Chapter 289

Dancer

Time flew by as the sun set.

The bright sun was slowly sinking into the western plains, casting dazzling rays of sunset over the vast capital city of Tivyán. Street lamps were lighting up one by one along the roads, while rows of chimneys on the distant horizon continued to spew thick black smoke. Ships in the port were slowly departing amidst a low humming sound.

At dusk, at a bustling intersection in East Tivyán, the streets were filled with carriages and people. Numerous carriages gathered here, and pedestrians crowded the sidewalks. Dressed in fine attire, gentlemen and ladies walked three abreast, chatting and laughing as they moved forward. The roadside carriages were parked to capacity, and many newly arrived carriages had no choice but to drive further away due to lack of parking space. There were dedicated police officers maintaining order at the scene.

On one side of the intersection stood a massive circular building. A red carpet was laid out on the wide stairs leading to the grand wooden doors that stood open. Marble columns flanked the entrance, and on either side stood guards in neat uniforms. Above them, large banners hung down from the upper floors, depicting beautiful dancers in red robes. The sign above the door spelled out “Feiteng Theatre” in large letters.

Gentlemen in suits and ladies in elegant long gowns walked together on the red carpet, chatting as they headed towards the theater’s interior. By the sidewalk, Dorothy, wearing a small hat tilted to one side, a black evening dress, and black stockings, looked at the scene and whispered softly to herself:

“This spectacle… It’s much larger than the charity event in Igewent. Isn’t it befitting for the capital?”

“Miss Dorothyia, are you from Igewent?” asked Nephnis, standing beside Dorothy. She wore a simple white dress, her figure accentuated, with a wide-brimmed flower hat, crystal earrings, and a necklace. She carried a small bag and curiously inquired about Dorothy’s origin.

Dorothy nodded in response. “I stayed there for a while. I attended similar events back then… But the scale wasn’t nearly as big as this.”

With Nephnis’s help, Dorothy managed to get tickets to this popular show in Tivyán. With a relaxed mood, she and Nephnis came to attend the performance.

‘Although I came here just to relax and watch the show, based on what Nephnis described, this theater and this performance seem far from ordinary. I hope nothing bad happens.’

Dorothy thought to herself, and Nephnis added, “Miss Dorothyia, let’s go in now. The performance seems to be starting soon. If we don’t go in, the doors will close.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

Nephnis and Dorothy walked onto the carpet together. Due to Nephnis’s striking appearance and walk, she attracted many admiring glances from men, causing some women to cover their mouths with fans, feeling envious. They wished to strike poses to attract attention, but their tight outfits made it difficult. Meanwhile, Nephnis moved naturally without any effort to appear slimmer, which only drew more attention.

‘No matter where Nephnis goes, she always draws so much attention. Such people usually can’t do secret work.’

Observing the scene, Dorothy thought to herself, then continued walking with Nephnis toward the theater. After passing through a long corridor, they reached a fork in the path.

“Guests with seat numbers starting with ‘C’ please turn left, those with ‘B’ please turn right, and those with ‘A’ continue straight ahead. You’ll find your seats quickly after going up the stairs.”

At the fork, staff members directed passengers to different entrances. Seeing this, Dorothy and Nephnis checked their tickets and found their first letter was ‘A,’ so they proceeded forward.

After walking through a beautifully decorated corridor with vases and sculptures, they encountered ticket checkers. Successfully checking in, they turned and climbed the stairs. After a while, they finally reached the viewing platform overlooking the stage.

This was a spacious semicircular area with a large stage at one end. From the stage, tiered seating rose gradually, forming a semicircle. The stage was currently covered by a huge red curtain. In front of the curtain, a band was preparing their instruments.

With many guests already seated, the venue was noisy. Dorothy looked around and saw heads everywhere in the stands.

‘This venue is enormous, at least twice the size of the Gem Theatre in Igewent. Even so, it’s almost full. Adele must have a lot of fans…’

Dorothy thought, then followed Nephnis to find their seats according to their ticket numbers. Sitting down quietly, they waited for the performance to begin.

“Miss Dorothyia, do you think there might be a problem with this show? Could we run into any danger?” Nephnis asked worriedly as they waited, and Dorothy shook her head slightly.

“It’s hard to say. Based on Mosans’s reaction, there might be a problem, but it’s more likely with the theater itself rather than the performance. Anyway, let’s watch slowly for now. Even if there is a problem, it should be minor. With so many people here, there won’t be any major danger.”

Dorothy responded, noting that such a large venue could easily hold thousands of people. No secret society would dare make a move involving thousands under the watchful eyes of the An Yin Bureau and the Church.

As the noise gradually faded, the orchestra members began picking up their instruments. Light and melodious music filled the hall. Upon hearing the music, the audience quieted down, knowing it signaled the start of the performance.

In the midst of the music, the entire venue fell silent. Then, the orchestra suddenly changed its tempo, playing faster and more rhythmically. The transformation was seamless, without any jarring moments.

The music progressed steadily, growing from low to high, as if building something. The giant curtain on stage slowly opened, revealing a figure in yellow and red striped male clothing, holding a cane, wearing a top hat, and half-masked.

Just as the audience speculated whether this was the host, the music surged suddenly, startling everyone. Accompanied by the music, the figure on stage began to dance.

Quickly stepping across the stage floor, the dancer moved in sync with the music, creating a fast and joyful rhythm. His body swayed and twisted in time with the steps and music, his cane alternating between hands, sometimes tapping the ground to keep time, other times spinning like a juggling stick before catching it again.

It was a dazzling display of dance. The performer’s movements were swift, powerful, direct, and precise. His entire body and actions merged with the music, becoming the rhythm itself. The rapid leaps and movements seemed endless, like heartbeats, continuously resonating and pulsating until forever, until d*ath.