Genshin Impact, I'm Slime

The silence of the stone hall seemed to have gained weight, making it hard to breathe.

Zhiyi's hunched figure appeared particularly small on the stool. He stared at Famas' calm and expressionless face, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down with difficulty.

The abdominal cramps continued, a stark reminder of the harsh reality he was facing.

Night Orchid, the traveler, and the Thousand Rock soldiers had all left, and he was temporarily safe, but at the cost of losing all his bargaining chips.

The fact that Famas did not stop Yelan and the others who knew the truth means that after Yelan returns to Liyue, she will definitely tell Ningguang and the other seven stars all the evidence and the cause and course of events.

Ningguang may not do anything to Famas, but Zhiyi will inevitably become a wanted criminal in Liyue. Everything he has painstakingly built up, his reputation and connections, will be reduced to ashes, not to mention his eligibility to run for the Star of the Sky.

There might be unexpected changes on the side of the Fools, not to mention that after losing the position of the Celestial Pivot, he would also be unable to fulfill his agreement with Famas.

Zhiyi didn't understand why Famas hadn't made a move earlier. Was it because he couldn't stop these people, or did he have some other concerns?
"Lord Famas, what use am I to you now?"

Zhiyi's voice was dry, like sandpaper rubbing. He tugged at the corners of his mouth, revealing a slightly self-deprecating smile.

"The location of Tian Shu Star is completely hopeless, and I'm afraid there's no way to fulfill my promise to you..."

Zhiyi didn't finish speaking. He simply spread out his blood-stained hand helplessly, his gaze lowered, falling on his slightly trembling fingertips, like a worn-out tool awaiting its fate of being discarded.

His agreement with Famas was that he would work for Famas after becoming Tian Shu Xing. Regardless of whether Zhi Yi had any rebellious intentions, he had already lost his usefulness in the current situation.

Zhiyi understood very well that tools without any value would undoubtedly be discarded.

The young man picked up his glass and stared at the few drops of poison still remaining in it.

This poison comes from the same source as the poison that Tian Shu was poisoned with. I wonder what the person who administered the poison was thinking when they did it, and whether they feel any remorse at this moment.

At this moment, FAMAS's gaze fell on Zhiyi, his eyes calm and devoid of any warmth, just like he was assessing the final residual value of an item.

"The location is lost, but the person is still here, isn't that right?"

"I happen to have another job here."

Famas's voice remained flat and straightforward, but upon hearing this, Zhiyi looked up, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

"Are you aware of Inazuma's current situation?"

As soon as the boy finished speaking, Zhiyi was clearly stunned for a moment, obviously not expecting the other party to ask this question. However, as a candidate for Liyue's Tian Shu Star, he had much more to do with the rules and regulations of Liyue Harbor than just the rules and regulations of Liyue Harbor. He was equally clear about the changing times among the seven kingdoms.

Information about Inazuma was instantly retrieved and integrated into his mind.

“I know… the resistance forces of the Coral Palace are fighting against the shogunate army supported by the Tenryo magistrate and Narukami Taisha. The battle is at a stalemate, and with the Eye Hunting Edict, the situation in Inazuma is in complete chaos.”

"Are you planning to send me to Inazuma?"

Zhiyi paused for a moment, then cautiously began to explain, trying to guess Famas's intentions.

“That’s right, I hope you can go and escalate the war there, and make the fire burn even brighter.”

Famas nodded slightly, affirming Zhiyi's answer. His tone was flat and even, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

"Exacerbate the war?"

Zhiyi's pupils contracted extremely slightly the instant he heard the word, so quickly it was almost imperceptible.

This answer was like a boulder crashing onto his envisioned chessboard, shattering all his preconceived plans. To wage war, but not for profit, nor to support a particular faction?
Zhiyi forcibly ignored the excruciating pain in his abdomen, but maintained a deliberate sense of relaxation in his body. Only his fingers, which were resting on his knees, unconsciously curled up slightly.

He raised his head to meet Famas's gaze, his voice low and steady, carrying a thoughtful and probing quality:
"Forgive my ignorance, Your Excellency Famas, what is the purpose of this action?"

Zhiyi paused deliberately, observing the other person's reaction, speaking at a steady pace.

"Do you hope I'll seize certain resources for you during this chaos? Rare mineral veins? Cutting-edge technology?"

"Or do you have a preferred victor who needs my help behind the scenes? Is it the Coral Palace? Or the Shogunate?"

Zhiyi tilted his head slightly, his gaze becoming sharp and penetrating. Each option he offered was like a precise probe, attempting to outline FAMAS's true intentions.

He needs to understand in order to assess what role he can play in this unexpected game of chess.

Famas remained silent; the air in the stone hall seemed to freeze. Only the dark red bloodstain beside Yusupov's body in the distance silently spoke of the coldness of death in the dim light.

Time flows silently, carrying an invisible pressure.

The boy took a step forward, his boot sole landing on the cold stone bricks with a clear but faint thud.

He stopped in front of Zhiyi, lowered his head slightly, and his calm eyes clearly reflected Zhiyi's face, which was trying hard to maintain its composure but could not hide the turbulent waves in the depths of its eyes.

"Seize? Assist one side?"

For the first time, Famas's voice changed.

The subtle fluctuations were elusive, like ancient rock layers that had been dormant deep within the earth's crust for hundreds of millions of years, undergoing an ineffable displacement in some imperceptible dimension, releasing an echo that sent shivers down one's spine.

"I don't need either side to win, nor do I need anything specific... all I need is the war itself."

"Everything in the world is in constant struggle. Every demon, every mortal, every grain of dust plays its part in this eternal battle."

"Whether it is the struggle between trees and the wind, the struggle between flames and smoke, the struggle between rivers and land, the constant clash of motives between people, or even the clash between different possibilities of the same event, all are manifestations of struggle."

"Some demons, however, are able to draw power from war."

FAMAS paused slightly, as if giving Zhiyi time to digest this completely mind-blowing declaration.

"Excuse my intrusion, but who is this demon god?"

Zhiyi watched as Famas slightly raised his chin, his gaze seemingly piercing through the heavy dome of the stone hall, projecting towards a distant and chaotic dimension.

A terrifying thought suddenly occurred to him.

When Famas's gaze returned to Zhiyi's face, beneath that calm exterior finally revealed an essence that could freeze one's soul:
Didn't you just call his name?

"【God of War】Halpas".

The air freezes.

The color drained from Zhiyi's face instantly, and his pupils contracted to the size of pinpoints due to extreme shock and incomprehensible fear. His mouth was open, but no sound came out of his throat, as if an invisible hand was choking him.

The stone hall was deathly silent; even the dust seemed to have stopped floating.

Only the pool of dark red blood beside Yusupov's body seemed even more chilling and glaring after Famas's words. (End of Chapter)