Sucrose felt as though Albedo had seen right through her secret, and her cheeks immediately flushed red.
"Sucrose, you don't look too good—are you upset about being released? It's okay, maybe Albedo just thought working both jobs was too tiring for you. If you're worried about the lost income, I can double your salary," Shen Qin offered "thoughtfully."
But instead of appreciating the gesture, she seemed even more annoyed, ignoring him and pulling Klee away to play, leaving Shen Qin utterly confused.
"I'm going to deliver the smart bracelets. Do you two want to come?" He packed eight bracelets into his bag and glanced at the girls.
Klee raised her hand eagerly. "Klee wants—"
But Sucrose tugged her back. "Klee, let's go take pretty pictures outside Mondstadt! Places like Windrise or Cider Lake—the photos will look amazing with those as backgrounds!"
"Okay, okay!" Klee's eyes sparkled with excitement, and she turned to Shen Qin apologetically. "Big Brother Shen, Klee and Sister Sucrose are going outside the city to take pictures, so we won't go with you! Say hi to the Knights for Klee!"
Watching the two hurry off, Shen Qin scratched his head in bewilderment.
Sucrose had insisted on leaving to take photos, but not long after stepping out of the alchemy workshop, she hesitated, looking back with worry.
Did I upset him by refusing like that? And why did I get mad at him in the first place? I knew he was just trying to comfort me...
Klee, walking ahead, noticed Sucrose had stopped and turned back curiously. "Sister Sucrose, why aren't you coming?"
Just then, Sucrose saw Shen Qin emerge from the workshop. She quickly turned away, pulling Klee along. "It's nothing. Let's go."
Shen Qin spotted the two retreating figures in the distance and scratched his head again before turning toward Angel's Share.
Diluc was both his business partner and friend—and a Vision holder at that. There was no reason not to give him a bracelet.
When Shen Qin entered the tavern, Diluc looked surprised. "I heard you were holed up working on a new invention. What brings you here in the middle of the day?"
"I'm not here to drink. The new invention is done." Shen Qin pulled out a smart bracelet and handed it over, briefly explaining its functions.
Diluc was impressed—but upon learning it couldn't be mass-produced, he sighed regretfully. "If it could, we'd make a fortune in Mora."
"Actually, I could extract the terminal and sell it as a standalone product, but right now, its functions are too limited. It's not ready for the market yet."
"The camera alone would be a hit—Fontaine's Kameras aren't this convenient. And the database and material analysis would be invaluable to adventurers," Diluc suggested, certain even these features would sell well.
Shen Qin grinned. "How do they compare to the flight boards and bionic prosthetics?"
Diluc stroked his chin thoughtfully before nodding. "I see your point. The flight boards and prosthetics are groundbreaking, but the terminal is just... popular. You want to perfect it into something revolutionary before release."
"Bingo." Shen Qin snapped his fingers.
Diluc chuckled. "Seems my merchant instincts are too narrow. Sometimes rushing for Mora isn't the best move. By the way, the Liyue market is almost open, and Mondstadt's is stable. Jean mentioned a Liyue dignitary will visit soon to discuss flight board and prosthetic collaborations. Once that's settled, we'll officially expand into Liyue."
"I'd suggest reinforcing the defenses around Mondstadt's factories first. Liyue can wait."
"Oh?" Diluc's eyes sharpened. "The Anemo Archon's... guardian?"
Shen Qin waved him off. "I've got other places to be. Later."
He must know something... Diluc pondered the warning before swiftly issuing orders to his hidden agents: "Increase security at all factories and operating rooms. Reinforce the structures—"
Shen Qin hadn't been speaking idly. When the smart bracelets were completed, his system's previous mission was marked as done, granting him another reward draw—along with a new task:
『 Emergency Mission: Develop a heavy alchemical product to eliminate Mondstadt's Dragon Crisis 』
『 Immediate Unlockable Blueprint/Knowledge ─ The Traveler may request 'any' blueprint/knowledge. 』
『 Reward ─ 1 Random Blueprint Draw 』
『 Next phase will be unlocked after the successful development and resolution of the crisis. As always, strive to become the Teyvat's renowned alchemist and improve its inhabitant's life. 』
Thus, Shen Qin knew the Knights wouldn't save Dvalin in time. The dragon would soon be corrupted by the Abyss Order, transformed into a weapon of war—the "Stormterror" feared by Mondstadt.
And the city would be attacked.
But he couldn't outright warn the Knights. All he could do was urge caution, hoping to minimize the damage.
As for the "heavy alchemical product" to end the crisis, his first thought was nuclear weapons—drop one on Stormterror's lair, and the problem would vanish.
Then he'd just have to figure out how to survive the wrath of the Seven Archons, because Teyvat would not tolerate such a weapon.
And he didn't want nukes in Teyvat. They'd spark another world war, making him history's greatest villain.
Enough overthinking. One step at a time.
With no clear solution, he headed to the Favonius Cathedral to deliver a bracelet to Barbara.
"Eh? This is for me? But it's too valuable..." Barbara adored the camera function but hesitated—she and Shen Qin weren't close, having only treated his injuries a few times.
"Miss Barbara, look—this material analysis feature also checks human health. With it, you can help even more patients!"
"R-Really?" Her resolve wavered. If it truly could aid others...
"Mr. Qin, it would be incredibly useful... but I can't accept such an expensive gift without reason. Please, make a request of me—I'll do my best to fulfill it!"
"Then... sing me a song!"
"Eh?!" The twin-tailed girl blinked in shock. "Th-That's all?"