After the playful scuffle, everyone gradually recovered from Lucian's shocking remarks.
Rover nodded at Yangyang and said, "Don't worry."
Chixia chid in cheerfully, "Yeah, yeah! Rover and Lucian are right. We've already reported everything to City Hall, the Military Strategy Office, and the Huaxu Academy. We've done all we can for now."
"Besides, Jinzhou, of all places has never been truly peaceful in its thousand-year history. Tacet Discord surges co every year, and we've always pulled through together."
"And if the sky falls, we've got General Jiyan of the Midnight Rangers to hold it up! If the earth cracks, we've got the Sentinel Magistrate to keep it steady! Not to ntion, we're not just sitting around doing nothing either."
"Chixia's right," Yangyang said, finally setting aside her worries. "So, what are Rover and Lucian planning to do these next three days?"
Lucian planted his hands on his hips. "If possible, I'd like to invite the three of you on a date!"
Hearing this, Rover placed a hand on Lucian's shoulder and leaned in to whisper in his ear, "I'm in."
Chixia: "Hey! Can you be serious for once?!"
Lucian replied, "Going on a date with three beautiful ladies is my serious business."
Yangyang blushed again. "I… I still have other things to do, so I'm afraid…"
Though she was only a temporary investigator, Yangyang was still a mber of the Midnight Rangers she had her own ambitions.
Then, turning to Rover, she spoke more formally. "Rover, may we take a look at the tokens the Magistrate gave you?"
Rover nodded and took out the four tokens to show everyone.
Chixia picked up a pink candy. "Round… I rember this! I ate these as a kid they're called sugar drops, right?"
"But I haven't seen candies like this in a while… Did they go out of style?"
Yangyang also smiled sweetly. "It's a childhood mory. I rember they were very sweet."
"When I was little, I was terrified of injections. After getting a shot, the nurse would sotis reward
with a candy like this."
"But… what could this candy an?"
Lucian nodded as if enlightened. "Isn't it obvious? Rover is a guest in Jinzhou this is just a wish for her to have a sweet ti here."
Chixia: "…That actually makes sense!"
Yangyang picked up the second token a uniquely colored leaf.
Chixia: "This leaf has a pretty unusual color. But I can't tell what kind of tree it's from."
Yangyang seed thoughtful. "I think I sense sothing from it…"
"Hmm… No, never mind. It's just a very faint sensation, so faint it might be my imagination… Maybe it really is nothing."
"I don't recognize what kind of tree this leaf is from either. Sorry, Rover."
None of them could make sense of the leaf.
Next, Rover held up the third token a black fruit.
"Mangostan," Lucian suddenly said.
Chixia looked over. "Mangostan? Is that what you call it where you're from?"
Yangyang added, "In Jinzhou, we call them Mangosteen."
"They don't grow natively here they're usually shipped in by land or water. You can find them in nearby markets."
"But they're not always available because Jinzhou faces frequent Tacet Discord surges, and battles often disrupt transportation. Still, since the Midnight Rangers were established, things have been much better than in the years right after The Lant."
Lucian took the fourth item a small sundial.
He stared at it thoughtfully.
Chixia: "What, do you see sothing?"
Lucian exhaled. "It's an antique, very direct, but not very useful."
Chixia: "…"
Yangyang: "…"
Rover: "…"
Yangyang: "This looks like… a miniature sundial."
Rover blinked. "What's that?"
Yangyang: "It's a tikeeping device that uses the sun's shadow to asure ti."
"Normally, the dial is marked with twelve divisions for the hours, as well as solar terms and months. But this sundial's face is a bit unusual."
"The outer ring should display the twelve Earthly Branches marking the hours."
"The inner ring seems to use the Four Symbols as directional markers. The Three Capital Districts Illustrated records: 'The Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise the Four Celestial Guardians orient the four directions. Kings model their palaces and halls upon them.'"
Lucian continued, "Generally, the Azure Dragon represents the east, the White Tiger the west, the Vermilion Bird the south, and the Black Tortoise the north."
"Ti and direction? But a sundial's display changes with real ti… and without sunlight, it's completely useless."
Yangyang nodded in agreent. "It seems Mr. Lucian is quite knowledgeable as well."
"Yangyang, you don't have to be so formal with !"
Yangyang's face turned slightly pink. "Mm…"
Chixia marveled, "Wow! That sounds so complicated…"
Sundials had also existed in Lucian's previous world, invented thousands of years ago.
Though they were hardly used by the ti he crossed over, their cultural significance remained imnse after all, they reflected humanity's understanding of ti.
Rover: "If we're not getting anywhere, maybe we should head to the Academy first."
Chixia: "Right! Baizhi is still waiting for us there."
Lucian chuckled awkwardly. "I'll pass…"
Absolutely not. That tall, domineering woman's gaze looked like she wanted to devour him. If he went, he might end up dissected for research.
Yangyang: "But… Baizhi seed to want you to co."
Earlier, Baizhi had been scrutinizing Lucian with clear interest Yangyang had noticed.
Lucian: "Oh, co on, I'm just an ordinary guy. There's nothing worth studying about ."
Rover, seeing Lucian's slightly guilty expression, smiled. "In that case, let's not force it."
"How about Yangyang and I go to the Academy, and Chixia can show Lucian around Jinzhou? We'll regroup afterward."
Lucian, moved: "Rover, you're a good person."
"…" Did she just get friend-zoned?
Chixia: "Works for ! I'll take Lucian sightseeing then."
With that, the four of them split up.
Along the Way
On the road, Chixia led Lucian toward Panhua Restaurant.
Lucian quietly took Chixia's smooth, delicate hand in his. Seeing her blush but not pull away, he felt a surge of joy.
Though Chixia was a Jinzhou patroller who spent every day on duty or missions, her hands bore no calluses likely because she always wore gloves.
"Chixia… does this count as our first date?"
"This is way too casual! A date is a serious matter it needs proper preparation, and I didn't prepare anything this ti…"
Lucian chuckled. "I think every mont with you is a date, Chixia."
Chixia huffed. "You and your sweet talk…"
As they laughed and teased each other, neither noticed.
A strangely colored butterfly perched briefly on Lucian's shoulder before fluttering away with the wind.
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