Forge a path to success

He said calmly, "I would like to borrow your venue to hold a fluorescent tree event."

"A fluorescent tree?" The old tree-man stared wide-eyed. "You?"

He was really bad at negotiating with old men like this, so he simply pulled Vander out of his pocket and let his best mouth speak for him. Vander, as much as possible, gave a brief, localized translation of the story of the two men without embellishment.

The old man's eyes widened in surprise: "You mean, there's a girl you lost contact with for over two years, so long that you thought she was dead. But recently you've rediscovered her whereabouts, and you're worried she won't be able to find you, so you want to borrow our space to set up a glow-in-the-dark tree?"

"Yes." Chu Hengkong nodded.

“The roots of the divine tree, of course!” The old tree-man turned and asked, “Does anyone have any objections?”

"We can provide the venue and music free of charge!" one musician said. "Without music, there's no atmosphere!"

"That's perfect! We can set up a stage in the trees, and we can play music from the treetops—everyone can hear us, and everyone will have a blast!"

The band members started discussing enthusiastically, leaving Chu Hengkong somewhat at a loss.

"Thank you," he said. "I didn't expect...after all..."

"Different stances?" the old tree man asked.

Chu Hengkong nodded.

"Differences in stance are a matter of politics, but whether lovers can meet again is a matter of love," the old tree man said seriously. "How can we ignore a relationship because of differences of opinion? Sir, this is the city of thorns, where love must always be above all else."

Chapter 349 Under the Fluorescent Tree

The cicadas chirped incessantly, their restlessness permeating the street like smoke. The usually boisterous citizens were unusually silent, casting suspicious glances at those who passed by.

Voting officially ceased yesterday, and Mansassinburg will soon announce the results, perhaps within the next day or two if things go smoothly. At this point, there's nothing to do but wait, making everyone who cares about politics feel like the most anxious person in the world.

And obviously, there are always people in this world who are more anxious than them.

Violet pulled the curtains shut, averting her gaze from the suffocating view outside the window. The second hand of the wall clock ticked silently; it was merely a highly realistic projection of information, yet it gave her an auditory hallucination of clicking sounds.

Her cabin was located at a corner of a busy intersection in the city center. It was filled with wooden furniture, botanical artwork, and various trinkets that locals liked, and anyone would have thought it was a typical old house. However, in fact, the cabin had only appeared this morning. Everything inside was manufactured using information materialization technology, and the large-scale psychological suggestion in the laboratory made the surrounding citizens ignore the newly built house.

Violet distrusted the current state of Jingsha, so she created a temporary residence for herself. Her concerns proved justified; a full 25 hours passed without anyone noticing anything amiss. If even a mage who had only been there for two days could evade Jingsha's surveillance network, how could a premeditated Blood Oath assassin possibly escape?

“Riddled with holes.” Wilbert shook her head.

The female secretary, Hill, whispered, "Boss... I think your skills are enough to deceive the bases of most powerful forces..."

“This shows that the city-state of Thornsa will become like ‘the vast majority of forces,’ a bubble that is easily defeated by the forces of heretics,” Wilbert said. “There is no such thing as trust in such a land, and I cannot take any action.”

Hill declined to comment, flipping through the report in his hand: "I found the address of the seafood bookstore."

"Have you ever been to that bookstore?" Vilbert asked. "Do you know any of the employees? Have you seen the layout of the bookstore? Have you ever interacted with them in person?"

Hill swallowed hard. "No."

“Your knowledge of this location comes entirely from intelligence, and intelligence without empirical verification is just empty talk. I am the same way, so I have no confidence in distinguishing between truth and falsehood.”

“But you’ll always recognize…the person you’re looking for, right?” Hill said. “Let’s try big data-based person finding…”

“The problem is he won’t leave the bookstore,” Wilbert shook her head. “He’ll worry about missing me.”

Hill was speechless. It was the first time she had ever seen such a situation. The boss was almost able to find the omnipresent invisible man, but they couldn't take the first step because they knew each other too well.

"Would you mind asking Mansa Star Castle for help?" She had another idea. "We were already planning to contact the Commander-in-Chief and ask him to provide protection..."

"What makes you trust the Captain?" Wilbert glanced at her.

Hill inwardly groaned. Indeed, it was true. Leaving aside the terrifying imposter, with a clear traitor within Jing Sha, no official Jing Sha could be trusted. The least suspicious was the Third Captain, and the only one the boss could truly trust was probably that assassin…

Therefore, she would never leave the Third Lineage. The assassin was here; for her, this was the safest place.

Hill took a small step back to the corner of the room, looking at the weapons piled up everywhere, and then thinking of the terrifying firepower that his boss had amassed somewhere, which gave him a bit more confidence.

“Boss, but if you don’t take any action, it’ll be hard for him to find you,” she said, mustering her courage. “Should we consider sending a bigger signal?”

Vilbert was also considering the matter. Before her secretary even spoke up, she had already rejected several proposals because Jing Sha's media business was equally untrustworthy. Parriman controlled the media, and there was a possibility that the information conveyed through the water screen imagery could be distorted.

Perhaps she should try using physical methods like fireworks... like projecting another scepter with clearly defined coordinates...

This is a good idea. She tapped her smooth cane. Another strike with the Staff of God, the coordinates locked at the crossroads, Chu Hengkong would surely arrive in time. Even if Wang Quan arrived first, it wouldn't matter; she could hold out until Chu Hengkong's reinforcements arrived… To be on the safe side, she needed to increase the yield, ideally enough to vaporize half of the Third Meridian Sequence in one hit, which meant she needed to urgently evacuate approximately 2 million people… and assemble a discrete spatial transfer device on the spot…

(Oh no!! The boss is going to take extreme measures!!!)

Hill, watching from the sidelines, broke out in a cold sweat. The boss's gaze reminded her of a terrifying memory; after she last saw that look, three dust islands vanished from the world. She frantically tapped the autonomous machine, hoping to find a breakthrough from the newly gathered intelligence. A newly appeared poster caught her eye.

"Boss, I think he messaged you!"

Vilbert turned immediately and snatched the poster from the secretary's hand. She groaned a second later.

"what have you been doing……"

It was a promotional poster with a strong cartoon style, showing adorable little animals dancing on the grass and couples strolling under fluorescent trees.

·

"I'm quite satisfied with this poster!" Bangbangji said proudly. "All the necessary elements are there. I drew a baby seal, a baby otter, and a baby crucian carp in the background, so you can tell at a glance that it's our work."

Pointing to the map, the otter explained, "The forest in the background is meticulously drawn based on the park's map, with each tree's location corresponding to the rotated map. You can mark a spot there so she can immediately see where to find you."

Chu Hengkong casually pointed to a big tree: "This is it. Draw a snake smoking, bent into an 'S' shape."

"What about the time?" Ji Huaisu asked. "This event will last all night."

“This snake is also a marker of time; she’ll understand it at a glance.”

·

Vilbert stared at the small snake that was spitting out clouds of smoke, as if she could see the smug face of someone from a few years ago.

She immediately understood what he was talking about; the assassin was once again seizing the opportunity to bring up an embarrassing past. It was during his first heraldry class, when the old professor used the heraldry of the Verus family through generations to explain the evolution of their governing philosophies. One generation's double-serpent staff was depicted as an ouroboros with an infinity symbol (∞). After explaining for a while, the old professor asked his deputy if he could deduce the personality of that patriarch. He nodded, saying he understood; two snakes together make auspicious. These two snakes coiling together form an 8—congratulations on your fortune! That patriarch was quite the miser!

The old professor was so angry he almost fainted. He said, "Master, you should find someone more capable. My deputy is too intelligent for a mediocre person like me to teach." So, from the next class onwards, the man despairingly discovered that his heraldry instructor had changed to Wilbert, and by the end of the training, he had gotten a perfect score in the course.

This time, he brought up the old story again, making a dull, lame joke... There's only one snake under the tree; if another snake comes, it will be an "8," so it's 8 PM...

Vilbert glanced at the clock again; it was 4:30 p.m., and she had less than four hours to prepare.

“Boss, I think this idea is really romantic!” Hill said excitedly. “The location is also very safe, isn’t it? The enemy can’t possibly disguise a forest and hundreds of mobile personnel in the city center.”

But Violet wasn't thinking about any of that anymore. Only four hours remained, and she was still in her usual work clothes, completely unprepared… she hadn't even put on makeup…

How foolish. She groaned inwardly. How could she think about such meaningless things now! As if it were important. Chu Hengkong didn't care about any of this; he couldn't even tell she had changed her jewelry.

She held the poster in silence for a moment, then instructed her secretary:

"Buy me some clothes."

"Okay, boss!"

She hesitated for a moment, then asked, "...Did you bring any cosmetics?"

·

"I can't breathe in this outfit," Chu Hengkong said, his face pale. "Let's change into something else."

Ji Huaisu ripped off his flamboyant deep red tuxedo, preemptively rejecting his next suggestion: "No suit."

"Suits, ties, and gloves are the most traditional—"

“It’s the most traditional thug attire, making you look like you’re ready to snag a job,” Ji Huaisu said. “Do you want to dress like a kidnapper to meet your boss?”

Chu Hengkong pondered for a moment, then picked up another yellow vest. Before he could voice his opinion, Fan De groaned, "Come on, buddy. If I were you, I wouldn't wear a delivery uniform to a date."

“But she was very familiar with these clothes; she recognized me at a glance.”

“Nostalgia is a good thing, but we still have to strike a balance between nostalgia and dignity,” Ji Huaisu said. “What you really need are clothes that are familiar, comfortable, natural, and full of memories.”

She revealed her signature green coat.

"No, please...?" Chu Hengkong hesitated. "This is too ordinary."

Ji Huaisu patted his shoulder hard: "Young Master Chu, you've known each other for almost ten years! Do you really think a mere new outfit can make the other person feel refreshed? The key to a long-awaited reunion is this familiar feeling that brings a knowing smile!"

"What you said does make some sense..."

Chu Hengkong picked up his coat and went inside, intending to change back into his original attire. Taking advantage of the situation, Fan De jumped onto Ji Huaisu's shoulder; its pitiful conscience made it impossible for it to endure any longer.

"Do you know what you're doing?" Van der said. "You're helping him woo Vilbert!"

Ji Huaisu remained calm and composed: "Is there a problem?"

"There are so many problems! Violet is—"

"Of course I know she's a woman. I knew it when she mentioned Ah Kong; a man wouldn't talk like that."

Ji Huaisu folded up the unused clothes and stuffed them into the wardrobe, leaving Fan De dumbfounded: "Then why are you still doing this?"

"They were separated by death for more than two years before they were finally able to meet. How could I just stand by and watch him wander around like a headless fly?" Ji Huaisu closed the wardrobe door. "Before we talk about love, I'm first and foremost his buddy!"

Just then, Chu Hengkong, having changed his clothes, pushed open the door and came in. He was wearing the green overcoat again and had even tidied his hair. He asked somewhat nervously, "How is it?"

·

“It’s terrible,” Vilbert said.

She went inside, took off her light blue women's dress, and changed back into her white shirt and overalls. Her secretary was carrying two exquisite evening gowns, which she quickly stuffed into the closet after noticing her boss's expression.

“Boss, perhaps you should be a little more nostalgic,” she whispered. “These clothes suit you very well, but… he might not recognize you…”

“I think so too,” Wilbert sighed. “I wasted two whole hours.”

She sat in front of the vanity, staring at the uninteresting woman in the mirror. She still had straight hair, the ends of which had turned a dark blue due to the influence of her spiritual power, but it was far inferior to the fashionable hair of those modern women; her skin was unnaturally pale, not at all like a healthy tan, like a vampire who feared the sun; her features could only be described as delicate rather than profound, like an Easterner who had long lived in her boudoir.

After many years, that lingering sense of frustration resurfaced. What's the point of this woman dressing up? What is she wasting her time on?

Hill glanced at the beautiful, long-haired woman, unable to understand why such a beautiful person would look at herself in the mirror with such disappointment.

“Miss Vilbert,” she changed her form of address, “I don’t think those clothes suit you very well…wouldn’t it be better to just wear your usual outfit?”

She found the suit jacket and draped it over her friend's shoulders. Instantly, the composed and insightful scholar returned.

·

“I’m starting to feel uneasy.” Chu Hengkong stared at his watch. “Come to my senses, this is actually pretty stupid. It’s all about probability, and Violet probably won’t come. I’ve never seen her attend this kind of… event before.”

The little animals all hissed. Ji Huaisu pushed him forcefully out of the bookstore entrance and tossed him an umbrella: "Stop talking nonsense and get on!"

·

“That’s ridiculous,” Vilbert said. “I don’t think he would participate in such an event willingly. It’s most likely just a local custom of the city-state, and excessive expectations have clouded my judgment…”

Hill handed her an umbrella, forcefully interrupting her rambling: "Good luck, Miss Vilbert!"

Wilbert shook her head helplessly and walked out the door with an encouraging look from her secretary.

She never imagined she would one day be thankful for the Act of Gratitude. Thanks to the political infighting in the city-state, the streets were unusually quiet tonight. Most citizens stayed indoors, while a few apolitical individuals played clear, melodious songs under the night sky. She brushed past many strangers and headed towards the glowing forest in the distance.

The fluorescent trees were so conspicuous under the night sky that their gentle glow could be seen from several blocks away. Soft specks of light drifted down through the trees, like raindrops falling slowly and gently to the earth. The true form of that light was fluffy, tufted balls of light, which the first couples to arrive clutched in their hands, their joy as if they had grasped happiness itself.

Music could be heard here too, slow, lyrical melodies flowing like water past the ears. The musicians sat in the treetops, eyes closed, lost in the music along with the conductor. Their presence infected the men and women in the woods, making the place quiet and peaceful. Everyone stood silently under the trees, expressing their feelings through eye contact rather than words.

Violet opened her umbrella, shielding herself from the ubiquitous, shimmering fluff. She felt herself blushing; how could she have come to a place like this, as if she were truly hoping for a secret rendezvous?

They had traveled to most countries on Earth, spent countless nights feasting and dancing together, and rushed to the battlefield together after the lights went out. They were gangsters and assassins, and they never belonged in such a gentle place.

Yet she continued on, umbrella in hand, following that faint hope in her heart. She walked for several more minutes, until she reached the depths of the forest, a place even lovers avoided. Here, only a faint light shone, and no one was to be seen beneath the ancient shadows of the trees.

Could it be a trap? Violet suddenly wondered. Had she truly stepped into danger? In the next instant, would the assassins pounce from the shadows, revealing their bloodthirsty fangs…?

A wisp of light drifted down, illuminating the path ahead for her. Beneath the large tree stood a solitary figure, holding an umbrella just like her to shield herself from the surrounding light.

Vilbert held her breath. In that moment, she truly wasn't thinking; she simply walked forward instinctively. The edges of the umbrellas brushed against each other, and the person holding the umbrella looked up.

His pupils turned red, and his physique underwent subtle changes. The traces of the reckless boy from many years ago had almost faded; he now appeared more composed and calm, yet the gleam in his eyes remained unchanged.

In a daze, Vilbert seemed to see the boy with the car window open in the rainy night again, smiling slightly as before, waiting for her not far away.

They stood silently under the umbrella, in their own little world.

I don't know who put down the umbrella first, erasing the insurmountable barriers between the worlds.

It's unclear who stepped forward first, venturing into the other's inviolable space.

And so, their worlds intertwined once again.

(The Jinghua Festival incident has ended. We will be taking a three-day break to adjust and organize the outline for the second half of the issue. Updates will resume on Wednesday.)

Chapter 350 Conventions and Customs