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

Fanes went to the Northern Bank early the next morning.

Strictly speaking, although he spent the last three years in Liyue Harbor seemingly indulging in eating, drinking, and having fun without doing his job, the tellers at the Northern Bank had long been accustomed to the twelfth seat's style of doing things—he would show up once a month, sign a few words on the ledger, and occasionally bring over loan projects that he couldn't handle to take a look at. After glancing at the numbers, Fanes would say "take care of it" and make the decision.

On the contrary, when he took the initiative to push the door open and came in today, several tellers who were checking accounts were stunned for a moment, looking up at the twelfth seat master at the door, like a cat that suddenly crawled into a cage.

Fanes walked to the counter, climbed onto the high stool that had been replaced twice but still fit perfectly, and sat down. He placed his hands on the counter and glanced around at the people in the hall: "Don't be nervous, I'm just here to check the accounts. You all go about your business."

As soon as she finished speaking, the door was pushed open from the outside. Long white hair was tied into a neat ponytail and hung down her back, the hem of a dark dress brushed against the threshold, and her steps were calm and without hesitation.

As Ningguang entered the lobby of the Northern Bank, her amber eyes swept around behind the counter. When she saw Fanes sitting on a high stool, the corners of her mouth curved slightly. She walked to the counter, took a thin envelope from her sleeve, placed it on the counter, and pushed it over: "Mr. Twelve, this is the repayment for this quarter."

Fanes took the envelope, opened it, glanced at the figures on the receipts inside, and raised an eyebrow: "Sister Ningguang, the payments are coming in so quickly this quarter? Almost half a month earlier than you estimated last time."

Ningguang sat down in the chair opposite him, elegantly crossing one leg: "The trade routes at the North District's docks are running smoothly, and the first batch of cargo ships returned a few days ahead of schedule. Pay back the money as soon as it arrives; every day less interest is worth it."

Ningguang picked up the tea that the teller promptly brought over and took a sip. "At this rate, this loan can be paid off in about two more years."

Fanes handed the bill to the teller next to him for deposit. He leaned back in his chair and looked at the young, wealthy businessman opposite him who had already established himself in the Liyue Harbor business world, was favored by the Seven Stars, and held most of the trade routes in the northern part of the port. He silently calculated the total amount of the loan approved at the time, plus the interest, and the figure he came up with made him gasp.

The underworld's practice of "nine out, thirteen back" is no match for the Northern Bank. Although Pantalone adjusted the interest rate and didn't push Ningguang to the brink, the interest rate meant that Ningguang basically worked for nothing for the first few years.

Fanes put down his teacup and spoke the truth: "Sister Ningguang, when you applied for a loan from the Northern Bank, did you already have a plan for what would happen next?"

Ningguang's hand, holding the teacup, didn't pause. Her amber eyes glanced at him above the rim of the cup: "What are you referring to, Mr. Twelfth?"

"The relationship with the Seven Stars of Liyue."

Fanes leaned on the counter, chin resting on his arm, his voice low but carrying a sense of "I'm not being polite with you anyway."

"When you first came to the Northern Bank for a loan, you didn't intend to take on the entire amount yourself. You calculated that once the dock project started, it would involve the port interests of Liyue, and the Seven Stars wouldn't sit idly by and let someone else take it. As your loan snowballed, if you couldn't repay it, it would become a political issue of 'the dock possibly belonging to the Fatui.' You prepared a way out for yourself from the very beginning."

Ningguang set down her teacup, her amber eyes lingering for a moment on Fanes' face. There was neither anger nor embarrassment at being exposed in her gaze; instead, there was a kind of composure and slight appreciation that came with revealing one's hand between businessmen. The curve of her lips deepened slightly: "Mr. Twelfth should be ten years old this year, right?"

Fanes nodded: "Ten and a half years old."

"To be able to think of this at ten and a half years old, the people chosen by the Fools are indeed quite something."

Ningguang leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed over her knees. "But what you said wasn't complete. I did consider Seven Stars' reaction, but that was just my backup plan. My initial expectation was to build the dock myself and pay off the loan on time. Seven Stars only offered their support six months after I started construction; I didn't ask them for help."

Fanes blinked. "Looking back now, do you still think that loan was worth it?"

Meanwhile, Fanes thought to himself: This is what Pan Fugui told me.

Ningguang looked down at the teacup in front of her and remained silent for two seconds. In those two seconds, the smile on her lips faded slightly, but became more genuine.

"It was worth it. Without this money, I would still be working on an abacus in a small shop in Liyue Harbor until dawn. After the docks opened, the port's trade volume nearly doubled, the warehouses in the North District tripled, and the first group of people in the Chamber of Commerce who invested with me are now receiving more in dividends each month than they did in a whole year three years ago. So I don't regret it."

After listening to the conversation while leaning over the counter, Fanes sat up straight and called out to the teller, "Print out Ningguang's repayment receipt for this quarter and stamp it."

Then he turned to Ningguang and said, "You can clear your debt in two more years. At that time, the Northern Bank will issue you a settlement certificate. You can take the certificate to Qixing to register it, and the dock land deed will be completely yours."

Ningguang nodded, took the receipt from the teller and tucked it into her sleeve, then stood up and straightened her skirt. She turned and took two steps, then stopped and glanced back at Fanes.

"Mr. Twelve, if you're going to do loan business again next time, you can let me know in advance. I know some people who really need working capital, and I can introduce you to some reliable clients."

Fanes waved to her, "Okay! I'll definitely come find you next time!"

After Ningguang's figure disappeared outside the door, Fanes leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh. He twirled the empty teacup in his hand, thinking to himself that this future Tianquan Star was indeed impressive. He had come to repay a debt, but as he left, he had also subtly laid the groundwork for future cooperation. There was definitely a reason why such a person could achieve great things.

After finishing the last few documents on the counter, Fanes left the Northern Bank and walked along the outskirts of Liyue Harbor to the clearing covered with dense bamboo groves.

From afar, he saw a huge black figure lying on a flattened patch of grass, basking in the sun. Its round belly rose and fell with its breath, its wings folded at its sides like two closed black curtains, and its tail slowly swept back and forth behind it, snapping several nearby bamboo stalks in half with each sweep.

Yakoda squatted directly in front of the little black head, her hands supporting her chin as she looked up, her starry eyes wide open.

Little Black tilted its head, which was bigger than a carriage, and looked at her. Her small reflection was reflected in its amber vertical pupils. It let out a low, satisfied snort that made the ground tremble slightly.

Yakoda reached out and touched the smooth scale on its nose, a scale larger than her entire palm. The little black creature squinted at her touch, snorted, and the gust of air sent Yakoda's hair and hat flying backward.

Yakoda chuckled, clutching her hat. Turning around, she saw Fanes standing at the edge of the bamboo grove and called out, "Boss! Little Black's gotten so big! I was trying to scratch its chin, but my hand only reached the first scale on its neck!"

Fanes walked over and squatted on the other side of Xiao Hei, patting the scale below its jaw that was bigger than a millstone. Xiao Hei made a series of comfortable gurgling sounds from its throat, and its tail swept even more happily, knocking down three more bamboo stalks.

Looking at the mess in the bamboo forest, Fanes thought that it wouldn't be long before he would have to give Xiao Hei a bigger piece of land.

Yakoda took out a piece of dried spiritual fruit she had brought down from the mountain from her pocket and handed it to Xiao Hei. The little dragon opened its mouth, gently took it in its mouth, and swallowed it. When its tongue licked her palm, the force was like a warm tide.

Yakoda shook the drool off her hands, squatted down next to the faucet and looked up at it, her starry eyes filled with a sense of amazement that it had grown so big.