Chapter 395: Chapter 347: Speculation and Connection (Double-Length Chapter)

Two days later in the early morning, the sunlight was just right.

Jeming, according to the arrangement, met with Amy and Victor at the iconic Star Track Plaza in the city center.

When he arrived, he happened to see Amy, who had been waiting for quite some time.

"Here, here!" Amy waved excitedly, dressed in a casual outfit full of vitality today.

Victor, as always, maintained a meticulous academic style and nodded at Jeming.

The three of them quickly confirmed their itinerary, deciding to first go to the largest commercial complex "Huan Yu Mall" to pick a gift for Amy’s aunt, then wander around, followed by a movie.

Walking on the wide and tidy streets, where hover cars silently shuttled past, Jeming observed his surroundings seemingly casually.

His gaze repeatedly swept over the large public screens on the facades of the towering buildings.

On the screens, through highly realistic holographic imagery, news on the "Frontline Galaxy Battles" rolled on—a massive starship firefight within the deep cosmos, energy beams crisscrossing, fiery explosions blossoming in silence.

The news anchor, with a serious tone, described the intensity of the battles and the heroism of their soldiers.

However, in stark contrast to the news of raging warfare, the social atmosphere around was one of peace.

There were no recruitment stations, no wartime rationing notices, nor any tension of emergency state.

At bus stops, young men and women were passionately discussing the latest releases of holographic immersive games and the landscapes of newly developed tourist planets.

On park benches, the elderly leisurely enjoyed the sun, chatting about community-organized social dances.

Everyone’s face bore an almost habitual calm, seemingly indifferent to the screen-wide matters affecting the survival of civilizations.

No fear, no enthusiasm, not even basic attention seemed present, as if it was merely an entertainment program happening in another dimension, irrelevant to daily life.

"Does distance create beauty, or are they simply numb?" Jeming’s suspicion deepened.

But neither seemed correct. No matter how one thought about it, a civilization embroiled in fierce interstellar war could not possibly have such a relaxed social atmosphere.

Whether passionate, decadent, or tense, it shouldn’t be this peaceful.

Upon reaching Huan Yu Mall, they headed straight to "Star Sea Film Fun," a chain store specializing in selling movie merchandise.

The store was dazzling, filled with movie posters, character figurines, and prop models that were completely unfamiliar to Jeming.

Seeing these items, Jeming realized this was yet another vast area of "real" information outside his knowledge base.

Observing Amy and Victor enthusiastically browsing and discussing various products, Jeming pretended to show interest while in truth, continuously absorbing fragments of this world’s culture.

Amy finally chose a limited edition villain spaceship model, feeling it matched her aunt’s "unique" taste.

With the gift bought, the three strolled along the shopping street.

At that moment, Jeming abruptly halted, his gaze fixed on a giant holographic advertisement in the plaza center. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

On the screen, a high-tech product launch was being broadcast live.

Standing on stage was a chief scientist in a white lab coat, speaking confidently and assuredly.

And the person was surprisingly another Wizard Jeming had glimpsed during the Expeditionary Army gathering!

"Another one..." Jeming’s heart trembled, silently noting the company’s name and the "scientist’s" appearance.

Afterward, strongly recommended by Amy, the three went to the cinema to watch a recent popular interstellar epic movie.

By the end of the movie, Jeming confirmed once again that from narrative techniques, aesthetic styles to value reflection, the films here were entirely different from those on his past life’s Earth and even the Wizard World. They were independent and mature cultural products.

After watching the movie, the sky was near dusk.

The three exited the mall with the crowd and had just reached the exit when a slightly lazy, magnetic female voice called from behind:

"Amy?"

Amy turned around, her face instantly lighting up with a smile: "Aunt!"

Jeming followed her gaze, and as he saw the person’s appearance clearly, his pupils contracted suddenly, his breath nearly stopping.

Standing there was a tall woman, her flowing silver-gray hair gently swaying in the evening breeze, her features exquisite, skin fair, an air of coolness mixed with an inexplicable intellectual and mysterious charm.

The emphasis was that this face was all too familiar to Jeming.

The person was none other than Senior Sister Viola!

Amy, full of excitement, took Viola’s hand, introducing her: "Aunt, these are my friends I mentioned to you, Jeming and Victor."

Viola—or rather, the "Viola" of this world—turned her gaze to the two, with a friendly smile, an odd fusion with her inherently aloof and cool temperament:

"Hello, Amy often talks about you. I also graduated from the university you are currently attending, so consider me your senior, just call me Senior Sister Viola."

Jeming’s eyelids twitched, his heart uncontrollably accelerating its beat.

Another senior sister?

Fortunately, Viola’s attention quickly returned to Amy. She smiled and asked, "Why did you come here today?"

Amy immediately presented the exquisitely packaged gift: "Aunt, happy early birthday! This is the gift my friends and I picked out for you!"

Viola displayed just the right amount of surprise, receiving the gift with a gentle yet bright smile: "Thank you, Amy, and Jeming and Victor, that’s so thoughtful of you."