216 Acting Guidance
Lumian wasn’t sure if Jenna’s bounty would have consequences for her family, so he turned to Franca, hoping she could use her connections to persuade the official Beyonders to overlook a mere apprentice actress.
Franca didn’t hide her dilemma.
Helping to hide something was not an issue for someone like 007, but if they expected him to meticulously cover for someone during the operation, two conditions had to be met. First, he had to be involved in the operation and responsible for investigating the apprentice actresses. Second, he needed some information about Jenna to determine whom he should assist.
Franca didn’t believe that 007 happened to be in the market district by chance. At best, he could pass on information. The chances of him being directly in charge of the operations were highly unlikely.
“I can try, but I can’t make any promises,” Franca replied, looking at Jenna with concern, trying to offer some comfort without making any definite commitments.
Jenna acknowledged her words briefly, feeling a bit relieved, but she still struggled to come up with another solution.
Lumian pondered for a moment and said teasingly, “You’re just an apprentice actress. Why are you so anxious?
“Even if the official Beyonders investigate everyone in Théatre de l’Ancienne Cage à Pigeons, they won’t waste much effort on you. Think about it. You’ve only been in the market district for a short time, and you haven’t even become an apprentice actress yet. You don’t even have a chance to play a minor supporting role. How could you be a female member of the Bliss Society?”
“That’s right,” Franca interjected. “You spend most of your time singing in bars and dance halls rather than interacting with the cult of Théatre de l’Ancienne Cage à Pigeons. You’re in the least suspicious group. If you tell the investigators the truth, you might not have to undergo any further tests of your Beyonder powers.”
Lumian added with a smile, “And even if they do test you, it will mainly be to determine if you believe in the Mother Tree of Desire, or if you’re a Scrooge or a Sex Addict. And you definitely don’t fall into any of those categories.
“This is a blind spot for the official Beyonders during their investigations, and you can take advantage of it.
“Didn’t you mention your excellent acting skills? Now is the time to showcase them!”
“Yes… When the Sun rises, go to église Saint-Robert and pray. Get an accessory that reveals your identity as a believer of the Eternal Blazing Sun, and wear it. When you enter Théatre de l’Ancienne Cage à Pigeons, whether or not the official Beyonders arrive, praise the Sun frequently.”
“Evil god believers rarely engage in such actions. It will effectively set you apart from them. If the official Beyonders notice these details, there’s a good chance they’ll consider you trustworthy.”
Jenna’s eyes sparkled as she listened.
“That’s right.
“A devout apprentice actress who believes in the Eternal Blazing Sun and has only recently joined Théatre de l’Ancienne Cage à Pigeons won’t switch to an evil god so easily. They only need to conduct a simple investigation…”
“As long as I lead them to search for Beyonder powers in connection with the believers of the evil god, they probably won’t suspect that I became a Beyonder due to other encounters…”
The more Jenna spoke, the more her excitement grew. She placed the stack of clothes on her lap and stood up.
She paced back and forth, making gestures as if she were embodying a devoted apprentice actress who believed in the Eternal Blazing Sun.
Madame, it appears you’re not a true follower of the Eternal Blazing Sun. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have needed to rehearse beforehand, Lumian clicked his tongue and criticized.
Charlie, who had been listening, was taken aback.
Is “Little Minx” Jenna also someone with magical powers?
Jenna’s performance, even in the presence of imaginary official Beyonders, gradually bolstered her confidence.
Franca observed quietly, her eyes flickering, her mind filled with trivial thoughts.
If Jenna and I possessed the powers of an Actor, we would make perfect cosplayers, capable of becoming anything we desired. Tsk tsk… she thought to herself.
After some time, Jenna regained her composure and looked at Charlie warily.
“I’ve heard that you enjoy giving speeches in bars and twisting other people’s secrets into stories.
“If you dare to f*cking reveal my Beyonder powers, I’ll hand you over to a homosexual Sex Addict. Heh heh, just imagine the suffering you’ll endure.”
Charlie couldn’t help but pause for a moment. He shuddered and raised his right hand.
“Praise the Sun. I swear in God’s name that I won’t divulge your secret!
“I just mentioned that you and Ciel became lovers…”
Charlie suddenly stopped, sensing the strange atmosphere in the living room once again.
Lumian shrugged at Franca, signaling that it was merely a rumor.
Jenna scoffed.
“Will you also spread the rumor that Franca joined Ciel and me to form a stable love triangle?”
“No,” Charlie quickly shook his head.
At the same time, he found the idea rather intriguing. It hadn’t occurred to him before.
Jenna settled back into the armchair and continued to recount her knowledge of Théatre de l’Ancienne Cage à Pigeons.
Lumian and Franca listened attentively, occasionally posing questions to guard against potential threats.
…
In Underground Trier.
A figure with a lantern in hand moved cautiously along a familiar path, searching for something.
This person, of average height, wore a black tailcoat, a matching bow tie, and a half top hat. His face had a square shape, with short and thick eyebrows. The lines on his face were etched deep, and he sported a well-groomed brownish-yellow beard, carefully waxed at the tips.
The lantern’s flickering light cast eerie shadows on his countenance, lending him an air of profound melancholy.
After walking for some time, the man halted, his gaze directed towards a section of the tunnel that had suffered a slight cave-in.
His dark brown eyes narrowed, focusing intently for a moment, before he suddenly dropped to all fours, his nose twitching.
The scent of gunpowder… and blood… The man rose solemnly to his feet and approached the collapsed area.
Through the layers of debris, he seemed to discern the glimpse of an incomplete corpse.
…
The atmosphere on Rue des Blouses Blanches was much quieter at night compared to Rue Anarchie. Except for the occasional clamor caused by passing carriages and the inebriated stumbling their way home, the night seemed to have fallen into a stillness.
From time to time, a distant gunshot would break the silence, its echo piercing through the night only to be swallowed by the darkness and moonlight.
Lumian and his companions engaged in intermittent conversation, their nerves on edge, apprehensive that shadows might suddenly emerge from the darkness beyond the window.
Time dragged on slowly. For Charlie, it felt like awaiting a verdict. He was restless, anxious, yet filled with a glimmer of hope.
Finally, the distant skyline began to be tinged with a golden-red hue. Before long, the entire night was bathed in the crimson light.
“We should be safe now,” Franca declared, sitting upright in her recliner.
Lumian glanced at Charlie and noticed that his luck was no longer drenched in blood-red. It had returned to its normal state, and there were even hints of prosperity.
The immediate crisis has been averted, but if Susanna Mattise manages to escape, will Charlie obtain a position with the authorities? Lumian pondered over it and nodded.
“For the time being, all I can say is that we should be fine.”
Through this encounter, he confirmed one thing: even without the Luck Transference Spell, human luck could change.
He felt that the future was shaped by multiple factors. Different choices could lead to diverse outcomes.
If Lumian had followed Osta Trul and provided protection instead of forewarning him of impending disaster, perhaps he wouldn’t have suffered injuries. However, that didn’t guarantee a turn for the better. Lumian’s protection might have implicated Osta Trul, leading him to be dragged to the river’s depths by another water ghost, losing his life.
Does inevitability imply that regardless of the choices one makes, a predetermined fate will inevitably manifest? Lumian turned his gaze towards Jenna, the underground songstress and apprentice actress.
Jenna possessed average luck—neither filled with fortuitous encounters nor beset by grave dangers.
In high spirits, Jenna furrowed her brow and asked, “Why are you staring at me?”
After a night of acclimatizing, she refrained from uttering vulgarities and put more thought into her words.
Lumian pointed to his eye sockets.
“Are you planning to go to Théatre de l’Ancienne Cage à Pigeons looking like that?”
“Oh, right! I haven’t taken off my makeup!” Jenna exclaimed, getting up and rushing into the washroom with a stack of clothes.
Franca stood up and stretched, paying no mind to her appearance.
She glanced at the washroom and whispered to Lumian, “Will the act be convincing?”
“Yes,” Lumian replied with confidence.
Previously, he hadn’t been entirely sure, but after observing Jenna’s current state of luck, he was more certain.
Franca chose to place her trust in Lumian.
“I’ll keep a close watch on her as well.”
She clicked her tongue and let out a sigh.
“You seem rather skilled at deceiving the official Beyonders. Just as I expected from a…”
She mouthed the final words silently—”wanted criminal.”
Not just deceiving the official Beyonders… Lumian whispered to himself, pointing at Charlie.
“I’ll take him back to Auberge du Coq Doré to rest, just in case the official Beyonders can’t locate him. I’ll leave Jenna in your care.”
“You make it sound like she’s truly your lover. Asking me to look after her,” Franca retorted with a sour tone.
By the time Jenna finished removing her makeup and changing her clothes, Lumian and Charlie had already departed. Franca had also informed 007 about the altar, the Actors, and the other information she had gathered.
At that moment, Jenna’s face was no longer adorned with smoky eyes, pronounced blush, and fiery lips. She appeared clean-faced, albeit a bit fatigued.
As Jenna braided her brownish-yellow hair, she glanced at the door and grinned at Franca.
“When did you become involved with Ciel? Aren’t you afraid the Boss will find out?”
Franca chuckled.
“Him? It’ll be far too sinful; I can’t bring myself to do it.”
“Why?” Jenna couldn’t comprehend.
To her understanding, Franca’s moral boundaries weren’t that strict. Ciel was only a few months away from adulthood.
Franca pondered her words and responded, “After getting to know him better, I discovered that he’s the younger brother of one of my relatives.”
“So you’re related by blood.” Jenna nodded in understanding.
However, her attention quickly shifted. After securing her braids, she pointed towards the door.
“I’m going to église Saint-Robert to offer my prayers.”
“I’ll follow you discreetly to ensure nothing untoward happens.” Franca retrieved some fluorescent powder and, with an incantation, blended it in to conceal herself.
When will I become a Witch… Jenna averted her gaze enviously, opened the door, and stepped outside.