Ming Dynasty, New Rome, and Infinite Divine Machine

"You may read the details of the agreement with Helios first. Let me address the second point: Night, as the name implies, occurs when the sun sets, and only after it does. If you observe the sun high in the sky after beginning your Heroic Pilgrimage, you have strayed from the right path. Please return to the nearest sanctuary of Mithras Helios, which is your anchor point."

As he spoke, he looked at his watch. The watch had two dials, one large and one small, which were used to easily convert time zones.

"Well, it's getting late. You can read the text next time. I'll take this opportunity to lead everyone in a dive - not only are there dangers at night, but there are also midnight snacks. Originally, we couldn't stay in Aurora at night, but during this meeting in Alexandria, we reached some agreements with Aurora. The two sides have already conducted limited test connections in the communication network, through the Alexandria Lighthouse and the Great Baoen Temple's Glazed Pagoda. Now that Alexandria is at night, please move to the Great Baoen Temple. I'll take you to explore Alexandria at night. Oh, and I heard that Shangluo is a student."

"Yes, I'm here."

"You're fasting, right? So you can't eat daytime food. But I can treat you to a meal in Alexandria at night, so let's all go. Eating at night won't make you fat, and it's similar to the effects of the immortal roots you often eat, but in a different way. The expenses of this trip are entirely covered by the Roman Internal Guard, and there are many people in Alexandria who can speak Zhendan, so you can have fun without worry. Well, the locker room is over there, please change. I'll fill your water bottles here first."

Chapter 128 Phlogiston Stealth Equipment

It took them some time to put on their stealth gear for the first time. These suits were, in every sense of the word, wetsuits—the close-fitting, airtight fabric was practically impermeable to air. Even though they were only a thin layer, they were still a bit warm in this weather.

Although it's a one-size-fits-all model for Rome, both sides are considered "flat-fitting" and are of similar height and build to people of the same age. Overall, the wetsuit fits well.

The diving suit's fabric covered the body from the neck down, leaving only the hands and feet exposed. The fabric was a dark blue, almost black, a color closer to the night itself than pure black.

Shangluo was the last to put on his leg. After his legs were wrapped in the stretchy fabric, he suddenly noticed a tube-like structure running down the side of his leg. It wasn't noticeable from the outside, but he could feel it from the inside.

"Do you think there are pipes running through this dress?"

"It seems to be a structure similar to water pipes." Wen Yuan supported her arm and swung her upper arm around her shoulder joint. "These tubes are not only on the legs, but also on the arms and, it seems, on the back. But it won't hinder movement, so it's not a big problem. It's just a little hot. What else should I wear?"

Shangluo took a coat from the clothes rack and handed it over—not just a diving suit, but also a coat. Compared to the skin-tight clothing, this coat was covered in a multitude of pockets, straps, zippers, and magnets. Some zippers opened and closed pockets, while others secured the hems of the garment to provide a snug fit.

This suit has more than a dozen pockets, including chest, waist, and lining pockets, as well as hidden pockets in the sleeves for storing small items. The hidden pockets are fastened with a lock. When the lock is loosened, just release the tension on your wrist—that is, shake your hand—or through the movement of your forearm muscles, and the contents of the pocket will pop out and fall into your palm.

The largest pocket is located on the left chest, right at the heart. It opens to the side and is placed in an awkward position, with a thin lining.

"That chest piece looks like it's equipped with a bulletproof plate," Wen Yuan said as she inspected the suit. "Also, this suit has built-in straps. Apparently, they're designed to be folded up and tied around the waist or hung over the shoulders when not in use. Are there any other parts?"

Shangluo looked at the hanger. "There are two additional bags. It looks like it can be hung in many places on the body. The waist, the shoulder, or the side of the leg can be used."

"Why is there so much odds and ends to this outfit?"

"Perhaps the Romans did need all these odds and ends. The rituals were complicated, and more pockets would provide more capacity. After all, this isn't a gaming backpack."

"I have to correct you here," Han Xingzhi reminded him. "The backpack system in Heroes' Tour is quite strict. Everyone has a backpack card, and items you obtain must be represented by objects on the backpack card according to their shape and size. If the size is wrong, they won't fit."

"That's a pretty realistic setting. But can we use the game's settings to guess at the current state of the Romans? For example, are there items in the game that allow you to have unlimited backpacks? Like a ring that can hold an unlimited amount of items?"

"Yes, but it's limited in size. It's a small pocket, and it looks a lot like this accessory bag. Once you get the storage bag, you can stuff anything into it that's one grid wide, no matter how long. Of course, the weight is still yours, but it saves you the trouble of constantly calculating the capacity of your backpack. You can carry a lot of very light and small things at once."

"What is it usually used for in games?"

"It's usually used to store arrows, javelins, potions, gold coins, and important quest items. As for your main weapon, you can stuff a spear in there, but it's too heavy and might throw you off balance."

“Is it easy to obtain?”

"It's not that easy to get at the beginning. You need to buy the 'Jack and London' expansion pack, enter the London storyline on the British Isles, and then complete a side quest called 'Mary Poppins Returns' to get this handbag that can store unlimited small items from 'Aunt Mary Poppins who came with the wind'. The quest itself is not difficult, but this expansion pack is too far away from the main storyline and is very scattered. It's hard not to suspect that this is a bundled plot pack developed by Rome to increase sales. If you want to get that infinite storage handbag, you must buy this expansion pack."

"So that's how that handbag came about?!" Wen Yuan had just found out. "No wonder last time we played, I saw them pulling grenades out of their pockets one by one, and they pulled out over fifty. I was wondering where they got a backpack big enough to hold so many."

"Can you play too?" Shangluo asked him.

"I usually play it occasionally. Heroes' Tour is a big seller. We get together to play on weekends when we have nothing to do, but I haven't played it since I started my internship with the Imperial Guard. A few days ago, I found time to play for half an hour, and I saw them pulling out stuff like magic. This is almost a long-delayed release, and they seem to be doing more and more things lately. When was this pack released?"

"I heard it's been less than three years," Han Xingzhi replied. "Here we are, it's been just over a year. Many people unlocked the London storyline just for this one item. But it also helped spread the legend of Jack the Ripper. After all, the name of the entire expansion is 'Jack and London'. Hmm? Now that I think about it, could it be related to Jack the Ripper? You're the one handling this case, right?"

Wen Yuan nodded. "Actually, the main purpose of these Roman Guards coming here is to investigate the case of Jack the Ripper, who seems to be in Yujing now. I suspect they released this board game and used the 'Infinite Handbag' as bait in order to collect more data on the Ripper to help them analyze the best plan to deal with him."

"Does it have anything to do with us?"

"It's okay, that's their business. The main reason we're here is another thing: Shangluo happened to stumble upon them performing the branch-breaking ceremony, making him the only one of the group to arrive at the trial site. The 'extras' at the scene distributed 'old branches' to him, and now he's the only one who can help Roma deal with the fire."

"Hmm," Shangluo agreed. This was fire. Titus's description was spot-on; the Romans were using fire.

Humans certainly use fire, and its control has elevated human civilization to a new level.

Yet fire is a terrifying thing, capable of burning down an entire mountain or even further afield. Today, humans no longer fear the flames from gas stoves; they have completely tamed fire. But as a newly born flame, "light" remains untamed; it cannot be produced at the touch of a button like a gas stove.

Chapter 129 Alexander Night

Yet, there is always someone who is the first to eat crabs, or the first to eat barbecue after a fire. There is always someone who can overcome the natural fear of fire, gain strength from it, and elevate civilization to new heights.

Fortunately, fire burns, and so does the world. Regardless of which side it falls on, fire favors humanity itself; nothing indescribable stands above us. By controlling, harnessing, and preserving the power of fire, humanity can advance far. This is the duty of the firekeeper.

"Welcome, welcome," Titus applauded in the courtyard. "Welcome the four firewatchers to join us on this glorious journey. Let me present you with a badge."

He handed the small triangle to each of the four people in turn. The golden triangle badge was only the size of a fingernail and had no decoration at all.

"This is Firewatch's emblem. Wear it with the bottom edge parallel to the ground and the arrow pointing upwards."

He pointed to his chest, where the badge was in the shape of a "△".

"You must never wear it upside down. While our work could be called 'occult,' knowledge is paramount. So let me explain its meaning—the triangle symbol in alchemy represents flame. Upside down, it represents water, not fire. The three sides also symbolize the threefold majesty of Hermes: the mysticism, alchemy, and astrology. They also represent the three realms of all knowledge: man, the world, and symbols. Three is a sacred number and an auspicious sign."

Upon hearing this, the four of them put on their triangular badges properly. In fact, it couldn't be worn backwards, as the badge was attached with a buckle. The buckle on the back of the badge was asymmetrical, so it wouldn't fit the other way around. Titus's reminder was simply for safety reasons, and to teach the four of them a principle.

"Well, everyone, you've probably figured it out. Stealing in the night requires not faith or courage, but knowledge. I'll repeat the most important piece of knowledge: Please remember the definition of night. Night is the Earth's shadow. There's no sun, only stars and moon. If you discover that the 'night' you've entered doesn't match the conditions I've described, immediately return the way you came. Don't hesitate."

All four of them nodded.

"Alright, then please come here and pick up the essential consumables for your journey, the EITR potion. As before, I will absolutely not keep anything secret. I will definitely tell you what I'm using and not let you go into a trance. This is very important. The EITR potion in your hands is actually water from the River Styx."

"Is it the water from the Styx River?" Shangluo asked.

"No, I don't know where you've heard of 'the water of the Styx'. But the water of the Great Styx is not drinkable. Absolutely not. EITR is the water of another Styx, and there's more than one Styx. The specific Styx is a trade secret. All you need to know is that the water of the Styx is just a solvent, because what you need to inhale can't be captured directly, so it must be marked and then carried - that is phlogiston. Phlogiston is dissolved in the water of this Styx, so you are actually breathing phlogiston."

"Is this very important information?" Han Xingzhi's eyes were full of anticipation.

"As expected of a veteran player. If you frequently play our Heroes' Tour, you'll know that phlogiston is a vital resource, on par with health. Zero health often doesn't mean the end of the game, as the character can be resurrected. But if phlogiston reaches zero, the game will immediately end, and the character will fall into a permanent 'death' state, as that symbolizes the extinction of the soul. But phlogiston isn't a cold, dangerous thing; it's a fiery opportunity, and the price required to unleash extraordinary skills. So definitely, definitely."

He clutched the cylinder in his hand. "Please, please, please, do not take off your respirator until I tell you to. Please do not take it off. This is the most important rule."

"Can we pick them up in Alexandria, where we're going?" Shangluo asked. To be honest, he was hungry. Even if it was for "nighttime" food, he figured he'd still have to open his mouth to eat. If he couldn't use his mouth, the joy of eating would be gone.

"No need in Alexandria. Alexandria has a lighthouse, and the 'Lamp Field' it supports is naturally filled with phlogiston, making it a safe zone. The Mithraic shrine we'll be using later is also a type of lamp field, but only the size of a room. Alexandria's lamp field is the largest in the Western Hemisphere, second only to the Great Baoen Temple's Glazed Pagoda. So don't worry about your safety, but please keep your respirators ready in case of emergency."

The Jinyiwei Yamen was not far from the Da Baoen Temple. Da Baoen Temple was a scenic spot, but the interior of the glazed tower was not open to the public, and the surrounding area was also a closed exhibition area. After entering the bottom of the glazed tower through the back door, it was empty, so Lu Huaiyang had to wait there early.

At the entrance of the Glazed Tower, Lu Huaiyang waved at them and said, "Have fun."

The atmosphere was as cheerful as a spring outing, and Titus was like a tour guide - this time not only Titus as the raven, but also the lion, the hound and the other five people were all there.

Titus, walking last, checked the time with Lu Huaiyang first: "We won't be gone for too long, as it won't be long until dawn. We will be back in two hours, please wait here."

After giving his instructions, Titus was the last one to walk into the glass tower and close the door.

The others were already waiting inside, with the individual codenamed "Hound" walking in front.

"Everyone, please take a light breath of phlogiston. You don't need to drown this time, just a light breath will do. Then, don't go up the stairs, go down. Hound, turn on the light."

With a snap, the hound at the front of the line flicked on his flashlight. The surroundings grew darker, a pitch-black darkness shrouding the corridor below. It was the same as the one he had shown Shangluo last time, only much larger.

"Everyone, please don't look back, as this black light can only illuminate the front. Are you all ready? Very good. Hound, down the stairs."

The group descended the stairs, down, down. The further they went, the more real the night became. The air around them seemed to be dropping slightly—the stealth gear, which had been warm just a moment ago, was now acting as a heat retainer.

It didn't take long, it seemed like they had only covered one level. When the last ray of sunlight from the upper level disappeared from the last person's sight, the hound stopped.

He reached out into the darkness and felt the sound of a wooden door. He lifted the gate and opened the door. Silver light shone out from the door:

The moon, a huge moon, took up half the sky, casting a bright silver light on the night sky and the sea. The rustling sound of waves hitting the shore was drowned out by the noisy voices of people.

Coming out of the first floor of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the city of scholars is at the end of the breakwater:

"Welcome to Alexander's Night. You can take off your respirators now. Visitors who want ice cream, please follow me this way. But first, take these. These are drachmas. Each person takes 20 first. If you don't have enough, come back to me. You must pay for what you eat at night."

Chapter 130 Slices of History

The Lighthouse of Alexandria is at the end of the breakwater, a few hundred meters from the city. There is no shuttle bus or anything like that, so you have to walk there yourself.

The Romans were not known for creating elegant landscapes. But this breakwater stood in the sea, facing the waves on either side. Unobstructed by mountains or buildings, the enormous moon was visible. A magical spectacle unfolded directly before them, the bright silver sky and sea forming the frame for the scene.

But on the breakwater, Shangluo's attention was not yet on the surrounding scenery. He was still savoring the taste of "EITR".

The smell of EITR was like water, but icy cold. The mask atomized the EITR into vapor, and he inhaled it. Just one breath and he felt as cold as if he'd fallen into an icy cave. It wasn't a physical chill, but a sense of isolation and helplessness, of drifting outside this world. It was like looking down at Earth from space, floating helplessly in the endless void, seemingly ready to drift away if he wasn't careful.

"Still feeling cold?" Titus, walking in front of him, saw that he hadn't spoken for a long time and guessed something. "It was the same thing when we first inhaled the EITR agent, and it was a six-fold synesthesia. But don't worry, it's just a psychological chill; your body temperature hasn't dropped. The close-fitting stealth suit is also warm, so you'll warm up soon."

"Does this happen to you every time?"

"It may not be there again, but it may not disappear either. Psychological coldness requires adaptation, and the best way to warm up is communication—look, is it still cold now?"

"Huh?" He hadn't noticed yet, but he wasn't cold anymore.

"Because the lighthouse is behind you and the city is in front of you, you are not alone. So this chill will soon disappear. The truly terrible cold is when you are trapped in the dark night, a chill that cannot be dispelled no matter what. But you won't face this. Even the Forest King doesn't make you feel cold. So don't worry. Um, wait, we have to go through security."

He looked behind him and said, "Don't talk for now. Check your badges. There's security to go through."

At the end of the breakwater was a checkpoint. A wooden fence and chevaux de frise blocked the road, and a group of Roman legionaries stood behind it.

They looked like real Roman legionnaires, wearing a combination of mail and lath armor, with the centurion at the head wearing a horsehair helmet, and the others holding shields and javelins.

The centurion raised his hand and asked in classical Latin, "Stop. Who is it?"

"Io Triumphe! Everyone is wearing it. Please check it." Titus pointed to the golden triangle on his left chest.

"Io Triumphe," the centurion responded with a military salute. In his eyes, Titus was a member of the Roman army just like him.

The centurion looked at the people behind him, and his gaze also stayed on Shangluo - when their eyes met, he could vaguely see a glimmer of light flickering in the centurion's eyes like a lamp.

"No problem, go ahead." The centurion ordered the barricades to be removed and asked the legionnaires behind to make way.

Titus left first, followed by Shangluo.

"Wait." The centurion shouted, "Are these people from the Silk Country?"

"Yes, they came here from the country where silk is woven. It is the country of Seres, with vast territory and a large population. The laws are strict and just. Everyone lives in peace and there is no war. Everyone's eyes are full of the shining justice, and everyone can live to be 200 years old."

"Oh, welcome to Alexandria, my friend." The centurion lowered his head slightly and smiled.

Shangluo didn't understand Latin very well, but friendship didn't need words to be expressed. He nodded to the centurion, and the group passed by.

"What were those?" he asked Titus. "Were those Romans?"

"Well, they are Romans, yes, but they are Romans of the past. When we were building Alexandria, we were looking for the necessary fragments of history, so we brought them here. You can think of them as the ticket gates of the Yujing subway."

"what?"

"Yes, it's a ticket gate. Although it may seem strange to say this about our ancestors, they actually served this function. They cut according to need, for example, they would show friendship to Zhendan. Because since the classical era, we have longed to establish connections with the countries on the other side of the Silk Road - although at that time we only wanted to buy silk and learn about a stable monarchy, and we didn't think about what would happen later. So this gate will only let you through, and won't let any barbarians through. As for me."

He pointed at himself and said, "I am a Roman myself. I can pass without identification. I saluted him and he returned the salute, which means he knew I was a Roman legionnaire."

"Do they have self-awareness?"

"Unfortunately, they don't." Titus shook his head. "They're just a collection of experiences, unable to generate new experiences. They're like a finished machine, a finished painting, or a finished photograph. Well, you can think of them as photographs. They're a perfect replica of the Roman from back then, but they're not the real person. You can see many similar things ahead. For example, over there."

He pointed to a barbecue restaurant next door and said, "This shop is all sliced meat. We moved it from Alexandria during that era. It's more like a..."

"Vending machine?"

"Oh, yes, just like the vending machines you see everywhere on the streets of Yujing. The vending machines in Rome look like this, and the principle is similar. They have pre-set behavioral logic, and they are restocked regularly. You put coins in it, and it will give you the goods. Maybe the only difference is the appearance. After all, they are 'photos' of our ancestors, so we still have to show a minimum of respect. Just like I saluted the sentry just now, you wouldn't salute the ticket gate, right?"

“No, but it’s the same as taking care of public property.”

"Well, that's all." Titus nodded. "Be respectful, but also keep some distance. After all, these photos won't create any new experiences, so don't get too emotionally involved. Here we are! That's the ice cream stand. It was a very famous cold drink shop in Damascus in the 3rd century. We took the photo and had many copies printed. There are more than a dozen of them in the city, and they're very popular. Just give him your drachmas and your silver coins, and he'll give you the ice cream. It's as simple as a vending machine."

Chapter 131 Ice Cream in Damascus

Alexandria, the pinnacle of alchemy among the "Six Romes," is a city of scholars, governed by a council of sages in the Palace of the Muses, enclosed within a high wall.

The Library of Alexandria, the heart of the city, was a vast, temple-like structure that had been gutted. Its massive, ivory-white columns still marked the exterior, but the interior had been clad in glass. Bright, internally translucent lighting shone from every floor and through the vast glass roof.

Like a giant greenhouse, the library is open day and night, whether it is Alexandria during the day or Alexandria at night. Students visit here day and night.

An ice cream stand was set up in the square in front of the library. It was easy to make money from students, just like everywhere else. Groups of students walked around the square, carrying ice cream and wraps, while others lined up.

The vendor shook the ice bucket vigorously, and the copper bell on the bucket swayed in unison with the cool night breeze. When Shangluo and his group arrived at the ice cream stand, there were only three students left in the queue.

As if to distinguish themselves from the other "NPCs" in the city, the students here all wore pajamas and pajama pants, with cute, classic conical nightcaps adorned with stars. Some were full of baby's breath, others had one or two stars, and the students ranged in age from six to sixteen. The Alexandrian night was spotless, and they all stood barefoot, shoeless.