"Sigh, I didn't expect you to start speaking in riddles too, Boss Han."
Venti said helplessly.
But both he and Zhongli understood what Han Feng meant.
Simply put, once Raiden Makoto returned to the past and used that miraculous reward, their memories in the present would update accordingly.
So naturally, they would understand everything then.
Shaking his head, Venti decided not to dwell on it.
He placed the comic on the counter and asked:
"Boss Han, what's my reward?"
"No rush on the reward. Did you enjoy the comic?"
Han Feng asked with a sly smile.
"This comic? I seriously believed your nonsense, Boss! I didn't see a single fun part in it!"
At the mention of the comic, Venti's mouth twitched.
Usually, he was the one fooling others.
But today, he had been fooled by Boss Han instead.
Truly, there was always someone better.
His trickster skills clearly still needed improvement.
Turning Sadness Into Entertainment
"No, no. Think about it— wouldn't it be interesting if you made the people listening to your storytelling cry?"
A faint smile appeared on Han Feng's lips.
"Wait—that's true! Why didn't I think of that?"
Venti's eyes lit up.
Why should he be the only one emotionally devastated?
Good things had to be shared.
"They didn't believe my story today, huh? Hehe. Tomorrow I'll give them something big!"
A grin spread across Venti's face.
He was already imagining that "beautiful" scene.
Seeing this, Zhongli couldn't help but rub his forehead with a sigh.
He had looked into the comic Venti read.
It was clearly a tearjerker.
Was Venti really planning to tell that story in the town square?
Wouldn't he get beaten up?
Thinking about the possibility of Venti being surrounded by an angry crowd tomorrow, Zhongli suddenly felt a hint of anticipation.
"That storytelling session tomorrow might be worth attending."
Han Feng smiled calmly, then checked their rewards.
The Rewards Appear
The system information refreshed:
[Customer Venti has finished reading Your Lie in April and received reward — Kaori Miyazono's Melodica.]
[Customer Zhongli has finished reading Ultraman Tiga and received reward — Ultraman Statue Manufacturing Technology.]
[Ultraman Statue Manufacturing Technology: After creating a giant statue, it can be awakened through light.]
[Note: The awakened statue's strength depends on the creator's power.]
A Particularly Interesting Reward
"This reward…"
Interest flickered in Han Feng's eyes.
The first reward—the melodica— was nothing special.
Just a musical instrument.
Barbara and Paimon had received similar ones before.
But the key difference was:
Venti possessed extraordinary musical talent.
So mastering the instrument would be trivial for him.
Compared to Venti's ordinary reward, Zhongli's reward was truly remarkable.
Ultraman Statue Manufacturing Technology.
With this ability, one could, in theory, mass-produce Ultramen.
The only requirement:
They had to be awakened by light.
"Kazuha would actually be a perfect candidate to awaken one."
A smile appeared on Han Feng's face.
Earlier, that young man had spoken about bringing light to Inazuma.
In the world of Ultraman, someone like that would definitely be the protagonist.
If Zhongli created a statue and later recognized Kaedehara Kazuha, there was even a chance he might literally become light.
If that happened—Ultraman vs. Raiden Shogun.
The mental image made Han Feng pause.
The tone of this world was becoming increasingly bizarre.
The Rewards Materialize
Two beams of brilliant light descended from above, enveloping Venti and Zhongli.
Moments later, the light faded.
A blue-and-white melodica appeared in Venti's hands.
"This… isn't this the instrument from the beginning of the comic?"
Venti recognized it immediately.
He still vividly remembered the beautiful scene of Kaori standing on a platform, playing the melodica.
"Kaori Miyazono's signature instrument. I trust this won't be difficult for you?"
Han Feng said with a smile.
"Of course not."
Venti grinned confidently.
Other things might be challenging,
but when it came to musical instruments, very few people in Teyvat could rival him.
Even if he had never used this exact instrument before, he could master it quickly.
It was perfectly aligned with his expertise.
"Hehe. Tomorrow I'll perform with Kaori's melodica. The effect will definitely be explosive!"
Venti chuckled.
A beautifully tragic story.
Heart-wrenching music.
There was no way the audience wouldn't cry.
Zhongli's Idea
"By the way, Zhongli, what reward did you get?"
Seeing his friend deep in thought, Venti grew curious.
"A method for creating giant statues."
Zhongli replied quietly, still pondering.
After reading Ultraman Tiga, he had gained a deeper appreciation for the greatness of humanity.
That only reinforced his belief that transitioning Liyue from divine rule to human governance had been the correct decision.
But he had never expected to receive a reward related to Ultraman statues.
"Perhaps… I really should try making one."
A new idea formed in his mind.
He decided to perform one final act for Liyue.
He would create a massive Ultraman statue.
Then infuse it with his own power.
That way, if Liyue ever faced an unstoppable disaster in the future, they could rely on the power of light to transform into Ultraman—
just like in the comic, where Tiga left Earth but left behind his battle body.
However, such a monumental project would require a great deal of Mora.
It seemed he would have to send out more bills again.
What Is "Light"?
"Giant statue manufacturing technology?"
Venti blinked in confusion.
How was that different from an ordinary statue?
"Once the statue is created, it can be awakened through light. The awakened statue's strength depends on the creator's power."
Han Feng explained briefly.
"There's actually technology like that?"
Interest flashed in Venti's eyes.
In a sense, wasn't that basically a kind of war weapon?
The difference was:
It required light to activate.
And its strength depended on the creator.
But then—what exactly counted as "light"?
Sunlight?
Venti frowned slightly, puzzled.
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