Chapter 56: A Festival for Funds and an Unexpected Investor

The sun was shining brightly over Mondstadt as construction on the road to the new city continued. The road stretched farther every day, inching closer and closer to the site of the future metropolis. But, as with all ambitious projects, the challenges grew more complicated, and the biggest one was money.

Satoshi stood at the construction site, staring at his phone and frowning. The system interface displayed the raw materials section, along with the prices. The numbers made him wince—they needed far more funds than what they currently had.

"This is getting ridiculous," Satoshi muttered to himself. "If we don't find a way to raise more money soon, the entire project could stall." He rubbed his forehead, trying to think of a solution.

As if on cue, Paimon floated up beside him, her face full of excitement. "Hey, Satoshi! Did you hear? There's going to be another festival in Mondstadt! Maybe we can use it to raise money!"

Satoshi blinked, looking at her. "Another festival? Didn't we just have one?"

Paimon nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, but everyone loves festivals, right? And if we make it fun, people will definitely donate money to help with the project! Besides, Venti's already talking about putting on a concert."

Satoshi sighed, but a smile tugged at his lips. "I guess a festival could work. It would be a good way to bring everyone together and raise some funds. Alright, let's do it."

Paimon gave a thumbs-up, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Yay! Paimon's going to make sure this is the best festival ever!"

---

The preparations for the festival began almost immediately. Amber, as usual, was documenting everything, her phone held up as she recorded videos of the workers setting up booths and decorations. Lumine and Paimon were helping out, with Lumine carrying supplies and Paimon zipping around, giving orders and offering encouragement.

Venti had taken charge of the entertainment, of course. He had organized a lineup of performers, including musicians, dancers, and even a few comedians. He was particularly excited about his own performance, which he claimed would be "an unforgettable experience."

Jean was overseeing the logistics, making sure everything was running smoothly. She had enlisted Noelle's help to set up the booths and make sure everything was in order. Noelle, with her usual enthusiasm, had taken on the task with gusto, her strength proving invaluable as she carried heavy crates and set up tables.

As the day of the festival approached, the excitement in Mondstadt grew. People were eager to see the performances, play the games, and support the construction of the new city. The atmosphere was filled with hope and anticipation.

---

The day of the festival arrived, and Mondstadt was buzzing with activity. The plaza was filled with colorful banners, and the booths were set up, offering a variety of games and treats. People from all over Mondstadt had gathered, their faces filled with excitement.

Satoshi stood by one of the booths, watching as people began to arrive. He felt a mixture of nerves and hope—they needed to raise a lot of money, but he was confident that the people of Mondstadt would come through.

Venti took the stage, his lyre in hand, as he called out to the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Grand Mondstadt Festival! Today, we are not just celebrating—we are building the future! All proceeds from today's festival will go towards the construction of our new city, a city that will bring prosperity and opportunity to everyone!"

The crowd cheered, and Satoshi felt a surge of hope. Maybe, just maybe, they could pull this off.

The festival began, and the plaza was soon filled with laughter and cheers. People played games, watched performances, and enjoyed the food and drinks. Klee's "Dodoco's Lucky Draw" was a huge hit, with children lining up to try their luck. Noelle had set up a strength-testing game, which drew a lot of attention as people tried to ring the bell at the top.

Lumine was helping out at one of the booths, her smile bright as she handed out prizes to the winners. Paimon was floating around, giving commentary on the different games and encouraging people to donate.

"Come on, everyone! Let's raise enough money to build the most amazing city ever!" Paimon called out, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

---

As the day went on, Satoshi noticed a familiar face making his way through the crowd. It was Diluc, his expression as serious as ever. He approached Satoshi, his gaze drifting to the stage where Venti was performing.

"Satoshi," Diluc said, his voice calm. "I've been watching the progress on the road and the new city. I must admit, I'm impressed with what you've managed to accomplish so far."

Satoshi smiled, a hint of relief in his eyes. "Thanks, Diluc. It's been a lot of work, but seeing everyone come together like this makes it worth it."

Diluc nodded, his eyes thoughtful. "I understand that you're still in need of funds for the raw materials. I have some resources that could be of use."

Satoshi's eyes widened in surprise. "Are you saying you want to invest in the project?"

Diluc gave a small nod. "Yes. I believe in what you're trying to do. Mondstadt's future depends on progress, and I want to be a part of that progress."

Satoshi felt a wave of gratitude wash over him. "Thank you, Diluc. This means a lot. With your help, I think we can really make this happen."

Diluc gave a small smile, his gaze drifting to the bustling festival. "Just make sure that Venti doesn't get too carried away."

Satoshi laughed, nodding. "I'll do my best."

---

With Diluc's investment and the money raised from the festival, they had more than enough to buy the raw materials they needed. Satoshi stood on stage at the end of the day, looking out at the crowd that had gathered.

"Thank you, everyone," Satoshi called out, his voice filled with emotion. "Thanks to your generosity and support, we've raised enough money to continue building the road and the new city. We couldn't have done it without you. Together, we're building a future that we can all be proud of."

The crowd erupted into applause, and Satoshi felt a sense of pride and hope swell in his chest. They had done it. They had come together as a community, and they had succeeded.

Venti took the stage beside Satoshi, his lyre in hand, as he began to play a soft, hopeful tune. The crowd swayed along to the music, their faces filled with hope and determination.

*With dreams we build, with hope we strive,* 

*A future bright, where we all thrive.* 

*Together we stand, hand in hand,* 

*To build a future for our land.* 

As Venti's song filled the air, Satoshi looked out at the people of Mondstadt. They still had a long way to go, but they were on the right path. The road to the new city was being built, and with every step, they were creating something that would stand the test of time.

Lumine and Paimon walked up to Satoshi, their faces filled with excitement. "Satoshi, we did it!" Lumine said, her eyes shining. "We're really building something amazing here."

Paimon nodded, her eyes sparkling. "Yeah! Paimon knew we could do it!"

Satoshi smiled, his heart full. "This is just the beginning. We've got a lot more work to do, but with everyone working together, I know we can make it happen."

As the sun began to set over Mondstadt, the festival slowly wound down. The construction site returned to its usual state, but the sense of camaraderie and hope remained. They were building more than just a road or a city—they were building a future where everyone could belong, where dreams could take root and grow.

The road ahead was long, but they were on it together—and that made all the difference.