The Forbidden Fruit's Friend

Chen Miemie returned to the shop and set the [Tidal Footprints] on the table.

The anomalies gathered around.

Not around the glass bottle, but around Chen Miemie.

"Chen Miemie, you seem especially friendly toward humans covered in strange eyes? Is that a special hobby of yours?"

Among the 'everyone' they mentioned, the first was the [Hundred Eyes] wind chime, and now the [Mermaid].

Sure, the [Mermaid] provided some useful intel and even voluntarily offered up an item, but trying to trade all that for a slice of "Chen Miemie's friendship" was nowhere near enough.

Chen Miemie quickly shook his head, denying he had any weird fetish.

"Whether she'll ever even get the chance to use it remains to be seen. Besides, a huge portion of this world is ocean—I need to stockpile some talent for the future, in case it comes in handy."

Everyone immediately showered him with praises of "Chen Miemie truly thinks ahead," then turned their attention to the [Tidal Footprints] on the table.

Black Hole didn't quite get it: "Chen Miemie, what use is a bottle of sand?"

"Because its name has the word 'Tidal' in it. I think tides aren't just about water—doesn't our very own Haomiao also have something to do with tides?"

As the household's resident genius and mastermind, Bobo hadn't thought of it either just now, but it had gotten smarter and learned a lesson: as long as I don't ask, no one will know I'm slow.

Now that Chen Miemie revealed the answer, Bobo immediately jumped in: "Black Hole's so dumb, even little old Bobo could figure that out."

Black Hole looked confused: "Who's Haomiao?"

Only then did Bobo remember—new additions to the Sealing Library, like Jinguo and Black Hole, naturally wouldn't know Haomiao, Baibai, or Joker.

Qinghua bent down, scooping one up in each arm: "Haomiao is a colossal anomaly named [Tidal Cloud Sea]—a sea of clouds that resides in our compound, the [Eternal as the Moon]."

"Compound! Our anomalous compound?!" Black Hole suddenly perked up.

"Yes. Once we have some free time, I'll take you all there to get familiar with the place. By the way, Jinguo, do you know any anomalies skilled in architecture? Right now our compound only has natural scenery—it's lacking some structures."

The [Forbidden Fruit Bestiary] was called upon and fluttered over on its little wings.

"Of course—within books lie golden houses. I have a good friend called 'The Crime of Statics,' and it's an absolutely incredible architectural designer. From ancient to modern, across a hundred cities, there's nothing it doesn't master."

Chen Miemie was delighted at first, but when he heard the name "The Crime of Statics," something felt off.

"That name feels a little odd. Shouldn't a master architect be called something like 'Architecture Bible' or 'Structural Compendium'? The word 'Crime' carries some emotional baggage."

"Yes, every master in their field has their own personality and philosophy. Every building 'The Crime of Statics' designs is 'pretending' not to collapse."

At that, none of the anomalies could stay seated.

"Jinguo, what do you mean by 'pretending not to collapse'?"

The [Forbidden Fruit Bestiary] thought for a moment, as if trying to recall:

"I remember it once said it doesn't dare design the best buildings with all its might—it can't let buildings gain sentience.

Once they gain sentience, buildings suffer terribly.

Every load-bearing wall bears a weight it shouldn't bear; every beam and column bends at a curvature it shouldn't bend. True beauty and stability, for a building, is a meticulously engineered, permanent act of oppression."

“When you truly understand architecture, you can see the cracks inside every wall, the struggle of every pillar, the sigh of every floor slab. From then on, no matter what house you live in, you will wake up in the dead of night, waiting for the moment it 'finally decides to stop pretending' and collapses.”

Chen Miemie nodded: “Truly a master, but the philosophy is a bit too avant-garde. Do you know anyone else?”

The Forbidden Fruit Bestiary certainly delivered—its little wings fluttered, and words came right out: “I have another friend, a Master of Light when it comes to doors and windows.”

Everyone’s gaze toward the Forbidden Fruit Bestiary shifted. That unassuming little book, usually overlooked, had surprisingly wild connections and so many friends.

“What’s this master’s angle?”

“It’s called The Peeping History of Doors and Windows. Its philosophy is ‘Every door and window peeps, and is peeped at.’ It excels in light planning and the psychology of composition.”

Chen Miemie had no desire to dig deeper into the specific philosophy of The Peeping History of Doors and Windows, so he cut in quickly:

“So, if I don’t want masters with that kind of artistic flair, is there someone more conventional?”

“There is, but I don’t know this one well—just a nodding acquaintance.” The Forbidden Fruit Bestiary made it clear this one wasn’t a friend.

The anomalies inwardly grumbled: These books actually have their own internal social circles.

The Forbidden Fruit Bestiary continued: “It’s called The Foundation Lie. It studies foundations. Its philosophy is ‘The part you can’t see bears the heaviest weight.’ Nothing special—dull, boring.”

Chen Miemie and the anomalies said in unison: “That’s the one.”

The Forbidden Fruit Bestiary truly was a rascal. Birds of a feather flock together—its friends were all a bit off. The Foundation Lie, being someone it wasn’t close to, was just the right fit for the job.

Designing the base was a side concern, not the main work at hand. After chatting about it, they pulled the conversation back to Tidal Footprints.

Qinghua knew Miemie well: “Miemie, you didn’t just pick it because of the name connection with Tidal Cloud Sea, did you?”

Chen Miemie nodded. As expected of Qinghua, his first attache.

“The first half of Tidal Footprints is ‘Tidal,’ the second half is ‘Footprints.’ I have a theory—if someone, at the moment of the tide, could perfectly step on this exact string of footprints, what might they see?”

“True, but we’re not cats. How could anyone perfectly step on a string of footprints? Ball of Yarn is a cat, but its paws aren’t human feet—it can’t step perfectly. There’s a contradiction there.”

“Haha, you’ve forgotten my teacher’s wife, Cassan. She’s the Critical Point Dancer. Her Mystery lets her control her steps down to the finest detail, precise to the hair.”

Everyone understood what he meant.

Amid the Tidal Cloud Sea, dancing along that mysterious trail of steps, paired with the Blessing already set aside, the path for Cassan, the teacher’s wife, to advance to Mystery 6 had been laid out.

As for the advancement ritual taking place in the inner circle of the Eternal Moon base—that was hardly a secret anymore.

The teacher had already boarded the vehicle and joined the cause; how could the teacher’s wife escape?

The next day.

Just as Chen Miemie was preparing to investigate along the seaweed buyer lead, he received an unexpected invitation.

Time: 9:30 AM

Sender: The Alliance of Sealed Book Societies

Content: [Siye] Chen Miemie, this is the Guild Alliance. According to the management regulations for mystics, outside guild members staying long-term are required to register and file a report. Please arrange a time to come to the Guild Alliance within two days to complete the relevant procedures.

Chen Miemie had been to the Guild Alliance in the Seal Book Library before, but only as [Yellow Robe].

"The Guild Alliance, huh. Is this invitation standard procedure, or does someone want to see me?"

Since the afternoon was free, at 2 p.m., Chen Miemie arrived at the Guild Alliance.

His guess was right. When he gave his name, there was no form-filling or registration—he was directly led to the president's office.

Behind a large desk sat a middle-aged woman, her clothes covered in dizzying geometric patterns.

"I'm the president of the Guild Alliance, the Geometry Jailer. My surname is Yu."

Chen Miemie of course knew her. "Chen Miemie. President Yu, what do you need me for?"

"Straight to the point, I like it. So I'll be direct too—I want you to help me with something."

"What is it?"

"I want to kill [Xiumu]. I hope you can help me lure her out of the city library."