Chapter 501 - 470: Space-Time Disorder! Nightmare

Chapter 501: Chapter 470: Space-Time Disorder! Nightmare

"This was originally Morne’s job. I’m just filling in for him... His house caught fire last night, so..."

He kept making change as he spoke.

But Galvis’s curiosity was clearly piqued, and he pressed on with his questions.

"’Xinfeng Posthouse’? What’s that for? A fire? Was it the Lower City District fire mentioned in the newspaper?"

The stream of questions gradually began to irritate the normally patient newsboy.

He pursed his lips and quickened the movements of his hands.

A moment later, the newsboy finally let out a long sigh. He practically fled past the chattering Minstrel and hurried over to Roland, looking up.

"Sir..."

At this, Roland finally looked up from his newspaper, extending his palm with a gentle smile.

"All counted? Sorry for the trouble."

"Oh, no, no, it’s not your fault..."

The newsboy quickly shook his head. He then carefully cupped his hands and gently poured a small, jingling pile of Copper Radiance Coins into Roland’s outstretched palm.

But in the next instant, the cascading Copper Radiance Coins didn’t land in Roland’s palm.

Instead, as if passing through an invisible illusion, they went straight through his palm and arm, scattering across the ground with a CLATTER.

Gazing at the scattered coins on the ground, Roland’s brow suddenly furrowed.

Thanks to the special Perception of Space-Time fluctuations granted by [Time Traveler], the moment the Copper Radiance Coins passed through his palm, an extremely subtle, almost illusory feeling of wrongness pierced his Perception along the path of contact.

This wasn’t a physical lack of sensation, but a deeper, more fundamental "dislocation."

Along the path the coins took through his palm, the flow of time seemed to have developed a minuscule, unnatural "fold," as if a hairline fracture had appeared between two segments of the "present" that should have been seamlessly joined.

’This isn’t spatial penetration, it’s more like...’

’My "present moment" and the "present moment" of the coins are separated by an almost imperceptible, gossamer-thin membrane of temporal difference.’

"Sir? Sir! Are... are you alright?"

The newsboy’s voice, a mix of surprise and alarm, pulled Roland from his reverie.

The boy had clearly seen the bizarre sight of the coins "passing through" his hand and falling to the ground; his little face had gone pale.

He looked helplessly from Roland’s hand to the coins on the ground, and finally to Roland’s face, seemingly trying to figure out if it was some sort of Trick or if his own eyes had deceived him.

Nearby, Galvis stopped his banter. His gaze darted between Roland and the ground, a new note of inquiry and wariness in his eyes.

Roland took a deep breath, quickly reigning in all outward emotion.

"I’m fine."

He told the newsboy gently, his voice as steady as ever, as he nonchalantly bent down to pick up the coins.

This time, his fingers closed securely around a cold Copper Coin.

"It must have been a trick of the light just now. My eyes blurred, and I fumbled the catch."

"Sorry to have startled you."

He picked up the Copper Coins one by one and held them in his palm.

The tangible feel and weight of the metal stood in stark contrast to the bizarre sensation of phasing through them just moments ago, yet it also subtly confirmed the reality of that "dislocation."

"The transaction’s complete."

Roland nodded to the newsboy and folded the newspaper.

The newsboy was skeptical, but seeing the distinguished-looking customer’s calm expression and the fact that he had indeed picked up the coins, he breathed a sigh of relief, chalking it up to an illusion brought on by being too busy.

He gave a hasty bow, then turned and ran off.

Galvis strolled over, sizing up Roland, and lowered his voice.

"That... wasn’t just your ’eyes blurring,’ was it, my friend?"

"You’re right, everyone..."

He turned to face his other companions, his voice low and clear.

"Perhaps everything we’re seeing right now is real."

"This is indeed Silver Radiance City in the year 490 of the Crystal Calendar. But the issue isn’t whether time has stopped here. It’s that..."

He took a few steps forward, stopping beside a Green Skin Beastman who was haggling with a merchant at a stall.

As his companions watched, he reached out and tentatively touched the Beastman’s thick arm.

His hand passed through the Beastman’s body without resistance, as if moving through a layer of lukewarm fog.

The Beastman had no reaction, remaining focused on his argument with the merchant over the price.

Roland silently stepped back to rejoin his companions, gazing at the bustling crowd that remained completely oblivious to their presence.

"Us and this Silver Radiance City..."

He slowly voiced his theory.

"...are very likely not in the same Space-Time dimension. So, while both sides can see and hear each other, because our ’present moment’ and the city’s ’present moment’ aren’t, strictly speaking, a perfect match, there may be an extremely subtle but fundamental temporal lag or phase difference. That’s why..."

Roland carefully mulled over his words, trying to explain this phenomenon.

But [Time Traveler] had only granted him Perception of time and space, not the academic knowledge that came with it.

Thus, after mulling it over, Roland shook his head in resignation and spoke with uncertainty.

"This is just my theory. The mysteries of the Space-Time Domain are far beyond my ability to explain. After all, I was able to take the newspaper normally just a moment ago. I can’t be sure of the rules, or ’loopholes,’ at play here."

"Perhaps the effect of this dislocation is intermittent? Perhaps it only affects certain types of interactions? Or... maybe there’s another explanation..."

As he finished speaking, grave expressions appeared on the faces of Avril and the others.

But unlike his companions, a hint of calm emerged on Roland’s face.

’Although I still can’t be completely sure if I’m the same person as the legendary "Rudolph," if it’s true, then everything happening now takes on a new meaning.’

He put the tangible Copper Radiance Coins into his pouch, his gaze slowly sweeping over the vibrant yet untouchable city.

A strong premonition rose in his heart.

’Silver Radiance City is very likely the key to me truly becoming "Rudolph." If that’s the case, then this jumbled Space-Time is an unexpected gift. If I’m about to step into a point in time before Crystal Calendar 490, then every piece of information I gather here and now is foresight from the "future." Even if I arrive after this year, this city—this Freeze Frame—can provide a crucial historical tableau, keeping me from being completely lost.’

At this thought, Roland clapped his hands lightly, a newfound composure in his voice.

"Alright, everyone. Since we’re here, we may as well make the best of it."

"Though this Space-Time dislocation limits our actions, the information from Crystal Calendar 490 is itself a genuine treasure."

He looked at his companions.

"If there’s anything here that interests you, speak up. We can investigate it together."

Seeing Roland so calm and composed, the others’ frayed nerves began to settle.

The discussion grew more eager until Roland raised his hand again, gently cutting in.

"Since we’re having trouble deciding."

He smiled, his fingertip lightly tapping the newspaper he had been holding.

"In that case, let’s check this place out first."

Everyone’s eyes followed his finger.

His finger was resting on the end of the boxed auction announcement.

The Secret Silver Hoof Headquarters’ Domed Auction Hall.