Genshin Impact: A Fool

As Arlecchino walked into the grand meeting hall where they will discuss about their diplomatic relation, Heins and the other agents, disguised as ordinary citizens, nodded at each other before they scattered.

Meanwhile, Heins and his 'parents' walked around the city of Liyue Harbor.

After a while, for efficiency, the agents disguised as parents nodded at Heins before they separated on their own.

The agents did not underestimate Heins, since Arlecchino trusted him, thus the process was smooth. Heins muttered, as expected of professionals, they put aside all their personal opinions and execute their role perfectly.

Heins also found a strange light purple-furred cat. It looked at him curiously, so he simply gather it in his arms and foolishly wander around Liyue.

As Heins wandered the streets of Liyue with the curious light purple-furred cat now cradled in his arms, he couldn't help but marvel at the sights, sounds, and smells that assaulted his senses.

The air was thick with the aroma of exotic spices, sizzling street food, and the ever-present scent of the ocean, a far cry from the crisp, clean air of Snezhnaya.

The buildings were a riot of color, their ornate facades and intricate carvings a testament to the skill and craftsmanship of Liyue's artisans, while the streets teemed with people from all walks of life - merchants, sailors, scholars, and everything in between.

Heins grinned, his eyes wide with wonder as he took in the spectacle of the great nation of Liyue.

Liyue is a land of wealth, culture, and commerce, where the pursuit of knowledge, art, and prosperity reign supreme. Liyue Harbor, particularly, is a sprawling metropolis that showcases the heights of Liyue's architectural and technological achievements, with towering pagodas, grand libraries, and opulent palaces dotting its skyline.

As Heins explored the winding streets and alleyways, he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and respect for the incredible civilization that had been built here.

He marveled at the way the people of Liyue had harnessed the power of the elements, using their understanding of the world to create wonders that seemed to defy the very laws of nature. And yet, for all their accomplishments and prosperity, there was still a certain warmth and welcoming atmosphere that permeated the city, a sense that anyone could find their place and purpose here, so long as they were willing to put in the work and dedication required.

Lost in thought and wonder, Heins barely noticed as the light purple-furred cat in his arms began to squirm and wriggle, its curiosity getting the better of it.

It let out a soft, chirping mewl, a sound that was almost like a question, as if asking its new companion what wonders and discoveries lay in store.

Heins simply laughed, his grin widening as he scratched the cat behind its ears, his fingers sinking into its plush, lavender fur.

"Well, little one," he said, his voice taking on a playful, teasing lilt, "looks like it's just you and me now. And I reckon a curious little thing like you must be dying to see more of this amazing place! And, you're quite an intelligent feline too."

With that, Heins set off once more, the cat now perched happily on his shoulders as he wandered deeper into the heart of Liyue.

He had a mission to complete, true, but for now, he allowed himself to be swept up in the magic and wonder of the moment, ready to see where his new feline companion might lead him next in this incredible journey of discovery.

Heins went into a secluded crevice between two buildings, where there was coincidentally a massive crater, and sat behind it, hidden from the eyes.

His little lavender-furred feline curiously watched as Heins kneeled and spread out a medium-sized map. It was the map of Liyue, specifically Liyue Harbor.

Heins furrowed his eyebrows, his foolishness receded a little bit as he muttered, "According to Miss Arlecchino, the places I have to pay attention to are the Liyue Qixing Guild and Feiyun Commerce Guild. There are also other notable establishments such as Eight Trades and Millelith. The latter was especially important, since it concerned the safety of Liyue citizens and workers."

"Liyue is known as a place of contracts, since its overseer, the ancient Geo Archon, is known as the God of Contracts. Thus, with the clear benefits and responsibilities laid out in form of a contract, citizens are more... enthusiastic to do their jobs."

The lavender feline curiously looked as Heins' handsome boyish face turned serious and calculative, extremely in contrast to what he showed when she just saw him then.

The feline meowed cheerfully as it perched on his shoulder and playfully pawed the boy's cheek.

Heins chuckled, but he remained thoughtful, "I'll check out Liyue Qixing and Feiyun Guild first, and when I heard everything I need, I could check out the other chambers."

Then, he neatly folded the map into a small parchment shape and went out, his cold handsome face and striking crimson eyes turned cheerful and sunny, like how most innocent children acted.

"Qixing it is."

As if excited, the feline jumped down and swayed its tail, meowing at him as the feline ran towards a certain way. Heins raised his eyebrows, "You knew where it is?"

Seeing it nodded, Heins smiled sunnily as he nodded and ran after the feline.

The people chuckled and some women aww-ed as they saw a handsome boy happily chased after a rather unique light purple furball.

Along the way, his ears are perked up, intently listening to the locals. Most of them, he noticed, were complaining about the safety of the road.

Since Liyue is a nation of commerce, merchants often wandered around to trade unique goods and exchanged it here to gain profit. Unfortunately, Liyue is somewhat unsafe. Millelith, a chamber for military, was simply overwhelmed by the size of Liyue, and they lacked manpower, he heard.

Heins pretend to ran after the feline as he heard this all. In the end, he was satisfied. He grasped some core issues.

A few moments later, he arrived before the Qixing Guild.

Heins was awed, "Massive!"

As Heins stood before the imposing edifice of the Liyue Qixing Guild, he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and trepidation. Liyue Qixing Guild is a massive, grand structure that serves as the headquarters of the Qixing, the seven great clans that govern Liyue Harbor.

The architecture is a stunning blend of traditional Liyue design and modern, innovative elements, with towering pagodas, intricate carvings, and gleaming, reinforced walls stretching as far as the eye can see.

The guild is a hive of activity, with merchants, scholars, and adventurers from all over Teyvat flocking to its halls to conduct business, seek knowledge, or embark on commissions.

The air is filled with the din of negotiation, the clatter of typewriters, and the occasional flash of elemental energy as the Qixing and their agents go about their duties.

It is a place where the fate of Liyue's commerce and politics is decided, a microcosm of the nation's relentless pursuit of progress and prosperity.

Heins, his crimson eyes wide with wonder, took in the sight of the grand entrance before him.

The massive, reinforced doors were made of a strange, shimmering metal that seemed to absorb the light, the intricate engravings on their surface hinting at the wealth and power of the guild within.

Above the entrance, a grand sign hung from the roof of the overhanging balcony, the words "Liyue Qixing Guild" emblazoned in bold, gold letters that seemed to leap out from the dark wood.

He knew that he would need to be at the top of his game to navigate the treacherous waters of Liyue politics and emerge unscathed.

And yet, despite the weight of his mission and the stakes at hand, there was still a part of him that marveled at the sheer scale and grandeur of the place, a childlike wonder that refused to be fully extinguished.

Heins turned to the purple-furred cat, which had taken up a position at his feet, its tail swishing lazily as it regarded the guild with a feline nonchalance.

"Well, little one," he murmured, his voice low and conspiratorial, "looks like we've got a big job ahead of us. But don't worry - I have a feeling that between your curiosity and my... unique talents, we'll be able to uncover the secrets we need."

With a final, determined nod, Heins strode forward, his footsteps echoing in the cavernous entrance hall as he made his way inside.

The cat followed close behind, its eyes glinting with a feline mischief that seemed to mirror the secretive grin that tugged at the corner of Heins's mouth.

It was time to begin his mission in earnest, to delve into the heart of Liyue's power structure and unravel the tangled web of politics and intrigue that lay within.

As he walked further into the guild, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease, a prickling sensation at the back of his neck that told him he was not alone in his investigations.

It's anxiety.

Heins knew that he would need to be cautious, to keep his wits about him and his tongue in check if he hoped to succeed.

As Heins made his way deeper into the heart of the Liyue Qixing Guild, he couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration coursing through his veins.

And so, he stumbled and giggled his way through the crowded halls, his crimson eyes sparkling with mischievous delight as he interrupted hushed conversations and drew the ire of the serious, dignified merchants who populated the guild. Like a fool he was.

Yet beneath this veneer of foolishness, Heins remained acutely aware of his surroundings, his sharp mind taking in every detail and nuance of the discussions he overheard.

He had heard whispers of illegal trade practices, of profits doubling due to the lack of oversight and regulation. It was the kind of information that could prove invaluable to the Fatui's goals, a chink in the armor of Liyue's otherwise prosperous facade.

Inwardly, Heins grinned. Jackpot!

And with each giggling interruption, each clumsy stumble, he drew closer to the heart of the matter, like a moth drawn to a flame.

The light-purple cat would follow him as he did so, its unique violet eyes shined with strong curiosity and excitement. Curious as why the boy acted so differently compared to when he ingeniously and coldly explained the important places of Liyue and pinpointed its weakness. Excited by the notion of such an exciting action with this mysterious, cool and handsome boy.

He watched as the two merchants talk with hushed tone. This commerce activity was illegal since it was not acknowledged by the major chambers of commerce, though whether they knew or not of this remained uncertain.

Then, he stumbled into them. Both men were shocked to their core, but seeing a foolish, giggling boy, they sighed in relief and hurriedly left the scene with hasted but controlled steps.

The light-purple cat, perched on his shoulder, seemed to sense the gravity of the moment.

Its violet eyes, once bright with curiosity and excitement, now glinted with a feline understanding, a silent acknowledgment of the delicate dance they were engaged in. It remained still and quiet, a silent partner in their unspoken mission.

Heins smiled, his fingers sinking into the soft fur of the cat's back as he gave it a gentle pat.

"Smart one, aren't you?" he murmured, his voice low and conspiratorial, meant only for the cat's ears.

"We make quite the pair, don't we? The foolish boy and his clever companion, unraveling the secrets of a nation one stumble at a time."

As he spoke, Heins's eyes never left the retreating figures of the two men he had startled, his mind already working to piece together the fragmented information they had let slip.

It was a dangerous game he played, straddling the line between carefree fool and cunning agent, but one that he had to admit, filled him with a grudging sense of enjoyment.

Of course, all of this was stemmed from his formidable strength, to which Raven has acknowledged.

If not, how could he dare to follow two strangers? No, he wouldn't be here doing missions in the first place if he was not assured of his strength.

Heins furrowed his eyebrows as he silently followed the two men. He was waiting, waiting for them to go to a secluded place so he could surprise them with his speed enhanced by Electro and 'persuade' them to 'kindly' share their knowledge with the fool him. He was also surprised when the feline could keep up with him.

As he silently tracked their trails, he couldn't help but find himself adoring the light purple feline.

As the two men coincidentally stopped to looked around them, Heins quickly leaned against the wall while lifting the feline, letting its body fell.

His handsome still boyish face smiled, "A little cute and smart one, aren't you?"

He also subconsciously checked out its butt to check its gender, to which it strangely squirmed in his grasp but still relatively obedient.

He nodded as if he expected it, "A female feline, no wonder you're so cute and have such a beautiful fur."

He also noticed how reactive she was, the feline. The feline hid her face as he praised her, earning her a chuckle from him. She is quite a special one, huh?

As the two merchants walked into a more secluded place, Heins no longer hesitate. He used the Electro Vision and appeared behind them.

Before they could react, he violently knocked them out with his hardest body part, the elbows.

With a satisfying bam, they fell. Heins looked around before he dragged their unconscious forms to the woods. With this, proof secured!

Heins dragged the unconscious merchants deeper into the secluded woods, feeling somewhat unease. Since it was the first time he was in a mission, it's not strange to feel tense and anxious.

Still, it's annoying. This is the result of lacking in experience, anxious and giddy in every step.

But beneath that unease, there was also a thrill of anticipation, a dark excitement that came from the knowledge that he was closing in on a secret, a truth that had been long buried.

He could feel it in the way his heart raced, in the way his palms grew slick with sweat as he dragged the men deeper into the shadows of the forest.

As he worked, Heins couldn't help but glance down at the light-purple feline that clung to his side, her violet eyes glinting in the dappled light that filtered through the dense canopy above.

There was a certain intelligence in those eyes, a cleverness that he had come to recognize and appreciate over the course of their strange partnership.

Heins found himself smiling, a genuine smile that had nothing to do with his fool persona, as he reached out to stroke the soft fur of the cat's head.

"You're not just cute, are you?" he murmured, his voice low and soft, a whisper meant only for the feline's ears. "You're smart, too. Smart and brave, to follow me into a situation like this."

The feline seemed to preen under his touch, her tail swishing lazily as she leaned into his hand. It was a small gesture, but one that filled Heins with a sense of camaraderie, of a bond forged in the heat of danger and the thrill of discovery.

As Heins finished his grim work and stood up, brushing off his hands, he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. He had taken a risk, a calculated gamble, and it had paid off.

He had the proof he needed, the right to leverage the information he had uncovered for the benefit of the Fatui and the Tsaritsa.

But as he turned to make his way back to the guild, Heins couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched, that the eyes of the forest were upon him. Damn anxiety!

And with each step, he felt a growing certainty that his mission in Liyue was far from over, that there were still more secrets to uncover and more dangers to face.

Still, with his clever feline companion at his side and the thrill of victory singing in his veins, Heins felt ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.

He had played the fool and come out victorious, and he knew that he would need to do so again if he hoped to see his mission through to the end.

After noticing some of his colleagues, Arlecchino's trusted agents, the unconscious merchants that could be used to track down certain individuals out of their mouth, he continued his venture to other chambers of commerce, particularly the famed Jade Chamber. He is still a boy too. He was very curious about such an interesting place.

Although it was not exactly a chamber of commerce, he still want to take a look. Just indulging himself a bit, surely it would be fine?

The Jade Chamber is located in Mt. Tianheng, Sea of Clouds. It's located South East from Liyue Harbor. With the feline as his lead, which seems to know everything about interesting places in Liyue, he could easily thread the path to his destination.

He looked up in awe at the floating building. It was huge. It was glamorous. It was splendorous. More importantly, it floats!

He wondered how people could get up there. He heard that Anemo Vision users could flew, to a certain extent, and glide with their mastery over the Anemo element from high places.

But surely it wouldn't be to that extent? The Jade Chamber floated, but not only that, it was very, very far from the ground.

The light purple feline proudly wagged her tail as she meowed loudly to the building. Heins was dumbfounded and somewhat curious. What is she trying to do?

Then, Heins was shocked. He was so shocked that his jaws dropped to the ground.

A massive air balloon... Glided from somewhere and landed before them. Then, the feline transformed with a puff, becoming a little girl with light purple hair, violet eyes and a pair of cute light purple feline ears, perfect in a splendorous violet sundress.

Heins was so shocked in fact, that he took a few step back and stumbled to the ground. The supposedly feline giggled and flashed him an excited grin.

"Hehe! I witnessed everything, handsome stranger! I am Keqing, the princess of Qixing Guild, and I shall arrest you!"

...It's over.

Heins stared in utter disbelief at the transformed figure before him, his crimson eyes wide with shock. The light-purple feline, now a young girl with the same striking violet eyes and cute feline ears, grinned at him with a mischievous, almost triumphant expression. The revelation hit Heins like a thunderbolt, leaving him reeling and off-balance.

What do you mean? Princess Keqing, the princess of the Qixing Guild, had been the feline all along?

So she is the source of his anxiety!?

The realization sent a chill down his spine, a mix of awe and trepidation at the thought of the power and cunning it took to deceive him so completely.

Heins's heart pounded in his chest as he scrambled to his feet, his earlier bravado evaporating in the face of this unexpected twist.

He had come to the Jade Chamber to admire its grandness, partially for seeking answers. But instead, he had stumbled into a trap set by the very princess who held the keys to the chamber.

But even as panic threatened to overwhelm him, Heins couldn't help but marvel at the audacity of it all. To think that he had been played so expertly by a mere child, a princess no less, filled him with a grudging sense of respect.

It was a reminder that the world was a far more complex and dangerous place than he had imagined, and that he would need to be far more careful if he hoped to navigate its treacherous waters.

Heins knew that he had to think fast, to come up with a plan to talk his way out of this predicament.

But as he opened his mouth to speak, he found himself at a loss for words, his earlier eloquence deserting him in the face of this unexpected development.

Instead, he could only stare at the princess, his expression a mix of shock, awe, and a strange, reluctant admiration. It was clear that he had underestimated his opponent, and now he would have to pay the price for his arrogance.

Heins took a deep breath, his mind racing as he tried to formulate a plan. He knew he would need all his wit, all his cunning, and perhaps a touch of that fool persona he had been honing, to talk his way out of this one.

And with a grim smile hidden between his foolish facade, he turned to face the princess, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

However, it seems like Heins underestimated the sheer audaciousness of this princess.

The little girl, perhaps two or three years younger than him, instead of reporting his activities, was actively bombarding him with various questions, her violet eyes shined with clear curiosity, awe and admiration.

"Big Brother, you were so cool! You were so foolish in front of others and when you were alone, poof! You became so cold! So... Handsome!"

"Big Brother, how could you do such a complex thing? Can you tell Keqing? I want to be as cool as you too!"

"Big Brother, you are so handsome and sharp, do you have someone back home? Perhaps... Y-You could take me?"

Heins stood rooted to the spot, his mind spinning as he tried to process the barrage of questions and declarations from the princess.

Her violet eyes shone with a fervor that was both disconcerting and flattering, her words painting a picture of him as some sort of suave, mysterious hero. It was a far cry from the fool he had been playing, and he found himself at a loss for how to respond.

Heins's heart raced as he realized the precariousness of his situation. The guards from Millelith stood frozen, their eyes wide with a mix of concern and disbelief.

They seemed to sense the same thing he did - that if left unchecked, the princess's admiration could lead her to make a decision she might regret.

No, she would definitely do it! Just look at that adoration donned clearly on her little face!

Heins knew he had to act fast, to say something that would quell her enthusiasm without raising the suspicions of her guards.

He took a deep breath, his mind racing as he tried to formulate a response that would satisfy the princess's curiosity without compromising his mission.

With a strained smile, Heins slightly lowered himself to the princess's level, his crimson eyes meeting her violet ones with a mix of warmth and gentle reproach.

"Princess Keqing," he began, his voice low and measured, "your interest is... flattering. Truly. But I'm afraid you have the wrong idea about me. I'm not the handsome hero you think I am. I'm just a traveler, a wanderer with a curious nature and a penchant for finding trouble."

Heins paused, letting his words sink in before he continued,

"What I did today... it wasn't cool or heroic. It was dangerous and reckless, and it could have ended very badly. I don't want to see a bright, clever girl like you taking unnecessary risks, you understand? Your people need you, Princess. You can't go gallivanting off with mysterious strangers, no matter how charming they may seem."

Heins's words seemed to give the guards some measure of relief, and he could see the princess's expression shift from one of awestruck admiration to one of thoughtful consideration. It was a small victory, but one that he would take for now.

Rising to his feet, Heins took a step back, putting some distance between himself and the princess.

He knew that he had to be careful, to walk a fine line between maintaining her goodwill and not giving her any ideas.

It was a delicate balance, but one that he was determined to strike if it meant ensuring that the princess remained safe and sound in her rightful place.