Genshin Impact: Watch me turn the tables and kill my servants at the start!

The conferment ceremony was scheduled to take place in the main hall of Winterfell. On that day, a light snow fell in Winterfell. After it landed, it did not accumulate, but only left a thin layer of white marks on the stone steps and windowsills. After being run over by the soles of boots and wheels of vehicles, it turned into dark water stains.

All the crystal lamps in the main hall were turned on, and warm white light shone down from the lamp holders on the dome and the wall lamps on both sides, reflecting a uniform layer of light onto the dark marble floor.

Phanes stood in the shadow of the pillar on the side of the hall, watching Ajax and Jakoda standing in the center of the hall.

Yakoda changed into a newly made Fools's Style coat. The dark fabric did not reflect light under the lamp, and the subtle patterns on the shoulders, cuffs, and collar were newly embroidered with straight and even stitches, showing that it was tailor-made.

Ajax had also changed into a new outfit, his short orange-red hair had been carefully styled, and his gray-blue eyes were brighter than usual in the light of the main hall.

When Ajax stood there, his shoulders weren't hunched, but his back was straight, like a pine tree that had been bent by the wind and then straightened up again.

The palace doors were pushed open. The chief clown walked in at a leisurely pace, carrying a tray with two executive badges on it and a scroll tied with a dark ribbon beside it.

He stopped at the steps in the center of the hall, his gaze shifting from Yakoda to Ajax, and then he spoke, his voice echoing through the dome of the main hall before returning to its source.

"Two people will be awarded titles this time. The thirteenth seat, codenamed 'The Hunter,' will be held by Akoda. The eleventh seat, codenamed 'The Prince,' will be held by Ajax, who will be given the name 'Dattalia.'"

The clown flipped open the scroll, turning first to Yakoda. "Yakoda. Your report on the operation in the Northern Plains Rift has been approved. The case of single-handedly destroying an Abyss Mimic unit has been listed as recent tactical reference material. Effective today, you are promoted to the thirteenth seat of the Fools' Orders, codename 'Hunter.' Under orders."

Yakoda took two steps forward and knelt on one knee on the marble floor. She took the badge with both hands outstretched, her fingertips pausing briefly at the edge before firmly grasping it and pulling it into her palms. She fastened the badge to the right side of her collar, stood up, and returned to her original position.

The clown turned to Ajax. The rooster rose from behind a row of seats on the side of the hall, walked to the edge of the steps, and stood to Ajax's side. He also held a document in his hand, the cover bearing the double seals of the Northern Bank and the Winter City Council.

After the rooster stopped, it spoke, its voice more gentle than the clown's, and its echoes throughout the hall were slightly less: "Ajax. Your record in the subsequent clearing operations has passed review. Your combat style and adaptability to various types of equipment have been documented. From this day forward, you are promoted to the eleventh seat of the Fools' Order of Executors, codenamed 'Prince,' and given the name Tartaglia."

The rooster took another badge from the clown's tray and handed it to him.

Ajax took the badge. His fingers lingered on the edge of the badge for a moment, as if to check the feel, before he fastened it to the left side of his collar and straightened up.

The rooster (standing on the bench) reached out and patted his shoulder lightly. Then he retreated to the side seating area, stood next to the chair he had been sitting in, and stared ahead.

The clown packed up the scroll and empty tray, stepped back, and glanced at the people standing in the hall: "The conferment of ranks is complete."

The clown turned and walked towards the side door, but stopped at the doorway, glancing sideways at Fanes. "Twelfth Seat, you now have two more subordinates. Make the necessary arrangements."

Fanes emerged from the shadow of the pillar: "It's all arranged."

The clown didn't say anything more, crossed the threshold, and walked away down the corridor.

After the palace doors closed again, the main hall was quiet for a moment. Fanes walked up to Jakoda and Ajax, glancing at the two newly fastened badges on either side.

"Now we have a total of thirteen people."

Fanes took a half step back, took out his own, and compared it with his own. "How about we change the name? Like 'The Thirteen Heroes Who Chase Fire' or 'The Thirteen Golden Descendants'?"

Columbia rose from the row of seats on the side of the hall, her long, light-colored hair cascading down her shoulder as she moved. She stood beside Fanes and tilted her head slightly.

Why does this feel like such a bad name?

Sandonne, who was sitting on the chair next to him flipping through an open handbook, closed the handbook and placed it on his lap after hearing this, glancing up slightly: "Indeed. Hearing this name makes me feel like I'm carrying a heavy fate."

Fanes put the badge back on his collar: "So, you think 'The Thirteen Golden Descendants' sounds more like a pre-written ending."

Sandonne placed the manual on the table beside him: "It has a sense of finality from the very beginning. After listening to the whole thing, you feel like the end has already been drawn, and the following paragraphs are just for explanation."

Fanes fastened the badge and patted his collar: "Then let's not change the name. Let's stick with the original name."

Columbia stood still, her gaze lingering through the mesh veil on the direction of Fanes' collar: "But you already have thirteen people. What if more join later?"

Fanes paused for a moment: "Then we'll see. If there's one more, we'll deal with it then."

D'Artagnan stood in the center of the hall, glancing down at the new badge on the left side of his collar. He ran his fingertip along the edge of the badge, then looked up at Fanes and asked, "Sir, what should I do next?"

Fanes turned to look at him, his gaze shifting back and forth between him and Jakoda before pointing to the row of regional maps hanging on the side of the hall.

"The fissure in Kitahara has closed, but there may still be small passages remaining in the surrounding area that need to be dealt with. Take a small team to complete the exploration, record the data, and report it to the data analysis room."

D'Artagnan nodded and walked toward the map. He stopped in front of it, his gaze sweeping over the residual energy fluctuations marked around the rift. He traced each marked line with his fingertips, pausing briefly at each one. He then recorded the numbers of those locations on his personal recorder, scanned it once, and tucked it back into the buckle on the side of his belt before turning and walking out of the hall.

Jakoda walked up to Fanes and stood down, looked down at the new badge on her collar, and then looked up at him.

"Boss, that image emerging from the rift... I remember you mentioned the concept of Celestials before. Do things farther than the Abyss also watch over Teyvat?"

Fanes sat down in the chair next to him and leaned back: "Yes. But most of the time they don't look too closely. They glance at it occasionally, then look away."

Jakoda lowered her hand from the edge of the badge, asking no further questions, and simply stood there without moving. The crystal lamps in the hall remained lit. Fanes leaned back in his chair and beckoned to Jakoda: "Let's go to the dining hall for lunch, it's on me."

D'Artagnan stopped in the direction of the temple entrance, glanced back at him, then looked at Akoda: "I'm going too."

Columbia had already reached the palace entrance, and she had pushed the door open a crack. A cold wind blew in through the crack, stirring the thin layer of dust that hadn't yet settled on the edge of the palace floor: "Let's go together."

Columbia stood sideways in the doorway, the ends of her light-colored hair brushing against her shoulders in the wind, one hand resting on the edge of the door, waiting for the others to follow.

As Sandonne rose from his chair, he casually tucked the handbook under his arm and walked towards the door without pausing.

Arecino stood by the window without saying a word, but after Sandone left the palace, she took a few steps towards the entrance, following at the back of the group. The others gathered at the entrance from different directions, crossed the threshold one after another, and walked out along the corridor.