"Truth be told, I'm not completely ignorant when it comes to mechanical constructs," Idris said with a faint smile, confidence flickering in his eyes.
"But my ideas might overturn your current understanding of such creations. Since this challenge was your suggestion, why don't you decide what we will compare?"
He was well aware that his depth of knowledge in mechanisms couldn't match Cloud Retainer's.
After all, this Adeptus had spent countless years secluded in her abode, researching secret arts of mechanical design.
As for him—he merely understood the underlying principles.
Yet while his hands-on experience might fall short, the perspective and innovation he carried from another world were something no one in Teyvat could replicate.
Nearby, Nahida suddenly realized something:
Their Grand Sage was absurdly versatile.
If there was anything he couldn't do, it was only because no one had thought of it yet.
Cloud Retainer caught the pride hidden in Idris's tone and snorted lightly.
"Then let us compare something that flies."
She produced her most prized creation—a beautifully crafted mechanical adeptal bird, delicate and lifelike, as if she were stroking a living creature.
Raising her gaze, she asked challengingly,
"Compared to my immortal bird, how do you think your construct fares? Better—or worse?"
At once, Ganyu felt awkward.
This was… escalating far beyond what she'd expected.
She had only asked Idris to pretend—so how had this turned into a full-blown duel of craftsmanship?
And where was Nahida at a time like this?
Was she really going to let the two of them argue to the end?
"It's remarkable," Idris said calmly, giving Cloud Retainer a respectful nod.
"The mechanical bird is among Liyue's most formidable long-range constructs. Even in Sumeru, I've heard of it."
Then, without haste, he took out a rolled blueprint from his pocket.
It was something he had prepared before coming to Liyue.
After all, he had already planned to expand his military-industrial research—this was simply foresight paying off.
"What is this?" Cloud Retainer asked, visibly surprised.
"So refined… yet it's only a drawing?"
"This," Idris replied, unfolding the blueprint, "is a multi-purpose construct."
Displayed before them was the detailed design of a drone.
"I call it an unmanned aerial vehicle—a drone. Though it's currently only a blueprint, every detail has already been considered."
He pointed to the schematics as he explained:
"It can perform long-distance reconnaissance, assist in emergency rescues, and—most importantly—uses an entirely new power system that dramatically improves flight efficiency."
After a brief pause, he added calmly,
"It can also be armed."
Cloud Retainer and Ganyu stared, eyes glinting with interest.
Unable to restrain herself, Cloud Retainer interjected,
"You're saying this single construct can do all of that?"
"Exactly."
Idris continued, his tone steady.
"And the core concept behind this drone is openness. I intend to make the schematics public—so that more engineers can refine and improve it."
"Hoarding knowledge only stifles progress.
Only when ideas collide and evolve together can military technology truly advance."
Cloud Retainer frowned.
She wasn't convinced.
"If all techniques are made public, wouldn't the original inventor suffer the greatest loss?" she countered.
"And if powerful nations share their technology, wouldn't weaker ones benefit disproportionately? Wouldn't that simply become charity?"
Seeing her master hesitate, Ganyu quickly stepped in.
"Master… perhaps this is something worth reconsidering. No one person can account for every improvement alone."
From somewhere unseen, Nahida wore a strange smile.
They've barely known each other, and she's already defending him…
As expected of our Grand Sage—utterly unfair.
"Are you worried that openness will kill competition?" Idris asked gently.
He already had a complete framework in mind—one tested and proven elsewhere.
"Exactly," Cloud Retainer replied.
"That concern is unnecessary," Idris said confidently.
"If I propose this path, it's because I already have a solution."
"You do?" Cloud Retainer's expression shifted.
For the first time, doubt crept in.
She had always believed the difference between adepti and mortals defined the ceiling of craftsmanship.
But Idris's ideas suggested an entirely new horizon.
As he spoke—open designs, shared blueprints, collective advancement—each phrase landed like a stone dropped into still water, rippling through her long-held beliefs.
Perhaps… the true essence of mechanical arts was never about immortals versus mortals.
"Then I needn't explain further," Idris concluded.
"Truly top-tier technology can remain classified—but what can be shared should be used for cooperation, not isolation."
To him, knowledge without application was no better than scrap.
Cloud Retainer fell silent.
She recalled the birth of her mechanical bird—how inspiration had come from observing the world itself.
And now, looking at the drone's blueprint, she saw another possible future for mechanical arts.
Ganyu's eyes sparkled as she looked at Idris.
As expected of the Grand Sage…
To reveal something like this without hesitation…
She felt a pang of embarrassment—remembering how earlier she'd claimed she "couldn't decide" matters of this scale.
Meanwhile, hidden nearby, Nahida pouted and muttered bitterly,
"Stupid Grand Sage…
You never even told me about drones.
Big bad liar—still charming girls again."
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