Travel through time, and then establish an anomaly management bureau!

Page 45

"Phew..." Having sorted out his thoughts, Zhang Su felt as if all his last bit of strength had been drained away.

Mental exhaustion overwhelmed him completely, like a tidal wave.

He didn't even have the strength to move a finger to pull a blanket over himself.

"Foundation Stone, Source Hub, goodnight," he mumbled to himself, his eyelids finally closing heavily. "Remember to wake me up for breakfast tomorrow, because the ship ticket is expensive, I have to make sure I get my money's worth! I absolutely can't miss the first-class breakfast..."

His last thought was about food, and then heavy breathing soon filled the luxurious room as he drifted into a deep, restorative sleep.

The next morning.

As dawn broke and the sea surface turned a pale white, the "Hailongji" continued its steady journey through the waves.

Charles Grant was already fully dressed. Although the muscle soreness and throbbing pain from yesterday's battle were still palpable, he stood ramrod straight and had a sharp gaze, showing no signs of having just recovered from serious injuries.

Only his deliberately slowed pace and slightly pale face betrayed a hint of weakness.

With a clear goal in mind, he headed straight for the captain's cabin. Before knocking, he straightened his bow tie, making sure he represented the dignity of the Silvershine family.

The door opened, and the captain on the early shift seemed somewhat surprised that the distinguished guest's butler had arrived so early.

Charles skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the point:

"Captain, I'm sorry to bother you so early. Last night, my young master Elion had a minor accident in the Starry Sea Hall."

He spoke at a steady pace and used precise words, recounting the carefully crafted story of "slipping and damaging items, the antique piano being considered unlucky, so it was thrown into the sea," while emphasizing the importance the Feng Yinhui family attached to the matter and their apologies for the inconvenience caused to the ship.

When he announced the compensation amount, which was enough to make the captain's pupils dilate, the last trace of doubt and embarrassment on the captain's face was instantly replaced by shock and "understanding".

Charles then handed over a bulging, heavy envelope containing a "gift" in advance for the captain and a list of generous funds to appease all crew members who might know the truth.

"Please provide a detailed list of all damaged items, and the Silvershine family will compensate you at three times the price."

The estimated value of the piano is yours to determine, and we will pay three times that amount. This is for the crew's hard work and hush money.

Charles's voice carried an unwavering sincerity that brooked no refusal.

“We only need one thing: absolute silence. I don’t want to hear a single word of gossip about the Starry Sea Room from last night, not even a whisper. The restaurant must be back to normal by breakfast time. Can you do that, Captain?”

The captain looked into Charles's seemingly insightful eyes, weighed the envelope and list in his hand, swallowed hard, and immediately straightened his back: "Mr. Grant, please rest assured, you and Young Master Elion! This was entirely an unfortunate but understandable little accident. I guarantee with my position and reputation that this matter ends here and will never be mentioned again by anyone! I will personally supervise the restoration of the restaurant and ensure it is completed before breakfast!"

“Very good.” Charles nodded in satisfaction. “Also, the young master was a little frightened and is feeling slightly unwell. I need to go to the infirmary to get some common household medicines. Here’s the list.” He handed over another slip of paper, which listed the names and dosages of the medicines he had already thought of. “No need to trouble the ship’s doctor to make the trip. We can handle it ourselves.”

The captain understood immediately and signed a special permit: "Of course, Mr. Grant, please do as you please. The medical officer isn't on duty yet, so you can take whatever you need and just register here."

He wished the butler could handle everything himself, so as to avoid any further complications.

Charles accepted the permission and nodded slightly: "Thank you for your understanding and efficiency, Captain. The Silvershine family will remember your cooperation."

Leaving behind this meaningful remark and the financial power to silence the entire crew, Charles turned and walked steadily toward the infirmary. He needed to get the medicine as soon as possible to treat his young master's wounds.

Problems that can be solved with money are never problems for him. All that's left is time for the young master's body and mind to slowly recover.

……

The next four days of sailing were calm and peaceful, even somewhat monotonous and pleasant.

Zhang Su strictly adhered to his self-imposed "survival" strategy, leading a life that was almost rigidly routine: three meals a day without fail, appearing on time at Xinghai Hall, transforming into a glutton, and sweeping through every meal with an astonishing appetite and pure enthusiasm for dry food.

He devoured everything in a whirlwind: fried eggs and sausages with black bread for breakfast, grilled fish with seasonal vegetables for lunch, and steak and dessert for dinner.

After eating and drinking his fill, he would wander around the boat, leaning against the railing to look at the seemingly endless, monotonous blue sea and sky horizon, or find a sunny corner to doze off.

When he got tired, he would go back to his comfortable first-class cabin, fall asleep immediately, and let the gentle rocking of the luxury cruise ship act as a lullaby.

He did try to fit in with the other passengers.

After all, it's a long journey, so chatting is a good idea.

However, reality gave him a cold response.

When he tried to strike up a conversation with a third-class family looking out at the sea on the deck with what he thought was a friendly smile, the mother immediately pulled her child behind her, her eyes filled with wariness and a hint of barely perceptible fear.

When he nodded to a second-class passenger who looked like a businessman, the man merely glanced at him coldly and then quickly walked away as if avoiding a plague.

“A rare person…” Zhang Su sighed helplessly in his heart.

Yuan Shu timely supplemented his consciousness with information: [Cultural background search: In the mainstream perception of the Calidor Empire and surrounding areas, rare races are often associated with negative impressions such as 'exotic evil magic,' 'uncontrollable martial arts,' and 'inhuman traits.' Especially during economic downturns or when social conflicts intensify, wealthy rare races are often seen as symbols of 'plunderers,' exacerbating the general public's sense of rejection.]

"Well, so my status as a rare first-class passenger is practically a hate magnet," Zhang Su thought to himself with a self-deprecating laugh.

He could feel the gazes from passengers in different cabins—curiosity, wariness, disgust, fear… but no friendliness.

Those gazes were like invisible walls, isolating him from the crowd. After a few attempts, he completely gave up on socializing and devoted himself to being a "worker" and "scenery observer."

As for Charles and Elion, Zhang Su could feel occasional scrutinizing gazes falling on him, especially from the old butler Charles, whose sharp eyes seemed to see right through him, clearly still suspicious of his relationship with that "rare woman".

But as Zhang Su had predicted, without any evidence, they could only remain at the level of suspicion.

Elion seemed to deliberately avoid the area where he appeared. Occasionally, he would catch a glimpse of the young master from afar. His face still had a sickly pallor, but his spirits seemed to have improved considerably. However, there seemed to be something different settling deep in his eyes.

The two sides maintained a subtle, tacit understanding of not interfering with each other.

As for the unusual piano contained in the foundation space? Zhang Su was too lazy to bother with it for the time being.

Let it remain in the void for now. Once the ship docks and settles down, there will be plenty of time to study it.

He just wanted to enjoy this rare moment of leisure, free from worries about anything unusual.

On the morning of the fourth day of the voyage, as Zhang Su once again attacked a plate of fried eggs piled up like a small mountain by the window in the Starry Sea Hall, a cheer that was louder than usual came faintly from the direction of the deck.

Immediately afterwards, the captain's voice, noticeably more relaxed, came through the ship's intercom system:

"Dear passengers! After a pleasant four-day voyage, we are about to arrive at our final destination – Miga! The majestic coastline of Miga is now clearly visible! Please gather your belongings and prepare to disembark. Thank you for choosing the 'Sea Dragon Ridge', and we wish you a pleasant time in Miga!"

Zhang Su perked up, quickly finished the remaining fried eggs in a few bites, and without even bothering to order another round, strode to the restaurant's huge viewing window.

On the distant horizon, a dark gray coastline, like the spine of a sleeping giant, slowly emerged. As the cruise ship drew closer, the outline of the coastline became increasingly clear.

The architecture of the city is striking, bearing a strong Gothic imprint.

The first thing that catches the eye is the towering spires that reach into the clouds, like countless black claws piercing the leaden sky. Their tops are often decorated with intricate gargoyle or gargoyle statues, silently overlooking the harbor.

Huge, arched windows inlaid with stained glass adorn the heavy stone walls, appearing deep and mysterious under the overcast sky. The overall color scheme of the building is dominated by dark gray, dark brown, and black, giving it a somber and heavy feel, carrying a sense of vicissitudes that have been weathered by time.

Clusters of buildings spread out along the undulating hills of the coastline, one after another, with steep roofs and towering chimneys, the air filled with a mixture of coal smoke, seawater and ancient stone.

The port itself is vast, with all sorts of ships moored there. Huge cranes, like giant steel arms, slowly load and unload cargo.

The breakwater, like a sturdy arm, withstands the impact of the waves. The first impression of the city is that the ruggedness of industry is strangely blended with the solemnity of Gothic aesthetics, creating a cold, gloomy atmosphere, yet full of powerful energy and mystery.

"Finally here!" Zhang Su breathed a long sigh of relief, the weariness brought on by the monotonous sea view he had been tired of seeing for days vanished.

Although the city looks a bit "gloomy," the feeling of being grounded makes one feel at ease and hopeful.

The massive "Hailongji" slowly entered the port channel and finally docked steadily in its designated deep-water berth.

The massive anchor was lowered with a dull thud. The gangway was lowered, connecting the giant ship to the land.

The disembarkation process was orderly and efficient.

First-class passengers have the privilege of disembarking first.

Zhang Su carried his rather unremarkable suitcase, which he had bought on the ship. It contained only a change of clothes and miscellaneous items; the truly important things were in the void. Along with several other well-dressed first-class passengers, he was the first to descend the gangway through the private passage, respectfully guided by the attendants.

The gangway beneath his feet swayed slightly with each step, and the sea breeze carried the unique salty, oily, and cargoy smells of the harbor.

As he stepped down the last metal step, his feet finally touched the solid, slightly cool stone pavement of the city of Miga—

call!

A chilling wind, even colder than that on the ship and penetrating to the bone, swept across the harbor without warning and suddenly brushed against Zhang Su's face.

The wind wasn't strong, but it had a strange penetrating power that made him shiver involuntarily.

Just as the gust of wind swept by, Zhang Su keenly sensed an unusual aura!

It wasn't a scent, but a more profound, subtle ripple originating from the soul, like an undercurrent hidden beneath a calm surface.

It mingled with the clamor of the harbor, the cries of seabirds, and the roar of steam engines, faint yet undeniably present. This aura was cold and obscure, carrying an ancient quality steeped in countless years, and a distorted feeling emanating from the cracks in the world's rules…

"Yuan Shu?" Zhang Su called out silently in his mind.

[Initial Environmental Perception:] Yuan Shu's voice carried a barely perceptible hint of seriousness. [The environmental psionic background value detected is significantly higher than the average for Twilight Cloud Harbor and the sea. There are weak, persistent abnormal energy fluctuations, with dispersed sources and unknown directions. This matches the characteristics of a 'mysterious active zone.' Director, this is indeed an anomaly.]

Zhang Su narrowed his eyes slightly and took a deep breath of the cold, mysterious air.

"Hmm, I knew I hadn't come to the wrong place," he muttered to himself, his heart filled with excitement and wariness as he explored the unknown.

Behind them, more passengers began to surge down the gangway and step onto the land of the city of Miga. Cheers of arrival erupted from the crowd, blending into the clamor of the port.

Zhang Su tugged at his collar, picked up his suitcase, and quickly merged into the crowd, disappearing into the shadow of the huge, gloomy, and secretive port of Migai City.

He and the Curtain Cornerstone Administration are about to officially begin their story in this mysterious city.

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Er^*jiuqiliuzhou (Part 1) s canbaliuQ*$UN Volume 1·End

Volume One: Summary at the End

End-of-volume summary: To our readers who have accompanied us along the way

Dear readers and friends:

Hello everyone!

As I typed "Volume One Complete," my feelings were quite complex. First and foremost, thank you all!

Thank you to every reader who clicked on this book and read this far. Whether you've been quietly following along, occasionally opening it, or have already let it accumulate (though it may never get full, haha), every click, every collection, and every comment (if any) you've given me is my biggest motivation to keep writing this first volume of hundreds of thousands of words.

Without your companionship and support, I might not have been able to complete this journey of building a world on the keyboard alone. Thank you so much!

To be honest, the book's performance has fallen far short of my expectations; in fact, it's been... dismal. As of now, it has barely over three hundred favorites, and only a pitiful double digits have been read.

Initial orders and average daily orders? Hmm, they're single digits, which is hard to look at.

To be honest, before I started writing the book, I knew that this kind of slow-burn, setting-focused "mystery-like" style might not be very popular in the current market environment, and I was mentally prepared for that.

But reality dealt me ​​a heavy blow; I never expected things to "cool down" so completely.

Looking at the cold, hard data in the backend, it would be a lie to say I wasn't sad.

This result also means that the chances of getting a recommendation from the website are basically slim.

During this period, I have also been reflecting deeply. If the results are poor, the problem must lie in the work itself.

Looking back, the first volume does indeed have quite a few flaws:

The opening lacks a compelling element: While the cheat ability after time travel is important, the opening event is slow and lacks a strong opening that can immediately grab attention and create intense conflict or suspense.

The plot progresses at a lukewarm pace: While the investigation of daily life and unusual events on the Sea Dragon Ridge strives for detail and atmosphere, the overall conflict is not intense enough, and the exciting moments and tension are not well-crafted, which may make some readers feel that it is "padded" or "dragging on."

The explanations of the core concepts such as "pathways," "definitions," and "abnormal objects" are somewhat didactic when the amount of information is concentrated, which affects the smoothness of reading.

Limited interaction with the protagonist: In the early stages, the protagonist Zhang Su has little interaction with the outside world, and is ostracized due to his "rare person" status, which also limits the development of the plot and the diversity of conflicts.

So, what will the future hold for this book?

Don't worry, I won't give up easily.

Although the results were dismal, the hundreds of thousands of words of hard work were truly poured into it.

For the sake of this sunk cost, and for that little bit of perfect attendance bonus, I should at least stick to getting perfect attendance for one or two months, and become a perfect attendance parasite.

Otherwise, all those words would have been written for nothing, not even making a ripple—what a waste! Speaking of perfect attendance, it's even more disheartening—

This book was released on the first day of the August essay contest (August 1st), and I was overjoyed, thinking that I could easily get full attendance.

As it turns out, the editor told me that the full attendance bonus is calculated from the day the contract is successfully signed.

Unfortunately, the 1st was followed by Friday and Saturday, meaning the editor was off work, and my contract signing process was dragged out until the 4th... resulting in four days of absence! Perfect attendance? Gone! *crying*

So, to make up for the regret of "losing the first month's perfect attendance", I have to try my best to get some benefits in the following months!

As for whether more readers will come to read it later? Whether things will improve? To be honest, I've already calmed down (or rather, given up).

The data is already like this, how much worse can it get? Instead of staring at the backend anxiously every day, you should focus on finishing telling the story in your heart.

Consider this fulfilling my dream of writing a "mystery-like" novel, building an extraordinary system, and containing anomalies in the world.

This attempt exposed many problems and pitfalls, but these are all valuable experiences, and will be a wealth of knowledge for the next book (if I still have the courage to start).

Success is good, but failure is also a form of growth.

Finally, thank you again for reading this far. Thank you for taking the time to explore Zhang Su, Elion, Charles, and the unusual world that has just begun to unfold.