Henry demonstrated the first hood mounting—heavy-duty brackets bolted firmly into the brick, precise leveling with the level tool, securing the unit so it sat solidly above the stove without the slightest wobble. The duct sections clicked together with simple connectors, the ninety-degree bend fitting neatly to redirect airflow toward the window where the main trunk would carry everything outside.
"Seal the gaps with this," Henry said, handing Korg a tube of silicone sealant. "Prevents water and bugs coming in. Also prevents cold air from leaking out in winter. Thermal efficiency matters, even if no one here knows what that phrase means."
While the masons worked on the exterior vent caps-simple flapped covers that would allow air out but keep rain and critters in, Henry wired the exhaust fan to the breaker panel.
A flip of the switch, and the hood hummed to life, pulling air upward and outward through the duct with a gentle whoosh that seemed almost alive, like the building itself was breathing.
"So now whenever I cook, the smoke just… leaves?" Alina asked curiously.
"No, it gets sucked right out," Henry confirmed, moving to the second stove to repeat the process. "Outside. Not in your face, not on the walls, not smelling up the whole building. Black smoke coming off your cooking? Straight outside. You won't inhale a bit of it."
She swatted his arm, but there was no real force behind it. "Hey! I'm a good cook and you know it."
"Debatable," he argued, earning a small glare from her. "You couldn't stop inhaling the mac and cheese I made last week."
"That's because it was delicious, not because I'm a bad cook."
"Sure. Tell yourself that."
By the time they'd finished the fourth hood, one above each stoves, the kitchen was transformed-four gleaming exhaust systems, each connected to the main trunk. The masons had sealed every gap, and were now standing back with the satisfied expressions of men who had just completed something genuinely impressive.
The last four units-one per bedroom were the easiest installations of the day. Smaller wall mounts, simpler installs, no complex ductwork to navigate. Henry showed the builders how to seal the holes around refrigerant lines with putty, how to level each unit with the level tool, how to connect the remote controls and test each unit in sequence. Cold air bloomed in each room, one by one, until the entire upstairs felt like a gentle spring morning regardless of what was happening outside.
Alina leaned against a doorframe. "So now I can make my room freezing cold whenever I want?"
"Or warm, which we'll need most of the time, considering Mondstadt's weather," Henry said, tossing her a remote control. "It does both. Set it to whatever temperature you like, there's a little number display that tells you exactly what you're getting."
She turned the remote over in her hands, studying the buttons and the small screen. "And the numbers…?"
"Higher number means hotter. Lower means colder. For example, twenty-five is colder than thirty-three. Don't overthink it-just pick what feels comfortable and leave it alone."
This is going to take her at least a week of obsessive adjusting and playing before she settles on something.
"The temperature might be a bit confusing at first, but you'll get used to it."
She stared at the remote, then back at him, her expression unreadable. "You realize no one in Mondstadt-or even all of Teyvat has this."
"That's the point." Henry's smile turned faintly wicked. "This café is going to be the most comfortable building in Teyvat. People will come for the food and stay for the air conditioning. And then they'll tell their friends, and their friends will tell their friends, and pretty soon I'll have a monopoly on comfort."
[ And the most energy-hungry. Good thing those generators are semi industrial-grade. Also, you're welcome for the units. Again. I keep a tab.]
Alina busied herself with the remote control, pressing the temperature buttons experimentally and watching the display change with each click. "I see," she murmured, though her furrowed brow suggested she understood nothing of what she was seeing.
Three hours after they'd started, the masons stood with the exhausted but satisfied air of men who'd just accomplished something impossible and weren't quite sure how to process it. They lingered near the AC units, basking in the cool air like lizards on a sun-warmed rock, their voices low and animated as they relived the afternoon's work.
Henry turned to Korg, who was gossiping among his men, and walked over, pressing a small pouch of mora into his hands. "Thank you. Here."
Korg shook his head slowly, not quite meeting Henry's eyes. "We just watched a man control the temperature of air with nothing but a machine," he said, his voice carrying a note of wonder that seemed almost reverent. "I think that's payment enough. My grandchildren won't believe me when I tell them about this."
"Still take it." Henry chuckled, the sound warm and genuine in the cool air, pressing the pouch firmly into Korg's calloused hands. "Come back anytime. I'll teach you how to maintain them—the filters need cleaning every few months, and the refrigerant needs to be checked periodically."
The masons filed out, muttering excitedly among themselves in low voices that carried through the evening air, their footsteps fading down the street as the door swung shut behind them.
[Henry, I have a refrigerator for you here.]
Suddenly Henry felt something shift in his system space—a new item, large and substantial, settling into the empty void like a ship docking in harbor. He dragged Alina by the arm toward the kitchen before she could protest, her surprised yelp echoing off the freshly painted walls.
In the empty space between the counter and the wall, Henry removed a massive silver rectangular box from his system space and placed it on the floor with a solid thud. It was taller than Alina, with gleaming double doors, a stainless steel handle that caught the light, and a faint hum emanating from within that seemed to vibrate through the tiles beneath their feet.
Alina's eyes went wide, her mouth falling slightly open as she took a step back. "What is that?"
"A refrigerator." Henry ran his hand along the cool metal surface, feeling the slight vibration of the compressor through his palm. "This is where we store ingredients that need to stay cold. Fresh meat, dairy, vegetables, drinks—anything that would spoil at room temperature."
He opened one door, and cold air rushed out, revealing neat shelves and compartments inside, all gleaming stainless steel, all pristine and new.
Alina stepped closer, peering inside like she was examining a relic from a lost civilization. "This is like… a permanent ice box," she breathed. "But without ice. Without Cryo shards or someone using Cryo. How is that possible?"
"Same technology as the AC units, basically. It uses a refrigerant cycle to remove heat from the interior and dump it outside. No elemental powers required, no daily upkeep beyond keeping the door closed and the coils clean."
He touched the temperature touchscreen, and she watched the display change. "Adjustable. I can make it colder for meat, slightly warmer for produce. We can store meat and vegetables separately. Precise control over exactly what temperature you need for each ingredient."
[ The fridge has a small freezer compartment too. For ice cream and other things. You're welcome in advance. AGAIN. Consider it a personal gift from me to you, since you've been so cooperative about the missions.]
Thank you dear Orianna
Henry wanted to complain about the point of her giving him things he could have acquired from Earth himself, but he stayed silent, deciding it wasn't worth the risk of angering her—especially when she might be holding back more powerful rewards she hadn't yet given him.
They returned to the main café room, which had cooled considerably while they'd been working upstairs, the AC units having transformed the space from stuffy construction zone to something almost comfortable. The evening light had faded outside, leaving the room dim and shadowed, the only illumination spilling in from the street through the front windows.
Henry dragged Alina to the switches near the corner of the room. "Madam, please do the honours."
Alina pressed all the switches, and the transformation was immediate.
Designer lighting hidden throughout the café activated simultaneously, bathing the room in warm golden illumination that highlighted the plants, wooden furniture, and light green walls in ways natural sunlight never could. Soft light filtered through hanging greenery, illuminated decorative shelves, and created small pockets of warmth throughout the room. The combination of foliage and carefully positioned lighting made the entire building feel alive.
The atmosphere changed completely. The café had already felt welcoming, but now it felt magical—soft golden light filtering through hanging plants, illuminating decorative shelves, and creating small pockets of warmth that made the entire building feel alive.
"Wow," she breathed, stepping back to take in the full effect. "This is similar to the lights in the basement, but much better—different colours, different designs, different lengths."
She was indeed correct. Orianna had provided an assortment-circular mounts that cast broad pools of warm light, sleek linear fixtures tucked into the ceiling grooves, and small accent spots aimed at the plants and wall art. Each piece was designed to complement the space rather than dominate it.
Eventually she looked back toward him, her amber eyes reflecting the golden glow. "I want to stay here. The AC, the fridge, the lighting—it seems too good to leave."
Henry grinned at her direct demand. "I figured that would be your first reaction. I was planning to offer you a job here instead of the Swift Bikes anyway."
That immediately caught her attention, her hand dropping back to her side. "Offer me what?"
"The manager position."
For the first time since entering the café, Alina looked genuinely surprised. Her mouth opened slightly, closed, then opened again. "The manager position?"
Henry nodded, crossing his arms and leaning against the counter. "You already handled the bike shop while I was away, supervised the renovations, paid the workers, managed the schedule, and solved problems without needing constant supervision. You've earned it."
---
Thank you for your Power Stones! ❤️
Help me reach 100+ Power Stones before the next chapter releases!
📖 Advanced Chapters on Patreon- we are ahead by 13 chapters (6 weeks ahead of public release)
https://patreon.com/A_Peverel