She thought of her friends, her master and her siblings, her immediate family and her unknown paternal line. All the threads that bind her to the world, each thread that tied her to the land, which still felt like a midsummer night's dream. How did she feel? Was she her father's daughter, bound by all these relationships, each of which restricted her freedom? Or was it their relationship that determined her—a daughter and granddaughter, a companion, an apprentice, a friend?

"Stop. ”

The overboard stopped.

Beads dripped from her torso to her thighs.

She has no answers to these questions, at least not yet. Now, all she can do is focus on the present, which means saving her friends.

After six painful nights, Singapore finally emerged.

The first is artificial islands, of which there are dozens, each with a concrete structure indicating a shielding station. They protrude from the outcrops of verdant hills and rocks, and their crystalline daggers pierce into the sky. A kind of energy line where the echo resonance generated by the crystal can be seen, the energy of which is enough to be visible to the naked eye. It was as if a haze hung over the city and the outside world, giving the South Sea Fortress a surreal feel, making it look like a mirage, flickering to the eyes.

Gwen felt the unicorn amulets hum gently as they passed through the barrier, getting hotter and hotter, and then returning to the gentle warmth of her skin.

They were all gathered on the top deck, herself, her father, Jonas, the Taj Mahal and Paul, each looking at the city with amazement. Jonas told her that they had been to Singapore once before, on a clearance mission with Alesia on a satellite island. As a result, he knows the city inside and out, albeit not as capable as he would have liked.

The main shielded station guarding the city is located at the top of Sentosa and is also its symbol and motto. Perhaps inspired by the Americans, the city built a giant American-style lion statue, a half-fish, half-lion animal known for bringing good luck in the South China Sea. It carries a giant protective crystal in its mouth, and its "Lion's Walk" is the official emblem of Singapore Tower and its provincial government dependencies.

In preparation for their mission, Gwen repeatedly questioned Captain Tully about the quirks of the Singapore Tower and its legacy under Judge Lee. She compared what the captain had told her about Singapore, the Old World, and was amazed at the many similarities and differences in history.

While Singapore is considered a frontier city like Sydney, it enjoys unusual prestige due to its proximity to the Tier 1 capital of the South China Sea. Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo - almost all trade in and out of the local economic zone is through the city's extensive deep-sea ports. As a result, Singapore is very wealthy in its vast frontier area, and its citizens, whether mages or savages, enjoy the highest quality of life possible in the hinterland.

Another reason for its rise as a nursery school in a frontier town was that under the leadership of *** (more lovably known as "Uncle Lee"), the city underwent institutional reforms. Before the Micronesian Islands were taken by mermaids, mages introduced major legislative reforms, such as an "uplift" program that would provide citizenship, housing, and gainful employment to any awakened mage within Micronesia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. This policy has notoriously led to a "brain drain" in the surrounding area, while greatly enriching Singapore and its service mages staffing the city's manufacturing sector.

A warm breeze blew through the railing, forcing Gwen to quickly pat her skirt, the chiffon fabric clinging tightly between her legs.

To enter the fortress city, they chose a believable backstory that says that Gwen is the son of a prominent Melbourne family and a friend of Goodrick Uther (Goodrick Utser). If questioned, the party will reply that they are procuring supplies in Singapore and then returning to Melbourne.

Gwen spent the morning picking out her outfit, looking for the right tone to show the demeanor of a spoiled adventurer princess, nervous enough to travel with a high-ranking mage retinue.

The Three Little Magicians illegally turned the Three Little Magicians into a Big Magician, because this story challenges us more than the Three Little Magicians.

Interestingly, Gwen rediscovers a vintage dress from the 60s that she bought at the Hunters when she was at Sullia Manor. It was a simple gray-green jumpsuit with a silent floral pattern that hung above the knee and the hem was beautifully blown like an anti-tulip. Her waist was elongated by a white belt, while her bodice was a corset with an American collar that hugged her torso and covered her shoulders with translucent chiffon sleeves. Together with her gritty Mary Janiss, she exudes the aristocratic air of a young lady born from pure female blood. Happily, in her current state of youthful energy, Gwen found that she didn't need makeup, and she applied her signature wingtips and a small amount of mascara to the thick mascara. There is no doubt that she spends an hour each day in a gloomy environment.

The men don't think it's their duty to comment on her outfit over its practical value, and her father doesn't want to talk to Gwen at all, but Gwen does meet a couple of irascible sailors and knows she's made the right choice.

As the ship sailed into port, Gwen was disappointed that the freighter was bypassing the city itself, known for its crystalline skyline and the ship-shaped triplet of its dock towers. Instead, their freighter sailed into an industrial zone and filled it with containers as far as the naked eye could see, as if the world itself had turned into a floating fortress of steel crates and floating platforms. After a monsoon shower, freight cranes sprout like mushrooms, dotting the horizon, and the air is filled with the screeching sound of turning levers and spinning pulleys.

A disembarkation platform leads from the dock to the control tower, just one level from the top deck. The text on the arm reads "Penang Terminal 3".

When they ventured into the dive, the captain was there to greet them.

"It's a pleasure. He took Gwen's hand and feigned a kiss. "I love having you and your companions in my company. ”

"Thank you for the impromptu lesson, your presence was also the highlight of my trip," Gwen replied kindly, leaning over the old man to give him a polite hug.

"Major Doon, Captain, Mr. Song. The captain turned and saluted the others. "God forbid. ”

"Captain Tully," the others replied with a clean salute. At the beginning of the exchange, Moyer nodded briefly, remaining silent.

As they traversed a drop of about a hundred meters to reach the Central Harbour Platform, the gangway gave Gwen a slight feeling of vertigo. It is a strange feeling to know that a person can take advantage of flying to fly hundreds of kilometers in the air, but to be terrified by a drop that is easily mitigated by a falling feather.

The cargo station has a small customs station at its far end, a long distance from the cargo processing plant, which gives them plenty of time to gather their stories and unify all the contingencies as they get closer to the truth.

When they arrived, they were greeted by two Asian-faced customs officials, which is common in the city of Singapore, where the South China Sea border is predominantly Chinese-Singaporeans and there is a large influx of migrants from Malaysia and Indonesia. Seeing Jonas and the others in military uniforms, the guards stood respectfully and saluted.

"Good morning, sir-ma'am. Welcome to Singapore. ”

"Hello, we are preparing to go on a business trip to the city. Jonas nodded, reaching for his pass.

Paul and the Taj Mahal likewise presented their cards, allowing the Singaporean mage to transcribe behind the counter, where the authenticity of the pass was verified.

Jonas explained to Gwen in the teacher's tone, "They are verifying the glyphs embedded on our cards with the symbols authorized by the Municipal Department of Immigration. Always have your pass ready and remove any attachments that may be in the way of facial feature checking

"Yes, sir," Gwen replied dutifully. As Jonas spoke, one of the guards glanced at Gwen, met Gwen's eyes, blushed and turned away.

Watching the two young men stare at her every few seconds, Gwen felt that vain narcissism brought her seductive comfort, warmed her chest, and dispelled some of the suffocating unhappiness that her father had left on her chest. There is a special advantage, possessing a unique beauty, which Gwen has been well abusing in her past life. How many times had she wondered how much better her life would have been if she had a sense of her older self in her young body?

"Miss, please show your pass. ”

With a flick of her fingers, Gwen removed the pass from her storage ring, which undoubtedly further confirmed that she came from a wealthy and rare family.

Customs officers marveled at her near-natural talent, and their eyes sparkled as they returned her multiple passes with both hands.

"Thank you," Gwen smiled at them, revealing her glittering white teeth.

"Honored, ma'am," replied one of the men. "Hope you enjoy your stay here. ”

"I'm sure I will. Gwen leaned over before walking past the counter and felt their eyes follow her in the gallery, you say, what's the best place in Singapore to eat seafood?"

"I recommend the Big Mac in Long Beach. ”

"I'm walking along the river, maybe Palm Beach?"

The men watched as the officer's eyes moved from Gwen's lovely face, all the way to her waist, and then rested on her soft legs. Their teenage companion walked back and forth as if she owned the place, completely confident and without the slightest suspicion. The whole time she was chatting with the customs officers, they didn't bother to talk to these people or ask them why they were here. Their attention was entirely focused on Gwen, who fiddled with her hair and asked them about their favorite place in town, smiling pleadingly, and asking about seafood.

"How dangerous," Paul said to the others.

"I hope Alesia learns something and not intimidates customs officials. ”

Heard, painfully recalled. "Remember when we were detained in Hong Kong because they thought we were a triad?

"Uh, don't remind me. Paul groaned.

"Well, how?" asked Morey, curious.

"There's a stir in Alicia, and Paul intervenes, and they throw him into a detention cell with a real triad in it. In the end, he and a group of "brothers" helped us navigate the Kowloon area. Alesia finally had to call Master Henry to reassure the Hong Kong Tower that we were legitimate officers and that she was not pretending to be an impostor for Gossip Witch.

They giggled, and Gwen walked by unharmed, closing the pass with a single touch of her fingers.

While Moyer was being examined, one of the officers stopped and asked an awkward question.

"Sir, are you father and daughter?"

Moyer is sure they are.

"What's the matter?" Gwen strode towards another customs.

"Just for the record. Nothing to worry about, miss. Have a nice stay in Singapore, sir. ”

The group gathered a group of people and prepared to venture forward.

Two-storey automatic sliding doors, open to the public.

Gwen immediately felt the fresh atmosphere in the room dissipate. A scorching heat smothered every inch of her body, smearing her arms and legs, as if an invisible person had covered her skin with a warm plastic film.

It's hot, it's humid, it's incredible. As they walked through the harbor, it felt less oppressive, but now that they were outside the city's glass and concrete megastructures, it felt like walking into a warm sauna.

Gwen ran less than a hundred meters outdoors, her chiffon dress sticking to her legs like plastic wrap, making it nearly impossible to make progress. She becomes unkindly aware of all sorts of new information about her body, such as the fact that her knees can actually sweat profusely.

"Oh God!" Paul groaned. "Give me the hot weather any day of the week!"

"Well, let's find the captain of a shrimp boat," Taj Mahal said, feeling his face start to redden.

Jonas hailed two taxis queuing at the waiting area.

"Where are you going?" an Indian taxi driver asked them.

"If you want to rent a boat for fishing, what port should you rent?" Jonas said bluntly. "Any good suggestions?"

"No problem," replied the taxi driver, with a mustachioed smile as his eyes moved up and down Gwen's clothes, before turning to look at her entourage. "Do you want luxury or sport?"

"Sports? We have a short time, preferably in a day or two. Someone who is willing to act as a guide and navigator. ”

"Okay, get in the car. I'll take you to Jurong Port, where there are a lot of private boats. You have money, and there must be someone willing to take you in. ”

While Jonas holds the door for Gwen, Gwen ducks into a taxi. She rode with Moyer while the others took another taxi behind them. From the West Coast Marina via the highway to Buroh Road and then to the Jurong Fishing Grounds, the road itself is uneventful, but it gives Gwen a glimpse of the Port of Singapore Authority.

Despite being far away from the CBD and ultra-luxury areas such as Clementi Park (Clementi Park) or the high-density business district of Hougang, the industrial precincts of the Urban Crawl District still feel much more developed than Sydney. The roads are wide and better maintained, the streets are spotless and free of garbage. The buildings are arranged in blocks rather than cluttered, and the clean, focused design gives the place a silhouette with a modern, industrial aesthetic.

What particularly caught Gwen's attention was not what the city had, but what its streets seemed to lack.

In Sydney, even in the best areas there are beggars and homeless homeless people who spread out in the streets every few blocks, begging for change. It is especially prevalent in the industrial and commercial areas of the city where Gwen went to school. In Singapore, there is nothing, not the slightest sign of poverty in the metropolis, which is a welcome sight, but the irregularity of the homeless gives Gwen a sense of uneasy fear, something that is not quite what it appears on the surface.

Instead, they were greeted by militiamen in black uniforms, local police officers in dark urban combat uniforms, peak-billed caps, and lettering glasses. The physique of the local police is impressive, they are lean and well-trained, there are more military than civilian personnel, and their uniforms are dressed in various potions and alchemical bullets. One of them even had a combat stick that ran from the hip to the thigh, stylishly hanging from the belt for easy access.

"Moyer. Gwen turned to her father, hoping to break the deadlock. "What do you think a wand is?"

"Probably useful spells, like moving the earth or shaping stones. "When the police passed, Moyer turned to the police. "Impressive equipment, though, they may see stealth and detection magic glasses. I dare say that the uniforms are also elemental. ”

This is truly impressive.

In Sydney, most mages secretly carry some magical items. Gwen had never even seen a Sydney police officer with a wand, let alone wearing a magical knick-knack. In Sydney, only the Tower Mage is fully equipped.

They turned into the fishing port of Jurong and continued until both taxis were facing the entrance to the fishing grounds.

Gwen paid the chatty driver with his business card, and everyone gathered in the vast interior of the fish market, which was already filled with the stench of rotting seafood, begging them to enter the icy market.

"Okay?" Gwen already felt that she should be on the ship going to sea. "Let's find an entrepreneur, shall we?"