278's Wordless Song

"What a dilapidated place..."

Although she had prepared herself mentally, Caramel Snail couldn't help but complain about everything she saw as she walked down the street and looked around.

As the sun sets, the Violet Sun dims.

The weather was like a sewer, highlighting the gloom, dampness, and cold. The damp air was mixed with engine oil and a sinister atmosphere. The asphalt road had deteriorated due to a lack of maintenance for a long time, exposing the gray cement surface. Yellow mud footprints and potholes were visible everywhere on the ground.

People's attire also appeared very backward, seemingly due to the clothing material not being warm enough. Everyone was wrapped up tightly, and women, not content with just covering their heads with scarves, even wrapped their ankles up. Men were no exception, and everyone wore masks.

The technological level is also extremely backward. At first glance, people's lives seem like those of the Industrial Era, but if you look closely, compared with the local area, the Azure Planet is considered to be a developed civilization.

"That's how it is on Violet Star. Here, the church is in a dominant position. Professional skills, occupational divisions, and commercial activities are all strictly controlled by the local church."

Li Aoz slowly stepped down from the rented carriage, while the driver's daughter looked at him with reluctance.

Will we ever meet again?

The coachman's daughter gazed at Li Aoz with deep affection and couldn't help but ask.

"I don't know about that. Maybe you can ask the wind; it will tell you my news."

Li Aoz's perfunctory reply only made the driver's daughter even more smitten; her eyes were practically drowning in love as she looked at him.

"Speaking of which, how should I pay the fees..."

When Li Aoz was about to pay, the driver immediately waved his hand and said, "No need, no need. It's our honor to give a ride to such a beautiful lady like you."

The driver had been observing the two passengers along the way. The taller man (Caramel Snail) looked mature and was strong, but he spoke in a simple and honest manner. He seemed to be just a crude brute, probably a henchman or lackey at best.

This handsome young man was slender with fair skin and a stunning appearance that completely erased the difference between his genders. Although he was dressed simply, his serious demeanor and manner of speaking and acting showed a high level of education and mannerisms. He was a perfect example of a noble young master.

A bodyguard paired with a young master—this combination is so typical that getting to know someone like this is like forming a bond.

"Oh well."

Li Aoz nodded and did not insist on payment.

After all, he didn't have a single penny on him.

The carriage bumped away along the muddy road, while Li Aoz and Caramel Snail strolled leisurely through the small town called 'Tranquility'.

"By the way, how do you know their language?"

"This body has a built-in magical solidification of [Language Comprehension], which can be maintained by the flow of blood."

"Where do you think we should go to find someone?" Caramel Snail asked curiously. "There isn't even a sparrow in this wretched place. The city is right next to a swamp, and the swamp is surrounded by muddy ground. All we can do is watch the crocodiles bare their teeth."

"Haven't you read the novel? Bars are great places to gather information and gossip. Many criminal cases are solved after information is gathered in bars."

Li Aoz disagreed.

"Um, I'm actually curious, why does it have to be in a tavern?"

"Because when people drink too much, they like to brag. It's a painful thing if they can't share what they've done with others." Li Aoz gave an example. "For instance, if you did very well today, someone wants to give you a gift..."

"Hey, how did you know my friend was going to give me a Cold Drink Machine?"

"You see, that's just how humans are; they can't hide it."

Li Aoz shrugged:

"What's that saying again? 'To be successful but not ostentatious is like wearing fine clothes at night.'"

"Is that what you said? I didn't finish university, don't lie to me."

"Pretty much, you have to believe my one-year master's degree."

At first, Caramel Snail thought that Li Aoz really needed him as a bodyguard.

But now it seems that he probably just felt it was too boring to come alone.

The city's construction was backward and crude, and there was absolutely no exotic element in it. If it weren't for the jokes that Caramel Snail could exchange with Li Aoz, she would have been bored with it.

However, although the two of them felt nothing out of the ordinary, their arrival was like a storm sweeping through the city, quickly engulfing the entire region.

"Look, those two outsiders..."

When Li Aoz walked confidently down the street, he was almost indistinguishable from a magnet that had fallen into a pile of nails; all eyes were fixed on him.

Although Caramel Snail's [Charm] attribute is not low, reaching 60 points, which would make him a handsome man elsewhere, he completely becomes a green leaf to set off the red flower in front of Li Aoz's stunning good looks.

"He's so beautiful, is he a celebrity from somewhere?"

"I've only ever seen such a beauty in silent films. No, even actresses like Matilda and Daphne can't compare to her."

"He didn't say anything, but I felt that his eyes had already written countless love poems for me."

"Oh my god, I wish I could get a tattoo of his handsome face on my heart."

"Don't be silly, child. Such beauty is natural and cannot be preserved by any artist."

Because of Li Aoz's overwhelming charm, people from all over the city flocked to admire him. The once deserted streets suddenly became crowded and impassable. People were captivated by his beauty, and there were quite a few who simply stood there, gazing at him in awe.

Some people, while walking, bumped into a telephone pole, still staring blankly at Li Aoz's back.

"Take these cookies! I baked them myself!"

"Eat my food, eat my food! It's filled with my heart and love!"

"Get lost, woman, get out of here. Don't try to steal our men's attention."

Before they had even finished exploring the street, Caramel Snail was already covered in all sorts of gifts and food. It's no exaggeration to say that the two of them could eat for more than a month.

"What kind of fandom effect is this..." Caramel Snail grumbled. "Haven't they ever seen a beautiful woman before?"

"This body has some of Ya Wen's genes mixed in, so its charm should have decreased quite a bit." Li Aoz raised his hand and gently pinched his cheek, saying lightly, "It's probably because the church has suppressed them for too long, causing people's pursuits to change."

"But look, there's even a nightclub here where you can dance," Caramel Snail pointed to a disco that hadn't opened yet. "They probably don't lack entertainment, right?"

"The music inside is all censored and only allowed to play decadent music about love between men and women, or purely electronic dance music designed to confuse the mind. You can think of it as a kind of anesthetic tacitly approved by the church."

"So, you're looking for Rock and Roll known for its rebellious and flamboyant style?"

"Pretty much. If White Candle Star wants to get out of his financial predicament, he definitely needs what he has."

The conversation between Li Aoz and Caramel Snail went unheard by others, and it was only at this moment that Caramel Snail realized Li Aoz's true purpose.

"So you came here for the money..."

"It's not appropriate to talk about these things on the street."

Li Aoz glanced at the crowd that had been watching and chasing him from the street window, and deliberately said loudly, "It's too noisy outside. I really want to find a quiet place to rest."

Upon hearing this, several figures immediately squeezed out from the crowd. After a brief argument, a slick-haired man emerged victorious and quickly approached Li Aoz.

"Two gentlemen who have come from afar."

The man handed over a business card and said with a respectful smile, "I heard that you two are looking for a quiet place. Why don't you stay here for a while and let us show you the warm hospitality of Tranquil City?"

The large, gilded lettering on the business card was a bit dazzling; it looked like the name of some high-end hotel.

"Oh, look what I said. I meant, it's getting late, how about we stay at our hotel? We'll arrange a five-star suite and the finest food for you."

Before Caramel Snail could react, Li Aoz expertly took the business card, put his hands in his pockets, and turned to him, saying, "Let's go, let's talk over here."

Hmph! Xia Beiluo put the flour on the stove and set it aside. She licked the flour off her hands, then reluctantly wiped them clean.

'What a pity, it would be great if my hands didn't get flour on them.'

However, Xia Beiluo has more important things to do now.

She went around the kitchen, into the garage, quietly lowered the roller shutter, locked the door, turned on the garage light, and nervously took the 'guitar' case from the puppet's hand.

She carefully arranged a simple exorcism array with salt and even dripped her own blood on it, which was enough to ward off evil.

'I wonder what's inside. Could that guitar thing be some valuable treasure?'

How much can it sell for? Judging by the age, I'd estimate around 50? Or maybe over 100 years?

Given such a long period of time, as long as it is confirmed that there are no evil spirits entangled, it will definitely fetch a good price on the black market. Of course, even if it is entangled with evil spirits, the church is still willing to accept it, but will pay a 30% tax.

"Let me see what this guitar is all about!"

Xia Beiluo was excited, and with trembling hands, he slowly unzipped the guitar case.

She swallowed hard.

What could it be? Is it gold? No, no, it's so light, it can't be any precious metal.

That's it, there's nothing solid inside.

"Hey, could it be some kind of calligraphy or painting Artwork?" Her emotions were like a rollercoaster, constantly rising and falling. She only managed to avoid a heart attack by Self-Hypnosis.

Fu—

"... Huh?"

Xia Beiluo took out a stringed instrument from the box that looked like a violin, but was out of proportion. It had some sockets on it, as if it needed to be plugged in with wires to function.

"What's this? A broken zither? It's barely worth a few coins!"