Chapter 736: Chapter 12 Dust Troupe_4

“… military hats or wide-brimmed hats.”

Alandia conjured a black wide-brimmed hat out of thin air, “Please.”

Gongsun Ce put on the hat and found that it clung to his head as if it had taken root, impossible to remove. Once he wore the hat, the voice of Dawn Knight resonated directly in his mind, (It can provide communication capabilities, sync view, and offer you the necessary protection)

Gongsun Ce pushed up his glasses, “… is this your Heart Phase Weapon or just something you whipped up?”

“I excel at crafting items.”

Gongsun Ce nodded slowly, uncharacteristically silent.

The car grew quiet for a while, and he heard Alandia say in person.

“Thank you.”

“Whatever.”

They quickly arrived at the eastern part of the Inner City District and drove onto the bridge that connected the districts.

A deep blue river served as a natural boundary between the districts, with several large bridges spanning it for vehicle passage. The river was frozen over from the cold, no ferries in sight. This waterway distinctly separated the two districts, with the civilized Inner City District on one side, and the simple East District, home to the impoverished, on the other.

This place was once globally known as a slum, a breeding ground for murder, fraud, and illegal trades. After stepping into the 21st century, the security situation in the East District had greatly improved compared to the past, but its overall environment was still vastly inferior to that of the Inner City.

The buildings were mostly low, red-roofed brick houses, many with peeling and aged exteriors. The buildings were densely and crowdedly planned, with chaotic cables strung through the narrow alleys between them, along with hanging laundry that blocked out the light. The East District looked like a faded, gray old painting. There were also patrols of knights in white cloaks, their shiny armors contrasting with the dusty residents, as if actors from a legend had mistakenly wandered onto the set of a historical drama.

Every so often, Gongsun Ce saw long lines of people waiting for something by the roadside. He was curious to ask, but the car had already stopped nearby.

Alandia pulled the parking brake, “Just walk straight ahead from here and you’ll arrive. Mr. Gongsun, please stay calm and cooperate as much as possible with any of his reasonable requests.”

“What if he pushes it too far?”

“Then I will negotiate with him personally.”

Gongsun Ce shrugged and got out of the car alone. He walked straight for about ten minutes, and with Alandia’s guidance, arrived at a vast green space. Far away, he could see several grey tents, resembling a circus’s rented grounds, with large wooden stage structures behind them, which reminded him of the vague memories of watching plays in his childhood hometown.

At the entrance to the green space stood a newly made small wooden sign that read “Dust Troupe”. Many young children were frolicking nearby, catching balloons, with even more parents bringing children to watch the play. Several workers in comical costumes performed exaggerated acts, offering cheap candy and balloons to visitors.

Gongsun mixed with the commoners of the East District and entered the venue, and a pale hand reached out, handing Gongsun Ce a grey balloon.

“Thank you.”

Gongsun casually accepted and looked to the side. A tall, thin man with a white face stood next to him, wearing a strange tall crown and carrying an odd smile.

“Young man, black-clad Daoist Master, such a worthless gift does not warrant your gold-mouthed thanks. This ostensible act of kindness, if greeted with gratitude, only seems contrived and pale, as if I, an old and cunning actor, am deliberately trying to win your favor. You must understand that every encounter is a predestined affinity, and every meeting is a delightful stroke of luck worth celebrating. That is why I always firmly believe in welcoming every newcomer with a smile, whether they come with falsity or sincerity.”

The man with the high hat smiled and gave a bow, “I am the troupe leader, Situ Yi. Welcome to our presence.”