Genshin Impact: I Am a Slime

An indescribable shock swept over FAMAS.

Even by the measure of his long lifespan, the figure of four hundred billion Mora is terrifying.

Even during the golden age when Munata was at its most powerful and its territory was at its largest, it would have been no easy task for the national treasury to come up with a sum of money equivalent to 40 million morras in one go.

This sum of money is enough to put the entire fiscal system on high alert, requiring multiple sources of funding and even the use of strategic reserves.

Four hundred billion mora could even support Munatta at that time in waging a small-scale foreign war.

While factors such as changing times and differences in currency value certainly play a role, 400 billion mora has clearly exceeded the scope of mere wealth. It is an astronomical figure that could suffocate the economic system of any country and even trigger a continental financial tsunami.

With just a thin lantern ticket printed with a beautiful design, such a huge amount of Mora was mobilized.

Famas's gaze refocused on Pantalone, his previous mockery replaced by seriousness.

He had to admit that the banker in front of him, with his gentle smile, displayed a level of skill that was truly astonishing.

This is far more than just a matter of sophisticated economic tactics.

Pantalone's precise grasp of human greed, profound insight into the economic landscape of Liyue, and near-perfect control over every detail—from the design and promotion of the Lantern Tickets to the management of multi-level distribution and the flow of funds, as well as the meticulous control over the entire scam's rhythm…

All factors are indispensable; together they have woven this giant web that has swept through four hundred billion Mora.

A crude Ponzi scheme could not possibly attract such a massive amount of wealth, enough to astound even the devil, without such masterful and meticulous operation.

The ship's engines began to run smoothly, and the Yermak had completely broken free from the constraints of the port, sailing steadily on the deep sea.

With it as the flagship, the other six cargo ships followed closely behind in a formation of geese, cutting dark ripples in the moonlight.

Pantalone paused, put down the Mora he was playing with, rose gracefully to straighten his perfectly smooth cuffs, turned to look at Famas, and extended an invitation:
"While this cabin is pleasant, it is somewhat cramped. Would Lord Famas be so kind as to move to the deck, enjoy the sea breeze, and take in the night view of Liyue?"

The banker spoke with the ease of a host, as if they were not on the run from capture, but on a leisurely night voyage.

Famas narrowed his crimson eyes and looked at Pantalone with great interest.

Even under such circumstances, Pantalone maintained a remarkable demeanor and a sense of control.

FAMAS shrugged and rose briskly from his armchair.

"Of course, I'd like to see what the ports under the rule of the Seven Stars of Liyue look like at night."

The two left the luxurious but somewhat oppressive captain's cabin one after the other.

Pushing open the heavy cabin door, a biting sea breeze carrying salty, fishy vapors immediately rushed in, creating a stark contrast to the stagnant air inside the cabin.

On the empty deck, the view suddenly opened up.

The moonlight, like silver frost, spilled onto the cold steel deck, illuminating the dazzling, star-like lights of Liyue Harbor in the distance, which slowly receded and shrank as the ships sailed away.

Led by the Yermak, the other six cargo ships followed like silent steel behemoths, carving out streaks of phosphorescent white waves on the deep black sea, forming a goose-like formation that was quite a spectacular sight.

Pantalone walked to the ship's side, gripped the cold railing, and gazed for a long time at the receding Liyue coastline. The sea breeze ruffled his meticulously styled hair and the hem of his elegant clothes, and his silhouette in the moonlight carried a hint of resolute determination.

Famas leaned casually against the other side of the bulwark, his crimson eyes also fixed on the dazzling light and shadow. The stars hung low in the night sky, and the deep, rhythmic sound of the waves lapping against the ship created a peculiar, tranquil backdrop.

The boy felt the vibrations of the giant ship cutting through the waves beneath his feet. The demon god's perception silently spread out, capturing every breath in the sea breeze and listening to the whispers from the depths of the sea.

The Teyvat Sea, which he had once set foot in and then left, now presents him with a completely different yet subtly familiar rhythm tonight, thousands of years later.

At this moment, Pantarone stood on the edge of the empty deck, gazing at the distant, glittering, star-like outline of Liyue Harbor's lights, which were slowly shrinking. Suddenly, she spoke, her voice exceptionally clear in the sea breeze:

"Lord Famas, guess how I managed to gather four hundred billion Mora with just a little trick?"

Pantalone turned his face to the side, the moonlight reflecting a cold, faint glow on his glasses.

The big banker's question precisely hit the nail on the head regarding the doubts swirling in FAMAS's mind.

He had already sensed something amiss. With such a massive flow of funds, the Seven Stars of Liyue must have been aware of it, or rather, Ningguang had already noticed this unusual flow of funds but chose to let it go.

But in the end, Famas simply shook his head, his voice low and deep: "Oh? Why?"

Pantalone's lips curled into an almost mocking smile, radiating a cold smugness that seemed to know everything: "Because... this astonishing success is partly due to the indulgence of that wise Tianquan star."

Famas frowned slightly: "Indulgence? Why would Ningguang indulge you?"

Pantalone chuckled, a laugh filled with mockery of human nature and the workings of power.

"Because rebuilding Liyue Harbor, which was ravaged by war, is a bottomless pit. Qixing, especially Ningguang, needs money, she needs astronomical sums of money."

The big banker turned around and faced FAMAS directly, as if revealing the behind-the-scenes mechanisms of an elaborate stage play.

"The Lantern Tickets are like a tireless water pump, frantically drawing wealth from every corner of Liyue. Ningguang only needs to watch coldly as this machine runs to its limit, allowing it to concentrate all of Liyue's Mora onto me as the focal point, and then..."

Pantalone suddenly made a gesture of grasping at the void.

"At the crucial moment when I, this fat sheep, am about to be laden with wealth and set sail for distant lands, all you need to do is reach out and stop me. Then, this 400 billion... no, including the interest, this overwhelming wealth that embodies the greed and savings of countless people will instantly slip from my pocket into the treasury of Liyue Septally."

"As for those fools who were swindled out of their entire fortunes..."

Pantalone's smile became particularly sarcastic.

"The Liyue Seven Stars only need to put on a compassionate act after the dust settles and casually pin all the blame on me, this Winter's Villain."

“If we allocate a tiny, insignificant portion, perhaps only a fraction of the four hundred billion, as a symbolic compensation to the poor who are crying the loudest and making the biggest fuss, we can silence the public.”

"The rest naturally became a windfall for rebuilding Liyue Harbor and consolidating the Seven Stars' authority. Ningguang could even gain a reputation for eliminating a scourge for the people and recovering losses."

Pantalone spread his hands in a summarizing gesture, his voice carrying a cold, penetrating force in the sea breeze.

"So you see, Lord Famas, in essence, the Liyue Seven Stars and I are no different. We all use the rules, people's hearts, and this huge vortex of wealth to achieve our respective goals."

"The only difference is that I chose to plunder openly and brazenly, while they chose a more hypocritical method." (End of Chapter)