Lin Yi's methods

"You can't put it that way, honey. I'm not taking advantage of your predicament. I just want you to sweet-talk me a little. Who knows? I might change my mind."

As the couple flirted, the two bachelors, Zhongli and Childe, could hardly bear to watch.

Still, they felt an inexplicable flicker of admiration for Lin Yi. He really could keep Ningguang wrapped around his finger.

"Lin Yi, you've really outdone yourself!"

Ningguang was clearly on the back foot. She had almost never bowed her head to anyone, not even the Geo Archon.

But on second thought, given her relationship with Lin Yi, coaxing him a little hardly counted as backing down. It was more like a little playful intimacy between lovers.

At that thought, a faint blush rose to Ningguang's lovely face, but she quickly composed herself.

She felt no anger, yet her beautiful eyes still fixed Lin Yi with a cool gaze.

Those few words were truly difficult to say.

"H-husband, I urge you to think this through."

Naturally, Lin Yi was delighted. His patient coaxing had brought him another step closer to the day Ningguang would willingly call him her husband.

Just then, a mechanical voice rang out in his mind.

Ding! Affectionate form of address obtained from Ningguang. Reward: Intertwined Fate ×1.

With his system reward in hand, Lin Yi could hardly wait to make a single pull and see whether he could turn his miserable luck around.

For now, discussing business took priority.

Ningguang had assumed that if she gave a little ground and let Lin Yi have a taste of sweetness, he would change his mind.

Instead, the result left her utterly astonished. She could hardly believe it.

Even Zhongli frowned slightly at the sight, an unusual light flickering in his golden eyes.

"That 'husband' wasn't sweet enough, so I'm not changing my mind. Listen carefully, Childe. Here are my terms!"

Lin Yi remained firm in his decision to trade the Gnosis willingly. Only this way could he get the most out of it at present.

Lin Yi was now the Geo Archon. Even if Zhongli spoke up, he could not interfere with his choice.

Of course, if Lin Yi caused harm to Liyue, Zhongli would not stand idly by.

Childe shook off his surprise. He actually couldn't make sense of Lin Yi's intentions or tactics.

Whether in commercial warfare or combat, letting an enemy see through you was fatal. Yet Lin Yi, as he stood now...

He exuded an air even more mercantile than Ningguang's. Calling it the aura of an unscrupulous merchant would hardly be an exaggeration.

A golden carp was never meant to remain in a pond; given the right opportunity, it would become a dragon.

This Lin Yikesi would certainly be an opponent he could not afford to overlook in the future!

"Tell me your terms. As long as you're willing to compromise on the Gnosis, Lin Yi, I, Tartaglia, can speak on behalf of the Fatui."

"Good. First, I want five million Mora, starting now. It must be delivered to my wife's office within three days."

"Second, in exchange for the Gnosis, you must guarantee that the Fatui and Snezhnaya cease all surveillance of and operations against Liyue, including but not limited to commerce, development, and exploration."

"Third, and most importantly... I want thirty percent of the Northland Bank's shares. No, I want fifty percent, and its accounts must be submitted for my review every quarter!"

Ningguang was angry, but she no longer interfered with Lin Yi's decision.

To her, the first two conditions were things the Fatui ought to do after obtaining the Gnosis anyway. Liyue would be getting a terrible deal.

But when she heard Lin Yi demand half the Northland Bank's shares in one breath, Ningguang was too shocked to form any expression.

She could only stare at his somewhat slender frame, which nevertheless radiated a merchant's presence more powerful and terrifying than anyone else's there-even her own.

"Even after decades of my work, the Jade Chamber's value amounts to no more than a drop in the bucket compared to the Northland Bank. Through that bank, even a single Fatui Harbinger can control the economic landscape of all Teyvat and hold its lifeblood in their hands."

With a single demand, Lin Yi sought to become half-owner of the Northland Bank, and perhaps even half-owner of Teyvat's entire economic system. Neither she nor Zhongli had anticipated such ambition!

"This doesn't even fucking qualify as an outrageous demand. He's cutting away the cake without leaving Snezhnaya so much as half a slice-snatching food straight from a tiger's jaws!"

Lin Yi remained calm, as though this were nothing out of the ordinary for him, and made a point of adding:

"Of course, those fifty percent of the shares must be transferred into my wife Ningguang's name. As the Geo Archon, I toil day and night on great undertakings. It's best to leave the money and financial affairs to my wife."

His tone was calm, as though that fifty-percent stake were already in his pocket.

"Did... I hear that right?"

Childe wore a strange expression. It was impossible to tell whether he was pleased, angry, or confused.

He had enough Mora under his own name to cover the five million in cash, and canceling plans detrimental to Liyue would naturally be easy.

But half the Northland Bank's shares was certainly not something Childe could decide on his own.

Zhongli merely listened, still offering no reaction. Although Teyvat's currency had been named after him and given its value by him, he had little concept of money.

Childe rubbed his chin and pondered for a long time. Lin Yi waited quietly, calling Xiangling over to prepare another table of delicacies. Naturally, it would still go on Childe's tab.

"Honey, this Sweet Madame is delicious. Try some."

"I had Xiangling specially mix this Evening Bell cocktail. It's good for your complexion."

Lin Yi happily called her "honey" at every opportunity. Xiangling and Hu Tao also joined the table, enjoying the food and the drama alike.

After eating and drinking his fill, Zhongli sat to one side, staring at Guoba, who stared back. They seemed to be having some sort of encrypted conversation.

Suddenly, there was a clink, and Childe drained his glass.

"I need to go back and discuss the final condition. The five million Mora will be delivered to Lady Ningguang's office in three days."

"Then sorry for the trouble, Childe, but please go back and discuss it. It must be half the shares. I won't budge. So the Gnosis is yours."

Before anything promised had been delivered, Lin Yi pushed the Gnosis straight toward Childe.

Ningguang abruptly gathered stardust, but Lin Yi caught her hand and shook his head.

"Aren't you afraid I'll take the Gnosis and break our agreement?"

Everything Childe had witnessed of Lin Yi today had already far exceeded his expectations.

Lin Yi picked up the wine pot, filled both their cups, and drained his own without a word.

Then, in an instant-

The Geo Ring coalesced in his palm, conjuring the Rock-Cast Spear out of thin air.

Its pitch-black muzzle pointed at Childe.

In that instant, a genuine sense of approaching death swept through his entire body.

"Move!"

Boom!

The bullet left the barrel, passing almost flush against Childe's temple.

It even tore through the Hydro Barrier around him and shot toward the window behind him.

With a scream, a spy from some unknown nation died on the spot. The bullet pierced the spy's forehead, leaving no time even to resist.

"What kind of weapon is that?!"

Childe was inwardly horrified. Without Lin Yi's warning, he would probably have been injured, if not killed.

When he looked again, a chilling, soul-piercing gleam had entered Lin Yi's eyes.

"Whoever breaks our agreement, I'll kill them. Even if they're a god!"