Cangcheng, Realm-Keeping Commission
The service hall of the Realm-Keeping Commission in Cangcheng was broad and orderly. People of all descriptions wove through the space, and the quiet sounds of inquiries and data entry drifted from behind the various windows. Mixed with the subtle rustle of documents being flipped, it formed a picture of efficient, albeit slightly rigid, administration.
Window A3, responsible for Special Affairs inquiries.
"You're saying that Cangcheng will be destroyed next year, and that the friend beside you is a young man from Star Calendar Year 8100, correct?"
The recorder, dressed in a standard uniform with a kindly face, tried his best to keep his tone calm, though the corners of his mouth were struggling to hold back a twitch.
"It is the absolute truth; the evidence is right here!"
Little Jingliu held the General History of Cangcheng high, attempting to make the staff member before her realize the gravity of the situation.
"Uh-huh, uh-huh, I know."
The recorder took the book, flipping through it with practiced movements, his gaze quickly scanning the title page and the table of contents.
He actually didn't dislike these innocent children. As for this General History of Cangcheng... he had already seen similar tricks three times this year. Most were the work of those Fiction Historians.
It was only enough to fool these simple children.
"Hmm, the content is very... detailed."
The recorder closed the book and pushed it back to Little Jingliu, wearing a formulaic, placating smile. "Little girl, your awareness of danger and love for your hometown are worthy of praise."
"For this kind of major warning involving the safety of the entire city, we have a specialized process... How about this: you first fill out an Abnormal Event Report Form here. Write down your findings and the source of this book in detail."
"We will file it according to procedure and, depending on the situation, submit it to the relevant departments, such as the Divination Commission of the Yuque, for a preliminary judgment. Does that sound okay to you?"
He handed over a form and a pen, his attitude impeccable.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side.
A recorder named Li Fei, wearing a name tag on his chest, was leisurely processing Wangshu's case.
"Name."
"Wangshu."
"Gender?"
Wangshu was silent for a moment. "Male."
He had always been curious—was this questioning process unified across the universe?
"Age?"
"23."
"Age?"
"23!"
Wangshu emphasized. He really wasn't young anymore. Although he was technically a 'Gen Z' before transmigrating, he had already reached the age where children called him 'Uncle'. Those damn kids.
The recorder responsible for Wangshu waved his hand gently, seeming to give instructions to a logistical worker nearby.
"Birth planet."
"Earth."
Earth? No record of that.
The recorder muttered inwardly.
"Which star system?"
"The Milky Way, the Solar System. And the Solar System has eight major planets, among which Earth is the third furthest from the star, the Sun. Oh, and it has a natural satellite, the Moon."
Probably. Of course, one could say nine planets, but Wangshu vaguely remembered that Pluto seemed to have been expelled before he transmigrated.
The recorder constantly cross-referenced in his mind until he suddenly recalled some basic knowledge he had learned in ancient texts. He looked up abruptly.
"The Ancient Kingdom!"
Wangshu: "..."
We probably aren't talking about the same thing. Although the Ancient Kingdom that was the birthplace of the Xianzhou sounded a lot like Earth, the world of Honkai: Star Rail actually already had a Solar System.
And according to the timeline calculations, that place seemed to have just reached the establishment of the Han Dynasty.
"...What dynasty is your hometown currently in?"
"The imperial system was abolished nearly a hundred years ago."
The recorder suddenly became enthusiastic, his words probing for details about the hometown Wangshu spoke of.
Compared to the absurd claim that Cangcheng would be destroyed next year, a resident of the Ancient Kingdom suddenly transmigrating to Cangcheng was much more intriguing.
As for how he transmigrated? Perhaps it was the Masked Fools, perhaps just a small accident caused by some big shot, or maybe even the effects of an Imaginary Ripple. This universe was so vast that any strange thing could happen.
Just as Li Fei was asking with great interest about details of Earth's technology and cultural symbols, the logistical worker who had trotted out earlier returned, pulling along a short loli.
"This is?"
"A Diviner from the Divination Commission."
Li Fei introduced her. Wangshu nodded, looking curiously at this... not-very-tall Diviner.
So, is it a Xianzhou tradition that Diviners don't grow tall?
Oh, wait, no. The future General of the Yuque is quite tall, although he looks a bit like Bai E. Fu Xuan's teacher seems to be quite tall too.
"May I ask what she's here to do?"
"Bone reading."
Wangshu: "..."
Is your bone reading legit?
"Extend your hand."
The newly arrived Diviner was strictly business.
The bone reading was very serious, even a bit painful, but since the Diviner was a loli who looked about the same height as Little Jingliu, he gritted his teeth and didn't make a sound.
"What's the verdict?"
When it was all over, Li Fei hurriedly asked.
"17."
The Diviner was concise.
Li Fei: "..."
Wangshu took a moment to recover. "What 17?"
The Diviner rolled her eyes at him. "Your physiological bone age. 17 standard years."
Wangshu: "..."
I was still in high school at 17, and you're saying I'm 17?
"Alright, alright, go on back. If you want to live in Cangcheng for a long time, you need at least a residence and a suitable job. But seeing that you have a very good relationship with that child Jingliu, this shouldn't be difficult for you."
Li Fei was no longer looking at him, quickly entering information into the Jade Abacus terminal.
The fact that he wasn't even sure of his own age instantly made Li Fei think of the tricks or creations of the Masked Fools or the Fiction Historians.
The young man's words became even harder to trust.
When Wangshu walked out of the Realm-Keeping Commission, Little Jingliu was already waiting there. She stood with her hands behind her back, watching the flow of people on the street. Her silhouette was graceful, though she occasionally scuffed the ground lightly with the tip of her toe unconsciously.
"How did it go? Did they believe it?" Wangshu asked.
"Mm... they said they would report it according to procedure. They'll focus on submitting it to the Yuque's Divination Commission for analysis. That way, the disaster should be avoidable."
"How did your temporary residency permit go?"
She kicked away a non-existent pebble.
"It seems... it's been approved."
[Promising Future Chat Group]
Wangshu: "@Jingliu, Senior, your Cangcheng is so lenient. After asking for my name and age, they were completely relieved."
Asta: "The Xianzhou is just like that."
The Xianzhou exuded an aura of arrogance from head to toe. From titles to treatment, it radiated a sense of being superior to others, and therefore treating everyone equally.
Jingliu: "Cangcheng is commercially prosperous, with a huge floating population. The Realm-Keeping Commission processes countless outworlder registrations every day. It might... indeed be a bit looser."
Perhaps. She didn't understand this aspect at all. If they prioritized commerce, shouldn't they pay even more attention to identity registration?
Asta: "By the way, Mr. Wangshu, how old are you?"
Wangshu: "Cangcheng's Diviner said I'm 17."
Asta: "Then it's fine."
She still vividly remembered the photo of Wangshu and that little girl earlier. The little girl's face was flushed red; she looked like she was being bullied.
Jingliu: "I'm 18..."
Wangshu: "..."
Asta: "Uh 😥"
Jingliu: "I'm saying, the me at that time was 18."
Her tone through the group chat seemed to carry a trace of distant melancholy.
Wangshu: "??!"
Wangshu's eyes were a bit blank. He hurriedly called out to Little Jingliu, who was skipping ahead. "Jingliu."
"Hm?" Jingliu looked back, her crimson eyes clear.
"You... how old are you this year?" Wangshu asked somewhat hesitantly.
"Eighteen," Jingliu answered naturally, even with a bit of small pride. "In about another month, the courses at the Academy will be completely finished."
She thought Wangshu was concerned about her academic progress, so her eyes curved into a smile filled with youthful vigor.
"But don't worry. Although I don't have many feelings for you right now, I will take the matter of the adulthood qualification certificate to heart."
Thinking of this matter, she cheered herself on in her heart, then tucked a strand of hair from her forehead behind her ear.
Then, as if she had just reacted, she asked back, "By the way, you haven't told me yet, how old are you?"
She was even prepared for the other party to be over a thousand years old. After all, by Star Calendar Year 8100, she herself was already nearly 2,000 years old. Wangshu shouldn't be younger than that, right?
Wangshu looked at her bright eyes, which held a hint of nervousness and curiosity. His Adam's apple bobbed.
"17..."
Jingliu: "..."
The expression on her face froze instantly. Her crimson eyes widened slightly, seemingly trying hard to digest this number.
"Se... seventeen?"
She subconsciously repeated it, her voice a bit floaty.
Wangshu nodded heavily.
Jingliu fell silent for a while, then stood on her tiptoes and rubbed Wangshu's head.
My future self is too strong!!!
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