Sanhua looked at Lucian with a complicated expression. "The peculiarities about you will be reported truthfully. The final decision rests with Magistrate Jinhsi."
She then turned her gaze back to Rover. "These are the tokens the Magistrate left for you."
"Candy... leaves... a black fruit... and... is this a sundial?"
Lucian and Rover stared blankly at these tokens, utterly confused about what the Magistrate was trying to convey.
"Rover, Lucian, may I borrow your terminals for a moment?"
Rover put away the tokens, and the two handed their terminals to her.
After a few operations, Sanhua said, "The pass authorization for both of you has been sent to all checkpoints and beacons in the form of terminal serial numbers. You just need to show your terminal number to the gatekeepers or activate it at the beacons."
"You should now be able to move freely throughout Jinzhou."
Originally, Sanhua had intended to grant this privilege only to Rover. However, considering Lucian's uniqueness, she decided to extend the same convenience to him temporarily.
"Including City Hall?" Rover asked.
They were well aware of how troublesome the procedures at City Hall could be.
"Yes, including City Hall. You may enter and exit as you please."
"Also, if I may ask, do you currently have a place to stay in Jinzhou?"
"If not, the Magistrate has prepared accommodations for you in advance inside City Hall."
Lucian raised his hand excitedly. "Me! Me! City Hall is my home!"
Rover smacked the back of his head again.
He felt like he needed to get insurance for the back of his head at this point.
Rover declined, "No need. We have other plans."
Though Rover had no desire to sleep rough, it was better to remain cautious until the other party's intentions were clear.
Sanhua didn't press further. "If you change your mind, just let me know."
"My duty to relay the Magistrate's message is complete. Is there anything else you'd like to know?"
"Can you tell us about Magistrate Jinhsi?" Lucian asked curiously.
"The Magistrate's original name was 'Hsi.' After assuming office, she took the name 'Jinhsi.'"
"Of course, most people address her by her official title."
Sanhua's reply was formal and bureaucratic.
"I want to know how old Jinhsi is, what her zodiac sign is, and if she's married!"
Rover pulled the raving Lucian behind her.
"What is the relationship between Magistrate Jinhsi and Jinzhou's Sentinel, Jué?"
When Rover first awoke at Jade Dragon Terrace, she had encountered a statue of Jinzhou's Sentinel, Jué, which triggered some of her memories. That was why she was curious.
"The Magistrate is called the 'Dragon Maiden' because of her resonance with the Sentinel, Jué."
"From what I know, the dynamics between Sentinels and Magistrates vary. In Jinzhou, the relationship between the Sentinel and the Magistrate is akin to that of family."
"However... this is just my inference based on the Magistrate's occasional remarks. I've only seen the Sentinel a handful of times myself."
Rover pondered for a moment, but there wasn't much substantial information in Sanhua's words.
"Have... you ever seen me before?" This update is available on noᴠelfire.net
She felt that after encountering Jué, some of her memories had resurfaced. That meant her past self must have had some connection to Jinzhou. As Jinhsi's guard, perhaps Sanhua had met her before?
Unfortunately, Sanhua's answer disappointed her.
"Before our first meeting at City Hall, I had never seen you before."
"If I had, I wouldn't have forgotten."
Rover nodded silently.
"Rover, if there's nothing else, let's leave for now? I'm getting hungry!"
Lucian shook Rover's arm like a child throwing a tantrum. Since arriving in this world, he hadn't eaten a single thing!
He couldn't very well eat the Stonewall Bracer, could he?
Rover smiled. "Then let's go."
Yangyang and Chixia were still waiting outside, and there wasn't much else to learn here.
Sanhua: "I'll be here whenever you need me."
The two nodded and left.
Behind them, the Tacet Mark in Sanhua's pupils glowed once more as she watched Lucian's retreating figure.
This time, there was no stinging pain instead, it felt warm and soothing.
Yet, his presence remained hazy, impossible to discern clearly.
Just then, a tightly shut door nearby suddenly opened.
With a teasing lilt, she said, "My, my... what peculiar people..."
Sanhua turned and bowed respectfully. "Lady Changli."
"Rover... is indeed special."
Changli gazed at the fading silhouettes of the two. "She is special, but I was referring to someone else."
Sanhua frowned slightly. "Mr. Lucian, he..."
"Even your eyes can't see through him. How intriguing... the little secrets he holds..." Changli chuckled. "You've seen that post too, haven't you? What an amusing person."
Sanhua didn't respond.
After leaving City Hall, Yangyang and Chixia were still waiting at the entrance.
Chixia: "Rover! Lucian! You took forever! What, is the Magistrate a chatterbox?"
Rover briefly summarized their conversation for Chixia and Yangyang.
Chixia: "So the Magistrate isn't in City Hall..."
Yangyang, however, was frowning.
Rover looked at her. "What's wrong?"
"The wind is picking up... and it carries an unsettling, turbulent aura." Yangyang's heart trembled. "The Tacet Fields awakening one after another, abnormally powerful Tacet Discords, the Magistrate absent from City Hall..."
[Ding! Option triggered!]
[Option 1: Encourage Yangyang. Reward: Soothing Bell]
[Option 2: Comfort Yangyang. Reward: Windfield Generator]
[Option 3: Mock Yangyang. Reward: Jinzhou's Most Auspicious Burial Plot]
Lucian raised his fist high. "No matter what difficulties we face, we must never fear! Face them with a smile!"
"The best way to conquer fear is to confront it! Persistence is victory!"
Everyone was drawn to Lucian's impassioned shouting. While the other three were still stunned by his words, he suddenly grabbed Yangyang's hands and pressed them to his chest.
"Yangyang, don't be afraid. Everything will be alright. You can always trust me. You're not alone."
"Ah..." A faint blush spread across Yangyang's cheeks.
She was momentarily dazed by Lucian's earnest expression but quickly snapped out of it, pulling her hands away.
"Um... I... I'm fine..." Yangyang couldn't meet his eyes.
[Ding! Option 1 completed. Obtained item: Soothing Bell]
[Soothing Bell: When equipped to an Echo, it gradually increases the Echo's affinity with you.]
[Ding! Option 2 completed. Obtained item: Windfield Generator]
[Windfield Generator: Can create three consecutive windfields. Cooldown: 1 hour.]
By now, Chixia had also recovered. She pinched Lucian's ear and scolded,
"You heartless scoundrel! Didn't you just confess to me and Rover not long ago? Now you're trying to charm Yangyang too?"
"Chixia, you've got it all wrong. You're all my wings!"
"?" Chixia shook him by the neck. "Wings, huh? I'll strangle you!"