Chapter 601 - 7: Departure
[Dear Mr. Chen Zhou, Greetings!
The staff at the Space-Time Administration Bureau remind you that your "Large-Scale Cross-Time Real-life Challenge Show" is about to conclude.
Please arrive at the reward reception area by 4 PM on December 12, 1687, and prepare for your return.
According to the rules, when you return to your world, you may take with you all the possessions acquired during the challenge. Please organize the items you wish to take in advance to avoid economic losses.
To facilitate your transportation, the Space-Time Administration Bureau has prepared a 200 cubic meter private storage space for you, aside from the items located in the reward reception area. You can store important possessions in the private storage space.
However, note that this space has a one-time usage permission: once an item is taken out, it cannot be put back.
Upon returning to your own world, you need to empty the private storage space within 30 days, otherwise, the items within will permanently disappear.
Additionally, we need to remind you that the Space-Time Administration Bureau defines valuables in this challenge as physical precious metals, currency, luxury items, and valuable crafts.
Real estate, land, private slaves, pets, or inexpensive animal products are not included. Please do not attempt to take them out.
The Space-Time Administration Bureau is not responsible for any accidents or property loss caused by your personal conduct.
The Space-Time Administration Bureau holds final interpretative rights over this challenge; any attempt to exploit loopholes for extra rewards is at your own risk.]
...
On December 10, 1687, Chen Zhou discovered a familiar blue cube on his desk in the study, with a line of floating words above it.
The long journey of 10,300 days approaches its end, just as the Space-Time Administration Bureau promised 28 years ago on the BBS, starting to remind him—
Never forget this is a unique train with a round trip; what he "purchased" was not a one-way ticket.
Several years ago, Chen Zhou had already prepared for his departure.
The vast amount of precious metals he melted down is stacked in the basement of the manor, while exquisite gold ornaments and gemstone-encrusted crafts are placed in a storeroom filled with charcoal to keep dry and prevent moisture damage.
Besides these treasures worth billions, Chen Zhou also collected many famous wines, 17th-century European celebrity paintings, porcelain, silk, woven tapestries, exquisite handcrafted clocks, and music boxes—all valuable objects.
They were brought over by Kilian and other merchants closely connected to the island, many originating from the Spanish Royal Family or European nobility, treasures worth a fortune even in the 17th century.
Among crafts worth millions to tens of millions of dollars, there are several seemingly ordinary items.
The first artwork that Saturday attempted drawing with clumsy strokes;
The small hammer Sunday made for Chen Zhou while helping with blacksmithing, resembling a bent iron nail;
A short brush made from collected Little Dragon Cat fur, unused for years, with the brush tip still maintaining its silvery gray color;
Portraits of Lai Fu and other pets drawn by Chen Zhou, stacked into a thick pile more than half a person’s height—
These are Chen Zhou’s most cherished treasures, which he wouldn’t agree to exchange even for gold of equal volume.
...
Upon receiving the Space-Time Administration Bureau’s notice, Chen Zhou first figured out how to use the so-called "private space."
Initially, he thought the private space was like storage rings in fantasy novels, controlled by consciousness, requiring intention to place things inside.
During actual use, he realized it wasn’t that complicated at all.
The blue cube delivered to his desk by the Space-Time Administration Bureau was both a communication tool and the key to the private space.
No matter where he went, as long as he carried that cube, he could open the "doors" of the private space and store things inside.
As for how much of the 200 cubic meter storage space was occupied, it needed to be identified by observing the color on the surface of the blue cube.
The occupied space changes from sky blue to deep blue to indicate it has been used.
Of course, for Chen Zhou, the 200 cubic meter space was truly more than adequate; even if he shoved all the precious metals accumulated over the years inside, it wouldn’t occupy half of the storage space.
And even if he could fill the space to its capacity, he wouldn’t do so—
The total value of the challenge reward had long exceeded his expectations, whether a billion or ten billion were astronomical numbers to him.
In the early years on the island, Chen Zhou occasionally fantasized about what he would buy and how he would enjoy once he obtained this wealth.
Then, as he grew older, memories of modern times began to fade, many coveted luxury items had disappeared from his mind.
Moreover, the birth, aging, illness, and death of those around him made him realize that money is indeed not almighty; there were pursuits worth more than money in this world—
At least the Space-Time Administration Bureau had already unfolded a magnificent world before him.
Living an extra 28 years, having possessed coveted wealth, controlled power, and determined many people’s fates; he had long become indifferent to the judgments of merit and disgrace.
...
In the last two days before leaving, Chen Zhou remained in the manor, never leaving for a moment.
He tried to ruthlessly sever everything, making a final separation with Saturday and Sunday to become "strangers."
However, Saturday and the others were lives he had saved, and every inch of this island was imbued with his efforts.