He paused for a moment: "The generational-level Anecdote Fragments they’ve used will also be left in the Royal Court Hall. Some talented people will be selected, and they can go to the Royal Court Hall to try and see if they can resonate with the Anecdote Fragment."
"What is the Royal Court Team?"
"They are the heroes who protect our royal family across generations. Only the most outstanding Anecdote Envoys will be chosen to become members of the Royal Court Team. You need at least one ’generational-level’ Anecdote Fragment to join."
"Wow... that sounds really impressive." Shark pondered for a moment, "Then could you take me into the Royal Court Hall so I can secretly feed those heroes’ Anecdote Fragments to me?"
Shark said seriously, "Think about it, leaving generational-level fragments in the Royal Court Hall gives those plotting against it an opportunity, doesn’t it? But if you hide the Anecdote Fragments inside my belly, those villains won’t be able to find them anymore!"
Cezar was taken aback and then greatly shocked: "Of course not! Brother and Father would scold me to death. Not even a Prince can enter the Royal Court Hall casually; it’s the most heavily guarded place in the Whale Royal Court."
Little Shark looked away dejectedly.
"By the way, the ’Li Qingping’ I just mentioned is part of the Royal Court Team and he’s even a vice-captain... but he rarely returns, often stays in the outside world, and Father was angry about it before."
"Although but... this Li Qingping doesn’t seem very smart." Shark said, "Even though I haven’t seen him, I just feel he doesn’t look very smart."
"You’re not allowed to speak ill of Li Qingping!"
Cezar was furious, shaking the Crystal Ball vigorously until Shark, dazed and dizzy, begged for mercy, and only then did he stop.
He lowered his eyes and said softly, "Every time Li Qingping returns, he tells me things about the outside world, like Tokyo, London... He said the outside world has day, noon, dusk, night, unlike the Whale Terrarium, which only alternates between dusk and evening; he also said people outside use a small iron piece called ’mobile phone’ to communicate, unlike us who use Anecdote Fragments ’Pigeon Messenger’ for contact."
"Sounds like... you seem to really like Li Qingping?" Shark examined Cezar’s expression.
Cezar raised the corners of his mouth: "Of course, in the Royal Court Team, he’s the only one who’s relatively familiar with me. Others prefer to associate with my two older brothers. Even if they encounter me, they’ll only salute and then run off, unwilling to chat with me."
He paused: "Everyone thinks I’m a child. Only Li Qingping understands me."
"Sounds like a good person."
"Li Qingping is really impressive," Cezar said quietly. "He was the first to resonate with the Anecdote Fragments left by the heroes in the Royal Court Hall, but in the end, he did not accept those fragments. Instead, he left here to explore the outside world on his own and eventually found the generational-level fragment ’Red Dragon Wales.’
He lowered his voice: "Everyone says he’s a once-in-a-million-year genius. He left the Whale Terrarium when he was only 12 years old. But I’m also 12 years old now, yet I know nothing and understand nothing... I haven’t even stepped out of the Royal Palace."
By the end, the Third Prince’s voice gradually lowered, and his face bore an irrepressible sense of loss.
Shark looked at his saddened expression and glanced up at the dim sky.
"Night has fallen," it whispered.
Cezar looked up, and as night came, the canopy of the Whale Terrarium seemed to turn into a rolling tide. Flecks of phosphorescence surrounded the sky-teeming fish schools, endless fish quietly swimming beneath the waves, like stars decorating the dark sky.
Just then, a bird engulfed in flames flew over from the corner of the island.
It dragged peacock-like brilliant tail feathers, lowly chirping towards Cezar on the rooftop.
"It’s Li Qingping’s ’Phoenix’!" Cezar was overjoyed for a moment.
He looked at the Phoenix, then turned to look at the entrance of the floating city.
Sure enough, Li Qingping, in a black suit, was standing at the entrance of the Floating City, one hand in his pocket, smiling, and waving to Cezar from afar.
"Li Qingping is here!" Cezar said.
"What a fool," Little Shark said.