Night.
In the room, Lu Yuan sat cross-legged on the bed.
The moonlight outside the window spilled through the cracks, casting a faint shadow on the floor.
Lu Yuan was in no hurry to sleep.
He closed his eyes and concentrated his will on his chest.
The Timekeeper was right there.
It wasn't hanging from his neck, but... merged within him.
He could feel its presence, like a curled-up living creature, lying quietly dormant.
Lu Yuan tried to touch it with his mind.
The pocket watch reacted immediately.
A familiar power circulated through his body, ready to be released at any moment.
There was no need to hold it, no need for an activation sequence; just a single thought was enough.
It was much faster than before.
Lu Yuan continued to experiment.
He tried to keep the Timekeeper's ability in a state of readiness—not releasing it, but ready to do so at any second.
It was like a drawn bowstring, poised for action.
He succeeded.
This state could be maintained without consuming Sanity, as long as he did not actively release the power.
Lu Yuan opened his eyes and looked down at his chest.
The Timekeeper lay there quietly, looking no different from an ordinary pocket watch.
But he knew those two antennae could emerge at any time.
Those insect legs had already become one with his body.
Lu Yuan thought of Gregory's experiment log.
Symbiosis.
The parasite and the host merge into one, establishing a kind of balance.
He looked down at the watch on his chest and remained silent for a long time.
Could this be considered... symbiosis?
Outside the window, the night wind howled.
Sand struck the window frame, making a rustling sound.
Lu Yuan retracted his thoughts, lay down, and closed his eyes.
There were still many things to do tomorrow.
He needed to heal.
Go to the Bronze City.
And deliver the letter.
There was also that badge he couldn't open...
His consciousness gradually blurred.
That familiar tingling sensation came from his chest once more.
The Timekeeper's antennae poked out, writhing gently.
It was like an instinctive patrol.
...
Three days later.
The morning sun shone diagonally into the courtyard, casting pale gold marks on the ground.
Lu Yuan leaned against the doorframe, watching the few people in the yard.
Morris was washing his face by the well, his movements crisp and his spirits looking good.
Heller crouched in a corner wiping his weapons, silent as always.
Vincent sat on a stone stool, his abdomen wrapped in thick bandages; his face was still pale, but much better than two days ago.
After three days of rest, the three had recovered significantly.
Morris dried the water from his face with a towel and glanced at Lu Yuan.
"Morning."
"Morning," Lu Yuan nodded.
Morris draped the towel over the edge of the well and walked over to Lu Yuan.
"We're preparing to leave today."
Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Vincent's injury..."
"It can't be delayed any longer." Morris shook his head, "Headquarters is pressing us, and Gregory's matter needs to be reported as soon as possible."
He paused, looking at Vincent on the stone stool.
"His injury has stabilized; we'll just take it slow on the road."
Lu Yuan didn't say much else.
Pathfinders had their own rules, and their travel arrangements were not for an outsider to question.
"Before we go, there are still some things to handle," Morris said, "I need to go talk to Herman."
Lu Yuan looked at him.
"About Sandworm Town?"
"Yes." Morris nodded, "The location here is good. The Empire has always wanted to extend its sphere of influence deeper into the desert; Sandworm Town is a good springboard."
He spoke very bluntly, without any concealment.
"Besides, what happened this time was quite a stir. Gregory is dead, but his research materials remain. If we don't bring this place under the Empire's jurisdiction, it will be hard to handle if another mess occurs later."
Lu Yuan understood his meaning.
Sandworm Town was remote and had always existed outside of the Empire's control. This incident had given the Empire a reason to intervene.
"Will Herman agree?"
"He has no choice," Morris said calmly, "The mayor is dead, and the town needs someone to manage it. He is the most suitable candidate, but he has no background or backing."
"The Empire is willing to support him; he has no reason to refuse."
Lu Yuan was silent for a moment.
"The conditions?"
"Sandworms," Morris said, "The Empire needs sandworm oil and sandworm skin, and they will be responsible for the supply. The price will follow market rates; they won't be mistreated."
"Additionally, the Empire will station Nightwatchers—two or three—responsible for daily monitoring and emergencies."
He glanced at Lu Yuan.
"You should be able to understand; it's a win-win situation."
Lu Yuan nodded, offering no opinion.
Whether it was a win-win or each getting what they needed, that was between Herman and the Empire; it had nothing to do with him.
Later that morning, the atmosphere in the main hall of Herman's house was somewhat solemn.
Lu Yuan sat in a chair in the corner, watching the two people at the table.
Morris sat in the seat of honor, tapping his finger lightly on the table, speaking at a leisurely pace. Herman sat opposite him, holding a cigarette holder, his cloudy eyes narrowed into slits.
"...The Empire will establish a small outpost here and station Nightwatchers for daily monitoring."
Morris's voice wasn't loud, but it was clear.
"They will primarily deal with emergencies, such as attacks from mutated creatures or the spread of pollution sources. They won't interfere with your daily affairs."
Herman took a puff of his cigarette and said nothing.
"As for the sandworms, they will be purchased at market price," Morris continued, "The Empire needs sandworm oil and sandworm skin; you will be responsible for the hunting and preliminary processing. The specific price can be negotiated."
"Aside from that, the Empire will send people to explore and develop the hunting grounds deeper in. That area is rich in resources but also highly dangerous; it's hard for you to manage on your own."
He paused, looking at Herman.
"The development profits will be shared. The specific ratio will be discussed later, but you won't be shortchanged."
Herman removed the cigarette holder from his mouth and flicked the ash.
"Sounds decent."
His tone was flat, revealing no emotion.
"But I have a question."
"Go ahead."
"Once we're included in the Empire's territory, who has the final say in the town's affairs?"
Herman looked at Morris, his gaze sharpening slightly.
"Is it the people sent by the Empire, or is it us?"
Morris didn't answer immediately.
After a few seconds of silence, he finally spoke.
"Daily affairs, you manage yourselves. The Empire will not intervene."
"But in matters involving the transcendent domain, you must listen to the Nightwatchers."
Herman narrowed his eyes.
"For example?"
"For example, hunting mutated sandworms, dealing with sources of pollution, or..." Morris gave him a look, "the next time someone like Gregory appears."
Herman fell silent.
He lowered his head, looking at the cigarette holder in his hand, his thoughts unknown.
After a long while, he looked up.
"Deal."
Morris nodded and extended his hand.
Herman grasped it, and the two men's palms met in a firm shake.
"A pleasure doing business with you."
"A pleasure."
Lu Yuan watched this scene from the corner without any particular feeling.
Sandworm Town joining the Empire's map wasn't necessarily a bad thing for the townsfolk. With the Empire's support, the hunting grounds could be expanded, trade could be standardized, and the standard of living would improve.
Of course, the price was losing a portion of their autonomy.
But for a small town that was almost destroyed by a source of pollution, this price wasn't too high.
Shortly after the negotiation ended, Lu Yuan stood in the courtyard, watching the carriage being loaded in the distance.
Morris came out of the house and walked toward him.
"Finished talking?" Lu Yuan asked.
"Yes." Morris stood still beside him, "It went smoother than expected. Herman is a smart man who knows when to compromise."
Lu Yuan didn't respond.
A moment of silence followed.
"There's something," Morris said, his tone becoming a bit more formal than usual, "regarding your identity."
Lu Yuan looked at him.
"I know you're an outside consultant for the Nightwatchers," Morris said, "but the Nightwatchers' system is different from the pathfinders'; many times it's not quite convenient."
He took a small box from his coat and handed it over.
Lu Yuan took it and opened it.
Inside was a silver badge.
The badge wasn't large, slightly smaller than a Nightwatchers' badge. The surface was carved with a bird with its wings spread, its posture elegant and strong. Below was a line of tiny inscriptions written in the Ancient Imperial Language.
"A pathfinder consultant badge," Morris explained, "The authority is roughly the same as a formal member. You can use any pathfinder outpost across the Empire. Information sharing, lodging at outposts, and material replenishment—all of that is fine."
He paused.
"Points can also be stored in it, and they'll come in handy when you need them. This badge is equivalent to a formal member's identity and requires registration, but the authority to issue it lies with pathfinders of rank 2 or higher."
Lu Yuan looked at the badge in his hand and was silent for a few seconds.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"I only helped a little," Lu Yuan looked up at Morris, "and you probably still have many unanswered questions."
Morris looked at him, his gaze somewhat complex.
There was scrutiny, curiosity, and some indefinable emotions.
"There are indeed questions." He didn't deny it, "I still haven't figured out what happened that night."
"Three rank 2 transcendents had their Sanity drained at the same time. I know the mechanism of that ring very well; it's impossible for such a problem to occur."
He looked at Lu Yuan, his tone calm.
"So the only explanation is that someone actively did something."
Lu Yuan's expression remained unchanged.
"But that's for later," Morris changed the subject, "The fact right now is that you saved the three of us."
"Regardless of what means you used or what secrets you have, this favor is real."
He pointed to the badge in Lu Yuan's hand.
"Pathfinders believe in repaying kindness; it's the rule."
Lu Yuan understood the implication behind his words.
This badge was both a thank you and a test.
Giving him the identity of a pathfinder meant his movements would be recorded and his actions monitored. Rather than recruitment, it was more like a gentle surveillance.
But Lu Yuan didn't care.
He had never intended to hide away. Whether it was the Nightwatchers or the pathfinders, as long as it didn't hinder him from doing his own thing, having another identity only offered benefits.
"Alright." Lu Yuan tucked the badge into his coat, "Thank you."
Morris nodded.
"Our destination is the royal capital, which isn't on your way," he said, "If you're going to the Bronze City, it's safer to go with Herman's merchant caravan. The desert isn't peaceful."
"I know."
"Then that's it."
Morris turned and walked toward the carriage.
After a few steps, he stopped again and looked back at Lu Yuan.
"Right, the Sanity Ring."
Lu Yuan was stunned for a moment.
"I didn't take it back," Morris said casually, "Just return it to me next time we meet."
Finished speaking, he didn't look back again and strode toward the carriage.
Rate on N.U.
