Six Hundred Sixty-Third Cane
In the north of Faraluo, Froz.
In the afternoon, on the southern outskirts of Froz, the sun in the sky was gradually setting westward. The sunset’s glow gradually covered the century-old ancient buildings. As day was drawing to an end, the annual audience banquet in the Palace of the Goddess was nearing its most splendid moment.
At this moment, in the spacious singing hall, the nobles from all over Froz gathered at different tiers of viewing platforms. The original chairs on the viewing platforms had been removed and replaced with tables filled with delicious food and wine. The brightly dressed ladies and gentlemen gathered around the tables, savoring desserts and fine wines while gazing at the venue in the singing hall, particularly focusing on the main guest platform prominently located in the east on the third tier.
On that main guest platform stood Mayor Sander, dressed simply and solemnly, holding a speech manuscript. He read the content in a calm and low voice, addressing everyone present.
“…Therefore, the reason for your gathering here today is to promote unity and collaboration in Faraluo in the new year, to uphold the fruits of the revolution, not as some malicious individuals claim, to inherit the corruption of kings or to summon spirits for Bourbon.
“I do not entirely reject all old traditions, but I will not let tradition become a breeding ground for regressive thoughts. In the new era, tradition should be given new meaning. Just like this audience banquet; some suggest canceling or refusing to participate in this annual gathering, which is incorrect. I believe it plays a positive role in uniting Faraluo’s elites and should be retained, though the name could be changed. ‘Audience’ has too much of that decaying imperial flavor. We could call it the New Year Feast, Unity Banquet…”
While Sander spoke on the podium, the many nobles from Faraluo listened attentively without making any other sounds. When Sander finally announced the end of his speech, the crowd burst into enthusiastic applause.
“Alright, let us now enjoy this delightful banquet…” After the applause, Sander said lastly, then put down his speech manuscript and returned to sit at the main table behind him. With Sander seated, the banquet in the singing hall officially began.
The nobles who had been waiting eagerly started enjoying their wine and meals. The prepared orchestra began playing melodious music. After the host made a brief announcement, several dancers took the stage and began their performance, immersing the entire singing hall in a refined and peaceful atmosphere.
In a corner of the hall, at the railing of one of the viewing platforms, Adele held a glass of wine, her face serious as she watched everything unfold.
“The purpose of those behind the scenes… is to assassinate Sander and frame us, the remnants of Bourbon. Where are their assassins? What method are they planning to use?” Adele pondered seriously to herself. At the same time, Doro, far away, responded to Adele through information channels.
“It’s not clear yet… In the past hour, a large number of outsiders have flooded into the Palace of the Goddess. From servants, guests, guards, and others, there are about a thousand people. It’s difficult to thoroughly identify each one in such a short time, so they could all be potential assassins…”
“Hmm…” Listening to Doro, Adele scanned the surroundings, looking at the numerous guests present in the singing hall. She continued to think internally.
“In the crowd here, within my range of perception, apart from the remnants of Bourbon accompanying me, no one else shows signs of intent to k*ll. The assassin might not have entered yet. Can you find anything unusual outside? For example, snipers?”
“I’ve already scouted all possible sniper points and found no trace of snipers. I also checked key points in the Palace of the Goddess and found no bombs or similar devices. They should act directly in this singing hall, likely utilizing this ‘stage.’ However, I’ve verified all the performers scheduled to take the stage and saw nothing unusual…”
Doro continued to respond to Adele. After hearing Doro’s words, Adele focused her gaze on the central stage of the singing hall, where a seven-petal lotus pattern was displayed. Dancers were still performing on stage.
“But the problem now is… we don’t know what the function of this stage is. I want to go up and check, but security is very tight there. There are a lot of people guarding it, and Sander is here. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to openly use my abilities to check the stage in front of so many people…”
Adele thought to herself, realizing she didn’t have a legitimate identity to stand openly on the singing hall stage. Thinking further, she turned her gaze toward Sander and continued speaking.
“By the way, shouldn’t we inform Governor Sander about the danger here and advise him to be more cautious…”
“You’re overthinking it. For high-ranking officials in Faraluo, no matter what identity we use to warn them, it would raise suspicion. Whether we can successfully alert them aside, it’s certain that it would alert the perpetrators. Your identity is extremely sensitive. Directly warning him might backfire…
“Furthermore, our goal isn’t necessarily to protect this governor, but to obtain King Charles’ inheritance. Directly warning the governor might save his life but won’t bring us any benefits. If the masterminds choose not to act after being warned, Sander might suspect and investigate us instead. It’s unnecessary. If we allow Sander to detect the assassination attempt and then rescue him, we and the governor would have something to talk about.”
Doro explained to Adele, emphasizing that they should use this assassination attempt to gain partial support from Faraluo’s officialdom and aim for King Charles’ inheritance. Given the current situation, even if the perpetrators succeed and Adele is in danger, Doro’s current capabilities would ensure Adele’s safe withdrawal. Understanding Doro’s intentions, Adele nodded silently.
“So now… we just need to wait and see how they proceed.”
Thinking thus, Adele took a sip of her wine and began observing the scene quietly.
Just then, the dancers on the stage below ended their performance, bowing to the audience before slowly walking off. Then, the host came onto the stage and loudly announced to the guests:
“Ladies and gentlemen! Now, let us enjoy the next performance, the most unique program of this year’s audience banquet! Please welcome our renowned emerging dancer, the forever enchanting Miss Sanderlina!”
As soon as the host finished speaking, a murmur of surprise arose from the audience. Some guests seemed taken aback by the name announced, starting conversations among themselves. Many others looked puzzled.
“Sanderlina… Who is that?”
Watching the scene, Adele frowned slightly and asked a nearby guest, who answered after belching:
“Miss, you don’t know who Sanderlina is? …Hehe, that’s normal for a wealthy young lady. Miss Sanderlina is a rising star in Faraluo recently…
“Dancer… If she were just an ordinary dancer, these people wouldn’t react this way…”
“Hehe… Miss Sanderlina is certainly not an ordinary dancer. She debuted in the entertainment industry as a glamorous star, reportedly famous for her bold and daring dances. Her excellent looks and dance moves quickly gained popularity in many underground venues across Faraluo, and recently she has begun transitioning into mainstream theaters, becoming a public dancer with a wider audience.
“Although she has achieved success recently and gained considerable fame in Froz, to compromise with the general aesthetic, her dance performances have lost some of their allure. It’s a pity. For many male viewers, this is a loss. Although she is controversial due to her debut, she is indeed very popular recently… Hehe… But I never expected her to perform at this audience banquet. With her rising popularity, she might soon become Froz’s ‘Adele Briouze’…”
The somewhat drunk guest chuckled foolishly as he spoke to Adele. After hearing this, Adele’s expression changed, and she redirected her gaze to the venue. She saw a woman in a wide suit and top hat walk out from among the guests and onto the stage.
The woman had fair skin, a beautiful face, wavy brown-black hair, and although her face was very pale, she boldly applied heavy eye shadow and lipstick. Her appearance exuded a sickly decadent beauty, which Adele found quite unconventional from her perspective.
However, Adele’s attention wasn’t on the new performer’s attire, but rather on the cane she retrieved from a servant’s box below the stage. The cane, wrapped in silk, reminded Adele of unpleasant memories.
‘That cane…’
“Sanderlina…”
On the main guest platform, seeing Sanderlina walk onto the stage, Sander couldn’t help but frown and ask a companion:
“Is it appropriate for her to appear on stage at such an occasion?”
“Miss Sanderlina, as a pioneering new-generation dancer, appearing at your audience banquet is certainly appropriate. I believe her dance will bring a fresh breeze to the Palace of the Goddess,” Sander’s attendant replied.
After hearing the attendant’s words, Sander nodded silently, his eyes fixed on Sanderlina as she eventually stood on the stage with the seven-petal lotus pattern.
Once she was steady on stage, Sanderlina opened her arms to the audience. Many onlookers responded with enthusiastic applause. Then, Sanderlina began her formal dance.
Instantly, rhythmic music filled the hall. Sanderlina’s steps danced rapidly across the stage, her whole body swaying to the rhythm. A solo dance began.
Sanderlina’s dance appeared to be tap dancing, but it was different. During the dance, she used her cane to perform suggestive movements, fleeting yet deeply imprinted in the minds of the men present, causing them to watch her intently.
In the midst of the dance, a strange magic diffused from the center of the stage, affecting everyone except Sander. People’s desires were stirred by Sanderlina’s dance, and Adele quickly sensed the anomaly.
‘This is… desire control… Indeed, that cane is that thing? From the teacher…’
Suddenly, Adele recalled her teacher Dalena when she was made into a tool. She immediately confirmed that Sanderlina’s object was similar, possibly a part of her teacher that hadn’t been used yet!
‘Cursed amniotic sac!’
Thinking this, anger surged in Adele’s heart. She involuntarily released her killing intent towards Sanderlina on stage. At that moment, a faint smile appeared on Sanderlina’s lips.
‘Seeing this… You can’t hold back, Adele…’
On stage, Sanderlina swung her cane. Adele felt her newly-born killing intent suddenly explode exponentially, and the target swiftly shifted to the main guest platform! Adele looked there, her eyes filled with bloodshot veins.
‘Uh…’
Just as Adele struggled to contain her impulse, an overwhelmingly powerful control force instantly dominated her limbs, restraining her strongest urge and preventing any action. This was Doro’s intervention, using the Puppet Mark to puppeteer Adele, forcibly controlling her.
After the strongest impulse was suppressed, Adele’s will finally began to resist. She controlled her ability to suppress her desires, and her expression returned to calm.
‘Huh… Nice willpower. Can you handle the rest?’
Seeing Adele resist the sudden surge of desire triggered by her memories of the cane on the viewing platform, Sanderlina smiled slightly. Then, she swung her cane again, continuing to exert her abilities on the audience.
Suddenly, the hidden anger and killing intent of the Bourbon remnants spread uncontrollably. They angrily looked towards the main guest platform.
‘Sander… This traitor…’
At this moment, Adele acted again, using her ability to suppress the murderous desires of the other Bourbon remnants, bringing them back to normal. Seeing this, Sanderlina’s smile deepened.
‘Not bad, student of Dalena. You have some skills… But as long as I stand on this stage, you cannot win!’
Thinking this, Sanderlina intensified her movements on stage. She ripped off her loose clothing, revealing what she wore underneath.
It was a tight black leather outfit. Sanderlina’s entire body was wrapped in shiny, tight leather, outlining her curvaceous figure, which was revealed to the audience. Her chest had significant skin exposure, a bold style for that era, causing many women on stage to gasp.
“Fall into decadence, everyone!”
With a declaration-like shout, Sanderlina’s dance became even faster. She rapidly increased her control over desire. Adele felt she was struggling to contain the opposing force.
‘What…’
Facing this, Adele frowned and changed her strategy, attempting to control Sanderlina’s desires. Using her extensive dance experience and Doro’s computational power to predict Sanderlina’s moves, Adele carefully analyzed each move’s controllability.
With the aid of powerful computational power and her own genius as a dancer, Adele quickly understood Sanderlina’s dance composition and predicted her next series of moves. She found a point to exploit.
When Sanderlina performed a powerful, sweeping cane move, Adele, having anticipated it, intensified her desire at that moment. Sanderlina, with force beyond her intention, swung her cane, causing her to lose balance and accidentally fling the cane away, hitting a nearby pillar.
‘Good… This way, I can disable her cane!’
Seeing this, Adele thought happily. But what happened next left her stunned.
The cane, flung by Sanderlina, hit the pillar directly, shattering the large head wrapped in silk. However, what shattered wasn’t the brain and flesh Adele expected, but ordinary glass.
There was no one’s brain inside Sanderlina’s cane, and even after it was thrown, her control over desire did not diminish. The ability seemed to originate from her, not the cane…
