### Chapter 19: Negotiations
With the related Night Watchers at work, the crowd around began to disperse.
The once loud entertainment area quickly transformed into a barren wasteland—a ghost town, if you will.
“Hmm?”
Night Star stared at this spectacle, connecting the dots faster than a caffeinated squirrel.
The Night Watchers hiding in the shadows must have made their move.
They cleared the crowd to get in touch with Star Eclipses, but how they planned to “reach out” remains a mystery. Either it was going to involve a lot of awkward small talk, or something more ominous.
“Uh-oh… big trouble coming our way.”
Night Star felt a prickle of nerves, her instincts screaming that a showdown was just around the corner.
Once the crowd vacated, a parade of shadows started strutting out from corners like they were on America’s Next Top Model.
By the time Night Star snapped back to reality, the stage was completely surrounded by an army of Night Watchers, circling tighter than a cat eyeing its prey.
The Group Leader and crew didn’t make a hasty exit. Instead, they stood there casually, observing these unexpected guests like they were watching a boring infomercial.
Hiding behind the Group Leader, Night Star poked her head out like a curious rabbit.
“What on earth do they want…?”
Once surrounded, the Night Watchers didn’t attack. They merely stood there, as if waiting for the right moment—a pause in the action, a dramatic reveal, perhaps.
Moments later, a group marched forward, all of them being Sunlight Night Watchers.
Leading the pack was Xiao Jin, the boss of Yun Chang City, exuding enough swagger to light up a whole room.
Seeing this, the Gentleman next to Night Star squinted slightly, like he was trying to solve a mystery.
“What’s this? More roughhousing on the agenda?”
Before he could finish, the Announcer by his side interjected, “Don’t jump to conclusions just yet, dear Gentleman. They haven’t interrupted our performance—if anything, they’re waiting for it to wrap up.”
“Well, well, it seems they’re not completely hopeless.”
The Gentleman eased up a bit on his hostility—not totally chill, but better.
Xiao Jin calmly gazed at the theater crew, saying, “Group Leader, can we have a chat? I know you’re not of the lower class.”
The Group Leader replied flatly, “Sure, what do you want to discuss, sir?”
“Will your future performances continue in the same vein as today’s?”
“I don’t quite grasp your point. The theater’s performances have always been the same, without any alterations.”
“No, from our perspective, there’s a significant change; otherwise, we wouldn’t have waited until your performance wrapped before making our appearance.”
“Oh?”
The Group Leader raised his tone slightly, intrigued by Xiao Jin’s words.
At that moment, the Announcer behind him piped up.
“Group Leader, let me take the reins here—this negotiation is better suited for me.”
The Group Leader nodded in agreement.
“Alright, it’s all yours, Announcer.”
The Announcer stepped forward, facing the sea of Night Watchers with the composure of a seasoned diplomat.
“Let’s begin the negotiations. Allow me to introduce myself: I am the Announcer for Rising Sun Theater Group. Should you have any questions, feel free to ask—I promise I’ll respond appropriately.”
“Announcer?”
Xiao Jin frowned slightly.
Was this black-haired girl truly a new member of Tragic Shadow Theater?
Or just an old member who decided to make her debut today?
Then it hit him—he remembered somewhere in the dusty corners of his mind that Tragic Shadow Theater indeed had a mysterious member… who didn’t look like a little girl at all.
“Announcer, are you aware of your group’s changes?”
“Absolutely, it’s nothing more than a lack of abnormalities.”
“Seems like you get it.”
“I get it.”
Xiao Jin continued, “In past situations, your performances shouldn’t even take place. Such would harm the people here and disrupt the order. As guardians of this city, we have no choice but to regard you as enemies.”
“I can comprehend that.”
“Good, and now I’d like to ask, why did your performance, this time around, show no signs of abnormalities?”
“Thanks to the audience performers.”
At this, Xiao Jin glanced at the silver-haired girl cowering behind the Group Leader.
Though she was draped in the aura of Star Eclipses, she seemed as ordinary as a loaf of bread.
As someone once said, she could potentially be the backbone of the theater, capable of bringing about immense change to this peculiar crew. Was this the right understanding?
Xiao Jin inquired again, “So, what role do the audience performers play in your theater?”
The Announcer replied, “Audience, backbone, star of the theater, savior… the possibilities are endless.”
“So, the audience performers are indispensable to the theater?”
“Correct, all members of the theater are tied to the audience performers, myself included.”
The Announcer’s words left Xiao Jin and his associates in deep thought.
Amid the Night Watchers, Xi Xia was fixated on the delicate figure hiding behind the Group Leader, her fingers flipping a mysterious card like a seasoned magician, pondering what it meant.
“Unexpected development indeed. That audience performer is certainly a unique presence.”
If the audience performer was so vital to the theater, then her proposed plan could indeed help stabilize this shaky organization.
Of course, that was if it could even be executed.
What she held was a Star card created by Uni, capable of “sealing” and “plundering.”
Targeting Star Eclipses, contact with this card would temporarily seal their powers.
As for Stars, the power would be siphoned, allowing the cardholder to wield it in short bursts.
If this card could be linked with the audience performer, then poof! She’d transform into your everyday, run-of-the-mill human. The Night Watchers would have a tough time snatching her away from the theater.
Too bad Uni could only whip up one card at a time, and its duration was short-lived. Otherwise, a few more would make it a no-brainer for the Night Watchers to brawl with the theater.
However, it seemed Xiao Jin was not inclined to start a war with the theater just yet, so no need to risk it.
But Xi Xia felt a twinge of disappointment.
She wanted to get a closer look at this audience performer and see what “eureka” moments might spring forth.
If she could use this opportunity to wipe out Tragic Shadow Theater, her mission could wrap up nice and quick, plus score some hefty rewards.
Then maybe, she could take a break alongside Uni.
“Such a shame.”
Meanwhile, back with Xiao Jin.
After listening to the Announcer’s narration, he turned to look in the direction of the audience performer.
And when Night Star noticed that Xiao Jin’s gaze was fixed on her, she instinctively shrank back, feeling like she’d been caught red-handed.
But Xiao Jin probably didn’t know she was Night Lan’s counterpart, so there was no sense in panicking.
Cowering might raise suspicion instead.
So, gathering her courage, Night Star stepped out from behind the Group Leader and moved to the front.
Before she could even speak, the Gentleman and the Fraudster flanked her like a pair of knightly bodyguards.
“Audience Performer, be careful! Don’t end up hurting yourself again like last time, or the crew will really worry!”
“Gentleman’s right; better stick close to us to avoid any unwanted accidents with those guys.”
“Oh…”
Night Star suddenly felt all warm and fuzzy inside.
Was this what safety felt like?
Having such a bunch of comrades willing to stand in front of her made her so giddy!
Well, with that in mind, she better step up and make some contributions to the theater.
