The moment the contract sealed, the world seemed to inhale.
Takumi felt something—no, several somethings—ignite inside him all at once.
Zhongli lifted a single finger and touched the air, as if tapping on invisible stone. A pulse of Geo rippled out, merging into the extinguished Vision in Takumi's hands.
The gemstone flared with golden light.
At that same moment, an overwhelming desire bloomed in Takumi's chest—strong enough to make him gasp.
I want to change this world.
I want to reshape it into the form I imagine.
I want to build—everything.
Zhongli watched him, faint amusement in his eyes.
"So that is your wish," he murmured. "I see. Then… as you wish."
As his voice fell—
WHOOM—
A burst of radiant Geo light exploded from the Vision.
Takumi staggered back as power flooded through him—his bones sharpening, his body strengthening, every sense heightened. It was like he'd drunk pure lightning and molten rock simultaneously.
"Holy—!?"
Xiao moved forward instinctively, tense and ready for trouble.
But Takumi wasn't in danger. He was changing.
A new force swirled through his limbs—earthy, heavy, and steady.
But there was something else too. Something foreign. Something that did NOT belong to Teyvat.
Zhongli's eyes sharpened. "What is this…?"
Takumi blinked rapidly as information slammed into his mind like an encyclopedia someone threw onto his skull.
"I—I think…" He swallowed. "I didn't just get Geo."
Zhongli and Xiao exchanged looks.
"What do you mean?" Xiao asked bluntly.
Takumi lifted his hand. Elemental energy shimmered… but its texture felt strange. Flexible. Mechanical. Constructive. Like a machine learning its function.
"I can… understand things," Takumi muttered. "Break them down. Reconstruct them. If I understand how something works… I can create it from elemental energy."
Xiao stiffened.
Zhongli's eyes widened—just a fraction, but enough to show shock.
"That… is not a Teyvat ability," the Archon whispered.
Takumi almost laughed. "No kidding. This is literally the Herrscher of Reason's power from my world. A power of creation and understanding. Except this world's energy is elemental, not Honkai."
He flexed his fingers.
A tiny screwdriver made of pure Geo formed in his palm.
Xiao's jaw dropped a millimeter.
Zhongli raised an eyebrow in appreciation.
The screwdriver crumbled back into golden dust.
"…But it's weak," Takumi admitted. "This isn't Honkai Energy. Elemental power is… different. I can't use even half of the real ability."
His eyes narrowed as the System fed him more data.
[SYSTEM]
Ability Detected: Cognitive-Elemental Construction
Quality: Reduced (World Energy Misalignment)
Functions Unlocked:
Basic Creation (Elemental Medium)
Object Parsing
Memory Retrieval Enhancement
Low-tier Blueprint Reconstruction
Takumi mentally groaned.
It really is nerfed…
But even weakened, it was still absurdly powerful.
He closed his eyes and tested the parsing function.
He recalled a book he once skimmed in high school—
"Barefoot Doctor's Manual."
Instantly, the contents arranged neatly in his head.
Physics.
Chemistry.
Geography.
Old military manuals.
Educational books he'd forgotten about.
All of it resurfaced.
Takumi opened his eyes slowly.
"…This is insane."
Zhongli studied him with genuine interest now. "You have acquired a unique blessing. A power not of this world."
Xiao remained tense. "Is it dangerous?"
Takumi snorted. "Only to paperwork and poverty."
Xiao didn't get the joke. Zhongli pretended he didn't.
A New Vision, A New Path
Takumi steadied his breathing, looking down at his newly lit Geo Vision.
Golden light pulsed through it like a heartbeat.
"This is real," he muttered. "I actually have a Vision. And a creation ability. And a system. And a contract with Zhongli."
He swallowed.
"…This is way too much responsibility."
Zhongli smiled faintly. "That is what it means to be a contractor of Liyue."
Takumi turned to him, eyes burning with new determination.
"Then I'll do it. I'll build Liyue. I'll turn it into the future I imagine."
He bowed slightly—not like a servant, but like someone acknowledging a partner.
"If I do something wrong… or make unreasonable choices…" He looked away. "Just… forgive me."
Zhongli chuckled. "No contractor is perfect. And Liyue has endured far worse mistakes."
Takumi sighed in relief—only to stiffen as his System chimed again.
[SYSTEM]
Main Route Activated: "Liyue Industrial Era – Phase 1"
Objective: Establish foundation for multi-industry development
Industries:
Electronics
Agricultural modernization
Food industry
Entertainment & cultural industry
Current State:
Manpower: 0
Funding: 0
Equipment: 0
Support: Pending
Difficulty: Catastrophically high.
Takumi: "Thanks. I feel very motivated."
[SYSTEM]
Emotion Detected: Sarcasm.
Logging for future emotional analysis.
Takumi: "Delete that log."
[SYSTEM]
Denied.
Xiao watched Takumi talk to the air. "…Is he alright?"
Zhongli sipped tea. "He is. Probably."
Next Step: Liyue Harbor
Zhongli stood.
"Next, you must go to Liyue Harbor."
Takumi's heart thumped.
"Already?"
"Yes. I will inform the Liyue Qixing to cooperate with your projects."
Takumi froze. "Wait… QIXING? As in—"
"Yes," Zhongli said calmly, as if discussing weather. "All of Liyue's governance will support you."
Xiao stared at Zhongli. "Emperor… are you sure this is wise?"
"Quite."
Takumi felt faint. He's throwing me straight into national management???
Zhongli placed a hand on Takumi's shoulder.
"I do not need to ask how you will achieve your goals. I only want results."
Takumi nodded shakily. "I'll… somehow do it."
"Good. Ganyu will meet you at the harbor."
Takumi blinked. "Ganyu? THE Ganyu? The super-secretary of Liyue Qixing? That Ganyu?"
"Yes. She is efficient."
Takumi's mind immediately imagined a quiet half-qilin covered in paperwork like a snowdrift.
"…I hope she doesn't kill me."
"She won't," Zhongli said gently. "Probably."
Xiao added, "If she does not kill you, I might."
Takumi sighed. "Great. Perfect workplace dynamic."
Takumi Leaves Wangshu Inn
With a deep breath, Takumi drained the last of his tea.
"I'll head out now. Liyue Harbor… I'm coming."
He turned and strode toward the stairs.
But as soon as he was out of Zhongli's line of sight—
[SYSTEM]
New Mode Unlocked:
"Elemental Gear-Crafting – Beginner."
Would you like to test your abilities?
Takumi whispered. "…Yes."
A thought.
A small spark of power.
A tiny mechanical toy—half clockwork, half Geo—materialized in his palm. A little Liyue-style crane figurine with moving gears.
Takumi's eyes widened.
"…I really can do this."
He closed his hand, dispersing it into golden dust.
A smile formed.
"Liyue Harbor… just wait."
Meanwhile, Back Inside the Inn
Xiao watched Takumi disappear down the stairs.
"…Emperor, is it truly alright?"
Zhongli's expression softened as he looked toward the horizon.
"I see another path for Liyue in him. A future shaped not by Adepti, but by humans."
Xiao frowned. "But he is not from here."
Zhongli smiled. "That is what makes this trial worthwhile."
He lifted his cup, savoring the final sip of tea.
"Even if he fails, I will correct it. The immortals still exist."
Xiao exhaled, accepting the answer.
Zhongli walked to the observation deck, gazing at the far mountains.
His voice faded into the wind.
"I want to buy sweet-scented osmanthus wine…"
Xiao stared blankly.
"…He's reciting poetry again."
If Takumi had seen it, he would've screamed, "YOU HAVE MONEY FOR WINE BUT NOT FOR TEA???"
A New Road, A New Future
As Takumi left Wangshu Inn, the marshland opened before him, bathed in warm sunlight.
His Vision pulsed.
His new power hummed.
His system projected a faint holographic interface only he could see.
[SYSTEM]
Next Destination: Liyue Harbor
Incoming NPC: Ganyu
Warning: Budget crisis likely.
Takumi took a deep breath.
"Time to change a nation."
Then he sprinted toward the road, the weight of ambition—and an entire civilization—on his shoulders.