Chapter 1, The Day of Selection

From the cool, air-conditioned public transport to the sweltering streets, he seemed to quickly feel the discomfort of the temperature. He took out his phone to check the time and saw that it was still not yet the opening hour of the museum. Muttering to himself, "What the hell, it's only nine in the morning and it's already this hot. Is the Earth really going to explode..." He looked around, hoping to find a shaded place to stand.

Strolling into it, the table lamp covered with splendid Huaxia embroidered gauze

Pointing to a weathered wooden block, about three inches square, adorned with an owl carving among a pile of antique objects on the ground, the young boy curiously asked, "Sir, what is this?"

"What is this, a map or a chessboard?" the Asian boy asked, somewhat dazed.

It was a Saturday, and although it was still considered early morning, the market was already taking shape, with hundreds of people either holding sun umbrellas

Among them, there is a portion of individuals who are professional vendors, selling unusual and inexpensive items that are not commonly seen, taking the opportunity to earn some extra money

150 million yuan The bald old man scrutinized the Asian youth for a moment before quoting an exorbitant price

"The survival of the fittest." Just yesterday, the young student had learned about "On the Origin of Species" in class, and now, in a daze, he was responding to one bizarre question after another with his thoughts

The world is composed of four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. Even in a state of confusion, a boy who is passionate about tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons and comic novels instinctively thinks of this.

The "flea market" is, in simple terms, a temporary marketplace where citizens gather to sell second-hand items that they no longer need but believe hold some value, rather than casually discarding them in the trash

What he did not know was that after he grasped the money and completed the transaction, the boy holding the ancient wooden box suddenly felt a daze in his mind, his vision darkened, and he fell into a trance as if he were looking through a kaleidoscope

Young people, the great Greek philosopher Amogius once said, "The history of humanity is composed of coincidences." As if he did not catch the sarcasm in the young man's words, the bald old man replied seriously, "Is it not possible for the ancient Egyptians to plant the types of trees that the people of Los Angeles prefer?"

The land is adorned with patterns symbolizing forests in the form of green trees, triangular peaks representing majestic mountains, and mounds symbolizing hills, creating a dazzling spectacle for the eyes

He originally had no intention of shopping, but the curiosity of youth is always vigorous. After wandering around for a while, he found himself in front of a stall filled with oddly shaped items, the purpose of which was unclear, and the products appeared to be somewhat aged, causing him to stop in his tracks.

But I really don't have any more money left, you see, the Asian boy, in an effort to show his sincerity, rummaged through his pockets again, "I don't even have enough for a fifty-cent fare. If it weren't for my bus pass, I would have to walk home."

However, for a young man who has been obsessed since childhood and is accustomed to solving problems using the so-called D & D (Dungeons & Dragons) rules, it is remarkably simple. He immediately responded with his thoughts: "Dice, the decision of fate is merely about 'to do' or 'not to do', and a twenty-sided die can resolve all the world's dilemmas"

Hearing this, the bald old man showed no signs of embarrassment at being exposed as a fraud, and solemnly said: "I have said that only those with fate can find the treasure, young man. Just like how His Excellency Paul of the 'Group Army' was able to purchase the rare item 'War Production Line' for only 200 meters in an antique shop, treasures can be easily obtained by those with fate, while those without it will never be able to find them."

In front of the grand steps of the Carnegie 20th Century Museum in the city center, a young Asian man with thick black-framed glasses perched on his nose, dressed neatly in a gray jacket and long pants, with a wooden expression, black hair, black eyes, and yellow skin, stepped off the back door of a yellow city bus

80% new, thoroughly cleaned fruit and vegetable blender

Pouting his lips, he squatted down and touched the mottled piece of wood, saying: "Sir, I see that the material of this wooden seal is very similar to the Hu Qiao tree in the park. Do the Egyptians also like to plant this kind of tree?"

The vendor, an elderly bald man dressed in a tattered black suit full of wrinkles, with brown hair and an Arab-style mustache, rolled his eyes upon hearing this and replied in a peculiar tone: "This is the personal seal of the Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun, young man; the owl represents his authority"

"Map, chessboard, haha, no, no, no, this is a mysterious treasure map. Young man, it is said that the fated person who finds the treasure will possess unparalleled wealth and power in the world," said the bald old man, revealing an inscrutable expression.

There lies the largest urban park in Los Angeles, the second largest metropolis in the United States with a population of ten million, known as the 'Lung of Los Angeles.' Within it, there are many places for citizens to spend their leisure time, and the most distinctive feature is that during holidays, a spontaneously formed flea market appears along the street side.

"Unmatched wealth and power..." As he spoke, the Asian youth came to his senses, staring at the seller's wrinkled suit, and with a seasoned shrug, said: "Sir, if such a good fortune truly existed, you should go find that treasure yourself and get yourself a well-fitting new suit"

The young man appears to be inexperienced in the ways of the world, yet he has been tempered by the hardships of life and naturally would not believe such an absurdity as selling the seal of a king from an ancient nation on the street

Opposite the Carnegie Museum, there lies a vast expanse of greenery adjacent to it

In a state of confusion, unaware of how much time had passed, a distant voice suddenly rang in the young man's ear, "Drifting east and swaying west, if there are no more opportunities, then there will be no play. If you can achieve great success, remember to thank Dajiaji."

The young boy shrugged his shoulders without hesitation and firmly countered, "I have only 7 yuan for lunch, and approximately, well, a little over ten yuan in saved pocket money, that's all I have." He rummaged through all his pockets and pulled out a handful of crumpled bills, with the largest denomination being 5 yuan and the smallest only 1 yuan.

After that, the young man felt as if time had slowed down by dozens of times. He soared into the air and, after flying for a while, tilted and fell heavily to the ground. The sound of glass shards shooting around him, as they tore through the flesh on his face, echoed clearly in his ears with a whooshing sound.

The heat-sensitive Asian boy crossed the street, sat under the shade of a tree for a while, and feeling quite bored, ran into the flea market to wander around

After hesitating for a moment, he could only ask in frustration: "Alright, sir, just tell me directly how much this treasure map is worth?"

This wooden board, when assembled, forms an ancient box. When the four sides are opened and laid flat, it resembles a chessboard. It is difficult to discern the type of wood used, as it appears dull and lacks luster, with wave-patterned designs painted along the edges. The central area, surrounded by ocean waves, depicts a serpentine landmass approximately fifty centimeters in length.

Seeing the old man boast without shame, the young man felt compelled to stand up and leave, yet the wooden board at the stall seemed to possess an indescribable magic, making it impossible for him to part with it.

September, the scorching heat has not yet dissipated, in the American "Los Angeles", the floral summer sun filters through the tall leaves of the French sycamore trees, blooming on the solid concrete road.

What are the fundamental rules for the existence of all things in the world? The distant voice asked for the third time

As the thought just flashed through his mind, that distant voice once again asked: "What is the fairest way to determine fate?" This question is exceedingly tricky; upon deeper reflection, it touches upon many aspects such as humanities, philosophy, politics, and so forth. Even the wise and virtuous might find themselves at a loss for words in response.

He did not know how long he had been there or how many questions he had answered, but suddenly, he felt as if cold water had been poured over his head, and he instantly regained his clarity. At the same time, a chilling and piercing screech of brakes invaded his ears.

Upon hearing these words, the Asian youth realized he had encountered a shameless "old hand." He shrugged and ceased to speak, intending to stand up and leave. Suddenly, his eyes inadvertently swept over a weathered wooden board, and he was instantly captivated by it.

The bald old man looked at the rice yuan in the young man's hand, his eyes suddenly brightening, but he was still chewing on his betel nut and said: "Twenty-odd rice yuan is too little, young man. My treasure map is a rare item that has been lost from the British Museum..."

Or wearing sunglasses, comfortably basking in the sunlight, men and women of different ages and varied attire adorn the grass with large, colorful blankets, sitting among piles of old goods, joyfully drinking beer and cold beverages, eating hot dogs and hamburgers

Look at them; rather than selling goods, it is more akin to a picnic.

According to the legal minimum wage of 8.50 dollars per hour under the Los Angeles gig economy law, earning 150 dollars would require nearly 20 hours of work. Assuming an average student worker works about 2 to 3 hours a day, this would amount to approximately one week's worth of pay

After the strange and peculiar poetry, a voice in the darkness asked: "What is the substance that constitutes the world?"

The bald old man, realizing that there was really nothing to be gained, muttered, "Well then, since you are so sincere in wanting to make this deal with me, I will sell you this precious treasure map at a discount. If one day you truly find the treasure, remember to repay me." He folded the 'precious' treasure map at his feet back into the shape of a wooden box and tossed it into the arms of the Asian boy as if it were garbage, casually snatching the rice yuan from his hand, appearing deeply afraid that the boy might change his mind.

The small fishing boat motor, covered in thick grease... Various old items, completely unrelated to each other, evoke a sense of curiosity and amusement.