare to covet the young lady of the family?

Enraged, Shinsuke Hiiragi immediately mobilized the magistrate's resources to investigate the tide's secrets, and the result was predictable.

The romantic entanglements left by the tides in various countries were instantly exposed.

Shinsuke Hiiragi was furious. This scoundrel not only defiled the Hiiragi family's young lady, but also provoked so many women!
The Kanjuro, led by the Hiiragi family, immediately put pressure on the Southern Cross fleet, demanding that the instigator, Tide, be severely punished.

When Beidou learned through its own channels that the tide had caused such a huge mess, it was already too late.

If Chao Xi and Miss Hiiragi are only mutually attracted, Bei Dou can still mediate with his own prestige and connections. After all, love between a man and a woman is consensual, and even if the Hiiragi family is unwilling, they cannot interfere too much.

However, Tide's past misdeeds were thoroughly exposed, and Miss Hiiragi, upon learning the truth, spent her days in tears.

The Hiiragi family was furious and demanded that Shio, who had insulted the three magistrates, be handed over to them for punishment. They even made a threatening statement:

"If this person is not dealt with seriously, the three commissioners will completely sever trade relations with the Southern Cross fleet, revoke his travel permits on the outlying islands, and prohibit the Southern Cross fleet from entering Inazuma Port to dock."

Faced with this threat that could destroy the fleet's Inazuma business, Hokuto also demonstrated her courage and responsibility as captain.

Despite the pressure and the heavy blockade by the Shogunate samurai and the constant surveillance by the Three Commissioners, she managed to bring Tide safely back to Liyue.

After returning to port, Hokuto arranged a cargo handling job for Tide in the General Affairs Department. He then told the people of the Three Commissioners that Tide had died in a sea thunderstorm and would not appear on the Inazuma Islands.

Everyone in the fleet believed that Beidou had done everything he could, but Chaoxi himself clearly showed no remorse.

After returning to Liyue, he couldn't break his old habits and continued to use his romantic lie to deceive the women in the harbor who were still waiting for him.

"I approached him secretly after he had once again deceived a girl from Liyue."

Famas raised an eyebrow and spoke casually.

"After I briefly mentioned his glorious deeds, he tactfully told me about the latest developments of the Southern Cross fleet."

Although he left the Southern Cross fleet, Tide still maintains contact with some old acquaintances on board and remains well-informed.

Inazuma's magistrate merely withdrew the official warrant and bounty for Tide on the surface, and never believed Hokuto's story about being buried in a thunderstorm.

On Inazuma's black market, Tide's bounty has quietly climbed to an astonishing two million Mora, just for him to be alive.

If it weren't for the raging thunderstorm that stood between Liyue and Inazuma, a barrier that mortal fleets could hardly overcome, and the fact that truly powerful fleets capable of breaking through the blockade wouldn't even consider such a small sum of money, Tide would probably have been tied up and thrown into the Hiiragi family's courtyard long ago.

When Famas found the tide, he was chatting animatedly with a dock girl.

The boy subtly turned to the side, briefly exposing the Eye of God at his waist, which symbolized the power of the fire element, to the tide's view. Then, seemingly unintentionally, he brought up the other's heroic deeds in the love affair with Inazuma.

Famas's actions and words were like ice water poured over his head. The sailor, who had been chatting and laughing just a second ago, froze instantly, his expression changing slightly. He then made an excuse to send away the woman who was staring at him, and tentatively asked Famas about his purpose.

Of course, Tide also knew the bounty on Inazuma's head.

In the presence of a Genshin Impact who wields elemental power, especially if that Genshin Impact is a bounty hunter who could be sent to Inazuma at any time for two million Mora, any resistance or perfunctory response would seem utterly foolish.

But all FAMAS wanted to know was the movement of the Southern Cross fleet.

Tide breathed a sigh of relief and almost immediately revealed the latest movements of the Southern Cross fleet.

Of course, the tides are not simply waiting to be defeated.

As soon as Famas disappeared from sight, he immediately used a secret channel to relay the story of the boy using the Eye of God to coerce the fleet into revealing information to the Southern Cross's informant in Liyue.

He was deeply grateful to the leader of the Beidou clan for saving him from the clutches of Inazuma at great cost and for providing him with a livelihood in Liyue.

Although the tide is known for its romantic nature, it can distinguish between gratitude and resentment and would never repay kindness with enmity.

As Famas aptly observed, Tide's nature isn't inherently wicked; it's just that his tendency to fall in love with every woman he meets and leave a trail of broken hearts is truly difficult to change. (End of Chapter)