Astesia

After passing the identity check, Bai Ye and Texas entered the venue. As for people mistaking his gender as usual? Don't worry. Bai Ye couldn't be bothered explaining anything to a throwaway extra who would only appear for one chapter.

The exhibition center had already been arranged, with not only the exhibits in place but also Blacksteel International employees.

As a renowned private security consultancy and security contractor, Blacksteel International had countless clients and was synonymous with trustworthiness and reliability.

This time was no exception. Rhine Lab had entrusted most of the security work to Blacksteel International's employees.

"So are we just... here to make up the numbers?"

According to the commission requirements, Bai Ye only needed to oversee one of the exhibition center's nine zones. The other eight had all been assigned to Blacksteel International agents.

"Most of Blacksteel's employees are at Columbia's border. They're short-staffed," Texas suddenly said.

Bai Ye raised an eyebrow at that. From what he knew, the Columbia Federation was constantly clashing with the surrounding smaller countries, with frequent small-scale conflicts. At the same time, the large number of foreign immigrants gathered in the outlying districts made governing the border regions exceptionally difficult.

Such a chaotic situation had made Blacksteel International's business boom. It was not just local tycoons—even the Columbia Federation government paid to hire Blacksteel agents.

Bai Ye did not have much contact with the other Blacksteel International employees and headed straight for the zone under his charge. The specific security arrangements had already been sent to him as a file when he accepted the commission.

"Our assignment is the easiest one."

The zone Bai Ye was responsible for was on the western side of the exhibition center. Its theme was "Ancient Biological Documents Exhibition," and its exhibits consisted mostly of books, videos, and pictures—it was the smallest of the nine major zones.

"I doubt anyone would want to steal any of this stuff."

Rhine Lab possessed remarkable technology and products—brand-new medical equipment, the latest breakthroughs in understanding life, a new generation of medical staves that optimized Originium transmission efficiency...

If anyone truly intended to cause trouble, those things would probably be their targets. As for these book materials that were not even originals, only an idiot would steal them.

The lighting in the exhibition zone was extremely soft. Interestingly, all those tiny light sources were set into the exhibition hall's arched dome.

"Is this... simulating a starry sky?"

Bai Ye and Texas looked up. The little lamps, shining with crystalline light, formed patterns of various constellations across the deep, towering dome, turning the entire ceiling into a brilliant river of stars.

"Beautiful... isn't it?"

A crisp, elegant female voice came from nearby. Bai Ye and Texas turned around and saw a young woman standing beside one of the display cases.

She wore a long black-and-white dress, and her gray-blue hair had been carefully styled. Though all manner of mysterious ornaments hung from her dress, the most eye-catching feature was still her pair of deep, crystal-clear azure eyes.

"You are... D32 steel?"

Bai Ye froze for a moment before blurting out the name of a reinforced material.

"D32 steel? No, I'm Rhine Lab's documents consultant, codename Astesia."

The young woman shook her head and calmly explained her identity.

"A documents consultant, I see." Bai Ye nodded, then held out his hand. "I'm Bai Ye, a bounty hunter responsible for this zone's security."

They shook hands, and Astesia said:

"If you need any help, feel free to contact me. I'm responsible for this exhibition zone... including the decorations."

It was clear that the young woman was somewhat proud of the starry-sky dome she had arranged, and it truly was something to be proud of—there were not many people these days who understood astronomy.

As they spoke, the three of them toured the entire exhibition zone. During that time, Texas and Bai Ye committed the venue's layout to memory.

Although the assignment was easy, neither of them relaxed—after all, no one knew what sort of accident might occur.

"There's never any harm in being cautious."

After memorizing the exhibition zone's floor plan, Bai Ye smiled and said this to Texas.

"You're right, sir. Logically speaking, this should be the safest exhibition zone, but... I have a bad feeling about it."

Astesia, who was standing nearby, suddenly spoke after hearing Bai Ye's words.

"Divination?"

Texas suddenly asked, her gaze falling on the pendants and decorations hanging from Astesia's clothing.

"Yes. More precisely, astrology."

"So something dangerous will happen today?"

As a priest, Bai Ye also possessed a similar divine spell called "augury," though it was a second-circle divine spell.

"Mm, last night's stargazing indicated that something unpleasant would happen at today's technology exhibition—but not everyone would believe what I say."

Astesia did not continue. This was a touring technology exhibition that had been prepared for a long time; it could not possibly be halted because of one astrologer's personal opinion and some elusive astrology.

"Astrology... what an amazing art," Bai Ye could not help saying.

"Drawing information about the present and future from the arrangement of the stars—that is astrology. It may be different from divination, but the results are always the same. So—would you like to try it? It's free."

Seeing that Bai Ye seemed interested in the field she excelled at most, Astesia took out an armillary sphere.

There was plenty of time, so Bai Ye sat down opposite Astesia. As for Texas, she seemed curious as well and sat nearby to watch.

Unlike the astrology Bai Ye knew, Astesia did not use a natal chart. Instead, she used an armillary sphere to perform her reading.

"Let me see... Huh, strange. I can't see anything at all... It's like a layer of mist is covering everything."

Astesia muttered to herself. Beads of sweat even formed on her fair forehead, clearly indicating that something had gone wrong with the astrological ritual.

After a while, Astesia sat upright with a disappointed look and said apologetically:

"I'm sorry... Your circumstances are simply too unusual. This is the first time I've seen a star chart like this. Other than mist, I can't see anything clearly."

It had been a failed reading, but there was one thing Astesia did not say.

—In the future, her fate would unexpectedly intersect with that of the young man before her.

Why was that?

Astesia buried that question deep in her heart.

"..."

The atmosphere became somewhat awkward. Astesia sat there in a daze, not knowing what to say.

"I'll give it a try."

Unexpectedly, Texas stood and walked over to Astesia.

"Ah... um, all right. Please sit."

Bai Ye gave his seat to Texas. He had not expected that she would also want to try such an "elusive" ritual.

This time, Astesia seemed even more focused. This was the field she was most proud of, perhaps even somewhat conceited about. She did not want to be burdened with a label like "charlatan."