The Phoenix at Work (2)

In the end Fulgrim still didn't eat the bowl of rice.

This is really too rough for Phoenix.

So he used his large boxed lunches to build relationships with other people at the construction site.

Soon, everyone else on the construction site knew that a tall, kind-hearted young nobleman had arrived.

In the height of the afternoon sun, a teenager suddenly appeared beside Fulgrim.

That was a laborer on the construction site named Nova Speth.

After finishing school in the morning, he would go to the construction site in the afternoon to work and supplement his family's income.

"Hey, Da Fu, aren't you tired?"

"Da Fu?"

"Yeah, aren't you called Fu... something about nuts?"

"It's Fulgrim!"

"Yes, noble names like yours are the hardest to remember. I can't remember them at all, so I'll just call you Da Fu."

The nut is called "Fu" (福), and it's quite large. Calling it "Da Fu) would be more appropriate.

"Don't be angry, don't be angry. To be honest, are you hungry?"

"I'm not hungry."

"Hey, look at you young nobles, you always throw tantrums. But I'm too magnanimous to hold a grudge."

"Adults don't hold grudges against children? If I remember correctly, aren't you only 13 years old?"

"Hehe, don't look down on me. Whether it was in the old Nostramo or the current Nostramo, we're still the men of the family."

Looking at this smug little boy, he resembled a rooster with its tail held high.

Fulgrim found it interesting and decided to chat with him a bit more.

"Let's not talk about anything else for now, let's see what I brought you."

Just as Fulgrim was wondering what was going on, he saw that the boy was holding a piece of candy in his hand.

Those industrially produced sugar cubes of very poor quality.

Of course, for Nostramo at present, this is a really good thing.

Where did you come from?

"Hehe, you wouldn't understand. Aunt Susan asked us to help in the kitchen at noon, and she gave it to us."

"There's candy here?"

"Didn't they say there was an event at the construction site tonight? These candies are for us."

"Stop dawdling, try it! I heard it's really sweet."

I heard?

"You've never eaten it before?"

"Hehe, there's nothing I can do about it. After all, I'm the man of the family, and I have several younger family members who are too old to work to take care of."

"Let me tell you, Da Fu, being a man boils down to two words."

"What?" Fulgrim asked with a curious smile.

"Sophisticated!"

"Haha, do you even know what 'etiquette' means?"

"How could I not know? Like now, you share your lunch with me, and I give you candy in return. That's what you call being considerate."

"Eat quickly, you didn't eat lunch. It'll be troublesome for someone your size to lie on the floor with low blood sugar."

Seeing the earnest light in the little boy's eyes, all of Fulgrim's words of refusal vanished completely.

"Half for each of us?"

"That won't do!"

"Let me tell you, Xiao Wa, I also have a set of principles in life."

"What?"

"Loyalty!"

"Alright! Then, for your loyalty, we'll split it in half."

Fulgrim tasted it; the sugar had a burnt, bitter taste, but a sweet aftertaste.

"It's so delicious! I never dreamed I could eat candy."

"You know what, Da Fu? I learned a new word at school this morning, and I feel like I can express how I feel right now."

"What?"

"Hope."

Is there hope?

Yes, children of this age are full of hope.

"Alright, we've finished the candy. Now it's time to get to work. A good life is something you have to work hard for! Keep it up!"

Looking at the energetic boy, Fulgrim surveyed the entire construction site.

He discovered that this was a construction site, but also fertile ground for hope.

This feeling is magical.

In this lifeless universe, the feeling was as magical as a dream.

At that moment, Fulgrim began to understand his father.

Humans are truly amazing.

That evening, all work at the construction site came to a halt.

Whether they were adult workers or children helping out, they all sat around a small bonfire in the open space outside the construction site.

They didn't sing or dance; they just played around and boasted to each other.

Or they might bring out their secret stash of strong liquor, drink and chat together, reminiscing about their past on that Planet of Eternal Night.

They talked about their future in this New Nostramo.

Fulgrim looked at his brother.

That Stone Dorn.

He really is a stone now, but a stone heated by the sun.

The firelight illuminated his face, yet he remained as unsmiling as ever.

However, the bolder children present still liked to hang around in front of him.

Dorn wasn't annoyed and let them make a fuss.

"Hey, young master, I've heard that nobles all love music. Why don't you show us your skills?"

"Go away, you think drinking can shut you up? Don't listen to him."

"Alright, then I'll show you what I've got, but everyone has to participate."

"You... Oh dear, we're all roughnecks, how would we know these things?"

"Simple. You guys can hammer nails, use hammers, or even break steel pipes; I'll handle the rest."

"That's great! We can be musicians for once!"

Several workers brought all sorts of tools, some were Wrenches, some were steel pipes, and some were half tires that had been dug up from somewhere.

Bang! Bang!

Jingle bells!

Clang!

A jumble of sounds arose, but Fulgrim remained calm as he picked up the two halves of the hollow steel pipe.

As he struck out the first rhythm, the previously chaotic tones began to harmonize.

Of course, it's just that the tones are harmonious.

But this strange melody remains wild, like a galloping wild horse, like weeds growing wildly.

The sounds of hammering together various building materials, such as steel bars and pipes, mingled together.

There were also the workers' rhythmic shouts and the children's laughter.

The crackling of firewood, the sound of the night wind.

These sounds converged and intertwined at that moment, and under Fulgrim's coordination, they became a growing melody bursting with hope.

The piece is short, but its lingering melody is unforgettable.

The music ended, and the room fell silent as Fulgrim reflected on everything that had just happened.

He had seen far too many beautiful things.

The feel of the Agri World.

The shimmering light of the most precious gems in the mining world.

Even the armor splattered with blood on the battlefield, and the bugle calls of the troops' attack.

He could turn everything into poetry.

But at this moment, I could hear the rhythm made of building materials, mixed with the sound of steel pipes being struck and the noise of people.

He suddenly felt that his past pursuits were somewhat dull and even colorless.

Those pursuits are refined, but lack vitality.

Unlike now.

This is a short, haphazard piece that doesn't conform to music theory at all.

Yet it was so... so vibrant.

Like an ordinary life, it simply appears there, standing quietly, which is a Miracle.

"This is the most perfect thing that humanity can pursue."