Chapter 486: Prologue
Chapter 486: Prologue
At 1:30 p.m., Chen Chuan and his three companions arrived at the front gate for ticket inspection. The ticket inspector informed them that they were holding second-class tickets and would have to wait until 3:00 p.m. for the official start time to enter.
"We have to wait for another hour," Pan Xiaode muttered in dismay.
Tan Zhi couldn't help but agree, as he hadn't purchased these tickets himself. They were a gift from Teacher Wei, his instructor. After all, the seating was limited, and these tickets were highly sought-after, so having them was already a fortunate turn of events.
At that moment, most of the people on the square were like them, waiting outside, except for those who were obviously high-ranking officials and statesmen, who were allowed to enter directly through the VIP entrance without any delay.
Chen Chuan then remembered the tickets given to him by Advisor Pei, which seemed different from the ones Tan Zhi had shown. He took them out for a quick look and said, "I also have a few tickets here. A friend gave them to me the other day. Take a look."
Tan Zhi eagerly examined the tickets and his eyes lit up. "These are first-class tickets!" He excitedly turned to Pan Xiaode and Qi Huixin, saying, "We don't have to wait outside anymore. We can go in right away!"
Chen Chuan nodded in agreement, "That's great. I thought these tickets might not be useful."
The three of them were delighted. Not only could they enter early, but they would also be seated in a private box, which was far better than their original seats.
The four of them squeezed out of the crowd and headed to another ticket inspection point. After presenting their tickets, they proceeded through the VIP entrance and were escorted by a dedicated attendant who led them to their private box.
As they passed by, they noticed high-ranking officials, statesmen, and company executives gathered in small groups, engaging in lively conversations.
These people were not here merely to watch the musical; they also considered this place a grand social venue. Upon seeing the four young people with exceptional auras, they assumed they were the offspring of some prominent officials or noble families, occasionally glancing their way.
However, the fighters accompanying the officials and statesmen simultaneously tensed up.
One government official noticed the unusual behavior of his advisor and asked, "Old Liu, is something wrong?"
Old Liu whispered, "Senator Ai, those young people are all fighters."
Senator Ai took a few glances and commented admiringly, "Oh? They are all very talented young people."
Nowadays, fighting techniques were popular worldwide, and even if one couldn't become a true fighter, upper-middle-class individuals would hire one or two fighting instructors for their children. Among them, there were bound to be some talented individuals, so it wasn't surprising to see a few fighters among the youth.
Old Liu maintained a serious expression and said, "Senator Ai, the one leading them might be a Third Limit fighter, and I sense a strong threat from him."
"Really?"
Senator Ai was taken aback. He suppressed his smile, glanced around, and instructed, "Have someone verify their identities, but be discreet."
The security in Weiguang District was generally excellent, and no one dared to cause trouble. However, with the recent surge in violent incidents and the ongoing promotion of certain security bills, this matter couldn't be overlooked.
Old Liu nodded, "Yes, sir."
As soon as Chen Chuan and his companions reached the entrance to the private box, an internal security officer approached them for inquiry. However, he remained polite and respectful, as those who could afford to be here were not ordinary people, and it was best to avoid offending them.
Chen Chuan presented his identification card, and the security officer immediately verified his identity through the interdimensional link. He saluted respectfully and said, "Captain Chen, apologies for the disturbance. Enjoy the show."
Tan Zhi and the others hadn't noticed it before, but at this moment, they could clearly sense the difference in status between Chen Chuan and themselves, not just in personal combat abilities but also in social standing.
Although they were accustomed to interacting with upper-middle-class individuals due to their backgrounds, Chen Chuan was their peer, and this made all the difference.
Furthermore, they knew that Chen Chuan's background was not as privileged as theirs, and everything he had achieved was through his own hard work. This inspired a deep sense of admiration and envy within them.
Senator Ai also received a report from the security officer, and he was surprised. "An execution captain from the Processing Bureau? So young?" He wondered which influential family the captain belonged to, but as long as his identity was legitimate, it was all that mattered.
Once inside the private box, Chen Chuan and his companions settled into the comfortable seats, which offered a perfect view of the entire stage. The angle was ideal for watching the performance.
The box also featured a small bar and a beverage display, and each box had a dedicated attendant outside to provide various catering services promptly.
In the box across from them, they could see people coming and going, shaking hands, and engaging in conversations. Some even nodded and smiled in their direction.
Pan Xiaode grimaced, as he disliked such social gatherings. As a child, he had been dragged to countless social events, which he detested.
After joining the Wu Yi Academy, such annoyances became less frequent, especially since he and Qi Huixin had undergone facial transformations to become brother and sister. Their family's attitude towards him had changed, and he cherished the newfound peace.
Chen Chuan sipped his hot drink and accessed the theater's platform, which contained recordings of past musicals and plays. While it couldn't compare to the live experience, it was still enjoyable.
However, there was still plenty of time, so he decided to browse casually.
Suddenly, a loud commotion erupted from one of the private boxes. A young man was shouting aggressively at a well-groomed middle-aged man, attracting the attention of the other box occupants.
Pan Xiaode glanced over, "Hey, isn't that kid Lu Miao?"
Tan Zhi immediately asked, "Do you know him?"
Pan Xiaode replied, "Not very well, I've seen him a few times. His father is the deputy director of the Security Affairs Department. He started training in martial arts even earlier than us, and he's quite full of himself. The person he's yelling at is probably his uncle, Assistant Director Bao Yun, who's his father's assistant."
Chen Chuan took a look, realizing that the Security Affairs Department was a superior department to the City Patrol and Processing Bureau, and its head reported directly to the mayor, making it a high-level position and essentially his superior.
From their conversation, it seemed that Director Lu had arrested someone, and Lu Miao was demanding his uncle to release the person. However, even if Assistant Director Bao could do it, he wouldn't dare to publicly announce it, let alone act on it in this situation.
The security personnel in the theater quickly intervened and escorted the young man out.
Assistant Director Bao didn't seem to lose face over this incident. He apologized to those around him and followed the young man out to handle the situation. As the two of them left, whispers of discussion filled the private boxes.
About ten minutes before the official opening of the musical, Chen Chuan noticed the commotion outside subsiding. Then, an elderly man with a dignified air and an elegantly dressed woman entered, holding hands.
The old man wore a foreign-style suit, and despite his apparent age, he walked with a steady gait and had a sharp gaze. As he entered, everyone in the private boxes stood up and applauded in greeting.
The old man waved to those around him. Chen Chuan noticed that right beside the couple, almost entering together, was the figure of Chen Bitong, whom he had seen before at the Interdimensional Link.
He glanced at Chen Bitong, who also looked back at him. After a moment of eye contact, Chen Bitong nodded slightly. Chen Chuan returned the gesture.
Tan Zhi said, "That must be Speaker Quan and his wife."
Pan Xiaode, noticing Chen Chuan's gaze, asked curiously, "Chen, the person beside him seems quite formidable. Do you know him?"
Chen Chuan replied, "I met him not long ago."
Speaker Quan exchanged a few words with those waiting for him and then headed towards the second-floor box in the center, the best seat in the entire theater.
Chen Chuan saw that it was about time, so he stopped paying attention to Chen Bitong and put on the Interdimensional Link required for the musical, quietly waiting for it to begin.
After a few minutes, the bright lights dimmed, leaving only the stage illuminated, revealing a green wilderness with undulating terrain.
It's worth mentioning that the set wasn't entirely created through the Interdimensional Link. The foreground used real objects and lighting, while only the background was a projection.
After a while, a ethereal female voice echoed, seemingly floating in from the wilderness and rising from the depths of the mind, as if it could stir one's soul.
Chen Chuan could sense a spiritual power within the song, but judging from the singer's aura, she didn't seem to possess any martial prowess.
It wasn't that only martial artists could engage in spiritual cultivation; many religious figures from ancient times had embarked on this path. However, unlike martial artists, their spirits were often insubstantial and unfocused, lacking substantial power. Yet, in certain specific situations, they could create spiritual connections and resonance.
This was likely the opening scene, where the mute shepherdess found the fallen knight, serving as the prologue and the first chapter of the Divine Song.
Chen Chuan listened carefully, but unfortunately, he couldn't discern anything special in the song, whether due to the singer or a language barrier.
However, according to the introduction, the song's content would progressively unfold with the plot, revealing more as it went on. The most refined part of the entire musical was in the latter half, when the conflict reached its peak. Chen Chuan was quite eager to see what was to come.
Amidst the singing, a young woman with platinum blonde hair stepped onto the stage. She wore a wind-blocking hat and a multi-layered skirt that reached her ankles. Her face was slightly dirty, but her light green eyes left a deep impression, reminiscent of crystal-clear lake water.
Following the script, the shepherdess arrived at a tree after the knight's entrance. She parted the grass and discovered the fallen knight lying on the ground.
He seemed to be a young man wearing old armor, and his firm jawline was visible from under his helmet.
However, at this moment, Chen Chuan sensed something unusual. He tried turning off the Interdimensional Link but didn't notice anything amiss. When he used his second self to block out all external field information and looked again, he raised an eyebrow. That wasn't a young man; it was merely an empty suit of armor.
...
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(End of Chapter)
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