[Genshin Impact]: I can become stronger by cooking.

"Washe, where are you going?"

Upon hearing the name, Marcel was struck dumb, his legs feeling as if they were filled with lead, and he could no longer walk.

Turning to the figure clad in black robes, Marcel asked, trembling, "Who...who are you? Why do you know the name [Vasher]?"

Chao Ke didn't say much, but pointed inside the room and said, "Come in and let's talk."

Marcel clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, seemingly deciding whether to risk going in.

Although Marcel would most likely be unable to escape if things went smoothly, this was, after all, an affluent area with many self-regulating patrol agencies, and Chao Ke didn't want to make too much of a fuss.

Then, Chao Ke said with amusement.

"Won't you like to talk about Verner?"

The name "Veneer" seemed to pierce through Marcel's psychological defenses like a bullet. After glancing solemnly at Chao Ke's figure, she resolutely walked into the room.

A mocking smile appeared on Chao Ke's lips. This inhuman beast, he was actually quite a romantic when it came to matters of the heart.

Chao Ke sat down in the main seat of the sofa without any hesitation, as if he were the master of the room.

Pointing at Marcel, he said, "Go, get me a glass of water."

Since it concerned Vinier, Marcel didn't care about Chao Ke's imperious manner and got up to fetch water.

"Don't mix primordial seawater with me, that stuff is incredibly salty. I'm telling you beforehand, I'm not from Fontaine, that stuff is useless to me."

Marcel was taken aback, then said frankly, "You're joking. This concerns Viner. Even if I wanted to harm you, I would still have to hear what you have to say."

After saying that, he took out two sealed bottles of sparkling water from the cabinet and handed one to Chao Ke.

"The natural gas bubble water on Iriye Island is pre-filled by the manufacturer, so I can't tamper with it."

Chapter 33 Compromise

Chao Ke took it and drank a sip generously.

You know what, it's actually pretty good, much better than the Perrier I had in my previous life.

"Please tell me about Vinier's matter." Marcel sat opposite Chao Ke on the sofa, looking at him with a serious expression.

Seeing Marcel's sincere and anxious expression, Chao Ke sighed, ultimately softening his heart.

"Washer, stop now."

"Stop selling Les and stop harming young girls."

“Venere is dead. No matter what you do, it will be useless. Tomorrow morning, take your incriminating evidence to Fontaine and confess.”

Marcel was somewhat surprised by what Chao Ke said.

He considered many possibilities: he might be controlled, blackmailed, or even murdered.

But he never imagined that this person, who was unwilling to even reveal his true face, would try to dissuade him from stopping.

Marcel took a sip of water. "Although I don't know where you learned about my past, I must correct you on one point."

As she spoke, Marcel walked to the window and watched the bright moonlight caress the street, where a fountain was quietly spouting water.

From this, Vasher seemed to see a glimpse of his former lover's profile.

“Venere is only temporarily trapped in the water; she has not left me.”

"One day, I will rescue her from the water."

"After all, Vinier and I made a promise that we would go together no matter where we were!"

As Marcel spoke, a genuine smile appeared on his face. For Vinier, what did it matter if he went against the entire Fontainebleau!

Chao Ke breathed a sigh of relief. Oh well.

A swift shadow flashed by, and Marcell suddenly felt her body slip out of her control, as if she were flying.

Then, the pattern on the floor suddenly magnified in front of my eyes.

boom!

Marcel's head was grabbed from behind by Chao Ke and slammed hard against the floor.

"Damn it, I gave you a chance and you still couldn't do it. You even tried to get me sentimental, do you really think you're the main character?"

After giving him a sound beating, he picked up the barely alive Marcel and slammed him to the ground.

Looking down at Marcel from above, Chao Ke's heart was far from calm.

From a personal emotional standpoint, Chao Ke just wants to get rid of this beast.

Producing Les, human trafficking, and live experimentation—each of these crimes was pushing Chao Ke's limits of tolerance.

Killing Marcellus or bringing him to trial right now would definitely prevent a large number of tragedies from happening.

But when it came to actually doing it, Chao Ke hesitated.

It would be satisfying to deal with Vashes here, but the consequences might not be something Chao Ke would be willing to accept.

Vasher's existence is not merely that of a key figure driving the plot. He is the president of the Fontaine-Cabrière Trading Company and the head of the Les Group, which deals in goods.

According to Li Yue, the karmic entanglements he is involved in are far more numerous than usual.

Chao Ke stared silently at Marcel, and Vasher seemed to realize something as well, meeting Chao Ke's gaze with his blood-stained head.

After a long while, Chao Ke let out a long breath.

Ultimately, I am a selfish person.

If Vashes's target is Arecino, or the people of Liyue, Chao Ke will not hesitate for a moment.

But for a group of strangers in Fontainebleau, he plucked the strings of fate and thrust himself into the limelight...

Chao Ke's awareness doesn't seem to be that high.

They've all become fools, so why are they acting all saintly?

Perhaps sensing the disappearance of Chao Ke's murderous intent, Marcel, who was lying on the ground, stretched out his arm.

"Pull me up. You're not killing me, so you at least want to talk, right?"

Chao Ke reached out and helped Marcel up.

"You've managed to rise from nothing to where you are today, so you must have some talent."

Despite the pain coursing through his body, Marcel sat down, leaning on a chair for support, and said with a wry smile, "Without strength, this little thing is just a piece of duckweed floating on the water."

"Tell me, sir, what do you want from me that you've spared my life?"

"I want money, and a promise."

"Money is not a problem, but as for promises... sir, we are both smart men. Either offer concrete terms in exchange, or you'll only get empty words from me that are only useful tonight."

Despite being covered in blood and looking disheveled, Marcel's aura remained undiminished.

Marcel was betting that Chao Ke wouldn't kill him tonight, and the stakes in this gamble were his own life.

It seems that fate has truly smiled upon Marcel tonight; he won his gamble and obtained the stakes he had always dreamed of.

"I want two billion Mora, and your promise not to sell Les, not to traffic girls, and not to engage in any illegal activities for at least five years."

"Oh? That's quite a demanding promise. So, what are your terms?"

Far from being annoyed, Marcel was rather excited. He understood that the more demanding the conditions offered by Chao Ke, the more substantial the incentive he would provide.

Chao Ke held up three fingers and said them in turn.

"The first bargaining chip is the fundamental reason why the Fontaine people will be dissolved by the primordial seawater."

"The second bargaining chip is Vinier's real feelings during the dissolution."

"The third piece of the puzzle: the location of Viner after she dissolves, and the advice she most wants to give you."

"I will tell you about these three bargaining chips in turn, at the first, third, and fifth years after you fulfill your promise, how about that?"

Vasher's body trembled, his voice quivering with excitement, his eyes fixed on Chao Ke. "Are you sure what you're saying is true? Vinier will still be conscious after dissolving, right?"

Chao Ke laughed mockingly, "Have you lost your rationality the moment Vinier is mentioned? If my information is false, you can simply refuse to keep your promise."

Marcel realized his lapse in composure, gave a wry smile, and looked at Chao Ke.

“I can give you five billion Mora, and it’s all clean money. I only ask you to answer my question: Vinier was still conscious after she dissolved, wasn’t she?”

Chao Ke was also taken aback when he heard the amount Marcel quoted.

No wonder they sell flour, they make money so fast.

Marcel showed his sincerity, and Chao Ke, naturally, didn't hesitate and gave his answer readily.

“That’s right, Vinier will still be conscious after dissolving, but that will is being destroyed by your actions.”

"Being ravaged? Sir, what do you mean by that?"

"You'll understand after you hear the third chip."

Although she was unhappy with Chao Ke's actions of digging another hole, Marcel kept her promise.

With Chao Ke's help, he opened several mechanisms, pulled out a gleaming gold-plated check from the folds of a picture book, and handed it to Chao Ke.

"This money is basically most of the clean funds I have."

Looking at the gleaming gold-plated check, Chao Ke raised an eyebrow, said nothing, and carefully put the gold check away.

Having achieved his goal, Chao Ke didn't linger any longer and turned to leave Marcellus's villa.

Inside the villa, the spacious living room was now a mess, but Marcel, covered in wounds, didn't care at all. Instead, he kept repeating Vinier's name with lifeless eyes.

“Veneer, Venere…, one day, we will meet again.”

However, unbeknownst to both Chao Ke and Marcel, someone was silently observing the entire process.

"So this is the starting point for the accidental changes that have occurred in the world. What an interesting child..."

Chapter 34 [Fragrant Mashed Potatoes]

Leonai district.

When Chao Ke returned home, it was already late at night, and even his older sister, a night owl, had already gone upstairs to rest.