Art Festival

"Uh... I might not have heard you clearly. Could you please say it again?"

"..."

"Yes, sir."

"Due to the Art Festival, the teleportation system has already been scheduled for the next two weeks, and there will be no additional teleportation requests."

"The subsequent Art Festival will last for a month in the city, and the situation will be the same as above."

"After the Art Festival, the wrap-up work will take up the teleportation system for about a week to make it easier for visitors to leave."

"At that time, your niche delivery needs can be arranged."

"..."

Standing in front of the counter at the City of a Thousand Sails teleportation system office.

After hearing these words, Linsey seemed to be in a daze.

The waitress in front of her was all smiles, but Linsey's conflicted heart was ice-cold.

Two weeks, plus a month, plus another week.

That's almost two months! "Ailini..."

"When you recommended the route to me, I had never heard of any Art Festival."

Linsey was on the verge of tears.

Wala Wala, standing nearby, chuckled and pushed Linsey aside, speaking to the receptionist in front of her, "In that case, tell us the route into the City of Law."

"At least when we use it later, we won't be completely confused."

The host explained professionally, "Due to the war, the direct route into the City of Law has been closed."

"Right now, we can only go to the Swamp Plains Teleport Point, which is the closest to the City of Law. After arriving there, we need to cross another world before we can enter the City of Law."

Wala Wala pressed on, "What if we want to go to other World Main City now?"

The host immediately understood what "Wala Wala" meant.

Since the City of a Thousand Sails is a dead end.

The guests before me intend to travel to other World Main City, teleporting to places where there are no Art Festival to disturb them.

She dutifully reminded them, "The teleportation systems in other World Main City should be functioning normally, but they may not necessarily have teleportation channels open to the Swamp Plains."

"Personally, I suggest you two wait here a bit longer."

"The Art Festival is approaching, a rare grand event in the City of a Thousand Sails. It would be a pity not to visit and enjoy it."

"..."

"It's okay, Wala Wala, I can wait more than a month."

At this point, Linsey rallied and rejoined the conversation. "Miss, could you please register us?"

"After the Art Festival ends, there shouldn't be anything else preventing the teleportation, right?"

The host replied with a smile:

"Of course, sir."

"I'll register you right away. I hope you have a pleasant experience in the City of a Thousand Sails."

"..."

The City of a Thousand Sails, after all, has to host important figures from other worlds.

The staff there were far more professional than those on Cato Island.

Handle registration matters properly.

Linsey and Wala Wala bid farewell to the office and returned to the sunshine.

The architecture in the Red District is vibrant and unrestrained, but staring at one spot for too long can easily lead to visual fatigue.

They took a quick look around, then jumped back onto the boat and slowly rowed towards the Purple District.

After traveling about halfway, Linsey slowly spoke, "When I came here, the people on Cato Island told me that the Seven Seas Alliance had an Awakened One who broke through to the Seventh Stage, which is why they are holding Art Festival."

He raised a point of contention. "In such a world, there must be quite a few people in the Seventh Stage."

Is it really worth celebrating the whole city for a whole month just because someone has made a progress in their career?

Wala Wala nodded first, then shook his head:

"A normal Seventh Stage would naturally not be able to host such a massive celebration."

"But Linsey, do you remember what I said?"

"The Eighth Stage artists of the City of a Thousand Sails generally tend not to reveal their information."

Linsey realized:

"So this Seventh Stage promotion is just a public announcement?"

Wala Wala affirmed, "Many people prefer to keep a low profile."

"But for the Seven Seas Alliance, this situation undoubtedly warrants celebration, hence the superficial gimmick of this successful Seventh Stage advancement."

At this point, the girl's expression also showed some anticipation. "However, I've also heard that some artists don't hide their promotions."

"Those truly grand celebrations can even last for a whole year!"

"It's a pity that I don't know if I'll ever have the chance to participate in this lifetime."

Linsey murmured softly, "An Awakened One in Eighth Stage..."

We traveled all the way here from the Hidden Borderlands.

Linsey's adventures consisted of numerous events, both large and small.

Among them are Dragon Beast and organizers who attempt to advance to the Eighth Stage.

But in the end, they all failed.

The advancement to the Eighth Stage is like a mirage, seemingly right before your eyes, yet you can never quite grasp that elusive image.

But in the City of a Thousand Sails, the situation is different.

The artist quietly and successfully advanced in his career.

If the city hadn't been preparing for a celebration, this would have remained completely unknown.

"The World Main City, this is the difference in realm level."

"..."

"Hey sir! Can you and your girlfriend stop for a moment?"

"It would be best to keep the boat in place and wait a few minutes; the scene would be absolutely fantastic!"

A voice suddenly came.

Linsey turned her head and saw a painter sitting in front of his easel on an arched stone bridge they had just passed through.

He was looking down at the two people on the boat.

With a smile of appreciation and blessing on their faces:

Please.

"Once this painting is finished, I can paint a portrait of each of you!"

"..."

Linsey and Wala Wala lowered their heads almost simultaneously.

Because of how the painter addressed them, neither of them spoke, but simply cooperated tacitly with each other's painting needs.

That night.

Linsey and Wala Wala return to the Painting Manor the Purple District.

They had been out and about all day, and although they were physically fit, they were mentally exhausted.

After dinner, the two of them didn't play any music and went to sleep as soon as they lay down.

Wait until the next morning.

The two got up and ate breakfast.

The manor offers a very generous selection of food.

In addition to the products caught in the sea, the City of a Thousand Sails also imports a large amount of supplies from other worlds, providing everything needed for daily life.

Its prosperity was incomparable to that of the world before it.

Linsey ordered a plate of Sea Taro.

This is a plant-based ingredient cultivated in seawater, with a soft and glutinous texture and a balanced sweet and savory flavor.

Wala Wala's situation was simpler; she was holding a fruit platter.

The two of them had breakfast together.

Just then, a discordant sound suddenly came from ahead.

"Is the person attacked by the mermaid here?"

"Are they having breakfast?"

"Very good!"

A commotion broke out at the entrance of the manor.

A few seconds later, five tense-looking Awakened suddenly burst in, causing quite a commotion in the cafeteria.

But they did not harass any ordinary crew members.

Instead, he went straight to the dining table and surrounded Linsey and Wala Wala in the center.

The man leading the group looked at the two with disdain:

"Linsey? Wala Wala?"

"Did you two go to Mr. Kuwait's house yesterday?"

With Wala Wala, she put down her cutlery, stood up, and stepped in front of Linsey, saying, "That's right, I painted those pictures!"

"I don't recall the City of a Thousand Sails ever suppressing artistic creation like this!"

"..."

"Artistic creation?"

The man's tone was somewhat inexplicable. "I've come to find you because the young lady from the Kuwait Family went missing last night."

"You are now suspected individuals. Come with me!"