Chapter 20: Steam Taxi

"This is your proof of identity, keep it safe."

When the Guard returned, she held a small light-brown booklet and a brass-colored metal card in her hand.

The booklet was Yun Mu's proof of identity, similar in nature to a household register on Earth, while the brass-colored metal card was something like an Identity Card.

"Yun Mu?"

This was the name she had registered on the proof of identity, not the "Kitty" she had mentioned before.

Instead, it was the words "Cloud" and "Harmony" split apart, one used as the given name and the other as the surname.

According to the format on the proof of identity, her name was Yun and her surname was Mu.

This was likely the reason the other party had just addressed her as "Miss Yun."

"That's fine."

At least it looked better than "Kitty," so Yun Mu accepted it readily.

As for the surname and given name being swapped, she didn't intend to change it; firstly, she didn't know how long it would take to change a name, and secondly, if she modified it, her name would become Mu Yun, which would still feel awkward.

Most importantly, there was no point in changing it.

The fact that she could keep her name from her previous life after transmigrating was enough.

Yun Mu thanked the Guard, then put away her proof of identity and Identity Card.

"Starting today, I'm also an official citizen with papers!" she thought happily.

Before leaving the Guard Hall, she asked the Guard about the woman with the Scarlet eyes.

"I'm just a front-desk clerk for processing documents, how would I know?" the other party replied.

"Alright."

Yun Mu didn't know if the other party really didn't know, or was pretending not to.

She looked around the first-floor lobby, saw no familiar figures, and had no choice but to leave the Guard Hall.

After leaving the Guard Hall, she reached out and hailed a Steam Taxi.

"To the Painter Association," Yun Mu said to the driver after slipping into the back seat of the taxi.

Her original plan was to pick up her proof of identity from the Guard Hall, go to a bathhouse for a wash, and then go to the Painter Association to see if there were any ways to make money.

But after a rough calculation, she felt the money in her hand was not as abundant as she had imagined.

Before she had a job that could provide a stable income, it was better for her to be a bit frugal.

"2 Silver Frost Coins," the taxi driver said after hearing Yun Mu's destination.

"So expensive?"

Riding a Steam Taxi for the first time, Yun Mu felt a pang of pain as she took two Silver Frost Coins from her coat and handed them to the other party.

If she hadn't known where the Painter Association was, she wouldn't have taken this ridiculously expensive Steam Taxi.

Although the taxi's speed was indeed fast and the environment inside the car was much more comfortable than outside, it was still a bit too expensive for her.

After all, this was not Earth where vehicles were widely popularized; as an emerging product, the Steam Car was a luxury item that only a small number of families possessed.

And the target demographic for Steam Taxis were those who couldn't afford a car but had some spare money, as well as the wealthy who didn't know how to drive, attempting to gradually replace the carriage's position among the middle class.

Yun Mu could certainly have looked for a carriage, but she had stood by the street waiting for a long time and had only ended up with this one Steam Taxi.

She didn't know how much longer it would take if she kept waiting, so she would just treat it as a new experience.

After all, she was quite curious about what it felt like to ride in a car driven by a Steam Engine.

"Sit tight."

After receiving the two Silver Frost Coins from Yun Mu, the taxi driver pulled the gear lever with one hand while gently pressing the throttle with his foot.

Accompanied by the powerful roar of the Steam Engine, the scenery on both sides of the car retreated rapidly.

Yun Mu sat in the car, noting down the locations the taxi passed in her mind; as long as she remembered where the Painter Association was, she wouldn't have to spend this wasted money next time.

"We're here."

About eight minutes later, as the roar of the Steam Engine gradually faded, the taxi driver's words reached her ears.

"Okay, thank you."

Yun Mu came back to her senses, gently pushed open the car door, and stepped out from the warm Steam Taxi.

After she closed the door, the Soft-yellow Steam Taxi sped away.

"Doesn't feel like there's any difference."

Watching the departing Steam Taxi, Yun Mu shook her head.

She turned around and looked at the building in front of her, which was six stories high with an attic on the very top floor.

"Frostfall City Painter Association."

"Meaning other cities have them too, then."

Yun Mu pushed open the slightly Heavy wooden door, and was met with a wave of warm air.

There seemed to be quite a lot of people inside; after she pushed the door open, many people cast their gazes toward her.

Yun Mu also noticed a young man inside wearing only a thin shirt, who shivered uncontrollably after being hit by the cold air from outside when she opened the door.

"The young man's body is a bit weak; he can't even handle a gust of cold wind," Yun Mu teased him in her heart.

She closed the door behind her, looked around, and walked to the only counter in the lobby.

"Hello, is there anything I can help you with?"

Standing behind the counter, a woman wearing a standard black-and-white waiter uniform looked at Yun Mu and said in a Soft voice.

"I'd like to ask, as long as one knows Painting, can they get work here, right?"

So she's here to look for work.

The female waiter looked Yun Mu up and down, then smiled: "That is correct, but we need to verify your level of Painting first."

"How do I verify it?" Yun Mu asked.

"You only need to perform a Painting, it doesn't matter what you draw; we have specialized examiners to judge your skill level."

"That's fine." Yun Mu nodded: "Can I start now?"

"No problem, but we need to register your information first." The female attendant took a form from under the counter and asked her: "May I ask if you brought your Identity Card?"

"I brought it." Yun Mu nodded and said.

Fortunately, Lita was indeed right; to register as a painter at the Painter Association, one must bring an Identity Card.

Yun Mu took out a small booklet containing her personal information from her bosom and handed it to the female attendant in front of her.

The other party glanced at her rather strangely, but she didn't say anything; after taking the booklet, she filled out the form one by one according to the contents on it.

"All done."

After finishing filling out the information on the form, the female attendant handed her the Identity Card along with the form she had just filled out.

"Take this form and go to the Painting room on the second floor to find Mr. Sixin."

"Alright."

Yun Mu took the Identity Card and the form, then followed the spiral staircase in the first-floor lobby and walked toward the second floor of the Painter Association.

And after she left, some hushed discussions broke out in the first-floor lobby.

"Wow, I didn't expect that our Frostfall City Painter Association would have a day where a newcomer arrives."

This was a certain surprised Young Girl.

"I feel like she looks so cute, I really want to go up and make friends."

This was a certain young man rubbing the goosebumps on his arms.

"Hmph, what's the use of being cute? It's not certain whether she can obtain the painter certification or not."

This was a certain stubborn Painting fanatic.

PS: The invention time of the first Steam Car was June 32nd, 4197 of the Heral Calendar.

The inventor was a human male; it is said that he originally just wanted to make a steam-powered popcorn machine that could move at any time.

The reason for the strange look the attendant at the front desk gave Yun Mu.

Is because she only needed Yun Mu's Identity Card, and the content on the form only needed to be stated orally.

She was just a bit curious as to why Yun Mu would carry the Identity Card booklet with her.

It's like going to an internet cafe, the boss asks you for your Identity Card, and you end up giving him your household registration book.

(End of this chapter)