West of Jinzhou City.
"Ah—!" Chixia suddenly exclaimed, pointing at a figure lying on the ground not far away. "Isn't that Uncle Chenpi? Why is he lying there? Let's go check!"
As they approached, they saw a middle-aged man with a straw hat and unkempt beard lying on the ground, an orange cat beside him.
This must be the Mao Mao Uncle Zhang mentioned...
Chixia crouched down and patted Chenpi's back: "Uncle Chenpi, are you okay?"
Lucian also knelt down: "Sir, you can't sleep here."
Chenpi rolled over and sighed: "...I'm fine, just a bit dizzy."
Lucian picked up Mao Mao: "Was that on purpose, or was it an accident?"
The cat's eyes welled up with tears: "Meow..."
[I did it on purpose... by accident...]
[Wrong! I did it on purpose... no! It was an accident!]
"Mao Mao, you must own up to your mistakes." Lucian whispered into the cat's ear: "After all, you wouldn't want your affair with Āfú to be known by every cat in Jinzhou, would you?"
Mao Mao's fur instantly puffed up in terror as she stared at Lucian: "Meow meow meow!!"
[How do you know!? Wait, who are you!?]
Lucian adjusted his imaginary glasses: "I am known in the martial world as the All-Knowing. There's nothing in Jinzhou City I don't know!"
Mao Mao pouted, then jumped out of Lucian's arms and meowed a few times at Chenpi, scratching his face lightly with her paw.
[I didn't mean to, sorry...]
Chenpi wasn't seriously hurt. Chixia had already asked apparently, Mao Mao had jumped from a tree and landed on Chenpi's head, causing him to fall.
Chenpi stroked Mao Mao and stood up: "I'm fine, Patrol Officer Chixia. Let Mao Mao go back Uncle Zhang must be worried."
Chixia nodded, letting Mao Mao leave.
"This young man looks unfamiliar..." Chenpi eyed Lucian curiously.
"Actually, I'm one of the candidates for the next Jinzhou Magistrate. I hope you'll vote for me, Uncle Chenpi!"
Chenpi was shocked: "Oh? Has something happened to the current Magistrate? I haven't heard anything about this!"
Chixia covered Lucian's face: "Uncle Chenpi, don't listen to his nonsense. He's always ."
Chenpi laughed: "I see. Let me introduce myself—I'm Chenpi, a Relic Hunter. If you have any treasures, you can bring them to me for money."
"Anything can be traded?"
"As long as it's a meaningful item, yes."
Lucian rummaged around and pulled out [Comrade's Hammer].
"See how much this is worth. I'm not selling, just asking for a price."
Chenpi took [Comrade's Hammer].
It was an orange-yellow gun-shaped firearm, its exquisite craftsmanship and sleek industrial design making Chenpi reluctant to let go.
"This is a fine piece! Where did you get this, young man?" Chenpi's eyes sparkled.
Though Chenpi specialized in antiques, he wasn't ignorant about firearms. He could tell at a glance that this gun was extraordinary.
"It's worth at least 50... no, at least 1 million Shell Credits!"
Chixia gasped: "A million Shell Credits? Lucian, where did you get this? Did you bring it from your world?"
Lucian thought a million Shell Credits was too low for such advanced tech, especially in a world with such high prices.
Chenpi reluctantly returned [Comrade's Hammer]: "Young man, if you ever don't need this gun anymore, you must bring it to me! And if you have other unwanted treasures, come to me too!"
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This opened up a new income stream. If the system gave him items he didn't need, he could always trade with Chenpi.
After parting ways with Chenpi, Chixia put her hands on her hips:
"Alright! Mission accomplished. How about we search for Rover's terminal ID? Maybe we'll find something."
As an amnesiac with possible ties to Jinzhou, Rover might hold some clues.
In a corner they didn't notice:
"Encore, see him? That's the guy!"
A white-haired man in sunglasses peeked out, followed by a pink-haired little girl who also sneakily glanced at Lucian and Chixia.
"See him, see him! Is that big brother the one who made that post?"
The white-haired man scoffed: "Exactly! Today, we expose his lies!"
"Hmm... no records for this ID. The latest entry is today's registration."
Chixia scratched her head, stumped. It seemed Rover's terminal ID wouldn't yield any useful info.
Next, Chixia placed Lucian's gourd on the scanner.
"Your terminal also has no records. You and Rover really are special."
Disappointed, the two left the Data Bank.
Outside, a tall and short figure blocked their path.
"Stop right there! Magistrate Jinhsi's Dog!"
Lucian froze, then quickly recovered, glaring at the white-haired man in sunglasses. He roared in fury:
"Who goes there? State your name! How dare you brats call me by my true name!"
"Hmph... so it is you."
Encore gasped: "Wow, it really is you! Big brother, where's the legendary person from your post?"
Lucian shook his head mysteriously: "This legendary figure prefers to walk alone."
The white-haired man snapped: "Encore! Don't be fooled! The 'legendary person' he mentioned is himself!"
"Eh?" Encore blinked, then stared at Lucian with starry eyes:
"Wow! So cool! Big brother, can you show us what you wrote in the post? That thing about... the immortal something..."
Unable to resist Encore's adoring gaze, Lucian turned his back to the crowd, tilting his head slightly toward the sky. A breeze ruffled his sleeves, making him look like an immortal descending to earth.
He smirked, declaring with grandeur:
"At the peak of immortals, above the mortal realm where I stand, there is the heavens!"
Aalto: "...What kind of nonsense is this?"
Encore rushed over and hugged Lucian's leg: "Big brother, teach me! I want to be as cool as you!"
Lucian, drunk on praise, replied: "Very well, disciple! Listen closely!"
Encore nodded eagerly.
Lucian straightened his collar and recited loftily:
"Grasping the sun and moon, plucking the stars there is no one like me in this world!"
"Wow! Big brother, you're amazing!"
Lucian laughed heartily: "You flatter me. But remember a true master always keeps the heart of a student."
Encore nodded rapidly: "Got it! Big brother, do you want to join the Black Shores?"
Lucian scolded: "Hmph! Brat, I knew you had ulterior motives!"
"But... what are the Black Shores?" He turned to Chixia: "Do you know, Chixia?"
Chixia covered her face, pretending not to know him.