Chapter 468: On and Off the Stage
"I thought that you prophets would do anything to achieve a breakthrough."
After taking a deep look at Anvis, the Speaker took back the key and did not continue the topic.
After a moment, the third act of the opera began.
The stage background was changed to a magnificent palace. In the presence of many nobles, the king stood in front of the pure gold throne, holding a sword in one hand, which he placed on the right shoulder of the protagonist whose appearance and name had changed, and announced that he would officially become the viscount of the kingdom from that moment on.
The protagonist Theo half-knelt on the ground, put his right hand on his chest, and swore allegiance to the king.
Then, the scene suddenly changed. The palace and the nobles disappeared like phantoms, replaced by scenes of the protagonist tracking down the identity of the enemy who framed his father.
He would either offer huge benefits as a lure or threaten them with something he could hold against them. No matter what kind of opponent he faced, he would always find the weak spot in the opponent's heart and exploit it.
At the same time, the background music becomes tense and mysterious, as if narrating the intrigues in the darkness.
With such skills, Theo peeled off the layers of fog that obscured his eyes and gradually restored the truth of the time.
The culprits who framed his father were Count Hans and Count Sibyl of the kingdom. Because the existence of old Count Sis hindered his interests, they set a trap to frame him.
Count Hans forged false evidence that Count Sis was plotting to rebel and assassinate the king, while Count Sibyl won over many minor nobles and asked them to stand up at the critical moment and identify his crimes.
At the final moment of the third act, after learning the truth, Theo sat alone in the dark study and began to prepare his revenge plan.
During the third act, the box remained silent, and neither Avis nor the Speaker spoke.
Soon, the stage drama came to the fourth act.
Due to some secret actions of the protagonist, the relationship between the kingdom and its neighbors becomes increasingly tense.
Finally, war broke out.
Under the king's order, a group of nobles including Count Hans, Count Sibyl, and the protagonist himself sent troops to support the front line.
However, what they could not have imagined was that the front line had already turned into a death trap for them.
Due to Theo's secret planning, the marching intelligence of the two counts' troops was leaked, and they were ambushed by the enemy as the main force, resulting in heavy casualties.
However, his behavior eventually made the two earls realize that something was wrong.
Before the final battle, Count Hans finally realized that Theo was behind everything. He angrily questioned why he wanted to frame them, and joined forces with Count Sibyl to fight to the death.
"My name is Theo-Sis! Chant this name in the flames of hell!"
As Sherman sang this famous line from the entire play, the final battle began.
In order to highlight the drama, this scene still adopts the form of a noble duel. Although Theo is one against two, the two counts are also poisoned by the slow poison planned by Theo, and it is the same poison as the wine his father drank, but the dosage is smaller.
In the end, with his "more sophisticated swordsmanship", Theo successfully killed his enemy. Then, with his own personal charm and hard power, he gathered the remnants of the two earls, led his army to defeat the enemy's main force, and returned triumphantly.
As the bell rang to signal the end of the fourth act, the stage curtain slowly dropped as everyone looked on with eager eyes.
"It seems that today's unexpected and interesting meeting is almost coming to an end."
After taking a look at the Gloria-style floor clock placed on one side of the room, the black-robed Speaker hung the key back on his chest, his tone slightly regretful.
"Although the opera has not yet ended, the performance of another epic stage play is about to begin. I have an appointment with a friend and I don't want to be late."
As he spoke, the Speaker took out an exquisite magic hourglass and placed it on the coffee table.
"I think we still have a little time left. When this hourglass runs out, I will leave here. As for whether Lord Zast wants to stay or go, it is up to you."
Then, he leaned back on the sofa, gently picked up the crystal glass, and stared into Avis' eyes with his dark eyes.
"Of course, if Your Excellency wants to witness the next scene with me, I welcome that as well."
Looking at the silent Speaker, Avis suddenly spoke.
"Mr. Farr, I believe you must have heard that after the birth of the opera "Theo Sissi", a very famous argument was derived about the content of the opera:
That is, in the whole opera, the protagonist Theo's actions, compared with the villains in the play, are they qualified to be called the righteous side?"
Looking at the gloomy young man in black robe twirling the goblet in front of him, Avis continued.
"As the one seeking revenge, Theo should be on the right side, but his actions in this process have gone beyond the scope of justice.
So, Mr. Farr, in your heart, can the protagonist's actions be defined as justice?"
“Human beings are complex entities, and whether a person is just cannot be simply defined by one or a few things.
Theo's goal and starting point are undoubtedly just, but the process of achieving the goal cannot be called just. But in my opinion, he can still be considered the righteous party. "
After taking a sip of the magic spring, the Speaker spoke slowly.
“As Lord Zast just said, fairness is relative, and so is justice.
If fairness often requires a trade-off between the majority and the minority, then justice often requires a trade-off between process and outcome.
For the sake of justice of the result, Theo gave up justice of the process, which can also be called a kind of justice. "
“Justice of process and justice of result?”
Avis nodded thoughtfully, looking at the Speaker who was leisurely drinking a drink in front of him, and the hourglass with only half of it left, and smiled as well.
Fate is actually quite strange. If they met outside, they would probably fight and run away immediately. But under the arrangement of fate, they could sit together and chat in peace.
"Your Excellency Farr's insights are also quite unique. But unfortunately, I happen to have an appointment next, so I'm afraid I can't accept your kind invitation."
"But, in the next scene of the play tonight, I wonder if Mr. Fair will be a member of the audience or the leading actor on stage?"
Hearing this question, the Speaker looked at Anvis with a smile.
"What do you think, Mr. Justice? When the stage is big enough, is there any difference between the stage and the backstage?"
As the two talked, the last drop of silver sand in the hourglass fell down. At this moment, the opening bell of the fifth and final act of the stage play rang.
"It seems that the time to say goodbye has come."
The Speaker put away the hourglass, turned his back to the slowly rising stage curtain, and stood up.
"Goodbye, Master Zast. I hope we can meet again."
(End of this chapter)
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