New Monkey District 21A (The Bo Lan Mysteries #1)
Knights of the Order of Cosmopolitania Cycle 1, Series 1, Story 1
Welcome, founding members, to a moment I’ve looked forward to for a very long time: the beginning of a long-term project, which I call The Knights of the Order of Cosmopolitania Universe. Perhaps a more concise title will emerge one day, but rest assured: if the title eventually shortens, the output for this idea won’t. And within the next month or two - once I resolve a few creative shortcomings - I will introduce a second literary series for this tier, The Adventures of Inercia, to both complement this series and make sure you’re getting intellectually challenging and (hopefully) meaningful fiction. A third series is an option too, but it was intended for novels so we will see.
I should also mention that to you who become founding members, a special free prize will soon be available. Founding members only!
From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank those of you who support me financially. You’re making a real dream come true.
As the soldiers cleared him through the checkpoint following an overly intimate examination of his smartphone, Bo Lan - Deputy Chairman of The Ministry of Culture and Head of the Culture Warrior Directives Program - exited the black government car, grabbed his suitcase with an iron grip and made for the pedestrian-only path behind the wiry gate.
No cars beyond this point. No smartphone either.
“You must leave it here,” insisted the soldier. “This facility is subject to the utmost secrecy. See that kiosk over there?” The soldier pointed to what looked like an old, abandoned phone booth. Bo Lan nodded. “Your phone will be placed in a safe. Just come up here if you need to use it. You will be given the key.”
His smartphone secure, Bo Lan strolled through the wiry gate and down the clean path with a briskness he hadn’t known in years; steady but not so fast that he became sweaty in the temperate Guangdong heat. He had no sooner walked down the wooded path for ten minutes corner before he turned a corner.
Below the hill rose the village of Čínský Krumlov. (the unofficial name for 新 的 孙 悟 空 第 二 十 一 区 A, or New Monkey District 21A)
So this was Europe, gasped Bo Lan, permitting as much emotion as his professional manners would allow. It was hard not to feel magnificence at the sight of the charming medieval town, though what it was he couldn’t say. Nor did the X factor of being touched calm his nerves. From his experience, there was no such thing as an X factor in the People’s Republic of China. It scared him.
The soldier accompanying him interrupted the vista, saluting to justify his interruption of a superior’s moment by the call of duty.
“Come, Sir. The subjects are waiting for your inspection.”