Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 1037: The Desire to Be Questioned

The soundproofing in the concert hall was quite good, but backstage, you could still hear the symphony playing.

The doctor and Shard, who had officially infiltrated the place, disguised themselves as music enthusiasts visiting famous musicians, and were not worried about having their identities exposed for the time being.

The two made their way to the second floor via a small stairway on the east side of the concert hall. Although the doctor could generally sense the location of the demon he had marked, since the demon was aware of being tracked, the doctor’s senses were not too precise. He could only confirm that the demon was in one of six rooms, positioned in pairs and visible once you turned the corridor. People came and went in the corridor, either holding performance costumes or loudly reminding musicians preparing to go on stage to quickly fix their makeup.

Besides the members of the orchestra and the concert hall’s coordinators, there were also people like Shard and the doctor, visiting musicians backstage. Even though gaining access backstage wasn’t easy, Tobesk was never lacking in people with status.

As a result, the six rooms selected by the doctor appeared very lively.

Although there were many people, this was within the doctor’s plan. He tossed Shard a straw doll tied with hay, gave him a knowing look, then went towards the three rooms on the left. Shard looked towards the three rooms on the right.

They first needed to confirm the demon’s location; spreading out made it much easier than acting together.

The first room on the right was a public makeup room. Upon entering, Shard saw long rows of dressing tables set together. Musicians ready to go on stage were urgently doing their final touch-ups, whilst those not in a hurry were adjusting their makeup in the mirrors.

Reporters chatted in the corners with girls who had just come off stage, while backstage servants hurriedly pushed carts delivering instruments. Famous conductors and musicians, of course, had private dressing rooms. These musicians belonged to a group that was not much regarded.

The room was filled with a strong scent of cosmetics, and the density of gas lamps on the walls exceeded what was required for normal lighting. The people doing makeup needed ample light. As Shard approached the room, no one paid him much attention because everyone had their tasks to focus on. The room was exceptionally large, even somewhat reminding Shard of a plaza.

The doctor could rely on his senses to find the demon, but Shard had only the straw doll. He held it in his left hand in his pocket, planning to walk around the large public makeup room to try and make contact with everyone.

He started from the east and moved west. Just after finishing the first two rows, he saw a familiar person putting on makeup.

Iluna was sitting obediently in front of the dressing table mirror, her hands resting on her lap, watching the middle-aged woman behind her in the mirror doing her hair and applying makeup to her face.

Next to her stood another female sorceress. If Shard wasn’t mistaken, this was Miss Green, a High Ring Female Sorcerer from the Sun Church. She was teasing Iluna about her expression:

"You’re already seventeen this year, haven’t you done proper makeup before?"

"Of course I have... but never like this." Iluna replied, catching a glimpse of Shard watching her in the mirror. The mask given by Dr. Schneider had changed Shard’s face, but Iluna still instinctively recognized who the stranger was.

She couldn’t be completely sure until she saw Shard in the mirror raise his right hand. He first drew the Sun God’s Holy Emblem on his chest, hesitated for a moment, then raised his hand to his ear as if to scratch his head, but actually, he extended his forearm, palm forward, with five fingers bent and joined, making a "cat beckoning" gesture.

Drawing the Holy Emblem signified recognizing Iluna, and the silly gesture represented Shard’s own identity. Iluna quickly understood Shard’s signal and, suppressing a smile, said to Miss Green beside her:

"Even if I go on stage, will I really not disrupt others’ performances?"

"It’s fine; you just need to hold the silver flute without blowing it. Whatever others do, you just mimic." Miss Green replied, so Shard understood that Iluna was preparing to go on stage.

"Will that bard really show up? We’ve prepared so much for it; if he doesn’t appear, this evening would be in vain." Iluna inquired again.

"At least it’s not just us. Others also believe he will appear." Miss Green added while Shard saw in the mirror Iluna showing a number "four" with her hand resting on the dressing table.

"The fourth Radiant Stone? Keeper of Secrets in bard form? Aside from the church, is the professor sent by the Academy here for this too?" Shard immediately understood what Iluna meant, shaking his head at her in the mirror as he continued walking forward. He meant that he wasn’t here tonight for the "bard." Sit before the dressing table, Iluna also understood Shard’s intention, puzzling over his motives for being here.

The bustling public makeup room showed no signs of the demon; instead, Shard noticed quite a few Circle Sorcerers from the church. They were disguised in various identities. Iluna was not the only one who was forced to perform, but seemed to be the only one who truly knew nothing about music.

It seemed that the church believed there was a higher chance for the "bard" to appear on stage during the performance. Shard could only silently wish Iluna not to make a fool of herself on stage.

After making a round in the public makeup room, Shard felt he was now carrying a lot of fragrance. He reminded himself to change clothes before going home; otherwise, Miss Writer would surely be displeased. He then went into the second room on the right of the corridor, the musicians’ public lounge.

Generally speaking, a concert hall’s makeup room was also the lounge, but the Royal Festive Music Hall held special meaning in the eyes of the Royal Family, so its interior decoration and functional zoning differed from normal circumstances.

Of course, even as a lounge, it wasn’t quiet at all. During the performance period, tension was high both on and off stage. Most musicians done with makeup were here waiting to go on stage, and those visiting the musicians were also gathered here. There were even young men clutching bouquets, ready to present gifts to their female friends as congratulations after performances—all appeared normal.

This lounge also had Circle Sorcerers from the True God Church, but not many and mostly low ring. Shard still walked a round, originally thinking it would also be uneventful. Unexpectedly, when he approached a man standing at the window looking out at the night, the straw doll in his pocket trembled three times.

"Found it!"

Shard’s expression remained unchanged, pretending to just pass by, intending to walk past the back of the "man" with his back to him. But just as Shard focused on his path, the man leaning on the windowsill, gazing at Tobesk’s night, turned around, rather kindly asking Shard:

"Sir, what time is it now?"

Shard stopped walking and took out his pocket watch for a glance:

"It’s already half past eight. Why, sir, is your performance time near?"

"Yes, I am the violinist for ’White Bird Sonata: Suite No. 1’ at 8:46."

He smiled at Shard and then asked:

"So, sir, what brings you here?"

From the attire, one could simply distinguish the identities of those appearing in this lounge.

"I’ve come to visit Miss Lisa."

Shard said, having seen the program provided by the doctor. Though the focus was on remembering the time, he also remembered the name:

"She is an outstanding cellist."

"Yes, quite outstanding."

The demon nodded in agreement:

"Her skill with the cello at her age has almost reached its peak."

Because his disguise was that of an elderly gentleman with graying hair, saying this did not seem out of place:

"But I can tell that Miss Lisa is not satisfied with her current state; she has a desire for further advancement."

"But she’s already Tobesk’s finest cellist, and even Queen Diana has praised her."

"Yes, but humans always have desires."

The demon said with a smile. Shard nodded, speculating that Dr. Schneider’s disguise was so clever that the demon hadn’t fully discerned who he was and instead became interested in him.

And the ensuing conversation proved Shard’s point:

"Sir, I see you also have an extraordinary desire."

"Do I?"

Shard feigned surprise, placing a hand on his chest.

The light in the room was so bright that it reflected the nearby scenery in the window glass. Shard and the demon’s profiles were reflected in that glass, their faintly smiling faces almost blending into the night,

"Everyone has desires—to earn gold pounds, to become famous, to acquire titles, to woo beautiful women. It’s quite normal."

Shard said, not appearing anxious at all. The doctor would come after checking the three rooms on the right side; he could easily stall the demon here and wait for the doctor:

"Don’t you have any desires?"

Shard asked back.

"Of course I have desires, but I can see yours is different."

The demon in the guise of an old musician whispered gently; if it were an ordinary person, they would have already started being influenced by his words:

"Such pure desire is truly rare. Tell me, young man, what do you ultimately desire?"

"I desire... gold pounds."

Amidst "her" soft laughter, Shard gave an answer that was fairly honest. Although he already had five-figure savings, his current craving for money was indeed strong. For the expenditures of a Circle Sorcerer, ten thousand pounds weren’t actually much. He had been pondering ways to earn money recently. Although if he truly needed money urgently, neither Miss Galina nor Lecia would hesitate to lend him a hand, the outlander didn’t like asking ladies for money.

"That’s simple."

The demon stretched his hand behind him, and though there was nothing there, he conjured a "Victor’s Box" out of thin air:

"Take this, you can use it to replicate infinite money."

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