Chapter 81: Chapter 72: Yearning for Pleasure is Only Natural
Yiduo and his group readily agreed. They had guessed this would be the case a few days ago. It was just intelligence, so of course they would sell! It wasn’t as if they’d be exposed to any core secrets.
Henry nodded in satisfaction. It wasn’t that he wanted to spy on the Emperor; he just found that relying on word-of-mouth to spread semi-public information was far too slow.
After discussing the details of the arrangement, they shared a small meal. Yiduo and his group then departed, and Henry didn’t linger either.
Everyone wanted to learn what was happening in other parts of the Empire more quickly, especially in the Royal Capital.
Did the Emperor not know that people were constantly leaking information about him? Of course he knew.
He simply turned a blind eye. With the imperial family at its zenith, strong enough to hold the Senate in a death grip while appointing other Dukes as Electors... Would you dare to rebel in such circumstances?
’You wouldn’t, would you?’
Henry stepped out of the tavern and wrapped his bearskin coat tightly around himself. Night had fallen, and the streets of the Royal Capital were ablaze with light.
Henry recalled the new play Yiduo had mentioned offhandedly and decided to head to the Opera House to see what this so-called *Battle of Zhiluo* was all about.
Henry arrived at the Opera House and strode leisurely into the grand hall. A doorman spotted Henry’s medals and immediately let him through.
The place was resplendent and lavishly decorated, suffused with an aristocratic air.
Henry went to the aristocrats’ entrance and purchased a ticket for a private box on the second floor. A female attendant then led him to his room.
As Henry ascended to the second floor, he glanced around and saw many of the Royal Capital’s nobles and socialites gathered in the hallways. They were dressed in magnificent attire, conversing in hushed tones.
Henry entered the box and sat down on a plush velvet chair. After serving the complimentary refreshments, the attendant stood by the door, ready to attend to his needs.
As the oil lamps gradually dimmed, the stage curtain slowly parted, and the new play that Yiduo had been raving about, *The Battle of Zhiluo*, officially began.
The opening act depicted how Alberti and Sebastian commanded with unwavering resolve on the battlefield, leading their soldiers to a glorious victory.
As the plot progressed, Henry discovered, to his novel amusement, that one of the Knight characters in the play was him.
’So this is why Yiduo recommended I come see it? Am I really that narcissistic?’
The Knight on stage was valiant and fearless on the battlefield. His soldiers were loyal and brave. Together, they faced a formidable enemy, displaying an indomitable spirit.
Watching this unfold, Henry felt an incredible sense of satisfaction. ’That’s right, that’s fucking me! Only I could be that badass!’
As the play reached its climax, the Knight on stage led his soldiers in a decisive battle, breaking through the ranks of a hooded Half-Beastman army to claim victory.
The audience erupted in thunderous applause, and Henry found himself clapping along. ’This feeling of watching someone else play you... how should I put it? It’s actually quite interesting.’
It was quite late by the time the play ended. Henry had no intention of wandering elsewhere, so he simply returned to his quarters in the barracks to rest. He was due to depart for his fief the next day.
This time, he had legally acquired three more plots of land, which would allow him to have more manors and serfs. Only a fief with a stable food supply could support Henry’s ambitions for expansion.
Lying in bed, Henry recalled the thunderous cheers that had filled the Opera House when the "Knight Henry" character made his entrance. He drifted off to a peaceful sleep with a smile on his face.
Henry felt as if he were floating in the air. The feeling of unbridled bliss was like being nestled in a pile of cotton, warmed by the sun.
Suddenly, Henry found himself standing on a high platform, surrounded by innumerable, ecstatic citizens of the Empire. Their cheers and applause washed over him like a tidal wave.
Henry’s slightest movement triggered frantic screams from the Imperial citizens. His very existence seemed to be the sun in their hearts.
Henry suddenly realized something was wrong. ’Aren’t I supposed to be asleep?’
But he was soon enveloped by endless praise and adoration. Every smile and every glance was filled with awe for him.
Henry began to lose himself in this endless ecstasy, craving more and more praise and pleasure. He started holding festivals in cities all across the Empire, chasing after this hollow prestige...
Yet, behind this endless bliss, Henry occasionally felt a flicker of unease.
When he tried to break free from the dream, he found himself unable to escape its pull. Henry suddenly experienced the very peak of human emotion, and with it, a profound emptiness and terror from the depths of his soul.
He began to struggle, trying to find a way to wake up, but the dream was like an invisible net, holding him fast.
Henry felt his spirit growing heavier and heavier, but a sliver of clarity within him insisted that this was not true freedom.
At the edge of the dream, he began to recall the things in reality that gave him the strength to press on...
In the blink of an eye, Henry found himself in a crimson wasteland. Looking down, he saw he was clad in armor and holding an Execution Axe.
The Imperial citizens who had been singing his praises followed close behind. But as Henry’s will grew more resolute, their figures began to distort.
The praise and adoration that had so captivated him turned to ridicule and mockery. The pleasant sensations became agonizing torment.
This was the critical moment to break free from his bonds. Henry summoned all his strength and let out a furious roar.
With that roar, the illusions shattered like glass, dissolving into countless fragments that vanished into the endless dark.
He thought he saw two beings, impossible to look upon directly, arguing with one another. The sight made him feel as if he were going blind.
When the last wisp of the illusion dissipated, Henry felt his soul enveloped by a warm and resolute power.
He opened his eyes and saw his familiar bed. He closed them again and immediately fell back asleep.
By the time Henry woke up again, Ailia had already placed breakfast on the table.
"My lord, do you need to rest for another day?"
Henry let out a series of yawns but indicated that he was fine.
Henry stood up and stretched, suddenly feeling as though Ailia looked a bit shorter.
"My lord, you’ve grown taller again."
Henry went to the bronze mirror in his quarters to take a look. He felt that not only had he grown taller, but he seemed a bit more built as well.
He opened his status panel and, sure enough, his attributes had changed. ’Strength,’ ’Endurance,’ ’Charm,’ and ’Wisdom’ had all shifted. Strength had increased by two points to 24, Endurance had grown by one point to 18, Charm had risen by one point to 25, and Wisdom had also increased to 20.
Henry ate his breakfast in silence, which made Ailia feel that something was wrong. ’Did my lord have a nightmare? That can’t be right. He’s the kind of man who can kill a Half-Beastman without batting an eye!’
At that moment, a thousand thoughts raced through Henry’s mind. Recalling some of his previous dreams, he was now almost certain that there was far more to this world than met the eye. It was deep, incredibly deep.
Unfathomably deep!
’Damn it, don’t tell me I’ve been targeted by Slaanesh and Khorne? Why the hell do Slaanesh and Khorne even exist in the world of Caladia?!’
Henry finished his meal and wiped his mouth. On second thought... ’This doesn’t seem to be the world of Mount & Blade II to begin with...’
