Chapter 2: The Art of Not Panicking

The sun had set on Mondstadt, casting an orange glow over the city's rooftops and leaving Satoshi to ponder his newfound reality inside the library. He stretched his arms, trying to shake off the exhaustion that came from cramming finance knowledge into his head for hours. Despite the vast amount of information, he had only just started to put together a basic plan. Something about the mix of medieval and modern just didn't sit right in his brain.

"You know, System," Satoshi said quietly to himself, "if I'm going to introduce banks, I might as well teach these people about debit cards and... what was it? Mobile apps? Yeah, right, I'll just have to invent those, too."

"Host has the resources to create these innovations," the System chimed in, clearly oblivious to the sarcasm dripping from Satoshi's voice.

Satoshi sighed and leaned back, tilting his chair precariously on two legs. "I can already tell this is going to be an uphill battle. And I'm doing it all without instant ramen."

As Satoshi was feeling his determination start to dwindle, the library door creaked open, and in walked a man with dark skin, a staff strapped to his back, and a mischievous grin. It was Kaeya, the Cavalry Captain of Mondstadt.

Kaeya noticed the lone figure at the back of the library and approached with curiosity. "Well, well, what do we have here? A scholar burning the midnight oil, or perhaps a lost traveler?"

Satoshi, startled by the voice, lost balance and fell backward with a crash. The wooden chair clattered on the marble floor, and the librarian's disapproving shush echoed through the room.

Kaeya laughed, helping Satoshi up. "My apologies. I didn't mean to scare you. The library isn't usually this lively at night."

"Oh, no problem," Satoshi mumbled, brushing off his pants. "Just, uh, getting some late-night reading done. You know, modern banking... stuff." He mentally facepalmed himself—he was terrible at lying.

Kaeya's interest was piqued. "Banking, you say? Not exactly the kind of thing our usual visitors come here to study." He smiled, the kind of smile that said he knew more than he was letting on. "Are you one of those scholars from Sumeru? You don't quite look the part."

"Something like that," Satoshi replied, trying to dodge the question. He could tell that this guy wasn't someone to take lightly. There was a certain sharpness to Kaeya's gaze.

Kaeya sat down across from him, peering at the disorganized papers and holographic projections Satoshi had spread around. "You know, it's not every day someone proposes to revolutionize an entire city's economy. Quite ambitious, don't you think?"

Satoshi sighed. There was no point in pretending. He leaned closer, dropping his voice to a whisper. "Alright, you got me. I'm... not exactly from around here. And yeah, I've got some pretty wild ideas about changing how things work in Mondstadt."

Kaeya's eyes twinkled. "Wild ideas, you say? Well, you've certainly caught my interest. How about you tell me a bit more? I do have some sway in Mondstadt, and who knows, maybe we could help each other."

Satoshi hesitated for a moment but then figured he needed all the help he could get. If he wanted to start constructing buildings, machines, and a new banking system, having someone with influence on his side might not be such a bad idea.

"Okay," Satoshi began, "what if I told you I wanted to make it easier for people to save money and invest in things they care about? Not just stuffing coins under their mattresses but actually making money work for them."

Kaeya nodded thoughtfully. "Interesting. And how would you make that happen?"

"Uh, well, I'd start by establishing a proper bank. With ledgers and accounts and… I don't know, maybe an interest system? People deposit money, and the bank uses that money to fund other projects, giving them a share of the profits." Satoshi could feel himself getting into the pitch now. "And I'd also set up a way for people to borrow money. You know, for starting businesses or expanding farms."

Kaeya's grin widened. "Quite the visionary, aren't you? Though I do wonder…" He leaned forward, lowering his voice. "Do you really think Mondstadt's people will trust a complete stranger with their hard-earned Mora?"

Satoshi gulped. That was a good point. He had a system that could practically conjure construction machinery out of nowhere, but earning the trust of the people was a whole other challenge.

"That's… actually something I've been struggling with," Satoshi admitted. "I guess I need to find a way to show that I'm serious about helping them."

Kaeya chuckled. "It's all about connections, my friend. If you want the people to believe in you, you'll need to prove your intentions—maybe do something to make their lives a little easier. Win their hearts, and the Mora will follow."

Satoshi raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly am I supposed to do that?"

Kaeya leaned back, crossing his arms. "Mondstadt's people have always valued community. Help them solve a problem they're facing, and they'll welcome you with open arms. Perhaps start small—something visible, something tangible."

Satoshi thought for a moment. "Something small, huh? Maybe I could start by fixing some of the roads. I mean, the streets here are nice, but I've seen a few that could use some improvements."

Kaeya smiled. "Now you're thinking like a man of the people. If you're serious about this, I could introduce you to some of the folks in the city—people who could use a helping hand."

Satoshi grinned. "That'd be amazing, honestly. I need all the help I can get."

"Consider it done," Kaeya said, standing up. "But don't forget… this isn't just charity work. You'll be dealing with real people, and they can be unpredictable. Keep that in mind."

Satoshi nodded, suddenly feeling the weight of what he was taking on. "Got it. Thanks, Kaeya."

Kaeya gave a casual wave. "Anything for a friend of Mondstadt. Besides, I'm curious to see how far your 'wild ideas' can go." With that, he left the library, leaving Satoshi alone with his thoughts.

Satoshi glanced at his scattered papers. He had the blueprints, he had the System, and now he had an ally. It wasn't much, but it was a start. He looked at the sky through the library's high window—the first hints of dawn were beginning to peek through.

"Okay, System," Satoshi said, cracking his knuckles. "Let's get to work."

---

The next morning, Satoshi found himself walking down the bustling streets of Mondstadt, this time with Kaeya by his side. People were busy with their morning routines—vendors opening their stalls, adventurers preparing for the day's quests, and children running around with laughter echoing through the air.

Kaeya led him to a small residential area near the city gates. The cobblestone roads here were visibly worn, with deep grooves that collected rainwater and made it difficult for carts to pass through smoothly.

"Here we are," Kaeya said, gesturing to the uneven road. "If you can fix this, you'll definitely win a few hearts. These roads have been a problem for a while, especially during the rainy season."

Satoshi nodded, eyeing the uneven cobblestones. He took a deep breath and opened the System interface. A new screen appeared, showing a list of available tools and machinery. Satoshi selected a small road-repair unit—it wasn't a full-blown construction vehicle, but it was enough to get the job done.

The moment he made the selection, a glowing light appeared beside him, and from it materialized a peculiar-looking machine—something like a cross between a modern asphalt roller and a magical device, with gears and runes etched into its surface. The people nearby gasped in surprise, and a small crowd started to gather.

Kaeya raised an eyebrow. "Well, that's certainly not something you see every day."

Satoshi couldn't help but grin. "It's all part of the plan. Now, let's fix some roads."

He approached the machine, which had a small control panel glowing with symbols. As he pressed a button, the machine whirred to life, rolling forward and magically aligning the cobblestones into a neat, smooth surface. The crowd watched in awe as the grooves disappeared, leaving a freshly repaired road behind.

A middle-aged woman, who had been watching with her young son, stepped forward. "Is this some kind of magic?" she asked, her eyes wide.

Satoshi smiled. "You could say that. It's a new kind of technology—something to make everyone's lives a little easier."

The woman looked at the smooth road and then back at Satoshi. "Well, whatever it is, it's amazing. Thank you, young man."

Kaeya gave Satoshi an approving nod. "Looks like you're off to a good start."

As Satoshi continued working on the road, more people gathered to watch. He even let some of the children press the buttons on the machine, much to their delight. Bit by bit, he could feel the people's skepticism turning into curiosity—maybe even a little bit of trust.

"System," Satoshi thought as he worked, "I think we're finally getting somewhere."

The System chimed in his head. "Host has completed a milestone: Building Trust. Awarding 500,000 Mora and a 'Basic Construction Worker Recruitment Token.'"

Satoshi couldn't help but laugh. "A recruitment token? Well, I guess it's time to start assembling the team."

He looked at the gathered crowd, a mix of wonder and hope in their eyes. It was a small start, but maybe, just maybe, it was enough to begin the journey of transforming Mondstadt—one stone at a time.