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

When Ying and Paimon emerged from the rainforest, they were practically transformed into wild men.

Ying's hair was tangled with countless withered leaves, the hem of her coat was torn in several places by thorns, and her face was covered with a layer of dried mud, with only two streaks around her eyes left by sweat.

Paimon wasn't in much better shape. He was covered in dirt, with grayish-brown mud spots on the edges of his wings. He looked like a long-abandoned rag doll, hovering listlessly next to Ying's shoulder.

They stood at the edge of the last dead zone, looking up at the giant tree in front of them that was completely covered by dark purple energy.

The trunk was so thick that it would take five or six people to encircle it. Its branches stretched out in all directions, covering the entire sky. No grass grew under the canopy, and even the soil had turned grayish-black, exuding a rotten smell.

The slowly pulsating abyssal energy seeped from the base of the tree roots, spreading outwards along the cracks in the ground like an ever-expanding net.

"How big must it be?"

Paimon's voice carried a hollowness beyond the reach of exhaustion. "I feel it's larger than every other dead zone we've encountered before combined. And it's spreading. Look at those vines, they're advancing in all directions, much faster than we imagined."

Ying stood there in silence for a moment, then spoke: "I think we should report this to the Adventurers' Guild first. Let them send someone to handle it."

Paimon turned to look at her: "Didn't you say you were going to complete this mission on your own?"

Ying sheathed her sword, her voice steady: "I mean completing the Forest Book on my own, not clearing out the entire Dead Zone by myself."

Ying looked down at her hands. "In our current state, let alone clearing the dead zone, it's questionable whether we can even make it to the base of the tree alive."

Paimon thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright then. I'll contact the association."

Paimon pulled the terminal panel out of his pocket. When the screen lit up, Paimon's face looked even more tired in the dim light, with a few small scratches on the edges, as if it had been through quite a few bumps and knocks.

Meanwhile, in a tent at the temporary camp of the Fools on the border of Nata, Fanes was leaning back in a chair, resting with his eyes closed.

A series of urgent communication notifications pulled Fanes from his half-asleep state. He fumbled for the terminal panel and saw an application notification from the Adventurers' Guild pop up on the screen.

Fanes sat up straighter and began to read the application. The sender was a traveler and Paimon, and the application was brief: a massive dead zone node has been discovered deep within the Sumeru Rainforest; firepower is recommended to handle it; and the association is requested to coordinate support.

After reading it, Fanes placed the terminal panel on the table and pondered for a moment. Then he dialed an encrypted channel. A soft, steady voice answered, "Is this Mr. Fanes?"

Fanes leaned back in his chair, his tone carrying the calm of someone who would say, "I have a business to discuss with you." He continued, "Little Grass God. The travelers have discovered a massive dead zone in the rainforest. They're on the verge of collapse and need fire support. I can arrange for the Fools to provide long-range fire support, but I need some compensation."

Nasida remained silent for a moment, then said, "Tell me what you think."

"The operating rights for the Port of Omos for the next three years," Fanes said.

The silence on the other end lasted even longer. Then Nasita spoke, her voice still steady: "Are you sure you want this? While the trade profits of Omos Port are considerable, the management costs are also high, and it involves trade and logistics between Sumeru and several surrounding countries. If not handled properly, it could affect the stability of the entire region's supply chain."

Fanes said, "I'm sure. And I can manage it. I manage the Northern Bank in Liyue and the supply chain in Inazuma, so having another port won't make things difficult for me. Besides, if you agree, the Traveler's fire support will arrive tomorrow."

Nasita said, "...Okay. Deal. I'll have the Canon prepare the relevant documents. Once the firepower coverage is in place, I'll send someone to confirm the effectiveness of the cleanup of the dead zone before handing over the management of Omos Port to you."

After hanging up, Fanes dialed another channel and said into the microphone, "The coordinates for the depths of the Sumeru Rainforest have been sent. Use maximum yield, don't hold back on ammunition."

Paimon's message notification sounded half an hour later. She glanced down at the reply on the screen, then looked up at Ying: "He said it's all arranged. The fire support will arrive before dawn tomorrow."

Ying leaned against the root of a tree: "That's good."

Ying sat down against the tree roots, closed her eyes, and said, "I'm going to sleep for a while. Wake me up when the firepower reaches me."

As dawn broke the next day, the sky deep within the rainforest was illuminated by a light that lasted for a long time. The artillery fire precisely covered the core area of ​​the dead zone, blasting the spreading dark purple energy and vines into fragments, and even uprooting most of the giant tree's roots.

Paimon flew up to a high place and observed for a while before landing back next to Ying: "It's all cleared up. The dead zone is gone, and that area is returning to its normal color and aura. Even the surrounding monsters are starting to retreat into the distance."

Ying sat on the ground, watching the sky gradually return to its normal color. She breathed a sigh of relief, leaned back, and lay down on the ground: "Finally finished."

Paimon sat on the rock next to her: "So, can we go get that Lanaro's treasure chest now?"

Ying said, "Let me take a nap first."

Ying rolled over, buried her face in her backpack, and quickly fell asleep. Paimon sat beside her, watching the rainforest in the distance regaining its tranquility, and slowly closed his eyes as well.

After dealing with the matters in the Dead Zone, Fanes walked along the mountain path leading to the Echoing Sons tribe on the border of Nata. He had previously heard that Shinonin was now the only billionaire in Nata with assets exceeding 100 million, truly the richest man in Nata.

With the 200 million Mora he had accumulated during the winter and the subsequent technological advancements, Xinoning opened several workshops in Nata, specializing in high-end forging orders and custom machinery manufacturing. However, he also knew that although the man had become wealthy, his personality hadn't changed much; he still spent his time in the workshops, personally hammering iron.

When Fanes arrived at the workshop, the door was ajar. A rhythmic clanging sound came from inside, like someone hammering something.

When Fanes pushed open the door and walked in, Shinonin was standing with his back to the door, holding a hammer and tapping it repeatedly on a red-hot iron block.

Xinoning wore a short-sleeved jacket that allowed for easy movement, and her hair was tied back in a neat ponytail. Hearing the door open, she didn't turn around, but simply said, "If you're looking to order custom weapons, this month's orders are already full. If you're just here to visit, the fee is five thousand Mora. If you're just here for a chat… well, that depends on what you're talking about."

Fanes leaned against the doorframe: "What if you're here to catch up with an old friend?"

Hinoning stopped hammering. She put down the hammer and turned around. When she saw Fanes, she first looked him up and down, then she spoke: "...What are you doing here? Are you done with things on Zhidong's side?"

Fanes walked over and sat down on a nearby bench. "I was just passing by and thought I'd drop in. I heard you're now the richest person in Nata, with assets exceeding a hundred million. How's it going? Is life comfortable for the wealthy?"

Xinoning placed the hammer on the table beside him and wiped his hands. "It's alright. I have more freedom than before, but I still have to work when it's time to work."

Xinoning walked to the table, poured two glasses of water, and handed one to Fanes. "How are you doing these days? I heard you've taken over the business from Xumi as well?"

Fanes took the water glass and took a sip: "Not bad. We just negotiated the three-year operating rights for Omos Port."

Xinoning sat down opposite him, holding a water glass. After listening to his words, she raised an eyebrow slightly: "Omos Port? That's the largest port in Sumeru. You've made quite a haul this time."

"It was an unexpected bonus," Fanes said. "I helped the travelers clear out a dead zone and made a deal along the way."

Fanes put down his water glass. "And you? Has Mavica been coming to you to fix anything lately?"

Xinoning's expression shifted slightly upon hearing that name. Her hand holding the water glass remained still, but the corners of her mouth curved into a slight smile, as if recalling a past she had already archived: "Of course she'll come. Every time she comes, she says, 'Can you fix this for me?' or 'Can you take a look at that for me?' I'm used to it."

Fanes asked, "So how did you deal with her?"

Xinoning put down her water glass, stood up, and said with an air of certainty that "I've figured out the pattern": "As soon as I hear her voice, I go out the back door. I come back after she leaves."

Fanes leaned back in his chair: "How long can we hide like this?"

Xinoning sat back down in her chair: "We'll avoid her as much as we can. She won't really get angry anyway. At most, she'll shout something like 'Xinoning, you ran away again' at the door, and then she'll figure out how to handle it herself."

Fanes thought for a moment: "What if she happens to be blocking the doorway?"

"Then climb out the window," Hinonin said. "I've already tried it; the window is just big enough for one person to squeeze through sideways."

Fañez looked at her self-righteous demeanor and said, "...Your method of dealing with her is quite systematic."

Xinoning said, "After all, I've been having things repaired by her for several years now. If I don't come up with a solution soon, I'll be exhausted to death in the workshop."

As Xinoning finished speaking, he suddenly turned his head to look at Fanes, his tone carrying the ease of changing the subject, "By the way, would you like to stay for dinner? I've recently developed a new recipe that makes the meat even more tender than the previous batch."

Fanes looked at her, who seemed ready to head to the kitchen, and said, "Then I'll have to bother you."

Xinoning stood up and walked towards the kitchen, but after taking two steps, she stopped and turned to look at him: "If you see Mavica at the door, remember to let me know in advance."

Fanes also stood up: "I will. But if she's already at the door, I suggest you check if the window latches are unlocked."