Click.
As the projector started up, the lights in the room went out.
The reels began turning. A beam of light shot from the projector and fell across the screen, slowly revealing an overhead view of a small town.
The camera moved forward, settling on a corner of the town.
A public coach that could carry sixteen passengers approached along a road lined with trees on both sides...
The five seated there stared intently at the movie on the screen.
In the dark screening room, flickering light played across their faces. Almost simultaneously, they all looked dazed.
Whoosh—
A breeze brushed their faces. Hooves clattered in their ears, and the wheels rumbled.
After a moment of disorientation, Gilan realized he was sitting on the iron bench of the public coach.
The sky was gray and overcast. The bench was hard and cold.
Mr. Stork and Mr. Oystercatcher sat beside him, while three women sat opposite.
Miss Sparrow and Miss Seagull were joined by a young woman with light brown braids. The stranger wore a pale yellow afternoon dress and a round-brimmed soft hat.
She was the heroine of Black Lake, Fema Castro.
The five members of the Record Society exchanged glances and nodded in silent understanding.
"Thank you so much for agreeing to make the long trip with me to Fayelan to look for my parents."
Fema smiled and spoke to them.
"They only left a note saying they were going on a business trip, and then they disappeared. It's been three months, and even the police haven't found a single clue... I'm so worried about them. Oh, I hope they're safe."
A trace of worry crossed Fema's face. She interlaced her fingers, clasped her hands, and prayed softly.
Seeing this, Miss Seagull realized that Fema was a Dawn Era believer too. She placed a hand on Fema's shoulder and comforted her in a quiet voice:
"Omer will watch over your parents, Fima."
"Thank you. You're all my best friends."
Fema smiled gratefully.
The coach continued down the road. The outline of the town was already visible in the distance. Fema took several bottles of sparkling soda from a travel bag beside her and handed them around.
"Have some water. My parents brought these home for me last time they came back."
"Thanks."
The others took the palm-sized glass bottles and thanked Fema.
Gilan examined the yellow label on his soda. It read "Sweet Apple Juice Soda," and listed its place of manufacture as "Fayelane Town, Bright Moon Beverage Company."
He wasn't thirsty, so he set the bottle aside.
Mr. Oystercatcher and Mr. Stork clearly weren't interested in fruit soda either, and reacted much as he had. Miss Seagull was chatting with Fema, hoping to draw more useful information out of her.
"Tasty!" Miss Sparrow popped the cap and took a sip, her eyes lighting up.
The others couldn't help smiling at the sight.
Before long, the public coach stopped outside a wooden building called the Black Lake Inn. Fema paid the old driver, and they climbed down the steps behind the iron bench.
The inn's first floor was a bar. As they entered, they immediately spotted a U-shaped counter in the center of the room. Several young bartenders stood behind it, while seven or eight locals sat outside the counter, chatting and drinking.
Perhaps the group made too much noise as they entered. Almost everyone in the bar turned to look at them, and quite a few patrons seemed displeased.
"Another bunch of fools. After all those accidents, they still come here... I don't know what there is to see in Fayelan. It's nothing but mountains and trees. They either go home covered in coal dust, looking like a mess, or they ignore the warnings, wander into the restricted area, and disappear!"
A white-haired old man with a handlebar mustache and a bulbous nose sneered.
The middle-aged man beside him hurriedly jabbed him with an elbow and lowered his voice.
"Are you crazy, Old Toto? Be careful the Tourism Bureau doesn't come after you. Don't ruin their business."
"Hah! My family's lived here for generations. Why should I be afraid of a bunch of outsiders from the Tourism Bureau?"
Old Toto took a swig of rum and scoffed.
The members of the Assembly exchanged glances but said nothing. Fema, meanwhile, went to the counter to discuss lodging with a bartender.
"Let's stick to the plan and gather some information here first."
Mr. Stork leaned on his cane and spoke quietly.
"Mm." The others nodded.
Mr. Oystercatcher went straight to the counter and ordered a drink, striking up a conversation with the patrons as he tried to learn something useful from them... especially from Old Toto, who seemed to know something.
Of course, he really did want a drink, too.
After all, the Prohibition was strict back in the real world, and Mr. Oystercatcher hadn't had a proper drink in a long time.
Gilan strolled slowly across the wooden floor of the bar. His gaze soon fell on a poster pinned to the wall.
It advertised Forest National Park, north of town. It depicted numerous wild animals, with a handsome blond man in a sheriff's uniform standing at the front, smiling and holding a long-barreled revolver.
Below it was some information about the park.
In short, the local Tourism Bureau had pushed through plans to develop the old-growth forest north of town, turning it into a tourist attraction.
The forest was home to reindeer, wolves, brown bears, and many other wild animals. They had even discovered the remains of a mammoth said to be fourteen thousand years old, which were on display in the park's entrance hall.
There was also an optional service called "Safety Escort."
Visitors could pay a fee to the local Public Security Bureau to hire experienced security personnel to accompany them into the park. They served as both guides and bodyguards, protecting tourists from attacks by wild animals.
"Fema's booked our rooms. Let's go upstairs and discuss what to do next."
Mr. Stork came over to Gilan and reminded him.
"All right." Gilan looked away from the poster and followed the others upstairs.
A short while later.
The five members of the Assembly gathered in Mr. Stork's room.
"The main plot of Black Lake should be about helping Fema find out what happened to her parents. In the end, we might get our hands on the materials they found while doing archaeology. They probably contain the secrets of this town, and perhaps some of the mysterious knowledge we're looking for."
Mr. Stork analyzed.
He glanced at the clock on the wall and thought for a moment before continuing:
"It's nine in the morning. According to the story, Fema will suggest going to Forest National Park this afternoon to look for her parents. Last time, we were attacked in the forest by cultists from the Lake God Cult, so we need to prepare in advance this time."
"According to Mr. Snowy Owl's information, we could hire people from the Public Security Bureau. They're all armed, which would make us safer."
Miss Sparrow glanced at Gilan and offered in a quiet voice.
"Mm... that could work." Mr. Stork nodded. "But they use a currency I've never seen before, called Dormark. I'll take care of the cost."
Everyone knew that Mr. Stork's way of handling things probably wouldn't be legal. But this was only a movie world, and they had limited time, so they weren't too concerned.
Mr. Stork turned to the others and continued assigning tasks:
"Mr. Oystercatcher and Miss Sparrow, keep looking for new clues. You can start with the legend of the Demon of the Lake. It's possible that Fema's parents really were targeted by some supernatural force."
"Miss Seagull, could you go to the Public Security Bureau? It's fine to hire plenty of people. I'll find enough money."
The three nodded, indicating they had no objections.
"As for Mr. Snowy Owl..."
Mr. Stork looked toward the handsome blond young man beside him, who wore a trench coat and a felt hat.
"You're capable, and this is our first time working together, so feel free to act on your own. It doesn't matter if you find any clues. I just want you to get a feel for the place."
"All right, I understand." Gilan smiled.