Genshin Impact: Funina's Official Pastry Chef

"Assassination?! This kind of bug can be used for assassination?!"

Paimon couldn't help but let out a scream. After all, in her understanding... assassination was about someone lurking in the shadows and then catching the opponent by surprise.

How can this kind of insect be used for assassination?

But Paimon did not dwell on this matter for too long. Instead, he shook his little head, trying to get his thoughts back on track.

"No, no, shouldn't the key point be what caused this fake "accident"?"

Hearing Paimon's words, Arlechino laughed and continued:

"Scholars in Solstice once developed a pheromone that could drive these insects away, in order to improve the living conditions of the people of Solstice."

"This pheromone can remove ice log worms from forest logs and move them closer to cultivated land."

"In this way, not only can high-quality fuel be preserved during the winter, but also the poor-quality wood can be properly placed without any waste."

Having said this, Alechino paused for a moment, then continued:

"But...when using this kind of thing, you must wear a full set of protective clothing."

"Once these pheromones get on humans, those ice log worms will treat you as logs and attack you without hesitation."

"Just imagine, a creature that can move freely in the hard wood of the North... What would it be like inside your flesh and blood?"

Looking at the smiling Alechino in front of her, Paimon felt a chill down her spine, as if an ice log worm would climb onto her body and eat her up in the next second.

Chang Ming fell into a brief period of thought, and after a while he spoke:

"I remember... this thing was produced more than 50 years ago, right? The Fontaine Academy of Sciences was still around at the time and was also involved in its research and development."

"But later on, because it was too dangerous, I defined it as a Class II contraband, so there is basically no such thing in Fontaine. Could it be that..."

Looking at Chang Ming who seemed to be thinking about something, Alechino nodded again, and then said very calmly:

"So after discovering that the thing was far more dangerous than practical... Zhidong completely abandoned it and worked overtime to come up with a harmless syrup to deal with these bugs."

"Back to this matter, the geographical environment of Fontaine itself is impossible for ice log worms to appear, but the entities in these ashes prove the opposite."

"As for what exactly is going on... Heh, everyone present is smart, so I guess there's no need for me to say anything more, right?"

After hearing this, Ying and Paimon both fell into deep thought, and after a while they spoke:

"In other words, the murderer actually used that syrup to drive these bugs to eat up the floor here, and then waited for someone to step on it and then fall down with a plop?"

Alechino smiled and nodded, but didn't say anything else.

Chang Ming thought for a while and then asked:

"So, Ms. Alechino, as the diplomatic envoy of Solstice to Fontaine, do you have any way to find out where this bottle of syrup and the ice log worm that has been labeled as an "alien species" by Fontaine came from?"

Upon hearing this, Alechino nodded again, then smiled and said:

"Of course, it's possible, but if you want to get more specific information... you may have to wait for a while."

"After all, there are no wind servants for me to command in Fontaine right now. Although Linnet is a natural wind servant in my opinion, she is not mature enough."

"So please, Mr. Chang Ming, wait quietly for some time. With the power of the Fatui, there is nothing we cannot find out in the winter."

"but..."

Alechino paused for a moment, and a cunning smile like a fox appeared on her delicate face, as if she was planning something.

"Mr. Chang Ming should also understand the truth that 'there is no free lunch in the world'."

"The reason why I came here to investigate tonight is essentially because of the partnership between you and me."

"As your partner, it is one of my duties to help you when you encounter problems, but it is different for the Fatui... or others in the Northland Bank."

"To drive them, it will more or less require some... cost."

Looking at the meaningful smile on Alechino's face, Chang Ming shook his head helplessly, as if he had expected this to happen, but he couldn't do anything about it.

Chang Ming thought for a while, then said:

"How about this, as the spokesperson for the Mo Mang Palace and the manager of some foreign trade agreements,

I can definitely decide to reduce the 8% debt dividend that Northland Bank promised to Mo Mang Palace to %. "

"Are you satisfied with this 'price', Ms. Alechino, the Fourth Executioner of the Fatui, 'Servant'?"

Hearing this answer, Alechino nodded with a smile, then quickly disappeared into the shadows with graceful steps.

Before her figure completely disappeared into the darkness, the crisp sound of her high heels hitting the floor suddenly stopped.

Alechino tilted her head slightly, just like the previous conversations in the living room.

"Wait for my good news, Mr. Chang Ming. I will do my best to help Mo Mang Palace catch the criminals."

After saying that, the slender figure disappeared into the shadows, and there was no more movement.

"She's gone..."

Paimon looked towards the place where Arlecino disappeared with some sigh, as if he was still a little...unsatisfied.

But she also understood that now was not the time to feel sentimental about this.

She immediately turned around to look at Chang Ming beside her and asked curiously:

"Chang Ming, what exactly does the "cooperative relationship" that the servant just mentioned mean? Does it mean that Mo Mang Palace has already started cooperating with Northland Bank?"

Hearing Paimon's somewhat ambiguous words, Chang Ming blinked slightly and said:

"Paimon... To be precise, it should be a cooperation between me and the servant based on personal relationship. Momang Palace and Northland Bank have always cooperated."

"Eh? So that's how it is? Then what exactly is the content of your cooperation? Could it be that you have commissioned the servants to investigate other nobles in Fontaine?"

"Of course not, and it's quite redundant, since I have my own sources of information on this matter."

"As for the content of the cooperation... I can't tell you now. When the time is right... you will know everything."

Hearing this, Paimeng put his hands on his hips, looked at Chang Ming with some dissatisfaction and said:

"How come you keep things in suspense just like Zhongli?"