Ryen deftly shifted the conversation away from the grim reality of the suicide detachments. The women, understanding the weight of the matter, felt no desire to press further.
Ultimately, the existence of the Totems of Rebirth softened the blow of mortality within the block world. It was a blessing beyond measure.
Pushing the heavy atmosphere aside, Ningguang offered a soft, brilliant smile.
"Once the cataclysm breaks and the Server Administrator privileges are firmly in our grasp, Redstone Tech City will transform into an authentic, thriving sanctuary."
"Given that the Genshin Impact module will activate concurrently, I believe it will be the perfect hour to introduce the first wave of Liyue's citizens into the realm."
"Firstly, it will ease the population density straining Liyue Harbor. Secondly, introducing common folk from various trades will organically establish civic trade and commerce across the settlement."
"The world will naturally breathe with life and civilization."
"The vanguard's primary directive moving forward will be charting unknown territory and mastering new modules."
"The burdens of construction, agriculture, and municipal expansion can be safely handed over to the artisans and laborers of Liyue."
"Furthermore, considering that Khaenri'ah, the final faction to join our alliance, is preparing for a total national migration, it is only proper that Liyue, the first to cross the threshold, begins laying its own civilian roots."
"Whether we view this through the lens of a thousand-year prosperity plan, or simply as a grim contingency to preserve the spark of Liyue's civilization..."
"The migration is an absolute necessity."
"The ideal outcome, naturally, is that our civilization flourishes in both realms simultaneously, linked tightly together and ascending to unprecedented heights."
"But taking the most pessimistic view... should Teyvat ultimately face the apocalyptic trials of the Imaginary Tree that Ryen spoke of, and should Liyue fall, our people will possess a mature, impenetrable refuge."
Ningguang paused to sip her tea, allowing her words to settle before continuing.
"My immediate blueprint involves recreating the beating heart of Liyue within that realm. The first step is securing a diverse influx of talent."
"Food, clothing, housing, entertainment, infrastructure, and commerce... these vital veins of society must slowly take root across the portal."
"Redstone Tech City provides the flawless starting point. With our Administrator privileges engaged, managing the settlement will be infinitely simpler than governing the sprawling breadth of Liyue Harbor."
Ningguang's vision was not a sudden revelation. The depth of her planning made it clear she had been refining this blueprint for months.
With Redstone Tech City on the verge of becoming a permanent haven, and the absolute authority of the Server Administrators guaranteeing supreme order, the foundation was set.
The activation of the Genshin Impact module was merely the final piece. By introducing the familiar flora and fauna of Teyvat into the block world, the migrating citizens would be spared the shock of an entirely alien environment.
With every condition met, Ningguang was ready to accelerate her timeline.
Naturally, one could not discount the competitive fire burning in the Tianquan's chest. Watching the Khaenri'ahn survivors prepare to settle their entire populace undoubtedly spurred her into action.
Collaborating with Khaenri'ah was perfectly acceptable. Ryen had embraced them, and they were destined to become a primary labor force in cultivating the MC world.
Bilateral treaties and long-term joint ventures were already on the table.
But a world entirely devoid of competition?
That was a laughable fantasy.
The Five-Nation Alliance stood united as a family. Provoking one meant drawing the fury of all.
Yet beneath that familial bond, a fierce, healthy rivalry flourished.
They constantly measured whose capital was grander and whose forces mastered new modules faster.
Ningguang absolutely refused to let Khaenri'ah monopolize the advantage of being the first true, native civilization within the block world, leaving the rest of the alliance in the dust.
Since the very first day the gateway opened, Liyue had walked at the absolute forefront.
They were the pioneers yesterday, and they must remain the pioneers tomorrow.
It was a matter of Ningguang's sovereign pride.
While the military boasted staggering numbers, true civilization was built upon the backs of ordinary citizens.
If Khaenri'ah settled their people first, they would define the economic foundation and market laws of the realm, placing them steps ahead of every other nation.
How could Ningguang casually surrender the glory of being the world's premier trailblazer?
Ryen saw straight through Ningguang's calculating ambition, yet he found absolutely no fault in it.
His partner was a proud, brilliant peacock. Her relentless drive to stay ahead of the curve was the exact reason Liyue was currently enjoying unprecedented wealth and power.
It was that same competitive spirit that had driven the block world's staggering development over the past six months.
Liyue held a profoundly special place in Ryen's heart.
After a brief moment of reflection, Ryen spoke softly.
"You have my full support. The initial wave of colonists can anchor themselves in Redstone Tech City. The municipal governance is entirely yours to shape."
"Once the siege ends, you will hold Administrator authority. The other two seats belong to Guizhong and Zhongli."
Ryen reached out, affectionately ruffling Guizhong's hair. The Goddess of Dust offered a soft, endearing hum, leaning into his touch with a happy nuzzle.
Ryen smiled down at her with boundless fondness.
"Our precious Guizhong is a brilliant administrator in her own right. Though lately, she has devoted her entire heart to romance and grown rather delightfully lazy. Still, as your sister, she can shoulder the burden when needed."
"As for Zhongli... that man only desires the administrative authority as a formality. The retired dragon has zero interest in managing ledgers."
"I suspect he simply wants the power to veto you if you ever attempt to become a tyrant. For the daily, mundane decisions regarding Redstone Tech City, he will not even glance at the paperwork."
"The true burden of governance will fall squarely upon your shoulders."
Ningguang smiled and nodded gracefully.
"I intend to bring Baixiao and several senior clerks from the Ministry of Civil Affairs across the threshold. We will reconstruct the Ministry's framework within the city and delegate appropriate administrative clearances to them."
"Rest assured, my schedule will only be heavily burdened during the initial transition. Once Redstone Tech City stabilizes, I will have ample time to stay by your side."
"Regarding the selection for the first wave..."
Ningguang tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"Ganyu and I conferred earlier. We have decided to draw exclusively from the families of our deployed soldiers."
"Firstly, it is abundantly clear that the vanguard will be stationed across the portal long-term. Between mastering new modules and conquering the New Continent, their deployments will be extensive."
"Unless absolutely necessary, the veteran regiments will rarely return to Teyvat."
"Bringing their families across ensures they can reunite frequently, preventing whispers that the Tianquan is ruthlessly exploiting her soldiers."
"Secondly, the military families represent a massive demographic. They possess excellent discipline and engage in a myriad of diverse trades across Liyue Harbor."
"Upon arrival, they can instantly breathe life into the civic commerce of Redstone Tech City, absorbing the foundational labor that our soldiers have been forced to juggle."
"We will not even need to incentivize their work ethic."
Having laid out her blueprint, Ningguang looked quietly at Ryen, waiting for his verdict.
Ryen found no flaws in her logic. After a moment of thought, he nodded in approval.
"Your design is flawless, and you have my complete backing. However, Redstone Tech City is a fortress capable of comfortably housing over a hundred thousand souls."
"Furthermore, as the other sovereign capitals elevate their civilization tiers, we will soon possess multiple sanctuaries."
"While I do not believe you need to rush the expansion, preparing for the future is always wise."
"The military families, while numerous, ultimately constitute a single demographic. They will not fill the city to capacity."
"You should consider releasing a limited number of migration permits to the general populace of Liyue."
"Additionally, the monopoly on cross-realm trade needs to be loosened. Whether the Ministry of Civil Affairs hoarding all commerce is ethical or not is beside the point; the sheer volume of paperwork will work your clerks to death."
"You have countless loyal merchant guilds operating under your banner. Delegate the logistical transit to them. The Ministry and Liyue can simply sit back and collect the tariffs."
Ningguang covered her mouth, her eyes curving into a brilliant, knowing smile.
"That was precisely my intent..."
"Since we are in agreement, the course is set. However, these initiatives cannot formally launch until Redstone Tech City is secured and the new modules are active."
"For now, I will simply brief the Ministry of Civil Affairs to begin drafting the preliminary ledgers."
Ryen nodded, offering no further advice. Ningguang was more than capable of navigating the bureaucratic labyrinth on her own.
His own grasp of governance was merely cobbled together from historical observations in his past life. Compared to Ningguang, who actively steered the lives of millions in Liyue every single day, his administrative skills were child's play.
Lisa and the other women listened with a faint twinge of envy. In nearly every metric, Liyue had once again seized the absolute advantage.
Yet they were not overly anxious. According to the alliance's schedule, their own sovereign capitals would be fully constructed before the year ended.
They could easily implement similar migration protocols when the time came.
The sky outside the window was beginning to lighten with the approaching dawn. Unwilling to waste another precious second, Ryen smoothly scooped Ganyu into his arms and stood up, walking briskly toward the bedchambers.
Ningguang and the others exchanged knowing, silent smiles and gracefully followed him down the hall.
The situation in Redstone Tech City remained highly volatile. It was blatantly obvious that Ryen had no intention of allowing them to cross the portal tomorrow.
Since they were bound to remain in Teyvat, they fully intended to make the most of the remaining night.
Ei sat near the table, blinking in slight confusion. Acting on instinct, she rose to follow the group.
Yae Miko paused, turning back with a sly, wicked grin.
"My, my, Ei. Are you feeling particularly bold tonight? Do you intend to join us?"
"Join you in what?"
Ei stared blankly, genuinely failing to grasp the implication. Yae Miko simply allowed her gaze to drift pointedly downward.
In a flash, Ei understood perfectly.
"Surrendering yourself on your very first time in front of such a crowded audience? Ei, you are far more open-minded than I ever gave you credit for."
Miko offered a breathy, teasing giggle. Ei's face flushed a violent shade of crimson. She shot the shrine maiden a withering glare before reluctantly turning back toward her own private quarters.
As she closed her door, she quickly erected a sound-dampening ward to spare herself from hearing the inevitable, compromising noises from down the hall.
Deep down, however, Ei felt a sharp pang of lingering grievance.
She had meticulously planned everything. She had intended to use tonight's early victory as the perfect opportunity to fulfill her promise.
She had been ready to surrender herself entirely to Ryen.
In the past, the mere thought of such intimacy would have left her paralyzed with embarrassment. Now, she felt nothing but profound anticipation.
Having been by Ryen's side for so long, Ei realized she had nothing left to hide.
They had crossed nearly every boundary. They had explored the depths of intimacy, stopping only at the final threshold.
Ryen knew the exact rhythm of her breath, and she intimately understood the heat of his touch. All that remained was piercing that final, delicate veil to complete her transformation.
She had mustered all her courage for tonight, only for Ryen to seemingly miss the cue entirely.
Sitting alone at her table, Ei rested her chin in her hands. A rare, genuine pout formed on her usually stoic face.
She wasn't sure if she was frustrated by Ryen's lack of romantic intuition, or angry at herself for lacking the brazen courage of Yae Miko.
Sitting in the quiet room, her thoughts drifted aimlessly.
Normally, in moments of solitude, Ei's mind would instinctively turn toward the pursuit of martial perfection. Tonight, the blade was the furthest thing from her thoughts.
Her mind was entirely consumed by memories of Ryen. The warmth of his hands, his patient guidance, and the way he had slowly coaxed her from rigid awkwardness into a partner whose newfound skills frequently left him breathless with praise.
She took immense pride in that. Whether it was the martial path or the path of the heart.
She demanded absolute perfection from herself in all things.
As the true shadow warrior of Makoto, Ei had always held herself to an agonizingly strict standard.
Naturally, this rigid pursuit of perfection did not extend to national governance...
Her sister was perfectly capable of ruling Inazuma. Why should Ei burden herself with ledgers?
Besides, statecraft was mind-numbingly dull.
As chaotic thoughts swirled through her mind, a sudden, distinct sound pierced the silence.
It was the unmistakable, breathy moan of Yae Miko.
The voice was dripping with such ecstatic, unbridled euphoria that even though the words were fractured and meaningless, the sheer heat of the moment was conveyed with crystal clarity.
Ei snapped out of her daze, her face burning hot as she frantically inspected the sound-dampening ward she had erected.
The ward was flawless. There were no cracks.
Then how was she hearing those soul-shaking moans and the rhythmic, rhythmic clapping so clearly?!
Ei's heart gave a violent tremor. She focused her senses inward, finally tracing the source to a faint, dormant consciousness link buried in her mind.
It was the telepathic tether Yae Miko had secretly established within the Plane of Euthymia months ago.
It had originally been forged so the shrine maiden could communicate with her while she meditated in isolation.
To think Miko was actively weaponizing it for this?!
"MIKO!!!"