Rebirth 08: Equipment God

Chapter 387 Taking Them Home

In Los Angeles, on an ordinary street corner, there is an antique shop.

Judging from the numbers on the side of the sign, it seems to have been open for forty years. Behind the glass window are a large number of medieval-style items, including Chinese spittoons, Japanese screens, Native American dreamcatchers, and a large number of records that appear to be collectible.

Different styles, both old and new.

This eclectic style suggests the boss isn't very knowledgeable, but that also means they might have some real expertise.

Just as the "OPEN" sign was turned up, a tall Asian youth pushed open the door and walked in.

The charming white female owner, in her early forties, greeted us, "Welcome! We just opened, you can take a look around first."

Zhai Da glanced around. The store was about 100 square meters in size, but it was extremely crowded, with things in almost every corner.

A broken line had already appeared in Zhai Da's eyes, but he didn't make a sound and just chatted with the boss.

"It's rare to see a woman run a shop like this; many things here are quite unique."

The female owner leaned against the bar, eager to chat with the handsome customer: "Actually, I've only been running this shop for two months. My father passed away, leaving behind a lot of belongings and this shop. My original job wasn't enough to pay my student loans, so I had to try my luck here."

Zhai Da raised an eyebrow: "It seems you went to a very good university."

Good things are expensive; this statement is generally true in American universities.

Still paying off student loans at forty years old
That school is very good.

The female shop owner shrugged: "It's alright. I guess I just lack a bit of luck. If that mysterious Asian tourist could buy something today, maybe I wouldn't be seen homeless under the bridge next month."

Zhai Da felt ashamed and gave a stiff smile.

Perhaps wanting to retain a customer, or perhaps simply being a chatterbox, the female boss proactively said, "I've heard that Asians are particularly good at handling pressure because of strict family education from a young age. Do you know any secrets to that? I've been suffering from insomnia for a long time."

Zhai Da: I'm sorry, we're not that resilient.
After some casual conversation, Zhai Da finally stopped in front of that zigzag line, seemingly aimlessly, but actually staring at it for a while.

That was a trumpet.

Its mottled appearance and ordinary design indicate that even when it was produced, it was the most basic and inexpensive model.

The trumpet was placed in a wooden box.

"Congratulations, host. We have discovered the green equipment [Fearless Rallying Call]: When it sounds, no amount of gunfire can stop the warriors from rallying."

Ownership: Not owned, not activated.

"Equipment effect → Fearless: When carrying this item, the holder is immune to fear."

"Special Effect → Rally: When this signal is sounded, all allies within a 3000-meter radius gain +100% Organization and Team Spirit, enabling rapid response and mobilization. Allies' assessment is related to psychological identification, and the effect lasts for 24 hours."

"Unlocking Mission: Take it home."

"Note: This trumpet was not captured, but picked up, because all those who were qualified to play it are no longer here."

The female boss noticed Zhai Da's gaze lingering on her and took the initiative to say, "I remember that. My father's neighbor participated in the war. He brought back some things from South Korea, which filled a warehouse. Later, he sold some of them to my father. This is one of them."

She thought for a moment, then seemed to understand something: "I get it, you're Korean! Then you must consider its value."

Zhai Da: Keep cursing!

Too lazy to pay attention to the other party, Zhai Da carefully picked up the trumpet, already having a rough idea of ​​its origin.

Seeing this item in a foreign land evoked many emotions in him. It reminded him of a very similar piece of equipment he had seen in a museum before, which seemed to be called the "No Regrets Bugle Call".

The two pieces of equipment can even be considered a pair, and their effects seem to complement each other.

Do they come from the same place, or even the same story?

Sure enough, these special modern items are the high-frequency triggering areas entangled with strong "thoughts".

The will of our ancestors was as firm as steel.

Although this piece of equipment is only of green rarity, its effective range of 3000 meters is arguably the most outrageous data he has ever seen.

This is probably the maximum range at which the trumpet can be heard.

You should know that even after feeding [Old Elm] for so long and absorbing countless nutrients, its effective range has only reached 180 meters.
With no other option, Zhai Da decided to take it home.

Although as many as 20 countries participated in that battlefield, and the system did not explicitly state their origins, there is only one possibility that fits the description of "Fearless Assembly".

Others don't deserve it.

Zhai Da asked, "How much is this trumpet?"

The female shop owner hesitated. She clearly couldn't remember the prices and values ​​of everything in the shop and often quoted prices based on intuition.

If her father were here, things might be more organized.

After a long pause, the female shop owner said seriously, "This trumpet is at least sixty or seventy years old and comes from the battlefield. It's rare to find that the parts are still intact. It's worth at least $500."

This is actually the amount of the shortfall she needs to cover her loan three days later.

Zhai Da frowned slightly upon hearing the price; clearly, without knowing the story behind it, the price seemed like a rip-off.

A smaller size of similar quality might cost less than $50.

However, he didn't dwell on the small amount and was about to speak when the female shop owner changed her mind when she saw Zhai Da frowning: "But considering you're from South Korea, I'm willing to give you a great discount, $400, fixed price." Zhai Da's smile froze on his face.

Dude, did you really curse me again?

He chuckled dryly and said, "I'm from China. I was just too lazy to explain earlier."

The female boss immediately apologized: "I'm sorry, I misunderstood. But I will still give you this discount."

Zhai Da: "No, you have to pay more."

Otherwise, how can I prove my innocence?

Ten minutes later, Zhai Da, holding the wooden box, bought the "Fearless Rallying Call" for 505 yuan.

Organizational skills and teamwork are comprehensive concepts, but such comprehensive enhancements are truly rare and hard to come by.

Each one has immense value.

Carrying the small bottle, Zhai Da pushed open the door and walked out of the antique shop, confirming that there were no other special items inside.

He weighed the wooden box in his hand, thinking to himself that although the direction the pocket watch indicated this time was not as important as the previous two times, it was still not bad.

However, when he was waiting for a taxi by the roadside and subconsciously opened his pocket watch to check, he found that the three hands of the pocket watch were not malfunctioning.
Still pointing to the antique shop behind him!

Zhai Da immediately turned around and stared at him with a puzzled look for a moment.
So I decided to stay a little longer.

Five minutes later, the quiet little shop welcomed its second customer, a young man wearing a hoodie.

Inside the antique shop, a hooded young Black man pushed open the door, and the relaxed female shop owner immediately became alert and uneasy. The cash she had just acquired was quickly hidden in a gap in the table, completely different from when Zhai Da had entered.

It is well known that Black people generally have no interest in antiques.
The female boss tensed up completely.

The young Black man asked, "Do you buy antiques here?"

The female shop owner said stiffly, "No, we don't accept them."

The young Black man looked around and asked, "So where did all this garbage come from? Did you grow it in the ground?"

"Our business is not doing well right now; we are only selling and not buying."

She knows nothing about antiques and just wants to sell everything in the house as soon as possible; she has no interest in buying anything else.

The young Black man took a deep breath: "Listen, I don't want any trouble. Take a look at my goods, and maybe you'll change your mind."

Without waiting for the shop owner to refuse, he took something out of his pocket.

A metal block about three to five centimeters in size, which doesn't look solid, has chains on both sides.

"I suspect it's gold. You can check it, but remember, don't lie to me."

As he spoke, he patted his pocket, which made a metallic, heavy sound.

The female boss's face turned pale instantly.
She tried to examine the gold with her head! She didn't even recognize what it was!
A voice came from the side: "This thing is called a 'longevity lock,' also known as a 'life lock.' Giving it to a child symbolizes that the child will have health and longevity."

The young Black man immediately became alert, turned around abruptly, and put his hand in his pocket: "And who are you?"

Zhai Da ignored his actions and simply gestured, "I was a customer here just now, or rather, an antique buyer. If you don't mind, may I take a look?"

I thought to myself that this person must have a gun, but it didn't seem that scary.

Wait, could it be [Fearless Trumpet]?
The young Black man hesitated for a moment before handing over what he was holding: "Don't lie to me, I just want the price I deserve."

Zhai Da took the longevity lock and gently stroked it; it was even more ancient than he had imagined.

"Congratulations, host. We have discovered a green equipment, the Five Generations Longevity Lock: It has been worn around the neck of the same family for five generations over a hundred years. Unfortunately, the last owner met with misfortune on the eve of his return home, leaving his body and soul restless and his ambitions unfulfilled."

Ownership: Not owned, not activated.

"Equipment Effect 1: Wearing this lock reduces acute failure of immune organs and damage from chronic diseases by half."

"Equipment Effect 2: Wearing this lock will grant you the blessing of your family elders and enhance your health."

"Special effect 'Being well-fed is a blessing': Wearing this lock enhances dietary absorption by 50%, including but not limited to vitamins, trace elements, and proteins."

"Unlocking Mission: Take it home."

"Note: Young people always dream of lofty ambitions, but their parents only hope that their children will return to their nests like swallows. Unfortunately, their children have already been lost to time."

Seeing the identical unlocking tasks, Zhai Da seemed to understand the reason for the pocket watch's unusual behavior.

It's not a single item like the rallying cry or the longevity lock; rather, the store itself has some kind of "serendipitous encounter." Otherwise, it should have directly pointed to the young Black man.
No single one can compare to the guidance from the previous two, but together they are significant enough.

He understood the effect of the [Longevity Lock] almost instantly, especially the latter!
The problem that has been troubling him seems to be about to be solved!
Zhai Da was overjoyed and kept looking through the lock. Suddenly, he discovered that there were miniature engravings on the back of the lock!
The wear was so severe that it was almost indistinguishable, but Zhai Da still recognized it when held up to the light.

"Focusing on fundamentals and practicing frugality will make a nation prosperous; promoting the virtuous and capable will make a nation strong."

"A nation prospers when it promotes education and cultivates talent; a nation is secure when it maintains good relations with its neighbors."

Is this a naming convention based on generational order?

But why did it end up in the hands of a young Black man?!

(End of this chapter)