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

As Fanes stood at the entrance to the reception room of Fontaine Palace, only one thought occupied his mind: he never thought he would have the chance to openly enter the territory of the water god, and as an executor of the Fools.

The last time he stood in this place was when he was squatting in front of the bakery across the street, enjoying the warmth of the heater, and had only glanced at this magnificent palace from afar across the street.

Back then, he only had three Mora in his pocket, and even the flower-selling aunt at the door looked down on him for being poor. Now, he was wearing the summer coat issued by the Fools, made of a light and breathable dark fabric, with silver-gray Fools emblems embroidered on the cuffs and hem. Although it was still a little too big for him, it was much better than the floor-length winter coat he had worn before.

Arecino walked half a step ahead of him, carrying a lacquered wooden gift box containing a specialty brought from Zhidong—a tea set carved from ice crystals, said to be a gift personally selected by the clown.

Rosalind walked on the other side, behind the skirmisher's quarters; the group of four wasn't grand, but it was formal enough. When the door to the reception room was pushed open by a servant, Fanes saw the figure sitting in the main seat inside.

Funina.

She sat gracefully in a high-backed chair, her posture as elegant as a painting. Her signature white jellyfish-shaped hair, with a single tuft of hair standing proudly upright, swayed gently with the movement of her head.

Wearing a blue gown adorned with aquamarine gemstones at the collar and cuffs, she exuded an air of composure and divine grace. Funina's gaze swept over her, a perfectly balanced blend of scrutiny and friendliness, a subtle, elegant smile playing on her lips.

Fanes had to admit that the water goddess's acting was indeed excellent. If it weren't for his memories of his past life, and those research posts and plot analyses about "Frinna not being the real water goddess," he probably would have been fooled by this perfect facade as well. But looking at her now, he felt that there was a subtle tension hidden deep in her eyes, like an undercurrent beneath the surface of the water.

Arecino stepped forward and presented the gift box: "Your Majesty, Water God, on the orders of Her Majesty the Ice Queen, I convey to you winter's greetings."

Funina took the gift box, gently opened it, glanced inside, and her smile deepened: "The ice crystal tea set for winter is very thoughtful. Please convey my thanks to Her Majesty the Queen."

After the pleasantries were finished, there was a few seconds of silence. Furina tapped her fingers lightly on the armrest of her chair, her gaze shifting from Arecino to Rosalind, then to the skirmishers, and finally settling on Fanes, who was standing behind the three.

Funina's gaze lingered on him for a moment.

Fanes felt her looking at him, looked up to meet her gaze, blinked, and gave her a perfectly innocent smile befitting a six-year-old. Funina's lips twitched slightly, a tiny curve, but Fanes noticed it.

Arecino spoke, her tone respectful yet neither servile nor arrogant, "Lord Water God, regarding the handover of the House of Hearths' affairs in Fontaine, and the renewal of the agreement concerning the Fools' activities within Fontaine, we would like to discuss this with you—"

"These things!"

Funina waved her hand, her posture as light as if she were discussing what to have for afternoon tea. "I always enjoy talking to young people."

There was a two-second silence in the reception room.

Arecino's expression remained unchanged, but Fanes noticed that her fingers, gripping the corner of the gift box, tightened slightly for a moment. Rosalind raised an eyebrow, her gaze shifting between Funina and Fanes, a subtle hint of amusement playing at the corners of her lips.

The skirmisher leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, his purple eyes narrowed slightly, and his lips moved as if he were saying something, but his voice was so soft that only he could hear it.

Arecino paused for a moment, then spoke: "Lord Water God... isn't this a bit...?"

She didn't finish her sentence, but Fanes could roughly guess what she meant. The word "child's play" was practically written all over his face.

The renewal of an agreement for the executioners of the Fools was personally handled by a deity. This deity said she needed to speak with a "young person," and the "young person" she chose was a six-and-a-half-year-old child. What legal effect can a six-and-a-half-year-old's signature have? They probably can't even write many words. What's the difference between this and "not signing"?

Arecino was experiencing a complex mix of emotions, but she didn't show it on her face. Looking at Funina's smiling face, she quickly analyzed the situation in her mind—the Water God had said he didn't want to talk, using a ridiculous excuse to refuse, employing the child as a shield.

Is this a genuine reluctance to discuss, or some more sophisticated test? Is this a deliberate attempt to lower the opponent's guard using such a naive tactic? If this is indeed the Water God's method…

Arecino silently commented in her heart: Terrifying.

Rosalyn stood by with her arms crossed, watching this scene, but her mind was filled with a completely different picture.

Seeing how Funina used Fanes as a "negotiation partner," the first thought that popped into her mind was: Is this what gods are like? They actually use such shameless methods. Pushing a six-year-old child in front as a shield—she'd never even thought of that tactic before. Should she try it next time?

The stragglers' inner thoughts were even briefer. Leaning against the wall, his purple eyes were half-closed, and the slight curve of his lips carried undisguised contempt.

They are like rats and sparrows.

Four words: precise and accurate.

Meanwhile, Funina sat upright, her expression still perfect, but her mind was racing with a hundred and eighty twists and turns. She looked at the executives opposite her—the cold-faced servants, the thoughtful lady, and the disdainful skirmishers—none of them were easy to deal with.

The servants had detailed requirements for the affairs of the Hearth House. If she accepted their request, she would have to spend at least two hours dealing with those tedious terms and conditions.

No way. I need to pick an easy target.

Funina's gaze returned to Fanes. The little guy was wearing a Fool's coat that was clearly several sizes too big, with the sleeves rolled up several times to reveal his fingertips. Standing among the adults, he looked small and thin, with a chubby face, looking easy to bully no matter how you looked at it.

Am I, the mighty Water God, really so incapable of handling even a little kid?

Funina mentally rallied herself, then her smile widened, and her voice took on a light, unyielding tone: "It's him. I wouldn't cheat a kid."

Fanes looked up at Funina, who sat high in the seat of honor, and saw her expression that said, "I've made my decision, and none of you can change it." He understood everything. Funina was targeting the weakest one, and he seemed to be the weakest one there.

The six-and-a-half-year-old child, standing in the shadows of two executives and a god, looked like the type who could be easily fooled.

But Phaenes neither exposed him nor backed down.

Fanes took a step forward, extended his right hand from the slightly oversized sleeve of his coat, straightened his collar, and then looked up at Funina. The innocent smile of a six-year-old boy on his face faded, replaced by a serious expression, as if he were genuinely preparing to sit down and discuss some important matters.

"Alright, I'll speak with the Water God alone."

Arecino glanced at him sideways, a hint of questioning in her eyes. Rosalind frowned slightly, while the skirmisher snorted, as if to say, "Are you sure you can handle this?" But Fanes didn't turn to see their reaction; he simply stared at Fernina, waiting for her to give her answer.

Funina hadn't expected him to agree so readily. She had thought it would take at least a couple more rounds of back and forth, and was even prepared to come up with another excuse if rejected. But the child in front of her accepted without a word, his eyes sparkling, carrying a composure that seemed beyond his years.

"it is good."

Funina stood up from her chair and gestured for them to enter into a side room. "Then let's... talk alone."

Fanes followed behind her with his short legs, and as he passed Arecino, he whispered, "Don't worry, leave it to me."

Arecino didn't answer, but she stood there watching the two figures, one tall and one short, disappear behind the side hall door. Strands of white hair fell beside her face, her expression unreadable. Rosalyn, however, leaned closer and whispered, "What do you think of him?"

Arecino was silent for two seconds.

"have no idea."

The stragglers snorted by the wall, their voices finally rising a little: "Anyway, the signature doesn't count."

The three people stood in the empty reception room, quietly waiting to see what would happen behind the door in the side hall.

On the table in the side hall were two cups of tea and a plate of cookies. Fanes climbed into the chair, which was a bit too high for him, and sat down, placing his hands on the edge of the table. He looked up at Funina, who was sitting opposite him, and gave her a bright smile.

"Lord Water God, my name is Phanes. I am the twelfth seat of the Fools. Where shall we begin?"