"Rumor has it that Captain Beidou of Liyue's Crux Fleet is the Uncrowned Lord of the Ocean, dominating these waters with The Alcor. But where did this Steam Battleship come from?"
"If Liyue masters this steamship technology, it will be disastrous for Fontaine."
"I must report this. Sending a message isn't safe enough."
"If Fontaine could build a battleship like this, it would impact the entire nation."
"Sigh, it's a pity I couldn't speak with Captain Beidou. I could have asked her where she got it. Even the best alchemists in Liyue couldn't build something like this."
"But only advanced alchemy could explain such a vessel. Since when did Liyue's alchemy reach this level?"
"If it were truly made by alchemists, the Ship Bureau wouldn't need to study it to learn how to build it."
"Beidou is Liyuean, so the ship belongs to Liyue. But where did she get it?"
"Sigh."
...
Under the cover of Liyue Harbor's night, in a secluded spot unnoticed by anyone...
Zhang Xuepeng piloted a small motorboat away from the docks.
Looking back at the prosperous harbor, he muttered to himself, his brow furrowed with worry.
The sudden appearance of the Steam Battleship had ruined his plans for a leisurely life.
He had to leave and report this intelligence.
If he didn't, and Fontaine fell behind, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Liyue Harbor was already the largest port in Teyvat, hosting countless trade ships daily.
But until now, Liyue's own ocean-going vessels were inferior to Fontaine's.
The appearance of the Steam Battleship changed everything. It crushed Fontaine's technological superiority.
He had to deliver this news personally so the higher-ups could strategize.
In this era, backwardness meant vulnerability. He knew that well.
...
"The Steam Battleship is now open for tours! Please line up one by one and follow the path marked by the Millelith. Do not push!"
"Those at the back, don't rush. If you're too far back, don't waste your time waiting. Come back tomorrow!"
"The ship will only be open for two hours tonight. We need rest too!"
"I suggest coming back tomorrow. Starting tomorrow, the ship will be open all day. Staying here now is likely a waste of time."
...
At Liyue Harbor.
On the deck of the Steam Battleship.
Beidou stood at the gangway, shouting instructions to the massive crowd.
"Whoa!"
Her announcement triggered a wave of excitement.
The crowd, which had been waiting for hours, erupted with joy. Finally!
"Hahaha! I'm first! I'm first!"
"Damn it, I'm so jealous. How did that bastard get to the front?"
"Finally! Captain Beidou opened the ship! I have to see it up close. It's so cool."
"The line is huge. I just hope the guys in front hurry up."
"I'll come back tomorrow with my daughter. The line is hopeless tonight. Bye, everyone."
"I'm staying. If I don't see this ship tonight, I won't be able to sleep."
"Hey, anyone want to sell their spot in line? I'll pay!"
"Holy crap? Scalping spots?"
...
The crowd was ecstatic.
They had waited so long for this close-up look.
The person at the front of the line was practically vibrating with excitement.
Those at the back sighed and began to disperse, realizing they wouldn't make the cut in the two-hour window.
"It's so magnificent."
" seeing it up close makes you realize how beautiful it is."
"Can we take photos? Hehe, I brought my Kamera to show my wife."
"Damn, I forgot my Kamera. Total loss."
"How did you even think to bring a Kamera? I'm an idiot."
...
The first group approached the ship, awe-struck by its sheer size and metallic grandeur.
The visual impact up close was overwhelming.
They boarded in an orderly fashion, eyes wide, some snapping photos furiously.
"Captain, we should set time limits for groups," Huixing suggested on the deck, watching the excited crowd. "If we don't, people will stay up here forever, and the line won't move."
If visitors lingered too long, it would be unfair to those waiting.
"Mhm, good point," Beidou nodded.
She hadn't considered that.
The ship was huge—it could easily hold hundreds at a time—so she hadn't worried about capacity. But flow was important.
"But if we set a time limit, it should be generous," Beidou frowned. "They paid for tickets. We should let them enjoy it comfortably."
Rushing paying customers would be bad for business.
"Right," Huixing agreed. "A full tour takes about two to three hours. We can have three sessions a day: morning, afternoon, and evening. Each session can take a few hundred, even a thousand people easily."
"Alright. Let's implement that tomorrow. For tonight, we'll just wing it."
"Understood."
...
While Beidou and Huixing discussed logistics...
At the Jar Shop.
Felix stared speechlessly at the customer in front of him.
The man hadn't paid immediately upon entering.
Instead, he was fishing Mora out of his pockets one coin at a time. The denominations varied wildly—from tiny 1-Mora coins to 1,000-Mora notes.
It took him a long time to pile up the cash.
"Shopkeeper, here is 100,000 Mora."
Finally, he pushed the pile toward Felix, his bloodshot eyes fixed on a jar. "I want that one."
"No problem."
Felix nodded.
He waved his hand, and the chosen jar floated over to the man.
The man muttered excitedly to himself, "If that guy Zhang Xu could pull a Vision from this shop, there's no reason I, Xie Jun, can't pull something good!"
"Hm?"
Felix raised an eyebrow.
So this guy knew Zhang Xu and knew about the Vision.
No wonder he looked so desperate. He was chasing the same luck.
Smash!
Xie Jun smashed the jar open with trembling hands.
An item fell out.
"Ah!"
Xie Jun screamed and scrambled backward in terror.
It was a severed human hand.
Opening a jar at night and having a hand fall out scared the wits out of him. His mind went blank.
Felix: "..."
Felix's eyelid twitched as he looked at the hand on the floor.
It was creepy to pull a severed hand at night.
However, upon closer inspection, it was a hollow glove-like item.
Designed to be worn over one's own hand.
And its description was... interesting.
[Hand for Asking]
Wear this on your hand. When you extend this hand to ask for something, you will receive it—provided the request is "reasonable." Specific effects require self-experimentation.
Felix rubbed his chin. That was a fascinating ability.
"Shopkeeper, what is this thing?"
Xie Jun stood far away, swallowing hard as he stared at the hand. "Why is there a human hand in the jar?"
If he pulled a hand this time, would he pull a head next?
Eyeballs? Brains? Legs?
Xie Jun's face turned green at the thought.
He didn't want any of that!
He wanted a Vision or a cool tool! Not body parts!
Seeing Xie Jun's terrified expression, Felix shook his head and laughed. "It's just a hollow prop. You can wear it like a glove. As long as you wear it and reach out to ask for something, you will get it. However, it's limited to 'reasonable' requests. As for what defines 'reasonable,' you'll have to find out."
"A hand that gets whatever it asks for?"
Xie Jun paused.
It wasn't a real severed hand?
Curiosity overcoming fear, he slowly walked back toward it.
Read ahead with 100+ chapters now with daily updates!
@patreon.com/Zefyrus