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

When Fanes came out of his room the next morning, he was dressed and his hair still had the curls from sleeping.

Funina walked beside him, wearing a light-colored coat and her hair simply tied back. She looked no different from usual, except that she deliberately lagged behind half a step when she left, as if adjusting her pace and position.

They walked along the corridor of the Mo Mang Palace for a while, and just as they turned the corner leading to the side gate, they saw two figures standing on the steps outside the side gate.

Navia wore a light-colored long dress, her golden hair gleaming softly in the morning light. She carried a wrapped gift box in her hand, while Clarinde stood beside her, dressed in a neat dark outfit with a sword at her waist, her posture still composed.

When Navia heard footsteps and turned around, she first flashed a bright smile, then her gaze swept between Fanes and Funina, and the curve of her smile froze slightly for a moment.

"Good morning!"

Navia spoke first, her tone still bright, "Clorind and I came to see you. My father is hosting a luncheon at home today and would like to invite you to join us. He said that he owes a great debt to you for what happened in the courtroom last time, and he hasn't had a proper opportunity to thank you in person."

Fanes paused at the edge of the steps: "What time is it?"

Navia said, "Noon. The location is my house, not far from the port."

Fanes nodded: "Okay, I'll be there on time."

Navia had already handed over the gift box, but her gaze remained fixed on Funina. Her eyes darted back and forth between Funina's overly calm face and Fanes's nonchalant expression before she spoke, her tone carrying a subtle "I think I've discovered something, but I'm not sure if I should say it" quality: "Um…you two, did you come together?"

Fanes said, "Yes. She came to me to discuss something."

Navia's gaze fell on the figure walking out behind him—Furina stood at the edge of the porch, not moving forward, but leaning against a pillar, holding the cup of tea she had just picked up from the porch table, her expression as calm as if she were waiting for someone to bring her documents.

Clarinde stood next to Navia, her gaze lingering between the two for a moment before she looked away without speaking, but her hand lightly rested on the hilt of her sword.

Clarinde: Fou must have been tricked!

Navia picked up the gift box and placed it on the steps beside her, her tone still bright: "That's perfect, let's come over together at noon. My father also said we can bring more friends."

Navia turned her head to look at Funina. "If it's convenient for you, Water Goddess, would you like to come along?"

Funina took a sip of her tea: "Convenient."

Navia nodded, then bent down and picked up the gift box again, handing it to Fanes: "This is a sample of the previous batch of steel. Father said to let you check the quality; if it's suitable, we can sign the order for the next batch directly."

Fanes took the gift box and weighed it in his hand: "Please thank your father for me."

Navia turned and walked down the steps. After taking two steps, she stopped and glanced back in Frinina's direction. Then she mouthed "You wait" to Fanes before continuing down. Clarin followed behind her without turning back.

Fanes stood on the steps watching the two figures disappear around the street corner, then tucked the gift box under his arm and glanced at Funina, who was still leaning against the pillar: "Want to go together at noon?"

Funina finished the last sip of tea in her cup and placed it back on the windowsill in the corridor: "Fine, I'll go. I don't have anything else to do anyway."

Fanes switched the gift box to his other hand and said, "Let's go then. We can buy something to take with us on the way."

Funina took two steps beside him and asked, "What are you planning to bring?"

Fanes thought for a moment: "Fruit. There's a shop near the port with pretty fresh fruit; I saw a long queue when I passed by last time. If Navia's father is hosting a banquet, bringing a basket of fruit shouldn't be a bad idea."

Funina nodded: "Then let's choose something nice."

They walked along the harbor promenade for a while and stopped in front of a fruit shop near the dock. Fanes picked out a basket of fresh seasonal fruit, paid for it, handed the basket to Funina to carry, and then used his free hand to carry the gift box.

As Funina took the basket, she glanced down at the neatly arranged fruit inside and then asked, "Did you see what Navia was lip-syncing to just now?"

Fanes, looking at the road, said, "I see it."

Furnessa switched the basket to her other hand: "So, what do you plan to do with it?"

Fanes continued walking down the street: "We'll see. At most, she'll just tease me a bit."

Funina walked beside him without asking any further questions. She simply pulled the basket closer to her chest, maintaining the same pace as him.

Meanwhile, at the Carles' house, Navia was standing in the center of the living room, placing the gift box she had picked up from the steps back onto the table.

Clarinde sat in a chair by the window, wiping the edge of her sword scabbard with a velvet cloth. Navia turned to look at her: "Why didn't you say anything just now?"

Clarind folded the velvet and placed it on her lap: "I'm observing."

Navia walked over and sat down next to her: "What did you observe?"

Claude thought for a moment: "He walked a little slower than usual today, but his stride length didn't change, which means he was matching the rhythm of the person next to him. Also, he used his left hand to carry the gift box, while his right hand remained free, as if he was ready to catch something at any moment."

Navia looked at her: "And then?"

"And then there's the fact that Lady Water wasn't wearing her sapphire earrings today," Claurind said. "She always wears them to every occasion, but she wasn't this morning."

Navia blinked. "...So you mean?"

Clarin placed the scabbard back on the table: "I mean, they must have spent the night in the same room yesterday."

Navia's mouth opened slightly: "...I knew it." This lunch is going to be interesting.

She turned and walked towards the kitchen, her voice carrying from the hallway, "I'll go tell the kitchen to prepare a few more dishes. Since the Water God is coming, the dishes can't be too casual."