Ch 26

The three secretaries were well aware of Takumi's extraordinary identity, so they didn't dare to be negligent. After preparing tea, they immediately went to inform Lady Ningguang.

Soon, Ningguang walked over from the Inner Cabinet.

"Is this the young Takumi who has come from afar? Indeed, he's quite young and remarkable," Ningguang remarked.

"Miss Ningguang, I've heard so much about you," the three accompanying secretaries replied with a hint of hesitation. They couldn't help but think that this young man lacked social etiquette for addressing Lady Ningguang directly without the proper titles.

It seemed that he didn't understand the significance of the name Ningguang in Liyue Harbor, which was why he could converse with Lady Ningguang so confidently.

As for the issue of address, Ningguang herself didn't mind. After some pleasantries, she got straight to the point.

"The establishment you wish to open is called 'Game Center,' correct? The location and specifications are described in detail in this blueprint. Please take a look and see if it meets your expectations."

Takumi received the blueprint but didn't even open it. He responded confidently, "I trust your judgment, Ningguang."

The three secretaries couldn't hold back anymore. They had only exchanged a few words, and this young man had not even used the proper titles. He had simply called Lady Ningguang by her given name. Did he really believe that he could become close friends with Lady Ningguang just by being frank?

In their eyes, Takumi had already become a representative of an impertinent commoner.

"Hehe..." Ningguang couldn't help but chuckle at Takumi's straightforwardness.

"It seems that Takumi has quite an extraordinary temperament. I suppose he won't be interested in my investment."

Takumi smiled slightly, took a sip of tea, and left everything unspoken.

"Oh my, this young owner actually rejected Lady Ningguang's investment? This is what many people dream of in Liyue Harbor!"

"He probably doesn't even know what he's missing out on."

The three secretaries were now displaying their surprise openly on their faces. Wasn't this young owner a bit too much? Did he really think that his shop could thrive in Liyue Harbor without any external support?

"Well, Miss Ningguang is probably busy with work. I won't disturb her any longer."

Takumi had already obtained the relevant documentation and was planning to visit his shop. Once Takumi left, the three secretaries couldn't help but comment.

"Lady Ningguang, this young man seems to have no sense of propriety."

"Yes, even wealthy and influential merchants would be respectful when they meet you."

"This person not only spoke boldly to Lady Ningguang, but also refused her investment!"

Upon hearing the secretaries' discussion, Ningguang remained calm and shook her head.

"It's not what you see on the surface."

"In my conversation with him, I couldn't control the situation at all. In fact, I felt somewhat overwhelmed by his presence..."

"This person is definitely out of the ordinary. When his shop opens, I'll definitely go and experience it."

...

Ningguang's choice of shop location was indeed extraordinary, situated near the bustling commercial district of Liyue Harbor. Whether it was the external facade or the interior decoration, it met exceptionally high standards. Many passersby even thought it was a new residence built by a prominent figure.

Takumi also quite liked this ancient and classical feeling.

"Would you like to spend 1 million points to confirm this as your third Game Center?" the system prompted.

"After confirmation, the owner will have absolute control within the shop."

"And the shop protection function, anti-loss function for items..."

After discovering this feature, Takumi's eyes lit up. Perhaps because his previous two shops were close together, this teleportation function had not been activated. Now, with the opening of his third shop in Liyue, he could teleport back to Mondstadt at any time. He could work here during the day and return to Mondstadt at night.

"Confirmed!"

Everything around him was now under his control.

Then, Takumi spent another 30 million points to purchase 150 mobile phones and set up the positions.

He arrived at the entrance, where there was no shop name on the sign above. Takumi used his finger as a makeshift chisel and engraved three large characters.

Game Center.

...

...

As the sun set, for Liyue Harbor, it marked the end of a busy day in this bustling city. It was about to enter a relatively tranquil period. Sailors at the port and street vendors were accustomed to gathering at "Three Cups Over the Harbor" for a few drinks, boasting to each other.

A young man strolled amidst this lively atmosphere, seemingly enjoying the peace and tranquility. Somewhere in the port, he came to a halt. Not long ago, something had happened here, leading him to make a bold decision. It was a drizzly morning when he heard a merchant praise his subordinate with simple words: "You've done your duty well; now, take a rest." These few words made him stand still in the bustling crowd for a long time.

A few days later, he made that unprecedented decision. With a month left until the "Rite of Parting," he had enough time to prepare thoroughly. The only troublesome part was finding a substitute for his "remains," but that wasn't a big deal for him. In any case, after making that decision, he felt a tremendous weight lifted from his shoulders. Life seemed to have become more beautiful without him even realizing it.

Unconsciously, he arrived in front of a newly opened shop. The decoration and design were exceptionally splendid and well-researched. What was most peculiar was its name – Game Center. Even for someone as knowledgeable as him, this name still felt somewhat unfamiliar. With curiosity, the young man walked inside.

...

"Mr. Zhongli, I didn't expect my first customer to be you."

The shop owner was also a young man. Zhongli didn't find it surprising that the owner recognized him.

After all, this identity and name had some reputation in Liyue Harbor.

"Boss, what do you mainly sell here?" The young owner smiled.

"Mr. Zhongli, no need to rush. First, take a look at this price list... Here, we've always been a 'pay before experiencing, no credit' establishment."

Zhong Li: "..."

After looking at the prices, Zhong Li silently reached into his bag. It was naturally empty, with nothing inside. However, with just a thought, Mora appeared in it.

"Let's start with 100,000 Mora, boss. Could you also please explain what this so-called 'Game Center' is?"

...

Jade Chamber.

Having finished organizing all her work materials, Keqing let out a sigh of relief. Currently, all the pending tasks were temporarily concluded, and she rarely left work on time. However, during the "Rite of Parting," the workload was likely to increase again. Should she take advantage of this rare leisure time to go shopping and spend some money?

While Keqing was contemplating, one of her secretaries came to report.

"What? The Game Center owner from Mondstadt has already arrived in Liyue? And has met with Ningguang?"

Keqing was quite interested in the mysterious Game Center owner. Not long ago, one of her subordinates had gone on a business trip to Mondstadt and came back not only with news of the completed task but also with information about this new phenomenon called "Game Center." The game's storyline had piqued Keqing's curiosity.

As one of the Seven, Keqing had a bold idea – leaving a human imprint in the territory of the Lord of Geo. To achieve this goal, she needed extensive practical experience and theoretical knowledge. The neighboring nation of Mondstadt was an excellent case study because the Anemo Archon had left Mondstadt in human hands for over a millennium. Therefore, Keqing had even gone to great lengths to study Mondstadt's history, from the era of the Anemo Archon to the old nobility's times, to the present new era.

Perhaps due to not being a Mondstadt native, Keqing felt a certain way about it.

Can practices like the one with the Anemo Archon really ensure Mondstadt's long-term prosperity?

From the information about the game's storyline that her subordinates brought, Keqing had some understanding of how Mondstadt operates. It was because of this that she developed a keen interest in Takumi, the developer of the game. If it weren't for her recent busy schedule, she would have personally gone to Mondstadt to meet this legendary figure. Later, when she received news that Takumi would come to Liyue and open a Game Center here, Keqing made quite a few preparations to welcome that day. Originally, she thought it would be after the "Rite of Parting," but she didn't expect Takumi to act so quickly. As luck would have it, she had time today, so she decided to visit the shop. If she could meet Takumi, she would have a good conversation with him. If possible, Keqing also wanted to personally experience the Game Center and view Mondstadt's epic from a firsthand perspective.

...

...

Now that the first guest had arrived, it meant that Takumi's Game Center in Liyue was officially open for business. Located near the bustling commercial street, even without deliberate promotion, it easily attracted the attention of the public. Zhong Li hadn't been inside for long before others noticed the place.

"Game Center..."

"Really? The popular Game Center from Mondstadt has opened here in Liyue?"

"I heard about this strange game before. It's quite unbelievable."

"I heard rumors that the Game Center's founder, Boss Takumi, would open a branch in Liyue, but I didn't expect it to be true!"

"What are we waiting for? Let's go in and experience it!"

"I'll call Old Zhou and Big Hu. They've been looking forward to this game!"

News of the opening of Takumi's Game Center quickly spread because this concept of a game was almost unprecedented and incredibly novel. Those who had experienced it considered it a great conversation topic. The news had even reached Liyue Harbor, but while most people were aware of it, they didn't know how to play it specifically. Many people who entered the shop were at a loss and had to start reading Takumi's "Beginner's Guide to the Game" from scratch. Furthermore, considering the high prices, although there was a large crowd outside, very few actually went inside. They were all discussing it animatedly.

"Someone important is here!"

Someone shouted, and the crowd's gaze turned towards the approaching figure.

"Lady Keqing, the Yuheng Star!"

"I didn't expect her to personally come to experience the Game Center."

"I wonder how Lady Keqing will feel after going in?"

.....

"Takumi, it's a pleasure to meet you," Keqing greeted, appearing more composed and confident compared to other players who had just entered. This was because Keqing had already understood what the so-called "Game Center" was through the information brought by her subordinates. She even knew all the main storyline quests that had been released so far. She could be considered a true "Cloud Player."

"You're too polite, Miss Keqing," Takumi replied with courtesy.

However, Keqing shook her head slightly. "I'm not being polite. I've learned some information about the game from my subordinates in advance. Let me be straightforward, Takumi, I'm very interested in the storyline you've designed for the game. I've been wondering how you view the changes in Mondstadt."

Takumi smiled. It seemed like she wanted to discuss the changes in the nation right from the start. It's just like you, Aqing. However, Takumi had no particular interest in this topic. He couldn't be bothered with discussing it at length with Keqing here.

"If you want to know the answer, Miss Keqing, you might as well enter the game and find out for yourself."

"Takumi, I appreciate the quality of the game you've created, but I've already learned most of the storyline from my subordinates..."

"It seems there's something Miss Keqing doesn't know yet," Takumi interrupted Keqing.

"Regarding my game, it's not set in stone. The reason I opened a branch here in Liyue is because the game's storyline has already reached Liyue, and in this new storyline, Liyue Harbor will undergo a significant change."

Keqing was slightly stunned, as were the other players nearby. A new storyline had arrived in Liyue? This meant that not only could they experience the culture and people of Mondstadt in the game, but they could also experience their own city, Liyue Harbor. They had heard that this game was incredibly realistic, and important figures and events from reality could be replicated within it. So, they might encounter people and things from Liyue in the game. For example, the leaders of Liyue's Seven Stars or the upcoming Rite of Parting. Even legendary immortals might appear in this game. It was rumored that the Anemo Archon and the Wind Dragon were already characters in the game's storyline. In that case, there was a possibility that their own Morax might appear!

The players present were immediately excited. A few people had just learned how to start their phones and couldn't wait to enter the game. Keqing was also somewhat shocked. She had originally come here just to chat with Takumi, but she hadn't expected that a new version of the game would include Liyue's storyline. Moreover, according to Takumi, Liyue Harbor was about to undergo a significant change. It seemed necessary to enter the game and experience it firsthand. Keqing immediately paid the 100,000 Mora fee. For her, this amount was insignificant. She decided to enter the game first, and later she could recharge higher-tier in-game purchases.

After entering the game, Keqing began following the tutorial and controlling the main character, a traveler from another world. Moving, attacking... It was consistent with the information her subordinates had provided. Keqing had prior knowledge, so although her actions were occasionally a bit stiff, she had a clear understanding overall. Following the mission prompts, she arrived at Mondstadt's Seven Statue location by Starfell Lake. After activating the power of Anemo, Keqing suddenly put down her phone and showed a pensive expression. After a moment, she approached the counter and asked Takumi, "Takumi, do you have to complete Mondstadt's main storyline quest to unlock the path to Liyue?"

Takumi shook his head slightly. "This is an open-world game; you can go to Liyue Harbor anytime, but the main storyline quests in Liyue won't be available until you've completed Mondstadt's main quests."

"In other words, with your current level, going to Liyue Harbor would, at most, allow you to enjoy the scenery or buy some supplies here."

Other players heard these words, but they didn't mind. Most of them were eager to try going to Liyue first. After all, this game had their hometown in it. How could they not visit it as soon as possible? However, the journey from Mondstadt to Liyue Harbor was undoubtedly a long one and would consume a lot of time. These players didn't care about that at all; they could respawn if they fell, and exploring the map was also part of the fun.

After receiving Takumi's answer, Keqing didn't continue playing; she left the game hall directly. She headed straight for her subordinate's residence.

...

"Did you hear, Lady Keqing? Takumi has opened a game hall in Liyue Harbor!" Her female subordinate exclaimed excitedly.

"Yes, I just came from there."

Her subordinate paused, then showed a knowing expression. "Lady Keqing, is there something you don't understand about the game? Don't worry, my Adventure Rank in the game is already at level 27. I'm one of the more advanced players in the game. I can definitely help you, Lady Keqing!"

Thinking about how she could assist Lady Keqing, the subordinate couldn't help but feel pleased, as if she could see herself climbing the ranks in the General Affairs Department.

However, Keqing placed her hand on the subordinate's shoulder and said in an uncompromising tone, "The game has released a new version involving Liyue's storyline. I must quickly find out what significant changes have occurred in Liyue in this new storyline. It holds crucial value for the future governance of Liyue Harbor. So, hand over your account."

The subordinate was taken aback.

...

Inside the game hall, more than twenty players had already gathered. There were even more people observing from the outside.

"It's a familiar scene," Takumi sighed.

It was just like when the game hall first opened in Mondstadt.