Book 4: Chapter 74:2: Practicing the Sword, and the Dragon and the Tigress Fight, Part 2
The next day:
A music performance would take place in Lungmen on this day. This was a performance—no, it should be called a concert—by a famous Victorian conductor.
Chen Heng obtained three tickets to this concert from Swire, planning to bring Nightingale and Skadi.
Although the concert would not end smoothly, it would mostly go alright.
“Giles Brent? I’ve heard of him; he is a famous conductor. I did not expect him to hold a concert in Lungmen. I know little about him, but there’s a Vanguard called Vigna in Rhodes Island who likes a guitarist in his orchestra.”
[TL Note: Giles Brent is a made-up name; I could not find any reference to such a person in Arknights or in real life. As the name in Chinese looks like an English name transliterated into Chinese, I made up a name similar to what it sounds like in Chinese. Vigna is a Sarkaz who loves rock’n’roll and is also a capable guitarist herself. Here is her profile: /wiki/Vigna/Overview.]
At this moment, Nightingale stood at the theater’s entrance, clutching her ticket for the concert.
“I’m not that interested, but since I’m here, I might as well go in and watch.” In contrast to Nightingale, Skadi had not even heard of this person.
That made sense. Skadi spent most of her time fighting. How could she spare energy on this?
“Go in first. I see my elder cousin, so I’ll go over and say hello.”
Chen Heng saw Ch’en, Swire, and some Lungmen Guard Department members maintaining order nearby, so he headed over after letting Nightingale and Skadi know.
“Elder Cousin, are you responsible for maintaining order for the concert?”
“It’s Little Heng! That’s right. Since this concert is held by a famous conductor with significant influence, I have to mobilize the Lungmen Guard Department to maintain order in case of a terrorist attack.”
“Shithead dragon, what do you know? This is a renowned conductor from Victoria. A philistine like you would never understand. Look, your younger cousin even asked me for three tickets to this concert.”
Swire took this opportunity to mock Ch’en using the conductor and Chen Heng.
“Elder Sister Swire, don’t say that. I’ve only just heard of his name; my appreciation for music is average. I simply wanted to bring my companions.”
“Swire, are you looking for trouble again? Why would I be like you people who are born with a golden spoon in your mouth, only interested in cosmetics, music, and the like?”
“You are discriminating against me. Why do you think I only know about cosmetics and music? This is discrimination, severe discrimination.”
“Oh? Have you forgotten about that incident?”
“That time? Oh! I recall now. However, I’ve already apologized for that.”
“But I did not accept that apology. I’ll forgive you when you change your habit of putting so many things in your bag. I ended up pulling out two lipsticks and a bottle of makeup fixer spray when I was incognito on the bus trying to apprehend some criminals.”
“…Damn shithead dragon! You were in the wrong yourself. Why didn’t you notice you had the wrong bag?”
“Char siu cat!”
*Lungmen vulgarity*! You *Lungmen vulgarity*!”
“I wish you get rich in *Lungmen vulgarity*!”
“Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! Elder Cousin, Elder Sister Swire, can you two stop? Everyone is looking at you.”
Chen Heng stopped the two from fighting, suspecting that if he did nothing, the two might start a large-scale armed battle.
After all, the violent Hoshiguma, who could stop the two from fighting, was not here. Chen Heng had to do it.
The two looked around and noticed the Lungmen Guard Department members had stopped working and were looking at the two.
“What are you looking at? Why aren’t you checking the security of every exit?!” After Ch’en issued her command, the Lungmen Guard Department members all resumed work.
“Officer S, could you go about your duty and not disturb me?”
“Shithead dragon, how many times do I have to say it? Don’t call me Officer S. My name is Beatrix Schwire; Swire is just my codename, not my name. Either call me Swire or Beatrix. Don’t just use the S from Swire and add an officer prefix.”
“How problematic. Tsk!”
“Shithead dragon, you just expressed irritation. Do you have a problem with my family name?”
For some reason, the stern and inflexible Ch’en always ended up arguing with Swire.
“Alright. Elder Sisters, please stop fighting. I came over to say hi and to warn you of a very pleasant surprise at the end of the concert. Remember to protect that conductor; otherwise, there might be a diplomatic incident.”
The two immediately stopped arguing after hearing Chen Heng’s words. Then they exchanged looks.
Work was work, and personal was personal. The two could separate work from personal, especially when something would happen soon.
“If you know something, tell us more.”
“Elder Cousin, I can’t do that. I cannot leak the heavenly secrets.”
“Tsk! Younger Cousin, you are becoming more like those oracle grifters.”
“I can’t help it. If I tell you, this concert cannot continue. Why did I go to all that effort to make a trip here, then?”
“…” This reason…if he weren’t my younger cousin, I would have brought him back to the Lungmen Guard Department several times already.
“However, there’s no need to worry. In any case, it will be just a scare with no damage, alright?”
“Alright, alright. Quickly go in. You might as well have said nothing.” Ch’en waved her hand, shooing Chen Heng in.
Since you know the truth and have already told us a bit about it, you might as well tell us everything. You only said a portion and hid the rest; this is frustrating.
Chen Heng enjoyed seeing others frustrated from being upset at him but unable to do anything to him.
The attack on this concert initially resulted in the conductor’s kidnapping. However, Chen Heng’s reminder changed the future, and the conductor would only suffer some light injuries.
After entering, Chen Heng found his seat between Skadi’s and Nightingale’s. However, the three did not talk.
A concert was different from a performance. One had to remain absolutely silent in a concert. Making any sound was a sign of disrespect towards the performers.
All who could get tickets to this concert were not ordinary people, so they knew the rules. Thus, the entire concert hall was quiet.
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶