Genshin Impact: I Am a Slime

The three of them walked into a relatively quiet, sheltered spot in the warehouse.

The distant hustle and bustle of the dock and the sound of the waves became blurred, with only the faint whistling of the wind passing between the metal racks.

Ke Qing stopped and turned around.

Behind me were the dazzling lights of Liyue Harbor and the endless rows of ship lights, like stars scattered across the bay.

Her eyes appeared even deeper where light and shadow met, staring directly at the traveler and Paimon.

"Did you notice anything amiss?"

Ke Qing's voice wasn't loud, but it was like a pebble thrown into still water.

"Strange? Doesn't Zhiyi have a good reputation? The two bosses we asked said some other things, but they both praised him for being hardworking and reliable."

Paimon tilted his head, his little face full of confusion.

"That's the problem."

"This excellent reputation came too quickly and in such a concentrated way that it seems somewhat deliberate."

Ke Qing nodded slightly, her expression serious.

"Rapid concentration? Deliberate? I don't quite understand..."

Paimon circled Keqing, even more confused, while the girl extended her slender fingers and analyzed the situation clearly:

“His straightforwardness and impoverished background are personal traits and experiences that have earned him a good reputation and sympathy among his neighbors, which is quite normal.”

"But Lao Sun said that even his sailor friends who are often away from home have heard of Zhiyi's glorious deeds... This is beyond common sense."

“Ordinary people have limited attention to the experiences of others. Even in Liyue, where information flows relatively quickly, such widespread dissemination that extends far beyond geographical boundaries is quite unusual.”

Ke Qing paused, a knowing glint in her eyes, and tapped her fingertips lightly in the air.

"More importantly, these stories about his early hardships and the praise he received from his neighbors are all concentrated in the last two or three months, which is the most critical and intense period of the Tian Shu Star selection. The timing is too precise."

Upon hearing this, Paimon patted his head as if suddenly realizing something: "Ah, now that you mention it, it does seem... a bit strange!"

"of course."

Ke Qing's tone softened slightly, but the scrutiny in her eyes remained undiminished.

"If it is merely Zhiyi himself who invests his life savings or even takes on debt for campaigning, although the methods are somewhat impetuous, they are still within the rules."

"But you just heard Lao Gao's description firsthand. Zhiyi's life is still very difficult. His meager income is all going into the bottomless pit of pursuing further education and heavy historical debts."

"Where did he get the Mora to support such an efficient and large-scale image project that covers Liyue and even extends to other regions?"

"Moreover... Ningguang gave you a large amount of Mora before, and I remember you also did some purchasing, including quite a few antiques from Shiguju."

Keqing looked at the Traveler and Paimon with a complicated expression. She clearly didn't understand why the Traveler, who made a living through adventure and combat, would go to the Sigurds to buy some useless antiques.

However, Keqing did not intend to ask any further questions.

She knew about their spending habits because the officials of the Hutchison Office, who were in charge of commercial taxation, meticulously checked the authenticity of each shop's tax payments every month.

For a renowned shop like Higoju, with its long history and trade in valuable goods, a sudden surge in sales naturally stands out like a lighthouse in the night sea.

This abnormal data was reported up the chain of command to the Seven Stars of Liyue. By simply comparing the payment record with the bills from the same period at Xiguju, the source of the funds would become clear.

Ningguang's Mora, which she gave to the traveler, was thus clearly directed to the transaction at the Shiguju counter.

However, Keqing clearly did not have all the details of the transaction. Her attention was mainly focused on the Traveler and Paimon, and she did not realize that the Mora used to purchase the antiques was not spent by the two of them voluntarily.

Rather, it was consumption encouraged by FAMAS.

"As you all probably know, the tea sets at Xiguju are incredibly expensive. So where did Zhiyi get Mora to buy these tea sets to celebrate his so-called friend's birthday?"

Keqing gestured with her chin toward the Traveler and Paimon. The Traveler immediately grasped the key point and interjected, "Someone is secretly funding him? Driving all of this?"

"good."

Ke Qing's eyes instantly turned as cold as a frozen pool, and she exuded an invisible, awe-inspiring aura.

"The nature of the matter has changed dramatically at this moment. This is no longer a simple individual election, but most likely a carefully planned infiltration... There is a force that we have not yet detected, hiding in the shadows, attempting to indirectly seize power in the Liyue Seven Stars and manipulate the future of Liyue by supporting Zhiyi as an agent."

"This is the worst-case scenario based on the available clues, but historical experience tells us that the worst-case scenario is often the closest to the cold truth."

Ke Qing's tone was somewhat grave. If Uncle Tian hadn't reminded her beforehand to thoroughly investigate each candidate, she would have directly recommended Zhi Yi into the established process at Yuehaiting.

"To covet the power of the Seven Stars..."

"Oh my god, that sounds terrifying, Keqing, what should we do? Even if we confront Zhiyi now, he definitely won't admit it, right?"

Paimon's face turned pale with fright, and he instinctively moved closer to the traveler.

"The key is to find out who is behind it all."

Ke Qing's expression returned to its usual composure and calmness, and that solemnity quickly transformed into the resolute edge of an action-oriented person.

"Don't worry, I already have a direction."

"You all still remember the current affairs strategy during the inspection, right? That plan was a blueprint and promise for the candidates' future governance, which they had to implement once elected."

"Therefore, this is a public contract, which further suggests the possible stance and expectations of the drafters."

Ke Qing's thinking was very clear.

“Those who secretly fund and support Zhiyi will inevitably demand returns after he comes to power. Therefore, we can glean the interests that the behind-the-scenes forces are after from the lines of Zhiyi’s meticulously prepared plan, as well as the root of their involvement.”

Keqing looked up and saw that the deep night had completely enveloped Liyue Harbor, with only the stars and lights shining brightly.

"However, it's already late, so let's call it a night. Tomorrow, we'll take another look at Zhiyi's planning documents."

Keqing stood tall and resolute between the dim lights and the vast starry sea, like a rock guarding Liyue Harbor.

"Besides Zhiyi, Qianwei and Mingbo's investigation reports should also be released by now."

Keqing's voice was particularly clear in the rising sea breeze. She turned her head slightly and glanced at the traveler and Paimon.

"I also need to go back and carefully review the background checks on these two people to make sure there are no oversights."

The traveler nodded, and Paimon nodded his little head vigorously as well: "Yes! I understand! Keqing, you've worked hard too!"

Keqing looked towards the inner city of Liyue Harbor, where the lights of thousands of homes resembled a galaxy on the ground: "Well, it's getting late, you should all get some rest too."

"Okay! Let's go then, see you tomorrow, Keqing!"

Paimon waved in the air.

The traveler also waved goodbye to Keqing. The two turned around and their figures quickly disappeared into the dimly lit area leading from the dock to the city, heading towards the White Horse Inn.

Keqing did not leave immediately. She stood alone in the shadows of the warehouse district, with a silent wall of huge cargo boxes behind her and a port in front of her where the hustle and bustle was gradually fading but the light and shadow still flowed.

A sea breeze swept by, lifting Keqing's purple hair and clothes. She gazed silently in the direction the traveler had gone, her eyes swirling with complex and indescribable thoughts.

Zhiyi's background, Qixing's responsibilities, and the conspiracy hidden in the shadows... a thousand thoughts entangled her mind, and above these chaotic clues, an even more ancient figure quietly emerged in the depths of her consciousness.

That being was once one of the seven rulers of the mortal realm.

Halpas.

Ke Qing raised her hand, and a cracked, emerald-green longsword appeared in her grasp.

This sword was once like a peerless piece of jade, symbolizing the responsibility and authority bestowed upon her by the Rock King Emperor, but it proved utterly vulnerable in the face of an extremely fierce war.

Ke Qing still remembers the feeling of being on the verge of death, and also the light from the rock that saved her.

Unlike ordinary people like Zhiyi who need to investigate things step by step, FAMAS's existence is like a towering mountain that stretches across the long river of history.

His power, his intentions, his relationship with the present Liyue... everything is shrouded in mystery. Keqing knows that any consideration involving such an existence is far more complex and potentially dangerous than investigating a candidate.

The night breeze, carrying the chill of the heavy dew, brushed against Ke Qing's face, and seemed to blow into the depths of her thoughts.

The beam of light from the harbor lighthouse swept across the sea in a regular pattern, casting fleeting shadows on her serene profile.

Given the Traveler's relationship with FAMAS, perhaps she shouldn't be involved in the investigation too deeply.

After a moment, Keqing took a deep breath of the salty, cool air, and the complexity in her eyes gradually settled, reforming into her usual firmness and calmness.

Whether it's a conspiracy of the mortal world or a game of chess between gods and demons, she has never relinquished her duty to protect Liyue.

Ke Qing took one last look at the brightly lit city, her purple figure disappearing into the deeper shadows of the warehouse district, and walked steadily toward the Moon Sea Pavilion.

The night was as dark as ink, and the girl's figure quickly disappeared at the end of the road, leaving only the sound of the wind in the harbor, whispering in the silence. (End of Chapter)