Chapter 2996: A Special Method of Storage

How should one scientifically store transcendent items?

It was a rather abstract question, but as a Warehouse Manager, Fu Qian had genuinely pondered it before.

And one of his final conclusions was that burying them underground was probably a bad idea.

Compared to conventional hazardous materials, the restrictive power of earth, stone, or even entire mountains was simply too weak to contain transcendent items.

Even if the concern was thieves, a mountain-guarding grand formation would be far more reliable than adding a few extra layers of steel plating.

Because of this, the scene along Drifting Street didn't actually seem too out of place to Fu Qian.

A pile of dangerous items casually tossed onto shelves looked incredibly careless and unreliable, but they were actually merchandise protected by an invisible layer of shelter.

A specific concept had been bestowed upon them, integrating them into a complete system.

Though he wasn't sure of the exact mechanics, it clearly worked.

Just looking at the sheer quantity of jewelry in the shop before him—piled together on such an exaggerated scale yet remaining entirely dormant, without interfering with each other or triggering any sinister reactions—was proof enough of its success.

And this was just the shop right next to him.

Looking down the entire street, exactly how many unstable elements were there?

Yet they had managed to force this half-dead, barely-open state of harmony, and passing Travelers weren't being assaulted in the streets. In Fu Qian's eyes, this was already a groundbreaking achievement.

These were "sinister items" gathered from across the entire world, and from a world where the transcendent systems were thoroughly shattered and twisted, no less.

"That is a bit further ahead. If you're interested in anything, you can stop and take a look around." Kelin answered his earlier question, confirming that Fu Qian's reward was indeed in one of the shops along the street. As for her suggestion, Fu Qian's gaze fell into the depths of the jewelry shop, just in time to meet the eyes of a clerk dressed in a purple robe.

An unfamiliar face. Female, with an age that was somewhat difficult to pin down.

Her features weren't overly outstanding, but she looked much more human than Her Excellency Needle Witch.

Moreover, her unwrinkled face carried an indescribable sense of authority.

For a shop clerk, such a demeanor was undoubtedly a bit sub-par.

However, considering the earlier introduction, there was a very high probability that she was also a member of the Night Watchers Supreme Council, which made her imposing aura completely understandable.

Yet just as Fu Qian was trying to make sense of the world, a certain formidable law of the universe took effect: never make eye contact with the staff while window shopping.

"Want to come in and take a look?" Despite her exalted status, her lack of sales quotas, and the fact that the man outside didn't exactly look like a good person, the clerk still triggered the legendary law of causality, smiling as she invited Professor Fu inside.

"Just looking around. Maybe later when I have time," Fu Qian replied. Well-versed in the standard shopper's jargon, he offered a polite yet elegant refusal.

Both guest and host were satisfied.

Although he didn't enter, the clerk seemed quite pleased with the exchange, maintaining her smiling gaze until he was out of sight.

It was also apparent that Old Man Stoss couldn't quite comprehend the harmonious scene unfolding before him.

Strolling through the very heart of the Night Watchers' territory, surrounded by surging undercurrents, Professor Fu had genuinely managed to project the relaxed vibe of someone out for a shopping trip.

"Do you usually come here to buy things?" Even while acting as if he were feasting his eyes on the sights, he didn't forget to turn his head and chat with Su Gao.

"A few times, mainly to make preparations for pursuit operations." Executive Yama Su treated Professor Fu's reaction as perfectly natural, smoothly conversing about her impressions of Drifting Street.

"Like that Die of yours?"

Nodding slightly, Fu Qian could easily imagine the scene: this nightmare for transcendent criminals coming here to arm herself to the teeth before a mission.

This was how it should be.

Merchandise only had meaning when it circulated. Simply collecting these items and stuffing them in here was not only recklessly wasting heaven's gifts, but theoretically, it also destroyed their very nature as merchandise.

And sure enough, the minds of the Night Watchers weren't that pedantic. According to Su Gao, as a member of the Yama Enforcer Squad, she could still come here to "buy" things before heading out on an operation.

"Yes, though I had to pay a certain amount of compensation later because the item was damaged," Su Gao said, confirming his deduction.

The Die Fu Qian mentioned was naturally the "Hidden Thread," which had appeared during the mission where he obtained the White Ring.

At that time, Su Gao, who had not yet reached the Demigod Realm, wielded a transcendent item to help herself resist potential mental influences.

Unfortunately, by a strange twist of fate, it had turned into a psychological death by a thousand cuts upon herself.

To the point where, in the end, he'd had to eat the thing to help her break free from it.

To think that this actually counted as destroying public property and required corresponding compensation? He could only say that it was... somewhat reasonable.

Fu Qian shook his head slightly. In his view, the ones who should have paid compensation were the people who provided the intelligence support and equipment recommendations.

But if someone could just casually "buy" things from here and then later report them as lost, it would indeed be a systemic loophole that people would inevitably exploit.

He could only say that as an ancient organization, the administrators on the Night Watchers' side truly weren't pedantic. They knew full well that human nature was unreliable and that there was no need to test it excessively.

Additionally, Su Gao's answer confirmed the circulation regulations for these transcendent items; they were indeed trying their best to maintain their status as merchandise.

The only issue, perhaps, was that their conversation was a bit too brazen.

As a specialized item for operations, the "Hidden Thread" should have had a certain level of confidentiality.

Yet Professor Fu from the Academy had not only mentioned it casually, but even knew that the item had been broken.

If one were to look deeply into the matter, Classmate Su Gao would likely find it hard to escape the suspicion of leaking secrets.

And they were just talking about it in front of a group of Night Watcher elders?

Not to mention that it was right after that operation that Executive Yama Su had ascended to the Demigod Realm in one fell swoop, officially stepping into the ranks of High-Tier Transcendents.

Connecting the dots even slightly would make anyone suspect the role Professor Fu had played in all of it, as well as the matter of Executive Yama Su's loyalty.

"Putting it that way, it seems I should be the one to pay the compensation?"

However, Professor Fu's uninhibited behavior continued.

Not only did he directly hint that the Hidden Thread had been destroyed by him, but he even looked at Kelin when he said that last sentence, as if confirming the Evaluation Council's regulations on the matter.

"That won't be necessary," Excellency Kelin, a member of the Conservative Faction, replied with a rather flexible attitude. "Although it is a system that even the Supreme Council must abide by, given the outstanding contributions Su Gao has made, a little compensation shouldn't amount to much."

Not only did she casually wave the matter off as settled, but she didn't even ask why the item had been destroyed in Professor Fu's hands.

"We're here," she said instead, signaling that the moment for the grand prize to be revealed had arrived.

"Is it really such a coincidence?" Fu Qian asked, coming to a halt and glancing at the pale face of Old Man Chaumont inside the roadside display window.

"It is not that coincidental." Kelin shook her head, gesturing to the other side of the road.