Soon, her attention shifted away from the curse and onto other parts of the story.
"A prophecy about the end of the world..." Thinking about it, she cast her eyes on the card in the glass cover, "The lost history recorded on the back..."
Because of the change in angle, she saw the other side of the card, which was the side opposite the one with the "Wild and Confused Starry Sky Map" painted on it.
However, because of the obstruction of the bracket, she could only see part of it.
But even so, Qi Ji learned a lot of information in an instant.
"This is……"
On the other side of the card, the border is covered with decorative patterns that have no regularity or beauty at all. They are chaotic, asymmetrical, twisted, and deformed, which is very annoying.
In the center of these offensive patterns, a large area of text was densely written in very fine lines and font sizes.
Apparently, this is what the old man meant by "the lost historical records that hide the prophecies of doomsday."
The language used in these texts is not the common language of mankind, but a kind of... completely new language.
Thanks to the initially awakened ability of "language commonality", Qi Ji could easily understand what it recorded.
At the same time, she realized... this kind of language was not the first time she had seen it.
"This afternoon, when Buck activated the 'Veil of Concealment' spell, he recited this language..."
At that time, Qi Ji launched an attack on Buck with the red agate cane, and the opponent was completely unable to resist.
But at the last moment before being burned to ashes, he used a special spell.
It was a crystal that flashed a mysterious red light, and its effect was to make one immune to all external damage for a short period of time.
"The Curtain of Secrets" is the name Qi Ji gave it himself, and it is still lying in the pocket of Qi Ji's cloak.
When Buck cast the spell, in addition to infusing it with spirituality, he also recited a string of syllables, perhaps a spell.
The essence of this string of syllables is some unknown language, a language that contains mystery and natural power and is hidden in the mist of history.
It is exactly the same language as that used on the back of the card.
——It’s strange that there are words on the cards and what Buck reads are voices, but Qi Ji is very sure that the two are the same language.
I don’t know why, but it’s an intuition that comes from this body.
Qi Ji naturally understood the string of syllables that opened the "Veil of Secrets" spell. It meant:
"Moonlit Night"!
Chapter 186 Money Issues
“How much does this sell for?”
Qi Ji's gaze moved away from the densely packed words on the back of the card and looked at the old man.
When he discovered it, Qi Ji scanned it with his various senses, and did not find any traces of supernatural power or aura. It was neither tainted with spirituality nor involved in divinity. Similarly, there was no "pollution" of any kind.
It seems to be just an ordinary piece of paper.
But since it can cause the pollution in the "white crystal" to react, it must be special. Qi Ji thinks it is better to buy it and study it carefully when he is alone and in a quiet enough environment.
Maybe I can come up with something new.
"Thank you for your interest," the old man nodded slightly, and the gentle smile on his face became more obvious. "11 Ai'er, how is it?"
The common currency of the Glorious Plantagenet Empire is also Ferrum and Ayr, but in large cities like Sunset Harbor where the economy is very developed and commerce is extremely prosperous, the larger denomination Ayr is more often used as a circulating currency.
"Row."
Qi Ji did not bargain, but reached into his pocket and took out a handful of copper coins:
"Ferrum, is that ok?"
The money she had on her was basically the reward she received when she conquered the Gug Giant in Stio. In order to facilitate settlement, she later asked Renxi to exchange most of it for Ferrum.
Because the face value of Ferum was too small, in order to collect 11 El, she needed to grab a handful of copper coins.
It was quite difficult for her delicate little hands as the space between her palms was almost completely filled. A few copper coins could only be held between her fingers.
"of course."
The old man took the Ferum copper coins without any objection, and without counting them, he pushed the glass cover containing the cards in front of Qi Ji with his other hand:
"It's yours."
Qi Ji picked up the glass cover with both hands, held it in his arms, thanked the boss, and turned to leave this "Old Man's Antique Shop".
“Welcome next time.”
Qi Ji returned to the street amid the old man's gentle farewell voice and the pleasant knocking of the door frame bell.
"Alas...I have no money left."
She felt the pocket where her coins were kept and found that it was deflated.
At that time, the total reward from the Fearless Guild was 15000 Ferums, which seemed quite a lot. For the civilians and poor people in the eastern or southern areas of Stio, it was a huge sum of money that they might not be able to accumulate in their entire lives.
But she had always been a lavish spender, and when she fought against the "First Creator" a few days ago, the money she had on her was corroded and assimilated by His "Ashes of Connection" - the black mist.
Just now, he spent nearly four thousand Ferums to buy the "Doomsday Prophecy Cards", which made the situation even worse.
——The value of El gold coins in the Empire is higher than that in the Templar State. In Sunset Harbor, one El is equivalent to approximately 350 Ferums.
Anyway, she really had very little savings left.
"A rough estimate... 132 Ferums." Qi Ji couldn't help but sigh softly, "Although with my physique, there is no need for accommodation and food, and I don't need to spend money at all... But how can a beautiful girl be so careless?"
Influenced by the thoughts of modern humans on Earth in her previous life, she still subconsciously believed that as long as conditions allowed, it would be better to have food, clothing, housing and transportation like ordinary people.
This is both a habit and her way of maintaining her humanity, so as to avoid becoming indifferent to people and unlike herself due to being detached from society and ordinary people for too long.
"Hmm... Is there any suitable job for me here..."
Thinking so, she thought it would be better to ask the locals.
He slowed down his pace slightly and quickly scanned the surroundings.
She found that she had left the bustling commercial district and came to an area with relatively few people.
However, this place is not desolate and remote. On the contrary, there are a large number of majestic and rough buildings around it, which are factories and other places.
Because it is late at night, most people have already left work and entered the residential or commercial areas, so this place seems a little deserted.
But it's not completely empty, there are still pedestrians on the streets.
After all, this is a developed Sunset Port, and there are no infectious diseases such as fever.
Qi Ji quickly locked onto a pedestrian.
He was a middle-aged man in his thirties or forties, with a sloppy stubble and wearing dirty work clothes. He walked tiredly under the sparse and dim gas street lights.
...It's you.
"Uncle, are you free?" Qi Ji walked towards him from the side, holding the glass cover. "Can I ask a question?"
"Well?"
When the other party heard the pleasant and ethereal voice, he was slightly stunned, stopped, turned his neck in confusion, and shifted his gaze over.
Then, he saw a strange little girl wearing a simple cloak, a wide hood on her head, and holding a glass box in her arms. She was walking step by step out of the shadow formed by the blind spot of the street lamp and walking towards him.
"Where did this little brat come from?"
He tilted his head, looking at the lonely little guy with half curiosity and half impatience.
"Uncle, do you know what kind of jobs are suitable for illegal immigrants in this city?"
Qi Ji did not pursue the other party's vulgar words, and asked slowly in his usual leisurely tone:
"It's best to be short-term, with quick pay and more freedom."
The reason why I chose this man is that I can tell at first glance that he is a low-level worker who is closer to the gray area of society and must have a relatively deep understanding of this aspect.
Therefore, Qi Ji did not hesitate to say the word "black household".
——For people at the bottom of society, this is not a terrible monster, or something dirty that needs to be avoided. On the contrary, many of his companions are probably like this.
"You? Looking for a job?!"
The man squinted his eyes in disbelief, looking up and down at the mysterious little girl in front of him. He was stunned for half a second, then sneered.
What made him feel ridiculous and shocked was not the other person's age.
In fact, among his colleagues, there are quite a lot of female workers of similar age, and not to mention working, more than half of them are mothers of several children.
In the factory, age is not an attribute worth mentioning at all.
What really made him unbelievable was the strange contrast and contradiction in this little girl.
First of all, his clothes were just a very simple and quaint long cloak with a lot of dust and stains, which was obviously the attire of a vagrant or a beggar.
But her appearance was nothing like that of a beggar who had become emaciated and skinny due to years of malnutrition.
Although the hood obscured his entire face, he could tell with absolute certainty from the exquisiteness of his exposed chin and lips:
This was definitely the cutest and most beautiful girl he had ever seen! Just a glance at her half-covered face was enough to amaze him and make him unforgettable.
In short, she is definitely not a homeless little beggar! She must be the daughter of a wealthy noble family, the kind who has been well cared for since childhood!
But why would a young lady from a wealthy family dress like this and wander around alone in this industrial area where security is not very good?
All these contradictions turned into countless doubts in the poor mind of this low-level worker, which could not be solved no matter what.
"Uncle? Uncle? Can you hear me?"
Just a few seconds before he gave up thinking, that sweet, childish voice interrupted his thoughts in advance.
Chapter 187 Choose "Work"
After speaking out to help the man break free from his confusion and contradiction, Qi Ji looked up into his eyes and repeated the question:
"Excuse me, is there any job suitable for illegal immigrants to make money?"
The man lowered his head slightly, stared at Qi Ji, who was half a head shorter than him, for a while, and suddenly squeezed out a meaningful expression:
"You want to make some quick money? Sure. Go to the east coast area, change into nicer clothes, and stand somewhere with fewer street lights. Business will come soon."
"Ah?" Qi Ji tilted his head slightly confused.
Seeing her puzzled look, the man couldn't help laughing and whispered in a very obscene tone:
"The gentlemen there have very diverse tastes, and many of them particularly like little girls like you!"
"Uh..." Qi Ji was stunned for a moment, then he realized that he meant to ask him to stand on the street.
"I say, can you be serious?" She sighed helplessly and held her forehead, "I'm serious."
"Are you really looking for a job?" The man saw that she didn't seem to be joking, and his expression became a little calmer. "The problem is, a little brat like you, who is also an illegal resident, what else can you do besides being a street girl?"
"You don't have to worry about that," Qi Ji freed a hand and fumbled in his pocket, "Just provide me with a way."
She pinched out a few copper coins and handed them to the other party.
When the man saw the money, his eyes lit up instantly. He grabbed it without thinking, and agreed repeatedly at a fast speed, nodding his head:
"Okay, okay, I said, I said."
Qi Ji took out a few copper coins from his pocket:
"If you speak well, I can increase the price."
"Gulu..."
The man swallowed slowly, his eyes fixed on the small, white hand. Those copper coins, which were equivalent to several days' salary, were extremely tempting.
"Uh..." He narrowed his eyes and thought carefully, then said slowly:
"If you want to make quick money but don't have an identity, then you definitely won't be able to find a job at the 'poker table'..."
"Poker table" is a slang term in their circle, which roughly means "open", "decent" and "legal".
After thinking for a while, the man's eyes turned and he made a few suggestions:
"First, you can work as a temporary dockworker at a port in a coastal area. The pay is not much, but the foreman pays you promptly and settles the payment on the same day. As long as you work hard, don't waste time, and don't bargain, he won't make things difficult for you and basically doesn't care about your background.
"However, temporary port workers do heavy work, such as moving things. With your small body..."
