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

The next morning, when Fanes pushed open the gate to the Fools' base, he almost tripped over a light golden blob squatting at the entrance.

Yakoda sat on the steps outside the door, her hands supporting her chin, her cat-ear hat askew on her head, and her goggles dangling around her neck.

Her starry eyes lit up the moment she saw him come out, and she sprang up from the steps, standing ramrod straight. Her voice was as clear as a bell: "Boss! Good morning! I went back last night to pack my things! I came over this morning!"

Fanes rubbed her eyes, which were not fully open yet, looked at the cloth bundle at her feet that was not much smaller than herself, and then at her bright, starry eyes.

"...What time did you arrive?"

"They arrived before dawn!"

Yakoda's tone carried a sense of pride, as if to say, "I'm very dedicated, aren't I?" "I was afraid of missing your departure time, so I've been waiting at the door."

Fanes was silent for two seconds. There was definitely a reason this girl would become such a workaholic at the Secret Archives; this drive had been evident since she was eight. He

Fanes glanced back into the base's main hall, where Rosalyn was walking out wearing a coat, her long, golden curly hair still fluffy from just waking up.

Rosalyn noticed a little girl at the door, her gaze swept over Jakoda, then landed on Fanes, and she raised an eyebrow.

"You accepted it?"

Fanes nodded. "Yes, I found it while I was out for a walk last night."

Rosalyn walked over and bent down to look at Yakoda. Yakoda looked back at her with her head tilted up, showing no fear, and even greeted her, "Good morning, sister!"

Rosalyn's expression visibly softened. She reached out and gently brushed aside the wind-blown strands of light blonde hair from Yakoda's head, her tone several degrees gentler than usual: "Good girl. Have you had breakfast?"

"not yet!"

"Let's have breakfast first, then continue our journey."

Fanes stood there, watching Rosalind take Yakoda's hand and walk towards the base's canteen. The two figures, one big and one small, disappeared side by side at the end of the corridor. He suddenly felt like he was the one who was superfluous.

After they finished breakfast and got ready, the other executives gradually appeared. Arecino still had that gloomy and indifferent look, with white, tousled hair covering most of her face, and she carried a simple bag in her hand.

When the skirmisher strolled over from the other end of the corridor, his gaze lingered on Yakoda for a moment before shifting away without saying a word.

No one was surprised by the appearance of the new little girl. Fanes later learned from Rosalind that it was customary for the Fools' Enforcers to cultivate trusted confidants from a young age, and many Enforcers had people they had personally trained.

It was perfectly normal in the eyes of the executives that Fanes, a six-year-old junior officer, was accompanied by an eight-year-old follower.

The ship in the port of Nordkale was ready. It was a medium-sized passenger ship, painted in a dark color, and several Fools soldiers were already inspecting the cargo on deck.

Fanes nearly slipped as he climbed the gangway, but Aletschno steadied him with one hand from behind. Jakoda, on the other hand, was as agile as a cat, leaping onto the deck in a few steps and perching on the railing, curiously gazing at the distant sea.

The ship departed from Nordkale and sailed south along the coastline. A thin mist hung over the sea, and the temperature rose as we went further south; eventually, even the ice on the deck melted away.

Fañes leaned against the cabin window, watching the ever-changing scenery outside, from the white expanse of ice fields to the gray-green hills, and then from the hills to the rolling grasslands.

When the ship docked at the port of Nata, the captain emerged from the cabin. He was still dressed in that dark outfit, wearing a mask, and his figure was as tall as a walking tower.

As the captain descended the gangway, he glanced back at Fanes, his gaze seemingly lingering on him for a moment beneath his mask.

"Take care." The captain's voice was deep and resonant, carrying a kind of uprightness that seemed completely out of place with his usual demeanor.

Fanes leaned on the railing and waved to him: "Captain, take care too! I'll treat you to some snacks next time we meet!"

The captain didn't respond, but simply nodded slightly, turned, and walked away along the main road of the dock. His steps were steady and powerful, each step firm and solid, like an old tree standing firm in the wind.

The ship only stopped in Nata for half a day to resupply, and set sail again the following evening. Two days later, Fanes smelled a familiar scent on the deck—a moist, steamy aroma mixed with the scent of coffee and toasted bread.

As the gangway was lowered, Fanes stood on the deck, looking at the land where he had lived for six months, his feelings a mix of emotions. The last time he left, Kujavina had grabbed him by the neck and lifted him into the air, nearly killing him in the hall of that fireplace house.

Rosalyn led Jakoda down the gangway. Jakoda's starry eyes darted around, staring intently at every ship and building in Fontaine Harbor.

"Boss, boss, that tower is so tall!"

"Boss, boss, that fountain over there lights up!"

"Boss, boss, I want to eat that!"

Fanes' ears were ringing from her shouting, but he still took out his money and bought her a grilled sausage.

Rosalind watched this scene from the harbor and felt very gratified.

"How about staying in Fontainebleau for a couple of days? It won't make a difference. Didn't you say you were going to Liyue from Shenyu Valley? Two days is just the right amount of time for you to rest."

Fanes hesitated for a moment. He did want to go back to that leaky attic—although it was a dilapidated place with drafts coming from all sides, it was still where he had lived for six months, and he had some attachment to it.

Moreover, he was still thinking about the royalties from the bookstore owner, so he hurriedly left Fengdan, as he hadn't yet received his royalties from last month.

"Okay, then I'll stay for two days."

As it turned out, Fanes's prediction about the bookstore owner was quite accurate. On their second morning in Fontainebleau, Fanes was eating a croissant in a small restaurant downstairs from his hotel when he caught a glimpse of a bald, middle-aged man peeking out from across the street.

That's the bookstore owner.

After recognizing the person approaching, Fanes put down his bread and waved to the person opposite. The bookstore owner saw him waving, froze, forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, and then slowly, step by step, moved over.

He stood at the dining table, fidgeting with the hem of his coat, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Fanes' obviously expensive coat and the standard short blade that someone had left on the table. His mouth opened and closed repeatedly.

Fanes waited for him for three seconds, but he didn't speak.

"Are you here to urge me to finish my manuscript?" Fanes asked proactively.

The bookstore owner shook his head frantically, his head bobbing like a rattle drum: "No, no, no, no! I was just passing by! Just passing by! I thought I'd drop in to see if you were having a good meal! Um... about that manuscript, no rush, no rush. You can write it whenever you have time. If you don't have time, forget it, forget it..."

As the bookstore owner spoke, he began to back away. After taking three steps back, he turned and ran, his speed reminding Fanes of the 100-meter sprint at the sports meet in his previous life.

Fanes watched the bookstore owner's bald head disappear around the corner, looked down at the half-eaten croissant in front of him, and sighed.

Fanes had originally planned to finish the manuscript.

Oh well. Anyway, he's an executive officer of the Fools now, and although he doesn't know when he'll receive his monthly salary, it should be much more than his royalties.

Yakoda sat opposite him, her mouth stuffed full of croissants, her cheeks bulging, and mumbled, "Boss, why was that man running so fast?"

Fanes pushed his half-croissant in front of her: "It must be something urgent."