Taking the carriage, Joshua successfully arrived at the Squirrel Street.
They did not encounter any terrorist attacks on their way there.
Joshua exited the carriage and turned around to look at Ciri and Tylene. Ciri was supporting Tylene down the carriage. The elven girl’s legs were trembling.
“Are you really alright?” asked Ciri as she supported the pale-faced Tylene.
Ever since Joshua used the Duke of Bones’ imprint in the carriage, Tylene has been like this.
“Why are you able to remain so... calm... after seeing those undead creatures?”
Tylene was gently holding her forehead. After exiting the carriage, she was not only able to keep her distance from the shadow of death, she was also able to feel the warmth of the sun.
The sunlight dispersed the fear she felt from those undead creatures. Because of that, Tylene was finally able to slowly ease up her mind. She no longer needed Ciri to support her.
“I don’t know either. If we’re using that guy’s vocabulary, I guess it’ll be... racial talent?”
Back then, Ciri had witnessed the Duke of Bones’ soulfire. Yet, she still felt no fear. But, the powerful undead creatures were practically all capable of making the living enter a state of fear.
Tylene was affected by the undead creatures Joshua summoned. In contrast, Ciri was completely fine.
After experiencing that terrifying ride, Tylene once again mistakenly had a new impression toward what Joshua’s identity was. She felt that he was a terrifying necromancer in addition to being a Chaos Demon.
Standing in the sunlight, Tylene took a couple breaths of fresh air before suppressing the trauma she felt from seeing those undead creatures.
Josha arrived at hotel Black Dove right on time. The carriages from Madam Schroder’s mansion were all stopped on the street outside the hotel.
In a disguise, Madam Schroder exited a horse carriage. A rare occasion, this noble lady was wearing a simple and unadorned male outfit.
Mathilda was the main character in most of the scenes that would be filmed today. Even though Madam Schroder was willing to have her daughter be the main actress, she was still worried.
Joshua bowed to Madam Schroder from afar. The Flower of Farucci also walked out from the horse carriage after her mother.
“Let me go and say hello to my friend...”
Tylene felt the gaze coming from behind Gallolei. Last night, she left her room without telling anyone.
Even though the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe does not possess any strict curfew, Tylene would still have to explain to her close friend why she didn’t return last night.
Joshua saw the Frost Elf running back to the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe’s carriages. As Madam Schroder was present, the other members of the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe did not dare to criticize the Frost Elf like they would usually do.
“I was expecting this place to be even more disordered and messy.”
Madam Schroder entered the hotel together with Joshua. Having prepared herself before coming, Madam Schroder was able to barely accept the condition of the hotel.
“The owner of this hotel put great effort in the management of this hotel. The filming location would be the second and third floors. Although this place is slightly crowded, it is big enough to contain the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe.”
After Joshua finished saying those words, the members of the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe all walked in the hotel.
The scene they’re filming was one of the larger scenes. Because of that, a lot of performers were present. On top of that, Madam Schroder also brought with her five mages dressed as attendants. Thus, the hotel’s first floor was rather crowded.
“They are all...”
The owner of the hotel, Pluk, walked down from the second floor. It was his first time seeing this many people arriving at his hotel. That was also true for the children he took in.
The half-dragons and gray-cat beastmen had their heads poked out from the second floor’s railings and were looking at the first floor’s lounge. When the people below looked at them, they immediately ran away.
“I’ve already discussed this with you. Pluk, it’s time for us to prepare for today’s performance.”
“I understand...”
Pluk looked at the unfamiliar humans. In the end, he decided to reach terms with Joshua. A hotel was a place meant to serve guests from all over the world to begin with.
As Madam Schroder was present, even though there were over twenty performers performing today, everything went very smoothly.
However, when the filming arrived at the time when Mathilda’s father was about to slap her because she was smoking tobacco, the actor playing Mathilda’s father started having stage fright.
After all, the actress playing the role Mathilda was the Flower of Farucci, Gallolei! She was the main pillar of the entire Black Swan Theatrical Troupe. Moreover, her mother, Madam Schroder, was also present.
“Stop! You do not have to actually slap her. I will add the sound effect afterwards. You merely need to make it appear like you’re slapping her with a lot of strength.”
At this moment, Joshua called for a stop in filming. But, his words seemed to be ineffective.
That actor was simply too terrified. His eyes continued to shift back and forth between Gallolei and Madam Schroder.
“Cnut, make sure to hold back your strength properly.”
Having read the script herself, Madam Schroder spoke of a foreign concept toward that actor. In the end, it took several takes before Joshua found one that he was satisfied with.
The remainder of the filming proceeded very smoothly. The performers of the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe were all acting with their all.
This was especially true at the scene of the law enforcers moving to kill Mathilda’s entire family. For that scene, Sir Weissenasche’s acting had reached the pinnacle of his life.
That scene was the final scene today. It was also the most important scene to be filmed today.
In the final moment of that scene, the character Gallolei was playing, Mathilda, returned from outside and saw her entire family massacred by the law enforcers. In order to not law those murderers know of her true identity, she held back her sadness and went to seek help from her neighbor, Léon.
While they were filming the final moment of that scene, Joshua noticed that many of the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe’s female performers stood up from their seats.
Gallolei did not let down her reputation as the Flower of Farucci. Her acting skills were truly flawless. When it was time for her to cry, all her tears rushed out in an instant. She was pleading for help while sobbing quietly and miserably. On top of that, a bunch of evil murderers were behind her and glaring at her.
Under such an atmosphere, even though those female performers knew this was only acting, they were still unable to keep their composure. They all wanted to do something for that pitiful child.
“I now understand what you mean by shocking one’s heart.”
Madam Schroder was the only woman present still sitting on her chair. But, from tightly she held her hands, one could tell that she was also feeling very disturbed.
“You’re only seeing this with your eyes right now. Once this scene is treated with the camera lenses, it will be even more shocking.”
When Joshua first saw the movie Léon: The Professional, he was completely shaken by this scene. That scene was also the one that gave Joshua the deepest impression.
The filming progressed with a steady pace. In the end, today’s filming ended with Léon letting Mathilda inside his room.
“I am truly looking forward to the day this movie will start screening.”
After watching the scenes they finished filming today, she gave a standing applause.
“That day is coming soon. Before that, please have the performers properly rest themselves. It seemed like Miss Gallolei was especially tired with the filming today.”
Joshua took a glance at the sky outside. Unwittingly, the sky had already darkened. It was approaching dusk.
“On top of that, in the upcoming days, the Squirrel Street might not be that safe at night,” said Joshua.
*******************************
Translator YangWenli:
Please support my translation and this novel by upvoting it. Gifts are greatly appreciated!
Check out my other translations too!
If there are any grammar errors, please leave a comment. I will try to fix them asap. Thanks!