Genshin Impact, I'm Slime

When Irina saw the boy emerge from the shadows, her expression tightened, but she quickly suppressed all her emotions.

The taut lines of her shoulders relaxed slightly, her chin lifted at a standard greeting angle, and her soaked clothes quickly evaporated and dried under the influence of elemental forces, while a few strands of messy hair quietly returned to their place.

In an instant, the disheveled and furious hunter disappeared, replaced by the impeccable poise and elegance befitting Secretary Pantalone.

As Pantalone's personal secretary, Irina naturally recognized Famas and knew the boy's true identity.

Unlike Zhiyi, she didn't make unnecessary associations; instead, she immediately reacted in a way that best suited her identity.

Irina bowed slightly, performing a greeting befitting winter diplomatic protocol, her voice regaining its usual cool and steady tone:
"Lord Famas, I never expected to meet you here."

Lord Pantalone did mention that FAMAS was a partner of the Northern Bank.

But now, encountering her in this valley where the embers of an elemental upheaval had just subsided, Irina felt only wariness and doubt.

Why did the other party appear here? Was it purely a coincidence, or was there some other reason?
In response to Irina's impeccable greeting, FAMAS simply nodded casually.

The boy crossed his arms, his posture exuding nonchalance. His gaze first swept over the chaotic battlefield around him before finally settling on Irina.

The remains of collapsed ice walls, turbid and surging muddy water, and rock walls riddled with holes.

"Tsk tsk... You've made quite a commotion."

Famas paused briefly, his tone deliberately nonchalant, and gestured with his chin toward the chaos.

"Miss Irina, who are you fighting?"

"Look at all this icy water mess, the battle must have been fierce."

The boy's gaze swept over the mess on the ground, and he added a comment with a hint of amusement.

Upon hearing Famas's question, Irina maintained an impeccable composure, as if the fierce battle and humiliation that had just occurred had never happened.

She met Famas's gaze, her voice steady and clear, without the slightest fluctuation:
"Thank you for your concern, Lord Famas."

"I was just chasing a little mouse that had wandered into a place it shouldn't have been and stolen something it shouldn't have taken."

As soon as he finished speaking, a subtle silence fell over the valley.

The wind rustled through the broken ice crystals, making a soft sound.

Irina lowered her eyes, her posture respectful.

She was well aware of her position.

Famas is a demon god who has survived from ancient times, and as Pantalone's secretary, no matter how many doubts she may have, she has absolutely no right to question the whereabouts and intentions of a demon god.

Silence was the only appropriate choice for her at that moment.

After listening, Famas's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly, but he maintained his relaxed demeanor, hands in his pockets, as if it were just a casual suggestion:

"Oh? A little mouse? Sounds like quite the troublemaker. Do you need me to lend a hand?"

Famas spoke casually, as if asking if he needed help carrying something.

However, almost the instant Famas finished speaking, Irina shook her head slightly, a small but remarkably decisive gesture, her tone conveying just the right amount of politeness and distance:

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Excellency Famas."

"It's just dealing with a little mouse, I can handle it myself."

Irina's voice remained cool and aloof, carrying an almost imperceptible air of reserve.

Having served Lord Pantalone for so long, Irina's primary lesson was that there are no free lunches in this world. It was true that Famas was a partner of the Northern Bank, but how many schemes and plots lay hidden beneath that relationship remained to be seen.

The demon god's sudden appearance and timely offer of assistance left Irina with no way of knowing his true purpose, nor did she intend to take any risks.

Rejection is one of the few safe and dignified responses.

Famas, who was rejected by the lady of the Hidden Mirror, did not show any displeasure, but only a subtle and enigmatic smile appeared on his lips.

He glanced casually in the direction of Liyue Harbor, then spoke meaningfully:
"Speaking of which, you probably don't know, but Pantalone has already sailed back to winter."

"In the vast Liyue Harbor, only Miss Irina remains, still busy searching for that lost item."

Famas paused, his gaze returning to Irina, his tone calm yet each word striking a nerve:
"As Mr. Pantalone's most trusted personal secretary, you've been absent from your post for so long... Even if you eventually recover the lost items, when you return to Winter, you'll probably face a 'profound' interrogation, won't you?"

Irina listened silently, her back ramrod straight, maintaining an elegant demeanor.

However, her fingers, clad in frosty gloves and hanging at her sides, unconsciously curled and tightened slightly, revealing the turmoil churning within her.

She knew Famas was right. Back in Feiyunpo, anger and impatience drove her to set up the water mirror in the street and chase after Yelan.

Irina believed that with the power she possessed, she could capture Yelan within a few hours and save face.

Unexpectedly, the chase lasted for several days, like sinking into quicksand; the more they struggled, the deeper they sank.

The longer the delay, the more unimaginable the consequences of her returning empty-handed.

Moreover, as the leader of Liyue's intelligence agency, Yelan may not be good at absolute combat, but when it comes to the ability to conceal her whereabouts and escape, it is probably hard to find anyone in Teyvat who can match her.

Irina had spent a great deal of effort to find Yelan's trail in Tianheng Mountain, but now she had failed at the last minute, even though she was so close.

Given Ye Lan's cunning and slippery nature, who knows when it will be possible to pinpoint her location again.

Time is the luxury that Irina cannot afford to waste at this moment.

FAMAS's words were both a warning and a lure.

Under immense pressure and a sense of urgency, Irina's inner balance inevitably tipped.

The woman with the hidden mirror slowly turned her head, her eyes, hidden by the fabric, turning to Famas's face. Her voice remained cold, but carried a hint of tension that was barely perceptible.

“Then… Lord Famas.”

What specific assistance can you provide?

Irina asked, enunciating each word carefully, each syllable like a cautious step on ice.

As soon as the other party finished asking the question with a tense tone, Famas raised an eyebrow slightly.

The proud maidservant from the Hidden Mirror was eventually cornered and tentatively reached out her hand to him.

"specific?"

Famas repeated the word, looking up at the direction where Yelan had fled, his voice carrying an indifference that seemed to pierce through space.

"I can give you Yelan's real-time coordinates, right now, the next second, and even every point in the future."

The boy turned his head to look back at Irina, his crimson eyes holding the perspective of a god looking down upon her.

Locking onto the trajectory of a mortal is a piece of cake for a demon god, but it might take a long time to do so with Irina.

Especially when tracking someone like Ye Lan who is adept at concealing their tracks. (End of Chapter)