Capítulo 17: Free Time?
{AN: The last video of Genshin Impact presenting all the Fatui's Harbingers had changed my idea of them. This is a fanfic that I already more or less thought about so of course it would contain OOC and changes from the game that is still incomplete. However, these changes I would keep them, as are still within my ideas.
Like this, I made some changings over the firsts chapter where some harbingers were presented. Changing Arlecchino and Sandrone's appearance, plus Arlecchino's demeanor, from cold and calculative, to angrier, especially over Pantalone. Pantalone's old image won't change, and I will keep it like that and old man, later you would find why.
PD: I really liked the videa and really hyped me up.}
The ship finally reached Liyue and what was waiting for Allen there, made him tremble in awe and fear.
"That was only last year, but it would surely go lower recently, are you not worried?" "Haven't you listened to the rumors, this is nothing more than trash. You should be thanking me for taking it." "I am losing money here." "If you help me here, I'm sure that I will pay you in another way" "Ah?! Are you fucking tricking me?" "BANG! BOOM!" "I'LL KILL YOU FUCKER!"
Allen was quite thankful to be wearing a mask as he couldn't stop his wide eyes and mouth to open in shock as Aleksei razed all over Liyue. Deals, tricks, abuse, compliments, coercion, rumors, intimidation, violence... Aleksei transformed himself and his way of dealing depending on who was in front of him. He was like a ravenous wolf that razed everything in his size, engulfing all the preys and obtaining the best price.
At such a sight, Allen was even scared to talk, fearing becoming collateral damage of Aleksei's stampede.
"How did you find the first day?" Arriving at an already booked hotel, bringing Allen alone, Aleksei finally asked as he sat over the sofa, relaxing.
"Eh?" Allen blinked, regaining from his shock. The day had passed like a trance, horrified as he saw Aleksei's abilities. It was especially shocking how he could instantly relax, that intense aura around him completely disappearing. "I suppose that a little extreme."
"Extreme? Hahaha" Aleksei laughed loudly "Poor boy. And you only experienced the open and direct parts, all legal. If you were to discover what were the behind scene preparations, you will be scared shitless. Hahaha!"
"I would rather avoid it if possible."
"This is the way of the merchant. At least if you want to be a good one" Aleksei explained "Rule 1, be greedy. Rule 2, do everything without mattering the methods, only the results are important. Rule 3, keep your cards hidden. Hahaha."
"Don't worry too much" Aleksei stood up and punched Allen at the shoulder, throwing him over another sofa "You will get used to it soon."
"I don't know if I want" Allen answered. Yes, he considered someone calculative, but he disliked the greediness and way of the merchants, stepping over everyone, destroying others to only become a little richer.
"Hm!" Aleksei hummed "I don't think that you will have many options in the future. And being truthful, I think that you have talent and a good head over your shoulders. Once you throw that aversion towards the less 'legal', you can become a great merchant."
"I would rather train to become stronger than trade to become richer" Allen stated.
"To save your sister, no?"
Allen glared at him, but nodded. His information being shared was a common point, not worthy of being angry about it.
"Your idea can be respected, but remember one thing. The strength are limited by your body and talent, on the other hand, the limit of money is the world." Aleksei said seriously "If you decided otherwise in the future, you can always come to me, I will make you my personal aide. Not a bad offer, being the future Pantalone's aide." He said pridefully.
"I will take into account" Allen nodded "So, what would we be doing tomorrow? Would we go to another round of dealings?"
"I might, but you can stop here. Your work finish today" Aleksei informed.
"Really?" Allen was confused.
"Too much sudden information will become counterproductive. Think about everything we did today and assimilate the information" Aleksei explained "You can take the next days as free time until the actual Rite of Descension."
Then, Aleksei threw a bag towards Allen. "This is..?" Opening the bag, Allen found a good deal of Mora, more than enough to casually spend it.
"Do whatever you want during this time, but you need to keep some rules" Aleksei lifted one finger "First, it's kind of obvious, don't leave Liyue's Harbor. You can visit the surroundings mountains and forest, but don't go too far, make sure to be here tomorrow for the ceremony."
"Lastly" Aleksei lifted another finger "You are prohibited to wear your Fatui's uniform. I will keep it for you."
Allen nodded, taking away his uniform and wearing normal clothes, short pants with a shirt. It was great not needing to use the usual winter clothes as at Snezhnaya.
"Should I keep my relation with the Fatuis in secret?" Allen asked.
"That up to you" Aleksei answered "Enjoy your free time." He ushered Allen away.
Finding himself alone, Allen made a thoughtful face "Free time? Enjoying? It's clear" He made a serious face "The next test had started."
...
"Let's go for a little sightseeing" Allen decided to follow Alina's advice and teasing, it wasn't worth worrying about so go your own way and act once the actual thing happens. There's no need to overthink.
Allen left Baiju Guesthouse where he was staying and started walking around, his objective being Yiyan Temple.
Yiyan Temple was a temple dedicated over Morax and this was the exact place for his descension. It was situated over Yujing Terrace, the westmost and highest part of Liyue's harbor and also considered to be the wealthiest so it was one of the most important areas.
That was what made Allen curious, wanting to know more about the preparations for the Rite. Moreover, if he wanted to have some insight into the actual timeline, the best should be to see people that he knew from the game and from Liyue, a good deal of characters worked over Liyue's administration, so they were most probably preparing the Rite of Descension.
Allen passed through the river of people while going upward the city, the air of celebrations was all over, with plenty of people coming to Liyue for the occasion.
Allen finally reached Yujing Terrace, crossing its round gates and finding a big pond beautifully decorated with lotus, with a bridge that crossed it by the middle.
Crossing the bridge, there were four paths. The first was a sightseeing place where it could be seen the docks and the entrance to Liyue's Habor.
The second went toward wide stairs that finished over a big building, this one being Bubu Pharmacy which was quite active during this time.
The third was a path with stone stairs that brought you outside the city, towards Mount Tianheng.
And finally, the fourth path was towards the Yuehai Pavilion where the administrative worked and towards his objective, the Yiyan Temple.
However, he found his first obstacle. The place was guarded by Millelith's armed soldiers wielding spears, making sure that no one entered the place.
'Of course, it would be guarded. Should I try and sneak in?' Allen thought 'Let's do it. In the end, I am a kid so they wouldn't think anything bad at me, only a reprimand at most.'
Allen started his plan to sneak and that was using his game's knowledge. He was proud and a little ashamed to have played an absurd number of hours at Genshin Impact, liking to explore every inch of the world, so he had a good knowledge of it.
Of course, not that it was a reality, the world changed, being far bigger with lots more building and people around. In the end, the game was a game and you couldn't hope to portray sight a big world perfectly. However, overall it was kind of the same with some scale in there.
So how would usually go Allen to the Yiyan Temple in the game? The truth is that the usual way would be teleporting over the See of Clouds Teleport Waypoint next to Mount Tianheng, jumping over the cliff and using his wings and a falling attacking, landing directly over the temple.
This was the fastest way, but unfortunately, it was impossible now. There was not teleport so climbing the mount would take an eternity, plus he had no wings, so it was non-viable. He had done climbing and canyoning in his previous life, so it would be possible with preparations and ropes but now it was simply impossible.
Another way would be from Feiyun Slope, crossing directly over the Ministry of Civil Affairs, climbing over it and reaching the Yiyan Temple through it. Also non-viable, as it would gain too much attention climbing such a building and the stone walls were impossible to climb unlike in the game as you will need to make your way picking through them.
So, Allen choose the fourth option, going over Mount Tianheng's path, going over the not paved path with stone stairs.
"Boy, where is your family?" A Millelith soldier stopped Allen. As this was also an entrance over Liyue's Harbor, is was also guarded, but it was different than to the temple. The soldiers here controlled the people entering the city, they didn't stop or prohibit them. However, if you see a young boy alone, it was normal for them to worry about it.
"They are waiting for me over the path. I showed them that I am a big boy and I bought alone the medicine" Allen explained a little excuse that was quickly accepted by the soldier.
"Okay, quickly reunite with them. And be wary of your feet, the terrain can be dangerous here" The soldier said amicably before returning to his usual post.
'Easy' Allen continued the path, passing over the soldier and reaching a bridge that crossed the river, a beautiful cascade could be seen from them.
Allen stopped just before the bridge and looked at his surrounding, making sure that there was no one before going towards the left, for a narrow path with a Sandbearer Tree that became even narrower, with only a person being able to pass through it.
He finally stopped reaching a rock about 8 meters tall "Lucky that its the same." Allen started climbing the rock. "It should be a 6a the first part, then it doesn't even reach the V." The first two meters were difficult, with a little of negative inclination that pushed him away, but after those two meters it became quite easy, being like climbing stairs, quite easy for Allen to climb.
Reaching the summit "It has been long since a last rock climbed. A lifetime..." Allen made a sorrowful smile.
"Let's continue" Allen started descending, that was quite easier, having good footsteps, finally jumping the lasts 2 meters and landing over a silk flower plant.
Now on his right, there was a paved bridge unguarded, however, the plaza over the Yuehai Pavilion was full of people, Millileth soldiers plus administrative officers working all over.
'If I were an adult now should be time, to dress up like them and hide as a worker' Allen lamented 'Let's see how much a last and if I am able to see someone known.'
Allen walked over the bridge, his sight very attentive over the guards, slowly walking his way, hiding thanks to the rocks formation over the pond separating them, avoiding their sights, until...
"Bang!" Having put all his attention on the guards, Allen didn't notice a person next to him, both of them headbutting each other and falling to the ground.
"Ouch! It hurts!" The other person shouted while held her head.
"Sorry." Allen looked at the person while scratching his pained head and saw a little red hooded girl about his weight and age with bright pink eyes.
"Woaw!" "Woaw!" Allen and the little girl found their bodies being lifted, a Millelith's soldier easily lifting both of them through the robes with one hand.
"You shouldn't be here, kids. This is a restringed area" The soldier warned both of them, having discovered them through their clash and shouts.
The soldier kept his grip tight, leaving no way to escape until they finally left the plaza, reaching the stairs that brought them again towards the big pond from Bubu Pharmacy.
"You shouldn't play around, you will worry the adults" The soldier scolded them amicably "Where are your families, are you lost?" He said worried.
"I-i..." The little girl babbled nervous, her eyes moving widely from side to side not knowing what to say, clearly wanting to hide something.
"Our mama works there and we wanted to visit her" Allen interjected with a big childish smile "Papa said that she is busy and we must wait for her to finish."
"You should listen to your parents" The soldier said "We are very busy in these days and you shouldn't do anything rashly like this or you would worry them sickly. Do you understand?" The soldier said with a serious face.
Allen nodded and after elbowing the girl, she also nodded.
"Luckily, nothing happened" The soldier sighed "Who is your mother, I would notif-"
"PAPA!" Allen shouted quickly, shutting down the soldier. He took the little girl's arm, dragging her away towards a man over the bridge who was looking around alone.
Reaching the man, Allen took the man's hand, spinning the man around and making his back face the guard.
"The father must have been searhing for them" The soldier sighed in relieve seeing the two young children with the man "Let's return to work" He sighed returning to his post.
"Who the heck are you?" The man said rubbored while seeing the two children hugging his legs.
Allen looked over the man and seeing the soldier turning around, he broke his childish smile "Sorry, I've got the wrong person." Allen said leaving the man alone, going to a corner with little people.
"Why did you do that?" The little girl asked "I don't know that man and I don't know you!"
"You didn't want to be discovered and brought back by the soldier, no?" Allen asked.
The girl cutely shook her head "And that's why I did it as he would have retained until he returned to our families, but thinking that the man was out father, he had no need of it."
"Woaw" The little girl opened her mouth widely, realizing the trick "You're great!" Then she made a thoughtful look, turning her head "Mmmm! Who are you? And why you do all this to not be discovered?"
"Everything has his own secrets" Allen answered looking attentively at the girl that by the quality of her clothes and demeanor, it was clear that she was from a rich and influential family "No?" he said pointing at her.
"Yes" She said flushing red.
"It's my first time over the city and I want to see it all over. Of course, I won't let me be captured and waste time."
'He is very intelligent and has my age and unlike adults, he won't stop me and could help me like before' The girl thought "Would you like to see the city with me? I bornt here and I know the best places, I can be your guide." She offered.
"Mmmm" Allen thought for a second 'I don't think that I can enter again the same way and I don't really have anything to do, it would be best to move around with someone familiar of the area and try to learn more about it. "Okay" Allen offered his hand "I am Allen."
"Great!" The girl said excitedly "I am K-!" she stopped for a second, before looking at Allen with doubt "I am King. Nice to meet you." She said calmer, shaking Allen's hand.
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