Chapitre 7: Chapter 7: Springvale and the Power of Persuasion
It was a sunny day in Mondstadt, the kind where even the laziest of citizens couldn't resist a walk in the breeze. For Satoshi, it was another day in his quest to bring Mondstadt to the forefront of the modern era. His latest mission: to extend his road-building efforts beyond the city and into Springvale.
Satoshi walked briskly towards the gates of Mondstadt, Amber and Klee by his side. Klee, of course, had insisted on coming along after hearing that they'd be making a trip to Springvale. She was practically bouncing with excitement, her backpack full of who-knew-what (though Satoshi had a sneaking suspicion it involved explosives).
"Klee, you promise me you're not bringing Jumpy Dumpties on this trip, right?" Satoshi asked, eyeing the girl warily.
Klee blinked up at him innocently. "Of course not, Mister Satoshi! I'm only bringing things that could be *helpful* for building roads."
"Helpful?" Amber asked, arching an eyebrow. "Klee, the last time you said that, you blew up half of Dadaupa Gorge."
Klee pouted. "It was an accident! I thought the rocks would move out of the way."
Satoshi sighed. He couldn't deny that Klee's enthusiasm was endearing, but it also made him nervous. "Alright, alright. Just… let's not use anything explosive unless we absolutely have to, okay?"
Klee saluted, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Aye aye, Captain Satoshi!"
Amber giggled, nudging Satoshi playfully. "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on her. Besides, we're just talking to the people in Springvale today, right? Should be easy enough."
Satoshi nodded. "Yeah, the plan is to expand the road network to Springvale and see if we can convince them to work with us. It'll make travel between the two places much smoother, especially for trade. And, well…" He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "The System's not going to let me off the hook until I make progress."
"Sounds like a good plan!" Amber said, giving him a bright smile. "With your charm and our support, I'm sure the people in Springvale will come around."
"Charm?" Satoshi asked, laughing. "I'm not so sure about that. But hey, it's worth a shot."
---
Springvale was bustling with activity when they arrived. The small village was quaint, with cottages surrounded by fields of crops and livestock grazing lazily nearby. The villagers were busy with their morning chores—mending fences, carrying buckets of water, and tending to the animals.
Satoshi took a deep breath, approaching a group of villagers who were gathered near the central square. Amber and Klee stayed by his side, Klee already making curious eyes at a nearby chicken that clucked loudly in greeting.
"Hi there," Satoshi said, offering a friendly wave. "I'm Satoshi, from Mondstadt. I'm working on a project to build new roads, and I wanted to talk to you all about expanding them to Springvale."
The villagers looked at each other, a mix of curiosity and skepticism in their eyes. One of them, a tall man with a sun-weathered face named Olaf, stepped forward. "Roads? What for? We've got a path already. It's not perfect, but it gets us to Mondstadt just fine."
Satoshi nodded. "I understand. The current path is okay, but it's not as safe as it could be—especially in the rainy season. We're hoping to build something better, a real road that can make travel easier and faster. It could help you bring your goods to the city more easily, too."
Another villager, an elderly woman named Greta, crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "And what's in it for us? Roads don't come for free, you know. What are we giving up for this new road?"
Amber quickly stepped in, giving Greta a reassuring smile. "We're not here to take anything from you. We're hoping to work together with Springvale—make things easier for everyone. You'll have better access to Mondstadt, and that means better opportunities for trade and travel."
Klee chimed in, her voice enthusiastic. "And it'll be super fun to travel on! Imagine going to Mondstadt without all the bumps!"
Greta's expression softened slightly at Klee's earnestness, though she still seemed unsure. Olaf scratched his chin thoughtfully, glancing at the others.
"Better roads could mean more business," Olaf admitted. "And less wear and tear on the wagons. But how do we know this isn't going to disrupt everything? We've got crops, livestock—we can't afford to have things messed up."
Satoshi took a deep breath. "I promise we'll be careful. I've been working closely with people in Mondstadt to make sure we plan everything properly. I'll even bring in some of the alchemists and craftsmen to help with anything that needs fixing. If anything gets damaged, we'll repair it—no questions asked."
There was a long pause before Greta sighed, giving Satoshi a small nod. "Alright. We'll give you a chance. But if this road messes up my vegetable patch, you'll be the one helping me replant it, young man."
Satoshi couldn't help but smile. "Deal. I'll be here with a shovel and a watering can if I need to."
Olaf chuckled, giving Satoshi a firm pat on the back. "Alright, lad. We'll see how this goes. Just make sure you follow through on those promises."
"You have my word," Satoshi said, relieved.
Amber beamed, giving Satoshi a thumbs-up behind the villagers' backs. Klee, meanwhile, had wandered over to the chickens and was currently trying to teach one how to salute like a knight.
"We did it!" Amber said, once they'd moved away from the group. "You convinced them, Satoshi! You really have a knack for this."
Satoshi rubbed the back of his head, smiling sheepishly. "I guess I'm just getting better at talking to people. It helps when you have good friends to back you up."
Klee ran over, holding a chicken proudly in her arms. "Look! This chicken's ready to join the Knights of Favonius! It's going to help us build roads!"
Amber laughed. "I'm sure it will, Klee. We'll make it the official Road Construction Chicken."
Satoshi chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, let's get back to Mondstadt. We've got some planning to do, and I'm sure we're going to need a lot more than just a chicken to make this work."
Klee looked at the chicken, then at Satoshi, her expression serious. "Don't worry, Mister Satoshi. This chicken is tougher than it looks!"
---
The rest of the day was spent back in Mondstadt, preparing the details for the new road to Springvale. Satoshi met with Albedo to discuss using alchemical solutions for stabilizing the terrain, and Albedo, as usual, was already jotting down equations and formulas that went over Satoshi's head.
"The key will be ensuring the road remains stable even with increased traffic," Albedo said, sketching a diagram on a piece of parchment. "I believe we can use a combination of alchemically reinforced stone and natural binding agents to achieve this."
Satoshi nodded, though he wasn't entirely sure what "natural binding agents" entailed. "Sounds good to me. As long as it keeps the road from cracking."
"Leave it to me," Albedo said, giving Satoshi a small smile. "This project is quite fascinating. It's not often I get to apply alchemy to something so… practical."
"Glad to hear it," Satoshi replied. "We're going to need all the help we can get."
As they continued discussing plans, Jean stopped by, her expression curious. "I hear you've been busy today, Satoshi," she said, her tone warm. "The villagers in Springvale seem to be cautiously optimistic about the new road."
"Yeah, we managed to convince them," Satoshi said. "It took some work, but I think they're starting to see the benefits."
Jean nodded approvingly. "That's good to hear. Change can be difficult for people, especially when it affects their homes and livelihoods. But I believe you're doing something that will ultimately help everyone."
"Thanks, Jean," Satoshi said, feeling a swell of pride. "I'm trying my best to make it work for everyone."
"And you're doing a fine job of it," Jean said, giving him a rare smile. "Keep at it. Mondstadt is lucky to have you here."
Satoshi felt his face heat up at the compliment. "I'll do my best. There's still a lot to do, but we're making progress."
As Jean left, Satoshi turned back to his plans, a renewed sense of determination filling him. He had come a long way since the day he'd first found himself in Teyvat, and there was still a long road ahead—literally and figuratively. But with friends like Amber, Klee, Albedo, and Jean supporting him, he knew he could keep moving forward, step by step, road by road.
"Alright, Mondstadt," he said quietly, a smile on his face. "Let's build something amazing… together."
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