“You’re back. ” The elevator operator, who helped pull back the steel lattice gate, grinned genially. Having confirmed that no one else was coming in, he pulled the lever beside him. With a shudder, the elevator began to climb smoothly, rocketing straight up the shaft to the thirttied-floor.

Yang Zicang looked with slight curiosity at the lever beside the young Hungarian maiden.

Operating the elevator’s start and stop through this lever was a task that truly tested the operator’s skill; they needed to rely on their eyes and experience to judge whether the elevator car’s floor was perfectly aligned with the target floor. Push the lever too much or too little, and the elevator would be misaligned with the floor.

Therefore, an excellent operator had to make each stop “silky smooth, ” with not the slightest difference—a task that really tested delicate, experienced judgment.

“Will you still be working at the Mistfolk Rental Office in the next continent? “

“Probably—at least, I’ve already got the qualification to renew the contract. ” The girl gave a playful smile. “But I might not be doing this same job. “

“Oh? Found something you’re satisfied with? “

“Not yet~ ” The elevator operator gauged the height outside with her eyes. Seeing that they still had at least half the distance to go, she continued chatting casually. “There might not be this kind of job in the next Era Continent anymore. “

Yang Zicang suddenly turned his gaze toward her.

The girl deliberately made an awkward smile. “That’s just my guess, because a few of our elevator maintenance colleagues have either started learning how to develop cranes, or have become apprentices learning locksmithing. “

“Don’t you do these jobs by relying on your abilities? “

“No, dear Mr. Buchen. If my ability were any use, I’d be a dashing female knight already, hehe~ ” She threw a couple of playful punches, then swiftly and keenly grabbed the lever out of the blue, slickly nudging it down a small notch.

The elevator’s ascent began to slow.

“If you’re free another day, I can treat you to a cup of iced lemonade milk tea, ” the girl said with a grin. “It’ll leave an aftertaste all afternoon, hehe—that’s the full extent of my abilities. “

Clonk~ The elevator settled perfectly level at the door of the thirtieth floor, almost exactly aligned.

Yang Zicang nodded with a smile and waved goodbye as he left.

Pushing open the door to his room, he found Zorro sitting on a chair with his legs propped up on the wooden table, flipping through a book introducing the former Golden Shell Federation. A pile of books had already accumulated on the small table in front of him.

“Back already? How’d it go? You rushed off in a hurry earlier. Huh—what about your friend? “

“Friend? ” Thinking Zorro must have guessed he went to help, Yang Zicang said, “That friend of mine ran into a group planning a robbery and got caught up in it. He didn’t suffer any serious internal injuries, though, so he’s staying underground to keep an eye on things for me. “

• ｛Distributor Loki. Tata Mingqi expresses a ‘sigh’｝

Yang Zicang gave a bitter smile and shook his head as he explained to Zorro.

He Yishu, who was lurking near the courtyard where Ebiser was staying, happened to notice a passing squad—a group outfitted in peculiar gear, clearly a team of Fogfolk—scheming something. His curiosity piqued, he ventured closer to investigate, only to stumble upon their plan for a robbery. They confronted him, and a fight broke out.

In the chaos, the commotion also attracted two nearby patrol teams. The situation snowballed, causing multiple casualties and—more notably—inflicting internal injuries on himself.

Ebiser, hearing the sound of stray bullets hitting the courtyard wall, chose to move house overnight, which kept him busy until now.

“By the way, earlier we were talking about that ‘Radiance’ stuff. From what you said, it sounds like you’re still worried about the ‘Wish Talisman’? “

“Let’s just talk about it when we get to the next era. This kind of thing isn’t just bothering me alone; of all the friends I know, not a single one isn’t anxious about it, especially those ‘Blazers.’ They’ve all grieved themselves bald and dry-skinned. “

Zorro chuckled. “We were discussing being a story group and going on a continent-arc tour after we hit the next era. Acting out some classic stories from Earth. Who knows, might even earn us enough Wish Talismans. “

“An even crowd of a thousand-level grade? It shouldn’t be that easy, right? “

“Ha, how come I never knew you liked licking the last bits out of folks’ lunchboxes at the company? “

“What kind of description is that? “

“Just came up with it. For the past few months, everyone’s been eating nothing but boxed meals. Why the sudden question? You got something in mind? “

Yang Zicang sat down at the end of the bed, stroked his chin, and looked toward the man lounging in the chair, reading leisurely.

“Actually, I still have two ‘Thousand-Level Wish Talismans.’ “

Thud!

Zorro fell straight to the floor. Using one arm, he precisely flipped himself and steadied the chair, while his other hand shot out and grabbed Yang Zicang’s thigh.

“Brother, you can’t just watch me suffer over something like this, right! “

Yang Zicang winced with a hiss-eyed glare down at the claws on his thigh.

“I knew you wouldn’t treat a friend badly! Man, we’re really brothers. Let’s make a deal—just give me one. “

“I’ve noticed your attitude’s gotten pretty thick-skinned lately. ” Then Yang Zicang seemed to think of something and shook his head. “No wait, this guy pretended to be my assistant before he even met me, so calling you thick-skinned just now would be an insult to you. “

“Cut the crap, just tell me—how the hell did you get them? And there are two of them? Did you get them when you entered the Demon Hero Hall? “

“At that time… ” Yang Zicang glanced at him, sensing Zorro had no idea that his own friend had died right in front of him inside the Demon Hero Hall. He forced a smile and said, “I did get a thousand-person tier ‘Wish Amulet’ back then, but I used it up in there. “

“Ah, damn it! ” Zorro sighed in disappointment. This meant there was no way Yang Zicang could have obtained a radiant one during his Demon Hero Hall expedition.

Then he fixed his stare on Yang Zicang again. “So how did you come by these two thousand-person tier amulets? Let me think… Are they connected to that business in White Violet City? “

“It’s simple, ” Yang Zicang said as he stood up, picked up the deep bucket hat from the floor, fished inside it, and pulled out a golden badge adorned with a pale red border and several tiny sapphires embedded within.

Zorro paused for a moment, fixing his gaze on the object, eyes narrowing slightly.

“This medal is… “

The thing in Yang Zicang’s hand suddenly rippled with a faint wave of energy.

｛‘The Medal of Justice of Herzchenhorlzburg’｝

Yang Zicang, holding it, almost flinched and dropped it. But Zorro, directly seeing the medal’s actual information, instantly became excited.

“Holy shit, a national-level medal!“

“Is this thing special?” Yang Zicang examined it. Was this also some kind of a beacon? Could it be used for positioning or something?

Sensing his surprise, Zorro quickly said, “Looks like our ‘hero’ doesn’t really know the value of the treasure in his hands, huh!“

“What do you mean…“

“It represents a public display of your credentials. The fluctuation of that energy beacon just now? You can’t just cram that into any old thing. Some say that in certain times, when big shots—or any of us for that matter—need to call on the most trustworthy folk from the Mist World for help under special circumstances, these medals packed with our honor act as a living proof that we can be relied upon.“

Yang Zicang caught on in an instant.

“So this is what Lord Rongqueviras was getting at. I guess…” He looked at the gold medal trimmed in red in his hand, feeling the faint information emanating from it, “I guess it stands for the entire Herzchenhorlzburg’s recognition of me.“

“Damn right! A Justice Medal! Oh yeah, it’s the ultimate badge of approval for all of righteous brotherhood!“

After taking it, Zorro stared at it with delighted surprise, turning it over to its reverse side. There was a signature-script recording some official commendation from a certain date.

Yang Zicang crossed his arms. “I almost turned it down; never expected this would happen. I obtained my ‘Heart’s Wish Talisman’ at the award ceremony too. “

“Oh? ” Zorro looked up in surprise. After a moment’s thought, he suddenly realized, “Ah, I get it. The crowd at the scene saw your true identity at the same time, so in that instant, you received the medal? Hell, you received the ‘Heart’s Wish Talisman’? “

“That’s about how it went. ” Yang Zicang nodded. “The photo for the article that first featured me was a candid shot. So no one knew what I looked like. The moment my true identity was revealed, well… I never expected such a huge response. I ended up getting three at once. “

Zorro nearly choked on his own saliva. He shoved the badge back into Yang Zicang’s hand.

“Alright, alright, enough of your showing off. My capacity to handle this isn’t that great. “

“Just a moment ago, who was it hounding me with questions? ” Yang Zicang twirled the medal on his finger, then smilingly pinched his fingers together and pretended to offer it.

And at that very instant, a fine, gleaming ray refracted from Yang Zicang’s chest and extended to his fingertip.

｛I wish to trade a “Heart’s Wish Talisman.“｝

“You’re really giving it to me? What do you want? “

“Nothing for now, but I think I might need some Radiance later on. Just consider it an early advance on my expenses. “

Zorro gazed at him intently.

“Deal! “

Zorro extended his finger, touching Yang Zicang’s fingertip, and, as if holding a cigarette, pinched the virtual shimmering ribbon.

Yang Zicang withdrew his hand, watching as the beam of light, merely finger-length, quickly dissolved into trails of radiance, merging into the man’s fingertip.

“This way, I suppose I can, at some future moment, briefly influence the direction of the world’s trajectory. “

Though the words were somewhat bold, Yang Zicang believed that with the right timing, even a single horseshoe nail could indeed sway the rise and fall of a nation.

Suddenly, he turned his head to look behind, as if he could see through the thick wall to the outside.

“What’s wrong? “

Yang Zicang sensed it. “The building here is shielded against mental probing, but I still feel that my little sister is on her way. “

He placed the medal back inside his hat. Noticing Yang Zicang’s somewhat odd expression, Zorro grinned mischievously and said:

“Since you’re so busy in the dead of night, I’ll take my leave. With this gun in hand, if I hurry over now, I might just make it for the final act. “

“Hey… ” Yang Zicang reached out a hand to explain, but Zorro had already laughed and dashed to the window.

“Stop your ‘hey hey.’ Have a good date. ” The man put on his mask, leaped onto the window, and grabbed the rope from outside.

“Almost forgot to ask, where’s your Little Red Horse? “

“He’s comfortable now, don’t worry about him. ” Zorro, gripping the rope, braced one foot against the wall and pointed at the ‘well’ character symbol on the window.

“If you ever need help in the future, find a conspicuous spot and draw this symbol. Pay close attention to the direction of the two closing strokes on the right—don’t mess them up. This was my exclusive symbol in the ‘Free Vanguard Legion’, but from now on, it’s ours. Goodbye, kid! “

The figure slid down the rope at high speed. Yang Zicang walked to the window; Zorro had already turned into a small dark dot as he swiftly rushed into the darkness across the street. After waving at him, he darted into an alley and rode off on horseback into the night.

Thump, thump, thump!

Heavy pounding sounded on the door.

The moment Yang Zicang opened the door, Lianna burst into tears and rushed into his arms.

“What’s wrong with you… “

“Save my father… Brother He said you could save him… “

Just then, a folded line materialized from the air beside him and shot into Yang Zicang’s chest.

Connecting immediately, he was shocked to see Ebiser lying in a pool of blood in the courtyard, staring with death-like, fishy eyes, helplessly gazing at the empty air before him on the ground. Meanwhile, the steward, clutching what seemed like a broken arm, leaned against the wall of the newly occupied courtyard.

Beside the fresh blood, Bai Yuxian, the “Hundred Crowns, ” was crouching, performing emergency hemostasis on the fallen Ebiser.

“What’s happening? “

The anxious Lianna was about to explain, but then she realized the big brother with the glowing ring on his chest, whose gaze wasn’t on her, was probably asking the person he was communicating with on the other end.

{Too fast… it felt like I was discovered long ago. The moment they were about to kill me, I was dragged into the Sub-Ether space. }

“Sub-Ether! “

Yang Zicang’s eyes flickered.

Starting back in New Canvas Town, he had faintly sensed someone protecting him within the “Sub-Ether Force Field ” space. If not for that unknown entity, he might have had to face an enemy at New Canvas Town who had awakened a Four-Ring bloodline.

{When I went out, my bullets were easily blocked by them. Ebiser is already… Didn’t you say you have a treatment Ability Sphere? Come on, come straight here, it’s not far. }_”

Without a word, Yang Zicang immediately grabbed the maiden by the arm and strode toward the stairwell. The operator by the elevator seemed to have anticipated he would be going down and was still waiting there. But Yang Zicang only took one step before pulling his leg back, turning to look at the window behind him.

“Sorry, Lianna. ” With that, Yang Zicang pulled the silk scarf from his shoulder with one hand. His legs moved quickly, and from three to four meters away, he charged like a nimble wild horse leaping over an obstacle, bursting out through the window.

Liana immediately covered her eyes, her scream caught in her throat before it could escape, stifled by the rushing wind.

She instinctively clung tightly to Yang Zicang’s body, her fair profile turned toward the vast, pitch-black sky and dark earth. In that moment, she seemed to understand what freedom truly was.

But this freedom was instantly replaced by the panic of having nowhere to find leverage.

Just then, a booming roar resounded, and a huge, rippling flying carpet rapidly unfurled beneath her, catching her small body. Together with the only person beside her who could now provide a sense of security, the man himself, she hovered suspended above the lonely darkness of the night.

In that split second, her eyes were filled with the panicked thrill of experiencing something entirely new.

Against the night sky, the flying carpet swiftly sliced through the air.

“What happened? ” Yang Zicang finally had a moment to ask.

Liana pressed closely against him, her voice trembling with panic. “Dad, Dad… he, he was robbed by two bad people! They forced him to hand over the Secret Box data we were protecting. Luckily, an uncle who suddenly showed up helped fend one of them off. With Brother He Yishu’s help too, I managed to climb over the wall and come find you. But even he was knocked down pretty quickly… “

Leaping from the high-rise, with a commanding view of the city, the accelerating flying carpet traversed two or three kilometers in the blink of an eye.

Suddenly, Yang Zicang spotted a giant bird taking flight from their new residence, shooting rapidly into the distance. A chill settled in his gaze.

The flying carpet quickly neared the courtyard. To avoid its discovery by anyone below, he chose to drop straight down from the height, landing on the ground.

“Do you trust me? “

“Mm-hmm. ” The little girl burrowed into Yang Zicang’s arms. He glanced at the distance. To keep the wind from lifting her skirt, he wrapped his arms around the puffy dress over Lianna’s legs and leaped from the edge of the carpet.

Lianna let out a startled gasp, then immediately clamped her mouth shut. She clung tightly to Yang Zicang’s neck, her brilliant eyes fixed on the rapidly approaching ground. Her heartbeat was so loud it could be heard even over the wind!

Just as they were about to touch down, she was about to close her eyes and bury her head in his neck. But suddenly, she felt a force that not only completely negated their falling momentum but even lifted her slightly upward.

Then she felt the person holding her land firmly on the ground.

“We’re here. ” The hero’s voice was a touch cold. Lianna blinked her long lashes at the face before her, about to say something, but the next moment, all words died on her lips.

In a puddle of water on the ground lay a familiar figure.

A sharp gasp of cold air escaped her lips.

The butler said with difficulty, “Miss… and Hero of the Mist, you’re here. “