The sunlight poured through the Panhua's Restaurant, scattering golden patches across polished wooden tables. The smell of freshly steamed buns and tea leaves clung to the air, warm and comforting, almost enough to mask the tension that had been hanging over Jinzhou since yesterday's events.
Yangyang sat near the edge, one hand drumming absentmindedly on the table while her gaze lingered outside, faraway and restless. Chixia, in contrast, was already halfway through her drink, tapping her foot with barely concealed impatience.
When Rover and I finally arrived at the restaurant, Chixia shot up from her seat, her ponytail bouncing.
"There you are, Rover! Jeff! What took you guys so long?" she half-shouted, drawing a glance from the owner behind the counter.
Rover offered a sheepish smile, strands of her hair catching the morning light. "Sorry for keeping you waiting. Jeff took so long to wake up."
I raised my hands defensively, fighting the urge to yawn. "Hey, in my defense, after yesterday? Anyone would've slept like a rock."
Yangyang's eyes narrowed, studying me as though she could read fatigue still clinging to my shoulders. She leaned forward, voice quiet but heavy. "...I see. Yes… I can feel the tension in the Streams. Something's shifting." His lips pressed thin, troubled. "I'm worried something bad is going to happen…"
What kind of sense is that Yangyang can be a bit of a weirdo even more if I didn't know what kind power she has. I thought
Before I could respond, our terminals flickered to life on the table, casting a bluish glow. Baizhi's familiar projection materialized, posture stiff but her expression just a little too earnest for her usual monotone.
"The Academy has noted a concerning rise of Tacet Field activities," she said, adjusting her posture. "Please use caution when exiting the city."
"Thanks for the warning," Rover replied softly, her fingers brushing the terminal screen as if she wanted to reach out and reassure Baizhi.
I cocked my head, curious. "How's your research going?"
Baizhi blinked, then rattled off her checklist like she'd rehearsed it. "Remember to check your terminal signals, and wear the Academy's protective suit correctly. And… don't forget to stay hydrated. Now, I have experiments to run. Take care."
Her image winked out, leaving silence behind.
I arched a brow. "Was that… a voicemail message? Is she sending the same thing to everyone?"
Chixia giggled into her hand. "It's just Baizhi being Baizhi. She's awkward with showing care, but I think it's cute!"
Rover hid a tiny smile behind her teacup.
Chixia leaned forward, both elbows on the table, her eyes sparking with excitement. "Anyway! Rover, Jeff—quick, tell us what happened!"
Rover and I traded glances. After a beat, she spoke first. "We met with Jinhsi. She… told us a lot."
I filled in the rest, summarizing the tense conversation and the fight with Scar in the City Hall, though I deliberately left out Jué's disappearance. That secret was too confidential, and too risky to share just yet.
Chixia's nose wrinkled. "The Fractsidus again? Ugh, those jerks!" She slammed her chopsticks down, making the bowls rattle.
I exhaled through my nose, then asked, "About Jiyan…"
Rover leaned in, her brows drawn tight. "Jiyan the General, Jinhsi the Magistrate, and Jué, Jinzhou's Sentinel… Is there any kind of connection between them?"
Chixia tapped her chin, looking skyward as though digging through her memory. "Connection? …No idea. But I did hear General Jiyan used to be a military doctor."
"A doctor turned general…" I muttered, trying to imagine what kind of person could hold both roles. I mean l was a nurse turned soldier so I kinda get how.
Yangyang finally shifted, her calm voice cutting through the chatter. She set her cup down gently, eyes focused on something only she could see. "Hmm… Speaking of that, I think we'll need to start with a bit of Jinzhou's past."
She paused, lowering her gaze back to us.
"A storyteller near the theater once told us something like this…we can go there right now if you want."
"Well, there's no need to rush; we plan to stay here for a while, get some rest, and enjoy what Jinzhou has to offer – isn't that right, Rover?"
"Yeah" Rover quickly agreed to completely focus on something else.
The warm scent of spiced broth and fresh dumplings drifted through Panhua's Restaurant, the low hum of conversation filling the space. At the corner table, Jeff leaned back slightly, his fingers brushing against Rover's before finally intertwining with hers atop the table. Her hand was warm, delicate but firm in its hold.
Yangyang's sharp eyes darted to their joined hands, her lips curving into the faintest knowing smile. She had already pieced together what words hadn't been spoken. Across from her, Chixia's reaction was less subtle—her eyes sparkled like a child spotting fireworks for the first time, her grin widening.
"Really? You won't regret that decision," Chixia gushed, practically bouncing in her seat. "There's so much to do here in Jinzhou! You'll love every second of it."
Yangyang, more composed, gave a small nod. "She's right. Resting for a few days is wise."
Rover glanced at Jeff, then back to the girls, her voice calm but certain. "We just want to take a few days to breathe, to enjoy Jinzhou before… before we go back to untangling the mysteries of our past."
Jeff gave her hand a gentle squeeze, his lips twitching upward into a sly smile. "Besides, we've got an allowance from the Magistrate herself. Might as well let loose a little."
Rover's cheeks tinged pink at the memory. She leaned closer, tugging on Jeff's ear with a mischievous grin. "You're shameless, you know that?"
He chuckled, rubbing the spot she'd pinched. "Worth it."
Chixia groaned dramatically. "Allowance from the Magistrate herself? Ugh, I'm so jealous!"
"Even my Outrider paycheck won't compare to that," Yangyang added with a shrug. Then her eyes softened as she shifted the topic. "Speaking of, Uncle Wei said the weapons you requested are finally ready."
Jeff's eyes lit up immediately. He leaned forward, excitement breaking through his calm demeanor. "Finally! Thank you, Yangyang. I'll swing by later."
Rover tilted her head, amusement glinting in her gaze. "So, the weapons are ready, huh? I hope they're worth the shell credits and the wait."
Jeff smirked, leaning back with exaggerated confidence. "Trust me. They'll be a hundred times better than what I'm using now."
"We'll see," Rover teased, her tone playful.
Chixia clasped her hands together, watching the two with exaggerated exasperation. "You guys are ridiculous! Seriously—acting like a married couple just to make the rest of us jealous? You don't need to rub it in!"
Rover leaned even closer to Jeff, her voice lowering to a daring whisper. "Why? Are you jealous?"
Chixia's cheeks flushed instantly. "Wha—!?" She shot forward, only to be held back by Yangyang's calm hand on her shoulder.
"Stop horsing around," Yangyang said flatly, though her lips twitched like she was holding back a laugh.
Jeff chuckled, glancing at Rover. "You don't need to provoke her, you know."
Rover pouted, her lips pursed into a soft, stubborn line. "It's so other women don't get any funny ideas."
Jeff froze for half a second before his heart softened. She was cute like this protective, even a little possessive. With a fond smile, he raised her hand and pressed a kiss against her knuckles. "You really don't need to worry about that."
Chixia groaned again, covering her face. "Ugh! Look at them, shamelessly flirting in broad daylight!"
Yangyang's soft laugh slipped through despite herself. Rover joined in, shoulders shaking, and Jeff followed soon after, the warmth between the four of them filling the little corner of the restaurant.
Finally, Jeff stood, brushing his coat straight. He leaned down, pressing a quick, tender kiss to Rover's lips—so sudden she blinked in surprise, but her smile lingered even after he pulled back.
"I'll go pick up the weapon from Uncle Wei," he said with a grin, already moving toward the stairs. "I'll give you a call when I'm done."
"Say hi to Uncle Wei for me!" Yangyang called.
"Bye-bye, Jeff!" Chixia chimed, waving energetically.
Jeff's eyes softened as he looked at Rover one last time. "Take care of her for me, alright?" he said to the other two.
"You got it," Chixia replied, giving Rover a cheeky thumbs up.
Rover's voice softened, almost tender. "Take care… and don't forget to call."
He gave her one last smile, hand lifting in a casual wave, before slipping out into the sunlit streets of Jinzhou, leaving behind the warmth of the restaurant and the warmth of Rover's gaze lingering on him.
The streets of Jinzhou were bustling with life. Lanterns swayed in the soft wind, carrying with them the warm smell of street food and the hum of voices blending like a steady tide. Children darted between stalls, laughter ringing against the stonework. Merchants called out their wares with booming pride. For a moment, Jeff slowed his pace, hands tucked into his pockets, and let himself just… take it all in.
It was beautiful. Too fucking beautiful.
This place feels like home. Like the world before the war… before the bombs turned skylines and homes into ashes and the children's laughter into horrifying screams. His chest tightened, a quiet grief tightening around his ribs. If only people back then weren't so consumed by hatred and greed, maybe we'd still have something like this.
His thoughts snapped when he heard a woman's voice, sharp and nervous.
"Sorry! I'm not good at math—"
A man stormed out of a nearby restaurant, dragging the woman by her wrist so hard she stumbled. His voice cut through the crowd like a blade.
"You gave a forty percent tip! Do you know what that means?!"
The woman's face crumpled. "I—I messed up, okay?"
Jeff's steps slowed. His jaw tightened as he watched the man shove her back against the wall, the sound of the impact making Jeff's hands curl into fists.
"How am I supposed to get ahead if you're wasting my goddamn shell credits?!" the man snarled, leaning over her like a predator. "Just get your ass back in the house!"
Jeff's chest burned. Guess no matter the world, some things never change. His eyes locked on the man, sharp and unflinching, a glare that carried the weight of a battlefield.
The man noticed. His grip faltered on the woman's wrist. "What the hell are you starin' at, asshole?" he barked, puffing up his chest.
Jeff didn't move. Didn't flinch. He only met his gaze with a stare so cold it made the man's voice crack.
"I'm talking to you, stupid!"
But then the man's eyes flickered. He noticed the way Jeff stood, broad-shouldered, calm but dangerous, the faint weight of steel visible at his side, the tacet mark on his neck, the hard set of a soldier in his posture. His bravado drained like spilled wine.
"L-listen, man," he stammered, loosening his grip on the woman. "I'm just… having a bad day, okay? It—it won't happen again."
Jeff didn't say a word. I didn't need to. His silence pressed heavier than any threat. He let his stare linger just long enough for the man to look away, trembling, before finally turning on his heel.
As Jeff walked off into the bustling street once more minding his own fucking business, the city's noise filled back in around him. But his heart was heavier. Some men… some things… don't change, no matter the world.
Jeff finally reached Uncle Wei's workshop without running into any more trouble. The faint smell of metal and oil clung to the air, the steady clinking of tools echoing inside the shop. The old craftsman looked up from his workbench, his face breaking into a wide grin beneath his wiry mustache.
"Ah, young lad!" Uncle Wei called, wiping his hands on a rag before spreading his arms. "Good timing. The weapons you commissioned are ready."
Jeff's brows lifted, excitement sparking in his chest. "So I've heard. Yangyang told me."
With deliberate care, Uncle Wei laid the weapons out on the table one by one. First, the sleek Static Mist Pistol, its metal glimmering faintly under the lantern light. Then the elegant Emerald of Genesis Sword, the green of its gem catching a faint glow as if alive. And finally, the Cosmic Ripple Rectifier, humming softly with restrained energy.
Jeff froze, his mouth slightly ajar. Holy shit… these look better than I imagined. Five-star weapons. This is the kind of stuff you grind astrite for before pulling it in a gacha.
"Wow," he muttered aloud, eyes wide. "This is… chef's kiss. Amazing."
Uncle Wei chuckled, his weathered face full of pride. "Nothing but the best for the illustrated guest of Her Magistrate."
Jeff blinked, caught off guard. "Wait, how did you know?"
"Yangyang told me," Uncle Wei said matter-of-factly, stroking his beard. "About you and the young woman you travel with—Rover, was it? Both of you were mentioned in the Magistrate's announcement."
Jeff exhaled through his nose, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Is that so…"
"To think of a big shot like you would become a patron of my little workshop." Uncle Wei shook his head, half in disbelief, half in pride.
"No need to flatter me," Jeff said, reaching into his pouch. He placed a handful of shell credits on the counter, then slid a little extra across the table. "Here's the payment for the weapons. And something more, for your hard work."
Uncle Wei immediately waved his hands. "Oh, no, no. That's too much. You don't need—"
"I insist," Jeff cut in firmly, but his tone carried warmth. He carefully set down the borrowed weapons as well. "Besides, I owe you. These saved my life out there. Thank you for trusting me with them."
For a moment, Uncle Wei just looked at him, his eyes softening with genuine gratitude. "What a kind young man you are… Next time you commission something from me, you'll get a big discount, you hear?"
Jeff laughed, shoulders shaking. "Now that's what I'm talking about." His grin widened—he looked genuinely happy, lighter than he had in days.
Uncle Wei's chest swelled with pride as he straightened up. "On behalf of the citizens of Jinzhou, let me say this: we welcome you and Rover to our beloved city."
Jeff's smile softened. He bowed his head slightly. "Thank you. I appreciate that."
He gathered up his new weapons, feeling their weight in his hands—a mix of security and promise. "Oh, and Yangyang asked me to say hi."
Uncle Wei barked out a hearty laugh. "Hah! Tell her I said hello as well. And if you ever need anything else, you know where to find me."
Jeff gave him a casual salute, the corners of his mouth still lifted. "You got it."
With that, he turned and stepped out into the busy street, the glow of lanterns catching on his new gear. For the first time in a long while, his heart felt lighter he was completely, unmistakably happy.