『 Virtual City System ― Developed by ■■■. This system aims to fully modernize and futurize the world of Teyvat, ensuring that the people from all seven nations can enjoy the conveniences that technology brings to daily life. 』
︽
System Has Been Activated ― The beginner's gift pack is now available. The host may choose one of the following technological blueprints to study:
① Fully Automated Smart Toilet
② Holographic Combat Detection Glasses
③ Intelligent Flying Skateboard
︾
『 Next Task ― To Be Revealed 』
『 Condition ― The Development Of The First Product 』
『 May the host diligently pursue excellence and aspire to become Teyvat's number one alchemist 』
It had been a night since Shen Qin arrived in Mondstadt. The system had activated as soon as Klee granted him permission to use the abandoned alchemy workshop, even transferring foundational alchemy knowledge into his mind.
Declining the Knights of Favonius' offer to help, Shen Qin spent an entire day tidying the workshop by himself, turning it into his temporary residence in Mondstadt.
Suddenly, there was a rapid knock at the door.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Shen Qin set down the rag he was using, opened the door, and found Klee who was standing there with her oversized backpack and a radiant smile.
"Big Brother Traveler, Klee came to play with you!"
Shen Qin couldn't help but smile. Her grin seemed to have a magical charm that instantly lifted his spirits every time he saw it.
He stepped aside to let the little one in and asked, "Klee, did Grand Master Jean let you go already?"
"It's been a whole day, so Klee let herself out!" Klee said proudly, placing her hands on her hips. "Master Jean is super busy and always forgets Klee's still in confinement, so Klee keeps track of the time herself and comes out when it's up. No need to trouble her!"
As it turned out, the incident where Klee almost injured Shen Qin with her fish bombing had been exposed. Being an honest child who didn't lie, Klee confessed everything when Jean questioned her later.
Jean had personally brought Klee to apologize to Shen Qin, then promptly confined her in the reflection room.
Klee glanced around at the now-spotless workshop and exclaimed, "Wow—everything's so clean now! It used to be so dirty when Klee came here before!"
Shen Qin picked up the rag and resumed his cleaning, responding with a smile, "You need to clean regularly to keep a place tidy."
"But Klee's room at the Knights of Favonius gets clean without her doing anything!" Klee sat on a chair, her short legs swinging back and forth.
"That's because the big brothers and sisters at the Knights clean it for you!"
"Really? Then next time, Klee will help them clean their rooms too!"
As Klee watched Shen Qin work, she suddenly beamed and said, "Oh, there's some good news! Master Jean agreed to let Klee join the Mondstadt Gliding Championship!"
"Eh? Why did she suddenly agree?" Shen Qin asked, surprised.
"Because Klee promised Master Jean that if I could join the competition, Klee wouldn't go bombing fish in the Cider Lake for the next few days!" Klee explained excitedly. Then, as if remembering something urgent, she quickly jumped off the chair. "Ah! I almost forgot! Amber is waiting for me at the Knights' headquarters. We're going to Windrise to practice gliding together!"
"Ah, if only Big Brother Traveler could join the gliding competition with Klee…"
With that, Klee rushed off, leaving behind a lingering note of disappointment that settled in Shen Qin's heart.
Using wind gliders was a difficult skill to master. Without months of practice, it was nearly impossible to learn, and there was less than a month before the competition started.
'Respond to every hope. Fulfill every wish.'
This was the voice resonating in Shen "Klee's Devoted Supporter" Qin's heart.
So, Shen Qin left the workshop and, after some inquiries, headed straight for the Adventurers' Guild, the organizer of the gliding competition.
"Ad Astra Abyssosque! Welcome to the Adventurers' Guild."
Katheryne stood behind the reception desk as always, her impeccable demeanor, expression, and tone betraying no hint that she wasn't human.
It was a small but shocking reminder of the technological marvels of Snezhnaya for Shen Qin.
"I'd like to register for the gliding competition."
"Understood. Please fill out this form. The competition rules are listed on the back; you can review them."
Shen Qin flipped the form over and carefully read the rules. To his relief, none of the rules explicitly stated that participants had to use wind gliders—it was simply an unspoken convention.
This loophole gave him a glimmer of hope. He exhaled in relief and wrote his name on the form.
"Thank you for your enthusiastic participation. The latest competition updates will be posted daily outside the Adventurers' Guild. Please check them regularly."
'System, I want to study the blueprint for item number three.'
Closing his eyes, Shen Qin felt a surge of knowledge about the hoverboard flood into his mind. In mere moments, he had fully grasped the techniques required to build it.
"Well, if it isn't the mysterious alchemist from afar who has already captured the favor of our little Spark Knight," a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.
Shen Qin turned his head, only to find the infamous "descendant of a pirate family," Kaeya, the Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonius.
Kaeya's expression was as friendly as ever, with a warm smile on his face. But Shen Qin could clearly see the faint trace of mischief curling at the edges of his lips.
After all, Kaeya was known as Mondstadt's most cunning individual.
Shen Qin feigned ignorance and asked, "May this humble person, ask who you are?" deliberately ignoring Kaeya's outstretched hand.
"Oh, my apologies. I forgot to introduce myself," Kaeya replied, showing no sign of embarrassment. He raised an eyebrow and said, "I'm Kaeya, the Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonius. I'm responsible for eliminating any threats to Mondstadt. If you encounter any suspicious individuals in the city, be sure to report them to me."
"Just call me Shen Qin," he replied, finally shaking Kaeya's hand but maintaining a distant tone. "It seems like Captain Kaeya might be hinting at something."
Kaeya's gaze turned amused, his single visible eye glittering with curiosity. "Shen Qin, do you have some free time? Perhaps we could share a drink at the Angel's Share after my shift?"
"I'm underage, so I don't drink. Is there anything else you need, Captain Kaeya?" Shen Qin wanted to avoid spending too much time with him.
Kaeya, with his sharp eye and cunning nature, could easily see through lies and traps. He was a master manipulator who could extract information from anyone with just a few well-placed words.
"Ah, if you're busy, I won't hold you up. We'll surely have plenty of chances to meet again," Kaeya said with a wave, walking away. "I need to resume my patrol. Take care, Shen Qin."
Shen Qin watched Kaeya's departing figure and sighed. He understood he was now under Kaeya's scrutiny.
An unknown alchemist, suddenly befriended by Mondstadt's treasured Spark Knight, would naturally raise suspicions. But there wasn't much Shen Qin could do about it—he needed a foothold in Mondstadt.
Shrugging helplessly, Shen Qin returned to his workshop.
The next morning, Klee arrived at Shen Qin's workshop bright and early, even bringing him breakfast from the Good Hunter: Fisherman's Toast.
"Traveler big brother, where are we going to play today? But only in the morning, okay? In the afternoon, I have to practice gliding with Amber-sis," Klee said, sitting on a tall chair with her hands supporting her chin.
Shen Qin wiped away crumbs from his mouth and asked, "I'd like to study some alchemy today. Klee, do you know where I can buy alchemy materials?"
Klee's eyes lit up. "Are you going to make bombs, Big Brother? Klee can help!"
"No, not bombs," Shen Qin chuckled. "I want to make a fun little gadget."
"Oh, okay." Klee looked slightly disappointed but quickly perked up. "That's fine! You can use the alchemy materials in Klee's little bomb-making room. There are lots of them there!"
Shen Qin hesitated. He didn't want to take advantage of Klee, but he was currently broke, relying on the Knights of Favonius for meals. Purchasing expensive alchemy materials was out of the question.
Until he earned some money, he'd have to borrow from Klee's resources.
Everyone knew Alice had left Klee a significant inheritance before her departure, and the Knights doted on her endlessly. Her alchemy workshop was bound to be well-equipped.
When Shen Qin finally saw Klee's luxurious alchemy workshop, he was utterly stunned.
A spacious room over 200 square meters housed a variety of alchemy equipment. Four additional rooms were packed with a staggering assortment of materials.
"Let's see.. Cor Lapis, Crystal Marrow, Starsilver, Lizard Tails…"
Shen Qin's expression slowly turned numb. The materials here almost rivaled his six-level Genshin Impact account from his past life.
Cross-referencing the blueprint for the flying skateboard, Shen Qin realized the workshop lacked only one crucial material: Electro Crystals.
Given their constant electrical discharge, it was clear the Knights had intentionally excluded them from Klee's workshop to prevent her from accidentally blowing it up.
"Traveler big brother, look at this! It's Klee's Bunny Baron Mark II! But Amber-sis said it's too powerful, so she didn't take it."
Proudly, Klee showed Shen Qin a cute rabbit doll, twisting something on its tail as she spoke.
"Beep—beep—beep—"
A sharp noise came from within the doll. Shen Qin and Klee locked eyes, their faces frozen in horror.