So no one else could see it?
That really was something.
...
Miori Shiba: [@Takumi, boss, may I ask if precious metals are useful in your world?] [Like gold and diamonds.]
Takumi received the message almost instantly.
He paused at her question.
After a moment of thought, he finally replied.
Chapter 21: As Long As I Dont Go to Honkai Star Rail, Im Invincible in the Group
Takumi: [Precious metals can be used as currency.] [Gold can serve as a hard currency.] [Even though I can produce it by hand, I won't make it casually.] [How you choose to develop things from here on out is none of my concern, as long as no problems arise, I won't intervene.] [I will build a new financial system. Gold will be one of the main currencies.] [The rare metals in your world are also pretty good.] [If you want to convert your assets into valuable resources, start with those two.]
Takumi laid out his ideas clearly. He understood their intention to liquidate their family wealth and bring only valuable assets over.
As long as those things have value in his world, Takumi had no problem with it. Gold and the like were accepted as currency in many worlds. As long as he didn't interfere and start mass-producing them, they would retain their worth.
Miori Shiba: [Got it!] [I understand.]
After saying that, Miori Shiba closed the chat group and began discussing the matter with her father. With a clear understanding of the situation, she knew exactly what to do.
Others in the group were a bit surprised.
"Already decided so fast?"
Fujiwara Chika: [Emm... you're not planning to intervene in the development of ordinary people?]
She was curious. So many people being brought over, and no interference?
Takumi: [Of course not.] [I just need people to help develop this world.] [To build a brand-new civilization.] [A super-civilization blending countless worlds.] [If I interfere too much, I might mess things up myself.] [So, it's best to let them develop on their own.] [I'll only offer necessary support.]
Takumi was well aware of his limits. The development of a civilization wasn't something he needed to micromanage. As long as things moved forward naturally, it was fine.
His job was to bring people from other worlds and have them settle in this one, participate in its progress. Eventually, the planet would become a unified country. As for how to run it, they could vote on it later.
Thinking of this, Takumi couldn't help but joke in the group.
Takumi: [@Fujiwara Chika, why don't you come be the president?]
That one line left Chika stunned.
Fujiwara Chika: [(?д?)?] [Are you serious?]
Good grief, he actually thought of making her president?
Sagiri: [I think it's a great idea.] [Chika-nee's family is filled with officials, and big ones too.] [She's grown up exposed to it all, so she understands a lot.]
Sagiri even quietly cast a vote in support. The others in the group were amused and joined in.
Zhongli: [By common theoretical standards, Miss Fujiwara is indeed a good candidate.]
She had seen the materials Takumi had shared. Chika was quite capable.
Akeno: [Ara~! Worth trying out.]
Bronya: [President Fujiwara! (?_)?]
Seeing these replies, Chika was speechless.
"All of you are just messing around."
Fujiwara Chika: [If you're really looking for someone to manage things, why not get Ningguang?] [If that's not possible, go kidnap Jean from Teyvat.] [Aren't they more suitable?]
She was genuinely worried Takumi might suddenly abduct her, so she quickly changed the subject.
"There are better candidates, you know. The Liyue Qixing are all excellent and beautiful too. Why not pick one of them?"
"Ningguang not charming enough? Keqing not pretty? The Knights of Favonius lacking spirit?"
"They're clearly better suited."
Takumi: [But Old Man won't let them go.] [Still, it's not a bad idea. A world needs managers after all.]
Takumi stroked his chin.
True, some form of management was needed. The Liyue Qixing were excellent. But could they really be spared?
Himeko: [You guys seem to be having an interesting discussion.] [Sorry to interrupt, @Takumi, I've completed the exchange.] [Herta is very interested in you.]
Himeko popped in. She had completed the transaction Takumi requested.
Takumi: [That fast?]
That was quick. Was it really that easy?
Himeko: [Herta is curious about the items you sent. Some of it may be trivial to her, but...] [She figured out these items aren't from our world. She suspects I might have a way to contact other worlds.] [Especially worlds that have yet to be observed.]
Himeko didn't hide anything. After sending Herta the items for exchange, the woman quickly caught on.
That superpower awakening serum some of its ingredients piqued her curiosity.
It even gave her a strange feeling, as if it had been conjured from thin air, without any trace of artificial synthesis.
That alone made it highly interesting.
Since deceiving a super-genius was nearly impossible, Himeko just told the truth.
These were, indeed, items from another world. Herta thought for a moment, then agreed to the exchange, offering up plenty of tech far exceeding the value of Takumi's offerings.
After relaying all this, Takumi scratched his head.
"So... is Herta investing in me now?"
"Or... has Lord Erudition already noticed the things I sent?"
Thinking of the Aeons' lore, Takumi clicked his tongue.
"All things are questions, and all questions have answers."
That star-core supercomputer used to seek universal truths had eventually ascended into a god.
Lord Erudition is constantly analyzing the universe. So it probably noticed right away.
The items Takumi sent were like ink droplets in clear water impossible to ignore.
Takumi: [Your world is absolutely insane.] [But whatever, I got what I needed.] [I'll remember this favor.]
For now, Takumi wouldn't go near Honkai Star Rail. No need to deal with Aeons yet.
But he couldn't let Aha look down on him either.
Eventually, he'd have to go once he was strong enough.
At the very least, he needed the strength to arm-wrestle a god before stepping foot there.
Otherwise, those beings might notice him... and that wouldn't end well.
Chapter 22: Treatment Includes Wear and Tear
Before Takumi has truly grown up, he absolutely won't go to those dangerous worlds. Among all the people in the group, the only one who poses any danger to Takumi is Honkai: Star Rail. So for now, as long as he avoids Himeko's side, everything should be fine.
As for the other members' worlds? He'll just leave them as they are. In Teyvat, with Takumi's current strength, he claims none of the Seven Archons could beat him. Even if Phanes showed up, Takumi could just hammer him down. He could turn all of Teyvat upside down if he wanted.
As for akeno world, Takumi isn't afraid at all. Even if those evil gods from EXE arrived, it would be the sameTakumi says he can take them on. A bunch of mechanical evil gods? How about trying the power of the Erosion Herrscher? Takumi considers himself a perfect counter to them. As for local transcenders and such, he can easily handle them too. No big deal.
So, in this group, Takumi stands at the very top. As long as he doesn't go to Honkai: Star Rail, everything will be fine.
Takumi accepted all the information Himeko provided. The flood of information surged into Takumi's mind. Among the massive amounts of technology data from Herta, there was even a method for building star-destroyers. Sorting through all the knowledge in his mind, Takumi's eyes immediately lit up.
However, this time, Takumi didn't really become stronger. Maybe it was because he was alone, so his growth was somehow limited? After all, his power is tied to the advancement of civilization. Even though he'd acquired all this technology, there was nowhere to use it. It could only exist in his mind.
In other words, if Takumi wants to keep improving his strength, he needs to develop this world. Realizing this, Takumi scratched his head. "What a hassle I really do need more people!"
He let out a sigh. As expected, he'd have to pull people from other worlds. A few hundred wouldn't be enough. He'd need even more to properly develop a civilization. Shaking his head, Takumi decided not to think too much about it for now. He'd handle it when he acquired knowledge from other systems. With this in mind, Takumi continued to chat in the group.
Time passed as he idled in the group, and before he knew it, it was past midnight. Like always, Takumi clicked to check in within the group. Not just Takumi, but everyone else checked in on time as well.
[Group Member 'Takumi' has checked in successfully.] [Congratulations to member 'Takumi' for receiving: 66 points.] [Group Member 'Fujiwara Chika' has checked in successfully.] [Congratulations to group member 'Fujiwara Chika' for receiving: 30 points.] ... One by one, everyone finished checking in. Everyone received points.
Fujiwara Chika: [Time to sleep, gotta protect my precious life!!] [(o).zZ]
Sagiri: [Goodnight!]
Bronya: [Goodnight!]
Akeno: [Goodnight~!]
After checking in, Fujiwara Chika went straight to bed. The others did tooafter all, Fujiwara Chika still had to go to school tomorrow. Checking in on time every day was already quite impressive.
However, aside from Takumi, nobody else really received any special items. If you got an item, unless it was some powerful ability, it was just bad luck. The night passed without incident.
The next morning, as Takumi got up, people in the group were discussing the items in the shop. Someone even tagged Takumi.
Fujiwara Chika: [@Takumi, have you ever bought the body enhancement item? I want to buy it now, but I don't have enough points. Do you know what it does?]
Seeing Fujiwara Chika's message, Takumi paused for a moment. She wants to buy it? Takumi: [You have that many points?]
Saving up again, huh? These people all joined the group quite early, so they accumulated quite a few points from the daily check-ins. Later, after Takumi put up a bunch of tech for sale, they finally spent some, but otherwise, they'd still be hoarding.
Fujiwara Chika: [Hehe! Of course I have to save some points for the stuff that comes out later. Quickly, tell me, you must've bought it, right?]
Fujiwara Chika was certain Takumi must have bought it, since only he had so many points. So she wanted to know what effects it had.
Takumi didn't hide anything. Takumi: [It basically doubles your strength. The stronger you are, the more the boost. It's a benefit for newcomers.]
He didn't keep it a secret. The enhancement was actually quite good. The only issue was that the next upgrade cost *10, which was a paincompletely unaffordable. Seeing Takumi's message, everyone was shocked.
Double your strength? That's amazing! Even Zhongli was tempted at that point.
Takumi continued: [As for the healing item, I guess it can heal any injury? @Zhongli, old man, you can buy one and try it. Maybe it'll fix your erosion problem.]
If it costs so many points, it has to be powerful. Maybe it could even solve erosion.
Zhongli was interested. Maybe it really could help.
Zhongli: [@Takumi, lend me a thousand points.]
What the!
Seeing Zhongli's message, Takumi was speechless. Wow, asking to borrow points just like that? Only you would be so bold.
Takumi glanced at his own points. He had just over two thousand. After thinking for a moment, he decided not to refuse and lent Zhongli a thousand points.
He was also curious if this healing ability could really repair erosion, or if it could heal any injury at all. If so, this ability would be incredibly powerful. Letting Zhongli test it was a good ideaafter all, Zhongli had erosion. Maybe this would really show results.
With that in mind, Takumi lent Zhongli a thousand points. After receiving them, Zhongli immediately bought the healing ability.
If this healing really helped with erosion, he'd definitely have to save up more points in the future. He'd actually saved up quite a few from daily check-ins, but ever since Takumi joined the group and started posting all sorts of tech, he kept spending them, so he didn't have much left. That's why he had to borrow some from Takumi.
After receiving the points from Takumi, Zhongli didn't hesitate at all and bought the healing ability. As soon as he did, he felt a strange energy enter his body, coming from who-knows-where, flowing into him. In that moment, Zhongli felt his whole body become warm and comfortable.
He was surprisedhow long had it been since he'd felt this way? At that moment, Zhongli felt his body was in the best shape it had been in ages. He even recalled some things he'd forgotten. The erosion seemed to have been repaired to some extent. Repairing the erosion also meant his strength had recovered by about ten percent.
Chapter 23: I Want It, But No Points
The restoration wasn't extensive, but it was effective.
A few more treatments and Zhongli's wear and tear would certainly be completely repaired.
Feeling the changes in his body, Zhongli grew uncharacteristically excited.
"I wonder if this ability can be used on others?"
Gradually calming down, Zhongli stared thoughtfully at this new function.
It would be wonderful if this could indeed apply to others, as many of his old friends were suffering from wear and tear.
The chat group lacked artificial intelligence, meaning he had to explore everything himself.
Clicking open the treatment option, Zhongli began his experimentation.
He glanced at Doctor Tea, Liu Su, standing before him.
Then he selected "Use Treatment."
In the next moment, a popup window visible only to him appeared:
"Would you like to use the healing ability on Liu Su?"
Seeing this, Zhongli's eyes sparkled with surprise.
So it really could be used on others.
Simply select the intended recipient.
This was indeed an unexpected delight.
With enough points, all the issues his old friends faced could be resolved.
It seemed he needed to accumulate points.
Currently, besides daily check-ins, there was no other method to earn points.
Could he only save slowly?
A few dozen points per day, averaging around fifty, would mean about fifteen hundred per month.
With good luck, perhaps two thousand points.
Not bad at all.
"Waiting a bit longer is acceptable."
If he refrained from spending unnecessarily, he could accumulate enough points.
He could even sell items to earn points.
