Genshin Impact, I'm Slime

Upon seeing Ningguang and Zhongli, Paimon was so excited that she danced with joy. She flew to the chessboard with a whoosh, her small body creating a gust of wind that nearly knocked the exquisite game of Liyue Millennium on the table, sending the chess pieces flying.

"Ningguang! Zhongli! You have no idea how hard we searched for you! We went to Qunyu Pavilion, to Wangsheng Hall, and even asked about the Three Bowls of Rice before crossing the river, only to find that you two were hiding here playing chess!"

Paimon began to chatter on, his voice filled with grievance and confusion.

Ningguang listened with a dignified and serene smile until Paimon's slightly aggrieved accusation came to an end, at which point she nodded slightly.

Her gaze swept past Paimon and landed on the traveler, as if she could see through his eagerness as he had been searching all along.

"It seems that this search has left the two of you with many questions and anxieties."

Ningguang's voice was steady and pleasant, carrying a reassuring power. Her slender fingers tapped lightly on the smooth tabletop, producing a subtle yet clear sound.

"It's alright. Now that we've stepped onto the deck of the Death Star, it's time to uncover the mystery."

"You must be tired from your journey. Please sit down and let me explain in detail."

Ningguang gracefully raised her hand, gesturing for the Traveler and Paimon to take their seats.

However, looking around the spacious but not luxurious captain's cabin, apart from the two chairs under Ningguang and Zhongli, and the bedside where Beidou was curled up, there was no other place to sit.

That's the style of Beidou: practicality is paramount, and unnecessary decorations would only get in the way.

In that slightly awkward moment, Zhongli, who had been listening silently, calmly stood up.

He naturally stepped aside, offering his chair, and nodded slightly to the traveler and Paimon. His steady voice rang out:

"You two, please."

Ningguang's gaze subtly shifted with Zhongli's movements, lingering on him for a moment.

A subtle, indescribable thought seemed to flash across those insightful eyes—perhaps appreciation for this unspoken thoughtfulness, or perhaps contemplation of the deeper meaning behind it.

But this thought was fleeting, and Ningguang's gaze quickly refocused on the traveler, the brief moment of contemplation replaced by a clear decision.

She abandoned the gentle demeanor she had displayed when inviting him to sit, her expression becoming more focused and sharp, and her words no longer beat around the bush, getting straight to the point:
"I am here on the ship of the Big Dipper because the 'Sky Lantern Ticket' plan, meticulously crafted by Pantalone, the executor of the Fools, is nearing its end."

Ningguang's tone remained calm, but her insightful eyes suddenly turned cold, like a deep, icy pool.

"The Northern Bank is preparing to quietly withdraw from Liyue with a huge sum of money."

"I am here to await the arrival of this wealthy executive and to stop his fleet of ships laden with Mora."

Following Ningguang's words, the traveler's gaze naturally turned to Zhongli beside him, his expression clearly inquiring:
"Then why is Mr. Zhongli here as well?"

Upon hearing this, Ningguang's faint smile seemed to deepen. She turned to look at Zhongli, her eyes filled with a subtle solemnity and confirmation: "Mr. Zhongli is a special advisor that I specially invited onto the ship."

"consultant?"

Paimon tilted his little head, his big eyes instantly filled with question marks, and his body unconsciously floated forward.

What does Zhongli need an advisor for?

Little Paimon's curiosity was immediately ignited by Zhongli's title, and his previous complaints were temporarily forgotten.

Upon hearing this, Ningguang calmly explained:
"Pantaronie took away not only a huge amount of Mora, but also countless Liyue antiques and treasures of immeasurable value."

"To distinguish between national treasures and counterfeit products, one needs a pair of eyes that can see through the past and present and be discerning in the smallest details."

Ningguang paused, her gaze falling on Zhongli again.

"Throughout Liyue Harbor, when it comes to knowledge and appreciation of antiquities, who can compare to our learned and erudite Mr. Zhongli, the guest elder of the Hall of Rebirth?"

"Therefore, I thought of asking him to come and help identify the authenticity of those treasures that are about to be stolen." Hearing this watertight official explanation, Zhongli sighed almost imperceptibly, a sigh that carried a trace of his usual helplessness and understanding.

The guest elder shook his head slightly, and his deep, steady voice rang out:

"Thanks to the favor of the Heavenly Star, I seem to have little choice."

Zhongli's golden eyes looked at Ningguang, containing a complex and unfathomable scrutiny.

In Zhongli's view, this was less about asking him to appraise antiques and more about Ningguang's subtle test and confirmation of his identity as the Rock King Emperor.

This Tianquan Star seems to always be looking for some kind of evidence. Even though she is quite suspicious, Ningguang still does not mention the Emperor's name without conclusive evidence.

After hearing Ningguang's explanation, the traveler's tense shoulders finally relaxed, and the weight on his heart was lifted.

Paimon visibly relaxed, gracefully somersaulting in the air, but then his face fell, he put his hands on his hips, and began to dredge up old grievances with dissatisfaction:

"Phew... I see! But Ningguang, you don't know how fierce those Thousand Rock Army soldiers were when we went to Yujingtai to find you! They had stern faces and said coldly that Lady Ningguang had important business to attend to and wouldn't see anyone!"

"And that squad leader, he treated us like suspicious individuals, stopping us outside. His attitude was terrible!"

Paimon angrily waved his little fist.

Upon hearing this, Ningguang's lips curled into a smile she couldn't help but suppress. She gracefully waved her hand and gently reassured her:
"Paimon, don't get angry. Those Thousand Rock soldiers were just strictly following my orders."

“The situation was special at the time, and to ensure the secrecy of the plan, I strictly ordered that I refuse to see anyone who came looking for me. They were dutiful and obedient to orders, and they were not deliberately making things difficult for you.”

Ningguang's tone carried a hint of reassurance.

The traveler gently patted Paimon's head, signaling her to stop worrying, then looked intently at Ningguang and Zhongli, his tone urgent:

"In that case, when shall we set off to intercept Pantalone?"

The travelers were ready to act at any moment, and so were the sailors on deck.

Ningguang, however, appeared calm and composed. She picked up a cup of hot tea that had been brewed at some point on the table, gently blew on the foam, and said calmly, "No need to rush, traveler. What we need right now is patience, and a signal."

"A signal?" the Traveler and Paimon asked in unison, their faces showing confusion.

“A signal from Yelan.”

Ningguang put down her teacup, a glint of strategic brilliance flashing in her eyes.

"Night Orchid?" The traveler blinked, his eyes instantly filled with understanding. "She's part of the plan too?"

"Exactly."

Ningguang nodded in confirmation, "Yelan has already been acting in secret, tracking the final destination of the Northern Bank's funds and Pantalone's evacuation route."

"Only when she confirms the most critical point and sends a definite signal can we strike swiftly and ensure that nothing goes wrong."

"I see!"

Paimon suddenly realized and slapped his little head hard.

"No wonder we couldn't find you guys before, it was like playing hide-and-seek. It turns out Ningguang, you had everything arranged all along, even we were kept in the dark... But now we can finally relax!"

The little mascot's face showed a relieved smile again, while Ningguang and Zhongli exchanged a glance, seemingly appreciating that the Traveler had not forgotten the deceived people of Liyue and had always maintained a vigilant and investigative mindset.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have chased them all the way to Lonely Cloud Pavilion and onto the North Star's Death Star. (End of Chapter)