Chapter 487: Dual Ending
Chapter 487: Dual Ending
Chen Chuan's gaze fixed upon the armor, and with his experience, he could tell that something was amiss.
But with the play unfolding on stage, under the watchful eyes of the audience, was this an intentional act by the organizers? Or was there a special reason behind it? Or perhaps, an unexpected situation had arisen?
He couldn't be sure.
The play itself was filled with mysterious elements, and with the involvement of many fighters, it was hard to tell if they were using something for the sake of the performance.
For now, the anomaly didn't seem to affect those around, but an anomaly was still an anomaly.
After a moment's thought, he decided to observe and wait for any changes.
On stage, the role of the shepherdess, being mute, couldn't speak. Thus, the interaction was one-sided, with only the knight speaking in a theatrical tone.
The knight's voice was loud and clear, and even without seeing him, one could sense his passion, unwavering belief, and courage.
However, the reality was that the so-called knight was just an empty suit of armor. When Chen Chuan concealed himself with his second self, the voice disappeared along with it.
This indicated that there was no backstage voice actor, and the anomaly itself was the source of the sound.
The organizers might genuinely be unaware of this situation, at least the actors on stage were clueless.
Chen Chuan opened the interdimensional link and accessed the information about the actors through the theater platform's provided list.
There, he could view the background stories and introductions of each character, with the leading actors naturally at the top.
The topmost entries were the leading actors. The shepherdess was played by Astrid, a female actor from Norlund, whose stage name was Autumn Butterfly. She was twenty-five years old, a Tier 3 Fighter, but on stage, she looked only eighteen or nineteen.
The fallen knight was played by Thorsten, whose stage name was Nan Wang. This suggested that the original plan included this actor, but where had he gone now?
Chen Chuan also examined the full-body photo of the actor, and the image matched the current appearance of the knight's armor.
His gaze deepened.
He then inquired about some stage-related information. To ensure authenticity, all props, costumes, and weapons used in the play were shipped from Norlund.
The play continued on stage. Setting aside the anomaly, the actors' performances were spot-on, and even with the anomaly, there were no flaws in their acting. They perfectly portrayed the fallen knight's stubborn and persistent nature, refusing to bow to ridicule.
The audience felt as if the knight from the past was just like this, brought to life before their eyes.
The shepherdess's performance was also commendable. Even without dialogue, her body language and the emotions conveyed through her light green eyes were enough to touch hearts.
Unbeknownst to them, as the plot progressed, the first six acts concluded, and the lights brightened, marking a brief intermission.
All the main characters had made their appearances in these six acts, and what followed was a significant turning point—the most exciting part of the entire play. During the break, the audience enthusiastically discussed the plot and these actors.
Pan Xiaode and Tan Zhi were no exception, but they eagerly anticipated the upcoming fight scenes.
Chen Chuan didn't join the discussion. Instead, he picked up the Xue Jun Sword and left the private box.
He intended to meet Chen Bitong.
As he exited the corridor, a person approached from the opposite side and greeted him, "Captain Chen, what a coincidence to meet you again."
Chen Chuan recognized the man as Gu Haiting from Canglong Corporation, whom he had met at the training course. He replied, "So, it's Mr. Gu."
"Captain Chen, how are you?"
Chen Chuan explained, "I saw Mr. Chen earlier, so I wanted to greet him."
Gu Haiting smiled, "What a coincidence! I was also planning to meet Mr. Chen. Shall we go together?"
Chen Chuan agreed.
He sensed that the man might have been waiting for him intentionally, but regardless of his motives, having someone accompany him to see Chen Bitong didn't seem out of place.
As they walked down the corridor, Gu Haiting asked, "Captain Chen, what do you think of this musical?"
Chen Chuan replied, "It's indeed captivating."
Setting aside the anomaly, the costumes, props, and singing all exhibited high artistic value, which even someone who rarely watched musicals like him could appreciate.
Gu Haiting said, "I heard that the songs contain special combat techniques. I'm curious if it's true. Did you notice anything, Captain Chen?"
Chen Chuan shook his head, "No, I think it might be due to the language barrier."
Gu Haiting smiled, "Yes, on our Da Shun land, the ancient heroes of Norlund might face some cultural challenges."
Chen Chuan said, "Any power obtained without effort comes with a price. We have our own lineage and don't need to seek it deliberately."
Gu Haiting nodded lightly, "Captain Chen, did you know that the biggest sponsor and promoter of this musical is the Norlund company, Porelon Corporation? They bring their culture to our land, and some aspects are good, but others aren't."
"It's inevitable," Chen Chuan said.
"Yes, but some things need to be addressed. Even if it's just flowers and plants, we can't let their branches extend onto the road." Gu Haiting spoke with a hint of profundity.
He glanced ahead, "Oh, we're here, and there are quite a few people."
Many people had gathered at the door of the private room, as Chen Bitong was in the Speaker Quan's family box. Most of them were those who hadn't greeted Speaker Quan earlier and had come to pay their respects to Chen Bitong.
However, they understood that Chen Bitong would surely sense their presence here. If he could meet them, he would, and if not, it meant he didn't wish to see anyone.
At that moment, the side door opened, and the attendant outside gestured for them to enter.
"Mr. Chen has invited us in. Let's go," Gu Haiting said. Chen Chuan nodded and walked in with him.
The private room was spacious, with two separate compartments. Chen Bitong was in one of them.
Chen Chuan entered and took a quick look around. He saw Chen Bitong sitting on a spacious sofa, his back straight as a rod, and his sharp, chiseled features appearing rigid under the lighting. His eyes, in particular, seemed deep and spirited.
His wide-brimmed hat was placed neatly on the table in front of him, while his military coat hung on a nearby rack. At this moment, he wore only a gray shirt, and no visible weapons were in sight.
"Come, take a seat."
Chen Bitong appeared relaxed, like a true mentor facing his students. Once they were seated, he spoke in a casual tone, "What do you think of the opera?"
In a 6-1-9-1-book-1-look-1-no-1-wrong-version!
Gu Haiting smiled and said, "Mr. Chen, although I didn't see what I wanted to see, it was still quite enjoyable. Both visually and audibly, it was a pleasure."
Chen Chuan, on the other hand, said, "I've never seen it before, but I think I can accept this. It's just that..." He glanced at Chen Bitong, "...there seems to be something hidden beneath it all."
Chen Bitong offered no evaluation and appeared not to have sensed anything unusual. He merely said, "If you enjoy it, then keep listening. Perhaps you'll gain something from it."
After a few exchanges, they heard a notification from the Interdimensional Link that the second half of the performance would begin in five minutes.
Gu Haiting and Chen Chuan both stood up, "We won't disturb Mr. Chen any further."
Chen Bitong also stood up, but he turned to Chen Chuan, "Captain Chen, wait a moment."
Gu Haiting, seeing this, understood they had something to discuss. He smiled and bid them farewell before leaving the private room.
Chen Bitong then spoke in a gentle tone, "Captain Chen, I'm alone here. Can you accompany me to watch the rest of the performance?"
Chen Chuan's heart stirred slightly. He nodded and, after notifying Tan Zhi and the other two through the Interdimensional Link, sat down again.
Chen Bitong asked the attendant outside to pour a cup of hot drink and said to him, "Thank you for Xiao Jin's matter."
"I hope Mr. Chen doesn't think I'm meddling," Chen Chuan said.
Chen Bitong shook his head, "His talent is limited, and I don't have time to teach him. It's better not to teach at all, so he won't be too disappointed later."
"But I think Xiao Jin has talent," Chen Chuan said.
Chen Bitong remained noncommittal.
At that moment, the outside lights dimmed, leaving only the stage illuminated.
Chen Bitong looked towards it and said slowly, "Let's watch the performance."
After the intermission, the second half began. The noble lady, carrying her poetry, entered the capital city. She passed the test of the royal swordsman and successfully received the king's ennoblement.
At this point, she should have presented her poetry to prove the fallen knight's correctness. However, she changed her mind and sent someone to kill the knight. The shepherdess defeated the attacker, took the knight's armor and gun-sword, and rushed to the royal court. The two performers would then engage in a true ultimate showdown.
Being fighters, the two actors would not only showcase their full strength but also, this was a dual-ending performance.
If the shepherdess lost, the entire play would take a dark turn, contrary to the main theme, but the audience could understand. If the shepherdess won, it would be a traditional, happy ending.
However, because the ending was uncertain, the audience's anticipation and tension were at their peak.
Chen Chuan watched the stage above, and as the scenes unfolded, the plot quickly reached the moment when the shepherdess was granted the armor.
On the Interdimensional Link's display, the knight, in a majestic and resonant song, asked the shepherdess to remove her armor. He then guided her in putting it on, and after he used his second self to shield the field domain, a different scene appeared.
The armor fell off on its own, revealing an empty interior. The shepherdess's performer then put on the armor piece by piece, holding the gun high.
The shepherdess remained silent throughout, yet her determination and unwavering advance deeply moved most of the audience. As the music gradually intensified, their eyes filled with anticipation, waiting for the intense clash about to unfold.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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