Chapter 431: New Year's Eve in Various Places
That same night, Backlund, Sodrak Palace.
Audrey, wearing a gorgeous court dress, sat in the lounge, waiting for the party to begin. She had a newspaper on her knees, and the front page was printed with the smog death data that had just been counted today.
"One hundred and twenty-three thousand people..."
She muttered to herself, folded the newspaper and placed it on the coffee table beside her, unable to bear to read it anymore.
Thanks to the timely and generous donations from the nobility and the royal family, and the full support from major churches, no more humanitarian disasters occurred in the more than half a month after the heavy smog. The victims lived in temporary shelters and received food that was barely enough to fill their stomachs, so they did not starve or freeze to death on the streets. However, a large number of young children and elderly people still did not survive the plague and infectious diseases that followed the smog.
And the royal family is still holding a New Year's Eve party...
She had no intention of accusing the royal family of extravagance. After consulting with the church, they had temporarily canceled the fireworks display on the Tussock River and the float parade in Queens, and even added a charity donation segment to the evening party, which saved a lot of money compared to before.
but……
Audrey closed her eyes, exhaled, and adjusted her negative emotions.
She had a more important mission later.
There was a knock on the door, and Mrs. Catherine, also dressed in her best, walked in, pulled Audrey up, and gave her a gentle hug:
"Baby, you're going to surprise everyone tonight."
She took her daughter's hand, walked out of the lounge, and came to the second floor of the party hall.
Below were almost all of Backlund's nobles above the rank of Viscount, as well as a handful of invited wealthy businessmen. They were either clutching their wine glasses or standing quietly, waiting for today's protagonist to appear.
Audrey adjusted her mood, put on a mask called "audience", walked forward, and handed her hand in a white gauze glove to the queen waiting beside her.
The latter took her up to the protruding platform on the second floor and looked at the guests below.
"Everyone, Backlund has been going through its darkest period for the past two weeks. But even in these times, we still possess a dazzling gem that can illuminate this darkness. Her beauty and wisdom, her manners and character are all impeccable.
"I formally introduce her to you, Miss Audrey Hall."
As she spoke, she stepped aside and gave the main seat to Audrey.
Taking a deep breath, Audrey walked to the railing and faced the silent crowd below.
She suddenly realized that in the front of the crowd, her father, Earl Hall, and her eldest brother, Hibbert, were looking at her quietly with encouraging smiles on their faces.
This gave her the final courage.
"Good evening, and thank you all for joining us for today's New Year's Eve party," she said, her perfect smile meeting the astonished gazes. "I had prepared a speech for my coming-of-age ceremony, but just now, after seeing the statistics about the smog in the newspaper, I threw it away."
This city bears the suffering and hopes of countless people. In the streets of the East End, homeless people and orphans are left without clothing and support. Half of the factories in the docks and factory districts remain closed, leaving many workers unable to pay their rent and displaced. This is a... natural disaster, but it also touches every one of us.
"On behalf of my father, Earl Hall, I urge everyone to work together to create a relief fund to bring a ray of hope to these suffering people, so that no one will lose their lives to cold and hunger in the winter after the disaster and in the days that follow."
The party hall was completely silent.
Most people had not been notified in advance and still thought it was just an ordinary New Year's Eve party. They drank and chatted as usual, wished the noble children who came of age in the new year, and then returned to their warm homes before the clock struck midnight.
Audrey's sudden initiative at this moment was beyond their expectations.
“Pah-pah—”
The first person to applaud was actually the Queen beside her, which surprised Audrey. When her father informed her of this last-minute addition to the party schedule, she thought the royal family would be the most likely to object. Unexpectedly...
Earl Hall kept smiling and clapped his hands gently in encouragement. His eldest brother Hibbert raised his glass and saluted the little princess. Several earls of high status and wealthy businessmen who did not have titles but were invited because of their wealthy families also took the lead in applauding or raising their glasses. Audrey noticed that these people, like her father, were believers in the Goddess of Night.
At the Queen's signal, Earl Hall and other nobles took the lead, and other guests soon joined in, turning the party hall from silence to noise in an instant.
Audrey's smile remained on her face, but she was thinking and analyzing rapidly in her mind.
My father should have informed the royal family of this move, but not the majority of the nobles... However, the great nobles who are believers in the Night are all cooperating. Is the Church of the Night behind this initiative?
Thinking of the Hanged Man's analysis of the situation after the Backlund Great Smog in "The Tarot Club", Audrey seemed to understand something.
But why did my father let me raise the issue at my coming-of-age ceremony...hadn't he always told me not to get involved in these things? Could it be that because he knew I'd become a Beyonder, he wanted me to get closer to the Church of the Evernight Goddess and receive their protection?
Alfred joined the army, and Hibbert serves on the Air Pollution Investigation Committee, potentially leading to a political career. My father hopes to leave a safe path for me as well... This contradicts my thoughts. I originally hoped to increase my strength as quickly as possible so that I could protect my family from disasters like the smog, but why am I being protected by them instead...
She tried to use Mr. Hanged Man's way of analyzing things to guess the true meaning behind her father's actions, and soon got several plausible answers.
It seems that I need to find a chance to talk to Hibbert, or send a letter to Alfred... She thought a little depressed.
"Audrey."
The queen beside her handed her an exquisite wine glass and gestured to her.
She collected herself, took it with both hands, raised the glass of champagne, which looked the same color but was actually non-alcoholic, and spoke again to the guests below:
"Thank you again for attending this party and I wish you all a happy new year."
Boom——
Fireworks exploded outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, and pieces of colorful light were reflected on the floor of the hall.
That night, Audrey officially came of age socially and in her own heart.
————
Inside a low-rise house in the Cherwood area.
Fors carefully arranged the sacrificial ceremony and presented the radio receiver he had purchased from a folk scientist to the mysterious Mr. Fool. A moment later, the proceeds of the transaction appeared on the altar: 15 pounds.
Seeing hundreds or even thousands of pounds being traded at tarot events, I always feel that this amount of money is a bit too much to be presented...
Even though she thought so, she quickly took the money in her hand, counted it and put it in her pocket.
After removing the candles and dismantling the spiritual wall, Fors walked out of the bedroom and returned to the living room. She was surprised to find that Xio had returned from the East District.
"What are you doing in the bedroom?"
The "sheriff," who had been busy helping maintain order and punish criminals in the East District for the past two weeks, looked up and asked. This made Fors, who had just concluded a deal through the Tarot Club, a little nervous, but she relaxed when she saw that her friend was just asking casually.
"I'm just thinking about a new novel, researching the materials I got at the Industrial and Technical University... What about you? Are you still helping those friends in the East District, and that 'Sherman'?"
"Of course, it's still chaotic over there. Although the church and the police have been maintaining order and distributing relief supplies, there are always those who try to recreate the underground rules and cause chaos in the streets. Calling the police is helpful, but fists are more effective."
Hugh yawned and replied.
"Also, in the past two weeks, I can clearly feel that I have become more and more adept at using the power of the 'Sheriff'. Perhaps these things will help me master the power of potions."
She added.
This is because your actions are consistent with the "Acting Method"... Fors said in her heart. She didn't dare to disclose the knowledge she had gained from the "Tarot Club" casually, so she could only find a way to secretly guide the other party.
Therefore, she had never stopped Xio from serving as a vigilante in the East District. She was just somewhat interested in the "Sherman" she often mentioned. It sounded like he was also a Low-Sequence Beyonder, and an "assassin" from the same path as the Queen of the Tarot Club.
It's a shame this powerful Tarot Club member has now left Backlund... Hmm, Mr. "World," who asked me to buy a radio receiver, was originally also in Backlund, but he recently left as well. Is it because the major churches have been increasing their efforts to capture wild Beyonders recently? Should I also consider going out and hiding for a while...
She was lost in thought and looked out the window. In the distance, there were faint flashes of light in the direction of Queens. It must be the nobles and wealthy people there setting off fireworks.
Having left Backlund's "Queen" and "World", where are they celebrating the New Year now?
Fors couldn't help but wonder.
————
January 3rd, Monday, noon, Backlund North District.
When Benson and Melissa passed by St. Samuel's Church in a hired carriage, they found that there was a large number of people queuing up there and boarding double-decker public carriages one by one. The scene was very chaotic.
"What's going on?"
Benson, wearing an old but well-fitting coat, knocked on the front fender of the carriage and asked.
"The cleanup in the East District is over. Those who are temporarily staying near the church need to return there. After the New Year, many factories will reopen. If you're late, you might lose out to the influx of outsiders... Sorry, I don't mean you."
The driver remembered that the two people he picked up at the train station were probably also "outsiders", so he apologized half-heartedly after his frivolous words.
The East District, the area hardest hit by the smog... Melissa remembered the information she had read in the newspaper, shifted her gaze away from the church, looked forward, and soon saw the house they had rented half a month ago.
After unloading the large and small bags from the carriage with the help of the coachman, Benson said to his sister with great pride:
"I heard there aren't many cheap rentals left in Backlund. With the smog's effects over, rents are almost 50% higher than last month, and it's hard to find a place."
"Alright, stop talking about your foresight every day. Besides, this has cost us an extra half month's rent. It's hard to say how much money we've saved."
Melissa sighed, picked up her suitcase, and walked towards 28 Cleewood Street, where they would be living for a long time.
Snap——
Benson followed behind, but before he could even pull out his key, the door to the adjacent house opened from the inside. A young, round-faced woman with long, light-blonde hair walked out. Sensing the siblings' gazes, she tilted her head slightly, her purple eyes glancing in their direction, nodded politely, and hurried toward the public carriage stop at the corner of the street.
"That is..."
Melissa was already stunned. She stared at the other person's back in a daze until the light golden figure got into the public carriage and disappeared from her sight.
Benson beside her sighed and gently put his arm around her shoulders.
"They just look a bit alike. She's already gone, just like... Klein."
Melissa blinked quickly, picked up her luggage again, and went into the house with Benson.
The short New Year holiday is over and they are busy again.
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