"I see, I understand it now. I believe the invention of the hoverboard will completely change the way people fly in Mondstadt and even across the entirety of Teyvat. With this invention, the Wind Gliders will eventually only serve as its inferior substitute."
In Jean's office, Jean, Kaeya, and Lisa were gathered, discussing how to handle Shen Qin and his hoverboard.
"Oh my, who would've thought our little genius actually created something so remarkable?" Lisa leaned lazily against the desk, her eyes sparkling as she listened to Kaeya describe the hoverboard.
"Lisa, you already knew, didn't you? Just yesterday, you even encouraged me to go catch him on my own."
Kaeya looked at her, speechless. It wasn't until he returned home last night after parting ways with Shen Qin that he realized something had been off in the library.
Lisa sighed. "Of course, I knew. After he completed the library management system, he told me he was working on a new flying tool and asked me to keep it a secret. He said it'd be embarrassing if he failed to create it. Who knew the end result would impact all of Teyvat? It makes me feel quite inadequate, honestly."
"Lisa, how skilled is Shen Qin in alchemy? Could the techniques he used for the hoverboard be achieved through other means?" Jean asked.
"It's not about skill; it's that he may have created an entirely new branch of an alchemical system!" Lisa's expression turned uncharacteristically serious.
"Here's the thing, new alchemical products are released every year, but most of them are based on alchemical knowledge that was left behind by Khaenri'ah. After its fall, Teyvat's alchemical technology stagnated, and in some areas, even regressed."
"Among the Seven Nations today, Sumeru and Snezhnaya are likely the most advanced in alchemy, and even they borrow heavily from Khaenri'ah's technologies."
"Of the two alchemical products Shen Qin has developed, the library management system might still find roots in traditional alchemy, but the hoverboard shows almost no trace of Teyvat's alchemical heritage. He's pioneering a completely new system! In his lifetime, no one might surpass him in this new domain."
"He could very well become a legendary figure who shapes an era. The father of this system!"
After Lisa finished speaking, the room fell silent. Neither Jean nor Kaeya had expected such high praise from Lisa, the brilliant sorceress, especially her assertion that Shen Qin might influence an entire era.
After a long silence, Kaeya broke it. "It's a pity he's from Liyue, not Mondstadt."
"What does that matter? He's in Mondstadt now, isn't he?" Lisa said with a smile. "The fact that he chose to debut his alchemical products here shows he has a fondness for us, for Mondstadt. All we need to do is show goodwill and make him feel more comfortable here."
Kaeya smirked. "So now we've gone from cooperation to trying to win him over?"
"We're simply helping a friend. How could that be considered manipulation?" Lisa saw no issue with this approach.
"In any case, cooperating on the hoverboard project will be a great way to maintain this friendship," Jean decided decisively. "Let's go find him now and finalize the cooperation and future plans. Profits are secondary. The longer we delay, the more likely other opportunists will get involved."
Kaeya naturally accompanied Jean to meet Shen Qin. Lisa, though not necessary for the negotiations, followed them out of curiosity about the hoverboard.
However, Shen Qin wasn't in the alchemy workshop when they arrived.
Just as Kaeya started worrying about Shen Qin's safety, they heard townsfolk discussing a "red-clad little devil" who was zipping across Cider Lake without a Wind Glider, leaving a trail of explosions in her wake.
"Oh my, it seems our genius alchemist has taken our little Spark Knight on an outing," Lisa remarked softly with a chuckle.
Jean already had a headache. She could foresee Klee causing even more trouble now that she had a hoverboard.
"We need to hurry," Kaeya reminded calmly. "Outside Mondstadt, it's not as safe as within the city. With all the commotion they're causing, they could attract the attention of unsavory individuals."
"You're right. Let's move quickly," Jean agreed.
Thanks to the efficiency of the Knights of Favonius' intelligence network, they were informed of Klee and Shen Qin's whereabouts as soon as they reached the city gates.
Riding swiftly, they soon heard faint explosions in the distance. Kaeya stole a glance at Jean, noting her rising anger.
As they approached a clearing, they spotted a red figure speeding across Cider Lake. Explosions erupted behind her, sending water columns into the air.
"Klee!" Jean's anger could no longer be contained. Wind elements surged around her as she opened her Wind Glider and quickly flew toward the scene.
"Oh dear, Jean's mad. Poor little Klee is doomed," Lisa mused as lightning flickered around her, teleporting in pursuit.
"Hey, don't leave me behind!" Kaeya complained, forced to run to keep up.
On flat terrain, he couldn't match Lisa's teleportation or Jean's Wind Glider, but if it came to water traversal, he might stand a chance—after all, he was the "Uncrowned King of Oceanborne Frost." (T/N: I remember traversing to the abyss using his skill, eventually I failed halfway and just look up for a guide)
When Kaeya arrived at the lakeside, he saw Klee standing sheepishly beside Jean. Surprisingly, Jean wore a faint smile. When Kaeya looked at the person speaking to her, his doubts vanished, replaced by a grin.
"Hello! Diluc, Shen, and our little Klee."
"Hi, Kaeya," Klee greeted softly. Shen Qin nodded politely, while Diluc, as usual, ignored him.
"Dawn Winery's offer is clear," Diluc stated. "Of the profits, I take 30% out of 40%, leaving the Knights 10%. If the Knights insist on direct involvement, I'll have to withdraw entirely."
Even with Jean, Diluc maintained his boundaries. He trusted her and could even tolerate Kaeya, but he would never trust certain individuals within the Knights.
"I understand your concerns, but the circulation of hoverboards must remain under the Knights' control," Jean argued. "You may not grasp the full extent of the change it will bring to Teyvat, but we must manage it."
"Jean, you're not a savior. You don't need to shoulder every responsibility that comes your way…" Diluc shook his head.
Shen Qin stayed out of their debate. He was an alchemist, not a politician or businessman. These negotiations were their responsibility; his role was the research in the workshop.
"See this main jet nozzle?" Shen Qin explained to an inquisitive Lisa, pointing to the hoverboard's underside. "It provides vertical thrust, while the front and rear nozzles manage forward and backward thrust."
"These nozzles rotate for directional control, assisted by two fixed side nozzles, enabling flight and maneuvering."
"Are they all controlled by an intelligent system? Handling such data and complex calculations, is the onboard processor sufficient?" Lisa was impressed. Even Sumeru's Akasha System relied on countless terminals and the ancient wisdom of the Irminsul.
"Actually, the data load for a single hoverboard isn't overwhelming. The key lies in the algorithms…"
Kaeya, overhearing their technical conversation, quickly grew bored and wandered back to Jean and Diluc. Their discussion seemed to involve past events, with Kaeya feeling like an irrelevant side character.
"Ahem," Kaeya interrupted, earning a glare from Jean. "Sorry to intrude, but shouldn't we find a more private place to discuss the hoverboard? Cider Lake isn't exactly ideal for negotiations. Though, if reminiscing with friends, it's not a bad spot, wouldn't you agree?"