Noticing the collective gaze of the room shifting toward him, Ryen quietly withdrew his hand from behind Hu Tao's waist.
Moments earlier, he had engaged in a brief, playful exchange with her, ensuring she remembered who held authority in their household. It had been nothing more than affectionate teasing, a quiet spark to keep their bond vibrant.
Hu Tao understood his intentions completely, recognizing that he merely wanted her agreement to a few novel ideas later that evening. She was more than willing to indulge him.
When Ryen was pleased, she was pleased.
Neither Ryen nor his partners ever allowed minor squabbles to turn into genuine discord. Even as the circle of ladies around Ryen continued to grow, their mutual affection remained steadfast, deepening with every shared trial.
Facing the expectant crowd, Ryen offered a relaxed smile and spread his hands.
"Now that your administrative discussions have wrapped up, is it time for me to address the most crucial matters?"
Yae Miko blinked her violet eyes, a playful curve resting on her lips. "My dear is going to keep us in suspense again, isn't he?"
Lisa sat quietly nearby, her eyes lingering on Yae Miko with an amused expression. She distinctly recalled that term of endearment being her own signature phrase.
"There are far too many rewards to distribute today. If I kept you in suspense, we would still be sitting here next year."
Ryen smiled, clearly in high spirits after processing the system rewards.
"Let us get straight to the point."
Ryen composed himself, and the atmosphere in the room instantly sharpened. Note-taking books were drawn across the table as everyone prepared to record every word.
Two custom mods were about to be selected. Given Ryen's vast understanding of world mechanics, whichever options he chose would undoubtedly prove extraordinary. With their armies freed from primary construction duties, they could deploy search teams immediately upon activation.
"First, let us establish one principle: the rewards for the armed forces are mandatory. They fought valiantly for forty-nine consecutive days. While defending this realm was their duty, honoring their sacrifice remains our responsibility."
Seeing the leaders nod in solemn agreement, Ryen continued.
"Now, regarding personal rewards."
"To begin with, I have been granted partial Creative Mode permissions within the boundary of the Redstone Tech City. It serves as a convenient utility for my administrative tasks."
"Next..."
With a subtle shift of his mind, Ryen tapped into the underlying code system he had just unlocked. With effortless precision, he duplicated three Swords of the Cosmos and three Heaven Fallen Longbows, manifesting them directly onto the table before him.
"These are gifts granted directly by the world."
Ryen's eyes gleamed with quiet amusement as he glanced toward the women sitting beside him.
Ningguang and the others immediately understood. The narrative of a divine gift was merely a cover for the rest of the room; Ryen had synthesized the weapons directly through systemic code. It was a private truth belonging to their inner circle, and Ganyu and the rest instinctively maintained absolute secrecy.
"Does anyone wish to claim one?"
Venti's posture straightened instantly, his eyes shining with uncharacteristic enthusiasm.
"Ryen, my dearest and closest friend! It appears I am lacking a truly magnificent bow in my collection!"
Ryen rolled his eyes at the bard's sudden dramatics, yet considering Venti had fought tirelessly on the front lines, he casually handed him one of the Heaven Fallen Longbows.
Venti had eyed the weapon for a long time. During the final stand, a single Heaven Fallen Longbow stationed at the western breach had held off tens of thousands of advancing undead. In Venti's eyes, the weapon possessed sacred artistic value.
Though he rarely sought raw martial dominance, the sheer visual elegance of the bow was irresistible to him.
"Ehe! You are truly generous! Many thanks!" Venti cradled the longbow carefully, admiring its intricate contours.
The other leaders looked at the remaining longbows with clear admiration, yet with only two remaining, none felt inclined to voice a request. They lacked Venti's shameless lack of restraint when asking for treasures.
Seeing no one else step forward, Ryen shrugged and gently placed one of the Heaven Fallen Longbows into Ganyu's arms, his knuckles brushing lightly against her as he did. Ganyu cast a soft, reproachful glance in his direction before settling the weapon against her lap.
"The remaining bow will be stored in the Redstone Tech City. Should any of you require its power for a specific mission, simply submit a request to draw it."
"As for my personal longbow, I plan to mount it permanently within the City Lord's Manor. It sustained severe structural wear during the disaster, but it protected countless lives. From this day forward, it will serve as a symbol of the Redstone Tech City."
Because the Heaven Fallen Longbow could be duplicated through systemic commands whenever necessary, Ryen had no shortage of weaponry.
The underlying source code was his true foundation for managing this universe.
When he had first gazed upon the vast arrays of operational code, the sight had left him deeply awed. It represented the ultimate law governing reality itself.
Altering the climate, reshaping mountains, redirecting seas, or shifting celestial orbits were all within the realm of those commands.
From this moment onward, Ryen possessed absolute mastery over the framework of this world.
However, revealing such absolute power would shatter the strategic balance and erode the determination of the various nations to explore and develop the world organically. Ryen intended to utilize the system commands discreetly behind the scenes.
As for the Sword of the Cosmos, no one raised a question about its destination.
It was an absolute blade capable of severing any form of existence. Even with system commands, its core property could not be altered. Such a weapon could never be placed in hands other than Ryen's, not out of distrust toward Ningguang or the others, but because its weight was simply too dangerous for anyone else to carry.
Ryen stowed the swords away, and the atmosphere in the room grew increasingly charged.
Creative Mode utilities and legendary weapons were impressive, yet everyone knew the true highlights of the disaster rewards were the Server Administrator titles and the two custom mods.
Seeing their intense focus, Ryen chuckled lightly, reaching into his coat to produce a collection of Gnostices and specialized Visions.
"These are the items promised earlier. Feel free to make your selections."
Arranged on the table were the Arcane, Healing, and Sorcery Gnostices, alongside various tri-element Visions.
"There are additional specialized Gnostices and Visions possessing exotic properties, such as Electromagnetism, Molecular Motion, Ideal Fluid, and Corrosion," Ryen added casually. "However, those do not interface cleanly with standard magical staves, and utilizing them requires an extensive foundation in theoretical physics."
"I will hold those back for now. The three attributes on the table are far more practical for your current capabilities."
Aether's expression turned serious as he listened to the names of those exotic attributes. "Molecular... Electromagnetism... Ideal Fluid... Those powers..."
Ryen nodded in confirmation. "You recognize them. Indeed, those authorities mirror the attributes of the Herrschers. While they are structured differently from Herrscher Cores, their output easily surpasses standard elemental Gnostices."
Aether let out a quiet breath. "If that is the case, Teyvat is certainly not prepared to utilize them yet. Harnessing such authorities requires an advanced scientific framework. Teyvat's natural sciences are still in their infancy."
While the rest of the leaders found the exchange between Ryen and Aether somewhat cryptic, the word Herrscher conveyed enough gravity to deter further questioning.
The items currently displayed were more than sufficient to transform their individual combat capabilities.
The Sorcery Gnosis was presented to the Tsaritsa, the Arcane Gnosis went to Buer, and the Healing Gnosis was entrusted to Zhongli.
Lisa had previously expressed a strong interest in the Electromagnetism authority, which Ryen had already promised to her privately.
The three Archons held little attachment to their original elemental Gnostices, yet these specialized divine cores were treated with immense care. Once fully mastered alongside their Master-tier staves, these novel attributes would far outclass traditional elemental manipulation.
The Tsaritsa was confident that once she fully integrated the Sorcery Gnosis alongside her dual staves, her power would easily match the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles.
The remaining officers and representatives selected the specialized tri-element Visions they had long set their eyes on. While these items served primarily as personal enhancements rather than strategic shifts, no one declined an increase in personal strength.
As everyone attached their new acquisitions, a somewhat awkward silence settled over the room.
Several individuals now found themselves wearing three distinct Visions at their waist. When Tartaglia shifted slightly, the metallic frames clinked against one another with an unmistakable, metallic chime.
It was an unexpectedly comical sight.
Ryen let out a proud laugh and unbuttoned his outer coat, revealing a custom belt lined with seven elemental Visions across his waist, while the interior lining of his coat held seven Delusions arranged like radiant badges.
"Now do you appreciate the aesthetic brilliance of my rainbow set?"
The seven Visions and Delusions shimmered brightly, casting colorful reflections across Ryen's chest.
Since mastering Imaginary Energy, Ryen rarely drew upon these items in battle, especially given his ability to synthesize divine cores at will. Yet he maintained that a full set of seven elemental Visions made for an undeniably striking accessory.
The gathered leaders felt a wave of mild embarrassment, remembering how they had previously teased Ryen about his flashy display. Now, listening to the chime of three Visions hanging from their own belts, they understood the awkwardness firsthand.
However, Jean and the other women found their attention drawn elsewhere as Ryen unbuttoned his coat. Beneath the heavy fabric, his thin inner shirt outlined the defined contours of his chest and shoulders.
Several of the women flushed slightly, quietly averting their eyes while taking a second glance.
Ganyu's brows furrowed in mild annoyance. She immediately reached over, pulling Ryen's coat shut and buttoning it securely up to his collar.
After ensuring he was completely covered, she cast a brief, protective glance toward the rest of the room. Once the distraction was neutralized, Ganyu casually rested her hand against Ryen's chest, taking a quiet moment to admire his physique herself.
Her appreciation for Ryen's strength was no less intense than his affection for her Qilin form.
Tartaglia coughed softly, adjusting his belt. "I used to think wearing one Vision alongside one Delusion looked quite sharp."
He gestured to his waist with a wry smile. "Wearing three at once feels a bit excessive. I think I will keep the extra ones secured inside my jacket."
A light chuckle rippled through the room.
Displaying one Vision and one Delusion looked formidable, but walking around adorned like a walking jewelry display was a bit too conspicuous. In battle, radiating three distinct elemental colors simultaneously would make one look like a glowing confection.
With the Visions secured, the group set aside the matter for later study. They had far more critical topics to cover.
Ryen stretched his arms comfortably over his head. "Well, that covers the foundational rewards."
He looked around the table with an innocent grin. "How about we take a break for dinner before continuing?"
A row of unblinking, exasperated eyes met his gaze.
Ryen raised his hands in mock surrender. "You really have no sense of humor."
From the start of the meeting, everyone had been waiting for the announcement of the Server Administrators and the new mods, yet Ryen continued to tease their patience.
Ganyu offered a gentle, warning nudge against his leg beneath the table, prompting Ryen to adjust his posture and adopt a serious tone.
"Very well. We now move to the most significant reward of this cycle."
"The Server Administrator permissions."
"The three individuals selected for these roles have been finalized."
"Zhongli, Guizhong, and Ningguang."
"My congratulations to all three of you."
Ryen smiled warmly as he looked at the Liyue trio.
"The Redstone Tech City shall stand as the very first absolute safe server zone in this universe."
"The three of you are now its official overseers."
"You are the first regional administrators of this realm."
"And beyond myself, you are the very first beings granted the authority to alter the foundational logic of this world."
"The Subordinate Gods of Creation."