The paperwork for the giant spider was in order, so the staff member nodded after checking and continued to speak.
"Since it's the Godly General's time to patrol the city, any apparitions that appear will be swept away. If this lady doesn't want to be accidentally harmed, please keep your pet out of the Godly Generals' path, or hold it in your arms, so it won't be seen as a harmful entity."
"I see," the girl nodded. The "Godly General" just now probably thought the giant spider was bad, squatting on top of her head.
The staff member gave a few more instructions before leaving, but he didn't go far before he turned back to look at the girl's retreating figure.
"I always feel like I've seen her somewhere... Never mind, I need to rush back to report; otherwise, the masters will say I'm slacking off again."
Letting the giant spider return to hiding in her shadow, Hexia went back to the hotpot restaurant, finished eating, and then left.
At night, she slept in an underground hotel in Jielou City, with the bustling street just outside her window.
Although close to the street, the soundproofing was very good. Even if people were barbequing and chatting all night downstairs, Hexia slept comfortably.
The next day, she continued to explore the underground of Jielou City. Through conversations with the locals, she gradually learned some details about Jielou City and why they didn't directly pay with Federation Coins.
"It's , sister," a girl holding a candied haw on a stick explained in front of Hexia.
"Many things here circulate internally. If we use the official payment channels, we have to pay taxes, and it involves business licenses and such. In fact, most things are handcrafted and not very standardized, which makes things troublesome. Even if a shop receives money, they need to convert it through other means to get it into their own hands." She seemed to be about 14 years old, sitting on a chair, swinging her legs cheerfully, eating the candied haw Hexia had given her.
In the Rose Federation, there are detailed standards for all professions, such as the division between T6/T5 grade food and dining and what additives are allowed or not allowed during production, etc. Jielou City's practices are closer to the earlier handicraft industry, and they have long been accustomed to the old ways, unwilling and resistant to use the Federation's standards.
After understanding, the girl's candied haw was almost finished. Hearing someone calling her, she turned around and waved to Hexia before running towards the other side of the street, seemingly to her mother.
Seeing the woman opposite her bowing politely, Hexia stood up to return the gesture and then watched as the two of them walked away.
Although very conservative and traditional, the locals seemed to have an honest nature, not as restless as the residents influenced by the internet these days. They were content to live in such an environment year after year, generation after generation.
The next day, Hexia continued to follow the tourists as they strolled through the underground streets and alleys. Unintentionally, she arrived in front of a famous temple inside Jielou City.
The alley leading to the temple was no wider than five people. As she walked, the walls on both sides started off dark, but as she moved forward, the light gradually brightened, and vague niches emerged, which slowly became glittering and resplendent. Figures of gods with kind and smiling faces stood in the golden light, their backs against a backdrop of gold with radiating patterns, similar to the sun stamped behind their heads, with the golden light shimmering, conveying a sense of solemnity and sanctity.
Above the alley, red banners fluttered and swayed. Passing through the alley, Hexia entered the inner temple, where there was a statue of a goddess dancing in the heavens, graceful in form, with ribbons like those of immortals, and the six hands holding golden hoops, bells, handbells, and pipas.
'Kinnara Heaven' is also known as the heaven of music, the god of song.
The temple's clergy were also quite special—they weren't real people but intelligent AIs with golden bronze bodies.
In the Federation, it is now forbidden for AI to be anthropomorphized and participate in residents' lives, including adopting human-like appearances, mimicking human behavior, and so on. Only in abandoned fringe cities like Jielou City do such old-fashioned AI units remain.
It's said that the anthropomorphization of AI caused many ethical crises and societal shocks in the past, and the Federation's various policies have gradually become more conservative. However, not all countries are . Some countries adjacent to the Rose Federation consist entirely of citizens who are products of AI and biological integration.
Dressed in robes, these humanoid AIs, about 2 meters tall and holding prayer beads, stood on either side of the statues, maintaining order during worship and occasionally helping pilgrims with their questions and Divination.
"What doth thou seek?"
"I hope to be promoted to a Sequence 4 job this year. I wonder if Kinnara Heaven could bless me," a worshipper kneeled on a cushion.
"The gods only help those who help themselves. If you are fully prepared and confident, you will surely fulfill your wish," the AI solemnly responded.
"Thank you, master," the joyous person stood, then left with gratitude.
Then, others continued to make wishes and seek answers, some leaving satisfied and others departing with trepidation.
Next was Hexia's turn. At this time, she placed the giant spider in a backpack by her side and bowed before the statue, without kneeling.
Though not much of a believer in gods, she offered incense and prayers out of respect.
"I hope to learn about my mother's background and past," she murmured softly.
After a long while, as she opened her eyes, inserted the incense into the Incense Burner, and was about to leave, the golden bronze master beside her suddenly spoke.
"You should head to Bamboo Lane on Chenxiang Street; there you will find clues to your prayer." After which, he closed his mouth and began to attend to the next worshipper.