Completely Different
Translator: Yang_Wenli Editor: Yang_Wenli
Joshua’s proposal caused the Deceiver to hesitate.
“Isn’t that a great paying transaction, Pluk?
Before the Deceiver could decline Joshua’s proposal, an elf slowly walked down from the second floor’s staircase. Her purple-gray-colored pigment of her skin informed Joshua that she was a rare... dark elf.
The dark elves that lived underground were much rarer than the forest elves.
But, Joshua kept feeling like she was giving off a disharmonious feeling. It was like she was covered in a layer of mystery.
Unfortunately, Joshua’s innate perception seemed to be ineffective toward this dark elf. He was unable to determine her true identity using his perception.
“We shouldn’t be doing that.”
The Deceiver called Pluk began to mumble to himself.
“Your inn barely has any customers all year-round. Furthermore, you’re sheltering all those orphans. You couldn’t be planning to have them eat those sand-filled black bread on the daily, right? Besides, Norland is not a place where you can purchase a large quantity of rough food.”
The dark elf walked over to the receptionist desk and picked up the sack of gold coins Joshua placed on the desk. After weighting the sack of coins with her hand, she tossed it to the Deceiver.
Persuaded by the dark elf, the Deceiver Pluk finally agreed to Joshua’s proposal.
After persuading Pluk, the dark elf did not bother to stay and left the hotel. She brushed past Joshua on her way out.
“I kept feeling like I’ve seen that elf somewhere.”
Ciri looked to the back view of the leaving elf. She felt a sort of inexplicable sense of familiarity.
“We’ve met her before. It was back in the Demon Realm. She might be my elder sister or younger sister’s spy. Or, worse yet, she might be my elder brother or... the other three Duke’s spy.”
Joshua was certain that he had met that dark elf before in the Demon Realm. But, he was unable to recall where exactly.
In other words, that dark elf has been secretly monitoring him since when he was still in the Demon Realm.
In the entire Demon Realm, the person who would most likely order something like this would be his elder sister Cecily. After all, surveillance was her job.
As for the third prince’s elder brother Knox or his fourth sister Faye, Joshua rarely have any interactions with them.
“Should we capture and interrogate her?”
Ciri’s way of handling things has always been ‘if not afraid then attack.’
“We’ve missed the opportunity already. I’m no longer able to detect her. Besides, there’s no need for it.”
The dark elf’s ability to conceal herself was even stronger than the elf following the Flower of Farucci. Not long after she left the hotel, her aura completely disappeared from Joshua’s field of perception.
“Right now, we have business to take care of.”
Joshua did not expect for there to be someone in the Demon Realm that had spread their reach to Norland.
The surveillance from that dark elf most definitely involved the Demon Realm’s power struggle.
Could it be that the third prince’s siblings were suspecting Joshua was trying to form an army in the human world to launch an attack at the Demon Realm to seize the title of kingship for himself?
Speaking of it, Joshua would frequently be playing Hearthstone together with the Holy Church’s archbishop and female knight. If that dark elf was to distort the truth and send it back to her master, then...
Well, it would not be too much of an issue. The current Joshua was no longer the weak and one-manned third prince from before.
“Customers, please follow me upstairs. I will bring you to check out your room.”
The Deceiver seemed to be deliberating avoiding any subject about that dark elf. After recording the transaction onto his shabby old notebook, he got out from the receptionist desk and walked over to guide Joshua and Ciri.
“How long have you been in this city?”
Following the Deceiver that was deliberately avoiding the topic of the dark elf, Joshua had no choice but to acquire information indirectly.
“...”
The personality of this Deceiver was completely opposite from the name of his race. He seemed to not be fond of conversations and knew that he would leak unnecessary information from talking too much. As such, he continued to quietly lead the way for Joshua and Ciri and didn’t bother answering any of Joshua’s questions.
Joshua was forced to stop asking questions for the time being. He began to examine the hotel. The hotel employed the usage of a spiral staircase frequently seen in libraries. There were a total of four floors. While its reception hall was not very large, the interior of the hotel was much larger than Joshua imagined it to be.
The entire hotel gave off a feeling of being old. Some parts of the floor would creak when stepped on. If any noble was to be here, they would definitely complain that this hotel was ‘no different from a peasant’s barn!’
Apart from the Deceiver, the manager of the hotel, there were several non-human children in the hotel. They were hiding behind a wall with their heads poked out and staring at Joshua and Ciri curiously.
“You’ve adopted those kids, that half-dragon and gray-cat beastman?”
Joshua waved his hand at the kids. The kids reacted like they were terrified and immediately pulled their heads back. It seemed like they were very afraid of humans.
“Their parents had left them in my care. After that, they never returned,” said the Deceiver.
The Squirrel Street was one of the few places in this world that accepts non-humans. But, this street was all there is. Apart from some curious mages, outsiders would never bother to approach this street.
For dwarves and elves with appearances similar to humans, their situations weren’t that bad. Most humans were capable of accepting them. For the gray-cat beastmen, humans were willing to take them in as housepets. But, they were completely incapable of accepting half-dragons.
“This is the difficult reality of life. But, one day, things will turn for the better.”
When the Deceiver took out the room key to open the room to show to Joshua, he stopped in mid-movement upon hearing Joshua’s comment.
“Turn for the better... that’s impossible...” Like the non-human children, the Deceiver was very cautious of humans. The only difference was in how he displayed his caution.
“How would you know without trying? Mister Pluk, in the future, a bunch of humans and... a bunch of demonesses might appear in your hotel. Are you able to house demonesses in your hotel?”
Joshua had not forgotten about his special camera-ladies. They have been waiting in Duke of Bones’ castle for a long time now.
“Demonsesses and... humans?”
The Deceiver clenched his teeth. He knew what Joshua was planning to do wasn’t something good. But, as he had already accepted the money, he had no choice but to nod his head.
“Rest assured. I will not allow any of them to harm the children in your care.”
Joshua knew what the Deceiver was truly worried about. But, his word of comfort did not possess any effect whatsoever.
The Deceiver handed the keys to the other rooms to Joshua and then left.
“You’re really planning to set this place as the filming site?”
Ciri walked into the room and looked all around. She felt that the room actually resembled the description of the setting in the script.
“Is there something wrong with that?”
“Would the people from that theatrical troupe accept this?”
Ciri poked the bed sheet with her staff. While the place appeared old, it was quite clean. It would appear that inn-workers have been attentive in their cleaning.
The only thing Ciri felt should not be present were the couple mushrooms growing on the wall.
To certain races, certain mushrooms were equivalent to ornamental flowers. But, to humans, it meant that the place was moldy. How exactly was a person supposed to live in a moldy place?
“Those who cannot accept this can leave. I’m not forcing anyone. The Black Swan Theatrical Troupe is not the only theatrical troupe in Norland.”
Joshua did not beg for the members of the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe to participate in the filming of his next movie. He was the director. What will happen next would be an ‘audition.’
The first test would be whether or not they can handle difficulties. What Joshua needed were performers and not those pampered nobles.
The only thing Joshua needed to do now was to write a letter to inform Madam Schroder so that she could send her Black Swan Theatrical Troupe over. Of course... that’s assuming the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe would be willing to come after hearing the location to be the Squirrel Street.
.........
Madam Schroder’s residence. A rehearsal and practice place was especially created for the Theatrical Troupe in the mansion. There was also a private practice area prepared for the Flower of Farucci.
Wearing a dance dress, Gallolei was moving around and dancing in the empty room.
No matter how renowned her reputation as the Flower of Farucci might be, she had not forgotten about practicing.
Apart from acting, stage play actors must also dance. As an outstanding stage actress, elegant dance posture was absolutely necessary.
Gallolei was still very young. Her body hasn’t finished growing. Thus, she cannot afford to take things easy.
The people from Farucci were different from the girls from Ishtar, the Nation of Frost. Those from Ishtar were able to gain sexy figures without doing anything.
Gallolei finished her practice today. Her elven bodyguard appeared behind her and extended her handkerchief to wipe Gallolei’s forehead covered in sweat. At the same time, she used magic of the elven race to help Gallolei regain stamina.
“Young miss, are we really not returning to your home country?”
Flay was already starting to miss the scenery and culture of Farucci. Of course, what she missed the most was the smell of nature from being located near the great forest.
While the city of Norland had many merits, all the merits became shortcomings in the eyes of the elven girl with that Chaos Demon being here.
“I will not be returning home before the filming for the movie is complete. That’s what my mother desires too.”
Gallolei walked over to the door and pushed it open. The entire region was prepared for the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe to practice in. There were many metal clothes racks outside. On those racks were a whole bunch of dazzling show clothes.
Gallolei’s small figure was covered by the clothes. Because of that, the others in the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe did not notice her approach and were either still in their training or chatting among themselves.
“Madam Schroder said that we might be participating in the filming of a movie.”
“Grand Duchess found the person who created that movie? As it should be... we are the best theatrical troupe after all. With Grand Duchess’s status, persuading the movie-maker should be a very simple task.”
Several members of the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe that had finished their training were gathered together and chatting.
It was unknown when the news of the next movie being played by the members of the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe had spread throughout the entire theatrical troupe.
Gallolei was not worried that her main female lead would be taken by anyone else. In the entire theatrical troupe, she would remain the most eye-catching black swan.
“Do you think we’ll be shooting the movie in a castle? Or could it be a place as dignified as Farucci’s Fansena Palace? We might even be able to meet the actress for Belle and actor for the Demon Prince.”
“Maybe it’s Norland’s Crystal Palace. If only we can dress in the same sort of dance dress as Belle and dance with that Demon Prince. But, I’m not really that fond of that Demon Prince.”
“What?! You don’t want to touch his paw pads?!”
Gallolei was quietly listening to the conversation of the girls that she had performed with for many years. She was feeling nothing from their conversations.
The Black Swan Theatrical Troupe was formed with both nobles and commoners. When Madam Schroder and the other co-founders were choosing the members of the theatrical troupe, they chose the most outstanding students in Farucci’s Institute of Art. Of course, many of those were young nobles with connections.
That said, no matter what if they were born nobles or commoners, they’ve successfully made the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe into Farucci’s best theatrical troupe. While the reputations of the other performers were not as famous as Gallolei, they were still the lovers in the dreams of many young men and women of Farucci.
Because of that, the members of the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe all possess an air of arrogance.
“Flay, what do you think?” Hearing the conversation of the girls, Gallolei quietly asked the elf beside her.
“I... I think they’ve thrown us into a pool of lava or the mouth of a monster.”
The elven girl answered Gallolei honestly. Her impression of Joshua was completely different from that of a film director. To her, he was an extremely dangerous demon.
That was why she opposed Gallolei from being in contact with Joshua so hard. Unfortunately, Gallolei’s mother seemed to have decided to work with that demon.
“Things wouldn’t be that bad.”
Gallolei actually didn’t know how things would turn out either. She had never interacted with a movie filming before.
When performing on stage, all the theater owners would spare no effort to entertain the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe. After all, they were the most dazzling pearl in Farucci. No theater owner would dare to show any neglect toward them.
The best rooms, the best services and the most outstanding stages. Those were luxuries commonly enjoyed by the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe.
As for their performances on stage, they were filled with gracefulness and romantic ambience.
But, from what Joshua wanted Gallolei to practice in, the content of his next movie seemed to be completely different from the romantic ambience of stageplays.
Because of that, while the female performers of the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe were looking forward to being in a luxurious castle and meeting a prince, looking forward to a romantic scenario, Gallolei who had seen through what was going to happen was distressed in how she would calmly and confidently shout out ‘Fuck!’
The lively atmosphere gradually quieted down as a middle-aged butler hurriedly rushed into the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe’s practice ground.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please properly pack up your belongings today. Tomorrow, under the arrangement from Her Lady the Grand Duchess, all of you will be proceeding to the next stage..”
Suddenly, the middle-aged butler paused mid-speech. He discovered that it was wrong to describe it as the next stage. Thus, he changed his wording.
“Or perhaps, the location for the filming.”
“It’s real...” Hearing those words, the members of the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe quietly cheered.
“Mister butler! May we know where the filming site would be?!” A more courageous member raised his hand to ask the middle-aged butler.
Faced with that question, the butler was momentarily silent. He re-read the instructions penned by Madam Schroder and quietly said the name of the place.
“Squirrel Street.”
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