Genshin Impact, I'm Slime

Paimon's face fell immediately upon hearing the traveler's response, like a punctured balloon.

She listlessly drifted back to her seat, her eyes, which had been shining with excitement just moments before, now dull and lifeless.

That anxiety was like a heavy weight, making even her favorite crab roe buns lose their flavor.

Paimon picked up a steamed bun and mechanically took a bite. The soft dough and delicious crab roe filling tasted like wax in Paimon's mouth, leaving only a bland sense of disappointment spreading on his tongue.

This late-night snack, which should have been a pleasant and relaxing experience, ended hastily amidst Paimon's preoccupations and the traveler's silent anxieties.

The three of them got up, paid Mora, and prepared to leave the Wanmintang, a place filled with the aroma of food and the noise of people.

Just as they turned to leave...

The man at the next table, who had just been full of vigor and dreaming of buying Yujingtai, seemed to casually turn to the side and reach for the last piece of golden shrimp ball on his plate.

His movements were incredibly natural and fluid. Using his slight forward lean and the natural obstruction of the table, his gaze, like the most precise ruler, swiftly and imperceptibly surveyed the locations of the traveler and Paimon. Amidst the lively background of clinking glasses, his lips moved almost imperceptibly, uttering a string of words as faint as a mosquito's buzz:

"Ticket prices have reached their maximum; please act now."

The sound was so faint that it was almost instantly drowned out by the bustling noise of the Wanmintang restaurant, the shouts of the waiters, and the clattering of pots and pans.

However, for the traveler and Paimon, who were always on the road adventuring, the whisper was clearly heard by both of them. Their bodies stiffened at the same time, as if they were bound by invisible threads, and they instantly understood its meaning.

The signal from Pantalone has arrived!
"Well!"

Paimon abruptly covered his mouth with both hands, forcefully silencing the gasp that was about to escape his throat.

Unexpectedly, Pantalone's signal was sitting right next to them.

The traveler was also deeply shaken, as if struck by a heavy hammer, but her strong self-control allowed her to maintain a calm and composed demeanor.

She nodded very slightly, almost imperceptibly, so slightly that only Paimon, who was staring intently at her, and Famas, who had been glancing at them, could detect it.

After conveying the key information and confirming that the travelers and others had received it, Brother Wang's expression remained flawless. He still looked genuinely happy and proud of Brother Zhang's successful investment, even with just the right amount of envy, and raised his teacup to Brother Zhang again.

"Brother Zhang, you have excellent taste! I'll toast you again!"

But just as the teacup landed back on the table, he seemed to remember something, casually patted his slightly protruding belly, and revealed an extremely honest and simple smile, with a touch of the contentment of an ordinary person:
"Oh my, thanks to Brother Zhang, I ate to my heart's content today, my belly is completely stuffed!"

"No, no, I need to go for a stroll over the dock to digest my food, otherwise I'll feel terrible if I get indigestion."

He stood up briskly, patted the shoulders of the two men sitting next to him familiarly, and said in a warm tone, "Alright, Brother Zhang, Brother Li, you two enjoy your meal! I'll take my leave now, let's get together again tomorrow if you're free!"

"Hey, why are you walking so fast..."

Brother Li wanted to stop him, but Brother Zhang stopped him. After a natural exchange of pleasantries and refusals, he walked briskly, like a truly satisfied diner taking a walk, and in the blink of an eye, he blended into the dim, surging crowd outside Wanmintang leading to the port.

Their silhouettes were quickly swallowed by the lights and the night; their movements were clean and efficient, leaving almost no trace for anyone to track them down.

"too……"

After the king left, Paimon was about to cheer when he realized the occasion was inappropriate. He quickly lowered his voice to a whisper in the traveler's ear, his voice trembling with excitement.

"Great! The signal's here! Traveler! Let's hurry to Jade Capital! That's nine million Mora!" Paimon's little hands gripped the Traveler's clothes so tightly that the fabric wrinkled deeply.

Nine million glittering Mora swirled wildly in her little head, almost occupying all her thoughts.

"Wait, Paimon!"

The traveler quickly pressed down on the little white sprite, whose body was trembling slightly from excitement, and helplessly raised his chin, gesturing for Paimon to look around.

Liyue Harbor had long since sunk into the deep night, and the direction of Yujing Terrace in the distance was completely silent, with only a few eternal lamps emitting a faint light in the darkness.

"The exchange has been closed for a long time," the traveler's voice carried an undeniable sense of reality. "If we go there now, we won't even be able to get in the door. We'll have to wait until dawn tomorrow."

"Woo..."

Paimon's high spirits deflated instantly, like a punctured balloon; her little mouth pouted in grievance, and she muttered softly:
"We still have to wait another night. I hope nothing unexpected happens."

"My Mora, you must all take good care of yourselves..."

The little mascot's voice carried an undisguised worry, the last syllable drawn out, filled with anxiety about the unknown variables, fearing that the paper voucher representing enormous wealth would vanish overnight.

But the traveler's gaze was not captivated by Mora before him; instead, it passed over Paimon's small figure, pierced through the starlight-studded night sky of Liyue Harbor, and reached into a more distant place.

Ningguang, sitting upright against the rock palace, her fingertips tracing the star chart to predict Liyue's future, and Xingqiu, when talking about the Feiyun Chamber of Commerce's principles of benefiting the country and its people, his eyes, now devoid of their usual nonchalance and filled only with solemnity... these images clearly surfaced in her mind, weighing heavily on her desire for wealth.

A decision as firm as a rock settled in her heart.

"Paimon, we'll take care of the exchange as soon as it's light."

The traveler's voice quieted down. She looked directly into Paimon's large eyes, which were filled with confusion and unease, and said with an unwavering determination, "But I must set off immediately to find Ningguang and Xingqiu."

"We must inform them that Pantalone is about to close in, so that Ningguang can prepare and take precautions as soon as possible, minimizing the losses suffered by the people of Liyue."

The traveler emphasized the phrase "minimize losses."

"Eh?!!"

Paimon was completely stunned. Her mouth gaped open as if she had heard the most unbelievable fairy tale. She blinked incredulously, almost doubting that she had heard correctly.

"Tell Ningguang and Xingqiu? But... but... that big bad guy Pantalone... he, he..."

Paimon stammered, trying to understand why the traveler would deliberately reveal the secret that was about to bring him enormous wealth before closing in. Wasn't this like pushing a cooked duck... no, it was like throwing nine million Mora into the water?

Just as the traveler made his decision with unwavering resolve, Famas, who had been observing from the sidelines with his arms crossed, seemingly detached from the hustle and bustle of the world, finally raised his head.

His gaze swept over the dimly lit alleyway where the king had disappeared, lingered for less than a moment, and then fell precisely back on the traveler.

The boy tilted his head slightly, the lines of his neck appearing exceptionally clear under the lamplight, and a strange, almost indescribable smile curved his lips.

Faced with an enormous fortune that was within easy reach and enough to drive mortals mad, the traveler, who seemed to be busy working for Mora all day, chose to warn Ningguang instead.

He truly lives up to his reputation as a legendary champion of justice. (End of Chapter)