The lobbying period was only four days, which was quite tight.
This was because four days later, the Troupe would begin its public tour.
It was a grand performance for thousands of spectators, and it was bound to spread widely among the populace.
In this era where information dissemination was not yet developed, the influence of a grand performance was enough to sway the opinions of most people.
And when the audience dispersed, these changed ideas would spread like a virus among the populace!
Li Andy changed his clothes, and after receiving a deeply intimate good morning from Youxi, he snapped his fingers.
The furniture in the room simultaneously began to move, starting to clean itself autonomously.
Although the hotel provided cleaning services, he didn't want anyone to know how wild and crazy his ritual had been last night.
Today's lobbying targets were two: Helena, the Art Director, and Anthony, the Stage Manager.
The former would be visited by Youxi and Molly, approaching under the guise of comforting and interviewing the playwright;
The latter would be visited by him, taking the most naive Sophia, approaching with a consultation on stage construction technology as the entry point.
This arrangement allowed him to keep an eye on Sophia and also communicate in real-time through telepathy with Molly.
"Andy Gege, it seems you prepared all of this long ago. Did you predict this commission in advance?"
Before they split into two groups and departed, Youxi couldn't help but ask. Since the orphanage, she had noticed that her beloved Andy Gege seemed to possess some precognitive abilities. The Black Alley and the bookstore later also provided some corroboration.
She was a little afraid that these abilities required a price to be paid. She was currently working hard to become stronger, hoping she could bear more of the cost for her family.
"I didn't anticipate the Governing Madam's commission."
Li Andy smiled and touched the girl's earlobe, where a gray teardrop Translator's Earring hung. To investigate the relics, he had already given each girl a different colored 'Translator's Earring' in advance.
"I was just looking for the owner of a strange mask, which is why I planned this in advance. The Governing Madam's commission just happened to coincide. I don't even know what the person I'm looking for looks like, so you don't need to worry about what price I have to pay."
Youxi paused, then hummed in affirmation, revealing a relieved smile.
Then, she stood on tiptoe and whispered:
"Andy Gege, you seem to like accessories a lot lately. Last night, you also held Sophia's tail for a long time. Tonight, do Molly and I need to wear one too?"
...Li Andy's body visibly stiffened.
He took a deep breath, flicked the little devil's forehead, and said righteously:
"First, get down to business! As for other things... we can talk about them tonight!"
Youxi rubbed her forehead with a mischievous grin, pulling Molly and leading the way out of the room.
Sophia scratched her head in confusion and asked:
"Youxi wants a tail too? Does she also want to borrow a werewolf-related 'non-object'? Wait... she said 'wear' it?"
The golden-haired wolf-girl stood still, pondering for a few seconds. As her mind suddenly clicked and understood, her pretty face turned pale with fright, and she frantically covered her back:
"Andy, you... you wouldn't force me to attach another tail, would you?!"
"What are you thinking! Time to get to work!"
The wise Li Andy covered his head helplessly, pulling the Sophia, who had been corrupted by improper knowledge, and quickly walked out of the room.
........
In an open square not far from the hotel, a massive temporary structure was rapidly being erected.
The person Li Andy was looking for was inside that unfinished building.
"Wow... Andy, how did they manage to build such a large theater in just a few days?" Sophia craned her neck, eagerly examining the dome-like structure. After receiving the promise that she wouldn't be forced to add accessories, this girl finally stopped covering her back and dared to walk ahead.
"Aren't you studying mechanics? Can't you understand it?" Li Andy raised an eyebrow and retorted.
"Mechanics and architecture are completely unrelated fields!" Sophia turned back, baring her teeth.
Li Andy shrugged and said as he walked:
"This is called a circus tent. It's just a large arched shed built with a steel pipe frame and tarpaulin, which can be quickly assembled like building blocks. Its wind and earthquake resistance are not high; it can only be used as a temporary venue.
"I heard that when the Unicorn Troupe was initially struggling, some members went to the circus to find work, and then they had a sudden idea to make opera mobile like circus performances.
"And the Mr. Anthony we are looking for, he is a mechanic. It is said that he has iterated and optimized the mechanical structure of the canopy several times. Industrial disciplines are actually interconnected, and he is a very good example."
"Yes, yes, yes..."
Sophia pouted unhappily, feeling that Li Andy, who had no new ideas, just liked to lecture.
As they chatted, the two arrived at the canopy entrance. Even through the covering, they could hear the fervent construction sounds inside.
After presenting their credentials and stating their purpose, the two finally entered the large tent.
Sophia sniffed, involuntarily wrinkling her nose.
So smelly....
The ventilation in the tent was actually fine; what she found unpleasant was the smell of the blood qi from the people.
It felt like fermenting garbage, exuding decay and unease everywhere.
Looking up at the people working, their eyes were dull and full of weariness. Some even frowned, looking full of anxiety.
Listening carefully, one could hear quite a few complaints.
"Hey, when do you think we'll get paid? My family's flour is almost gone..."
"I'm about the same. Yesterday, at the top, I played a few more rounds and now I owe a few steel coins."
"You still dare to play when you're broke?!"
"Tsk, I played precisely because I'm broke!"
"Sigh... I hope they pay us quickly after the performance is successful."
"Yeah, my kid cried out from hunger in his sleep last night..."
Sophia's brows furrowed tighter and tighter, listening with great discomfort.
Even such a famous troupe would delay paying the wages of its low-level workers?
"Sophia, we found our target. Be careful not to say anything out of line." At this moment, Li Andy suddenly spoke.
Following his gaze, they saw a gray-haired middle-aged man furiously scolding a lazy worker.
Sophia frowned again. This person's smell... definitely bitter!
Even from that far, she could smell that obnoxious alcohol scent.
Li Andy approached the gray-haired middle-aged man and explained his purpose.
"Technical consultation?"
The middle-aged man was stunned, his mind seemingly slow due to the alcohol. "Oh... oh!! The one who paid a lot of money! Come, come... this way, let's go somewhere quiet to talk."
Hearing about money, many workers simultaneously looked up, as if paused, staring intently at the three as they entered a temporary office tent.
Finally, someone sighed, and only then were the others unpaused, resuming their work with lowered heads.
But that strange atmosphere grew even thicker.
......
Inside the tent, the smell was even worse.
Anthony plopped down onto a chair. Around him, besides various documents and mechanical clutter, there were only constantly accumulating wine bottles.
"What technical problems do you have? Just ask quickly! As long as it's related to the stage canopy, there's nothing Anthony doesn't know.
"Oh, right, to entertain guests, one should pour tea. Uh... I don't have tea or coffee here. Do you want some alcohol? Heh heh, this stuff clears your head."
Saying that, he picked up a half-empty wine bottle, took a sip, chuckled, and handed it over.
Li Andy had always felt that he was good at managing his expressions when facing outsiders. But at this moment, he couldn't help but frown.
This guy... is he really the Stage Manager? Or a brilliant mechanical architecture expert?
He was afraid this wasn't some homeless person trying to fool him, was he?
Li Andy took out some documents, which contained canopy engineering problems compiled by the butler, and then formally questioned the other party.
What was unexpected was that this drunkard actually knew his stuff!
Besides answering, he also gave many constructive suggestions. Just based on this, he absolutely lived up to the name of a canopy expert.
However... this person would take a sip every time he answered. Even if he seemed unable to drink anymore.
It was as if the answers to the technical questions were hidden in that alcoholic liquid.
After ten questions, Li Andy retrieved the documents and finally got to the main topic of lobbying. He was genuinely afraid that if he asked a few more technical questions, the other party would get drunk to death right here.
"Mr. Anthony, with your talent, why are you confined to just a... small Troupe? Your unique insights alone are enough to teach at various academies in New Continent. If you have that intention, I can certainly help arrange it."
"Heh heh, good question, but I can't leave the canopy..."
Anthony drunkenly propped himself up on the table, his mind seemingly unclear. "If it weren't for the generous payment, I wouldn't tell you a thing!"
This time, the other party did not drink.
"Can't leave the canopy? Why can't you leave?" Li Andy asked again.
"Heh heh... Can't say. Anyway, I can only be inside the canopy. If you're done asking, then... Ugh--"
Anthony immediately turned his head and started vomiting.
The contents from his stomach landed precisely in the bucket under the table.
Such a quick reaction, as if it had become an instinctive habit.
"Eww~~" Sophia wrinkled her face in disgust, pressing close to Li Andy's back, trying to buffer the nausea by smelling his scent.
"Ugh-- You... you two go out for a bit!"
After vomiting a few times, Anthony's thoughts seemed to clear up a bit.
Li Andy frowned, said goodbye to the other party, and pulled Sophia out of the tent.
As soon as they came out, the two couldn't help but look at each other.
"Andy... he's so strange. When he drinks, it's like..."
"It's like he's paying a price." Li Andy finished Sophia's sentence.
He lightly tapped the floor, and a wisp of spirituality, following the shadow, slipped into the tent.
Inside, he saw the great expert Anthony, holding a strange bottle different from the others, chugging alcohol fiercely.
Even though... there was no liquid inside.
Li Andy slightly frowned, activated the ability of the 'Translator's Earring', and 'heard' the whispered translation.
【Pseudo-Relic: Knowledge Wine Bottle】
【Ability Description: A wine bottle that can extract knowledge, but requires drinking real alcohol to manifest.】
【Side Effect: The knowledge you gain can only be used in the corresponding location. If you leave, it will be lost from your body like metabolized alcohol, and you will forget it forever.】
"Pseudo-Relic??"
Li Andy was stunned.
At the same time, Molly, who had gone to visit the playwright, also sent a message from her mind.
【Andy Gege, that playwright named Helena, she... sometimes seems illiterate. Midway, she said inspiration struck and asked us to wait outside. Now, Youxi Gege is having me split off a personality to observe inside.】
"What did you see inside?" Li Andy replied in his mind.
【I saw... that person gnawing on a book!】 Molly's other personality suddenly interrupted with a gasp.
Li Andy frowned and quickly instructed:
"Inject spirituality into the Translator's Earring and see if there are any strange items!"
A few seconds later, Molly's voice came again:
【Andy Gege, there's a very strange book cover! It... it's called 'Inspiration Book Cover', and it's a 'Pseudo-Relic'!】
This Troupe actually had more than just Rose possessing strange mystical objects!
Li Andy stood still, an absurd guess rising in his mind.
Could it be that this Troupe, named Unicorn, achieved its current success entirely by relying on those bizarre magical items?
【Andy Gege, there's a line of small text on the inside of that 'Inspiration Book Cover'!】
"What does it say?"
【Uh... I don't understand it. Hey, Translator's Earring, translate it for me!】
【It says... material is the basis of all movement. Even gods are no exception!】