Elsewhere.
Thousands of kilometers away to the southwest, in the bustling downtown district of Manhott within the Creti capital of Brierda.
Night had deepened. Lanqi and Talia strolled across the spacious Broadway Central Square, where the central fountain sparkled under the illumination of the lights.
Overtaking sluggish vehicles and darting through intersections just as the traffic signals changed—
They sprinted toward the Brierda Opera House. The majestic Creti modernist building's five-story curtain wall of floor-to-ceiling glass cast a warm glow, illuminating a colossal poster hanging on the exterior facade: Holy War Romance: Cinderella Arc.
"Hurry, hurry! We're not going to make it!"
"There are still about fifteen minutes until curtain call."
Lanqi and Talia had run all the way there.
The main structure of the Brierda Opera House, clad extensively in beige sandstone, gradually came into view. Through its perimeter of glass curtain walls, the magnificent, glittering interior lobby was clearly visible.
Before the entrance—flanked by five massive revolving glass doors—stood two symmetrical pairs of circular fountain pools lined with brown granite, their jets of water rising and falling to the rhythm of the music.
The closer they got to the Brierda Opera House, the more gridlocked the traffic became. Fortunately, both of them were fast runners.
After escorting Elsa and Ursula back to Saint Creti Monastery, Lanqi had immediately turned around and rushed toward the Brierda Opera House in the heart of the city.
Before departing from Saint Creti Monastery, he and Talia had both put on simple disguises.
Not only had Professor Landry been drawing considerable attention lately, but they also had to watch out for the Blood Clan's informants. Preventing anyone at the opera house from easily recognizing him as Professor Landry was the safest course of action; after all, if an imperial noble who knew him struck up a conversation, it might interfere with his attempt to approach Abigail.
Moreover, Lanqi and Talia's disguised identities posed no legal issues. If they were truly questioned, they could quickly revert to Landry and Landry's acquaintance.
Unlike the Protos Empire, the Creti Empire lacked strict laws prohibiting the use of concealment magic to alter one's race; prominent public figures were permitted to disguise themselves as needed.
Right now, they appeared to be simply a handsome, dark-haired young man and a gorgeous, gray-haired woman who had agreed on a date to watch a play at the Brierda Opera House.
Approaching the opera house, Lanqi and Talia blended into the crowd of guests on the front plaza.
Gentlemen wore tailored suits or tailcoats, their buttons glinting with the warm luster of brass and mother-of-pearl, while ladies were draped in fashionable, luxurious evening gowns, glittering with jewels and exuding elegance.
"I actually saw an earlier performance, but truth be told, tonight's public showing is also eagerly anticipated."
"Do you think she'll pull off some new tricks?"
"Unlikely, but we can't rule out the possibility of a few tweaks in tonight's show."
Lanqi and Talia walked forward, listening to the lively chatter and laughter of the people around them.
The cheerful murmurs were filled with anticipation for the feast of art they were about to enjoy.
Neither of them was surprised. From what they understood, the Brierda Opera House covered nearly ten thousand square meters and featured a unique 'garage-style' stage design, boasting the most advanced stage magitech machinery and acoustic systems in the Southern Continent. Even imperial citizens residing permanently in Brierda regarded performances at this theater as something truly special.
Presenting about twenty-seven operas each season, spanning classical and modern works, the opera house was in a perpetual state of bustling excitement throughout the performance season. It staged works ranging from famous ancient imperial writers like Verdis and Puccinica to contemporary playwrights.
They just didn't quite understand how tonight's performance differed from ordinary ones.
Still, they had rushed over tonight and had no time to dig into the details.
Silently, the two crossed the bright, expansive foyer as dazzling light washed over them, quickly arriving at the ticket check.
"You two are in VIP seats. Enter through Gate One, then proceed straight along the right-hand staircase to find your seats quickest."
The attendant carefully inspected their tickets, then gestured with practiced courtesy to guide them into the grand hall of the Brierda Opera House.
"Thank you."
Lanqi took back the ticket stubs and stepped through the heavy, exquisitely carved double doors with Talia, as if crossing into another dimension.
The moment they entered the auditorium, both of them relaxed.
Fortunately, they had made it in time—there were even about ten minutes left before the show began.
Lanqi and Talia ascended the marble stairs covered in plush red carpet.
Chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling dozens of meters above, where countless translucent crystals refracted mesmerizing radiance kissed by light, casting soft yet brilliant patterns onto the burgundy carpet and weaving an enchanting dreamscape.
Every few paces, smiling staff members attentively guided guests toward their respective seats.
"Your time management is pretty impressive," Talia remarked with praise for her male companion after finding their seats.
She hadn't worried about a single thing tonight. Whether navigating or keeping track of time, just like their earlier date in Palieu, the City of Flowers, emptying her mind and following Lanqi was all it took to enjoy an effortless experience.
Though she had already realized Lanqi's reliability back in South Vantina, she had only seen him as an employer then. Only now was she truly convinced that Lanqi made for an exceptionally great travel companion.
"I'm never late. Students may arrive late, but a headmaster never can."
Lanqi sat down according to his seat number, holding his breath and focusing his attention amidst the festive roar of the omnidirectional sound system.
He hadn't forgotten their actual business in the slightest.
Lanqi's gaze casually swept across the VIP section.
The high-society luminaries and prominent aristocrats of Brierda were gathered there.
Fortunately, the tickets they held were purchased by Ursula, the young lady of the Roland family, placing them squarely in the VIP area.
If Abigail was truly supervising on-site from the audience as Barton had said, she was almost certainly among this crowd.
"Look, is that her?"
Suddenly, Talia's eyes caught a figure in the distance. She lightly tapped Lanqi's arm, leaning close to his cheek and gesturing for him to follow her gaze.
In an aisle seat near the wall, a solitary figure stood frowning and muttering in an anxious daze.
She looked to be in her early twenties, with pure silver-gray hair cascading down like a waterfall. She wore an off-the-shoulder black evening gown, its finely tailored fabric clinging to the graceful curves of her figure, while a black gemstone necklace encircling her throat accentuated the pale radiance of her skin.
"I'm really relying on you. I honestly don't think this is my fault! If they couldn't meet my expectations, of course I had no choice but to drill them relentlessly, and if you ask me, they only barely reached a passing grade anyway... How was I supposed to know their bodies would suddenly give out? If I'd known, I would've scheduled fewer showings! It's all because that fellow begged me to expand our influence that I packed the schedule so full, but the actors can't grasp my vision at all..."
The woman in the black evening gown seemed to be on a communication spell, speaking irritably and stomping her high heels every now and then.
Yet the venue was far too noisy, engulfed by the idle chatter of the surrounding crowd. Standing far away, Lanqi and Talia couldn't make out exactly what she was saying.
"It really is her. Let's hurry."
Lanqi focused his gaze and was astonished to confirm that she was indeed the director of this highly anticipated play—the famous genius maiden of the Creti Empire, Abigail.
She appeared far more irritable than he had imagined. It was hard to believe she was the Royal Magic Artificer hailed as a national treasure by the empire's magic engineering circles.
"Will she be difficult to deal with?"
Talia was worried that approaching an Abigail in such a foul mood might result in an immediate door slammed in their faces.
Despite Abigail's dazzling exterior, a faint cloud of distress hung over her face. Holding a translucent purple communication magic card, she paced back and forth beside her seat.
They certainly weren't the only ones wanting to speak to Abigail, but everyone else was tactfully refraining from approaching her right now.
"Leave it to me."
Lanqi gave Talia a confident nod, exchanging an understanding look.
Watching him, Talia felt reassured.
Lanqi had always been great at communication.
Without the slightest hesitation, Lanqi and Talia rose from their seats and walked toward Abigail.
As their footsteps drew near, Abigail looked up, casting a puzzled gaze in their direction.
"Miss Abigail, we were introduced by an acquaintance..."
Lanqi spoke politely.
He couldn't speak Barton's name in public; otherwise, people might discover Professor Landry's partnership with Barton.
However, Barton had mentioned that once they got Abigail alone and said they were friends introduced by him, Abigail would definitely grant them face. Regardless of whether she agreed to cooperate, there would at least be a chance to talk.
"!"
Abigail's eyes instantly lit up with brilliance.
She promptly hung up the communication spell, lowered her magic card, and looked at them as though she had found her saviors.
"You're finally here!"
she gasped in immense relief.
"Oh? Did he contact you in advance?"
Lanqi was slightly surprised.
He recalled that Barton had Abigail's contact information, though Barton was somewhat reluctant to reach out to her via communication magic.
Had Barton still worried about them and given Abigail a heads-up beforehand?
"Of course! The traffic must have been terrible, right? I was worried sick—I thought you wouldn't make it in time!"
Abigail nodded repeatedly, the coldness and impatience on her face vanishing into thin air.
"Follow me, follow me!"
She gestured for Lanqi and Talia to follow, striding toward the inner corridors of the theater without looking back.
"..."
Neither Lanqi nor Talia had expected Abigail to be this enthusiastic.
Talia was even more baffled by Lanqi's extraordinary social finesse—could sincerity really move someone so instantly?
Both felt things were going astonishingly smoothly tonight; they might not even need to watch the play before getting Abigail alone and settling their business.
Regardless, they followed along.
Abigail was already striding away so rapidly she was about to disappear at the end of the corridor, looking far more anxious than either of them.
Abigail's high heels clicked against the marble floor in a crisp, rapid rhythm.
Baffled, Lanqi and Talia hurried after Abigail, weaving through the interior passageways of the opera house.
Besides the main stage, the opera house contained numerous supporting facilities, including rehearsal rooms, dressing rooms, costume workshops, and prop workshops.
They turned down long, dim corridors one moment and crossed wide, brightly lit halls the next.
The staff members they encountered along the way nodded respectfully to Abigail.
At last, a gray door appeared before them.
"Please, come in."
Abigail pushed the door open with practiced ease and motioned for Lanqi and Talia to enter.
"Thank you."
Lanqi and Talia expressed their thanks.
By this point, they felt they had put the pieces together.
As expected, the reputation of Mafia Boss Barton Hall was tremendously effective.
He had arranged a meeting with Abigail for them right away.
Abigail clearly understood the need for a private talk, which was why she had so urgently brought them here.
Immediately afterward, the two stepped into a spacious and orderly room.
The room was brilliantly lit, with mirrors covering three walls. Laid out before the mirrors was a dazzling array of cosmetics, wigs, and small props, while several cushioned leather chairs sat in the center of the room.
"Uh, Miss Abigail..."
Lanqi looked in bewilderment at the room teeming with busy staff, pointing ahead as he asked Abigail.
Yet Abigail had no time to pay him any mind. She briskly called over two senior stylists and gave them a few concise instructions.
"Hurry over here! What are you standing there daydreaming for?"
The beauticians nodded knowingly and immediately got to work.
They first pulled Lanqi and Talia over to sit before the mirrors, expertly brandishing brushes, sponges, and powder puffs to sculpt new contours upon their faces.
Liquid foundation shimmered with a soft glow under the lights, while eyeshadow and blush complemented each other like an artist's palette, rendering Talia's features even more radiant.
As for men's makeup, it prioritized structure over sharp lines; with no need for eyeshadow, a light dusting of residual contour powder around the eyes was enough, making Lanqi's process much quicker than Talia's.
"Perfect. Your natural aura and posture are just like a prince and princess—hardly any touch-ups are needed to see how perfectly you fit the characters."
Abigail appraised them with great satisfaction, speaking with confident approval.
From the very first glance, she had realized that the actors her friend had found for her were far more exceptional than she had imagined.
The two sat before the mirrors completely dumbfounded as the Brierda Opera House staff applied their makeup at breakneck speed. Behind them, assistants were already bringing over costumes encased in non-woven garment bags, waiting for the makeup artists to finish so they could complete the styling.
"Wait."
Lanqi instantly realized something was amiss, resting his right hand on the back of his chair and turning his head.
Had they and Abigail been talking completely past each other just now?!
"Whatever you need, once the performance is over, I'll do everything I can to satisfy your requests!"
Abigail pleaded, clasping her hands together as she saw Lanqi's tense expression.
She knew that stepping in as last-minute substitutes was a severe test of an actor's foundation and nerve, but right now, she had no choice but to trust that the actors her friend found were reliable.
After all, they had said themselves that they were introduced by an acquaintance; she certainly hadn't mistaken them for someone else.
The entire makeup process was smooth and orderly. Lanqi and Talia felt as though they were living in a dream. Before they could react, the makeup artists had already applied the finishing touches and were ushering them off to change into their costumes.
"No, we..."
Lanqi choked on his words, realizing that things were spiraling into a rather serious mess.
"Wait, aren't you the actors my friend introduced to help me out?"
Abigail observed Lanqi and Talia's expressions with growing hesitation.
Her chest heaved with rapid breaths as her heartbeat visibly accelerated.
"Huh?"
Talia was dumbfounded as well.
She did recall hearing that the rehearsal intensity for stage plays was extraordinarily demanding.
Had the lead actors for tonight's show suffered sudden medical emergencies, prompting Abigail to ask a friend for emergency replacements—and had she mistaken the two of them for those actors?
"What do you mean, 'huh'? Are you not?!"
Abigail eyed the man and woman before her with deep suspicion.
Nothing had gone right tonight. If these two were messing with her, her mind was about to explode.
With curtain call just minutes away, she had zero time left to find other actors!
"We..."
Abigail's face darkened so drastically she looked ready to murder someone, causing the explanation rising in Lanqi and Talia's throats to get stuck midway.
Given Abigail's temper and current state, explaining the truth right now and asking for a private talk would likely only result in her blowing up, kicking them out, and permanently blacklisting them.
Conversely...
Whether this was a crisis or an opportunity hung upon a single thought!
"We are indeed the actors you're looking for. That's right."
Pressured by the immense stakes, Lanqi and Talia—sweating buckets—swallowed hard and accepted on the spot.
Chapter 751