A standing crystal harp, a diamond-shaped monument inscribed with strange loops, and a ring depicting a serpent biting its own tail.
“On what basis do you think I would be willing to trade?” Baltica arched an eyebrow, puffing on her long-stemmed pipe. With the smoke whirling around her, it was impossible to tell her mood.
To be honest, Baltica didn’t see anything particularly special about the three items before her.
As a merchant, she was known for her keen eye. She had once recognized at a glance two valuable items on Sinafa, which speaks volumes.
And these three items, while indeed commendable in appearance, particularly the strange loops on the diamond-shaped monument that seemed to hold a bizarre charm, at most, they comprised some peculiar nodes of energy. But these were not compelling enough for her to take a special interest; she didn’t believe that these items possessed any magic power that could move her.
So, although a faint smile still lingered on her lips, she was actually getting a bit impatient inside.
Angel: “Miss Baltica, why don’t you give them a try?”
“Give it a try?” Baltica casually picked up the crystal harp on the left, her slender fingers caressing it. “Very well, I’ll give you a chance. I hope it won’t disappoint me.”
She activated the first crystal harp, and instantly, her world changed; a melody she had never heard before echoed in her ears…
While Baltica was experimenting, Angel’s eyes also rested on the three items.
These three items, or rather two items and one accessory, were actually part of Angel’s collection of works from when he practiced alchemical illusions. They weren’t his most extraordinary pieces but were among the most distinctive.
The first crystal harp was essentially a music box disguised as an actual harp, infused with alchemical illusion.
However, within this music box, unlike before, he didn’t stingily leave just one piece of music, but rather combined several nocturnes that shared similar charm yet varied in styles.
Lyrical, lingering, sorrowful, melancholic.
Baltica held the crystal harp for nearly two hours, never once leaving the illusion during that time.
Only when the illusion was nearly over did Baltica set the crystal harp aside, her lips slightly turning up in a smile, without saying much.
The music box within the crystal harp was indeed nice; the music was very interesting and matched the nights of this frozen old world perfectly.
Moreover, Baltica herself enjoyed music greatly, evident from her constantly humming songs the last time — this was also why Angel decided to bring out the music box.
She liked this music box a lot, but since she had finished listening to the music, it was already etched in her memory.
Therefore, for her, the allure of the crystal harp had somewhat diminished.
Baltica felt like she had gained an advantage, and the impatience that once filled her heart had now vanished.
The music in the box, though she had memorized it, she had to admit that the accompanying illusion was well worth exploring. So, when her gaze drifted to the second monument-shaped item, anticipation couldn’t help but fill her heart.
As she picked up the second item, Angel aptly added, “This is the Monument of the Strange Loop. I hope Miss Baltica likes it.”
Baltica activated the second item, and as her world transformed once more, a hint of fascination appeared in her eyes.
The Monument of the Strange Loop was, of course, a reference to the little game that had addicted the likes of Sanders and Kanter — Monument Valley.
The protagonist of Monument Valley, like Baltica, was female, which naturally made the immersion stronger for her than for Sanders, Kanter, and the others.
This time, Baltica immersed herself in the illusion for even longer, nearly four and a half hours, and reluctantly exited. The time was too short, and playing from a mortal’s first-person view in the illusion meant that a lot of its ingenious designs took time to unravel. Thus, Baltica felt regretful — she hadn’t managed to play through the Monument of the Strange Loop to its ending.