Mist City, of course I have to go.
But the accumulation here cannot be easily given up.
As for war, I still shouldn't get involved...
Time... there should still be four or five years.
Li Andy leaned back in his chair, contemplating, and casually tossed the letter out.
The latter came alive in mid-air, flapping its wings, and obediently flew back into the drawer, neatly folding itself.
The entire study, where he worked, was exceptionally tidy, as if someone cleaned it every moment.
After enjoying lunch with the three girls, Li Andy got up again and headed to Black Alley.
Some decrees concerning the reconstruction of Black Alley had been issued early in the morning, as if premeditated.
Therefore, only half a day after the rain cleared, many people came out to rebuild their homes.
Through thick and thin, in the eyes of the people of Black Alley, it was no longer a big deal.
Sadness, remembrance?
No, no, those things had to take a backseat in the face of stark reality.
On his way to Old Du Lin's shop, Li Andy could still see many relief teams.
Besides people from the Security Bureau, there were also many from private business associations.
Mr. Harveys, listening to his suggestion, had also sent people to Black Alley early to carry out relief activities, distributing food and clothes, and incidentally promoting the Harveys clothing brand.
The blue sky was clear, and the collapsed old buildings could no longer block the sunlight.
Some flowers in the corners of walls bloomed in the ruins, swaying in the wind.
Life and death, though opposed, always miraculously appeared together.
He arrived at Old Du Lin's shop.
Old Du Lin, with swollen eyes, raised his eyebrows, sniffed, and looked at the energetic Li Andy, asking in confusion:
"You, kid, don't take any medicine, how do your body and spirit recover so quickly?"
"Because I'm young, and my sisters are very sensible; they share the burden with each other."
Li Andy casually replied, handing over a list,
"Please settle the reward for the Lucky Coin commission for me, and also help me find these materials."
Old Du Lin took it, glanced at it, and frowned:
"Ritual Gems? You want to custom-make that kind of engraved weapon? Talented craftsmen aren't cheap, you know. Master-level works can even sell for sky-high prices. Do you need me to introduce some to you?"
Li Andy couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
So that kind of craftsmanship was very valuable?
However... Jasmine probably wouldn't charge him.
"No need, I have my own person. Just help me keep an eye out for the materials."
Seeing this, Old Du Lin said no more and tossed over a heavy stack of money bags.
To be honest, every time Li Andy saw this scene, he missed mobile payments from his previous life.
"By the way, can't your settlement method be upgraded? For example... using paper money or banks or something."
"Banks? Heh... If you're not worried about being frozen by the Imperialists, then I can indeed pay that way."
Old Du Lin responded with a sneer, then took out several fist-sized mechanical creations and placed them on the table:
"These are a few new Imperial steam cores I 'picked up.' Do you want one? They can be included in this reward."
Li Andy curiously picked up a core, turning it over to examine it.
Although he had experienced many things, strictly speaking, he hadn't been in this world for long. He had never been exposed to these "high-end" technologies. How much horsepower could an internal combustion engine the size of a fist unleash?
"By the way, you said it's new. What's new about it?" Li Andy couldn't help but ask.
Old Du Lin smiled and pulled out a dark red, translucent crystal:
"New in its fuel. This is blood coal crystal; its combustion efficiency far surpasses that of fuel oil and coal."
No, you haven't discovered electricity, but you've unearthed this "new energy source"?
Li Andy muttered to himself as he picked up the blood coal crystal, finding it very light.
Light passed through its body, and its texture looked like flowing blood, no wonder it was called that.
"Where is this crystal collected?" Li Andy asked.
"It's not mined."
Old Du Lin frowned slightly and explained,
"We initially thought it was mined, but later, after multiple explorations, someone discovered that this thing is manufactured.
The material is common coal, but the specific technology is unknown to us. Currently, all sources of production are controlled by the Empire."
Li Andy carefully examined this strange stone and gradually frowned. He actually felt a hint of... faint spirituality on this stone.
Li Andy raised his eyebrows, just meeting Old Du Lin's meaningful smile:
"Andy, it seems I need to raise your rating a bit more. You... felt it too, didn't you? This thing is very likely made using knowledge from the mysterious side. Someone doesn't care about boundaries and boldly spreads madness into the world."
Li Andy frowned:
"What boundaries?"
"You don't know?"
Old Du Lin raised an eyebrow:
"People in the circle like to borrow this and that. Even though they possess power far beyond ordinary people, most of them don't use this power to overly influence the world of ordinary people.
"One is to avoid falling into deeper madness themselves, and the other is to avoid spreading madness to the world of ordinary people.
"This is the boundary, and this is why we always call it 'the circle.'"
Li Andy fell into thought.
He also understood why, despite the existence of mysterious powers in this world, they could never become mainstream.
In those later urban supernatural novels, even with so many powerful, side-effect-free abilities, ordinary people were never satisfied, and the protagonist usually had to dutifully be an ordinary high school student or office worker, which was just to enhance relatability.
But according to actual logic, if such useful and powerful abilities existed, the world's structure and development should spontaneously converge towards them.
"If the madness can truly be removed, crossing the boundary wouldn't be a big deal, would it?" Li Andy handed the blood coal crystal back to Old Du Lin.
Old Du Lin grinned:
"It seems you are more suited to the new faction, leaning towards combining science and mystery.
"But history will always tell us that this is basically impossible.
"That inventor, he will be backlashed sooner or later. Just like that Henry Bessel you were looking for before!"
