Hiss
A sharp, burning pain on her earlobe interrupted Celine's drifting thoughts.
Someone had entered the space again.
She was already used to this feeling.
Her eyes stayed calm, showing no emotion. She skillfully turned the steering wheel and slowly drove the car into the parking lot of a nearby large park.
It was early evening, and there were a lot of people in the park, but the underground parking lot was quiet and empty.
She picked the farthest corner where no other cars were parked. The spot was also in a blind area with no security camera coverage.
She turned off the engine and pulled the handbrake.
Her slender fingers pressed the buttons on the car windows one by one. The dark-tinted windows slowly went up, blocking the view from outside and making the light inside the car dim and unclear.
After checking to make sure no one was nearby, Celine closed her eyes and focused her mind.
In the next moment, her body disappeared from the empty driver's seat and entered the space.
Inside the space, Hogan was standing in front of a huge pile of supplies with his back to her.
When he heard the sound behind him, he turned around.
As soon as he saw Celine, the sadness in his eyes disappeared. His eyes lit up and the corners of his lips lifted into a real smile, full of youthful energy.
"Miss Celine"
His voice was clear, and he couldn't hide how happy he was.
"All of this is for me?"
Celine looked into his bright eyes. The heavy feelings from her past life faded a little.
She nodded gently. "Yes. All of this is for you, Hogan."
She paused and added, "But this is only a small part. I still need more time. In the next two days, I'll buy a larger batch and give it to you."
"Good, good, very good"
Hogan was so happy he said it three times. His smile got even bigger, and he looked a bit unsure of what to do with his hands.
He stepped forward and gave her a formal salute. He bowed with respect and said, "Miss Celine, you are very kind. On behalf of the soldiers guarding the border of Qin, I thank you"
Celine was slightly surprised by the sudden formality, but then calmly accepted it.
She gave supplies, and he gave antiques. It was a fair trade. But to him, it clearly meant more than just a simple exchange.
Hogan stood up straight again. His eyes were full of deep gratitude.
He didn't stay longer. With a thought, the pile of supplies disappeared. He had taken them all.
The space went back to how it was before. Only a faint smell of sandalwood was left in the air, showing that he had just been there.
Hogan, feeling happy and satisfied, left the space with the supplies.
At the same time, far away at the border of Qin.
The sky was starting to get light. The first signs of morning appeared. Cold wind blew through the empty desert, carrying sand and dust.
The military camp was already full of movement.
The sound of a horn rang out, long and low. It mixed with the sound of many footsteps and the clashing of weapons. Thousands of Qin soldiers, wearing simple leather armor and with tired, weathered faces, were training. Their loud shouts filled the air.
On another side, workers and builders in charge of building the Great Wall had also gathered.
Under the officer's angry command, the soldiers carried heavy stones and tools, ready to begin another tiring day of work.
Everything seemed well-organized, with the harsh and tough atmosphere that only existed in the border military camp.
Just at that moment, something strange happened.
In the middle of the camp's largest open space, a person suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
It was Hogan, who had just come out from the other dimension.
Along with him appeared a huge pile of supplies. Boxes, bags, and barrels almost filled half the training ground. These were all goods from another world.
The sudden appearance shocked everyone and turned the noisy camp completely silent.
The soldiers who were training froze in place. Their shouting stopped at once.
The workers and craftsmen getting ready for the day stopped walking and looked in confusion toward the center of the camp.
Even the patrolling officer pulled the reins of his horse and stared with wide eyes, stunned.
It felt like time had stopped.
Everyone stared at the figure that had suddenly appeared, and at the huge pile of supplies next to him that gave off a strange but pleasant smell.
The silence lasted only for a moment.
"It's the young lord. It's Young Lord Hogan."
Someone was the first to recognize him and shouted in shock.
Right after that, it was like dropping a giant stone into a still lake. The whole camp exploded in noise.
"Blessings to Great Qin. It's Young Lord Hogan."
Thump. Thump.
The soldiers, officers, craftsmen, and workers all dropped to their knees, facing Hogan. Their faces were full of excitement, respect, and strong emotion.
Hogan had not expected to appear in the center of the camp.
He thought, as usual, that he would return to his own tent.
The matter of the pawnshop was very important. Except for General Meng and a few trusted people, he had never told anyone about it. He also never planned to reveal it so early.
This sudden public appearance completely ruined his plan.
He looked at the crowd of kneeling soldiers and heard their loud shouting. At first, he was stunned. Then he felt panic rise in his chest.
He wanted to explain but didn't know how to start.
His eyes moved to the giant pile of goods beside him. Then he thought of his tent, which was already full of scrolls and weapons and didn't have much space left.
He suddenly understood the reason.
His tent was too small to hold everything. That's why the system had moved him and the supplies to the largest open area in the camp.
Once he understood this, Hogan took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
What had already happened could not be changed. Worrying now would not help.
He looked at the shocking scene in front of him and at the soldiers who looked at him with trust and hope in their eyes. A strong feeling rose in his heart.
Maybe this was not a bad thing after all.