stonecrandall Page 57
Page 57
As he spoke, Gray Sparrow picked up another beer and took a big gulp.
Zhang Su listened silently, his fingers unconsciously tracing circles on the side of the cup. These methods all sounded feasible, but the uncertainty was high, and it might be difficult to select the person he wanted.
Just then, as if suddenly remembering something, Gray Sparrow hesitated for a moment and added, "Actually... there is a fourth method, which is slower, but has a wider range and is safer and more covert."
"Oh? Tell me about it." Zhang Su became interested.
“It’s about placing ads in the newspaper,” Gray Sparrow said. Seeing Zhang Su raise an eyebrow, he quickly explained, “Not directly advertising ‘Recruiting Superhumans,’ that would be too stupid. It’s about publishing some… well, mystical puzzles.”
He got more and more carried away as he spoke: "For example, in the letter-to-the-letter section of the *Mirage Daily* or the *Industrial Herald*, an anonymous poem written in ancient language, or a geometric figure with strange symbols, would be published, claiming to have been found in some 'ancient ruin,' and asking for a solution. Or, a logic puzzle would be presented, but the answer would require some basic numerology or symbolism..."
“Those who are interested will naturally try to decipher it and send their answers to the mailbox provided by the newspaper. You can then filter through these replies. Those who can understand the intricacies and provide correct or interesting answers are mostly people who have knowledge of the occult, have a talent for it, or are extremely curious. Wouldn't that be a preliminary screening of your targets?”
Grey Sparrow lowered his voice, saying, "Moreover, Your Excellency, rest assured, official organizations generally don't bother with this kind of 'gray area' stuff. Almost every one of the dozens of newspapers and magazines in the city has run these kinds of suspenseful puzzles and reader guessing columns to attract readers who enjoy the bizarre and occult, with things like 'cracking the ancient Elven script' or 'finding the secret of the lost treasure map'... the variety is endless. If the authorities investigated every single one, they'd be exhausted. As long as it doesn't blatantly promote cults or specific supernatural knowledge, they basically turn a blind eye."
Zhang Su listened, his eyes lighting up slightly. This was indeed a novel yet ingenious method! By using intellectual games and subtle challenges, it could accurately filter out potential targets with specific ways of thinking and knowledge backgrounds from a large population, all while being disguised as mass entertainment, making it sufficiently safe.
"The newspaper riddle... is interesting." Zhang Su stroked his chin, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips. He seemed to have spotted an efficient and discreet way to "cast a wide net."
“The information you provided is very useful, Gray Sparrow,” Zhang Su said, his tone approving.
The gray sparrow smiled, flattered, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that his work as a "guide" seemed to have been initially recognized by this mysterious lord.
Under the dim lights of the tavern, the two continued their hushed conversation. Outside the window, the city of Mygai remained asleep in steam and shadow, while an invisible net seemed to be quietly being woven.
Volume 2: Chapter 12: Thorns and Elixir Magazine
As night deepened, the noise in the tavern subsided, leaving only the occasional clinking of cups and plates and low whispers.
The plates in front of Zhang Su and Gray Sparrow were empty, with only a little beer foam clinging to the sides of their glasses.
The gray sparrow let out a burp, its face showing satisfaction mixed with a hint of lingering restraint.
He habitually reached for his empty purse, and muttered, "Sir, let me pay for this meal..."
Zhang Su gently raised his hand to stop him, his voice steady yet unquestionable: "No need, please."
As he spoke, he precisely placed a gleaming 5-sola silver coin and several finnies on the table, just covering the bill and including a generous tip. "Let's go."
The gray sparrow paused for a moment, looking at the payment that far exceeded the cost of the meal. Its expression was somewhat frightened, but it didn't insist. It just nodded hesitantly and said, "Thank you, sir!"
The two stepped out of the tavern, the cold night wind carrying the smell of coal smoke instantly invigorating them. Standing under the dim streetlights, Zhang Su turned to Gray Sparrow: "In the future, there might be some miscellaneous tasks in Migai City that require manpower. How can I contact you?"
Upon hearing this, Gray Sparrow's eyes immediately lit up. Without any hesitation, he quickly pulled out a small piece of charcoal pencil and a crumpled piece of rough paper, which seemed to be used to wrap medicinal herbs, from his pocket and wrote a few lines.
"Sir, please take this! My name is Aaron Fergus. I run a small clinic at the entrance of Mole Alley in the Anvil District. It doesn't have a formal name; there's just a faded medical sign hanging outside. The neighbors all call me 'Dr. Aaron Fergus.'" He spoke quickly, with an eagerness to prove his worth. "I... I mainly treat... um... injuries that are inconvenient to go to a big hospital for. Suturing, removing bullets, and treating fractures are all fine! You can come to me there anytime!"
Zhang Su took the note, glanced at the address and the name "Aaron Fergus" under the light, folded it neatly, and casually stuffed it into his coat pocket. "Understood. Goodbye, Dr. Aaron." He nodded in a flat tone.
"Farewell, Your Excellency! I await your command at any time!" Gray Sparrow—or rather, Dr. Aaron—bowed respectfully until Zhang Su turned and disappeared into the shadows of the street. Only then did he straighten up, let out a long sigh, and strode off in another direction.
……
Back in his small but quiet room at the "Cast Iron Inn," Zhang Su locked the door but didn't rest immediately. He sat down in the hardwood chair, closed his eyes, and reflected on everything that had happened that day: from interrogating Karl to extract information, to "interviewing" pianist Pieno, to the sewer party and the subsequent conflict... He had done so much today that he felt mentally exhausted.
He sat quietly for nearly half an hour, letting his thoughts settle and his body slowly absorb the extra energy required to maintain the void space.
After that, he got up, washed up with the simple ceramic basin and kettle in the corner of the room, changed into comfortable pajamas, and lay down on the bed, which was not soft but was clean enough.
The moment my body touched the bed, a deep sense of exhaustion washed over me.
I did get a lot done today, both physically and mentally.
He barely had time to think before his consciousness quickly sank into a dark sleep.
I slept without dreams.
……
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the soot-covered windows, casting blurry patches of light inside. Zhang Su slowly awoke; the noise outside reminded him that it was already late.
He habitually reached out, his eyes still half-closed, groping on the bedside table... his fingertips only touched the cold wooden tabletop and the glass shade of the kerosene lamp.
He was stunned for a moment, then fully woke up, his arm frozen in mid-air.
“…Tsk.” He let out a light snort of annoyance mixed with self-mockery. “I forgot again, there are no cell phones in this world.”
It's been almost a month since he transmigrated, and every morning this unconscious action reminds him that the "world" that was within reach and contained countless pieces of information is now as distant as another world.
A sense of loss, like tiny ice spikes, gently pierced his heart. He sighed and resignedly sat up.
I got up, splashed cold water on my face to wake myself up, and then changed into a set of dark casual clothes that would allow me to move around easily.
Leaving the hotel, the streets were filled with the mixed smells of food and coal smoke.
He randomly picked a small restaurant that looked reasonably clean to have brunch. A bowl of mushy bean soup with a few small pieces of salted meat floating in it, served with a large piece of hard rye bread.
The food was barely filling, a rough and hearty meal typical of the working class in an industrial city. He finished quickly and quietly, paying six pfennigs.
As you approach the street corner, several public carriages waiting for passengers are parked there.
The drivers leaned back lazily in their seats, basking in the sun. Zhang Su walked towards the nearest one.
"Driver, how much will it cost to go to the nearest newspaper or magazine office? How far is it?"
The driver was a middle-aged man with ruddy cheeks, wearing a worn-out baseball cap.
He sized up Zhang Su, guessing that he was a gentleman of some status, and then politely replied, "Sir, newspapers? Those are all in the city center. The nearest branch of the 'Miga City Daily' is at least thirty kilometers away from here. As for magazines... there is one nearby, the 'Thorns and Elixir' magazine, about ten kilometers away, at the other end of 'Old Book Street'."
Upon hearing the name, Zhang Su raised an eyebrow: "Thorns and Elixirs? That name sounds... a bit unusual. Is it a book about mysticism?"
The driver scratched his head, a hint of confusion on his face. "Mysticism? Uh... sir, I don't quite understand those big terms you're using. But that magazine, the stuff in it is pretty mystical, full of instructions on how to use tea leaves to predict your luck, how to find a partner based on the position of stars, or how to tinker with strange things at home to change your luck... Hey, quite a few young people actually like to read it. My daughter has bought several copies and treasures them like precious gems."
After hearing this, Zhang Su felt a strange sense of coincidence and even a subtle suspicion that he had been "arranged" by someone.
Just when I was looking for a place to publish my esoteric puzzles, I stumbled upon a magazine that specializes in publishing this kind of content? This pillow couldn't have come at the perfect time.
He suppressed the strange feeling in his heart, no longer hesitated, opened the car door and got in: "Let's go to the office of 'Thorns and Elixirs' magazine. How much does it cost?"
"Alright, sir! To the 'Thorns and Elixir Magazine' in the used bookstore district. It's not a short distance. I'll charge you 1 sola and 10 pfennigs. Is that alright?"
Zhang Su did the math and figured that, based on the prices in this world, it was equivalent to a skilled worker's daily wage, which was a reasonable price for a long journey by public carriage.
“Okay.” Zhang Su nodded. The carriage swayed gently, and with a soft shout from the driver, it headed towards the “Old Book Street”.
The public carriage traveled for about forty minutes through the somewhat noisy streets before finally stopping on a relatively quiet street filled with the smell of old paper and ink.
A three-story brick building stands on the street corner, with a uniquely designed wooden sign hanging at the entrance. The words "Thorns and Elixir Magazine" are carved in elegant cursive script, and the side is decorated with entwined vines and herb patterns.
Zhang Su got out of the car and paid the driver 1 sola and 10 pfennigs as agreed. The driver thanked him and drove away.
He pushed open the glass door of the magazine office, and the brass bell on the door rang out with a clear, tinkling sound.
The lobby on the first floor was small, carpeted in dark colors, and several unusual, symbolic prints hung on the walls. A young receptionist, dressed in a neat shirt and wearing sleeves, sat behind a walnut wood table.
"Good morning, sir. How can I help you?" The receptionist looked up and gave a professional smile.
"Good morning. I'd like to inquire about placing an advertisement in your magazine... or rather, a regular column," Zhang Su said in a calm tone.
"Okay, sir, please have a seat over there for a moment. I need to consult with the manager." The receptionist gestured to several comfortable sofas placed against the wall.
After Zhang Su sat down, a young man who looked like an assistant quickly brought him a glass of water. A few minutes later, the receptionist came over with a smile: "Sir, our manager is available now, please come with me."
He was led to a small cubicle in the first-floor corridor.
The room is simply and comfortably furnished, with a small round table, two armchairs, and a steaming cup of coffee and a small plate of butter cookies sprinkled with icing sugar already set on the table.
He had barely sat down when there was a knock on the door of the cubicle, which was then pushed open.
A woman walked in.
She was in her forties, with thick, long, dark brown curly hair tied back with a simple silver hairpin, and a few strands falling casually down her neck.
She wore a well-tailored dark green suit skirt and gold-rimmed glasses, her eyes sharp and intelligent. She smiled and extended her hand to Zhang Su, her movements efficient yet elegant: "Hello, sir. I am Olivia Thorne, the content editor of *Thorns and Elixirs*. Welcome to *Thorns and Elixirs*."
Zhang Su stood up and gently shook hands with her: "Hello, Ms. Thorne. My name is Zhang Su." The two then sat down.
"I heard from the receptionist that Mr. Zhang is interested in our magazine's columns?" Olivia Thorne asked directly, placing her hands folded on the table.
“Yes.” Zhang Su nodded. “I would like to start a long-term or irregular interactive column in your magazine, which will mainly publish some puzzles related to mysticism, semiotics or logical reasoning.”
Readers can send their answers back. For the reader who provides the correct answer or the most ingenious solution, I will provide a certain amount of money and other rewards.
Olivia smiled knowingly upon hearing this: "It's a classic column format. Our magazine has done similar interactive programs in the past, and the reader response has always been good. We're quite familiar with how to run it. So, Mr. Zhang, would you like to start from the next issue, or this one?"
"If you wish to have your issue published expedited, we can do so. The final draft of this issue will be sent to the printing press the day after tomorrow, and it will be available at distributors throughout the city and surrounding areas the day after that, Monday. However, adjusting the layout at the last minute requires some extra work, so the cost will be slightly higher. If you wish to start from the next issue, we will follow the normal process and pricing."
"So fast? I thought it would take at least a week to plan." Zhang Su was somewhat surprised, as he remembered that magazine publication cycles were much longer.
Olivia chuckled: "We take a boutique, niche approach. Each issue has a small print run, but we strive for accurate content, beautiful printing, and a faster response to trending topics and reader feedback. That's our little advantage."
“Very good.” Zhang Su liked this efficiency. “Then let’s schedule it for this period. Please include the expedited fee in the calculation.”
“A wise choice.” Olivia’s smile widened. “Then, please provide the riddle. Did you bring a manuscript? Or would you like to write it down now?”
"Please give me paper and pen," Zhang Su said.
"Please wait a moment." Olivia stood up and quickly returned with a good-looking fountain pen and a brand-new notebook. "Please feel free to write whatever you need. Just press the bell on the table when you're done. I'll have someone come and collect it immediately and calculate the cost for you."
She placed the paper and pen in front of Zhang Su, smiled and nodded, then left the cubicle and considerately closed the door.
The cubicle fell silent, save for the faint sounds of the city outside the window and the cold touch of the fountain pen. Zhang Su picked up the pen, staring at the blank page, lost in thought.
However, after a few minutes, he found that his mental inventory of "mystical puzzles" was almost zero.
Before his time travel, he might have been able to come up with a few logic puzzles or number puzzles, but finding someone who fit the context of this world and effectively selects people with specific thinking and knowledge bases was by no means an easy task.
"Sigh, professional matters should be left to professionals." He smiled helplessly to himself, then concentrated and silently recited, "Yuan Shu, do me a favor. Design two puzzles, one that leans towards the application of occult knowledge, and the other that leans towards the screening of subconsciousness and values. The difficulty should be moderate, and the purpose is to attract and initially identify talents who may be suitable for the Bureau."
[Command confirmed. Problems are being developed based on common symbolic systems and fundamental cognitive theories within contemporary world occultism...]
[Build complete. We suggest providing the following two questions:]
A clear idea immediately formed in Zhang Su's mind. Without further hesitation, he picked up his pen and began to write fluently on the paper.
Riddle 1: The Gate of the Four Symbols
An explorer discovered an ancient obelisk with an inscription that reads: "Only those who simultaneously understand the true meaning of 'creation,' 'destruction,' 'flow,' and 'stability' can open the path to wisdom." Each of the obelisk's four sides has a door, each inscribed with a symbolic design.
A. The Burning Phoenix
B. A dagger entwined with a venomous snake
C. The ever-flowing river
D. Mountains standing tall in the storm
Question: Based on the common correspondences between elements and symbols, which door do you think the explorer should choose to best meet the requirement of "simultaneous understanding"? Please briefly explain your reasoning. (Hint: Consider what kind of force can encompass or balance these seemingly contradictory qualities.)
Puzzle Two: The Silent Choice
Imagine you walk into a spacious room, where three items are placed on a stone platform in the center:
1. An ancient lamp burning with a ghostly blue flame, yet it feels no warmth at all.
2. A heavy book made of an unknown material, with blank pages, yet seemingly written by an invisible pen.
3. A mirror as smooth as silver, yet capable of reflecting the viewer's deepest desires.
Question: Which item would you go to first? Why? What priorities does this choice reflect? (There is no standard answer to this question; please answer honestly based on your first instinct.)
After writing the last word, Zhang Su put down his fountain pen and let out a soft breath.
Next, Genshu explained the meaning of the answers to two questions to him:
Analysis of the first question.
Answer: The correct answer is A. The Burning Phoenix.
Explanation: The core of this puzzle lies in understanding the phrase "simultaneously understanding 'creation,' 'destruction,' 'flow,' and 'stability.'" It doesn't require finding separate symbols representing these four concepts, but rather finding a higher-level concept or symbol that can encompass, balance, or unify these seemingly contradictory qualities.
Let's first analyze the single trait that each option typically represents:
A. The Burning Phoenix: The phoenix is a mythical bird that never dies, destroying itself in flames (the old self) and creating again from the ashes (new life). Its image is closely associated with the element of fire, which possesses both destructive power to destroy everything and the ability to bring warmth and catalyze change, symbolizing creation. The form of flame is fluid and uncertain, while the characteristic of "immortality" suggests a cyclical and stable eternity. Therefore, the phoenix itself perfectly integrates the core contradiction of "destruction" and "creation," and implicitly contains the characteristics of "fluidity" (flame) and "stability" (eternity).
B. Dagger coiled around a serpent: This symbol is usually strongly associated with destruction, death, betrayal, danger, and secrets (the serpent's allusion). It may also imply "flow" (the flow of venom, the flow of cunning), but its primary and most direct symbolism is destruction, lacking any obvious connotation of creation and stability.
C. The ever-flowing river: This is the ultimate symbol of flow. Rivers also represent time, change, and life (a kind of creation), as well as continuous erosion (a kind of slow destruction). But it lacks the quality of "stability"; its essence is "constant change," which is the opposite of stability.
D. Mountains standing firm in the storm: This is a classic symbol of stability, resilience, unwavering strength. It withstands the test of the storm (the force of destruction), but it is static and fixed, lacking apparent creativity and fluidity.
in conclusion:
In the common correspondences between mystical elements and symbols:
Fire (the phoenix) typically represents "transformation"—which inherently encompasses both "destruction" (the end of the old form) and "creation" (the birth of the new form). The form of fire is fluid, while the laws governing its transformation are eternal and stable.