Takumi and Ningguang's negotiation chamber had long since emptied, the earlier heated debate between Jean and Ningguang shifting into administrative calm. But echoes of that argument—about Mondstadt's workers—still lingered like dust on the air.
And yet, cooperation had been achieved.
Barely.
Now, as Takumi and Klee wandered down Liyue Harbor's gently curving stone path, the sea breeze carrying traces of sea salt and grilled fish, the tension of the diplomatic meeting finally lifted.
For two minutes.
Because trouble found them before they could even buy snacks.
Hu Tao Explodes Onto the Scene
"YO! Takumi! Kleeeee~!"
Like a comet in sleeveless red, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's Hall Master shot toward them at full speed.
Klee instantly perked up.
"SISTER HUTAO!!"
Hu Tao skidded to a stop, boots sparking on the stone tiles.
She ruffled Klee's hair affectionately. "Spark Knight! Good timing. Quick—did you blow up anything important today?"
Klee saluted. "Not yet!"
Takumi: "Yet…?"
Hu Tao turned to him with a dramatic exhale.
"You! Car-maker boy!" She jabbed a finger at him. "You gave Zhongli a car. A CAR! That guy won't let me touch it. He stares at it like it's a teapot made of pure primo gems!"
Takumi snorted. "That sounds like him."
"Do you know what he told me?" Hu Tao folded her arms, mimicking Zhongli's deep voice.
'Hall Master, you must not drive recklessly. The machine is not built to withstand… your enthusiasm.'"
She nearly vibrated with indignation.
"Do I look like someone who crashes things?"
Takumi and Klee shared a synchronized side-glance.
Klee raised her hand. "Umm… maybe…?"
Takumi handed Hu Tao a polite but blunt reality check.
"You literally sleep in coffins, set traps for prank funerals, and once chased Qiqi with paper ghosts."
"That was only once," Hu Tao muttered.
"Twice," Takumi corrected her.
"…okay maybe thrice."
Takumi crossed his arms. "If you want a car, pass the driver's exam first."
Hu Tao blinked. "Exam?"
Takumi nodded. "Yanfei is finalizing the traffic laws. When she's done, the tests begin."
Hu Tao slammed her fist into her palm. "Then I'll go to Yanfei NOW!"
And off she sprinted.
Klee waved cheerfully. "Bye-bye Sister Hu Tao!"
Takumi sighed. "Yanfei is going to need lunch after this…"
Wanmin Restaurant — Culinary Heaven, Spark Knight Guest
By noon, Liyue Harbor glowed with heat and bustle. Takumi led Klee through the familiar doors of Wanmin Restaurant, where steam curled from the kitchen and spices perfumed the air.
Xiangling peeked out the window, spotted Takumi, and nearly tackled him with excitement.
"Takumiii! You're back! Quick, come in!"
Her eyes landed on Klee. "And who's this little dumpling?"
"I'm Klee!"
"I'm from Mondstadt!"
Xiangling gasped. "Oh! You must've come with Acting Grand Master Jean!"
She whisked them upstairs to a private booth, poured tea, and dashed to the kitchen.
Klee swung her legs under the table impatiently.
"Brother Takumi… Sister Xiangling is fast!"
Takumi smiled. "She fights monsters with her wok. Of course she's fast."
Klee's eyes sparkled. "Wow…"
The air filled with sizzling oil and popping spices. Soon Xiangling returned with dish after dish—Hotplate Sliced Fish, Bamboo Shoot Soup, Black-Back Perch Stew.
Klee inhaled deeply. "It smells AMAZING!"
Takumi looked at the food, eyebrows rising.
"Xiangling… did you cook the whole menu?"
She grinned. "It's my welcome back! set!"
Klee dug in happily, cheeks puffing like a chipmunk.
Watching her, Takumi felt the strangest warmth—this world, these people, the simple moments in between construction meetings and blueprint engineering… they grounded him.
A rare, quiet slice of peace.
But peace never lasted long in Liyue Harbor.
A Visitor Arrives
Footsteps echoed on the stairs.
Then someone's voice called out, half-curious, half-amused:
"So he is here. Xiangling wasn't exaggerating."
Takumi turned.
Standing there—in her formal Qixing attire, scrolls under one arm—was Ganyu.
Behind her, slightly out of breath from apparently sprinting to catch up, was Yanfei.
And behind her was Keqing, looking simultaneously tired and fiercely determined.
Yanfei exhaled in relief when she spotted Takumi.
"There you are. I've been looking everywhere. We need to finalize the traffic laws."
Keqing added, "And the driving test grounds construction needs your approval."
Ganyu bowed gently. "And Ningguang wishes to confirm the industrial development timeline with you. Preferably today."
Takumi blinked as three women sat around him, placing scrolls on the table.
Klee whispered, "Brother Takumi… are you in trouble…?"
He pinched the bridge of his nose.
"No, Klee. This is just adulthood."
Blueprint Tech — A Secret Revealed (But Only a Little)
Yanfei began laying out her documents. "I need clarification on Section 3B, Sub-rule 4, regarding heavy vehicle maneuvering restrictions—"
Takumi cut in. "Show me the scroll."
He placed his hand over the parchment.
DING—
A faint system interface shimmered, invisible to all but Takumi:
[Blueprint Cognitive Engine Activated]
Parsing Traffic Regulations…
Detecting Ambiguities…
Suggesting Optimizations…
When he opened his eyes, he casually—too casually—rewrote a section:
"No heavy vehicles on bridges under certain classifications. Ban unlicensed drivers from using Vision-power mode. And put mandatory rest periods every four hours."
Yanfei's jaw dropped. "You wrote that… in five seconds."
Keqing leaned in. "…That handwriting matches the original perfectly. How?"
Takumi smiled innocently.
"Years of practice."
Ganyu, the quiet observer, blinked slowly. "…That was… fast."
Takumi sipped his tea nonchalantly while his system hummed in the back of his mind:
Warning: Large-scale blueprint output in progress will require 40% energy.
Blueprint batch: Traffic infrastructure phase II
Proceed later?
Takumi mentally dismissed the notification.
He couldn't exactly explain:
My brain is a factory.
My ability is a supercomputer.
My blueprints are semi-automated designs from a dimension you can't comprehend.
So instead, he simply said:
"Don't worry about it. Let's focus on Liyue."
Klee the Chaos Detector
Klee suddenly hugged her backpack.
The backpack shook ominously.
Takumi froze.
"…Klee. Is there a bomb in there?"
"No!" Klee said proudly. "Just a little Sparkle Surprise!"
Xiangling emerged from the kitchen again, overhearing.
"What's a Sparkle Surprise?"
Klee cheerfully unzipped the bag.
A faint hiss filled the room.
Everyone: "—!!!"
Yanfei scrambled under the table.
Keqing grabbed Ganyu and dove behind Takumi.
Ganyu squeaked.
Xiangling clutched a frying pan like a shield.
Takumi calmly closed the bag with two fingers.
"Klee. We do NOT open bags that make hissing noises."
Klee nodded seriously. "Okay!"
The Walk Back — Industry Meets Archons
After finishing lunch (and disarming Klee's Sparkle Surprise), Takumi left with Keqing, Yanfei, and Ganyu to head to the General Affairs Department.
On the way, they passed Zhongli instructing Millelith soldiers on historical bridge designs. One soldier fainted from information overload.
Zhongli looked up. "Ah, Takumi. Your presence is timely. I have completed the historical justification document for the stone bridge reconstruction. Would you like to review it?"
Takumi gently patted the scroll back into Zhongli's hands.
"Zhongli," he said with deep sincerity,
"We don't need a 76-page essay on bridge philosophy."
Zhongli nodded, unoffended.
"Ah. A concise version then. 48 pages."
Keqing quietly cried inside.
Returning to the General Affairs Department
Jean and Ningguang were still deep in negotiation about wine exports, transport routes, and bonded warehouse proposals.
Jean looked both exhausted and hopeful.
Ningguang looked perfectly calm.
Lisa sipped tea like this was premium entertainment.
Jean spotted Takumi. "Mr. Takumi! Did Klee behave?"
Klee held up a half-eaten grilled fish.
"Klee was VERY good!"
Takumi nodded. "She did not explode anything. Yet."
Jean exhaled in deep relief.
Labor Crisis — A Problem to Solve
With everyone gathered, Ningguang returned to the primary issue.
"Let us finalize the labor allocation between Liyue and Mondstadt."
Jean said, "I will personally select the most diligent workers."
Ningguang nodded.
"That is acceptable. Liyue welcomes workers from Mondstadt for our large-scale developments—under the condition that they meet efficiency standards."
Jean agreed. "Thank you. Mondstadt desperately needs employment opportunities."
Takumi added dryly:
"And motivation."
Industrialization Checklist — The First Official Plan
Ningguang laid out the document:
Phase 1: Infrastructure
Complete Liyue–Mondstadt Road (Liyue manpower with Jean's selected team)
Expand docks and build freight terminals
Install electrical grid foundations
Phase 2: Industry
Establish electronics factory (Albedo supervising)
Mechanized farming zone in Qingce Village
Food processing plant with Xiangling's guidance
Entertainment district planning with Yun Jin
Phase 3: Workforce
Driving school opens
Blueprint-based construction training
Mass recruitment from both nations
Phase 4: International Trade
Wine export quotas via Liyue Harbor
Licensed automobile export to Mondstadt
Joint power research
Jean looked stunned.
Ganyu looked impressed.
Keqing looked ready to enforce it.
Yanfei looked ready to write 60 new sub-laws.
Takumi sat back, satisfied.
Ending Scene — The Calm Before the New Era
As the sun set over Liyue Harbor, casting golden light over the new stone bridge and the busy piers, Takumi stood quietly beside Klee.
"Brother Takumi," she said softly, "Are you going to build everything in Liyue?"
Takumi smiled.
"Not alone. Everyone will help."
Klee nodded happily. "Then Klee will help too! I can explode rocks!"
Takumi resisted the urge to sigh.
"…We'll talk about that part later."
Behind them, Liyue bustled with motion:
construction machines digging, alchemists forging components, Millelith learning driving basics, and ships preparing for new trade routes.
The age of modern Liyue had officially begun.