Genshin Impact, I'm Slime

Chapter 509: Complex Interpersonal Relationships in the North

"I'm sorry, Mr. Famas, but now I no longer need to seek the attention of God, and Mr. Zhongli's target is obviously you, not me."

The approach of Russell and Andre also brought Pantalone back to his senses from his thoughts. The big banker spoke kindly and gently, and politely rejected Famas' invitation.

"That's a shame, you'll miss out on a great confrontation."

Famas shook his head and spread his hands as if he felt sorry for Pantalone.

"Really? I'd love to hear about Morax's defeat afterwards, but I think we've seen enough confrontations tonight."

After experiencing the twists and turns in the banquet hall and staying up all night, Pantalone seemed to be really tired. He raised his hand and rubbed his brow, thanking Famas for his kindness again.

At this moment, Russell and Andre also came to Pantalone. The butler bowed respectfully to Famas with the same kindness as the banker. Although Andre didn't understand why, he still greeted Famas according to the etiquette followed by the butler.

Pantalone declined the invitation, and Famas naturally had no intention of forcing him, so after nodding goodbye to each other, the boy turned and walked towards the alley where the Hall of Rebirth was located.

Famas suddenly changed direction, startling little Paimon who was peeking out from behind a beam. He quickly hid back beside the traveler, muttering about what he had seen.

Meanwhile, Pantalone was still standing there, watching Famas turn the corner of the alley until the gaze on him disappeared. Then the big banker opened his mouth and began to smile in a low, hoarse voice until the syllables could no longer be suppressed and came out from his lips, teeth and tongue.

He also felt the gaze of the stalker. In addition to looking at Famas, Morax's eyes also lingered briefly on him, exuding a calm yet majestic aura that made people dare not look directly at him.

But with the departure of Famas, this gaze also faded away, just like the immortal summoning ceremony many years ago, when the Rock King Emperor showed his true form and issued the oracle for the coming year, and Pantalone gave a stunning glimpse of him hiding in the crowd.

Although Pantalone's mental state was worrying, Andre was even more frightened when he saw the executive officer's inexplicable smile. He stood there trembling with fear, as if walking on thin ice, fearing that he would suffer an unexpected disaster if he made a mistake.

Compared with manager Andre, the old butler Russell's attitude seemed much more natural. After all, his master had been showing such symptoms for a long time. As long as he was not provoked at this time, Pantarone would return to normal later.

The situation was just as Russell had expected. After a brief impolite smile, Pantalone returned to his friendly and gentle appearance. The slightly distant but inexplicably reassuring look reappeared, and he looked like a true gentleman in his every move.

"It's great to see you, Russell. Have you checked the financial statements and tax records of the Liyue branch?"

Pantalone stepped onto the steps of the mahogany and gold-painted covered bridge and asked the butler who was following him. Then he glanced at Andre who was following behind him as if unintentionally.

The banker had a smile on his face, but when Pantalone looked at him, Andre felt a bone-chilling cold as if he had fallen into an ice cave, just like he was wearing thin clothes and walking on a tundra covered with snow in the middle of winter.

"Master, there is nothing wrong with the financial report of the Liyue branch. It can even be described as detailed and clean."

Russell slowed down his pace slightly and walked in front of Andre, properly separating the two of them, as if he wanted to protect the few talents of Northland Bank.

"Oh... Have you found out the whereabouts of our last executive officer?"

Pantalone didn't care about Russell's thoughts, and turned to ask about Tartaglia's whereabouts. "Not yet. According to some intelligence, the last recorded place of the young master was on a merchant ship called Zhudianfang, and the person traveling with him was the guest official of the Wangsheng Hall you were going to invite, the gentleman named "Zhongli."

After Russell finished speaking, he quietly waited for Pantalone's response, but the big banker did not speak at this moment. He just smiled and shook his head. The chill before dawn passed through the corridor bridge, and he seemed to have returned to the extremely cold north.

Pantalone was supposed to go to Liyue himself to obtain Morax's Heart of God.

This place was his hometown after all. Every muddy and winding alley was stained with the blood from when he fell, and his tears from when he was down and out were buried under the glass lilies that bloomed and withered year after year.

As a native of Liyue, Pantalone now controls nearly half of the economic lifeline of the continent of Teyvat. It is the most appropriate choice for him to confront the God of Wealth whom he once devoutly believed in.

However, the banker declined the task that was supposed to be his and just walked away, becoming the man behind the scenes.

  Others were already accustomed to the unpredictable and secretive actions of this executive, but the banker himself was rarely confused about his own actions:

Did he understand the outcome of the game and firmly believe that he could control the heart of the God of Rock simply by operating in the dark? Or did he, even though he is now surrounded by wealth and luxury, still find it difficult to conceal his conceited and arrogant appearance when he was young and yearning for and feared the gods?

Pantalone did not dare to doubt, nor did he dare to recall the scene that he had dreamt countless times in his childhood. He could only firmly implement his plan step by step.

As he expected, Tartaglia, who went to Liyue in his place, soon sent back news, claiming that Morax was assassinated during the ceremony of inviting the immortals.

At that time, Pantalone just adjusted the frame of his glasses and smiled. He knew that the lady had gone to Liyue, and he also knew that Morax had not really been assassinated. He even changed his name to Zhongli and swaggered around like an ordinary person, admiring flowers and walking birds.

After this ridiculous farce, the Fatui obtained the Heart of God, but Pantalone still felt regretful because even after experiencing a war that destroyed the earth and mountains, there was no embarrassment or anger on Morax's face.

He remembered the lady's description in the letter. The God of Rock, who was high above and overlooking all living things, personally handed over the Heart of God, and then said lightly:

"Just take it."

  The words were as light as clouds, but they pierced Pantalone's arrogance and strategy like an icicle from the north. The originally indifferent words completely changed their meaning when they fell into his heart, and the calm actions were like the merciless mockery of the gods:

"Take it if you want it. What you treasure is worthless to me."

When the farce came to an end, Pantalone realized that both the Seven Stars of Liyue and the Fatui were like children who were singing childish monologues but were complacent in front of Morax.

Only a warrior like Tartaglia, who had no wisdom at all, won the favor of the other party in the farce of pleasing the gods.

How ironic and hilarious.

Pantalone suppressed the urge to laugh out loud, and slowly walked to the main entrance of Northland Bank. He suddenly looked up at the window upstairs: "Where's little Tok? Is he still in the room on the second floor?"

Russell was almost stumped by Pantalone's sudden question, but he quickly reacted and responded immediately: "Master Toker has left the Northland Bank with the factory's pass. He said he was going to look for the young master in person."

Pantalone nodded, and Andre, who had been following behind, quickly stepped forward and opened the door to the Northland Bank for the banker.