Quest List
Protect AlannahAsk Alannah about the plan for day 5Protect AlannahAsk Alannah about the plan for day 5Protect AlannahAsk Alannah about the plan for day 5Protect AlannahAsk Alannah about the plan for day 5Save the young man surrounded by TDsProtect AlannahAsk Alannah about the plan for day 5Save the young man surrounded by TDsProtect AlannahAsk Alannah about the plan for day 5
Alannah:
T-Three million?!
Alannah:
But Ragunna doesn't even have that population.
Alannah:
That's 3 copies each Ragunnesi? I doubt they sell as much pizza over there...
(Upon hearing your voice, Alannah turns her back and lowers her voice.)
Alannah:
Understood. I'll come up with a plan. I'll report once I've made progress, sir!
Alannah:
*sigh*...
Alannah:
What am I gonna do...
Alannah:
Oh, sorry about that. Haven't introduced myself yet. My name's Alannah, I'm with the Product Development Team at the Pioneer Association.
Alannah:
You know, all the merchandise and souvenirs you get from the Association are our handiwork!
Alannah:
Oh, that... I'm recently brought onboard a merch project from our Ragunna division in Rinascita.
Alannah:
And our manager just gave me a sales target of three million copies.
Alannah:
Yes, it'll be one heck of a job.
Alannah:
If it's the release of something as highly anticipated as the Second Coming of Solaris, sure... But some average merch can never hit those sales figures.
Alannah:
Still, I gotta figure something out.
Alannah:
Everyone thinks I'm never gonna pull it off. But maybe, just maybe, there's a chance I might make the sale.
Alannah:
From what I know, information in and out of Ragunna is pretty limited, so it takes time for people there to learn what's happening on the outside.
Alannah:
I thought they might find designs from outside their culture intriguing, so I came to Jinzhou for inspiration.
Alannah:
Rover, Ms. Maqi told me you know the ins and outs of Jinzhou. Would you like to be my consultant?
Alannah:
It'll be an uphill battle, but on the plus side they gave me a huge budget, so I'll definitely make it worth your while.
Alannah:
Then I'll start brainstorming some plans myself. Come find me when you're ready!
Alannah:
Oh, yeah. They'll be flying off the shelves!
Alannah:
You see, Rinascita is comprised mostly of islands out at sea, with Ragunna City on one of the isles.
Alannah:
On the other hand, Huanglong is made up of large areas of land, as far as the eye can see!
Alannah:
I'm sure most people in Ragunna have yet to ever lay eyes on some extraordinary mountains and rivers like the ones in Jinzhou.
Alannah:
Let's make good use of that. I shall name this set of merch Huanglong From Above!
Alannah:
Whaddya say, Rover? Time to capture Jinzhou in all its glory from high up in the skies, and give the Ragunnesi something that will knock their socks off!
Alannah:
They're gorgeous, Rover! I'd even recommend you for an exclusive photographer with the Association!
Alannah:
Our product testing survey from Ragunna just came back. Let's see what they have to say.
Survey Feedback:
"Boring image spam." "Lacks the unique angles of humanist photography and the diverse styles of oil paintings."...
Alannah:
Well, that's unexpected. Does this mean the Ragunnesi prefer art galleries over photos to enjoy their landscapes?
Alannah:
Yes, you're right! We're heading in the right direction towards success.
Alannah:
All we need to do is learn from our mistakes, and the next one will be bound to impress!
Alannah:
Since the locals really like them, I'll save up these photos of Huanglong From Above and pass them out in the office for everyone to enjoy.
Alannah:
Let's come up with something else tomorrow, Rover!
Alannah:
Who do you think is the richest person in Jinzhou, Rover?
Alannah:
The Magistrate does hold significant authority, but she's not the one.
Alannah:
I heard a rumor that this mysterious tycoon dwells in this Gourmet Street...
Alannah:
Exactly! Mahe's that No.1 rich guy in Jinzhou's urban legends!
Alannah:
Why don't we pay him a visit? A documentary showcasing Jinzhou's richest person will definitely catch the attention of those in Ragunna!
Alannah:
Excuse me, Mr. Mahe. Do you mind revealing to us your net worth, please?
Mahe:
I... What?
Mahe:
Well, see the shops and vendors on the street? They've all been around for decades, simple and honest.
Mahe:
And I'm just another humble grocery store owner like them. How could I be the richest person in Jinzhou?
Alannah:
I heard a guy say he couldn't even afford 10 eggs with his monthly salary at your place...
Mahe:
Nonsense. If he's tight on money, I wouldn't mind giving him a few eggs for free.
Mahe:
But going broke over a few eggs? That's just ridiculous.
Alannah:
Mahe says he's not the richest person in Jinzhou. Well...
Alannah:
Hmm... We'll just run with it and continue working on this merch.
Alannah:
I know Mahe may just be an ordinary grocery shop owner, but making him the man who has Jinzhou's lifeline in the clutches should make for a more interesting story.
Alannah:
Once I have all this information in fine print, it's gonna blow Ragunna away!
Later, by adding a few edits here and there, Alannah finishes compiling a printout called Mahe's Spicy Secret.
Alannah:
Haha. The product testing survey just came back from Ragunna. Time to dive into the reviews.
Survey Feedback:
"A grocery shop owner is actually the richest guy? Yeah right." "A month's worth of salary for just 10 eggs? Life must be hard over at Jinzhou."...
Alannah:
I guess the Ragunnesi don't really buy into mysteries of family secrets...
Alannah:
I'm sorry... Unreasonable sales target shouldn't be our excuse for bad journalism.
Alannah:
As a member of the Pioneer Association, I should always strive to uphold honesty and integrity in everything I create.
Alannah:
Thanks for reminding me that, Rover! I should go work on my next idea!
Alannah:
Rover, have you ever noticed that your Terminal's design is different from the Jinzhou standard and the ones you find in the Black Shores?
Alannah:
As a matter of fact, the Terminals used in Ragunna, including their Resonance Nexus and Beacons, are all different from Jinzhou's.
Alannah:
And you don't really get to see many Reserved Terminals over there.
Alannah:
Stuff like this might come as extraordinary to the Ragunnesi. I was thinking maybe...
Alannah:
How'd you guess that? Bingo! Jinzhou's Resonance Nexus and Terminals boast Huanglong's unique design elements.
Alannah:
Items with never-seen-before designs like these might pique their interest.
Alannah:
Why don't we go take a look at the Resonance Nexus, Rover?
Mulan:
Hello, welcome to Jinzhou.
Mulan:
Allow me to give you a run-down on how to operate the Resonance Nexus.
Mulan:
First, place your Pangu Terminal on the Nexus, and it will start loading the relevant information.
Mulan:
Then, you can check your map and fast-travel to Jinzhou through the Nexus.
Mulan:
Last but not least, thank you for choosing our services.
Alannah:
I gotta say, whoever invented the Terminal was a genius.
Alannah:
You can connect it to Beacons for information, use it for comms, and absorb Echoes with just a single button press.
Alannah:
However, most of the people in Ragunna can only use the public Terminals. You'll need the Order's permission to have one for yourself.
Alannah:
Well, maybe. But they've probably gotten used to it by now I guess.
Alannah:
Speaking of which, Ragunna Terminals come in the shape of lanterns! They look really pretty.
Alannah:
I imagine they'd find the gourd-shaped design of the Huanglong Terminals interesting.
Alannah:
Let's make scale models of the Pangu Terminals for merch!
Alannah:
I'll start working on it straight away. With a real Gourd at hand, it should be a quick one!
Alannah:
Ohhh... Moments like this always give me goosebumps. Do you think they‘ll like the Terminals?
Survey Feedback:
"It has an interesting shape." "The color is too dark for my liking." "The Order's not going to give me troubles for owning a model of a private terminal, right?"...
Alannah:
The feedback this time—is actually pretty favorable!
Alannah:
Aside from a few reviews that I don't quite get, the Gourd is quite popular among most of our consumers!
Alannah:
The sales department says if we get it into mass production, we're looking at an estimated total sale of at least...
Alannah:
Twelve thousand copies.
Alannah:
Oh, man. I've given it all I got. Am I ever gonna make that sale?
Alannah:
Rover, do you like cars? Or automobiles in general?
Alannah:
I do, too!
Alannah:
Sorry, I digress. During my time in Ragunna, I noticed their road infrastructure isn't the finest.
Alannah:
You won't find many roads in the countryside, and even the city roads aren't friendly for driving.
Alannah:
Why don't we explore the market for scale model cars in Ragunna? We might discover some potential automobile enthusiasts there.
Alannah:
How about we go to Lollo Logistics for some pointers? They use a variety of vehicles, which can help us figure out what's best for making models!
Troubled Courier:
Great, now what...
Alannah:
What seems to be the trouble?
Troubled Courier:
I finished loading all my cargo and was getting ready to leave, but the darn engine wouldn't start for some reason...
Troubled Courier:
That's some quick fixing! Whew.
Alannah:
That was awesome, Rover!
Troubled Courier:
Fantastic, for a while there I thought I was gonna miss my delivery. I can't thank you enough. Time for me to hit the road. See you both around!
The courier starts the engine. You watch as the vehicle slowly disappears into the distance.
Alannah:
I never know you are an auto repair expert, Rover! So you know every nut and bolt inside that truck?
Alannah:
Then it'll make our model-making job a cakewalk. So, without further ado, let's get to work!
Alannah:
Drum roll, please. It's that time again. Let's see how our truck model was received over at Ragunna...
Survey Feedback:
"And the 'Ugly Car Award' goes to..." "Did someone get tired of the Cloudpuffers? Or are Tubpups not cute enough?" "Who would ride in crappy metal containers when we have Gondolas around?"...
Alannah:
...
Alannah:
I get it now. You can't expect to open a shoe store and make sales when the locals are running around barefoot.
Alannah:
They've got cute-looking Echoes that can be used for transportation. There's no reason for them to have cars.
Alannah:
*sigh* Getting that three-million-copy sale feels nothing more than a pipe dream now.
Alannah:
You're so nice, Rover.
Alannah:
Gotta do my research and learn more about their actual preferences. I can't be just making up a market willy-nilly...
Alannah:
S-Stay back!
Alannah:
Thought I was a goner...
Alannah:
Well, as a member of the Pioneer Association, I should be out in the field doing actual research.
Alannah:
So I came all the way out here for some inspiration. But I didn't expect this...
Alannah:
Wait, there's a TD right next to that person over there. He might be in trouble. We need to help him!
Alannah:
Look out! There's a TD right next to you!
Lazy Teen:
Oh? You mean Slowly? Slowly won't hurt anyone.
Alannah:
You gave a TD a name?
Lazy Teen:
That's right. Slowly, it strolls. Slowly, it lives.
Lazy Teen:
I'm here, just watching Slowly, chilling. Slowly's here, chilling, watching the scenery. We both take each other slowly.
Alannah:
Y-You sure?
Lazy Teen:
Why don't you join us and enjoy some sunshine?
Alannah:
It's kind of scary...
By the young man's invitation, the three of you begin sunbathing with Slowy.
After getting plenty of sunshine, you see Alannah in deep thought. She then says goodbye and returns to Jinzhou on her own.
Lazy Teen:
What do you think? Felt good, didn't it?
Lazy Teen:
Quite nice living life this way, don't you think? Slowly, we stroll. Slowly, we live.
Alannah:
Rover!
Alannah:
I did! The way that guy treated the TD made me think about the relationship between humans, TDs, and Echoes.
Alannah:
In Jinzhou, people fear and despise Tacet Discords because they have decimated countless homelands in the past.
Alannah:
As for Echoes, they're mostly for utility purposes. Resonators defeat TDs and transform them into Echoes to enhance their capabilities.
Alannah:
But in Ragunna, Echoes aren't just tools of warfare.
Alannah:
Children buy Echo toys, and you see Echo marching bands in the streets. There are even octopus Echoes that strike the bells in bell towers.
Alannah:
Then it dawns on me that since the Ragunnesi love Echoes so much, making plushies of Jinzhou Echoes would definitely work!
Alannah:
They'll sell like hotcakes!
After some hard work, Alannah manages to send a shipment of Jinzhou-styled Echo plushies to Ragunna.
Alannah:
Ohhh, I have a good feeling about this one! I can't wait for the results!
Survey Feedback:
"What a cute Gulpuff stuffed toy!" "Why are they so spiky?" "I'd say our plushie Echoes are a lot cuter."...
Alannah:
Hmm... The reviews are kinda mixed.
Alannah:
There are all kinds of Echoes over in Ragunna, so it's understandable they can get pretty picky about them.
Alannah:
Yep! Can't expect any product design to be a banger right out of the bat. We need to come up with even more and better ideas to attract the Ragunnesi's attention.
Alannah:
I'll message you when something hits me again! Thanks for dropping by today, Rover!
Alannah:
I'm at the end of my rope, Rover.
Alannah:
The project's deadline is coming up, and if I can't get it right this time... I suppose I'm not really fit for the job.
Alannah:
Thank you, Rover.
Alannah:
As I'm slowly reduced to ashes among the flames of my career, you are my saving light at the end of the tunnel...
Alannah:
For our final topic of merch, I'd like to approach Jinzhou's culture and people's daily lives.
Alannah:
Jinzhou's distinctive culture and traditional values are completely novel to the Ragunnesi.
Alannah:
Let's go chat around with some Jinzhou residents!
Uncle Dong:
Jinzhou has plenty of plays, but it's people who truly understand them that are lacking.
Uncle Dong:
Back in my day, those actors were real gluttons for hard work. And that made them great performers.
Uncle Dong:
Nowadays, people would cheer for just about anything. None of 'em knows what makes for a good play!
Alannah:
So you're saying the plays aren't as good as they were before, sir?
Uncle Dong:
Not even close. Those youngsters are way off on their deliveries!
Uncle Dong:
You young people need to have your eyes wide open to enjoy the really good stuff!
Alannah:
If foreigners were to visit Jinzhou, would you recommend that they watch plays here?
Uncle Dong:
More than happy to!
Uncle Dong:
Jinzhou's hero plays have been around for so many years that they've formed a style of their own!
Uncle Dong:
This old theater buff may sound picky sometimes, but I'll say the plays are more than enough to feast the foreigners' eyes on!
Alannah:
Thank you for sharing these with us, sir.
Alannah:
I think I got another idea, Rover! Let's head back!
Alannah:
That mister was pretty critical of those actors. However, I do have a feeling that deep down, he's really proud of them.
Alannah:
He genuinely believes that Jinzhou's play culture is something the whole world should witness.
Alannah:
Ragunna also has its own unique culture and traditions.
Alannah:
For example, during the Carnevale, people will wear traditional clothing and masks with designs that represent their ancestry.
Alannah:
It's a way of commemorating their homes and loved ones lost during the Lament.
Alannah:
See? Just as the mister said, one place's unique culture will definitely impress someone from a different land.
Alannah:
For example, you got really hooked when I told you about the Carnevale!
Alannah:
Now let's snap some hero play highlights and send them over to Ragunna!
A while after the hero play merch was sent to Ragunna...
Alannah:
Rover! I have the reviews! Moment of truth!
Survey Feedback:
"Interesting stories." "I hope I get to see a live performance one day." "I want to be like Fiamma."...
Alannah:
I suppose... we did it?
Alannah:
Finally, our efforts paid off, and that's the end of my work!
Alannah:
Hahaha. Not even close. The salespeople say the hero play merch will sell 30,000 copies at most.
Alannah:
Actually, I was just informed that the manager who gave me the sales target was removed.
Alannah:
The main office put someone new in charge, and she's really satisfied with what I achieved.
Alannah:
Thank you, Rover. I wouldn't have done it without you.
Alannah:
If you hadn't been there for me till the end, I would've been in total meltdown a long time ago...
Alannah:
Here, I got you a little something. Please take it!
Alannah:
I'll be counting on you again if I land on another big project next time!