https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-751-Sybrian-and-Friends-Settle-in-for-the-Show/12585243/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-753-Talia-Can-t-Even-Remember-the-Lyrics/12585245/
Chapter 752: Lanchi and Talia Start Their Scheme
Chapter 752: Lanchi and Talia Start Their Scheme
In another place, thousands of kilometers southwest in Buriers, the bustling downtown area of the Kreese capital, Manhotte.
Under the deep night sky, Lanchi and Talia strolled across the spacious Broadway Central Square, where the fountain in the center sparkled under the illuminating lights.
Surpassing the slow-moving vehicles, they dashed across the crossroad just as the traffic lights changed—
They rushed towards the Buriers Opera House, its grand Kreese modernist architecture featuring a five-story-high glass curtain wall that emitted a warm glow, reflecting the massive poster of "Crusade Romance - The Chapter of the Grey Princess" on its exterior wall.
"Hurry up, we're going to be late!"
"We still have about fifteen minutes before the show starts."
Lanchi and Talia ran all the way.
As they drew closer, they could see the main building of the Buriers Opera House, with its extensive sandstone exterior walls and a circle of glass curtain walls offering a glimpse of the splendid interior.
At the entrance, five giant glass revolving doors were flanked by two symmetrical circular fountain pools, their walls crafted from brown granite. The water columns rose and fell in rhythm with the music.
The closer they got to the Buriers Opera House, the more congested the traffic became. Fortunately, they were both fast runners.
After sending Elsa and Ursula back to St. Kreese Abbey, Lanchi rushed towards the Buriers Opera House in the central district.
Before departing from St. Kreese Abbey, he and Talia had donned simple disguises to avoid being easily recognized as Professor Landri, especially by the Blood Clan, and to prevent any possible interference from familiar imperial nobles.
However, there were no issues with Lanchi and Talia's disguised identities. If they were questioned, they could easily revert to being acquaintances of Landri.
The Kreese Empire did not have the same strict regulations as the Protoss Empire, prohibiting magic that concealed one's identity or altered their race. Some well-known individuals were allowed to disguise themselves as needed.
Now, they appeared as a handsome black-haired man and a gray-haired beauty, a couple on a date at the Buriers Opera House.
As they approached the opera house, Lanchi and Talia blended into the guest crowd in the front square.
The gentlemen wore tailored suits or tailcoats, their buttons shimmering with brass and mother-of-pearl, while the ladies adorned themselves in fashionable and luxurious evening gowns, exuding elegance and splendor.
"I've watched the previous show, but tonight's premiere is also highly anticipated," Talia commented.
"Do you think they'll introduce something new?" Lanchi asked.
"Not likely, but we can't rule out the possibility of some changes for tonight's performance."
As they made their way forward, they overheard the surrounding guests chatting excitedly.
Their cheerful voices were filled with anticipation for the artistic feast they were about to experience.
The two were not surprised. According to their understanding, the Buriers Opera House spanned nearly ten thousand square meters and boasted a unique "garage" style stage design. It was equipped with the most advanced stage magic machinery and audio system on the southern continent. Even the locals of Buriers considered the theater's performances a rare treat.
With approximately 27 operas per season, including classical and modern works, the opera house remained bustling throughout the performance season. Operas by famous ancient writers like Wiltis and Puchinika, as well as contemporary playwrights, were regularly staged.
However, Lanchi and Talia didn't quite understand what set today's performance apart from the usual shows.
But with their hasty arrival, they hadn't had the time to find out.
The two quietly made their way through the spacious and brightly lit lobby. As they entered the theater, a dazzling radiance enveloped them. Lanchi and Talia quickly reached the ticketing inspection area.
"You have tickets for the VIP seats. Enter through Gate Number One, and then take the right staircase directly to reach your seats in the fastest way possible," instructed the staff, examining their tickets one by one and then gesturing politely to guide them into the hall of the Buriers Theater.
"Thank you," Lanchi replied, retrieving the ticket stubs.
Together, Lanchi and Talia stepped through the heavy and intricately carved double doors, as if crossing into another realm.
The moment they entered the theater's performance hall, they both relaxed.
Thankfully, they had made it just in time, with about ten minutes to spare before the show began.
Lanchi and Talia leisurely climbed the marble staircase, adorned with thick red carpeting.
Hanging from the soaring dome, dozens of meters high, was a chandelier with branching arms. Countless crystals, clear as tears, reflected mesmerizing light, casting a soft yet bright glow onto the wine-red carpet, weaving a colorful dreamland.
Every few steps, they were greeted by smiling staff members who courteously guided guests to their respective seats.
"You're quite good at time management," Talia remarked as she located their seats.
She hadn't worried about anything tonight, neither navigation nor timing. Like their previous date in Pari, she had simply followed Lanchi and enjoyed a comfortable and carefree experience.
Previously, although Talia had discovered Lanchi's reliability while in South Mantina, at that time, she had only considered him as an employer. Now, she was truly convinced that Lanchi was an excellent companion for their journey.
"I would never be late. Students may be late, but the principal mustn't be."
Lanchi took his seat, his mind focused amidst the chaotic din of the all-encompassing audio system.
He hadn't forgotten the task at hand.
Lanchi casually swept his gaze across the VIP seats.
There, gathered the cream of Buriers' high society, the nobility.
Fortunately, the tickets they now held were purchased by Ursula, the young lady of the Roland family. Their seats were already within the VIP section.
If Abigail truly intended to supervise in person, as Barton had mentioned, then she was most likely among this group of people.
"Do you think that's her?"
Suddenly, Talia's attention was drawn to a figure in the distance. She gently touched Lanchi's arm, her cheek brushing against his as she indicated for him to follow her gaze.
In the aisle seat near the wall, a figure stood alone, brows furrowed in concentration, her expression anxious.
She appeared to be in her early twenties, her pure silver-gray hair cascading down like a waterfall. She wore a black off-shoulder evening gown, the finely tailored fabric hugging her curvaceous figure. A black gemstone necklace adorned her neck, accentuating the paleness of her skin.
"It really depends on you. I feel that this is not my problem. If they can't meet my expectations, I'll definitely have to work them hard. Moreover, if you ask me, they only barely managed to scrape by in the end... I had no idea their bodies wouldn't be able to take it. If I'd known, I would have reduced the number of episodes. It's all because that guy asked me to increase our influence that I packed the schedule so tightly. The actors simply couldn't grasp my vision..."
The woman in the black dress seemed to be using communication magic, her agitated tone punctuating her words as she occasionally stomped her high heels.
However, the venue was too noisy, filled with the din of people chatting, and from a distance, Lanchi and Talia couldn't make out what she was saying.
"Let's go, quickly."
Lanchi focused his gaze, surprised to confirm that she was indeed the renowned director of this highly anticipated play, the genius of the Kreese Empire, Abigail.
Her temperament seemed even more volatile than he had imagined, and it was hard to reconcile this image with that of the royal magic craftsman revered by the Empire's magic engineering community.
"Do you think she might be a little difficult to deal with?"
Talia was concerned that approaching Abigail when she was in such a foul mood might result in a brusque rejection.
Despite her elegant appearance, a faint layer of gloom seemed to veil Abigail's features. She held a semi-transparent purple communication magic card in her hand, pacing back and forth beside her seat.
Many others were also hoping to speak with Abigail, but at the moment, everyone was wisely keeping their distance.
"Leave it to me."
Lanchi nodded confidently at Talia, exchanging a meaningful glance.
Talia looked at him, her worries assuaged.
Lanchi had always been adept at communication.
Without hesitation, Lanchi and Talia immediately stood up and made their way towards Abigail.
As they drew closer, Abigail lifted her head, her eyes reflecting her puzzlement.
"Miss Abigail, we were introduced by an acquaintance..."
Lanchi spoke politely.
It wouldn't do to mention Barton's name in public, as it might reveal his connection with Lanchi and their collaboration.
However, Barton had mentioned that as long as they could meet Abigail in private and mention that they were friends introduced by him, she would definitely give them face, whether or not she agreed to collaborate with them. At the very least, there would be an opportunity for discussion.
"!"
Abigail's eyes lit up.
She immediately hung up the communication magic and put down the magic card, as if she had just spotted a lifeline.
"You're finally here!"
She heaved a sigh of relief and addressed the two of them.
"Did he contact you in advance?"
Lanchi was slightly taken aback.
He recalled that Barton had Abigail's contact information, but he was reluctant to reach out to her proactively via communication magic.
So, Barton had been concerned about them after all and had taken the initiative to smooth the way with Abigail?
"Of course! The traffic on the way here was terrible, wasn't it? I was so worried that you wouldn't make it!"
Abigail nodded vigorously, the coldness and agitation in her demeanor vanishing as she continued,
"Come with me, this way!"
She gestured for Lanchi and Talia to follow and turned to stride down the corridor inside the theater without a backward glance.
"..."
Neither Lanchi nor Talia had expected such enthusiasm from Abigail.
Talia, in particular, was baffled by Lanchi's social prowess, wondering how he could so easily touch people's hearts and gain their trust.
The two of them felt that things were going too smoothly, and they might not even need to watch the play to have a private conversation and conclude their business with Abigail.
Regardless, they quickened their steps to follow.
With long strides, Abigail had already almost reached the end of the corridor, her pace reflecting her urgency.
The clacking of Abigail's high heels on the marble floor echoed crisply with each step.
Lanchi and Talia, bewildered, followed closely behind Abigail as she strode through the corridors inside the theater.
In addition to the main stage, the opera house had numerous rehearsal rooms, dressing rooms, and workshops for costume and prop making.
They would turn into long, narrow passages and then cross through spacious, brightly lit halls.
Along the way, they encountered staff members who nodded politely at Abigail.
Finally, a gray door appeared before them.
"Please come in."
With familiarity, Abigail pushed open the door and gestured for Lanchi and Talia to enter.
"Thank you," they said in acknowledgment.
By now, they had a pretty good idea of what was going on.
Indeed, Barton Hall, the boss of the Black Society, had pulled some strings for them.
He had directly arranged for them to meet with Abigail.
Abigail was considerate enough to understand that they needed to speak with her in private, so she eagerly led them to this place.
Soon, the two stepped into a spacious and well-organized room.
The room was brightly lit, with mirrors covering three of the walls. An array of cosmetics, wigs, and small props lined the walls, creating an impressive display. In the center of the room were several leather chairs with soft cushions.
"Um, Miss Abigail..."
Lanchi looked around the room in confusion, pointing forward as he addressed Abigail.
But Abigail had no time to spare, quickly greeting the two teachers and giving them a concise set of instructions.
"Come on over here, what are you two still dazing about for?"
The makeup artists nodded in understanding and quickly got to work.
They first led Lanchi and Talia to the mirrors and seated them. With brushes, sponges, and puffs in hand, they skillfully began to contour their faces.
The foundation liquid shimmered softly under the lights, with eye shadows and blushes complementing each other, like an artist's palette, enhancing Talia's features even more.
For the male makeup, a subtle approach was taken, focusing on shaping without the use of eye shadow. A simple touch of the remaining powder under the eyes was enough, and the process was much quicker than Talia's.
"Perfect! Your natural auras and physiques are already like those of a prince and princess. You don't need much enhancement to fit the characters perfectly," Abigail said with satisfaction as she admired them.
From the first moment she saw them, she knew that the actors her friend had found for her were even better than she had imagined.
The two sat there dumbfounded in front of the mirror as the makeup artists from the Buriers Opera House worked swiftly. Soon, someone brought in garment bags containing their costumes, waiting for the makeup artists to finish so they could help Lanchi and Talia with their final touches.
"Wait a moment," Lanchi said, suddenly realizing something was amiss. He turned his head, his right hand resting on the back of the chair.
Could it be that Abigail had mistaken them for the actors she was looking for during their previous conversation?
"If you have any requests, please wait until after the performance, and I will do my best to accommodate them," Abigail said, seeing the nervous look on Lanchi's face. She clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture.
She knew that such a last-minute stand-in performance would test the actors' skills and nerves, but now she could only hope that the actors her friend had found were reliable.
After all, she recalled that they had mentioned being introduced by a friend, and she was certain she hadn't mistaken them for someone else.
The entire makeup process flowed smoothly and efficiently. Before Lanchi and Talia could fully process what was happening, the makeup artists had finished their final touches and were urging them to change into their costumes.
"No, we..." Lanchi started, feeling something was seriously wrong.
"Aren't you the actors my friend introduced to me?" Abigail asked, a hint of hesitation in her voice as she studied their expressions.
Her heartbeat quickened, visibly so, as anxiety washed over her.
"Huh?" Talia was equally perplexed.
She vaguely remembered hearing about the intense nature of staging plays.
Could it be that the lead actor had suddenly fallen ill, and Abigail was looking for a friend to fill in, mistaking them for the actors her friend had recommended?
"What do you mean, huh? Aren't we?" Abigail scrutinized the man and woman before her, her suspicion growing.
Tonight had been full of mishaps, and if these two were playing a trick on her, her temper was about to explode.
With the show about to start, she had no time to find other actors!
"We..." Abigail's expression darkened, as if she were about to kill them, leaving Lanchi and Talia's attempted explanation hanging in their throats.
Given Abigail's temperament and current state, it seemed likely that any attempt to clarify the situation and request a private conversation would only result in her furious rejection and them being permanently blacklisted.
However...
Opportunity or crisis, it was a fine line!
"We are the actors you're looking for, yes," Lanchi and Talia reluctantly agreed under the intense pressure, despite their nervous sweats.
(End of Chapter)
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