"We're here—the Flower, Bird, Fish, and Insect Market. This place is full of all sorts—scammers, smugglers, and plenty of shady dealings. Need me to help you pick something out?"
"No need."
"Alright then. This was a pleasant collaboration. If the opportunity arises, I'll be sure to find you again."
Qingyi waved goodbye to Sam Li, then drove off, heading back to the Security Bureau headquarters with Zhu Yuan.
...
Inside the car, Zhu Yuan glanced at Qingyi in confusion. "Senior, I haven't seen you this happy in a long time. Is it because we cracked a major case?"
Qingyi shook her head. "Not quite. I just came across someone interesting."
That person, of course, was Sam Li.
She had seen many peculiar things about him—his strange yet extensive knowledge of treasure appraisal, his odd habit of carrying an empty birdcage, the mysterious golden glow that put people at ease, and the spear that appeared and vanished without a trace...
All of it piqued her curiosity.
Over the years, Qingyi had amassed a wealth of experience and wisdom, confident that she could see through anyone.
Until she met Sam Li.
He gave off the impression of an unfathomable spring—calm on the surface, yet impossibly deep—or perhaps, a weighty boulder, immovable and shrouded in mystery.
She had a vague feeling that he was someone like her—someone who had endured the trials of time, surviving again and again through sheer fortune.
And yet...
One thing didn't add up.
Sam Li was strikingly handsome and looked far too young to have been through such hardships.
Could it be that, like her, he possessed a special kind of body?
She couldn't quite figure it out.
What an enigma.
Suddenly, the car's radio crackled to life.
Zhu Yuan picked up the receiver. "This is Zhu Yuan's unit—what did you say? Hold on, I'll be there with Senior right away."
She set the receiver down, her expression turning serious. "The transport carrying the antique smugglers was in an accident. Their leader took the opportunity to escape."
Qingyi remained calm. "No need to panic. He's just an old man nearing the end of his days. Even if he escaped, the first thing he'll do is track down the smuggler who betrayed him. If we follow that lead, we'll find him."
Zhu Yuan's eyes lit up. "That's brilliant, Senior! Let's go."
Before her words even settled, she slammed her foot on the gas, sending the SUV speeding forward.
Meanwhile, Qingyi sat in the passenger seat, mumbling to herself, "I forgot to get his contact information..."
...
While Zhu Yuan and Qingyi rushed off to handle the fugitive situation, Sam Li remained at the Flower, Bird, Fish, and Insect Market, surveying his surroundings.
Though it was called a market, in reality, it was far from a place of legitimate trade. It was one of New Eridu's many gray zones.
It didn't take Sam Li long to understand why.
The market offered a dazzling array of flowers, birds, fish, and insects—an overwhelming selection of rare and exotic creatures.
Some of the items on sale were astounding: pet cats that had gone extinct during the Great Cataclysm, massive and ferocious beasts, flowers worth a fortune...
However, this was merely the market's glamorous facade.
In the shadows, hidden from the public eye, were more sinister offerings—mutant two-headed dogs enhanced through Ether catalysis, swarms of insects altered by the same process, and even grotesque, amorphous creatures that resembled nothing more than living sludge.
It was obvious.
These were all byproducts of illegal Ether experiments—experiments strictly banned by the authorities of New Eridu.
"Young man, how about taking one home as a pet?" a shopkeeper called out eagerly.
"No thanks."
Sam Li barely glanced at the creatures before walking away.
After making his way through the market, he finally came across a shop that looked somewhat normal. This one specialized in birds, with a variety of species on display.
"Ah, sir, you've got a keen eye! These birds were all caught in the Hollows. They're naturally resistant to Ether erosion. If you ever happen to fall into a Hollow, one of these might just help lead you out."
The shopkeeper spoke persuasively, doing his best to sell his stock.
Sam Li, however, wasn't concerned with whether the birds could guide him out of a Hollow.
He simply wanted to buy a decent one to put in his birdcage—so he could complete his daily task of taking it for a walk.
Otherwise, I'd be walking around with an empty birdcage every day.
People would start talking.
...
It didn't take long for Sam Li to make his choice.
The shopkeeper grinned. "Sir, you've got a great eye! This thrush was just caught in the Hollows. Special price for newcomers—only 80,000 Denny!"
Sam Li: "..."
He neither agreed nor refused. Instead, he opened the shop's cage and gently took the thrush out.
The shopkeeper panicked. "Careful! It might fly away—"
But, miraculously, the thrush didn't flee. Instead, it perched on Sam Li's hand, chirping softly. Then, with a flutter of its wings, it landed on his other hand.
Even the shopkeeper was stunned.
After a closer look at Sam Li, the shopkeeper finally noticed the birdcage in his hands and broke into a knowing smile. "Well, well, looks like I almost swindled the wrong guy. The 80,000 Denny price is for newcomers, but for a regular like you, I'll cut it down to 50,000."
"Deal. Send the bill to the Hare's House."
"Sir, we're just a small business..."
Sam Li pulled out his Hare's House employee ID. "This should clear things up."
As for why he was charging it to the account?
Simple—he never carried Denny with him. Earlier, he hadn't taken the 50,000 Denny that Qingyi offered as payment. Instead, he had her deposit it directly into the Hare's House's account.
With the transaction recorded, Sam Li picked up the birdcage. At a simple motion of his hand, the thrush flew in on its own.
In that instant, a system notification echoed in his mind:
[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have successfully obtained a common thrush (x1).]
[System Notice: You have yet to complete today's bird-walking task. Completing it will increase role-playing progress by 0.1%.]
...
A few minutes later.
When Sam Li walked out of the Flower, Bird, Fish, and Insect Market, the birdcage in his hand now held a thrush.
He casually strolled along, walking his bird, heading in the direction of the Hare's House.
The entire afternoon had been spent assisting Qingyi in capturing antique smugglers. By the time he returned from the market, the sky had already darkened.
At the same time, Nicole, Anby, and Billy had just finished their own commissions and returned as well.
The moment Nicole saw Sam Li, she dashed over excitedly.
"Sam Li! My account suddenly got an extra 50,000 Denny—do you know anything about this? Did you secretly take on a commission by yourself?"
Sam Li nodded. "Yeah. Helped the Security Bureau catch a group of criminals. The 50,000 Denny was the reward."
...