The Red Dragon Lord is OP, but Insists on a Pop Culture Invasion!

Chapter 261: Chapter 216: Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (2)

’So strange. Twin Tower City is just so strange. So this is what the outside world is like.’

A sense of justice compelled her; she wanted to rescue this "child" who was clearly being abused.

"It’s all right. You don’t have to pay them any mind," Grandma Lindsey said suddenly.

"It’s all right? Is it really all right?" Astrid asked in disbelief.

"Trust me, dear, it’s really all right," Grandma Lindsey said, patting Astrid’s hand. "Let’s watch the show. The concert is about to begin."

As the Chairman of the Drama Guild, Grandpa Galina had been invited to open the show. He walked onto the small stage in front of the audience, wooden staff in hand, and struck it heavily on the floor three times.

This was the customary signal for the audience to quiet down before a performance began.

Today, however, the audience couldn’t be quieted. They broke out into uncontrollable gasps of amazement.

"Whoa—"

"Heavens!"

"The stage is in the sea?"

Amid the exclamations, a stage rose from beneath the waves, stopping just above the surface of the sea.

A few flashes of teleportation light flickered, and a group of performers materialized on the stage.

From a distance, the performers looked as if they were standing directly on the water.

It was a brand-new creation from the Drama Guild’s stage design department—a pure display of their prowess.

Ever since the Drama Guild had made its stage department independent, it no longer designed things solely based on the requests of theater troupes. With this newfound autonomy, all sorts of wondrous mechanical stage structures had begun to pop up one after another.

The first performance was a selection of classic opera pieces, presented by the vice-chairman and his troupe.

After a few arias, Astrid applauded lightly.

’Their technical skill is solid, but it’s all very standard. Nothing special.’

’I probably won’t be choosing him as a mentor.’

As Astrid watched the performances, she was also evaluating the mentors on the show for herself.

It wasn’t just the mentors choosing the contestants; it was a two-way street.

Gelda took the stage next, dressed in her costume from *Frozen*. It had basically become her permanent image for public appearances. The song she sang was also from the *Shadow of Evil* soundtrack.

A signature role meant you could live off that one work for the rest of your life.

*Frozen* had clearly reached that standard.

Moreover, with a sequel currently in the works, Gelda was about to have enough to live off for two lifetimes.

’The singing is just average.’ Astrid’s keen ear picked up on many small flaws.

’It’s impressive enough for an ordinary audience, but to a singer who’s been training since childhood like me, it’s not up to par.’

’This mentor might not even be as skilled as I am.’

She didn’t yet understand that for mentors on these kinds of shows, fame was more important than actual expertise.

Just as she was growing disappointed, the rock music from Underground Discard startled her.

’So you can sing a song like that?’

’The lead singer’s style sounded like a saw cutting through wood. I can’t tell if it’s intentional or if that’s just his voice. Won’t he destroy his vocal cords singing like that?’

Astrid believed that for a singer, protecting one’s voice was of the utmost importance.

’And the song itself is so strange. I can’t even tell if it’s good or bad. It just sounds like noise.’

’But I can’t say that out loud.’

The rest of the audience was ecstatic. Many had even left their seats to dance wildly. They seemed to adore this song.

With three performances over, Astrid began to wonder if she had chosen the wrong program.

’The styles of these mentors are clearly a complete mismatch for me.’

’If this is the kind of music people in the outside world love most, then I’ll never win the audience’s approval.’

As she hesitated, she suddenly felt a chill that made her shiver uncontrollably.

"Quick, put on your coat," Grandma Lindsey said, hastily handing her a heavy coat.

The Holy Knight beside her drew his longsword, sensing danger and going on high alert.

"Why is it suddenly so cold?"

"It’s Necromancy. And... is this magical snow?" Grandma Lindsey curiously rubbed a small snowflake that landed on her hand, the tiny ice crystal melting in her palm.

Gradually, large, feathery snowflakes began to drift down from the sky.

The climate in Twin Tower City made natural snowfall nearly impossible. The audience found the sudden appearance of snow more interesting than the performance on stage.

So much so that when a colossal Spider Elf appeared on stage with an entire Skeleton Soldier Corps, few people were surprised.

Just as everyone was staring intently at the Magic Array in the sky, the sound of a piano rang out—cool and clear. Simple, yet nimble, each note struck a chord deep in Astrid’s heart.

Even with just the prelude, the young Saintess was already captivated.

As the music continued, an indescribable atmosphere enveloped the entire venue.

The melody seemed sorrowful, filled with a sense of helplessness and grief.

Yet it was not despairing. Within it, one could faintly sense a flicker of hope.

It was as if something beautiful was encouraging people from within a world of sorrow.

The mixture of sorrow and inspiration gave the piece a sense of struggle. But this struggle wasn’t fierce; it was like a calm narration, a plea to let all conflict wash away.

Like the snowflakes drifting down, only to melt in the wind.

Astrid suddenly felt the urge to cry. She thought of the cloistered years she had spent in the Holy City of the Church.

’There was nothing. No response from the Goddess, no value in the existence of a Saintess. Though I was alive, my foreseen destiny had already sealed my fate.’

’Just waiting for death to come, in a corner no one cared about.’

’What a sad life.’

’But at least I still had music. The compositions I created and listened to alone in my little room were what kept me from living in a complete daze.’