Genshin Impact: Strength Through Bonds

Inazuma, Inazuma City.

Takahashi Ren opened his eyes.

"Thank you for waiting. Here's the tea you ordered."

A cup of hot tea was placed in front of him, the rising steam curling gently upward.

As his vision cleared, Ren let out a bitter chuckle.

So it was all just a dream.

That memory belonged to his past life.

Yes, the classic trope—a transmigration into another world. But this time, he'd landed in the world of a game.

The game was Genshin Impact.

Ren was a casual player at best.

He'd joined as soon as the game launched, but life as an overworked corporate drone forced him to quit before the 2.0 Inazuma update even arrived.

Though he'd never experienced Inazuma's content firsthand, he'd heard plenty from his friends who still played.

They loved to gush about the storyline, and over time, he'd come to know a lot about the game—even if he hadn't seen it all for himself.

Upon transmigrating, the heavens bestowed him a peculiar condition:

As long as he could warm the hearts of others and dispel their malice, he would gain mysterious powers.

"Thank you, Miss Okura. I've truly been in your care these past few days."

Looking up with a sunny smile, Ren turned his gaze toward the elegant woman seated beside him.

She exuded refinement, her tailored kimono so exquisite that its expense was evident at a glance.

Clearly, she was wealthy.

"You must be exhausted. I saw you nodding off earlier and didn't want to disturb you."

Miss Okura handed him an intricately crafted dessert, her tone brimming with gratitude.

Though the young man beside her carried himself with a calm and approachable demeanor, he was, without a doubt, a samurai under the Tenryou Commission.

Not long ago, he'd retrieved a shipment of high-quality silk stolen by bandits. In a closed-off nation like Inazuma, the value of such silk was immeasurable.

"I serve the people without seeking rewards," Ren said with a polite smile, refraining from accepting the dessert. Instead, he lifted his teacup and gently blew away the lingering steam.

His naturally confident and handsome features, combined with his calm words, gave him an air of sophistication.

"Ah!"

Miss Okura's eyes sparkled as she nodded fervently, her admiration growing.

This young samurai, recently assigned to maintain order in the area by the Tenryou Commission, radiated a sense of security.

"Though... the desserts here are so expensive that I wouldn't dare try them."

"Pardon? What did you say?"

"Oh, nothing. Just that tracking down fugitives lately has been a bit draining."

Miss Okura's eyes lit up in understanding, her respect for Ren reaching new heights.

Ren sipped his tea calmly, but inwardly he was grumbling.

These desserts really were overpriced, and he couldn't afford to indulge.

With the Tenryou Commission delaying his paychecks, he was starting to worry about how he'd even afford his next meal.

When Ren transmigrated, he had the background of a samurai from a once-prestigious family.

—A family that had fallen into decline.

By his father's generation, their wealth was gone, and his parents had passed away early, leaving him with only the burden of restoring the family name.

Tragic, really. No matter the world, he was destined to be an orphan.

And now, here he was, working for the Raiden Shogun herself.

"What kind of fugitive are you tracking?"

Miss Okura leaned in slightly, her curiosity piqued. If she could offer any clues, it might help—and strengthen their bond.

Ren replied confidently, "The target has already been identified."

Miss Okura's jaw dropped in amazement. "So quickly? No wonder you've managed to capture dozens of criminals within a month of taking this post."

"Your legendary efficiency is the talk of Inazuma City."

"I'm sure with your accomplishments, you'll soon earn a promotion within the Commission!"

Ren offered a polite smile, though he didn't feel much joy.

Legendary efficiency, huh? That wasn't exactly something to boast about.

Moreover, the growing discord between the three Commissions and the mysterious identities of the criminals he'd been apprehending lately left him uneasy.

"So... might I ask who—"

Before Miss Okura could finish her question, Ren raised a finger to his lips, his expression turning enigmatic.

"Shh—right here."

"What!"

Miss Okura froze, her heart skipping a beat—not sure whether it was the handsome young man suddenly leaning closer or the shocking revelation that the fugitive was nearby.

She instinctively covered her mouth with one hand while clutching Ren's sleeve with the other, her eyes darting nervously around.

"Relax. Just stay here and watch the show."

Stretching lazily, Ren stood up, exhaling deeply.

Though he appeared nonchalant, a sharp glint flickered in his eyes.

Leaving the last of his dwindling Mora beside the teacup, Ren smiled and said, "Break time's over, wouldn't you agree, Miss Okura?"

"Let's chat again soon."

Miss Okura sat stunned, taking a moment to recover.

When she finally looked up, the young samurai had already vanished into the bustling crowd, his graceful departure leaving her with an inexplicable sense of emptiness.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted in the streets.

"Look over there! It's her!"

Miss Okura's gaze shifted to the commotion at the end of the street. When her eyes landed on a striking figure, her heart sank in worry.

"Of all people... it's that young lady. Takahashi might..."

---

Meanwhile, the bustling street was alive with a mix of locals and visitors. Amid the chaos, Ren's sharp instincts caught onto the disturbance.

This wasn't good news. Any unrest could alert his target, potentially causing them to flee.

The unruly crowd only increased the odds of losing the fugitive. Worst-case scenario? If the criminal panicked and took a hostage...

Ren's eyes scanned his surroundings, finally locking onto a suspicious figure.

The informant's tip had pinpointed the fugitive's presence in Inazuma City, which was why Ren had chosen to act here.

"Found you."

Not far from him, a scruffy man with a hunched posture and a wary gaze tugged his hat lower and quickened his steps.

It was the fugitive.

The man's paranoid and alert demeanor made it clear he'd sensed danger and was eager to escape.

This is going to be a pain, Ren thought, shaking his head. The man was making his job unnecessarily difficult.

Wouldn't it have been easier to surrender quietly and help Ren secure the last merit he needed for a promotion?

Without hesitation, Ren decided to act.

"You there! Halt and present your identification this is a Tenryou Commission inspection!"

In an instant, Ren moved like a shadow, closing the distance and reaching for the fugitive's shoulder.

To hell with formal procedures—when dealing with fugitives, brute force was the Tenryou Commission's signature style!

"Damn it! It's the Tenryou Commission! Since when—?!"

The fugitive, caught off guard by Ren's stealthy approach, panicked and shoved through the crowd, breaking into a run.

"Oh? Thinking about escaping?"

Ignoring the chaos of the people stumbling and shouting, Ren gave chase.

His lithe, panther-like figure cut through the crowd like the wind, closing the gap in mere moments.

"No!"

The fugitive's back was drenched in cold sweat. When he glanced back, his eyes widened in terror.

"How is he so fast?!"

Driven by fear, the fugitive pushed his body to its limits, running faster than he ever had in his life.

This isn't a samurai chasing me—it's a damn predator!

But no amount of desperation could change the fact that he was up against Ren, who had successfully apprehended dozens of criminals. The fugitive's lead evaporated in seconds.

"Ugh!"

Ren's kick sent the fugitive sprawling, face-first into the ground with a resounding thud.

Drawing the scabbard at his waist, Ren aimed for the fugitive's neck and brought it down with a fierce swing.

The force behind the strike whistled through the air, promising incapacitation for hours to come if it landed.

The onlookers gasped in shock, surprised by the handsome young samurai's ruthlessness.

Thud!

The dull impact made the surrounding crowd wince and instinctively rub their own necks in sympathy.

As expected, the fugitive's eyes rolled back, and he slumped to the ground, unconscious.

Ren stood over the man and finally called out the obligatory announcement: "Don't move! This is the Tenryou Commission, apprehending a fugitive!"

He didn't particularly enjoy shouting the line, but it was a necessary step to maintain the Tenryou Commission's public image as guardians of law and order.

The crowd began clapping in approval.

Some people recognized Ren and called out his name enthusiastically.

"Takahashi-san! You're amazing!"

"As expected of a samurai from the Tenryou Commission!"

The atmosphere grew lively as Ren smiled and waved to the crowd. Building goodwill and recognition was always a plus.

"D-damn it!"

The fugitive, trembling and bleeding from the mouth, spat out a few broken teeth. His hands clawed desperately at the ground.

"As long as the plan succeeds... even getting caught here will be worth it!"

Plan?

Ren's eyes narrowed, and he followed the fugitive's gaze. His expression darkened.

"So it's her..."

At that moment, another figure emerged from the shadows—a vagrant wielding a short blade.

He charged toward the crowd, his target unmistakable.

The gathered onlookers screamed, scattering in terror as the would-be assassin dashed forward.

Beneath the brim of his hat, the man's crazed eyes gleamed with deadly intent, fixed on a graceful silhouette within the crowd.

That was their true target.

In just a few breaths, he would strike.

"Die!"

The assassin roared, shedding all pretense of being a vagrant. He was clearly a trained killer.

The target, a young woman, noticed the danger too late. Reflexively, she raised the paper fan in her hand.

A faint blue glow of Cryo energy illuminated her delicate features.

"Milady, get back!"

A blurred figure interposed itself between her and the attacker—it was Ren, arriving just in time.

If anything happened to the person behind him, it wouldn't just be his promotion on the line. Even the entire Tenryou Commission might not survive the fallout.

"Out of my way, you damn Tenryou dog!"

The assassin snarled. Having already committed to the attack, retreat was no longer an option.

Either he or his target would have to die.

In the blink of an eye, Ren placed a hand on his sword hilt but hesitated.

At this range, drawing my sword might not be the best option against someone trained in close combat.

Behind him, the young woman's composed voice cut through the tension: "Be careful. If you can't handle this, let me take over."

Her calm yet firm tone revealed her concern for his safety.

Ren smirked. "Thanks for the offer, milady, but I've got this."

After all, his ability to capture so many fugitives didn't rely solely on his family's samurai heritage.

Clenching his right fist, Ren steadied his stance.

Green winds coalesced around him.

[Four-Star Character: Shikanoin Heizou. Skill: Heartstopper Strike.]

Power surged.

Ding!

The young woman behind him watched in mild surprise.

Anemo energy? She noted the way it gathered around his fist, amplifying its force.

This punch... it's going to be powerful.

With a calm expression, Ren unleashed his charged strike.

Boom!

The dull explosion of impact was followed by a pained scream. The assassin's body flew through the air like a ragdoll.

The onlookers gaped, their jaws dropping as they turned to see the aftermath.

The assassin lay crumpled on the ground, his body twisted unnaturally and trembling faintly.

He'd been knocked out cold with a single punch.

Too brutal!

---

T/N: Yippee new story