Reaching the Harbor

Allen would have preferred to stay far away from Aleksei, unfortunately, his mission was to be his guard, meaning that he couldn't really negate his calling for him, especially with no way to escape, trapped on the ship.

"Sorry, about the teasing yesterday. Simply take it as my way to say hello." Aleksei apologized energetically once Allen entered his cabin "Now let's talk about more important things, let's test you."

"What do you want to do?" Allen sighed.

"A simple round of questions, of course." Aleksei said gleefully "First of all, are you aware of what is the Rite of Descension?"

"It's Rex Lapis annual descend, commanding the orders for Liyue's next year's policies."

"Correct" Aleksei nodded widely "And why are we going to it?"

"To learn about the future development of Liyue and try to take profit from it?" Allen answered.

"And how we will be able to do that?" Aleksei finally asked the true question.

"I suppose that knowing how they will develop, we will obtain the necessary materials from them, increasing their prize." Allen answered.

"And how we will obtain that piece of information, that future development?" Aleksei intrigued.

"It's not told at the Descension Rite?" Allen asked confused.

Listening his answer, Aleksei stayed quiet for a moment before hitting his face and started shaking it "Are you an idiot?!" Aleksei fixed his gaze over Allen.

"Did you really think that such precious information would be scrambled over everyone!?" Aleksei shouted angrily "The information is only obtained by the managers, the Liyue Qixing. They are the ones to implement them, making the preparations once they are informed. That way, the true orders of Rex Lapis are only discovered after some months, were the policies are prepared to be implemented. If it weren't for that, every merchant would turn crazy about the necessary material, increasing the prize exponentially and making unbearable any change, making it impossible to implant."

"It made sense" Allen whispered, he really didn't think much about it, seeing it playing the game and as it was a large ceremony and all, thinking that it would be stated all over the city, but it truly didn't have much sense, better to keep it a secret until they are truly prepared.

"Now that you know the obvious, answer the question" Aleksei asked aggressively, his voice angrier than before.

Now that it came to this, Allen remembered Alina's words about Aleksei, explaining that he really appreciates competence, forgetting everything from sins and crimes, but he hates imcompentence and silliness, directly discarding and treating those people as trash.

'So it seems that my last answer changed my status from an interesting toy to a useless nobody' Allen thought.

"If it is this way, I suppose that we are here to invest. Preparing for their future plans, trying to discern what would they do and getting ahead of them." Allen reasoned "Of course, this goes with risk as we might fail and lose money if wrong."

"Clap!" "Clap!" Aleksei clapped happily "Good, you're not completely useless. I was worried for a moment" He said cleaning his imaginary sweat over his forehead. "So what would you buy to prepare for next year?"

Allen made a thoughtful face "I'm afraid that I wouldn't risk. I didn't really study about Liyue, without a previous study and analysis, it would be difficult as I would mostly rely on luck."

"Good answer" Aleksei nodded "Remember one thing, ignorance is not a sin as you could learn later on, but incompetence is it. Think before act and sometimes is better to not move at all." He said seriously.

"Oh? And about your previous answer, I will give you half points as you only stated one of our options" Aleksei explained "Rex Lapis is considered a god that always makes the correct decisions, the blooming of Liyue Harbor being mostly due to him, so I simply made my own perfect policies for Liyue's next year and I would invest in materials following them."

"So you planned it all as if you were truly in charge of Liyue?" Allen asked.

"Exactly, this is a great test and training, being able to compare my wits against a god, learning from it" Aleksei informed.

"Is Alina also planning it?" Allen asked.

"Not this year" Aleksei answered "This is an important test for us as Pantalone's aides that would greatly affect who will become the next Pantalone, so we alternate each year, this year being me in charge."

"Should I try to obstruct you, making Alina's position greater than you" Allen said teasingly.

"That would be an idiocy of you" Aleksei answered seriously "You shouldn't go against me. In the end, it didn't matter the little results, I will be the next Pantalone and you will be working under me by that time."

"Are you so sure of your victory?" Allen asked curiously.

"There's no other end" Aleksei opened his arm widely "Alina is too subservient, she won't be a good leader and Kevin" He hummed "He is even worst. He is the best tool, but tools are mean to be used."

"If you say so" Allen answered simply. He really didn't have enough information about the succession of the position and he really didn't know about much of them, especially Kevin whom he had heard about for the first time.

"And about the half point. My planning and investments are the front way, then we have the hidden one" Aleksei said sneakily "Robing that information from the Liyue Qixing directly."

"So are you prepared for a war against Liyue if it were to be found?" Allen asked.

"We are already at war. Snezhnaya is considered the enemy of the world, but we are keeping peace through power and politics, this will only be one squirmish. Haha" Aleksei laughed "Even investing, I will face those Qixing. Or do you think that we are the only ones that prepare for what's to come?"

Allen stayed silent 'It's true. I am part of Snezhnaya now, since the start the enemies of the world like in the game. Every other nation being wary about, only not being able to make a move due to favors and favors, but always trying to decrease their strength behind scene, showing their true colors.'

"Good silent" Aleksei nodded "We will reach Liyue shortly, prepare for it" Aleksei stood up, took Allen's mask from over the table and put it over Allen's face "Remember, you are a Fatui. Don't let laws restrict you, choose the best option."

Allen left the cabin thoughtfully thinking about this. He thought of becoming stronger, even becoming a Harbinger to obtain enough power and respect to be forgiven, saving his and Ellen's life. But there might be other ways.

'The Tsaritsa is interested in strength, but there are more things...' He thought about the game 'Like Gnosis. If I were to obtain one, that would be enough achievement.'

Allen supported over the deck, Liyue's harbor already being able to be traced over the distance 'I have an advantage, knowing how they will obtain Morax and Barbatos's Gnosis. Could I obtain Zhongli's Gnosis...'

Allen shook his head 'It's too soon. I'm too ignorant and powerless. I can't go against gods and I'm unable to truly represent Snezhnaya to make a deal.'

"Let's focus!" Allen clapped his cheeks 'First thing, first. In this quest, let's familiarize with the Fatui's operations, learning more about the merchant's dealings and from Liyue, gaining the most from this quest. Also, this travel will be my first step over the actual game content, I'll need to learn in what time I am.'

Allen had investigated a little before, but he had been unable to learn where he was chronologically in the story. Over Snezhnaya, the only character that he had seen was the Dottore and an adult image doesn't give much information.

'As there's still the Rite of Descension, it's clear that I am before the story or at least just at the start. But when am I?' That answer would certainly affect his future plans.

...

Over his cabin, Aleksei remained sat over the sofa, sipping a cup under his mask "An interesting boy. Haha" Aleksai laughed "A pity that I'm not in charge of his next test. I'd love to see his despaired face."

"You are quite lucky" Aleksei took out a new cup offering it next to him where suddenly a person appeared wearing a crimson Agent's uniform.

The Agent took the cup, drinking it all at once "Don't interfere." The Agent said coldly and gave him a letter.

"I won't dare. Haha" Aleksei lifted his arms in surrender.

"Mm!" The Agent grumbled before disappearing as it was never been there.

Aleksei turned over his own cup, lifting it over the light of the room "How much will last this toy? Haha."