Legend Management Bureau Chapter 118

[ … words ]

Du Yu pushed the small box in front of him forward and announced, “As for the rest of you immortals, we currently have three packages available to choose from. The first is the Gold Package, the second is the Platinum Package, and the third is the Black Gold Package.”

“What is the difference between these packages?” someone asked from the back of the crowd.

“Excellent question!” Du Yu smiled. “The Gold Package is the basic tier. It costs ten billion Nether coins and includes five hundred minutes of viewing time, with no other privileges. The Platinum Package is an upgraded tier. It costs one hundred billion Nether coins, includes five thousand minutes of viewing time, and allows you to send ‘live comments’ to interact with the ‘Operator’.”

This was completely unheard of for the gathered immortals. They were familiar with how the Legend Administration Bureau worked, but to think they could actually send “live comments” now?

“Then… what about the Black Gold Package?”

“Another excellent question!”

The crowd could not help but turn to look at the person asking the questions. Having spoken up twice now, he seemed extremely interested. This person carried a bundle of artifact-refining tools on his back. He was quite young and had an unfamiliar face, looking nothing like their fellow immortals.

“The Black Gold Package costs one trillion Nether coins and includes unlimited viewing time. VIPs who purchase this package can sit in the front row to watch the livestream. Beyond today, they can designate the daily ‘program lineup’ and choose the legends they wish to see. During the broadcast, Black Gold members can not only send live comments at any time, but they can also initiate conversations with the Operator and direct their next actions. Furthermore, they can participate in regular ‘Operator Offline Meet-and-Greets’…”

Hearing this, Yang Jian finally reached his breaking point. “Hold on a moment… Why do we need an ‘Operator Offline Meet-and-Greet’ to see an Operator? Can’t we just come here and see you directly?”

The crowd broke into whispers upon hearing this. Since when did the Legend Administration Bureau have so many Operators?

“Not only that, but in the future, the Legend Administration Bureau will create a program called ‘Operator Trainees’ to recruit Operators in large numbers. All card-holding members will be able to ‘cheer’ for the trainees. The Operators with the highest ‘cheer count’ will form a nine-person team and make their grand debut, sailing through the ocean of legends. But that is a matter for the future and has nothing to do with today’s ‘exchange conference’.”

It was unclear if the immortals understood any of this, as a heavy silence fell over them.

Yang Jian turned his head and asked Zhi Nü beside him, “Zhi Nü, may I ask what the exchange rate is between the ‘Nether coins’ used in the Underworld and the ‘spirit stones’ we use?”

“About one to one hundred million, I believe.” After answering, Zhi Nü shot Yang Jian a glance. “True Lord, you aren’t actually planning to apply for a card, are you?”

“That means this ‘Black Gold Package’ is only ten thousand spirit stones. That is practically nothing to us. This is an international exchange conference, and someone from our side needs to set an example, otherwise, this will be difficult to wrap up.”

After saying this, Yang Jian took a step forward and declared, “Brother Du Yu, I will apply for a Black Gold card.”

“Right away!” Du Yu pulled a black card from the small box and handed it to Yang Jian. “Please scan the code here to pay.”

Yang Jian looked down and saw that the black card was exceptionally exquisite. It was crafted from an unknown black metal inlaid with fine golden threads, and the entire card rippled with five-colored spiritual energy. Just holding it made him feel energized. Such masterful craftsmanship was rare even in the Immortal Realm. The workmanship of this card alone had to be worth at least one or two thousand spirit stones.

“I will just give you a Cosmos Bag.” Looking completely satisfied, Yang Jian pulled a small cloth pouch from his waist and handed it to Du Yu.

“Alright, alright!” Du Yu accepted it with both hands, then respectfully whispered, “Erlang Shen, what is your Daoist title?”

“My Daoist title?” Yang Jian paused for a moment before whispering back, “I am Yang Jian, the ‘True Lord of Illustrious Holiness’.”

“Thank you to Big Brother Yang Jian, the True Lord of Illustrious Holiness, for purchasing a Black Gold card! Please come in!” Du Yu shouted at the top of his lungs.

Having his title loudly announced by Du Yu did not offend Yang Jian in the slightest. On the contrary, he felt a swell of pride. Under the gaze of the crowd, he slowly walked into the livestream room.

Even though the other immortals were incredibly reluctant, after seeing Yang Jian take the initiative to apply for a card, they silently stepped forward to pay their fees. With every person who registered, Du Yu loudly announced their Daoist title.

In no time at all, everyone had applied for a card. After all, they were all immortals; even the least affluent among them could fork over a few spirit stones for a Gold Package.

Only the three foreign envoys remained, their faces filled with confusion. They looked at each other and asked, “Do we need to apply for cards as well?”

“Of course not!” Du Yu replied. “You are the ‘streamers’! Why would you need cards? Hurry up and follow me inside to get ready.”

The Queen Mother of the West, who had been sitting inside for quite some time, felt puzzled. Du Yu had explicitly stated that he wasn’t selling tickets, so why did it take these people so long to come inside? Furthermore, every single one of them wore an expression as if a piece of their flesh had just been carved off.

After settling all the immortals in, Du Yu and the three foreign envoys slowly walked toward the equipment beside the screen. The envoys had never seen such a massive “Legend Display Screen” before, and their jaws dropped in awe.

Du Yu lowered his voice. “May I ask, have you brought your legends?”

Shiranui Asuka slowly nodded and pulled a small bead from her robes. “This is the flawed legend from Fusang, Izanagi. It has been sealed inside this bead.”

Chada from Britannia and Ramla from Hellas also pulled out small beads and handed them to Du Yu.

“Excuse me, sir. This is Jack the Ripper,” Chada said.

“May Zeus bless you. This is the story of Athena,” Ramla added.

Du Yu thought to himself that this was exactly what Nezha had found out. He took the beads, stared at them blankly for a moment, then turned to find Dong Qianqiu. “How do I use these things?” he whispered.

“Legend Sealing Beads. You just smash them directly in front of the screen,” Dong Qianqiu replied. “Leave it to me. Which legend do you want to run first?”

Du Yu pondered for a moment before deciding, “Let’s go with ‘Jack the Ripper’. We will take it step by step, one at a time.”

“Alright, understood.” Dong Qianqiu pocketed the three beads and stepped aside. “Get ready to teleport. The legend will begin shortly.”

Du Yu glanced at the green pen at his waist, this was his one and only trump card. He then went over to Qu Xi, whispering a few instructions to her before turning back to Chada. “What exactly is wrong with this legend from your country?”

“It is quite simple, sir,” Chada replied. “‘Jack the Ripper’ has not yet found a ‘motive for murder’, and he requires our assistance.”

“What?!” Du Yu was stunned. “Help him commit murder?!”

“More or less.” Chada nodded. “Can we begin?”

Du Yu was truly speechless. Why on earth would they go back in time to help a notorious serial killer commit murder?

But thinking about it carefully, this was not his country’s legend anyway, so there was no point in agonizing over it. He glanced back at Dong Qianqiu, who gave a slight nod. Du Yu then lay down on the teleportation device and asked Chada, “So, what is the plan? Is it just the two of us, or all four of us together?”

“Since this is an exchange conference, let all four of us go together,” Shiranui Asuka chimed in. “I would also like to see the legendary stories of other countries. However…”

Shiranui Asuka looked at the machine Du Yu was lying on and said, “Senior, have you not cultivated ‘Temporal Onmyodo’? Why must you rely on a device to teleport?”

“Uh…” Du Yu faltered, not expecting these people to be just like Zhan Qisheng, practicing rare temporal magic. But upon further reflection, they were genuine Operators, completely different from a mortal like himself. Thinking quickly, he smoothly deflected, “This is the power of technology. For example, I might know how to ‘rub sticks together to make fire’, but I would rather use a lighter than do it myself. This is what it means to be a technologically advanced nation. This is the demeanor of a great power. Do you understand?”

The three foreign envoys exchanged glances, seemingly convinced.

Following Du Yu’s example, Shiranui Asuka slipped off her wooden clogs, lifted her short skirt, and lay down on an adjacent machine. “Since Senior has put it that way, we should give it a try. After all, we have never experienced such a thing before.”

Seeing this, Chada and Ramla also lay down on the devices. Because Ramla was scantily clad, wearing nothing but two strips of white cloth, Dong Qianqiu thoughtfully draped a blanket over her to prevent any wardrobe malfunctions in front of the many “spectators”.

“Begin,” Du Yu said to Dong Qianqiu.

“Understood. Initiating teleportation sequence.”

The lights in the “livestream room” gradually dimmed, leaving only the massive screen glowing brightly. The numerous immortals had all ascended in ancient times and had never experienced anything like a “movie theater” before. They could not help but feel a surge of excitement.

…

Time: August 1888.

Location: Whitechapel, East End of London.

Characters: Detective Chada and three companions arrive.

When the group opened their eyes, they were standing in an endless, pitch-black night. Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of “Sherlock Holmes”, once said that London in the fog was at its most deadly. He lived in this era, and he understood it well.

Flickering streetlamps tried their hardest to pierce the darkness and fog, casting feeble pools of light onto the ground. Beneath the lamps, swaying drunkards clung to the posts, either resting or vomiting. It looked as though it had just rained. The damp streets, rather than appearing washed clean, were incredibly filthy. Every step they took muddied their shoes.

In the distance, provocatively dressed women stood on the street corners, murmuring propositions to passing drunkards. However, most of the drunkards had empty pockets. They would simply throw out a few lewd remarks before cursing and walking away.

These women were dressed for a scorching summer, yet they all wore expressions as desolate and despairing as the dead of winter.

“Good heavens,” Du Yu blurted out as he stared down the unfamiliar street. “I am actually traveling abroad on the company’s dime.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, let us not waste time. Let’s go,” Chada said, adjusting her trench coat.

“Go? Go where?” Du Yu asked.

“To meet the killer.” Chada reached into her bag and pulled out two black top hats, handing them to Du Yu and Asuka. “Your Asian features are far too conspicuous. Put these hats on.”

Du Yu and Asuka silently accepted the hats and placed them on their heads.

“Wait a minute, Sister Chada,” Du Yu said. “So you actually know who ‘Jack the Ripper’ is? Then why don’t you just tell the police?”