June 17, 2025, in Silver City, the City of Stars.
The Central Museum, Silver City’s largest museum, recently acquired a batch of precious collections. This news had been featured for three consecutive days in the Morning Star Tis, the newspaper with the largest circulation, and generated considerable discussion online. Although no images of the collections were released to the public, so basic information was available, including the types and nas of certain items.
These happened to match the list of missing items Joey had provided. If he saw them, he would be able to guess their origin.
At one o’clock in the afternoon, a distinctively dressed visitor arrived at the entrance of the Central Museum, which had been closed to the public recently.
He appeared to be around 22 years old, dressed in a sowhat vintage style with a neat linen shirt and a miniature black cube-shaped button fastened at his shoulder. A classical short cloak was attached to his back, with silk-like black hair flowing down along the cloak. He wore n’s boots, a style rarely seen nowadays.
He reminded people of the mysterious mages from fantasy stories.
The young man’s gaze at his surroundings was undoubtedly that of a stranger, like any first-ti visitor to this city. After just a glance at the Central Museum’s entrance to confirm he hadn’t co to the wrong place, he walked straight toward the museum doors.
The surrounding crowd parted like the sea around him, everyone unconsciously ignoring him while instinctively making way when eting him face to face.
Thus, he walked in a straight line to the museum entrance.
Joey looked up at the large characters spelling “Central Museum” above the door, nodding slightly as if confirming again he hadn’t made a mistake. His gaze then lowered to the tightly closed doors.
“…” Though he didn’t say anything, his calm, contemplative expression clearly showed he was considering how to open these sealed doors.
The first impression he gave was…
It wouldn’t have seed out of place if he had blown the doors open the next second.
Fortunately, soone appeared just in ti to save these poor doors.
“Mr. Joey, you’ve finally arrived!”
A delighted voice suddenly rang out. Joey turned around to see a figure quickly darting out from behind a tree near the entrance, speaking with the excitent of a starving dog finally seeing a at bun. This person rushed to him with superhuman speed, barely restraining himself from grabbing Joey’s hands.
“Ah, it’s you?”
Joey looked at the suddenly appeared person with unruffled calm, suspiciously pausing for three seconds before recognizing that this pitiful corporate slave with thick dark circles under his eyes was soone he had t once before.
Asa did look very different now.
Slightly ssy hair, thick pandas eyes typical of overworked employees, multiple creases on his gray suit shirt that couldn’t be smoothed out… Joey’s gaze swept over to the vehicle discreetly parked at the corner of the museum near the large tree, and his expression beca even more peculiar.
This guy couldn’t have been staking out in the car for several days, could he? As he thought this, Asa’s next words confird his suspicion. “I’ve been waiting here for you for three days. I’m glad you finally showed up. I was worried you hadn’t seen the news or received our ssage.”
…So, because they couldn’t be certain when and where he would appear, the Bureau had sent people to stake out at different locations? And this Central Museum, which they had deliberately ntioned in the news, was indeed the most likely place Joey would co to, so they specifically assigned Asa, who had previous contact with him, as an “acquaintance”?
The Bureau’s higher-ups had really thought this through. Though it was quite pitiful for this panda-eyed corporate slave – even if others took turns keeping watch with him, he probably couldn’t rest properly these past three days with such an important task. And now he had to be so attentive in front of Joey, the very cause of his suffering… tsk. Was this what it ant to be an adult in society?
After three seconds of fake sympathy in his mind, “Joey” silently raised the rolled-up newspaper in his left hand and calmly replied.
“I saw your announcent in the Tis. I never expected the Tis would flourish for so many years and even beco one of the Empire’s top newspapers. I was quite surprised when I saw it at the news stand.”
Your tone doesn’t sound surprised at all… Asa silently criticized while instinctively analyzing the information revealed in Joey’s words.
…In his impression, or rather during his active period, the Tis must have been a fairly famous newspaper, but hadn’t yet reached the top tier.
…So probably 80 to 100 years ago, which was when the Tis began its rapid developnt.
…And during the intervening decades, he must not have paid attention to worldly affairs, hence his ignorance of the Tis’ developnt. Was he isolated from the world, or in so kind of sealed slumber?
Asa’s brow twitched significantly.
…Indeed, he really was a mysterious figure from the old era! The Bureau’s internal speculation hadn’t been wrong!
His attitude beca even more cautious as he gestured and led the way for Joey. “Since you’re here, please get in the car. The Director has been looking forward to your arrival.”
“Then I’m sowhat looking forward to it as well,” Joey smiled, following him to the inconspicuous car parked at the museum’s corner.
…..
Half an hour later, after winding through the city streets, the car finally arrived at a highly secretive special club.
Bai Yi, wearing Joey’s vest, watched as Asa presented a mbership card and expertly greeted the receptionist, who didn’t even glance at them before leading them through a hidden corridor to a certain room.
This was clearly not the Special Affairs Administration Bureau’s headquarters or any of its branches, but rather seed like the kind of secret venue politicians would choose for their tacit exchanges of interests. However, this didn’t surprise Bai Yi.
How to put it? He actually had a feeling this was exactly what he expected.
—This indicated that the other party wasn’t representing the Chenxing Empire this ti, but rather eting Joey in a more personal capacity, or solely as the Director of the Special Affairs Administration Bureau, before other high-ranking officials of the Chenxing Empire beca aware.
—He wanted to show goodwill to Joey in a personal capacity, at most representing the Special Affairs Administration Bureau as an independent organization to establish connections with Joey, without wanting other forces to get a piece of the pie.
After two light knocks, an authoritative middle-aged male voice ca from inside. “Co in.” Asa opened the door and gestured to the young man behind him, “Mr. Joey, please.”
As the door slowly opened, Joey’s view beca unobstructed, and his gaze t a pair of blue-gray eyes.
Joey chuckled softly and walked in with ease.
Asa didn’t enter, thoughtfully closing the door from outside.
Waiting in the room was a middle-aged man approximately 45-50 years old, but unlike most n his age, he didn’t have a potbelly. Instead, he possessed an agility uncommon for his age. His collar was buttoned to the top without a single wrinkle, and even while sitting, his posture was ramrod straight. His fingers naturally hung at his sides, and one could faintly see the thick calluses ford from years of handling guns on his inner palms… Many details fell into Joey’s eyes in an instant, making him imdiately understand—did this leader of the Chenxing Empire’s Special Affairs Administration Bureau have a military background?
And just as Joey was observing the Bureau Director, Chandler was simultaneously observing him, comparing the person before him with the analysis provided by various Bureau experts.
Vintage clothing, mixed-race features, an air of subtle incongruity with the tis, elegant but not overly formal manners, never stating his surna and no family crests appearing on his clothes or works… Likely born to a well-off middle-class intellectual family in the last century, not nobility, or perhaps a fallen noble family that didn’t care about honor and fa—the latter possibility was lower, and after seeing him in person, the second speculation could be ruled out.
—So, he was born to a middle-class family in the last century, well-educated, art-loving, held a high position in the mysterious extraordinary organization known as the Artists’ Association, and was an extraordinary who had been isolated from the outside world for decades for unknown reasons before erging.
“Mr. Joey, I’ve long heard of your reputation, and finally have the opportunity to et you today.”
After pondering in his mind for what was probably just half a minute in reality, Chandler gave a simple greeting. The long-haired young man sitting across from him nodded with a smile and responded, “Mr. Chandler.”
He didn’t bother with polite social pleasantries and went straight to the point. “For you to dare et
in person, I must say I’m impressed by your courage.”
After that livestream, everyone knew his path was in the spiritual system, and he could potentially control minds like the Curse Painting. For the leader of an extraordinary organization to dare et him in person without fearing ntal manipulation showed remarkable courage indeed.
Understanding the implied aning, Chandler replied candidly, “It would be dishonest to say I’m not concerned at all. However, upon careful consideration, I have no grudge against Mr. Joey, and I co with sincere intentions to connect. I believe you’re not the type to trample on such sincerity.”
As he spoke, he suddenly pressed sothing on the table’s edge. A section of the wall beside them opened, revealing a cabinet containing neatly arranged items: a scroll painting, several pages of handwritten musical scores, two slightly worn musical instrunts, and one each of a wooden and stone carving.
“These are the items I’ve found within the Chenxing Empire based on your list of lost items. Given the short ti fra, this is all we’ve located so far. They’re yours to take back now.”
Chandler made a generous gesture indicating Joey could take everything.
Despite having anticipated this, Joey was still slightly surprised by such a straightforward approach. “You’ll just let
take them? Though these are indeed lost items from the Artist Association, finding them must have required considerable effort. What compensation would you like?”
Chandler seed to have expected this question and simply smiled. “No compensation is necessary. Gaining the friendship of a powerful Spirit Forger is worth more than any compensation.”
His aning was quite obvious. Yet this direct attempt at alliance and goodwill was hard to dislike. After all, this was the result of multiple experts’ strategic planning – his every word and action today ca from their collective advice.
Therefore, the long-haired young man only showed slight surprise before revealing a knowing smile. Perhaps won over by Chandler’s forthright manner, he didn’t mind revealing so information about himself, letting the other party know their investnt was worthwhile. “Let
correct you – it’s the friendship of the last and only Spirit Forger in this world.”
Chandler was genuinely stunned.
This revelation was completely unexpected.
But after the initial shock ca imnse joy.
They had won the gamble! Not only had they won the lottery, but they’d hit the jackpot!
“The last and only Spirit Forger?” Chandler repeated, barely containing his excitent at this unexpected information.
“Ah, but I prefer to be called an Artist. The ancient title of Spirit Forger feels sowhat uncomfortable. Even two hundred years ago, when the Artist Association was established, few people used that term anymore.”
A hint of nostalgia flashed across the young man’s face, quickly replaced by an inexplicable anticipation.
In his pitch-black eyes lay aning that was difficult to comprehend.
“People nowadays may not understand what it truly ans to be an Artist, but that’s alright. I will make the world witness again what the highest form of art that true Artists should pursue really is!”
……
One petal, two petals, three petals, four petals… In the hallway outside the room, Asher stood guard at the door, mindlessly staring at the floral patterns on the opposite wall, counting repeatedly in his mind until his head started to feel drowsy.
Just when he was about to doze off from counting, the tightly closed door suddenly opened. He didn’t know what the two people inside had discussed, but judging from their expressions, it must have been a positive outco.
Asa shook his head to clear the floating flower patterns from his mind. Seeing Joey and Chandler walking toward the door one after another, he quickly took a few steps forward, ready to receive any orders.
At that mont, Asa heard his superior’s voice coming from the room. It carried a gentleness he had never heard before, and even contained traces of respect, which made Asa wonder if he was dreaming or hallucinating.
“Mr. Joey, please wait a mont.”
Under Asa’s bewildered gaze, his superior suddenly called out to Joey who was about to leave, and produced an exquisitely crafted invitation from sowhere, extending it to him.
“…This is an invitation to the annual ceremony from the artistic nation of Roland Kingdom. Please accept it – you might find it interesting.”
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