Sword of Dawnbreaker

Chapter 772 - 771: Earl Balin’s Surprise

In the ever-evolving Cecil Clan, there are always many new inventions emerging constantly.

An eligible Governor of the Empire and local manager would undoubtedly find these new inventions intriguing.

After a brief silence, Victoria Wilder looked at Earl Balin: ”Perhaps, we could go and have a look.”

”You mean that new-style theater?” Earl Balin was stunned at first, not expecting the usually cold and distant Ice Duchess, who was said to be uninterested in ”drama,” to make such a suggestion. But he quickly realized that she might be interested in the ”Magic Guide Technology” behind the new-style theater, so he nodded quickly, ”Of course, I mean, it’s definitely worth seeing — Magic Guide Technology can be applied in various areas, and I’m curious about its relation to theater.”

”Find out where it’s held,” Victoria said with a blank expression, ”Let’s go now.”

Discovering the venue for the new-style theater performance didn’t take much effort, and Victoria’s party soon followed the directions of passersby to a large building in the Southern District.

It was a building that didn’t look particularly striking, very different from Earl Balin’s impression of a ”theater” — because theaters are always exclusively for aristocrats and wealthy citizens, naturally they should appear opulent, but what he saw was just a square-shaped two-story building, apart from its considerable size, there wasn’t much in terms of exquisite elegance.

Moreover, many people already gathered around this seemingly modest large building.

A glance revealed that they were mostly ordinary citizens.

These citizens, dressed in various winter clothes and appearing quite expectant, had evidently been waiting here for a long time. Those on the outer edges stretched their necks to look at the theater’s entrance, while closer to the inner area, uniformed security personnel were maintaining order. In the crowd, people chatted and laughed loudly, and even some vendors saw the business opportunity, pushing carts around the square selling snacks and drinks.

This vibrant scene took Earl Balin by surprise — in his memory, there were never so many people at the theater’s entrance, and those who attended were always well-dressed, arriving in carriages with their butlers, and gracefully entering under the reception of attendants, gentlemen and ladies, nothing like this spectacle.

”So many people... all here to watch the new-style theater?” The Earl from the royal capital opened his eyes wide, ”All citizens... is the Cecil Castle so wealthy? Can everyone afford the expenses to enter the theater?”

”Sir, it is said... a ticket costs only a few copper coins, calculated in New Currency, only six Ayr,” a servant who had just gathered information said with a slightly incredulous expression, ”and because today is the first appearance of the new-style theater, the ticket price is further halved...”

”Three Ayr!” Earl Balin’s eyes almost popped out, ”That’s practically giving them away!”

He abruptly turned to the square, looking at the dense crowd, unable to contain his low, astonished exclamation, ”By God and the ancestors! No wonder there are so many people, even if they aren’t interested in theater, these citizens are likely willing to spend a few coins just to satisfy their curiosity... but with so many people pouring into the theater, how can the actors on stage perform? How can order be maintained?”

”It’s likely to become very chaotic, sir,” another aristocrat from the capital shook his head, ”and... you see, it’s already quite disorderly here.”

Just as the capital aristocrat finished speaking, Earl Balin’s ears were filled again with the cries of those cart vendors around the square — the loud and penetrating voices directly entered the Earl’s head:

”Fragrant fried potatoes! The best fried potato chips in Cecil!”

”Get a fish roll! Comes with hot and spicy sauce!”

”Queueing in winter calls for an Anti-Cold Potion — the best Frost Resistance Potion! Made by Old Sam himself, fifty-two degree sauce aroma!!”

”My head hurts,” Earl Balin couldn’t help but cover his forehead, ”This isn’t anything like I imagined...”

”Frost Resistance Potion even has a blending option,” an accompanying official looked curiously into the distance, ”And they’re selling it in the square?”

”Various resistance potions are extremely cheap in the southern borders, and the diluent for the Frost Resistance Potion is even sold as a kind of health beverage,” Victoria said blandly, clearly somewhat knowledgeable about this, ”Local people in the southern borders and merchants traveling along the north-south route often add spices or honey to these diluents, as a beverage for warmth during travel.”

Earl Balin’s eyes were wide open, nearly exclaiming ”This is truly a crazy place,” but fortunately, he remembered that this was the imperial capital and swallowed back those words, with a slightly peculiar expression, saying, ”Then... Your Highness, do you still want to see...”

”Of course, I’m now increasingly interested,” Victoria looked at Earl Balin with a slight gaze, ”Also, don’t use titles and honors here, it doesn’t fit the atmosphere.”

”Yes, yes, Your High... lady,” Earl Balin hastily replied, then helplessly turned to the servant, ”Then... go purchase the tickets.”

The servant received the order and left but quickly returned with unexpected news for Earl Balin.

”They’re all sold out?” The Earl’s eyes widened, ”Not a single one left?!”

”Yes, sir,” the servant looked apologetic, ”Supposedly, they sold out two hours ago.”

This is a city where new inventions emerge almost every day, and Cecil Clan members are brave and willing to experiment with those novelties, especially now with a new-style theater show available for just three Ayr—and open to all citizens. As Earl Balin himself said earlier, for ordinary people who never had a chance to enter a theater, even if just to satisfy curiosity, those few coins are worthwhile, and Cecil Clan members... their curiosity is always abundant.

Three Ayr, even if the theater is quite dull, visiting the chairs and ceiling inside the theater wouldn’t be regretful — many people even come with this mindset.

The Earl from the royal capital couldn’t help but turn his gaze to the Duchess who suggested coming here. He thought this time she would surely lose interest because of this matter, and even somewhat annoyed by the waste of time, after all, this lady is known for having no association with ”patience” or ”gentleness,” but Victoria’s subsequent words took him by surprise —

”Go around and inquire if anyone is willing to part with their tickets,” the Duchess said lightly, using an unexpectedly patient and detailed instruction, ”Be polite, you can offer extra money, but if the other party doesn’t agree, do not force.”

Her tone was calm, and her expression was as indifferent as ever, but if there were familiar people nearby, they could see at a glance this was already her showing great interest.

A servant nodded and prepared to leave.

But at this time, a set of footsteps clearly heading in this direction caught Earl Balin and Victoria’s attention.

As higher-level Transcendents, they could easily perceive this unmasked approach in the crowd directed at them.

Earl Balin raised his head, following his intuition, only to see a stranger in a cotton coat walking towards them.

Duchess Victoria Wilder unobtrusively gestured to stop the accompanying personnel’s interference, then asked the approaching man with aloofness, ”Is there anything you need?”

The ordinary-looking man seemed momentarily anxious and intimidated by Victoria Wilder’s unique aura and outstanding appearance, but he quickly spoke, ”I just noticed you seem somewhat troubled... is it about the tickets?”

Earl Balin nodded, ”We do want to buy tickets, but they seem to be sold out.”

”Ah, there we go,” the man in the cotton coat immediately smiled, nodding sincerely, ”I can help you out—I had planned to watch the play with some friends and bought the tickets in advance, but today they all said they couldn’t make it. I just happen to have a few extra tickets, would you like them? Each ticket is only one Fernell. I know that’s more than the original price, but I also had to line up for a long time...”

Earl Balin opened his mouth, just about to say something, when he heard Victoria already say: ”Sure.”

Then the Ice Duchess turned to him and said, ”Mr. Balin, please pay.”

”But...” Earl Balin squeezed out half a word, but under those ice-crystal-like cold eyes, he ended up taking out money like an ordinary citizen and paid for the tickets, which were quite exquisitely printed with ”Philem Film Company” and ”Three-Man Theater” on the surface.

After the man left, Earl Balin couldn’t help but mutter in a low voice: ”Victoria...madam, you shouldn’t trust that man, he was clearly scalping...”

”I know,” Victoria replied calmly.

”Then...”

”It’s just fun,” Victoria said casually, looking up at the theater’s entrance not far away, ”Here is indeed more interesting than the royal capital.

”However, it’s indeed disruptive behavior, and we can’t ignore it.

”I just saw the sheriff at the edge of the square, one of you go report it.”

Victoria Wilder’s tone had a slight lift, as if she had suddenly become cheerful.

After a while, the crowd ahead finally started to stir.

With a good mood, Victoria’s lips curled slightly, ”Mr. Balin, it seems we can enter now, let’s go witness it.”

...

Along with the crowd and guided by the staff, Earl Balin finally entered this ”theater” that seemed quite strange in his eyes and found the seats for their group among the rows of seats arranged at varying heights.

All the way, out of gentlemanly duty and the instinctive behavior of a subordinate, he tried his best to protect Duchess Victoria from the surrounding people, to prevent the crowd from bumping into this Grand Governor of the Empire, the protector of the northern mountain range. For this reason, he himself even got jostled several times. But once seated, he realized it was impossible to fully maintain this ”dignity” and ”protection.”

The seats were packed side by side, with people everywhere.

The influx of people exceeded any theater he had ever seen in the royal capital! The seats were much more closely packed!

All around, countless commoners—or rather imperial citizens—surrounded him, even making this noble from the royal capital feel a slight sense of suffocation.

He was not accustomed to this place at all.

However, Victoria Wilder showed no sign of discomfort or annoyance. The protector of the northern mountain range simply sat quietly, her gaze casually sweeping across the surroundings—although her face lacked expression, Earl Balin could roughly guess this was a display of interest and curiosity.

On the path of ”adapting to the new order,” he seemed far from keeping pace with the duchess.

”This type of facility should consider fire hazards and crowd stampede issues in advance,” Victoria suddenly said, ”Don’t you think, Mr. Balin?”

”Me? Ah, yes, yes, of course,” Earl Balin almost didn’t react in time, hastily replying, ”There are indeed a lot of people and closely packed seats here, it truly needs consideration... I wonder if everyone here has a plan.”

Another aristocrat from the capital curiously looked toward the stage, ”There’s no actor on the stage, no set, and no props... could it be that it’s not set up yet?”

Hearing this, Earl Balin instinctively looked up and indeed noticed this peculiar issue.

At the end of the fan-shaped arranged seats, which should have been an open stage, there were indeed no actors, nor any set.

He tried hard to widen his eyes and finally saw several Magic Web Bases set up on the platform and crystal devices arranged in a certain array.

Earl Balin slowly figured it out, yet became even more puzzled: So... this so-called new type of drama is actually the projection of the Magic Web Terminal?

...

Outside the ”Three-Man” Theater, as the large crowd entered, the previously crowded square suddenly seemed much quieter.

Still in the square were some merchants, some curious passersby, and some public security personnel maintaining order.

A man in a dark cotton coat hurriedly passed by the edge of the square, a joyful expression on his face, his hat pulled low.

But just as he reached the entrance to a nearby alley and was about to turn in, several uniformed public security officers suddenly emerged from around him.

The man in the coat was shocked and immediately turned to run, but before he could take a step, a public security officer raised a hand and sent a small lightning bolt, knocking him to the ground.

Several public security officers immediately arrested him, pinning the struggling man who wanted to scream onto the ground. The sheriff, who was leading the team, took out a pair of small cuffs as he angrily scolded loudly, ”It’s you again! You again!

”You showed up when the Magic-guided Train first started selling tickets, when the first football match sold audience tickets, and when the first zoo opened!

”Now that the Magic Shadow Drama starts selling tickets, you’re here again!

”For the rest of the month, you can spend your time by the water pipes at the public security bureau!”

In the constantly evolving Cecil Clan, there’s always something new being born...

(Happy Holidays~~)