"Is this… a cell phone?"
Albedo took the blueprint and stared at it in surprise.
"You know what a cell phone is?"
"Oh, did you hear about it from Alice?"
Seeing Albedo's reaction, Rowan first thought he might've actually seen a phone before, but then he remembered—Alice had probably told him about such things.
Just look at Barbara. She was Mondstadt's one and only "idol trainee."
That had clearly been Alice's idea. It was obvious Alice was similar to the Traveler, having roamed the sea of stars and visited many worlds.
She'd definitely seen modern cities. Knowing what a cell phone was would be perfectly normal.
"Yes, I did hear about it from Aunt Alice."
"I just didn't expect that you'd actually have a blueprint like this, Your Majesty."
In truth, when Rowan had handed him the designs for signal towers and televisions, Albedo had already started to suspect something.
These were all things Alice had talked about.
She had even built something similar herself—the Dodoco-shaped communicator was one of them.
Maybe he should get in touch with her.
That way he could at least avoid taking too many detours.
"This is just the most basic kind of cell phone. Honestly, it's pretty lame. Aside from being able to make calls within the coverage area of the signal towers, it doesn't do much."
"At best, it just speeds up how fast information spreads. The really important part is what comes after."
"Albedo, your road of research is still a long one."
The phone Rowan had provided was the most primitive "brick phone" design. It was hard to carry around, and didn't have any other functions.
To him, this thing was just a stopgap.
There was nothing fun about it.
Once Albedo successfully developed the most basic phone, Rowan could then have him move on to computers.
Computers were the key. Once they had computers, that would be the real start of "revitalizing the nation through technology."
As for later generations of phones, he could have other people work on them. Or, once Albedo had finished the basics, he could keep pushing forward with the next models too.
Computer upgrades didn't need to happen that fast anyway.
The main issue right now was that, other than blueprints for the most basic phones and computers, Rowan didn't have anything else left to give.
And more importantly, they barely had any researchers.
Just Albedo alone.
If only there were more people like him.
"I understand. I'll start researching it right away."
Albedo nodded in understanding and turned to leave.
"Wait a second, Albedo."
"Starting today, you're the director of the newly founded Mondstadt National Research Institute. All research-related matters will be under your authority. Your position is equal to the Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius."
"And all alchemists who work with you will be brought into the official structure."
"From now on, all research expenses will be covered by the state. You only need to focus on your work."
The research center had already been under construction for some time, built using entirely new building materials.
Considering that, in the future, they'd likely be developing high-powered weapons and devices, Rowan had placed it directly in Stormterror's Lair.
The newly formed East Wind Dragon Legion, whose training grounds were near Stormterror's Lair, would be responsible for guarding it.
In the future, Stormterror's Lair might well become the Wind Dragon Aerospace Base, Wind Dragon Airport, and more.
It was the perfect place to develop special projects.
"Understood. Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."
Albedo nodded to show he understood, then turned to leave.
"Albedo, don't worry about that guy too much."
"If you really can't handle all the research alone, call him down."
"At the end of the day, he's your little brother too."
Just as Albedo was about to step out of the conference room, Rowan's meaningful words sounded from behind him.
Albedo's body trembled. He pressed his lips together, said nothing, and walked out with slightly unsteady steps.
He hadn't expected His Majesty to know about Durin as well.
Durin—one of Rhinedottir's creations during the black calamity five hundred years ago.
From the moment he was born, he instinctively flew toward Mondstadt, likely drawn there because of Albedo.
He caused the tragedy of Rostam and Rosalyne.
In the end, the Anemo Archon, together with Dvalin, cut him down atop the snowy mountain.
That was how the name "Dragonspine" came to be.
But in reality, Durin hadn't completely died.
His heart was still beating deep within the mountain.
Not only that—after five hundred years of rest and recovery, Durin was almost fully healed.
Driven by a desire for perfect creation, he evolved a new self.
Using Albedo as a template.
That was the "fake Albedo" that appeared in the event storyline, the one players affectionately called "Young Master Abe."
Later, in a subsequent event, Albedo had used alchemy to revive him as a completely new individual—Little Durin.
Little Durin's abilities were in no way inferior to Albedo's.
In fact, anything Albedo knew, Little Durin likely knew as well.
They were both works of Rhinedottir. When it came to alchemy, their talent and potential were top tier.
Albedo had always been deeply conflicted about Durin's existence.
He didn't know how to face this "younger brother" who, despite sharing the same creator, had no blood relation to him.
But now that Rowan had brought him up, Albedo could no longer pretend he didn't exist.
Rowan didn't know exactly what Albedo was thinking.
But he knew what he needed to do.
It was about time he started producing some truly earth-shaking creations to give Teyvat a proper shock.
Guns, automobiles, planes, high-speed rail…
Those were the kind of things that could change the balance of power on the continent.
But with only Albedo, that clearly wasn't enough.
If he could gather Nordkalai's Aino, Natlan's Shinonin, Inazuma's Ei, and Liyue's Cloud-Retainer together in Mondstadt…
Even Rowan didn't dare imagine just how many things Mondstadt could create.
Unfortunately, it wasn't very realistic to summon all of them.
Cloud-Retainer, though… Once the Rite of Descension was over, he could at least try inviting her to Mondstadt.
Given the relationship between Liyue and Mondstadt, asking a mechanism-loving adeptus to come help with research wasn't entirely impossible.
If that didn't work, he could always dangle a few tempting blueprints in front of her, aiming precisely at her interests.
At worst, anything Cloud-Retainer developed could be shared with Liyue afterward.
Knowing the "old man," he probably wouldn't complain about that. He'd more likely be happy to see it happen.
"Lulu, are you really sure you can't bring Rhinedottir down here?"
"If she could help out too, that would be even better!"
(End of Chapter)
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