Chapter 871: 64. City Hall Gala
The crowd waiting outside the City Hall hasn’t dispersed.
This night party will have many important figures of Midnight City attending, including one of the founders of Midnight City, the Exorcist, Yenada Mathews.
After a while, the noise from outside the window grew louder.
Lu Li walked to the window and saw a carriage emblazoned with the crest of the most powerful Range Family in Midnight City stopping at the steps of City Hall.
It was actually a purebred horse, untouched by pollution.
The crowd was even more frenzied than when Lu Li arrived.
The identity of the arrival was obvious: Yenada Mathews.
Yenada Mathews, dressed in a black tailcoat, stepped down from the carriage. His neatly combed, brown-yellow hair, which might have been golden in his youth, contrasted with Lu Li’s demeanor and was approachable and high spirited. With an amiable smile, he waved to everyone calling out to him as if meeting his supporters.
In terms of Yenada Mathews’ identity, these people indeed counted as his citizens.
Yenada Mathews lingered at the steps for a long time, and the crowd grew larger, nearly filling the square in front of City Hall. The staff had to come forward to urge him to enter City Hall promptly.
He patted a staff member’s shoulder, his words were drowned in the clamor, but the staff member’s surprised expression gave a rough clue as to what he said.
Yenada Mathews briskly ascended the steps like a young man, leaping onto the last step. Standing at the entrance of City Hall, he suddenly stopped, turned to wave to the crowd, and entered City Hall amidst sudden cheers echoing in the square.
The people in the square never dispersed, shouting something mixed with Yenada Mathews’ name.
He was more popular than Lu Li.
This reminded Lu Li of Katerina’s complaints from the theater.
She said the stage play was not at all realistic; she couldn’t believe Lu Li would deliver a passionate speech or smile or show any expression.
Puxiu had another insight: That’s how legends are. They spread not only because of their importance but also because they are appealing. People like them and thus pass them on, and during transmission, legends gradually adopt colors familiar to the populace.
Returning to the sofa, Lu Li waited for evening to arrive.
However, before the party began, his hotel room door was softly knocked.
Knock knock knock——
Lu Li opened the door, and the figure that appeared downstairs earlier stood at the door.
“Mr. Luli, I know you!”
He familiarly extended his hand to Lu Li.
“Yenada Mathews wishes to meet you,” said the staff member who brought him.
Yenada Mathews continued familiarly, “I was also an investigator, one of the few in the Barren Lands.”
This indeed brought him closer to Lu Li.
Yenada Mathews walked into the hotel room, unceremoniously sat in the spot Lu Li was sitting previously, crossed his legs, and spoke to Lu Li at the door, “It’s an unbelievable coincidence; we were both investigators, both people from the Old Era, and the last two Exorcists, having similar experiences, and almost returned together——”
“But you are way younger than me.”
Lu Li closed the door and sat on another sofa.
Yenada Mathews looked around and suddenly noticed the oil painting on the wall, pointing at the man in the portrait and said, “Ivan McCain, when we first met, he was just an assistant to the assistant of the Lord of Storm Corner. Later we met Hahn, Braga, oh Braga was then a Believer of Lady of Midnight, left Storm Corner and founded Midnight Town with them.”
Ivan McCain was indeed the founder and first mayor of Midnight Town, and also the last mayor.
Because Midnight Town transitioned to a parliamentary system after being elevated to Midnight City.
It sounded like bragging, but considering Yenada Mathews’ identity, what he said was evidently true.
“I’ve heard your story, but at that time I was not quite twenty, many people admired you, and some thought you were crazy. But after The Time of Silence transformed into Silent Moments, all voices turned to praise, my neighbor even…”
Yenada Mathews spoke endlessly like a slightly tipsy patron in a tavern.
“Little Sophie Shestren said you don’t like commotion or talking, it’s evident. Leave tonight’s banquet to me. I won’t let you feel too awkward; many attendees tonight are my juniors; they wouldn’t dare to mess with you while I’m around——”
After waiting a few minutes, he finally offered Lu Li a chance to speak: “Consider me as half the host of Midnight City. If there’s anything you want to know, feel free to ask me.”
“Do you know about the evil spirit, Shadow of the Maiden?”
“Shadow of the Maiden… I seem to have heard it somewhere…” Yenada Mathews pondered, glancing at the time: “Some councillors want to see me, so I’ll go find them first. Meanwhile, give me some time to think about it, see you tonight.”
Yenada Mathews left as suddenly as he had arrived.
Weird Times sees a very late dawn and an early sunset.
At three in the afternoon, it became as dim as evening outside the window, the lights of Midnight City gradually turned on. Shortly after, the staff knocked on the door to inform Lu Li that the party was about to start.
They delivered several fitted outfits for Lu Li to choose and wear to the party; however, when he arrived at the downstairs hall, he was still wearing a white shirt and black coat.
The crystal chandelier cast a soft light, soothing, gentle piano music flowed through the hall, where men and women dressed in tailcoats and evening gowns congregated in whispers, waiters and maids traversed the hall with wine glasses and pastries.
People gradually noticed Lu Li’s arrival, raised their glasses in acknowledgment, polite yet keeping their distance.
Just as Yenada Mathews said, no one disturbed him.
Lu Li observed this, everything seemed calm as if nothing had ever occurred.
A white gowned figure passed by, wafting a faint fragrance, momentarily making Lu Li mistake it for that figure.
Bang——
An arm suddenly wrapped around Lu Li’s shoulder, pulling him out of his reverie.
“Let’s take a photograph.” Yenada Mathews nodded toward the bearded man with the camera equipment opposite, dropped the arm from Lu Li’s shoulder and extended his left hand.
The surrounding guests naturally stepped back.
“Please look this way, smile,” the bearded man ducked under the black tent, a muffled sound emerged.
Yenada Mathews displayed his trademark sunny smile at the words, but when Lu Li grasped his hand, the smile grew slightly strained.
Bang——
The flash popped, a great cloud of smoke rose, drifting towards the ceiling.
“Thank you both Exorcists for cooperating.”
The bearded man contentedly lifted the camera equipment and followed the waiter out of the hall.
“Your grip is really something. Nervous? Hahaha relax.”
Yenada Mathews released Lu Li, shaking his left hand while patting Lu Li’s shoulder and laughing.
“You mentioned Shadow of the Maiden in the afternoon, I remembered.”