Chapter 84: New Faces, New Ideas

The morning sky was dotted with fluffy white clouds as the New City woke up to another day of progress and possibility. Workers were already bustling through the marketplace, setting up stalls, moving supplies, and continuing the construction of the many buildings still in the works. The excitement from the previous day's brainstorming session seemed to have left everyone with an extra boost of energy, and it was clear that today was going to be just as productive.

Satoshi stood in the middle of the plaza, his eyes scanning over the various parts of the marketplace. The stage was coming along nicely, and some of the food stalls were already being set up by vendors eager to get a head start. He took a deep breath, feeling a sense of pride. This wasn't just a construction project—it was the start of a thriving community.

Paimon floated beside him, a bag of fried tofu in her hands. "Satoshi! Paimon thinks we're really making progress! Just look at all the workers! Everyone's so motivated!"

Satoshi nodded, smiling. "You're right, Paimon. Everyone's really giving it their all. But there's still so much to do—and we could use all the help we can get."

Just as he said that, a familiar voice called out from behind him. "Did I hear someone say they need help?"

Satoshi turned around to see Albedo and Sucrose walking toward him. Albedo, as composed as ever, had his usual calm expression, while Sucrose looked curious, her eyes wide as she took in the sight of the bustling marketplace.

"Albedo! Sucrose!" Satoshi said, smiling warmly. "Thanks for coming by. We could definitely use your help today."

Albedo nodded, his gaze sweeping over the construction site. "Jean mentioned the progress you've been making, and I thought Sucrose and I could lend a hand. It's good to see the New City coming together so well."

Sucrose gave a small wave. "Hello, Satoshi. I'm excited to be here again. I'd love to help with anything that involves alchemy—maybe making materials more efficient?"

Paimon clapped her hands together, her eyes sparkling. "Albedo and Sucrose! Perfect! With you two helping, we'll be able to finish everything even faster!"

Satoshi grinned, nodding. "We could definitely use your expertise, Albedo, Sucrose. There are some areas where alchemical assistance would make a huge difference—especially in refining raw materials for construction."

Albedo smiled. "Consider it done. I'll also take a look at the foundations and see if there's anything we can reinforce to make them stronger. Sucrose, why don't you help with the refining work?"

Sucrose nodded eagerly. "Of course, Master Albedo. I'll do my best!"

---

The group split up, each taking on a different part of the city. Sucrose quickly got to work with some of the construction crews, her alchemical expertise allowing her to refine the materials into a higher quality that made them easier to work with. The workers watched in awe as she carefully mixed elements, transmuting simple stone into a stronger, more resilient material.

"Wow, Sucrose!" Amber said, walking up to her. "You're really amazing. With you here, everything is moving so much faster!"

Sucrose blushed slightly, her ears turning pink. "T-Thank you, Amber. I'm just glad I can help. It's really exciting to see this place come together."

Meanwhile, Albedo had taken a group of workers to inspect the foundations of the stage and some of the buildings. He drew symbols on the ground, his fingers moving deftly as he applied alchemical techniques to reinforce the structures. Lumine watched from nearby, impressed.

"Albedo, you're incredible," Lumine said. "With you here, we can make sure everything is as stable as possible. I'm so glad you and Sucrose are part of this project."

Albedo gave a small nod, a thoughtful expression on his face. "The work you're doing here is inspiring, Lumine. Creating something from nothing, building a future—it's what alchemists strive for. I'm happy to be a part of it."

---

As the day went on, a new arrival made their way to the construction site. A tall, imposing figure strode into the plaza, a claymore slung over his back. Diluc, the owner of the Dawn Winery, looked around with an assessing gaze. His expression was serious, but there was a glint of interest in his eyes.

"Diluc!" Satoshi called out, making his way over. "I didn't expect to see you here today."

Diluc nodded. "I heard about the progress from Kaeya, and I thought I'd come to see it for myself. You're doing something important here, Satoshi—something that will benefit Mondstadt for years to come. I'm here to offer whatever support I can."

Paimon floated beside Diluc, her eyes wide. "Whoa, even Diluc is joining in! With all of us here, there's no way this city won't be a huge success!"

Satoshi grinned. "Thanks, Diluc. Actually, we're working on setting up the marketplace right now. If you want, you could help with the planning. I know you have a lot of experience when it comes to business and commerce."

Diluc gave a small smile. "Very well. Let's see what we can do."

---

The group gathered near the stage, where Satoshi unrolled the blueprint for the marketplace. Amber, Lumine, Beidou, Kaeya, Albedo, Sucrose, and now Diluc were all present, each of them contributing their thoughts and ideas.

"We've got the stage, the food stalls, and the artisans' area planned out," Satoshi said, pointing to different parts of the blueprint. "But we still need to figure out the best way to organize the marketplace so that it flows well. We want people to be able to move through it easily and see everything there is to offer."

Diluc studied the blueprint, his eyes narrowing in thought. "We should arrange the stalls in a circular pattern around the stage. That way, the performances are always visible, no matter where you are. It will draw people toward the center, and they'll naturally pass by the stalls on their way."

Kaeya nodded, a smirk on his face. "That's not a bad idea, Diluc. And we could use banners and signs to guide people along the different sections—food, crafts, performances. It'll make it easy for visitors to find what they're interested in."

Beidou leaned over the blueprint, tapping her finger on one of the edges. "We should also set up some shaded areas here and here. People are going to need places to rest, especially on hot days. A few benches and maybe some trees for shade would be perfect."

Sucrose spoke up, her voice soft but confident. "I could create some alchemical lamps that run on solar energy—that way, the marketplace could be lit up even after the sun goes down. It would make evening events more enjoyable."

Amber's eyes sparkled with excitement. "That sounds amazing, Sucrose! Imagine all the performances we could have in the evening, with the whole place lit up. It'd be magical!"

Satoshi made notes on his tablet, incorporating everyone's suggestions. He looked up at his friends, a smile spreading across his face. "This is going to be incredible. With all of your help, the marketplace is going to be the heart of the New City—a place where people come to connect, to celebrate, and to be a part of something bigger."

---

By late afternoon, the group had finalized their plans for the marketplace, and the workers had begun implementing the new ideas. The stalls were being arranged in a circular pattern around the stage, and shaded seating areas were being set up along the edges. Sucrose was already working on her alchemical lamps, and Amber was talking with the workers about adding banners and signs.

Diluc stood by Satoshi, watching the workers move about with purpose. "You're doing good work here, Satoshi. This city—it's going to be something truly special."

Satoshi nodded, feeling a swell of pride. "Thanks, Diluc. I couldn't do it without all of you. Everyone's contributions are what make this place what it is."

Paimon floated beside them, munching on an apple she had gotten from one of the vendors. "Paimon thinks we're all going to look back on this and be really proud. This is just the beginning!"

Diluc gave a rare smile. "Indeed. It's only the beginning."

As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the marketplace, Satoshi gathered his friends around the stage. The workers were winding down for the day, their faces tired but content. Lumine handed out cups of water, and Beidou raised hers in a toast.

"To the New City, and to the future we're building here," Beidou said, her voice strong and filled with conviction. "One step at a time, we're making it happen."

"To the New City!" everyone echoed, their voices ringing out in the evening air.

Satoshi looked around at his friends, feeling a deep sense of gratitude. The journey was far from over—there were still roads to build, dreams to realize, and challenges to face—but with friends like these by his side, there was nothing they couldn't accomplish.

"One step at a time," Satoshi whispered, watching the stars begin to twinkle in the sky. "We'll build this—together."