The teleportation stone hummed softly beside the road, a quiet sentinel between the wilds of Guili Plains and the living heart of Liyue. Keqing arrived in a flash of violet light, an embodiment of brisk efficiency; Ganyu, calm and composed, materialized a breath later, footsteps softer, posture apologetic even to the air.
Ganyu's qilin horns twitched. "We must wait here," she said, glancing toward the Guili route. Her voice carried the weight of the Emperor's instruction still echoing in her mind.
Keqing crossed her arms impatiently. "I still don't understand why an outsider would change Liyue. The Emperor's decisions are his own, but—" She glanced at Ganyu. "We need to see this person. If Zhongli ordered it, there must be merit. I'll inform Ningguang and the rest of the Qixing; we'll hold a meeting."
Ganyu nodded once, reserved but resolute. Her expression had settled into the careful balance between duty and worry. "I will remain. If this person… falters, the harbor must remain stable."
They waited. Hours passed. Merchants and travelers gave curious looks; Keqing's presence discouraged idle small talk. She scanned the horizon with her sharp, unsparing gaze. Ganyu quietly reviewed the Emperor's message again in her mind for reassurance. For both of them, this moment felt less like a courtesy and more like the ripple before an edict.
Then, far away on the dusty approach, a lone figure appeared: Takumi.
He walked like someone who'd never seen efficient footwear in his life—belted rope at his waist, the Geo Vision slung like an extravagant keychain, hair absurdly white against the landscape. For a heartbeat, he seemed entirely out of place; for the next, he was a walking set of possibilities.
Ganyu's eyes softened—she had been briefed, but seeing him in the flesh stirred curiosity. Keqing, ever the examiner, tilted her head and stepped forward.
"I am Keqing, Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing," she said, voice direct. "Are you the one sent by the Emperor to change Liyue?"
Takumi blinked. "Whoa, straight to business. I like that." He attempted a bow that looked half-actor, half-apprentice. "I'm Takumi. Change is a strong word—I talked about some ideas with the Emperor. He offered me a contract and said… well, he wants me to attempt changes that will benefit the people."
Keqing's eyebrows rose. "You talked to Zhongli about change—directly?"
Takumi laughed, a tiny, nervous thing. "We had tea. He convinced me. Or I convinced him—depends who you ask. Also he gave me this." He patted the Geo Vision at his waist as if checking it was still real. "And I took him up on the offer."
Ganyu's expression flickered between astonishment and solemn approval. "If Zhongli chose to entrust his decision to the will of the people, then he must have seen something. We will support the Emperor's will."
Keqing's practical mind clicked into motion. "Good. Gan Yu—" She paused, "Ganyu, would you kindly guide him? I will consult Ningguang and the Qixing. This matter requires formality." With that, her figure blurred and she was gone—an efficient, violet blur arcing back toward the heart of Liyue Harbor.
Takumi watched her vanish with open admiration. "That was cool."
Ganyu smiled, amused despite the stress. "Keqing is fast. Come—there's much to see in the harbor, and Zhongli asked that only certain people know of this for now. For the moment, keep your system to yourself."
Takumi's face went blank for a beat. "Right—secret system. Check. Not saying system words out loud. Got it."
As they descended the path into the city, Takumi's eyes widened. Liyue Harbor unfurled beneath them like a painting in motion—lanterns bobbing over timber, merchants calling their wares in practiced song, boats tied and untied in a choreographed hurry. The Jade Chamber hung distant in the sky, a silent sentinel. The harbor smelled of brine, vinegar, and smoke—home.
"This is bigger than I imagined," Takumi murmured. He felt his Vision hum, as if excited.
Ganyu glanced at him, concerned over more than his awe. "The Emperor's confidence places responsibility on you. How do you intend to start?"
Takumi's mind raced. He had sketches: ideas for early mechanized looms, grain-drying racks, basic assembly lines for tools—simple, human-centered engineering that wouldn't tamper with leylines or abyssal matters. He imagined small workshops that could expand, schools to teach practical skills, entertainment houses that would both enrich culture and sustain local economies. But when the system's calm screen filled his mind with crisp, clinical numbers, the fantasy met reality in a single, horrifying line: projected initial cost.
He swallowed. "First—that's a long conversation. Second—funding is an issue."
Ganyu tilted her head. "Funding?"
Takumi forced a smile. "Mora. The currency. It's… definitely a thing."
They passed a busy stall where a vendor sold dried fish; an elderly woman squabbled lovingly with her apprentice. Takumi tried to put on an air of competence, but his inner HUD flashed again—this time with modules he had not yet shown even Zhongli's envoy.
[SYSTEM — BLUEPRINT MODULE]
Blueprint Tech: Explanation (Private)
Core: Elemental-parsing + structural template generation.
Function: Parse sample object → extract functional components → generate assembly instructions compatible with elemental construction.
Output Type: Prototype constructs (tools, small machinery, structural reinforcements).
Storage: Constructs can be stored in Vision pocket (item-limited).
Constraints: Requires raw materials (stone, wood, ore) and elemental energy quota; complex machines require iterative sample inputs and human craftsman collaboration.
Cost Estimation: Base prototype set (3 workshops + basic tools + manpower training) → ~50,000 Mora (est.).
Note: Estimations prone to local economy multipliers. Higher in harbor areas.
Takumi clenched his jaw. Fifty thousand mor—numbers blurred, a cartoonishly large sum standing between him and his dreams.
Ganyu noticed his sudden paleness. "Are you unwell?"
"No, no!" Takumi waved frantically. "I'm fine. Just—air is great. Salt heals everything."
Truth: The system just told me I can make blueprints, but I need an accountant and a miracle.
Ganyu gave him a half-smile that said she'd noted the wobble. She changed the topic gently, leading him through narrow alleys where traders sold tea and incense. "Keqing will present this matter to the Qixing. For now, we must introduce you properly and ensure you're not targeted by opportunists. Harbor politics can be… blunt."
"Opportunists—got it. No weird cult recruitment. No pyramid schemes. No—"
"Also, please do not publicly demonstrate advanced creations yet," Ganyu said calmly. "The people will be curious, and curiosity becomes rumor. The Emperor desired this shift to be steady."
Takumi nodded, embarrassed at his internal tendency to show off. "Right. Small steps. No fireworks in public. Understood."
They reached a plaza where the harbor's administrator had a small kiosk. A few passersby glanced at the odd trio: a relaxed half-qilin secretary, a suddenly scholarly outsider, an absent Keqing whom they'd already seen vanish. Whispers threaded the market. Takumi was acutely aware of the weight of attention—little eyes cataloguing an outsider with a god's gift at his waist.
Ganyu guided him to a quieter bench. "Tell me, Takumi: what would your first demonstration be, were it to be approved?"
Takumi imagined, visually: a grain dryer that reduced harvest loss through controlled heat and airflow—simple, practical, no leylines, no abyss. Small machines to grind grain faster; looms to increase cloth output; sanitation systems to improve public health. Each image came with its own blueprint overlay from the system, concise and professional-looking.
[SYSTEM — BLUEPRINT SNAPSHOT]
Project: Micro-Workshop Unit (MWU)
Purpose: Fabricate agricultural tools and basic consumer goods.
Material Requirements: Timber (300 units), Iron (120 units), Leather (50 units), Local clay (800 units).
Immediate Manpower: 18 craftsmen (2 master smiths, 6 apprentices, 10 general laborers).
Training Duration: 2 months (basic proficiency).
Projected Cost: 48,500 Mora (local market multiplier ×1.1).
Projected Impact: Increase local production capacity by 18% in first quarter post-deployment.
Takumi's fingers splayed—this time in excitement tinged with anxiety. "That. Start with micro-workshops. People can make tools, they learn, and we grow organically from there."
Ganyu's eyes shone with cautious approval. "That plan is tangible. It respects local structures and will help daily life. If the Qixing allows, it could work."
He glanced around, thinking of manpower. "I'll need craftsmen. Teachers. A small budget. We start at scale small enough to test, large enough to impact."
Ganyu's smile deepened. Practical and hopeful, she reached for a scrap of parchment, penning down notes with brisk but gentle strokes. "I will record this. Keqing will assemble the Qixing; we'll see what early support we can secure."
Takumi exhaled—a mixture of relief and dread. The system chimed one last time, like a clinic nurse calling him gently back to reality.
[SYSTEM]
Budget Alert Level: HIGH
Recommendation: Seek private patronage (Ningguang), secure initial workshops in peripheral towns to reduce cost multipliers, and recruit apprentices via apprenticeship programs.
Actionable Tip: Offer profit-sharing or produce exchanges to incentivize early recruits.
Takumi forced a laugh. "Profit-sharing. Right. I'll invent capitalism but make it charming."
Ganyu's polite smile turned into something like warmth. "You have courage. The Emperor must have seen that. Now—do not forget: Keqing will convene the Qixing. Keep your words measured and your promises honest."
He nodded. "No public fireworks, measured words, honest promises. Got it."
They rose. Keqing, brisk and official, returned just as they stood. "Ganyu," she said in clipped tones, "I have informed Ningguang and the others. We shall meet—soon."
Takumi's stomach fluttered. A council. Ningguang. The Qixing. Funding. The first budget meeting. Everything that had been a hazy vision on the system's HUD would soon be interrogated by Liyue's power brokers.
As they walked toward the heart of Liyue, Takumi touched the Vision at his waist—a talisman now heavy not only with elemental power, but with responsibility.
[SYSTEM]
Objective Updated: Secure initial funding ≤ 50,000 Mora.
Primary Targets: Ningguang (private patron), Liyue merchants (seed investors), peripheral magistrates (land & labor).
Secondary Targets: Public goodwill via micro-projects (food & agriculture).
Status: Pending.
Takumi looked at Ganyu and Keqing, at the bustling harbor and the Jade Chamber above. He felt very small—and strangely, entirely capable.
"Okay," he said with a grin that was half bravado, half trembling hope. "Let's get to work."
Behind the curtains of his mind, the system displayed the blueprint tech in silent, obedient lines—power and plans kept secret, for now, by a foreigner with a god's contract and a terrible joke about capitalism.
They walked into the city, the market sounds swallowing the whisper of destiny, and above them, on the mountain where the Wangshu Inn would later stand like an old memory, Zhongli looked out toward the harbor and murmured under his breath to the wind:
"I have placed a bet on humanity."
The future, for better or worse, had begun to roll.