It had previously been nothing more than a ramshackle stage, with a rammed-earth foundation below and some hastily assembled wood piled on top. Even the scenery had been of the shoddiest kind.
But at this moment...
All Zhou You could see was a scene of splendor and grandeur.
It was a throne hall built of white stone. Though it had been greatly scaled down, one could still see the solemn majesty it had possessed when constructed.
The throne was piled high with gold and jewels. Yorkson, that alcohol-addicted man, now sat high upon it, glaring like a tiger and surveying like an eagle. Though wrapped in a thick fur blanket, he looked... as if he truly were a king who had conquered the four seas.
The clown who had announced the performance earlier stood beside him. Perhaps due to the lighting, he looked much shorter now, and his face was covered in thick greasepaint, making him look especially ridiculous.
Then a sharp voice, one unique to a eunuch, suddenly rang out.
"The king summons all those capable of curing illness or driving out demons. Step forward at once!"
As soon as the words fell, a hunched figure stepped forward.
"Who are you? State your name!"
The man knelt on the ground and said, "Your Majesty, your lowly servant comes from the Adriatic Sea and is skilled in treating all manner of stubborn ailments. I humbly beg Your Majesty to allow this servant to examine your noble body."
The king looked at the figure with suspicious, vacant eyes before saying, "Search his belongings. Once you are certain he poses no danger, let him approach me!"
Without anyone noticing, even the exaggerated theatrical lines had turned into ordinary dialogue.
The guards stepped forward and thoroughly searched the physician before allowing him through.