Relics of the Golden Age

The Centipede Trading Company was a Transcendent organization founded by the Three Sages during the Renaissance Era. It commanded over a hundred powerful caravans that roamed the city-states and traveled between the Spirit Realm and reality, conducting all manner of trade.

In the isolated City-State Era, its activities were severely restricted. Even so, it remained active throughout the Civilized World, one of the few organizations that still sought contact with the city-states.

"Though calling it a Transcendent organization isn't quite right. It's more like a giant corporation indirectly controlled by the Three Sages' factions."

Having briefly explained the company's origins, Bruce fell silent.

Now that they were entering the Centipede Trading Company, Bruce had no desire to make anyone scream in terror at the sight of a talking dog.

The building's interior was spacious, with goods arranged on countless display shelves. The customers kept quiet, selecting their purchases, paying, and leaving with mechanical efficiency. No one lingered to browse.

This business catered to Transcendents, and every Transcendent who came had a clear purpose. Only a few first-time visitors stopped and started as Xilian did.

"Source Crystals. Crystalline clusters formed from highly concentrated Source Energy, harvested from the Spirit Realm... Purity: 97%."

Many Transcendent Rituals required vast amounts of Source Energy. When a Transcendent's own reserves fell short, Source Crystals could supply the rest.

Since the Noonday Calamity, Chaos had saturated the Spirit Realm. Source Crystals formed there were naturally contaminated and had to be refined again after harvesting to remove the Chaos within. That was why they carried purity ratings.

"Dark Sand... Nightmare Vine..."

Xilian wandered on. Transcendent materials he had only ever seen in books appeared before him one after another.

Most of the materials needed to advance as a Torchbearer were among them. As materials for advancement to Rank Two, they were not especially precious, and supplies were plentiful.

After adding up the prices, Xilian counted the few City-State Coins left in his pocket. He sighed helplessly and tore his longing gaze away.

He would have to work at the City Guard Bureau for a while before he could save enough to buy the materials.

He was in no hurry. The concentration of Soul Marrow in his blood had not yet reached the required level. Even if he bought everything, he still could not advance.

He moved into the next section, which sold weapons and equipment of every kind, from ordinary guns and blades to rare Transcendent armaments.

Xilian stopped before a display case. Inside lay a gray-black saber, its blade covered in dense inscriptions.

"A Sourcebound Weapon..."

Transcendent armament was only a broad term, with many categories beneath it.

Weapons forged by Spirit Artisans that could be strengthened with Source Energy, or even wield special abilities, were called Sourcebound Weapons.

After studying the saber, Xilian glanced down at the Boiling Sword at his waist.

Nuen had fought for years and left many things behind along the way, but he had always kept the Boiling Sword by his side.

Xilian suspected it was also a Sourcebound Weapon, yet he still had no idea what it did. He had asked Bruce, who seemed to remember something about the sword, but no matter how hard he tried, he could not come up with anything definite.

The Centipede Trading Company had seen all sorts of things and could probably identify the Boiling Sword's origins and abilities. But the Sunflower Clan emblem on its hilt might expose Xilian's identity, so he abandoned the idea.

"Hm?"

Bruce suddenly nudged Xilian, caught his trouser leg in his teeth, and tugged him aside.

"Found something good?" Xilian asked quietly.

Bruce wagged his tail and led the way.

They stopped before another display case. Xilian glanced at the sign in the corner, his expression turning awkward.

The Golden Age.

Civilization had reached astonishing heights in that era. Then the Noonday Calamity erupted, the Giant God fell, and its splendors sank into the storms of Chaos.

Countless years later, in the City-State Era, the tides of the Origin Sea brought weapons born in the Golden Age back to reality. These were known as Sacred Relics.

The weapons displayed before Xilian were all Sacred Relics.

"Forget it."

Xilian sighed repeatedly. He could not even afford his advancement materials, let alone a mysterious Sacred Relic.

He was about to leave when Bruce bit his ankle hard enough to make him bare his teeth in pain.

If they had not been inside the Centipede Trading Company, Xilian would have kicked Bruce away on instinct.

"Look at the price tags!"

In his urgency, Bruce spoke aloud.

The case held a row of oddly shaped revolvers. They were all the same model; only their wear differed. Some looked fresh from the factory, while others were covered in scratches and dents.

The Centipede Trading Company had priced these standard-issue Golden Age weapons according to their condition.

Xilian scanned the prices from highest to lowest until a damaged handgun caught his eye.

For a Sacred Relic, its price was remarkably low. That also made clear just how badly damaged it was.

He counted the City-State Coins in his pocket. The price was right at the limit of what Xilian could afford.

"You mean this one?" Xilian muttered.

Bruce bared his teeth.

After a brief struggle with himself, Xilian decided to trust Bruce this once. He called over an attendant, collected the gun, inspected it, and paid.

When Xilian left the Centipede Trading Company with the damaged handgun, he had barely enough City-State Coins left for a light-rail ticket home.

"What is this thing?"

"A Jet Revolver. It was a standard-issue weapon from the Golden Age. So many survived that, Sacred Relic or not, they're cheap and easy to find."

Bruce steered clear of the crowd and spoke softly. "Later, the Court of a Thousand Mechanisms managed to dismantle a Jet Revolver. They improved its original design and named the result the Raging Current Revolver."

"These days, this thing is more of a collectible."

Xilian's voice sharpened. "So I spent nearly all my remaining money on a broken collectible? One with an improved version?"

"You think the little money in your pocket could buy a Raging Current Revolver? Even if you could afford one, you might not find one for sale in Her City."

Bruce rolled his eyes at Xilian. "Besides, I'm a Spirit Artisan. It may be broken, but I can fix it."

"So I got a bargain?"

"More or less." Bruce shook his head. "You're too poor. This was the best I could do."

"Fine."

Xilian sighed helplessly.

He took out the Jet Revolver and examined it closely.

Unlike an ordinary revolver, its cylinder held only three rounds. Its barrel was thicker and longer to accommodate special bullets, and the grip bore a familiar wire connection. Feeding it Source Energy would strengthen the shots that followed.

"Once you start work, I'll write you a list. Gather the materials on it for me..."

Bruce stopped mid-sentence. His eyes rolled back, and his body convulsed several times.

"Bruce! What's wrong?"

Xilian crouched beside him in alarm, trying to remember how to perform CPR on a dog.

Fortunately, Bruce's fit lasted only a dozen or so seconds before he returned to normal.

"The damage to my brain is worse than I thought," Bruce said, panting. "I tried to force myself to remember some design blueprints, and it felt like a mass of darkness was about to swallow me..."

After a short rest, Bruce acted as though nothing had happened.

"Once we have the materials, I can make you some special bullets."

Xilian was quiet for a moment. "Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Bruce continued, "Xilian, helping you means helping myself. Our fates are tied together now."

One man and one dog, each carrying his own mysteries. They made the sort of strange pair found only in stories.

Anya leaned against the railing on the second floor of the Centipede Trading Company and silently watched Xilian leave.

"Xilian..."

Anya murmured his name. She had not expected to see him again so soon, much less here.

"Who are you looking at?"

Before Anya could turn, a girl in red hurried over, her golden hair falling loose, and threw herself into Anya's arms.

"Found a new target?" the girl teased.

"What are you talking about?"

Anya smiled, ruffled the girl's hair, and gently pushed her away. "I just saw someone I know."

"Who?"

The girl leaned over the railing and looked around.

"He's already gone."

"Oh? Someone you know who caught your eye..." The girl gave Anya a knowing look. "Is he handsome? Charming?"

Anya recalled Xilian's face. "He's not bad."

"Wow. Dailin would cry if he heard that."

"What does Dailin have to do with it?"

"Hasn't he been pursuing you?"

"Enough, Meifuni. Keep your voice down."

Anya could not be bothered to explain. She looked away, troubled, toward the direction Xilian had gone.

Seeing her like this, Meifuni asked quietly, "What kind of person is he?"

Anya thought for a moment before answering.

"A strange man who talks to dogs."

"Huh?"

The answer caught Meifuni off guard. She studied Anya's expression, but she did not look as though she was lying.

"Are you... serious?"

Anya cut her off, her tone turning solemn. "Meifuni, young lady of the Centipede Trading Company, may I ask you a favor?"

"Find out what that man just bought."

Meifuni blinked. Then another voice joined them.

"Oh? You really do care about him."

Anya and Meifuni turned together. Another woman approached at an unhurried pace.

She fixed Anya with an amused gaze, as though she had spotted prey. Anya's tone was far less friendly.

"Valerie, what are you doing here?"

Valerie said nothing. She merely kept her amused gaze on Anya.