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

Fanes: Um... this project shouldn't lose money, right?

The rich man said: "With interest rates set so low, how are you going to make money? Remember, if you don't make the most money, you're losing money!"

Fanes: ...I get it!

-

When Fanes pushed open the door of the Northern Bank, he felt an unusual pressure even before he stepped over the threshold.

The feeling was hard to describe—it was like the air had suddenly thickened, and you could feel the resistance when you breathed, even the floor beneath your feet seemed to be issuing some kind of silent warning. He looked up at the center of the hall and froze on the threshold.

Pantalone sat in the large mahogany armchair in the reception area, one leg elegantly crossed over the other, holding a cup of Liyue rock tea that he had somehow acquired. Behind his gold-rimmed glasses, his gaze slowly and deliberately scrutinized him through the lenses.

The rich man had a vague smile on his lips. It was a smile, but it carried a deeper meaning: "I know what you've done."

Yakoda, who was behind Fanes, peeked out, then pulled her head back and whispered in Fanes' ear, "Boss, this guy looks dangerous."

Fanes swallowed hard and forced himself to step inside. He cleared his throat and forced what he thought was a bright smile.

"Mr. Pantalone! What brings you to Liyue? You didn't even tell me beforehand, so I could have prepared a welcome dinner..."

Pantalone set down his teacup, the sound ringing out like a bell in the quiet hall. He adjusted his glasses, his voice unhurried.

"Twelfth seat, I heard you signed a loan deal the day before yesterday. It's a considerable amount, and the woman opposite you named Ningguang seems... to be unable to provide the corresponding collateral at the moment."

Fanes' smile froze for a moment. He scratched the back of his head, his eyes darting around, and mumbled, "Ah... that... um... I did sign that contract... but I think the project has good prospects..."

"The prospects are good."

Pantalone repeated the four words, his tone as flat as if he were reading an insignificant report.

"Billions of Mora, without sufficient collateral, lent out in full to a young businessman with no foundation. Twelfth Seat, do you know that if this money isn't recovered, the Northern Bank's Liyue branch will be in the red for the next five to seven years?"

Fanes' smile vanished completely. He twisted his hands together inside his coat sleeves, his heels scraping the floor, looking like a small animal caught red-handed doing something wrong. "Um... um... I really think she can do it..."

Pantalone stared at him for a while before finally standing up and patting off non-existent ash... (crossed out) actual cigarette ash from his cuffs.

"I need to meet with Ms. Ningguang tomorrow. We'll talk in person."

After finishing speaking, Pantalone turned and walked towards the guest room with unhurried steps, the reflection of his gold-rimmed glasses flashing in the dim light.

Fanes stood there watching him disappear at the end of the corridor, let out a long breath, and slumped into the chair next to him as if his bones had been removed.

Yakoda jumped over from the doorway and climbed onto the seat next to him, her eyes sparkling. "Boss, this guy is amazing. The whole hall went silent as soon as he came in, even the bookkeeper behind the counter didn't dare to look up."

Fanes leaned back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling: "Nonsense, that's the ninth 'Rich Man' of the Fools' executives, the moneybag of the entire Winter Solstice. If he stomped his foot, half of Teyvat's Mora would tremble."

Yakoda said "Oh," then leaned closer and whispered, "So, boss, what are you going to do tomorrow?"

Fanes tilted his head back and thought for a long time before finally replying weakly, "What else can we do? Let them talk. Anyway, I've already signed what I was supposed to sign. He can't just tear up the contract and start over, can he?"

When Ningguang arrived at the Northern Bank the next day, Pantalone was already sitting in the meeting room waiting for her.

Fanes squatted in the small room next to the reception room, his ear pressed against the door, listening intently. Jakoda squatted beside him, also pressing her ear against the door; the two of them looked like two strings of gourds hanging on the door.

Fanes could hear the conversation on the other end in fits and starts—Pantarone's voice was calm and indifferent, asking serious questions about project details, cash flow, and expected returns; Ningguang's voice was crisp and clear, answering each question with composure and confidence, readily citing data and presenting a well-organized plan.

Fanes crouched behind the door and listened for most of the conversation, secretly congratulating himself on his accurate judgment. There was a reason why this girl would become the Star of Tianquan; her aura of not being afraid even when facing an old fox like Pantarone was stronger than 99% of the merchants in Liyue Harbor.

Through the door, Fanes heard Pantalone remain silent for a few seconds. Then his voice rang out again, with a subtle warmth, the kind a merchant displays when scrutinizing his prey.

"The project itself is indeed feasible. However... the risks undertaken by Northern Bank remain too high. Regarding interest rates, I need to make some adjustments."

The ensuing conversation sent chills down Fanes' spine. Pantalone's new interest rate was significantly higher than the one Fanes had initially approved in the contract, but Fanes realized that the figure was exquisitely crafted—perfectly positioned at the critical point acceptable to condensed light.

If it were one point higher, Ningguang would most likely choose to give up and find another way; if it were one point lower, the Northern Bank wouldn't have earned enough, and if it didn't earn enough, it would be a loss.

Pantalone held this point firmly in mind, to the point that Ningguang knew in her heart that "the first few years after this project is completed may be a waste of time," but she still gritted her teeth and nodded.

Ningguang remained silent for a moment. Fanes, crouching behind the door, clenched his fists tightly. He could imagine Ningguang's expression at that moment—her amber eyes must be rapidly calculating the gains and losses of every number, her lips pressed tightly together, weighing whether or not to accept this olive branch that had been inflated in cost.

"Can."

Ningguang said two words at the end, her voice without hesitation, "I accept."

Fanes let out a long sigh of relief and leaned back against the wall. Yakoda also pulled herself off the door panel, her eyes sparkling: "Boss, that lady agreed! She's amazing! She managed to accept such harsh conditions from that bespectacled uncle."

When the door to the reception room opened, Fanes quickly scrambled to his feet, pretending to tidy the ornaments on the coat rack. Pantalone emerged with a much more relaxed expression than when he went in, and his gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses even held a rare hint of satisfaction.

After all, this deal could earn them a lot of money, so why would Pantalone go against Mora?

Pantalone saw Fanes squatting next to the coat rack, pretending to dust himself.

"The twelfth seat."

Fanes immediately put down the coat hanger he was holding and stood up straight: "Yes, sir!"

Pantalone walked up to him and patted him on the shoulder—not hard, even with the indulgence of an elder looking at a younger person.

"This deal is done. The expected revenue of over 100 million Mora is significantly higher than the original contract you signed. Well done."

Fanes paused for a moment, then unconsciously grinned. Pantalone praised him? Just moments ago he was scolding him for his impulsive and reckless behavior, and now he was saying "well done"?

But Pantalone's next words followed immediately, his tone carrying a meaningful scrutiny: "But child, you are still young. You must never be so impulsive again."

Pantalone adjusted his glasses, his gaze sweeping over Fanes' face through the lenses. "Tell me honestly, have you been bewitched by his good looks?"

Fanes was taken aback by the sudden question: "Huh? Is that so?"

Pantalone, with his hands behind his back, walked half a circle around Fanes, his tone carrying the earnestness of an old father.

"That Ningguang is indeed exceptionally beautiful, and it's common for young people to be attracted to her on a whim. But I hope you can distinguish between business and personal matters. I don't believe you can see the profit potential of this project; you simply don't have that vision. So the only reasonable explanation is—you lost your composure in front of a beautiful woman."

Fanes opened his mouth to refute, but Pantalone's analysis was too logical, and he couldn't find a starting point for a moment.

Fañez stood in the middle of the hall, his mouth opening and closing several times, finally managing to squeeze out a dry, "I really am not..."

Before he could finish speaking, Yakoda suddenly looked up, her starry eyes sparkling as she looked at Fanes and nodded seriously.

"Boss, this guy has a great eye for people! And boss, were you really bewitched by beauty? That Ningguang sister is really pretty; your face even turned red when she approved the loan that day!"

Fanes abruptly turned and glared at her: "When did I blush?!"

Yakoda counted on her fingers, trying to recall: "It was when she was standing in front of the counter talking to you that the tips of your ears turned red. I was sitting right next to her and I could see it clearly."

Fanes felt his ears burning again. He stood between Pantalone and Jacoda, with a pair of all-seeing gold-rimmed glasses on his left and a pair of starry eyes on his right that seemed to say, "I'm telling the truth."

Fanes took a deep breath, then stammered out a completely unconvincing rebuttal: "How can you slander someone's innocence out of thin air..."

Pantalone smiled and didn't pursue the topic further. He turned and walked back towards the guest rooms, his steps unhurried, leaving his last words hanging in the air: "From now on, before signing any large contracts, send me a copy to Zhidong for review. Don't make me make a special trip again."

Fanes stood there, watching Pantalone's figure disappear at the end of the corridor, then looked down at Akoda's still-shining eyes. He reached into his pocket, touched the hard outline of the Seven-Colored Eye of God, and sighed.

I felt so wronged to get that scolding today!

Fanes rubbed his still-burning ears and waved to Yakoda: "Come on, let's go have lunch. I'd like something light today, like millet porridge."

Yakoda skipped and hopped along beside him as they walked out, exclaiming, "Boss, you're really blushing!"

"Shut up."