Klee's worldview shattered like a fragile Pyro Slime the moment Zhongli nodded.
"So… he really is an alcoholic?"
Klee asked again, tiny voice trembling with disbelief.
Zhongli sighed deeply, massaging the bridge of his nose. "Barbatos… is a free spirit. He enjoys drinks, songs, and leisure."
Takumi coughed. "He means yes."
Zhongli shot Takumi a side-eye that could have shattered mora.
But Klee was already spiraling.
"So Mondstadt's Archon is a drunk… Inazuma's Archon is… um… sleeping forever… and Liyue's Archon is… broke…?"
Keqing choked on air.
Zhongli stiffened.
Takumi raised his hand. "Correction. Liyue's Archon is a very refined broke uncle. He's broke respectfully."
Zhongli leaned back in his chair, defeated. "I regret speaking honestly."
Klee tugged Zhongli's sleeve.
"But Uncle Zhongli… why are all the gods so pitiful…?"
The room fell silent.
Even Ganyu paused mid-document-stacking.
Then Takumi broke the silence with a philosophical tone:
"Because, Klee… gods also struggle like normal people. They just hide it better."
Ganyu nodded earnestly. "Yes. Lord Rex Lapis has very… human challenges."
Zhongli tried to protest but couldn't — every mortal in the room had personally witnessed him being broke on multiple occasions.
Klee whispered, "So Brother Takumi wasn't lying…"
Keqing muttered, "He never lies when it comes to slandering Archons, apparently."
Ningguang Arrives — and Immediately Takes Control
Before the Geo Archon could defend his honor further, the door opened.
Ningguang entered with elegant authority, followed by Yanfei carrying several scrolls.
Ganyu immediately straightened. Klee jumped back to Takumi's side.
Ningguang's gaze swept across the room, pausing on Zhongli.
Her tone held a note of amused surprise.
"Ah… so the Emperor himself is present. I take it today's matters are important."
Takumi stood. "We're here to finalize three matters:
A new stone bridge to replace the wooden one outside the harbor.
Drafting the traffic laws for Liyue.
Vehicle operation regulations before we release cars to the public."
Yanfei's ears perked up. "Laws? That's my specialty."
She sat down and immediately pulled out a brush.
Zhongli folded his hands calmly, as if he hadn't been called broke seconds earlier.
"Very well," Zhongli said. "Let us proceed."
The Bridge Problem — Zhongli's Expertise Required
Takumi projected a small, rotating 3D blueprint of Liyue Harbor using his system. Only he could see the faint system overlay, but the illusion he manifested looked like a perfectly detailed wooden model.
Keqing narrowed her eyes, fascinated as always. "Aqing… does your head ever get tired from knowing too much?"
Takumi: "Yes, every time I look at your construction paperwork."
Keqing: "HEY—!"
Ningguang tapped the model.
"This is the current wooden bridge. Replacing it will be costly. A full Geo-constructed base is ideal. Emperor?"
Zhongli nodded with rare seriousness.
"I will reshape the foundation myself. The bridge will be reinforced with mountain rock and Geo energy. Even a fully-loaded dump truck will not cause it to crumble."
Yanfei paused scribbling. "Dump… truck?"
Takumi coughed. "Ahem. A vehicle that carries heavy goods."
Zhongli frowned slightly. "And you plan to put these… trucks… across the city in large numbers?"
"Eventually," Takumi said.
"A traffic nightmare," Keqing muttered. "I already see it."
Yanfei raised a hand. "Then we'll need legal restrictions on speed, safe operation, and designated roads."
Takumi nodded. "Exactly why we needed you."
Traffic Laws, Liyue-Style
Yanfei was in her element.
She spread out scrolls and began to list points:
Required training for all drivers
Vision-assisted driving rules
Road right-of-way
Horn restriction near residential zones
Speed limits depending on road tier
Engine noise regulation
Emergency stopping protocol
Transport permits for large vehicles
Civil liabilities for reckless driving
Parking restrictions (Keqing added: "Especially near Yujing Terrace.")
Klee raised her hand. "Sister Yanfei! Will Klee get a license?"
Takumi pressed her head gently down.
"No. Not until you stop treating explosions as… seasoning."
Yanfei smiled sympathetically. "You'll need to be taller first, Klee."
Klee gasped.
"Does that mean if I grow tall enough I can drive KABOOM cars?"
Takumi: "Please do not call them Kaboom cars."
Zhongli hid a laugh behind his sleeve.
Even Ningguang cracked a smile.
"Traffic laws haven't even been finished and Klee has already renamed the entire industry."
Zhongli's Request — A Personal Vehicle
Once the legal drafting was underway, Zhongli leaned toward Takumi.
"About that request… the personal vehicle."
Takumi blinked. "You really want one?"
Keqing whispered, "He walks everywhere. If he had a car, he might actually run errands on time."
Ganyu added softly, "Lord Zhongli's appointments would… improve."
Ningguang raised a brow.
"It would also stop him from asking me for Mora to hire carriages."
Zhongli cleared his throat loudly.
Takumi laughed. "Alright. I'll make you a custom vehicle. Geo-themed. Stone armor plating, maybe a dragon carving on the hood. Something dignified."
Zhongli paused.
"…Can it have cup holders?"
Everyone froze.
Takumi: "…Yes?"
Zhongli nodded gravely.
"Excellent. I require two."
Takumi mentally added Zhongli's secret weakness:
Tea addiction.
Klee's Archon Investigation Continues
Klee, after absorbing all this knowledge, leaned toward Zhongli again.
"So… Uncle Zhongli… is Venti really weak against cats?"
Zhongli sighed.
"Yes. He is allergic."
Klee whispered excitedly, "Brother Takumi was right…!"
Keqing looked at Takumi with newfound respect. "You are terrifying."
Takumi winked. "I told you: Klee is richer than all three Archons combined."
Klee gasped.
"I AM?!"
Ganyu quietly nodded. "Lady Alice often leaves… interesting… funds in Mondstadt's vaults."
Klee nearly fainted with pride.
Closing the Meeting — The Start of a New Era
With the bridge issue resolved, traffic laws underway, and Klee's existential worldview permanently altered, the meeting wrapped up.
Ningguang clapped her hands.
"Then it's settled.
• Zhongli will handle the new bridge.
• Yanfei and Keqing will finish drafting the new traffic laws.
• Takumi will finalize driver manuals and training.
• And Klee… will not drive."
Klee: "Awwwwww…"
Takumi scratched her head warmly.
"When you're older."
Zhongli rose. "I will begin the bridge reconstruction immediately."
Ganyu bowed. "I'll prepare the necessary notices for harbor operations."
Yanfei rolled up the scrolls. "Leave the legal text to me. It'll be airtight."
Takumi stretched. "Time to head back and continue production."
Klee tugged at his sleeve.
"Brother Takumi… are we going to see Qiqi later?"
Takumi smiled gently.
"Yes. You and Qiqi can play as much as you want."
Klee beamed, all existential crisis forgotten.
Keqing walked ahead, hands behind her back. "Let's go. Guili Plains won't build itself."
Takumi nodded, glancing once more at the room filled with Liyue's brightest.
This was the start of modern civilization.
And he still had blueprints left unshared.
[SYSTEM]
— NEXT PHASE:
• ELECTRONIC INDUSTRY PROTOTYPE
• AGRI-ENGINEERING MODULE
• ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY BLUEPRINTS
— All logs remain SECRET]
Takumi smirked.
Liyue had no idea how fast its world was about to change.