Kong fell into deep thought. Seeing his expression, Paimon worriedly asked,
"Kong... you wouldn't be thinking about using Slimes and Hilichurls to rebel, would you?"
Paimon's words brought Kong back to his senses.
"Right... why would I rebel...? Damn it, I've been brainwashed by Dragon!"
Kong quickly shook his head, suppressing the rebellious thoughts.
Being a Marine is so good! High salary, good benefits, occasional sea trips at public expense, and a pension when he's old. Kong is poor because he and Paimon can't bear to see human suffering; they give away most of their money.
Sengoku also knows their personalities and sometimes gives them some financial assistance, because Kong's actions align with his sense of justice.
But after having that thought, he remembered what Dragon said, especially the secret about Kizaru. If the Revolutionary Army ever really goes to war with the World Government, he can't guarantee that Kizaru won't suddenly appear in front of him, with that lecherous face, asking if he's ever experienced a light-speed kick.
"No... Paimon, we need to start planning for the future... Rebellion is impossible. I, Kong, was born a Marine, and I can't die. I haven't gotten married yet! The power of the Hilichurls must be used properly. Even if a full-scale war really comes, we must at least have the strength to protect ourselves."
Paimon nodded seriously.
"Yes, yes! Whatever Kong says!"
Kong sat cross-legged on the ground, pondering the possibilities.
"To use the Hilichurl system, money is the primary source... As a Marine, unless I embezzle! I won't have much money otherwise. But Sengoku wouldn't tolerate my embezzlement... If I want both wealth and to stay in the Marines... there's only one way!"
Paimon instantly understood Kong's meaning.
"Materializing level 90 characters!"
Kong asked,
"Paimon, how many materials did we save up before?"
In a way, Kong is quite stingy. Over three years, he only managed to get two characters with his 40 pulls, and the rest were mostly upgrade materials.
Except for initially upgrading Kaeya and Lisa, he had Paimon store all the remaining materials.
After all, Kaeya and Lisa are only four-star characters. He wanted to save the upgrade materials to max out a five-star character when he got one, as five-star characters are much more useful than four-star ones.
Paimon glanced at her inventory.
"There are 360 experience books... enough to max one character. Do you want to materialize Lisa now?"
Kong shook his head.
"No, Lisa is just a researcher. Although she's strong, she's not suitable for leading a team. I need someone with leadership skills. Let's summon Kaeya. After all, he's a knight captain, more suitable for building a team than Lisa."
Paimon confirmed again.
"Think carefully... this is what you saved up over four years..."
Kong's face showed some pain.
"Do it! Out with the old, in with the new! Max out Kaeya to level 90!"
"Okay..."
Paimon's eyes emitted a faint light, and the cape behind her shimmered with starlight.
Paimon's voice became ethereal and sacred, like a god delivering a decree.
"Character: Kaeya, Level: 53, Experience Books Needed to Max Level: 312, Experience Boosting."
A pale blue mist emanated from Paimon's starry cape and flowed into Kong's body.
The handsome blue-haired, dark-skinned, one-eyed man appeared behind Kong again.
As the mist continued to flow in, Kaeya's ethereal body solidified, becoming almost indistinguishable from a real person.
But at this moment, he was still closed-eyed, as if asleep.
In Kong's consciousness, a strange feeling arose.
He turned around, looked at Kaeya standing silently behind him, and reached out his hand.
"Kaeya Alberich, in my name, Kong, I forge a contract of allegiance with you, bestowing upon you the Cryo Vision, granting you the power to control ice."
Kong's pearl earrings and the glass square on his chest turned ice blue, and then a cold power flowed out, condensing into an ice-blue pendant that automatically hung around Kaeya's waist.
This is the Vision, the special power in the world of Genshin Impact. Only those who obtain a Vision can use the elemental power corresponding to that Vision.
As the Vision formed, Kaeya, who had been like a doll, was filled with the breath of life. He slowly opened his one eye and knelt before Kong in a respectful bow.
"Kaeya Alberich, Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonius, pledges my unwavering loyalty to Lord Kong!"
As soon as Kaeya finished speaking, all three of them were stunned.
"Hey! Blond brat! What did you do to me!? Why did I suddenly make a contract of allegiance with you!?"
Kong and Paimon were also dumbfounded. Their actions were almost instinctive; neither of them knew why this happened. Previous upgrades hadn't resulted in this.
"Could it be because of instantly maxing his level?"
While Kong pondered, Kaeya was already banging his head against the wall.
"Damn it... I, the Cavalry Captain, am actually controlled by two brats! Oh my god, I don't know how Lisa will mock me when she finds out!"
Kong said awkwardly,
"Um... Kaeya..."
Kaeya reacted violently.
"Brat! Though I don't know how you did it, I, Kaeya, will never do anything wicked because of some contract magic! Even if it means death!"
Paimon quickly said,
"No... it's not like that, listen to us..."
Two hours later, in a tavern, Kaeya stared at the wine in his glass, falling into self-doubt.
"This place... isn't Teyvat?"
After Kong and Paimon explained everything, Kaeya's face was filled with deep self-doubt.
Paimon whispered in Kong's ear,
"Hey, is Kaeya having an existential crisis...?"
Just as Kong was about to nod, Kaeya burst into laughter.
"HAHAHAHA! I'm finally free! Screw Khaenri'ah! I no longer have to worry about balancing my identity! That little firecracker Diluc is gone! Jean can't control me anymore! And I won't see that grumpy redhead with her cat anymore! Heaven!!!"
Paimon retreated behind Kong, disgusted.
"See...? Kaeya's broken."
Kaeya was currently in a state of excitement.
"Broken? No, no, no! I'm perfectly fine! A new world, pirates, Marines, the sea... oh, I love the sea! Kong! I'm full of energy! Tell me, who do we beat up?!"
Kong quickly poured Kaeya another drink.
"Calm down first, let me explain slowly..."
Ten minutes later, Kaeya looked at Kong with a strange expression.
"You... want me to build a cavalry unit using Slimes and Hilichurls?!"
Kong clasped his hands together in supplication.
"Please, Brother Kaeya!"
Paimon followed suit pleading.
"Please, please!"
Kaeya felt a headache coming on.
"Hilichurls... Slimes... can these be trained? We don't even speak the same language..."
Paimon said,
"Don't worry! I can guarantee their loyalty and execution!"
Kaeya sighed.
"Then I'll try... So basically, I train them, and then we go catch bounty pirates, right? Hmmm, I think since you want to establish your own force, you can't be too high-profile at first. You mentioned a profession earlier, 'Bounty Hunter'... there are companies with this profession in this world, right?"
"Yes, yes, there are. Brother Kaeya, you mean we should start a bounty hunter company?"
"Exactly. That way, even if the authorities notice us later, they won't pay too much attention. But are there Hilichurls and Slimes in this world?"
Kong patted his chest.
"Don't worry, there are all kinds of monsters and spirits in this world; a few Hilichurls and Slimes are nothing."
"Alright... then what about the company name? Do you have any ideas?"
"Let Brother Kaeya decide. After all, you'll be the leader of the company."
"I'll decide..."
Kaeya's eyes were a little vacant.
"If I'm deciding... let's call it the Knights of Favonius. Hahaha, now I'm the Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius!"
But Kong subtly sensed that Kaeya wasn't as happy as he seemed. Kaeya's personality is that he usually keeps his worries to himself and bears the pressure alone.
He says he's free and liberated, but deep down, he misses those people.
Kong didn't promise Kaeya anything, but he had made up his mind to try his best to summon all the character from Mondstadt, where Kaeya belonged.
...