Chapter 280

Following the map and mission clues, Phoebe's team arrived at the seventh shop: a seal engraving shop specializing in custom-made seals. As soon as they entered, they spotted a young man in a robe chatting with the shopkeeper, apparently picking up an order.

The livestream chat immediately exploded.

[Wait, from the side, he looks super handsome!] [JOMG, Pherbs, this is fate! He’s the first person you saw, invite him to be a guest star!] [Do it, do it, do it! We need this visual blessing on the show!]

Good-looking people were always a hit with the audience, and this guy was no exception. Phoebe glanced at the man's outfit and was pretty sure this had to be their fated guest. She nudged Jamar. "Why don't you go ask him?"

Jamar, eager to show off, nodded and walked over. "Hey, excuse me,"

The man turned, flashing a polite smile. "Yes? Can I help you?"

The livestream chat instantly blew up with excitement. Everyone raved about his looks, calling him ridiculously handsome, the perfect first-love type, and an absolute heartthrob. Phoebe was also taken aback by how good-looking he was. His skin was flawless, his features sharp but gentle, and his eyes warm and calm. There was something effortlessly refined about him, like he belonged in a period drama. Honestly, if he swapped his green robe for a white one, he would look straight-up ethereal.

Jamar was just as surprised. He hadn't expected their first encounter to be with someone this good-looking. In the entertainment industry, a face like his, paired with that elegant, almost untouchable vibe, was basically a golden ticket to instant fame.

Jamar quickly explained the show's concept, how they were filming live, and their mission to invite the first person they met as a guest. "So would you be up for it?" he asked with a friendly smile.

The man blinked in surprise, looking completely caught off guard. "But I've never been on a variety show before. I have no clue how any of this works. Is that okay?" he asked.

Phoebe noticed his voice; smooth, clear, and oddly calming, like a fresh spring. As expected, the livestream chat exploded with fans swooning over him.

Jamar grinned. "That doesn't matter. You'll get the hang of it as we go. What do you think? Wanna give it a shot?"

The man hesitated. "How long is the filming? I have plans next week and need to leave Caluwa."

Jamar replied, "Including today, it lasts a week. It wraps up next week."

The man seemed to weigh his options. "Let me think about it."

Jamar nodded. "Alright, take your time."

While he thought it over, the three of them wandered around the shop, checking out the different seals. Meanwhile, the production team wasted no time. They went up to him and explained how the show worked, breaking down the format and what to expect. They even pulled up their previous show's highlight reel, showing him some of the best moments from previous episodes.

When Sebastian, watching the live feed, caught sight of the man's grace and presence, he immediately instructed the team to convince him to join. If they could get him on board, it would definitely bring in a fresh wave of viewers. This episode was already a showdown of ridiculously good-looking guests—might as well add another to the mix. After some back-and-forth, the man finally agreed to give it a try. However, he made it clear that if it didn’t feel right or he decided it wasn’t for him, he would leave. The production team was more than happy to agree.

Meanwhile, Phoebe was absentmindedly browsing the seals on display. Then, something caught her eye. Tucked away in the corner was an old-looking seal, carved from emerald. It was a deep greenish-black, dull and unremarkable, something most people wouldn't give a second glance. In fact, some might even find it ugly.

However, Phoebe saw what others couldn't: a faint, dark energy clung to it, swirling just beneath the surface. It had definitely absorbed negative energy over time, turning it into a potential offensive horoscope artifact. Dark energy like this usually wasn't strong enough for direct combat, but it could be useful for subtle tricks. However, with this seal, the dark energy wouldn't just linger; it would be released, making it much stranger.

Phoebe turned to the shopkeeper. "Sir, can I take a look at this seal?"

The man nodded. "Sure, go ahead."

She picked it up, turning it over in her hands. There were no signs of tampering. The dark energy inside had formed naturally, something incredibly rare. She ran her fingers over the surface, feeling the energy again just to be sure. Then, she froze. Her grip tightened as she stared at the seal, her eyes widening. She could sense Percival's aura. Which meant… this seal most likely belonged to him.

Keeping her emotions in check, she asked as casually as possible, "Is this seal for sale?"

The shopkeeper smiled. "If you're interested, you'll have to ask this gentleman. He's the one selling it."

Phoebe had already guessed as much, but she still put on a surprised expression. "Oh! It's yours? So, it's available?"

She wondered, Is he using this untouched, possibly Percival-linked seal to bait her?

The young man chuckled. "That's right, you can buy it. An elder gave it to me; but he said it wasn't meant for me and told me to find the right owner." He glanced at her. "I've had this seal here for three years. You're the first person to notice it. Looks like it's finally found its…"

Phoebe smiled. "Well, I didn't expect fate to work like this."

A map, a specific shop, and now a seal that just happened to be here—it was too much of a coincidence. Or maybe it really was fate.

She asked, "So, how much are you selling it for?"

The man gave her a warm smile. "Since it's fate, I'll just give it to you. It's just an old, worthless seal anyway."

Phoebe shook her head. "I can't do that. I don't like taking things for free."

The man paused for a moment before saying, "I just agreed to join this episode as a guest. The staff explained the rules to me, and since we're on the same team, how about this: you look out for me this week, and I'll give you the seal as a thank-you. Sound fair?" He added with a smile, "My elder told me to pass it to someone it's meant for. Selling it wouldn't feel right."

Phoebe thought it over then nodded. "Alright, deal. I'll make sure to take good care of you this week."

He was being generous, so there was no need to overthink it. She still couldn't quite figure out the situation, but if he wanted her to look after him, then fine, she would. She was still trying to figure out his real intentions.