Chapter 90: Got a Job!
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Yu Sheng stood in his familiar old apartment and thought carefully about his idea. He had been considering taking all the towels, washbasins, and empty bottles from home to the Special Affairs Bureau, hoping they might appraise them as Otherworld artifacts. But, after thinking it through, he realized that was probably quite foolish. Even putting aside whether the Bureau would bother with such junk, dumping piles of household odds and ends into something called the “Rare Artifacts Market” could ruin the delicate balance of that small trading circle. Flooding the market with too many worthless items all at once could scare off collectors, and before long, no one would trust what was being sold.
Still, the spark of mischief didn’t vanish from Yu Sheng’s mind. Instead, it settled deeper and began to glow with new thoughts. Irene, looking up at him curiously, tilted her tiny doll-like face. “Are you thinking about selling that junk again?” she asked, looking utterly puzzled.
Yu Sheng waved his hand as if brushing away the thought. “Little Red Riding Hood said we at least have to sell things that look mysterious—things that feel special and have a spooky atmosphere. Many collectors are ordinary folks who know something about the supernatural world, and they collect these items for the thrill. They like bragging about owning strange objects.”
Irene let out a tired sigh. “Honestly, I don’t understand humans. There are so many people who have no magical powers at all, yet they insist on messing with things beyond their understanding. What’s wrong with just living a safe, ordinary life? They can’t see other cities or Entities, and that’s perfectly fine. Instead, they go digging for trouble, believing that a few so-called ‘safety measures’ make them untouchable. Who cares if these measures work? And who knows if these so-called Otherworld artifacts they buy won’t be dangerous?”
“Anyway,” Yu Sheng said, shrugging lightly, “even the Special Affairs Bureau allows it. Any item they let onto the market is considered safe enough. The truly dangerous stuff is locked up in their containment warehouse. At least that’s what the Borderland Communications Encyclopaedia says.”
Right then, Yu Sheng’s phone vibrated. He glanced down and saw a new message from Little Red Riding Hood. “If you’re interested in making some extra money, I’ve got a job for you. Want to help out?”
Yu Sheng raised his eyebrows and replied at once, “What kind of job?”
A moment later, another message appeared: “It’s a commission from the Association of Strange Objects. I turned it down at first because it’s a bit risky and the reward isn’t guaranteed. Also, I’m short on helpers. But if you’re willing—and you bring that tough fox of yours—it would be perfect. You’d get a real taste of what it’s like to be a Spirit Realm detective. Plus, I’ll give you half the payment. And the most important part is that if we meet something we can’t handle, you can grab me and run.”