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[Genshin Impact] Chapter 349: Thoma's Intentions
🕑 Added 2024-11-29 12:30:01 +0000 UTC“Oh, it’s Mr. Thoma! Well, for your sake, let’s make it 400,000 Mora per person,” Yuriko said with a smile.
Of course, Yuriko knew Thoma well. He was known for his helpful nature, often assisting many people on Ritou.
She herself had benefited from his kindness on several occasions—like helping her move things—and she knew him as a genuinely compassionate man, someone who would even buy food for stray dogs.
For someone like Thoma, she didn’t mind cutting them a deal.
“Wow, that’s a big discount! But still, 400,000 Mora...” Paimon grumbled. She couldn’t help but feel reluctant. After all, even their most extravagant meals rarely cost more than 30,000 Mora.
400,000 Mora could buy her at least ten lavish feasts! No matter how you looked at it, this processing fee was way too expensive!
“Yeah, it’s still pretty steep,” Lumine sighed softly.
Although it was expensive, they didn’t have much of a choice. Turning back now wasn’t an option, and 400,000 Mora was at least manageable. She could earn it back later by taking on a few commissions at Inazuma’s Adventurers’ Guild.
Without the residency permit, however, they wouldn’t be able to take on any commissions. As “illegal residents,” the guild wouldn’t accept their requests.
After all, when conducting business in someone else’s territory, you had to abide by their rules. Even an organization as widespread as the Adventurers’ Guild—present in every city across Teyvat—couldn’t make exceptions. As a prominent organization, they had to set an example.
“How about making it a little cheaper?” Nolan suggested, thinking quickly.
1.2 million Mora for the three of them was still painful to part with. He silently prayed for Thoma’s legendary negotiation skills to shine again.
If you can haggle it down like in the game, I’ll owe you big time! Whatever you need my help with, you can count on me to do it flawlessly, he thought.
Nolan remembered Inazuma’s main storyline well. Thoma was sent by Kamisato Ayaka to establish good relations with the Traveler and invite them to discuss “important matters.”
While convincing the Raiden Shogun herself was beyond his current abilities, that was Lumine’s job as the Traveler. But dealing with the underhanded schemes of Inazuma’s family factions? That was a task he could handle easily.
Sure enough, Thoma didn’t disappoint. Flashing a confident smile, he said to Yuriko:
“You’re too kind, Miss Yuriko. Thank you so much! But if I may, I think a processing fee of... let’s say, 600 Mora would be reasonable. I’ll cover the cost, and as thanks, I’ll treat you to a meal. How about it?”
“Eh?! Can you even bargain like that?”
Before Yuriko could respond, Paimon gasped in disbelief, her voice practically a shriek.
“Hehe, alright, I’ll go with Mr. Thoma’s suggestion,” Yuriko replied with a light chuckle, unbothered by the drastic cut from 400,000 to 600 Mora. It wasn’t a big deal to her—just one less bit of income for the day.
There would be plenty more opportunities in the future.
Besides, the chance to have dinner with someone as handsome and charming as Thoma didn’t come often.
“Thank you for your kindness,” Thoma said with a small laugh.
Outside the Kanjou Commission building.
With the residency permits in hand, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief. They could now legally remain in Inazuma.
“Three people, three million Mora reduced to 600 Mora. It’s unbelievable no matter how you think about it,” Paimon muttered, still in shock. Was everyone in Inazuma this flexible with money?
“Heh, the so-called processing fees are just a pretext,” Thoma said with a shake of his head. “No matter the amount, it all ends up lining the inspectors’ pockets. It’s just a matter of how much they decide to take.”
“So, they’re just bullying honest foreigners like us?” Nolan remarked, feeling slightly exasperated.
“Unfortunately, that’s the reality under the Sakoku Decree. Foreigners are treated far worse nowadays,” Thoma replied.
“Especially foreign merchants who come to do business in Inazuma. They’ve only managed to survive by banding together, which is how the International Trade Association came to be. That’s what Miss at the inspection station was referring to earlier.”
Thoma clearly disapproved of this situation but lacked the power to change it.
“I see. If that’s the case, meeting the Raiden Shogun is going to be even more difficult,” Lumine said, her brow furrowed.
If even staying on Inazuma was this troublesome, meeting such a revered and powerful deity was bound to be far more complicated than it had been in Mondstadt or Liyue.
“Oh, so your purpose in coming to Inazuma is to meet the Raiden Shogun? That certainly won’t be easy,” Thoma said, his expression betraying a hint of surprise.
Nolan cast him a sidelong glance. Oh, drop the act. If you didn’t already know, you wouldn’t have been waiting for us on Ritou.
“Even if it’s not easy, we’ll figure something out,” Lumine said firmly.
After learning that her brother might be connected to the Abyss Order—and that the entity who took him was the mysterious Sustainer of Heavenly Principles—Lumine had not abandoned her goal of traveling to all seven nations and meeting their Archons.
Only these most powerful beings in Teyvat might hold crucial information about the Abyss and the Heavenly Principles.
Moreover, her journey through the seven nations was essential for her to grow stronger.
She had discovered that interacting with each nation’s Statues of The Seven allowed her to harness a new elemental power. With every new element she mastered, her strength increased exponentially.
Even if she couldn’t gain answers from the gods, she could try to leave Teyvat again—just as she had 500 years ago. The Sustainer of Heavenly Principles would undoubtedly intervene, and by then, Lumine believed she would have enough power to face her.
And with Nolan, who was slightly stronger than her, by her side, the two of them could team up to defeat that entity and force her to release her brother.
Lumine was optimistic about this plan. After all, she had heard of powerful beings beyond Teyvat’s stars who could destroy entire worlds. Those beings, too, had once started as ordinary mortals.
If they could reach such heights, why couldn’t she? Especially since her former strength, before most of it had been stripped away, was likely on par with the gods of this world.
Once her power returned and she grew a bit more, she believed she could stand on equal footing with the entity who had taken her brother. With Nolan’s help, they might even win.
With these thoughts in mind, Lumine no longer felt as rushed in her search for her brother. Knowing he was alive had eased her heart, and she was willing to take her time overcoming obstacles in her journey.
For instance, if meeting the Raiden Shogun wasn’t immediately possible, they could stay in Inazuma for a while, take on commissions, and train. Who knew? Perhaps they’d encounter her by chance while exploring.
After meeting Venti and Zhongli, Lumine had come to doubt the lofty, divine personas of the gods. For all she knew, the Raiden Shogun might turn out to be an eccentric wandering the streets.
“Ahem. You don’t need to stress so much,” Thoma interjected with a slight cough. After guiding them through the various administrative hurdles, he finally let slip his intentions.
“To be honest, if you want to meet the Raiden Shogun, I might be able to help.”
(End of Chapter)
