From Prisoner to Si Chen..

Chapter 357 Preparation
"Gillen."

Pala suddenly called out.

"Teacher, please speak."

Jilan looked up quickly and responded.

The teacher looked deep in his eyes and said solemnly:

"As my student, I hope you can inherit my alchemy, which is my greatest strength. But you are not proficient in either mysticism or alchemy. You can even be said to be a layman."

"Sorry, teacher." Jilan was a little embarrassed.

"Before you follow me to study, you should lay a solid foundation in this area, otherwise you won't be able to understand some of what I say."

Pala instructed.

"Mysticism and alchemy are profound studies. Ordinary people cannot fully understand them even if they spend their entire lives studying them. Therefore, I'm afraid you won't be able to master a solid enough foundation in a short period of time."

"But I don't have much time left and can't wait."

"Sorry...teacher."

Listening to the old man's deep voice, Jilan apologized again, his tone heavier.

Pala slowly took out a black film reel from his body and handed it to Gilan in surprise.

"Take it and watch the movie."

"This is..." Jilan took it and looked down.

There was a familiar label on the corner of the film reel, with the name of the film written in black cursive letters:

Silver Bottle

“This is a film about alchemy that gives you a solid foundation in the subject.”

Parra explained.

Jilan raised his eyebrows, quite surprised.

"The protagonist of the film is called Macara Melascus, who was active in the early twelfth century and was a legendary alchemist... She ascended to heaven in later generations and became the 'Silver Bottle Lady', one of the apostles under the seat of the 'Snow Lady' of the September Hour."

Pala continued.

"You can find a way to learn occult knowledge from Mrs. McCullagh in the film, especially knowledge related to alchemy, which will benefit you a lot."

"But, teacher..."

Jilan frowned slightly.

"Didn't you say that real film is only suitable for viewing by 1st to 3rd level spiritual mystics, and that those who have lived for a long time will be repelled and cannot stay for too long?"

When we first met Ms. Crow, because she was a long-lived person and could not stay in the film for too long, she entrusted Gillan to assist the recording team on the "Day of the Long Shot" to explore the secrets in the "Human Will" series of films.

"That's right." Pala nodded. "But there is also an unspoken rule hidden in it, which allows the long-time people to experience the complete plot of the film."

"Something like 'Montage Day' and 'Long Shot Day'?"

Gillan asked.

Pala denied it.

"No, it is even more secretive than these two unspoken rules. Only a very small number of people know about it, and it requires a certain price to pay."

As he spoke, he changed the subject and asked:

"Gillian, do you know the origin of the real film?"

"I don't know." Gilan shook his head. "I only know that they originated from Er Yue Si Chen's 'director'."

"Yes." Pala raised his eyes and looked into the void, his gaze far away. "This is a secret history that was blocked by the Empire. In fact, the birth of the real film was not long ago, just 10 years ago on February 1917, 2."

"That night, a meteor fell from the sky, and real film fell like rain along with the meteor fragments, scattering all over the world."

"The event is also known as 'The Day of Exposure'."

"Soon after the 'Day of Exposure', the Empire issued the 'Art Order' and listed movies as contraband. This was the biggest reason."

Pala retracted his gaze, looked at Jilan, and said in a deep voice:
“Although the real films originated from the ‘director’ of February Sichen, there are many of them, and the mysterious power contained in each film is close to a miracle… This is not only the work of God, but also needs to be maintained by the apostles.”

"Have you ever noticed that real film makes a loud noise near the end of its run?"

Jilan was startled, then nodded.

"Yes, sir... the air raid sirens and the bells."

"That is actually a manifestation of the film's rules, and behind it, there is an apostle of the 'director' who is always maintaining it."

Paradao.

"His name is 'Assistant Scriptwriter' Hera Nibar."

Hearing this, Jilan felt it sounded familiar.

He thought about it for a moment, then he remembered that it seemed that after every film was finished, this person's name would be on the rolling list of behind-the-scenes personnel.

Gilan told his teacher Pala about this discovery, and the latter hummed and said:
"Yes, the three people on the list of behind-the-scenes personnel, the 'Director', the 'Chief Photographer' and the 'Assistant Script Supervisor' are all apostles of 'Director' Er Yue Si Chen."

"Among them, the most widespread rumor is about the 'Assistant Script Supervisor'. It is said that he has already died... In fact, he did not die, but merged with the real film."

"Merged into one?!" Jilan was quite surprised.

"That's right," said Parra. "'Assistant script supervisor' has become a rule of the film, existing in every film. At the same time, it is equivalent to being trapped in it forever, unable to return to the world."

After hearing what the teacher said, Ji Lan couldn't help but think of another apostle of the "director", the "official actor" Mr. A.

Mr. A’s situation is similar, he is also trapped in the real film and cannot return to the earthly world.

The two apostles seem to be tied to the real film to keep the film world running.

"Why would the 'assistant script supervisor' do this?"

Gillan asked in confusion.

"I don't know." However, teacher Pala didn't know the answer either, and just shook his head. "But it seems that only in this way can every real film have a miraculous power, which can make the viewer put himself in it and experience everything that was filmed in the past."

"And this is exactly what I mean by the key to the unspoken rules."

"You mean... the 'script assistant' Hera Nibal who was hidden in the real film?"

Gillan asked.

Pala nodded.

"Well, as long as you find Him in the film and give Him a 'bribe', you can extend the time that the Kyushu stays in the film." "Is that possible?!" Gilan was quite surprised.

"This information is extremely valuable. Please listen carefully."

Pala instructed.

"Before watching the movie, you must prepare three times the normal amount of mercury batteries, 3 gold coins, and a special dessert..."

“This dessert requires fresh hawthorns skewered on bamboo sticks, dipped in sugar water, and air-dried and cooled… The ‘assistant script supervisor’ especially likes it.”

As he listened, Jilan felt strange.

Why does the dessert described by the teacher look so much like "Tanghulu"?
He thought about it and guessed something.

It’s not surprising that the “director”, as a senior time traveler, knows how to make Tanghulu... and the “assistant script supervisor”, as his apostle, has probably even eaten it.

Maybe that's why I fell in love with this dessert.

“Teacher, how can I find Him?”

Gillan asked curiously.

Pala looked deep in his eyes and spoke slowly:
"When you watch the movie for the first time, you don't need to enter. Just run the film until the end. When you hear a loud noise, insert three times the normal amount of mercury batteries and clap your hands at the screen... After that, you will see Him."

"Take this opportunity to offer a 'bribe' and extend your stay. Then, next time you watch a movie, even if you are a long-lived person, you can experience the entire story of the movie."

"I understand, teacher."

Gillan said seriously.

Pala hummed.

"Gillan, you want to learn occult knowledge from Mrs. McCalla in the film. This is not easy, but it can be considered a test for you."

"I'm giving you this real film of 'The Silver Bottle'. Watch it carefully and try to master the basics of alchemy as soon as possible."

"When you are ready, come find me."

"Yes, teacher." Jilan said respectfully.

Pala checked her watch and then stood up.

"It's getting late, I should go..."

"I'll take you there, teacher."

Gillan also stood up.

Pala smiled slightly and did not refuse.

So, the two of them walked out of the apartment slowly, one in front and one behind. Jilan stood on the street outside the courtyard gate and watched the white-haired old man get into the car until he disappeared at the end of the street.

...

...

The next morning.

Jilan got up early and called the cook Paula, asking her to buy some hawthorns and come back to make "Tanghulu".

Although it is January now, not the August or September season when hawthorns are ripe, and you can't buy fresh ones, but if you are willing to spend more money, you can still buy some frozen ones in the commercial district of East and West Muse.

After explaining the production process in detail, the cook nodded repeatedly, indicating that she had remembered it all.

But she was puzzled in her heart, not understanding why the young master wanted to eat such a "strange" dessert. However, despite her thoughts, the cook still did as she was told.

And Jilan also took the opportunity to go out and head to Triumph Building.

The new home is not far from the building, only ten minutes’ drive away.

After arriving at the Triumph Building, Jilan went straight to the 75th floor and used his remaining merits to exchange for more than a dozen mercury batteries at one time.

Then he returned to his residence carrying a bag of gold coins.

When I returned to the apartment, there were four cars at the door, three gray and one black.

The black one belongs to his secretary Lanis, and the other three gray ones are the bulletproof "Heavy Cavalry" vehicles officially assigned to him.

As soon as Gillan entered the courtyard, Lanis came over with four tall and strong men in black clothes.

"Report to the commander. The four elites sent by the military have arrived. Please give us your instructions."

Lanis adjusted her glasses and said respectfully to Gillan.

Gilan glanced at the four bodyguards and nodded.

"You can stay in the apartment first. There are some empty rooms on the second floor. If you need anything, you can ask the butler Charles. He will try his best to meet your needs."

"Yes, sir."

The four strong men responded in unison, and then saluted Jilan.

Then, Gillan led his secretary into the apartment and sat down in the living room.

"Sir, the matter you asked me to investigate has yielded results."

Lanis poured a cup of tea for Gillan herself, then spoke in a low voice.

"Miss Flora Lotito, the youngest daughter of Propaganda Minister Mr. Staven, joined a club interested in occultism at the academy a few months ago."

"There were four people who were close to her, two men and two women, named Zelens, Homa, Shalaina, and Beili."

"After the committee's investigation, it was discovered that this small team of five people are all Level 1 Mysterious Persons. Moreover, they seem to be researching something in secret."

"Well, I see."

Jilan took a sip of tea and nodded.

He smiled and looked at the secretary.

"Thank you for your hard work. You did a great job."

"Thank you for the compliment, sir." Lanis said with her head down.

"Let's have lunch here together."

Gillan Road.

"That's great. You probably haven't had dessert before. You can try it."

"Hmm?" Lanis was a little surprised, with a curious look in her eyes. "Yes, sir."

(End of this chapter)