Genshin Impact: I'm the mastermind behind everything.

Mondstadt.

As the land of wind in Teyvat, freedom pervades everywhere here.

The free wind and the aroma of wine drifting from Cider Lake often make travelers stop.

Wine and poetry, freedom and adventure.

Sweet love is buried in the floating dandelion seeds. In the evening, holding your lover's hand, walking on the fruit-scented green plains, listening to the voice of the Anemo Archon.

The god said, "Let there be wind."

The god said, "Let there be wine."

Thus, wind and wine became the pride of Mondstadters.

But all this beauty shattered half a year ago when the dragon disaster struck.

In the early morning.

Just after the city gates opened, a figure walked out.

The young man, with black, tousled hair and bangs covering his forehead, looked about twenty years old, with a tall and handsome figure carrying a faint smile.

Holding a wooden bucket in one hand and a fishing rod and bait in the other, he headed towards the lakeside.

The two Knights of Favonius at the gate were used to this sight.

They greeted the young man, then returned to their posts.

Su Chen, male, twenty years old, professional transmigrator, and part-time traveler, pioneer, master, commander, janitor... and fisherman.

Of course, he had another identity: assistant to the acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius.

However, Su Chen preferred fishing over his assistant job.

If fishing could sustain him... no, even if it can't for now, it might in the future. Perhaps fishing could make him rich someday.

Since transmigrating here four months ago, lonely and without support, and abandoned by his wife from his previous life, he had to rely on his own hard work to create dreams.

"The weather's nice."

Feeling the cool morning breeze, Su Chen put down the wooden bucket, baited the hook, and cast it out.

Staring at the float, he muttered, "Today's goal is to catch a five-pound bass."

Like setting a small goal for making money, Su Chen's small goal was a five-pound bass.

He was ready for a long battle.

Soon, the blonde fool would come to solve the dragon disaster, Mondstadt would be peaceful again, and he could start his retirement.

Ideal?

Ambition?

Those distant words shattered along with the crappy career planning and economic pressure of his past life.

When he first transmigrated, he had a grand goal.

But the reality gap was so vast that he couldn't even see the end of it.

Su Chen chewed a blade of grass.

Hero or savior?

Neither.

He wanted to change this world.

To protect, change, create, and even... destroy, and be reborn after destruction.

Sadly, dreams require strength to support them; otherwise, they're just the fantasies of a dying man.

Why aren't those damned fish biting?

"You really are here."

A gentle voice came from behind.

"I heard from the patrolling knights that they saw you heading out with a fishing rod."

Su Chen didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

Behind him, a beautiful blonde girl was staring at his empty wooden bucket.

Her long, golden hair was tied back into a neat ponytail. Her deep blue eyes were clear and pure. She wore a blue cloak adorned with the Gunnhildr family crest, and her proud chest stood tall. White tight pants were cinched with a green belt, and a slender one-handed sword hung at her waist.

The morning sunlight, like golden sand, fell on the girl's exquisite face, making her look dreamlike and stunningly beautiful.

"My dear Captain Jean, you haven't forgotten that I'm off today, have you?" Su Chen said helplessly.

"Of course not," Jean replied guiltily. "But the impact of the dragon disaster is getting worse. Monsters are rampaging, and farmlands are being destroyed, severely affecting the people's lives."

"Yesterday, a guard reported a large number of hilichurls near Springvale. If they attack the town, it could cause unthinkable damage."

"So," Su Chen leaned his head back, "what brings you here to find me?"

"I was just passing by and saw you," Jean turned her head, trying to pass off an excuse she herself didn't believe, quickly realizing she had just mentioned the patrolling knights.

She thought for a moment, then said sincerely, "We are short on manpower now. Could you come with me and think of some solutions on the way?"

Jean had complete faith in Su Chen's abilities.

Due to the dragon disaster, the demand for personnel had greatly increased. Her previous assistant went missing during an investigation and hasn't been seen since. She had to hire someone new, and Su Chen happened to apply.

Although Su Chen appeared in Mondstadt suddenly, and his identity was still under scrutiny, Jean found him to be harmless after spending time with him.

More importantly, Su Chen was exceptionally capable.

Calling him knowledgeable would be an understatement. His knowledge was extensive, surpassing even that of the scholars she knew from the Sumeru Akademiya.

He often provided her with valuable advice in addition to handling his duties well.

However, there was one thing Jean wasn't quite satisfied with.

While she never interfered with her subordinates' private lives, Su Chen's passion for fishing far exceeded his enthusiasm for work. And his fishing skills were...

Poor, but he loved it.

Su Chen, you might as well learn from Klee how to fish with bombs.

Su Chen was unaware of Jean's rude thought.

But he knew that since Jean had come to find him, fishing was out of the question for now.

After all, Jean was his superior, and subordinates shouldn't defy their superiors.

"Perhaps you should consider raising the standards for the Knights of Favonius. That way, manpower wouldn't be so tight," Su Chen said while starting to reel in his line.

Five-pound bass: 0/1.

"Raise the standards?" Jean frowned. "The Knights of Favonius exist to protect the people. If we make demands on the people because of our own problems, isn't that putting the cart before the horse?"

"You said the knights' duty is to protect. If you include finding lost cats and dogs as part of that duty, then I have nothing more to say. At least I think those tasks could be handed over to the Adventurers' Guild. There'd be plenty of people willing to do them. Besides, you're taking their business." Su Chen retorted.

He didn't want to comment too much on the Knights.

And Mondstadt's issues went beyond the dragon disaster. The deeply ingrained negative traits in its people were the real problems needing resolution.

Su Chen picked up his empty bucket and walked towards the city gate.

Jean pondered, considering Su Chen's suggestion. But given Mondstadt's current situation, it didn't seem feasible.

Announcing such a change abruptly, especially under the dragon disaster's impact, would surely lead to more dissent among the citizens.

People might think the knights were incompetent, derelict, arrogant, and unwilling to solve even small problems.

There would always be those who wouldn't understand the knights' perspective.

To them, the knights' work was just duty. No matter how well it was done, it was taken for granted. Any minor fault was seen as dereliction, warranting loud public outcry.

Especially now, with the dragon disaster, the knights' reputation among Mondstadt's citizens was at an all-time low.

Su Chen didn't care about Jean's thoughts.

He was just complaining, knowing he didn't have the power to change anything.

Asking others to do what he couldn't wasn't fair.

"Please keep an eye on these for me," Su Chen handed his fishing rod and bucket to the gate knights.

"Don't worry, Mr. Su Chen!"

The knights responded with a standard salute, as if declaring they would guard them with their lives.

Su Chen thought that was a bit much.

As he turned away, a mechanical voice suddenly sounded.

[Ding~ Simulation cooldown complete.]

[Name: Su Chen]

Inherent Talent:

Dark Will (White·Growth Potential): Your will strengthens through experiences, unwavering in your pursuits. Each insight and breakthrough enhances your power. Justice? Kindness? Mercy? These are unnecessary to you. You don't advocate for slaughter, but don't shy away from it. To achieve your goals, you will do anything. What the world deems right or wrong doesn't concern you. Justice? What you pursue is your own justice.]

Sage Mode (Purple): When you enter Sage Mode, you become free of distractions, and your concentration is significantly enhanced.

Money Maker (Purple): The projects you invest in almost always make a profit.

Slacker (Blue): When you are loafing around, your stamina recovery doubles.

Adventurous Spirit (Blue): Your abilities in outdoor adventures improve.

Gifted Penmanship (Blue): Your writing and drawing skills are enhanced.

Simulation Attempts Available: 1