Translator here, my flight is currently in transit, here are the chapters for today.
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Arturia's appearance was nothing more than a brief interlude. After dinner, Felix drank with Ling and Nian, and the three of them soon fell asleep.
Faced with those two, Felix had no concerns whatsoever about his chastity. Why? Their favorability ratings sat at roughly seventy, while his toward them was about sixty-five. That level was considered that of close friends. Generally speaking, anyone who actively or covertly sought to cross a certain line with Felix would have a favorability rating well above eighty-five.
The next morning, they rose early, tidied themselves up, and prepared to head to Afterglow Hall to attend Czerny's concert.
The concert was scheduled for the afternoon, yet by the time lunch had ended, a large crowd had already gathered outside the hall. Among them were groups of nobles, the primary purchasers of VIP tickets. They wore finely tailored suits, chatting amiably among themselves. The majority, however, were ordinary people dressed in their best attire, many of whom were infected.
Even though this was a concert held in the Afterglow District, even though the performer was infected, and even though much of the audience shared that identity, none of it mattered. In the face of music, all distinctions faded into irrelevance.
Among the nobles stood a striking woman issuing instructions to several others. Her identity was easy to deduce. She was Countess Gertrude, the ruler of this mobile city.
Countess Gertrude had played a key role in securing Czerny, a musician renowned throughout Leithanien, as a permanent resident of Vyseheim. Combined with her decisive, commanding presence as a businesswoman, she naturally attracted a wide circle of noble supporters, all eager to establish ties and conduct business with her.
Some even entertained the ambition of becoming Countess Gertrude's husband, though such a position was far from easily attained, as it required marrying into her family.
Felix and his companions entered the concert hall and made their way to the VIP box on the top floor. From there, they could listen to Czerny's performance from a vantage point close to the side of the stage, an experience that was undeniably satisfying. As the audience gradually took their seats, Czerny, the middle-aged Caprinae, finally appeared. He sat quietly at the piano and began to play.
When Tomorrow's Development journey's temporarily halted, some of the Meliras chose to remain aboard the Venus to continue their work, while others went into Vyseheim for reconnaissance and sightseeing. Their mindset was no different from that of ordinary Terrans, which had always been Felix's intention when he created them.
What he sought to create was not a war machine, but a race. Even Felix himself sometimes found that hard to believe. After all, the original [Chosen Ones] had been designed based on extremely rare blueprints obtainable only in the late stages of version 3.0. In his previous life, no one had ever successfully constructed them. As a mechanic, he knew that the [Chosen Ones] were, at their core, war dolls capable of acting according to their master's commands.
Yet after acquiring Clever and advancing his Engineer level, he came to believe that a race was something far grander and more imaginative than a mere mechanical legion.
They could fight independently, rather than relying solely on Felix's orders.
The Meliras bore halos that hovered slightly askew above their heads, making them appear no different from Sankta. Their bodies showed no trace of mechanical components, indistinguishable from those of ordinary Terrans. Their skin was smooth as cream, and their eyes were lively and expressive, just like real people.
So long as they were not affiliated with Tomorrow's Development, most would simply regard them as Sankta.
It was not uncommon for Sankta to possess off-center halos, a trait seen most often among the infected. This also explained why there were so many Sankta scattered across the land. Many of them were infected who had been forced to leave Laterano.
This time, a three-person Melira squad can be seen walking around. They wore the same uniforms as Tomorrow's Development operators. If not for the halos above their heads, they could easily have been mistaken for ordinary Sankta operators.
"What kind of music does Master enjoy?" Asuna asked as she turned her head, the halo above her shifting with the motion. "Shall we gather some information together this time? Please take care of me on this mission, Yukino, Mash."
Yukino gave a slight nod. She was usually quiet and difficult to approach like an Ice Queen, but during simulated combat she had demonstrated clear leadership and the composure of a captain.
Mash clenched her fist. "But we can't cause too much trouble. Our unique nature might bring unnecessary attention. We mustn't cause problems for Master."
"Then let's go."
During their time living in Kazdel, the three Meliras had learned most aspects of Terran daily life. Their movements were no longer stiff or mechanical. They blended in naturally. The Vyseheim guards on duty paid them no special attention. In recent days, they had already seen countless men and women dressed in flamboyant styles, often in groups, adorned with various accessories and sporting all manner of hair colors and hairstyles.
The three women standing before them were merely somewhat more attractive Sankta, and their documentation was impeccably prepared.
Several guards muttered among themselves that if the benefits of Tomorrow's Development were truly as good as rumored, they would want to join as well. After all, the people who disembarked from that enormous ship in the distance all looked spirited and sharp-eyed, worlds apart from themselves, who labored away for a meager monthly wage.
Their families were rooted here, of course. If only changing one's circumstances were as simple as changing households.
Felix's curiosity toward Leithanien musical instruments was shared by the Meliras. It was as though they were of one mind, all deeply intrigued by how these Originium weapons, shaped like musical instruments, were actually used.
Each Melira received a monthly salary, just like other operators. Because every Melira possessed a distinct personality and way of thinking, the decorations they bought and the way they furnished their living spaces naturally differed as well. Asuna and the others, being non-Infected, were free to enter and leave the High Court district. Following the route taken by Tomorrow's Development operators, they entered a musical instrument shop. There, Asuna purchased a flute, Yukino chose a violin, while Mash lingered, looking from one instrument to another, unable to make up her mind.
As they were carefully selecting their purchases, several players noticed them and approached with friendly smiles. Asuna looked up and recognized Qiu Muyu and Yui, who were shopping together.
"If you don't mind, shall we go together?" Asuna extended an invitation. Qiu Muyu and Yui exchanged a surprised glance, then nodded in agreement.
They were seasoned anime fans, though not the sort who called everyone they met their "wife." That habit did bother some of the Meliras, Yukino included, but even so, the Meliras regarded the adventurers from Tomorrow's Development as dependable companions.
After buying their instruments, the group of five strolled along the streets leading from the High Court district toward the Afterglow District. Music seemed to permeate the air itself, prompting the women to murmur in admiration.
"The infected here in Leithanien feel different from those in other countries."
"Yes, there's a strong artistic atmosphere. Perhaps being infected doesn't matter as much here."
"Isn't this somewhat like Columbia?"
As Qiu Muyu and Yui chatted, they found themselves arriving at Afterglow Hall without realizing it. Czerny's concert had just concluded. Many nobles were leaving early, their expressions distinctly sour. Only the countess appeared entirely unconcerned.
"Those nobles look pretty unhappy. Could it be about business?" Asuna muttered, resting her chin on her hand.
Yukino shook her head. "Discussing business at a concert seems rather misplaced."
Mash stood on tiptoe and looked around but didn't spot anyone familiar. "Shall we go somewhere else?"
"Okay."
The last person to leave was Czerny. He appeared lost in thought, walking slowly with his gaze fixed ahead, still reflecting on what had happened half an hour earlier.
Ordinarily, after his solo performances, the audience would disperse in an orderly fashion. That was not the case with the nobles who occupied the VIP boxes.
Czerny disliked nobles. It wasn't the status itself he detested, but their attitudes. That was why his concert tickets were always astonishingly cheap, almost as affordable as bread, while the VIP boxes were priced no differently. In his mind, that was his way of taking money from the nobles.
After meeting Countess Gertrude, he had secured a decent place to live and found ample inspiration to continue composing. Yet what continued to irritate him was the endless chatter from nobles after every performance.
Today was no exception. Once the concert ended, the nobles swarmed him like flies. Even though he had an agreement with Countess Gertrude, it did not stop other nobles from coveting him. Bringing him to another mobile city would be a boon to local tourism and prestige.
Czerny found it nothing but noise.
After impatiently seeing off yet another nobleman, he noticed a man and two women taking seats before him.
"Nobles? They don't seem like it," Czerny muttered under his breath. His tone was far from pleasant. Having just endured the nobles' harassment, he was in no mood to be cordial.
"Czerny's solo truly lived up to the rumors." The Sankta removed his hat, revealing a refined and striking face. Even Czerny, himself a man, could not help but feel momentarily taken aback.
"Thank you for the compliment."
Czerny himself did not know why he used such a polite form of address, but his tone had noticeably softened.
"I'm just a tourist," the man said with a smile. "Leithanien's music and performers truly live up to their reputation."
"Infected musicians are different," Czerny said, shaking his head. He did not know why he was speaking so candidly to this stranger. "Though I am both a musician and Infected, the respect I receive is only superficial. The nobles care only for money. To them, music is nothing more than profit, not emotion."
"Could you tell what I played today?"
The man smiled. "The piece is called Dawn. Although it depicts the sun rising in the early morning, it doesn't celebrate the joy of a new day. Instead, it mourns how time waits for no one. It's a song of sorrow and remembrance. If I had to guess, it's a tribute to a departed friend."
"Though I haven't lost any friends myself, I can understand how you feel."
Czerny's eyes widened, emotion flickering within them. "Your Excellency… you truly understand music."
"No, no, not at all. I'm just a complete novice," the man said, waving his hand with a laugh. "Music can be obscure or accessible. Every performer gives it a different interpretation. Your compositions are profound, Czerny, but your technique transforms that depth into melodies anyone can understand. That is the true charm of your music."
"I haven't asked your name yet."
Czerny, flattered by such sincere praise, felt as though he had finally found a kindred spirit. He was long tired of the nobles' hypocrisy. Countess Gertrude had supported him financially for years, and he once believed she understood the emotions within his music. But after she invited him to perform at her deceased brother's funeral, and he saw her polite, empty smile, the last of his faith collapsed. From that moment on, his relationship with her was reduced to mere transactions.
He no longer cared about money. What he needed was someone who could truly share his music.
Felix took out his business card and handed it to Czerny with both hands. Czerny accepted it carefully and read it. The shock in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a deep sigh.
"I thought you must be someone with a simple background," Czerny said. "There are very few people who possess such presence and bearing. To think you are the leader of Tomorrow's Development."
"Have you heard of Tomorrow's Development?" Felix asked.
"I've heard from Countess Gertrude that Tomorrow's Development will be holding diplomatic talks with Leithanien," Czerny replied calmly. "I've also heard that it's an organization where the infected and the uninfected coexist."
"That's right."
Felix nodded slightly and stood up. "Tomorrow's Development have been striving toward the path you just described."
"Are you leaving, sir?"
Felix smiled. "If I said I wanted to invite you to join Tomorrow's Development, what would you think?"
"…"
"You see? You're still hesitating."
Felix gave Czerny a small bow, a gesture of respect offered to his music.
Nian and Ling followed closely behind. Nian leaned in and asked softly, "Felix, why go to such lengths just to recruit a musician?"
Ling looked over as well.
"You see one musician," Felix replied. "I see a group of musicians. We still lack Leithanian operators in Tomorrow's Development. Czerny is only a leader. There are many talented infected musicians who have never received the recognition they deserve. As long as Czerny shows interest in Tomorrow's Development…"
"Then it'll draw in even more musicians," Nian said, nudging Felix with her elbow. "You're something else."
These musicians were not only masters of wind and string instruments. With a bit of training, every one of them could become part of a caster unit, shining as formidable casters.