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

The Summoning Ceremony was still two days away. Fanes stood at the window on the second floor of the Northern Bank, watching the unusually dense crowds on the streets of Liyue Harbor. Merchants from other regions, scholars traveling for study, and ordinary people coming to see the spectacle were all surging towards Yujingtai.

As Fanes turned to go downstairs, D'Artagnan was leaning against a pillar in the lobby, twirling the coin that was always spinning between his fingers: "I heard that the summoning ceremony was ultimately decided for you?"

Fanes took his coat from the coat rack and put it on: "The ten executives unanimously decided that your personality is too impulsive and you are not suitable for handling this kind of task that requires delicate operations."

D'Artagnan paused for a moment, the coin in his hand still: "...Me, reckless?"

"The original quote was, 'Your Highness's style of doing things is more suited to the front lines than to covert operations that require coordination from multiple parties.'"

Fanes straightened his coat collar. "Simply put, they're afraid you'll turn the invocation ceremony into a battlefield."

D'Artagnan put the coin in his pocket and crossed his arms. "So, what are you planning to do?"

Fanes walked to the door, turned his head to look at him, and said, "Go talk to someone first."

The entrance hall of the Rebirth Hall was filled with the aroma of incense sticks and old wood.

Walnut was not in the front hall; behind the counter, there was only an open account book and a writing brush resting on the edge of an inkstone.

Fanes passed through the screen and saw Zhongli under the old locust tree in the backyard. He was sitting on a stone bench, with a pot of freshly brewed tea and two cups on the stone table in front of him, as if he had been waiting for a while.

Fanes sat down opposite him: "You knew I was coming?"

Zhongli picked up his teacup, not answering directly: "The Immortal Ceremony is scheduled for two days from now. According to the original plan, the Rock King Emperor will be 'assassinated' during the ceremony."

Zhong Li put the teacup back on the table. "I need someone to help advance this scene."

Fanes picked up his cup of tea and asked, "What exactly do you need me to do?"

Zhongli's gaze fell on his face: "Young Master was originally assigned the role of 'discovering the assassination of the Emperor' and guiding the Travelers to Jueyun to search for the Immortal.' However, due to the special nature of his identity—the identity of the Fatui Enforcer is too sensitive in Liyue—having him play this role would easily cause Seven Stars to shift their attention to Winter too early."

Fanes took a sip of tea: "So you want me to do this part in his place?"

Zhongli nodded slightly: "You've already crossed paths with the Traveler. Your contact with her during your time in Mondstadt provides a reasonable prelude to your appearance. Having you guide her to Jueyun Karst is less likely to arouse suspicion than having you, Young Master. Moreover, you've been running an internet cafe and bookstore in Liyue for many years, and you've had contact with many local merchants and Thousand Rock Army rank-and-file soldiers. This face is already quite familiar in Liyue Harbor."

Fanes put down his teacup: "And what about the young master? Does he know he's been replaced?"

Zhong Li picked up the teapot and poured himself another cup: "The lady will inform him at the appropriate time that the plan has been adjusted. He only needs to focus on what he is good at."

Fanes thought for a moment: "'What you're good at'—you mean, direct confrontation?"

Zhong Li picked up his teacup, his gaze falling on the surface of the tea: "The Vortex Demon God Oser has been suppressed beneath the Lonely Cloud Pavilion for thousands of years. If news of the Emperor's 'assassination' spreads, it's only natural that the seal would loosen."

Fanes leaned back in his chair: "So you not only need me to guide travelers to Jueyun Karst, but you also need me to ensure that Liyue Harbor won't actually be flooded after Oser is awakened?"

Zhongli put down his teacup: "The Liyue Seven Stars and the immortals' ability to cope is worth testing. But if the cost of losing control is too heavy, then this test will lose its meaning."

Fanes was silent for a moment: "What if I choose not to participate? What if I feel that the cost of this 'test' might exceed my expectations?"

Zhong Li's gaze remained calm: "You will participate. Because you've already participated. From the moment you took on this task, you've been involved."

Fanes took another sip of tea: "Is there anything I need to be careful about? For example, who I shouldn't touch, or where I shouldn't go?"

Zhongli thought for a moment: "After the traveler arrives at Jueyun Pass, she will visit three caves in sequence. While guiding her, you only need to ensure she visits them in the correct order. As for the rest..."

Zhongli placed the teacup back on the table. "You're a smart person; you know when to show up and when to disappear."

Fanes stood up: "One last question. What did you get in return for the contract you made with the Ice Queen, entrusting the Heart of God to her?"

Zhongli stood up as well. He walked to the locust tree and touched a drooping branch: "In exchange, we've secured Liyue's future. We've created a Liyue that can thrive without the protection of the gods."

Zhong Li turned to look at Fanes. "Is this answer enough?"

Fanes stood beside the stone table: "That's enough. But if anyone asks about this in the future, I'll tell them—the Rock King Emperor decided to retire on his own, it wasn't the result of some conspiracy."

Zhong Li's lips curved slightly: "Then let's do it your way."

Fanes turned and walked through the screen back to the front hall. As he reached the doorway, he saw Walnut squatting outside the threshold, playing with a passing orange cat. Hearing footsteps, she looked up: "Boss? What brings you here? Did Zhongli cause you any trouble?"

Fanes stepped across the threshold: "No. He just offered me a cup of tea."

Hu Tao stood up, dusted off her hands, and glanced at the backyard. "He didn't say anything strange to you, did he? Sometimes he likes to beat around the bush, splitting what could be said in one sentence into three."

Fanes thought for a moment: "It's alright. He was quite direct this time."

Hu Tao looked at him for a while, then didn't press further: "Then let me know in advance next time you come, and I'll brew you a good pot of tea. Zhongli's tea-brewing technique is too formal, not casual enough."

Fanes took a few steps toward the street, then stopped and looked back at her: "Will you be there on the day of the summoning ceremony?"

Walnut had already turned her attention back to the orange cat, crouching down and scratching its chin. "I have to deliver a shipment that day, I might be late. What's wrong?"

Fanes shook his head: "Nothing. Just asking."

He walked back along the street. The stalls were packing up, and lanterns were lighting up one by one. As he turned the corner, he saw a figure standing in the distance in front of the Northern Bank—D'Artagnan was leaning against the doorframe, still spinning the coin. Seeing him approach, he put the coin in his pocket: "Finished talking?"

Fanes walked up the steps: "We've finished talking. Zhongli will be responsible for the 'accidents' on the day of the summoning ceremony, and I'll be responsible for the follow-up work. You're responsible for showing up at the right place at the right time."

D'Artagnan thought for a moment: "Then when should I appear where?"

Fanes pushed open the door and walked into the hall: "Wait for notification. Someone will let you know when the time comes."