Posting this chapter as a thank you to those who are giving Power Stones—even though we didn't hit the 60-stone goal. Some of you are genuinely supporting the fic, and you deserve the chapter.
Enjoy!
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Time slipped by faster than Henry expected as he sat next to Lisa, gradually growing accustomed to the warmth of her presence. It was not merely that she leaned against him or that her voice lowered when she spoke close to his ear; it was the simple, undeniable fact that she was real, solid, and warm against him.
Lisa shifted slightly, her shoulder brushing his arm as she spoke in a smoother, more relaxed tone than before, the playful lilt gone from her voice as if she had grown comfortable around him.
"If you are looking for flexible materials," she said thoughtfully, "why not consider slimes? Their condensed cores retain properties, and their bodies have a certain elasticity."
Henry's mind immediately seized upon the idea. Slime residue combined with processed rubber… alchemically reinforced through elemental infusion. The possibilities expanded rapidly in his thoughts.
"That's brilliant," he said honestly, turning toward her. "Rubber and slime derivatives could potentially be alchemically bonded into something entirely new, something resilient but adaptive."
Lisa smiled faintly. "I am to please, Henry."
Outside the tall library windows, the sky had begun to darken, deep blues replacing the gold of evening. Lanterns along Mondstadt's streets flickered to life one by one, their warm glow reflecting faintly against the glass. Henry noticed the change only when the light across the wooden floor shifted.
Reluctance settled quietly in his chest. He had enjoyed her company more than he wanted to admit, and standing meant breaking the moment.
Still, he rose.
"I suppose I should take my leave," he said, brushing nonexistent dust from his sleeve. "I've already taken enough of your time."
Lisa tilted her head slightly, watching him with that flirty smile of hers. "Have you now?" she murmured.
He chuckled lightly and gave a small nod. "Goodnight, Lisa."
As he turned and walked toward the exit, Lisa remained where she was, arms folded loosely beneath her chest. Her smile softened in a way she rarely allowed anyone to see. She could not quite remember the last time she had enjoyed someone's company this much without feeling bored halfway through. That alone made him… interesting.
Knights of Favonius headquarters, his boots echoing faintly against the stone pathways.
Upon reaching the entrance, he approached the guards stationed outside the Grand Master's office.
"I'd like to speak with the Grand Master," Henry said calmly.
The guards recognized him immediately. Word of his recent contributions had spread quickly through the Knights, and without unnecessary questioning, they stepped aside and allowed him passage.
Inside, Varka was seated behind his desk, though it appeared he had surrendered to fatigue. He leaned back in his chair with a thick book resting squarely on his face, his posture relaxed to the point of carelessness.
Henry cleared his throat. "Ahem."
Varka stirred slightly, the book sliding off his face and landing on his lap as he blinked awake. "Ah—Henry," he said, voice still rough with sleep. "What brings you here at this hour?"
"I brought something for you, Sir" Henry replied, stepping forward as he removed several beer bottles from his storage space. These were carefully selected imports he had purchased specifically with Varka in mind.
Varka's eyes sharpened immediately.
"Don't call me sir," Varka said as he straightened in his chair. "You can call me Varka. We're acquaintances now."
He took one of the bottles from Henry's hand and, without ceremony, flicked the steel cap off with a single finger. The cap flew aside harmlessly as he lifted the bottle and took a long sip.
His eyebrows rose.
"Whoa," Varka said, lowering the bottle slowly. "My friend, this is good." He grinned broadly. "You are officially my friend from now on."
Henry smiled faintly. "I'll take that as high praise."
They spoke for some time afterward, discussing trade, the general morale of the Knights, and Henry's growing business presence within the city.
Eventually, Henry stood. "I'll leave you to your rest."
Varka waved him off casually, already lifting the bottle again.
From there, Henry made his way toward Jean's office, intending to greet her as well. However, when he peeked inside, the room was empty, its neatly organized desk illuminated only by the dim glow of a single lamp.
Henry stepped out into the cool evening air of Mondstadt but did not immediately head toward his own establishment as he still had remaining goodies to be given. So Instead, he changed direction and made his way toward the guest quarters.
Near the entrance, he found Jean and Eula engaged in quiet conversation. The moment they noticed him approaching, both women reacted—though in very different ways.
Jean's posture straightened slightly, her expression brightening in a composed but unmistakable manner.
Eula's eyes lit up instantly before she attempted to suppress the reaction, forcing her features into a stoic mask that failed to fully conceal her interest.
"Henry," Jean greeted warmly.
Without unnecessary preamble, Henry retrieved two items from his storage: carefully selected perfume and a bottle of wine. He extended them toward the two women.
"For you both," he said simply.
Jean immediately raised a hand. "That's not necessary—"
Eula crossed her arms. "We cannot simply accept gifts without reason."
Henry tilted his head. "Then I'll place them on the floor and leave. I don't care if anything happens to them."
Jean hesitated only a moment before reaching forward. "…Thank you,"
Eula followed a second later, far quicker than her pride would have preferred, taking the items from his hands.
"This does not absolve you of future transgressions," Eula declared, though her tone softened at the end, losing much of its usual frost. "…But thank you."
Henry smiled faintly, knowing full well she appreciated it.
After chatting with them for a while—discussing minor city matters, patrol updates, and light conversation—Henry eventually excused himself and headed back toward his establishment.
The streets of Mondstadt were calm, illuminated by bright lanterns hanging from buildings and archways. Their warm glow cast long shadows across the cobblestone paths as a cool breeze drifted in from front.
Three days later, the results of his efforts became evident.
One hundred units had sold in just three days.
As Henry processed that number, a translucent panel appeared before him.
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Mission: Set up a Modern Café in Mondstadt.
Reward: —Merchant's Instinct (Passive)
__________
Henry narrowed his eyes slightly. "Orianna," he said internally, "this task doesn't have a time limit?"
Before a response came, a massive box-shaped generator materialized within his system storage space, accompanied by neatly coiled wire cables and various unfamiliar components.
"Orianna," Henry muttered internally, "is this a do-it-yourself project?"
[Why yes, Henry, it is. But do not worry. I will pass on the necessary knowledge for you to set up your café.]
The next instant, a torrent of information flooded his mind.
Architectural schematics. Structural load calculations. Electrical circuitry layouts. Generator stabilization theory. Energy distribution systems adapted for a world without standardized voltage grids. Mechanical airflow planning. Foundational reinforcement techniques suitable for Mondstadt's soil composition.
Henry staggered slightly, clutching his head as a sharp throbbing sensation pulsed behind his eyes. The sheer volume of knowledge pressing into his brain would have overwhelmed most people.
He gritted his teeth and steadied himself.
Despite the pain, he did not panic. As a researcher in his original world, he had always immersed himself in information, absorbing concepts rapidly and dissecting systems until they made sense. This was no different—only faster and far more invasive.
When the flood finally stabilized into organized understanding, he exhaled slowly.
"Orianna," he complained internally, "you could have warned me."
[What's the fun in that?]
Henry was certain that if Orianna possessed a physical face, she would not look sorry in the slightest and would instead be grinning shamelessly.
He straightened and began thinking strategically.
He would need to rent or purchase property within Mondstadt's walls, ideally somewhere with heavy foot traffic yet enough interior depth to conceal the generator and wiring behind reinforced walls or beneath layered flooring.
The structure, however, would not follow Mondstadt's traditional aesthetic of exposed wooden beams and stone façades with open, wind-welcoming windows. Instead, it would stand apart deliberately, built with structured brickwork, wide panes of clear glass, and controlled lighting in varying tones that shifted with the hour.
It would not attempt to imitate Mondstadt's past; it would introduce something entirely new, a quiet statement of a different era planted firmly within the old city.
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