Yang Zicang cleared his throat, studying the first-layer distributor of the Lumen world who had now stopped working. “You… made this trip specifically to find me, don’t tell me it’s just to buy my Radiance? “

“Oh, that’s right! I sailed across the sea to get here, exactly to trade Radiance with you! “

The boy stood up, hands on his hips, and said, “When I heard that a powerful Fogfolk had set off from Cheqing Island by machine, I grabbed my oars and set out too! Ah, business is tough these days.“

“Woof woof!” The little black dog from Qingying Commune wagged its tail, ran over, and crouched at Yang Zicang’s feet.

“Oh, by the way, Mr. Fogman, I think I can sense something special about your pendant! Could you let me have a look at what it is?“

-｛February. Di’an expresses strong vigilance.｝

The thin-faced young man opened his coat without hesitation, revealing the Golden Emerald pendant from under his inner shirt. In the dim glow of the kerosene-lamp-shaped fluorescent light on the stone platform, Taming Qimarqu exclaimed in surprise.

“Wow, it’s an alchemical treasure crafted by integrating the ‘Mind Reading Worm,’ one of the ‘Five Treasures of the Moon Realm.’ This piece certainly isn’t cheap. Well, for you, it must be worth it.“

“Mind Reading Worm?“

“Don’t worry, its mind-reading effect only works on Moon People.“

Moon People, huh? No wonder that after replacing the Distribution Beacon, the distributor messages in my consciousness felt slightly more precise—occasionally, I could even hear the pendant reporting Dy‘an’s emotions.

So there’s a thing like a “Mind Reading Worm” used as a raw material.

“Spotting it at a glance—you sure know a lot. Can you make one?” Yang Zicang pinched it between his fingers and shook it left and right.

-｛Distributor February. Di’an radiates restless agitation.｝

“I can, as long as I have the raw materials. If you want to change the design, I can help you with that too. “

“You’re really that skilled… Is that why you don’t have a proper shop like others? To go around looking for Fogfolk on your own? “

-｛Favorable Review received from Distributor February·Di’an.｝

“Ah, well… “

Tata Mingqi tilted his head, shifted his gaze aside, and let out a chuckle. “Oh, come on, at this point, it doesn’t matter if I tell you. I’m broke—can’t afford the rent. “

“……“

“They see me as just a brat and won’t lease to me. Or they try to con me. But, ” he added, as if unwilling to be looked down upon by a customer, quickly explaining,

“I used to have a big storefront—a full three stories. Right in Koluo Bay Port. Then those damned Keppel Bay Pirates smashed it to rubble with just two cannon shots. The landlord wouldn’t even return my deposit and tried to seize my goods to cover his losses. Basically, it was a complete disaster. “

Yang Zicang furrowed his brows. “How could that be? Aren’t you from the Moon Realm… “

“In this world, you have to follow this world’s rules! You can’t just conjure up a shop out of thin air—people would think it’s some strange tale. “

Fogfolk had long been regarded as a strange tale themselves.

Yang Zicang pondered the meaning behind the boy’s words. So distributors not only traded with Fogfolk but also had to live like ordinary people.

“The main reason is… the more normally we act, the less this world rejects us. “

So that’s how it is!

Tata Mingqi finished speaking, pulling out from the box a handful of small pendants, watch chains, charm bracelets, belts, hair clips, buttons, and other trinkets, all bundled in his hand.

“Trade with me. “

“I don’t have much radiance. “

“I know. Your radiance is crucial right now, but you’ll need Moonlight sooner or later. Sign a contract with me—I can follow you around. “

Yang Zicang nearly choked from holding back a cough.

This guy’s aim was spot-on and precise.

-｛Distributor February. Di’an expects me to arrange a supply deal with the Four Armor Depot at Mist Ocean Trade at any moment.｝

-｛February. Di’an hikes the price of any supply deal tonight by 20.1%｝

Just as Yang Zicang was weighing whether to sign a long-term pact with the kid, he abruptly turned his head to peer into the darkness a few hundred meters away.

-｛February. Di’an hikes the price of any supply deal tonight by 20.2%｝

Between here and the village bonfire lay a pitch-black stretch of road.

Ever since he’d met the distributor at the base of the cliff, Yang Zicang had been constantly extending his Musing Night to stay alert. Without Miros’s warning, he might never have noticed someone else nearby. Though the Musing Night might expose him—or even offend someone powerful—as long as he kept it within a hundred meters, it shouldn’t be too serious a problem.

Luckily… he now sensed two furtive figures sneaking through the woods.

……

Ma Shuo and Yin Bo crept closer to those two rows of old houses where people were still coming and going.

“They live here. “

“I heard this used to be a lighthouse management station, funded by the Maritime Bureau. But because of corruption, a lighthouse that had only been repaired for a few years collapsed during a thunderstorm. “

“You sure did your homework, ” Yin Bo praised.

“You bet. Gathering intel before a job is basic professionalism in our line of work. “

The two crouched in the woods.

“We’ll wait until these young folks are sound asleep. Ahh-woo. ” He yawned. “What time is it? “

“It’s 9:30 PM, Grand Duke time. “

“Don’t you think with an answer like that, you’re not exactly proving your intelligence? “

“Then why back at Baolou Harbor, you told me to memorize the time differences of several time zones? I kept repeating ‘half past six,’ and you punched me, saying, ‘I’m asking for Eastern Frank time!’“

The two chattered away, killing time.

In the distance, sensing their movements, Yang Zicang turned his head. The little dog that had jogged ahead turned back, sniffing left and right by his feet.

The distributor, January·Tata Mingchi, chuckled. “So you noticed. Go deal with your business first. There’s still a long night ahead; we’ll have time to talk. “

“No rush. They’ll definitely wait until we’re asleep before they move. It’ll be a while. “

After a moment of thought, Yang Zicang said, “I have a question. I once launched an operation. Most of the participants received Radiance, but I, the initiator, haven’t gotten my share yet. Why is that? “

-｛February·Di’an increases the price of any supply transaction tonight by 20.5%｝

Yang Zicang had long wanted to ask a Dealer this question, but the Distribution Beacon wasn’t a model, making fluid communication impossible. It was rare that a Dealer came to him today of all days.

“Ha, let me guess. The purpose of that operation you launched and the result you received—there must be a huge gap between them, right? “

“I… ” Yang Zicang’s heart stirred. He had indeed pondered this question, which was why, in the escort transaction with Colonel Ross, he added a rather broad condition: “It’s fine even if there’s no intelligence about the meteor. “

Was this really the reason?

“But still, I did get what I wanted. Although I’m a bit disappointed emotionally, the result is the same, isn’t it? “

“The same? God, I think you’re not just ‘a bit disappointed.’ You must be exceedingly disappointed, right? Sure, what you got is pretty much the same in kind, but it’s already gone in almost the opposite direction from what you envisioned. Am I right? Am I right? Admit it—your Radiance has failed to gestate. “

Yang Zicang fell silent for two seconds, then let out a long sigh.

“You’re right. I should get going. “

As Yang Zicang turned to leave, Tataming suddenly grabbed his hand. “Take this with you. “

Looking down, he saw a curved obsidian earring being pressed into his palm.

Simple yet exquisitely refined, it bore a pop style that felt distinctly 21st-century.

“I noticed you have pierced ears—put it on. Don’t worry, any Radiance of the wearer can be traded through it. “

-｛February. Di’an increases prices for all supply transactions tonight by 23%!｝

At this point, Yang Zicang didn’t decline. He didn’t just put on the earring—he even took out the protective red cord he’d kept tucked in his trouser pocket and wore it on his wrist beneath his cuff.

The moment the red cord appeared, a voice came from within the pendant: “The Golden Emerald gestures, ” followed by a prolonged silence.

-｛“The Mingqi Brand Minimalist Black Crystal Earring ” states that I can conduct “Radiant Brilliance ” supply transactions anywhere with jeweler Loki. Tata Mingqi.｝

-｛Loki. Tata Mingqi expresses “joy “.｝

-｛Loki. Tata Mingqi expresses “anger “.｝

Yang Zicang looked up and saw the little boy making an angry face.

-｛Loki. Tata Mingqi expresses “sorrow “.｝

His hands curled up, pressing beside his eyes to mimic crying, just like a little child.

“Alright, alright. ” The young man reached out to stop Loki’s fist-pressing, raised-brow, and mournful gaze.

“Does this earring also contain elements of the “Mind Reading Worm “? “

“As if! This just has a fraction of my soul-brand imprint woven into it. Whenever I makes this gesture, it sends you someone of my reserved subconscious thoughts. These trinkets aren’t giveaway gifts—you have no idea how precious this thing is to me. Don’t you dare break it! “

“……“

“Need my help machining that necklace of yours? I’ll upgrade to snazzier looks, no man of glamor regrets mine. “

“Is… truly what? “

“Of course, leave it to me! “