Genshin Impact, I'm Slime

The stone hall was deathly silent, save for Yusupov's heavy, painful breathing, like the strains of a broken bellows.

He curled up on the cold ground, each twitch raising a slight cloud of dust beneath him. His once arrogant, icy blue eyes were now clouded by horror and the deadly poison, staring intently at Zhiyi, who stood high above him.

"Are you surprised, Mr. Yusupov?"

Zhiyi's voice rang out, calm and undisturbed, as if he were asking about today's weather.

He tilted his head slightly, as if he were examining an interesting specimen.

"You...how dare you..."

Yusupov squeezed out a few broken syllables through his teeth, with unbelievable anger and the weakness of death.

How dare you?

Zhiyi repeated softly, a faint smile playing on her lips, but the cruelty in her eyes was unfathomable.

"To reach that position, I spent many years studying, thinking, and enduring, even going so far as to personally offer poisoned bait to my mentor."

Zhiyi took a slow step forward, the soles of his boots making a slight scraping sound on the rough stone surface, each step feeling like stepping on Yusupov's heartbeat.

"Having invested such a huge price, do you really think I would be content to be a puppet manipulated by you fools?"

“I’m fed up with bowing down to anyone. In the past, it was those ignorant Liyue people, and now… it’s you.”

Zhiyi's voice suddenly turned cold, like a chilling wind sweeping across frozen ground.

"madness!"

Yusupov struggled, trying to prop himself up, but futilely collapsed again.

"Without the support of the Fools... how can you hold onto the position of the Celestial Pivot Star?"

"If I... if I disappear... the entire Fatui Embassy will definitely demand my return from Liyue... they will definitely investigate to the end!"

Zhiyi stood quietly, watching this once high and mighty foolish diplomat struggle futilely in the dust like a fish out of water.

Once upon a time, as a teenager, Zhiyi scoffed at the behavior of villains in those plays and stories.

Why do villains always have to triumphantly reveal their entire plan before the enemy dies, as if victory would be meaningless without showing off their meticulously crafted masterpiece?

In Zhiyi's view, this is simply outrageous arrogance, a foolish act of digging one's own grave.

A true hunter, after striking with deadly precision, should quietly retreat without leaving a trace.

However, at this moment, listening to Yusupov's intermittent, dying questions, which were mixed with blood and curses, and feeling the despair in the other's eyes, which were filled with horror, anger and resentment, a strange emotion that had never been before quietly wrapped around Zhiyi's heart.

That wasn't just simple pride, nor was it superficial boasting.

It's a sense of control.

A kind of pleasure in utterly crushing your opponent, shattering all their hopes, and enjoying their final struggle.

Every unwilling question Yusupov uttered, every futile threat he made, was like a pebble thrown into a deep pool, creating satisfying echoes within the carefully constructed hall of victory that Zhiyi had built.

Looking at the manipulator who once called him a wild dog, now groveling at his feet like an ant, listening to the irredeemable end he had personally arranged for him, a near-morbid sense of satisfaction silently spread through Zhiyi's heart.

He suddenly understood the villains' motives.

Sharing your feelings is not foolish; rather, it is the finest spice to the fruits of victory.

Watching the prey's despair and helplessness upon learning the full extent of the meticulously woven trap, the thrill of that irreversible cognitive crushing, far surpasses the pleasure of silent slaughter.

Zhiyi then became interested.

He looked down at Yusupov like a connoisseur encountering a rare, unique artifact destined for destruction, and with a touch of cruel patience, began to recount his meticulously planned end to this dying listener.

"See those haystacks?"

Zhiyi's gaze swept over the tall, musty haystack in the corner of the stone hall, his tone as indifferent as if he were introducing an unimportant decoration.

“Underneath the haystack are specially made explosives enough to level this place. In the dark room next door, lie the three technicians you sent to Black Rock Factory to learn the technology. They are fast asleep.” Yusupov’s pupils suddenly contracted.

"Once I'm sure you've completely lost consciousness, I'll light a small fire here."

"The flames will be very patient, slowly spreading along the dry grass until they touch the fuses of the explosives."

Zhiyi continued speaking, making an upward flipping gesture, as if reciting a pre-rehearsed procedure.

"With a loud crash, this ancient ruin will very considerately collapse, completely burying everything here, including you, your undercover agent, our conversations, and all traces that should not exist, leaving nothing behind."

"You...you want to...frame me..."

Yusupov's voice was distorted with fear; he finally understood what Zhiyi wanted to do.

"Frame someone?"

"No, this is to restore the truth."

Zhiyi shook his head slightly. He walked to the stone table and brushed his fingertips across the cold surface.

“I coincidentally left some evidence of your close communication with those three undercover agents on the Qingxupu Road, at the Heiyan Factory, and at the location where Tian Shuxing was murdered.”

"Soon, your disappearance and the accidental deaths of these three undercover agents will be linked by the clever people in the General Affairs Department, and a clear story will naturally emerge."

"Yusupov, a diplomat of the foolish people, was blinded by greed and secretly instructed an undercover agent to steal the special explosives used for mining at the Black Rock Factory. He attempted to blow open the solid strata deep in Qingxupu under the cover of night and steal the ancient treasure that was said to be buried there."

"Liyue's Celestial Pivot discovered Yusupov's plot and was therefore assassinated by him."

Zhiyi paused, appreciating the final despair in Yusupov's eyes.

"Unfortunately, during the operation, they all perished due to technical errors or unstable explosives, and their remains were never found."

"The evidence is conclusive and the logic is clear. At that time, your embassy will not only not ask Liyue for any explanation, but will also be eager to push all the blame onto you, the self-willed and greedy deceased diplomat, and try your best to distance yourself from the matter."

"After all, the dead are the best scapegoats, which explains why you acted alone and saves them from blame."

Zhiyi slightly raised his chin, a resolute ambition flashing in his eyes.

"And I will then be able to conveniently halt the highly controversial Qingxupu redevelopment plan, and take the position of Liyue Tianshu Star with a perfect image without any dirt or blemishes."

"Ha ha…"

Yusupov suddenly let out a few broken, blood-foam-tinged laughs, a final glint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.

"Zhiyi, do you think your plan is foolproof? The source of the poison, our contact, my whereabouts tonight... everything is recorded within the Fools' Clan. If I die, someone will investigate thoroughly... You can't escape..."

"Record?"

Zhiyi raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of cold interest finally appearing on his face.

"Are you referring to the record that your adjutant, Mr. Theofan, secretly kept in a hidden compartment in the embassy?"

Yusupov's eyes widened suddenly, a hissing sound escaping his throat as if gripped by an invisible giant hand: "You...how...how did you know?!"

"It's very simple."

Zhiyi leaned down, close to Yusupov's face, contorted with horror and poison, his voice extremely low, like a viper's whisper:

"While you appreciate me and try to turn me into a house dog, I am also getting in touch with people around you who are worth investing in... such as Theofan."

Zhiyi straightened up and looked down at Yusupov as his last hope was shattered.

"The poison that will put you to sleep today was handed to me by Mr. Theofan himself. He is happy to help me get rid of you and make sure that everything is done cleanly."

"After all, it's good for him that you've been resting here for so long. He's been coveting this position for a long time, having held it for so long."

"Traitor! Theofan...! Cough...cough cough...Zhiyi...you!"

Yusupov roared with his last ounce of strength, but only received more violent coughing and suffocation in return. (End of Chapter)