Genshin Impact: I Am a Slime

Zhongli stared at Pantalone's face, which was twisted by arrogance and fanaticism.

The last trace of warmth in his amber eyes, that of an observer, had faded, leaving only the coldness and detachment of scrutinizing a stubborn rock.

Zhongli was unmoved by the other party's madness, but simply shook his head slowly with an extremely calm demeanor and an unquestionable sense of judgment.

"Talent?"

Zhongli's voice was like frozen rock, striking the deck clearly and heavily.

"If your talent is built on exploiting loopholes in the law, trampling on the spirit of contracts, and distorting order into a tool for personal desires... then it is nothing more than the trick of ants gnawing at a dam."

Zhongli leaned forward slightly, his invisible pressure as solid as a mountain.

"The laws of Liyue are the cornerstone of maintaining the coexistence of all people and the peace and tranquility of the land; they are the contracts and justice flowing in our blood."

"Only by truly understanding its soul, adhering to its essence, and using it to protect rather than erode this world, can it be worthy of Liyue's and this land's attention."

"As for whether Tianquan Star's strategies have been exhausted, I am merely a casual guest, and have no way of knowing or having the right to comment."

"If Mr. Pantalone is truly so troubled by this and cannot shake off his obsession, once you lay down your weapons and cease resistance, you can go to Moonsea Pavilion in person and ask Miss Ningguang for clarification."

Zhongli's every word carried immense weight, as if he were trying to awaken this lost banker.

"Heh, heh heh..."

After hearing Zhongli's words, Pantalone's laughter rang out again, this time filled with deliberate sarcasm and cold logical traps.

He straightened up abruptly, like a lawyer standing in court preparing for the final argument, his eyes gleaming with a cunning and dangerous light.

"Mr. Zhongli, I cannot agree with your point of view."

He spread his hands, making a gesture that appeared innocent yet highly provocative.

“Everything I’ve done, every transaction, every investment, every guidance of the times… which one wasn’t written down in black and white, and carried out in accordance with the current laws of Liyue? Which one wasn’t operating within the framework of rules personally established by this Geo Archon?”

Pantalone's voice suddenly rose, carrying a morbid excitement and a distorted self-justification.

"What sin is there in wealth itself? Did not the god of precious gold himself forge Mora, which circulates throughout the world? Did not He himself weave the net called the law?"

"Look at me, look at this unparalleled achievement! It is within the cage He set for Him that I have danced the most magnificent dance, using the rules He established, and amassed a fortune that has made the seven kingdoms envious!"

"Isn't this the ultimate expression of talent? Isn't this the most perfect fruit that the Liyue legal system can bear?"

Pantalone's shoes clattered on the deck with exceptional clarity in the silence. He took a step closer, so close he could almost feel the guest's breath.

The banker's eyes blazed with an intense, almost tangible light, as if they were about to lick Zhongli's face.

Faced with this extremely oppressive closeness, Zhongli's amber eyes remained calm as an ancient pool, only a barely perceptible frown flashed between his brows, as if disturbed by something invisible.

He took a very slight half-step back, the movement so small it was like the natural sway of his clothes in the wind.

This subtle movement was quickly replaced by a rock-solid posture. Zhongli gently shook his head, his voice as steady as ever, carrying a hint of almost helpless clarification:

“Mr. Pantalone, I am but a clerk at the Hall of Rebirth. If you insist on making such a specious and sophistical argument, I have no way to refute it.”

Pantalone did not restrain himself because of Zhongli's retreat. Instead, he tilted his head and slowly curled up the corners of his mouth. The curve was not pleasant, but more like a vicious and satisfied predator's smile, full of greed and provocation.

"Ah, I understand."

Pantalone chuckled softly, his voice deliberately light, yet carrying an undeniable allure.

"It would be easy to get the Fools to lay down their weapons and sail this fleet, laden with Mora and artifacts, back to Liyue."

"As long as Mr. Zhongli answers one question to my liking, I will naturally be willing to surrender."

Upon hearing this, a faint hint of surprise flashed in Zhongli's amber eyes, but it was quickly replaced by caution. He frowned slightly and looked directly at the banker who was standing close to him:

“I would like to hear the details. What problem do you mean by this?” Pantalone’s smile deepened, and the fervor in his eyes burned even more intensely. He lowered his head slightly, but his gaze was like a chain tightly wrapped around Zhongli, as if trying to see through his mortal appearance.

The air on the deck seemed to freeze, and even the sound of the waves seemed to hold its breath.

At that moment, Pantalone let out a barely audible chuckle, his voice suddenly becoming low and soft, like a lover's whisper.

"Are you the source of Liyue Harbor's boundless wealth? The embodiment of the precious metal laws of Teyvat? The ultimate witness and guarantor of all contracts?"

The banker's deliberately drawn-out tone trembled in the frozen air, turning the ultimate question hanging between his lips into an ever-expanding, dark vortex.

Finally, he raised his eyes, which were tinged with a sickly excitement, and hurled each syllable toward that ancient rock:
"Are you the true form of the Rock King Emperor?"

These words caused a sensation, and an invisible shockwave seemed to penetrate the sea breeze and fog, causing even a spectator aboard the Death Star to hold their breath.

Clearly, the few people on board the Yermak were not the only ones closely monitoring its movements.

On the deck of Death Star, Ningguang and Beidou stood side by side, while Tianquanxing's telescope was firmly locked on the steady, mountain-like figure at the bow of the opposite ship.

Ningguang knew that there were few beings in Liyue Harbor who could threaten Zhongli, but being cautious was never a bad thing.

At this moment, she was silently and attentively observing every move on the other side through her glasses.

The wind swept by, carrying salty sea fog that blurred the view, making the scene on the Yermak seem as if it were veiled by a flowing gauze.

But this was obviously no challenge for Ningguang. As the Tianquan star of Liyue, Ningguang was fluent in lip reading of many languages ​​in Teyvat.

Her gaze was fixed on Zhongli and Pantalone's moving lips, trying to catch the key words from the blurry image.

Ningguang's fingertips tightened unconsciously, causing the image inside the lens to sway slightly.

Although the interference at sea made deciphering difficult, she was able to piece together the general outline of the conversation between the two people through her experience and focus.

However, when Pantalone's lips clearly conveyed the question, "Mr. Zhongli, are you the Rock King Emperor?", Ningguang's hand holding the mirror trembled almost imperceptibly.

An unprecedented sense of tension and awe gripped her; her heart pounded violently in her chest, so clearly that it seemed to drown out the clamor of the surrounding waves, and even her breath caught in her throat for a moment.

The violent heartbeat seemed to have a tangible sound wave, and even Beidou, standing beside Ningguang, seemed to vaguely catch the unusual throbbing.

Unfortunately, there was only one telescope, which was firmly in Ningguang's hands.

Beidou raised his hand and then lowered it, unable to resist turning his head to ask:

"Hey, Ningguang, what did you see? My heart is pounding so loudly I can hear it."

Ningguang seemed not to hear, or rather, she dared not be distracted. Her glasses were pressed tightly against her eye sockets, and her knuckles turned slightly white from the force.

On the opposite bow, Pantalone's words were like a sharp blade hanging in the air, and Zhongli's reaction would determine the trajectory of the blade's fall. She could not look away for even a moment.

Ningguang didn't turn around, her voice carrying a barely perceptible tension, almost subconsciously giving a perfunctory reply:

"...It's nothing, just a bit rough with the wind and waves, causing the boat to rock."

This perfunctory attitude was too obvious. Beidou clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction, loud and tinged with annoyance at being fooled.

She gave up trying to peek across the other side and instead crossed her strong arms, leaning against the gunwale, her gaze sweeping over Ningguang.

The perfectly tailored, expensive cheongsam accentuated her breathtaking curves, remaining spotless even in the damp, cold sea breeze. Her exposed nape and wrists gleamed with a delicate, warm luster in the dim light.

This contrasts sharply with Beidou's arms, which are covered with well-proportioned muscles and wheat-colored skin from years of wielding a knife and being exposed to wind and sun.

Beidou looked down at his dark arms, roughened by years of steering and fighting, with a few shallow scars, and then glanced at Ningguang's jade-like profile. An inexplicable competitive spirit surged up within him.

She gave a heavy snort and muttered softly to the surging waves:
"Once this troublesome business is settled and we get ashore, I absolutely have to buy back all the best cosmetics and pearl ointments from Liyue Harbor!"

"I'll see if these things are really as useful as they seem." (End of Chapter)