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Chapter 371: Lanchi Waited for Her in the Most Conspicuous Spot
Chapter 371: Lanchi Waited for Her in the Most Conspicuous Spot
"No problem. I'd love to see the illuminated splendor of Helrom for myself."
Hesperian checked the time; it was just past seven. Indeed, it would be wise to purchase some necessities for their new home before rushing to bed, rather than scrambling to acquire missing items tomorrow morning. She also wanted to familiarize herself with Helrom, accompanied by Mishra, before settling in for the night.
Though Mishra's face appeared slightly stiff, her eyes burned with enthusiasm, clearly eager to explore the commercial district of Helrom before returning home.
Rumor had it that the skyscrapers of Helrom were adorned with conspicuous giant screens spanning the building facades, a stark contrast to Icerite's preference for integrating magic screens into the glass curtain walls of their structures.
Hesperian, too, had long been intrigued by this enchanting city-state.
"Let's go, Mishra," she said, rising gracefully from her seat. Her movements were fluid and orderly; she checked her attire before reaching for the small handbag placed beside her.
Mishra followed suit, unhurriedly ensuring they hadn't left any personal belongings behind before exiting the compartment.
The train's final deceleration was accompanied by a series of mechanical releases, causing the carriage to sway gently until it came to a smooth stop at the Helrom station.
As the doors slid open, a cool evening breeze carrying traces of magical mineral and metallic scents wafted into the carriage.
Passengers made their way toward the exit in an orderly fashion, with Hesperian and Mishra following suit.
In the station, filled with a unique orchestral melody, a transparent mirror screen caught their eyes. It captured the expressions of travelers who had just arrived in the imperial capital, holding them for a few seconds before disappearing without a trace.
"Don't worry; it's a barrier technique for checking disguise magic. And the one on the floor is for document verification," Mishra explained as they walked along the platform.
The path beneath their feet occasionally lit up, emitting a faint azure glow that rippled like water with each step.
"So, we might be a bit late getting back to school. There will be singing flowers in the aerial gardens that drift overhead at night, as well as ghostly starlight bodies. We must avoid those eerie old neighborhoods at all costs, and stay far away from the Helrom Alchemist Zoo..." Mishra continued, listing reminders for Hesperian as she counted them off on her fingers.
This city, beyond its magical allure, was fraught with dangers. Many prosperous areas of the city-state maintained absolute order through the presence of powerful entities and ancient barriers, while regions distant from these centers of power often descended into chaos, violence, and crime.
"To be honest, I was scared out of my wits several times during my first visit to Helrom, and I got made fun of for it..." Mishra muttered, sounding a bit aggrieved.
Navigating this city without a guide could be perilous.
Despite her typically expressionless face and air of nonchalance toward everything, Mishra's inner world was rich with emotions.
"Don't worry, Mishra. I won't be scared. You don't have to worry about me," Hesperian smiled reassuringly at her companion.
She was not just a princess of the demon tribe; she was also a duchess of the Herton Kingdom, a cleric, and now, disguised as a young lady from a count's family. She had to maintain her poise and etiquette at all times, no matter the circumstances, and remain unflappable.
In this regard, Hesperian was confident.
...
Meanwhile, in the heart of Helrom, the bustling city that never slept, a towering skyscraper rose amidst the noisy downtown district. Though its exterior was unremarkable, it exuded an undeniable presence. A row of lights atop the building cut through the night, announcing its identity as a media giant to every corner of the city.
This was the famous broadcasting building of the Protoss Empire—the birthplace of the Helrom Broadcasting Corporation's programs and a place where countless dreams and arts converged.
The building's facade featured a cold, austere design of dark glass walls that reflected the sky's radiance during the day and transformed into a massive projection screen at night, displaying the emblem of the Royal Charter of Helrom alongside clips of currently airing programs.
At the entrance of the ground floor, a crowd of people hoping to be part of the live studio audience jostled for space, tickets in hand, awaiting the uniformed guards at the door to grant them entry. The additional police officers dispatched by the Security Hall for tonight's event maintained order in the Helrom Broadcasting Corporation building, their serious expressions and gleaming badges a reassuring presence.
Once the show concluded, they would have the additional task of dispersing the crowd and escorting the celebrities away from the bustling downtown area.
Meanwhile, on the twenty-first floor of the Helrom Broadcasting Corporation building, the atmosphere in the backstage dressing room was markedly different.
Lanchi stood in front of the vanity mirror, quietly stroking a small black cat in his arms as he waited for the crew to summon him to the stage.
The dressing room lights were especially dazzling, causing Lanchi's reflection in the mirror to fracture into countless shadows, each bearing a calm smile.
The air was thick with the scent of heavy foundation and perfume, which seemed to discomfit the little cat, but Lanchi appeared unaffected, his gaze piercing through the bustling city of Helrom beyond the window, seeing something deeper that only he could perceive.
"Meow... meow..."
Cat Boss fidgeted restlessly in Lanchi's arms, unable to settle.
"Cat Boss, don't you want to join me on the show later?" Lanchi asked with a smile.
He sensed that Cat Boss was curious and wanted to see the world or witness the excitement.
The cat was timid, but its curiosity was strong.
If it missed this opportunity, there might not be another.
The show he was about to participate in, the Helrom Evening Show, had first aired in 1754 and was produced by Helrom Broadcasting Corporation. Under the leadership of its inaugural host, the show established the basic format for late-night talk shows, including opening monologues, celebrity interviews, comedy sketches, and musical performances.
Subsequent hosts added their unique styles and emotional elements, shifting the focus more towards interviews and conversations, which propelled the show into its golden age. With the host's distinctive humor and affability, the Helrom Evening Show became a cultural icon of Helrom's nightlife.
The show covered a wide range of topics, including social issues, current affairs, mental health, human-interest stories, and cultural subjects.
The talk show would begin promptly at eight, and judging by the dressing room clock, the studio should be ready by now.
"Meow... meow..."
Cat Boss, with his tearful cat face, remained unconvinced.
For some reason, the makeup artist had even tied a tiny bowtie around his neck.
The more he acknowledged the reality of the situation, the more irreparable it seemed, and he truly had never experienced anything like this before.
Before coming to the Northern Continent, he never imagined in his wildest dreams that things would come to this.
He had naively believed that this boy was only slightly abnormal and that leaving Icerite Academy wouldn't cause much of a stir.
But over these past two months, he had finally understood the true nature of Lanchi when he wasn't kept in check by Hesperian.
A sense of guilt threatened to overwhelm Cat Boss as he recalled how Hesperian had emphasized the importance of keeping an eye on Lanchi, advice he had brushed off at the time. Now, he felt deeply ashamed of his negligence.
"Don't worry, didn't Hesperian say that if we got separated in the empire, she would find me at a conspicuous spot? I might even see her today."
Lanchi was ever the optimist, gently stroking Cat Boss's fur as he spoke.
"..."
Cat Boss lifted his head, his tearful eyes fixed on Lanchi, but he remained silent.
Was it possible that she meant a geographically conspicuous spot, not one where he had to dress so conspicuously?
In the end, he chose to be an ostrich—or, in this case, an ostrich cat—and buried his head in his paws.
At this point, his mindset had shifted from praying for Hesperian to return quickly to praying that she wouldn't return at all.
Thankfully, the northern blockade was strict, and with Hesperian's abilities, the chances of her sneaking back into the Protoss Empire were slim!
Perhaps they would meet again on the Southern Continent!!
(End of Chapter)
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