Chapter 974: Chapter 974
Liu Zheng was a bit curious.
He had never been to a pawnshop in reality, so this extraordinary world's pawnshop was even fresher.
"Master Henry Claw is a druid who loved to paint since childhood, so his creative period is divided into youth, middle age, and post-legendary."
"In his youth, Master Henry Claw hadn't mastered the technique of transformation, so his works from this period were all based on imitating beasts—naive but pure."
"During his middle age, Master Henry Claw was already a master of transformation. He often transformed into various beasts, observing the world from the perspective and mindset of a real beast. His works were most abundant and varied in style during this period."
"And after advancing to legendary, Master Henry Claw had already created a beast form unique to himself. His works from this period were the least in quantity, very consistent in style, but the themes were even rarer."
The attendant introduced.
"What do you mean by rarer themes?"
"Let me give you an example. Master Henry Claw's legendary period has a famous painting called 'The Bound Red Dragon Queen.'
The attendant showed an ambiguous expression.
Indeed, if you hadn't reached legendary, it's unlikely you could find such a model.
"Can this painting be redeemed?"
'The Bound Red Dragon Queen,' just sounds like it fits the average worldview of a Metropolis person. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel-fire.ɴet
"It's long been redeemed. If you theme, I can recommend another one, 'The Birthing Mother Thunder Lizard.'"
"The transfer fee for the pawn ticket is about a hundred thousand, and the redemption cost is about five hundred thousand."
The attendant calculated and said.
"Not bad, not too expensive, I'll take it then."
"Our shop is committed to creating the most reliable redemption environment in Metropolis, promoting product circulation and economic development. Profit is not our main goal."
The attendant said proudly.
"That's quite a high stance. Huh?"
Liu Zheng suddenly thought, "Zheng Wen" together makes "Zheng," doesn't it?
It seems this pawnshop's backing is even tougher than he originally thought.
He happily handed over the money.
"Alright. Please wait a moment; I'll prepare the paperwork for you. If you're bored, you can read the books on the first floor, just please don't damage or take them."
The attendant took the money and went up to the second floor. It was unclear whether he went to make a call or fill out the pawn ticket on the spot.
Boredom is boredom, so Liu Zheng started reading.
He scanned the bookshelves one by one and found the contents of these books to be quite odd.
Serious ones like 'Practical Guide to Official Document Writing,' and less serious ones like 'How to Win the Heart of a Divorcee with Two Kids.'
But they all had one thing in common: they each held a certain collectible value.
For example, the 'Practical Guide to Official Document Writing' was a signed edition by the author, with a note indicating it was signed by the current Deputy Director of the Research Office of the General Office.
And 'How to Win the Heart of a Divorcee with Two Kids' was a limited collector's edition, with an accompanying "practical" video disc by the author.
Liu Zheng looked at the disc and felt secretly rueful.
His broken phone couldn't even play a disc, not to mention it couldn't go online.
Sighing, Liu Zheng picked up a book titled 'A Compilation of Metropolis Racist Jokes' and started reading.
Just as he was reading the dragon clan joke, the attendant finally came down from the second floor, holding a cotton bag.
"Sir, here's the painting you requested."
The attendant took the framed painting out of the cotton bag and peeled off the acid-free paper wrapped over the painting, revealing the image.
Liu Zheng made a face that suggested he couldn't bear to look.
Not because Henry Claw didn't paint well, but because he painted too well.
The intense and wild colors made the scene in the painting completely unrealistic, but the struggle of the Thunder Lizard giving birth was depicted so vividly that he almost felt a phantom pain in his rear end.
He took the painting frame, and the item description immediately popped up.
"Name: Famous Painting 'The Birthing Mother Thunder Lizard'
"Note: A work from Beastmaster Henry Claw's legendary period. He personally insists that the egg in the painting has no blood relation to him."
"Can it be taken out of the instance: Yes"
"No issue, it's indeed a work by Master Claw."
Liu Zheng pretended to appraise it and then stored the painting in his system space.
"Transaction complete, no debts owed. Sir, do you have anything else you want to redeem?"
He waved and exited the pawnshop.
Driving the golden sports car back to Jiahe New Residence, Liu Zheng rushed straight to building seven, apartment 1503.
"Professor, I've got the painting you wanted."
Upon entering, he immediately retrieved the painting from his system space and placed it on the coffee table.
"Mm, Tendaros, entertain the guest. I need to make a phone call."
The Mini People just glanced at the painting and went directly into the bedroom.
"Uh, Tendaros, do you want to play chess?"
Liu Zheng, seeing the eager Hound, cleverly took a military chess set from under the coffee table.
It turned out not to be a wise choice.
By the time the Mini Person came out of the bedroom, he had already lost three games, and his three tentacles had become Tendaros' snacks.
"That military chess set actually belongs to Tendaros."
The Mini Person said with some amusement.
"Professor, you should have mentioned such important details earlier."
Liu Zheng half-jokingly complained.
"Important for others, but it doesn't seem to matter much to you."
The Mini Person placed a slip of paper in front of him.
"I've already informed them over there; just call them directly. The meeting code is 'delivery man.'
"What's the identity of the owner of the number?"
"Not entirely sure, but they're a staff member at the Grand Theater."
The Mini People said.
"Okay, thank you, Professor."
"Just remember to bring me the Black Swan if you can, and preferably alive."
The Mini People said.
He nodded, got up, and took his leave.
After leaving the community, Liu Zheng dialed the number from the slip.
The phone connected, and a hoarse, unpleasant voice came through.
He gave the code word.
There was movement on the other end.
"Okay, you can speak now."
After a while, the other party stopped and said.
"Do you know what I'm going to say?"
"I don't. The order I received is to cooperate with you as much as possible, and if there's something I can't handle or am unsure about, to consult my superiors."
The other party said honestly.
"I see. Is it convenient to meet and talk?"
"Sure. Meet me at the Hundred Birds Club in an hour."
The other party said.
"Wait a moment, let me check."
Liu Zheng opened the map and found the location of the Hundred Birds Club, which was about seventy kilometers from Jiahe New Residence.
"I can get there in about half an hour."
"Then use my membership card number to book a box first; my card number is 7734..."
The other party provided a series of numbers.
Liu Zheng hung up the phone and started the car.
Arriving earlier than expected, he only took twenty minutes to reach the entrance of the Hundred Birds Club.
The architectural style of the Hundred Birds Club was somewhat similar to the Bloody Restaurant, also a three-story villa, with its white facade brimming with colorful bird paintings.
At the entrance of the club stood a statue of a Phoenix, seemingly carved from Phoenix Wood.
Seeing this, Liu Zheng quietly put away his shabby Phoenix Cloak.
Although it seemed like the Phoenix, the King of Hundred Birds, didn't have much clout in Metropolis, he wasn't here to cause trouble, so it was better to remain low-key.
"Guest coming, guest coming."
Upon entering the club, he heard a chattering above him.
Liu Zheng looked up and saw an African grey parrot.
This type of parrot is one of the most intelligent bird species, with strong language and abstract thinking abilities.
He greeted with a smile.
The grey parrot responded enthusiastically, then dropped a load of its droppings into his mouth.