"You're right, but times are changing. Mondstadt's governance hasn't evolved in centuries. Perhaps Jean could also find inspiration in your ideas," Albedo said with a smile.
Sucrose wasn't well-versed in politics and didn't fully grasp why Albedo held Shen Qin's vision in such high regard. Still, seeing Shen Qin praised made her happy.
"So… we should proceed based on Shen Qin's framework?" she asked the two.
"Exactly. He's laid out the entire blueprint. We just need to fill in the details and bring it to life." Albedo flipped through his earlier sketches and handed them over. "I hadn't anticipated Shen Qin's ambition, so my notes only cover superficial aspects of urban development."
"I propose preserving the tower and the aerial walkways within the ruins, restoring them to their original glory using modern techniques."
Albedo's sketches depicted the restored structures:
The towering central spire, encircled by two rings of elevated pathways.
The inner ring, divided into upper, middle, and ground levels, connected rows of grand buildings lining the tower's base.
The outer ring, reaching only the inner ring's mid-height and split into two tiers, mirrored the inner design.
Beyond the outer walkways stood a low inner wall, surrounded by a moat.
"This is the inner city. While the buildings' exteriors will reflect ancient architecture, their interiors can embrace modern craftsmanship and aesthetics. This area will serve as the primary activity zone, housing key facilities like the research base."
He then revealed a second sketch.
A bird's-eye view of Stormterror's Lair. Eight double-layered aerial walkways radiated from the inner wall's gates, linking to a massive ring-shaped outer walkway.
Pointing to the vast semicircular lake before the main gate, he added, "I suggest designating this as a natural reserve. Maintaining its pristine state offers residents a recreational space and a potential tourist attraction."
"We could demolish all pre-Mondstadt structures except the three Prism Towers, repurposing their materials to restore select buildings near the outer walkway. The remaining ruins could become a cultural exhibition hall."
"This approach frees up land for development while preserving history. Beyond these clusters, we'd have contiguous, usable space."
"The Prism Towers, stripped of their light-guiding mechanisms, could be transformed into open-air commercial plazas, future economic hubs for the city."
Albedo's vision balanced preservation with expansion, even monetizing relics, yet Shen Qin found it too conservative.
The inner city needed only the tower and walkways; nearby buildings could soar as modern skyscrapers.
The crumbling inner wall should remain as a landmark, with sections opened up like Shanghai's Bund, offering neon-lit views of the inner-city skyline across the moat. (T/N: Bund are protected historical district of the Shanghai area)
But Albedo's nature reserve idea was brilliant, eco-friendly and profitable. A 100-Mora entry fee for outsiders (free for residents) seemed fair.
Sucrose adored the reserve, eager to cultivate new plant species there. Her priority was ecological protection.
"We must minimize environmental harm during development. The ruins host a mature ecosystem—countless flora and fauna. Large-scale construction will disrupt it."
"The inner city's sparse wildlife allows for intensive development. The outer regions should retain their natural state," She hastily clarified, "Not that we ignore the outer city, but we balance progress and preservation."
Shen Qin agreed. Earth's history of industrial exploitation had led to rising seas and climate disasters. He wouldn't repeat those mistakes.
After deliberation, he asked Albedo, "Will the cleared ruins provide enough outer-city space for facilities?"
"Absolutely. The relics occupy vast areas, perfect for large-scale construction," Albedo confirmed.
Shen Qin smiled at Sucrose. "Environmental protection matters. We'll focus development inside the inner city, using outer ruins' cleared land for supporting factories."
The inner city's area, half of Mondstadt's size, could house its entire population if paired with high-density skyscrapers.
"There's also a way to utilize outer land without destruction," Albedo mused. "Take Sumeru's Gandharva Ville—its people coexist with nature, leaving minimal scars."
Shen Qin and Sucrose brightened. A treehouse-inspired settlement could work.
Over days of debate, the plan crystallized. When the Adventurers' Guild delivered final survey data, the trio refined it into a comprehensive blueprint.
Staring at the towering stack of drafts, they exhaled in unison, slumping into chairs.
A week of mental marathon had drained them. Every detail demanded attention.
If city-building were a tree, their plan had reached the branch level. Leaf-by-leaf refinement would require more minds.
Still, the current draft was more than enough to lure… investors.
Yet Shen Qin wasn't satisfied.
"Let's present this vision in a way that leaves our investors breathless."