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

The first thing Faenes did was go to the Church of the Dead.

When Fanes pushed open the wooden door to the backyard of the Hall of Rebirth, Zhongli was sitting under the old locust tree, 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, picked up his cup of tea, took a sip, and got straight to the point: "I need your help."

Zhongli held his teacup, his gaze fixed on the surface of the tea, and said calmly, "If it's about the ritual to invite the immortals, I've already made the arrangements. You just need to follow the plan."

Fanes put down his teacup: "It's not a summoning ceremony. It's something else. The Evil Knights are coming to Liyue."

Zhong Li's hand paused on the rim of the glass for a moment: "...Surtroch?"

Fanes nodded: "Yes. He sensed the gaze emanating from Yakoda, realized he'd met his match, and is planning to come and fight. He'll be here in a week at most."

Zhong Li placed the teacup back on the table and remained silent for a moment: "That is one of the Five Sinners of Kanria, a being who has traveled between the abyss and the starry sea for hundreds of years."

Zhong Li looked up at Fanes. "You came to me hoping I would intervene?"

Fanes leaned back in his chair: "Aren't you worried about Surtroch coming to Liyue?"

Zhong Li's lips twitched slightly. His gaze shifted from Fanes' face to the outline of the rooftops in the distance, as if he were reassessing his earlier judgment based on that distance.

Zhong Li indeed had no intention of getting involved in this matter. It had nothing to do with him. Surtroch was looking for Yakoda and wanted to fight the gaze left by Lan; it had nothing to do with the daily operations of Liyue Harbor.

Zhongli could have simply said, "This has nothing to do with me," and continued drinking his tea. But then he thought of something else—if Surtroch really came to Liyue, given his personality and style, would he be content with just fighting Akoda?

What if he's still not satisfied after the fight and wants to wander around the area? What if he wanders into Liyue Harbor, Yujing Terrace, and the vicinity of those shops and residences that are still operating normally?

Zhong Li picked up his teacup and took another sip: "...You're using Li Yue as a bargaining chip."

Fanes didn't deny it, but he would never admit it: "I'm just stating a fact. Surtroch is coming, and where he lands is beyond my control. If he lands in Liyue, then his trajectory and the scope of his influence are also beyond my prediction."

Zhong Li looked at him for a while, then he spoke, his tone still calm, but less aloof than before: "When will he arrive?"

Fanes said, "Within a week. The exact time hasn't been confirmed by Skok yet, but it won't be longer than that."

Zhong Li placed the teacup back on the table: "I understand."

Fanes stood up: "Then I'll leave it to you."

Fanes turned and walked through the screen back to the front hall. As he crossed the threshold, he saw Hu Tao squatting by the door, playing with the orange cat. She looked up at him and said, "You've come to have tea with Zhongli again?"

Fanes waved his hand at her: "We had some serious business to discuss."

Hu Tao didn't ask any more questions, and continued to scratch the cat's chin: "Okay, let me know in advance next time you come, and I'll brew you a pot of good tea."

Meanwhile, in a relatively quiet alley south of Liyue Harbor, Yakoda was standing in front of a sculpture gallery, looking up at the sign above the door that read "Eternal Posture: Custom Sculptures and Rentals".

When Yakoda pushed open the door and walked in, the store was dimly lit, and the air was filled with the smell of plaster and old wood.

Several rows of shelves were filled with statues of various poses—some standing, some sitting, some holding swords, and some resting their chins in contemplation. On the display stand in the very center of the shop, Daines Reeb stood there, his posture upright, his arms hanging naturally at his sides, his gaze fixed straight ahead, completely still.

Daines Reeb's hair was light blonde, gleaming softly in the dim light. He was dressed as usual, but he looked like a meticulously crafted wax figure, sitting in the center of the display stand, indistinguishable from the silent statues around him.

Yakoda stood in front of the booth, staring at him for a while, before finally speaking: "Dinnes Reeb?"

There was no response. He stood there for a moment, then said in a calm and slow tone, "An adversary has arrived outside. We need your help."

Dainesreb's eyelids twitched. Then he slowly turned his head, his gaze falling on Akoda: "...An opponent?"

Yakoda nodded: "Yes. The really strong kind. We need your help."

Daines Reeb stepped down from the booth. He first walked down from the edge of the booth, then bent down and took a folded money bag from a hidden compartment next to the booth base, tying it to his belt: "What exactly is going on?"

Yakoda thought for a moment: "A very strong guy is coming to Teyvat, intending to fight. We need someone who can fight."

Daines Reb walked to the door, glanced back at her, and asked, "What's that person's name?"

Yakoda said, "I think it's called something like Su... Su something Qi?"

Dainesreb stopped moving. He turned around, his gaze falling on Akoda's face, pausing for a moment: "...Surtroch?"

Yakoda's eyes lit up: "Yes! That's it!"

Daines Reeb stood there, silent for a few seconds. Then he turned around, his movements quicker than before, bent down and took another purse from a hidden compartment, tying it to the other side of his belt: "Where is he? I'll go now."

Yakoda looked at him: "Weren't you a little hesitant to go just now?"

Dainesreb had already reached the door: "I've already received my salary for this month. Since it's Surtroch, I'll take the job."

Yakoda followed him out of the sculpture museum, watching his retreating figure as he walked down the street, and silently made a mental note of it.

This guy is definitely not very bright, but he's really good at fighting.

Dainesreb and the Five Sins of the Abyss are sworn enemies, their hatred for each other palpable. During the Calamity of Kanria, the five were supposed to join him in preventing the spread of the calamity.

However, at the crucial moment, the five divided up a power that could overturn the world, each obtaining the equivalent of one-sixth of the world's abyssal energy, abandoning Kanria and their responsibilities.

Dainesreb could not forgive that betrayal. Now, hearing Surtroch's name, he wanted nothing more than to chop him up.

As Akoda followed Deinsreb out of the sculpture museum, the afternoon sun slanted down the walls on both sides of the alley, casting a warm patch of light on the ground.

Yakoda glanced down at the message Fanes had just sent on her terminal panel: "Zhongli has agreed to help. How's it going on your end?"

Yakoda replied: "Dain is in position. After hearing the name 'Surtroch,' he volunteered to join the battle."

-

This is the most suitable work style I can think of for Daines Reeb: low work pressure, no need for any social interaction, and it perfectly fits his persona.

As for why Daines Reeb had to work to support himself, please see Chapter 122 for details.