Dinner X and X Musicians

Sith Lawn led Qi Zhou slowly down the corridor.

Gilded, carved wall sconces hung on both sides of the corridor. Brown wooden frames with ornate carvings held portraits or photographs of musicians from past generations, with each musician's representative work displayed beside them.

Qi Zhou looked them over as he walked, but he felt no response from Imaginary Musician. He didn't know whether he had failed to trigger some mechanism or whether it was because he hadn't played the pieces himself.

Qi Zhou put the thought aside and looked at Sith Lawn, who was standing politely to one side, waiting for him. "Besides me, where are the other guests?"

Sith Lawn gave him a curious look, but patiently explained, "The guests first attend a dinner in the hall, where they can exchange insights with one another. At ten o'clock, the master will invite them to view his collection. At midnight, there will be a concert performed by the master himself, including a movement that the guests are very interested in."

Qi Zhou nodded slowly, concealing his embarrassment. "...Oh."

Was he the only one who'd come here without knowing why? No way, right?

A movement the guests were very interested in-could that mean-

At the end of the corridor was a magnificent hall.

Sith Lawn said softly, "Mr. Barton, dinner is being held here. If you need anything else, please let a servant know."

Qi Zhou nodded and walked into the hall.

The hall was carpeted, and a lavish central ceiling light and eight smaller ones lit it up as brightly as day.

More than a dozen long tables stood in the hall, covered with snow-white tablecloths embroidered with gold thread. They held all kinds of dishes, pastries, fruit, and expensive-looking wines and liquors. Two servants stood beside each table.

Quite a few people were already in the hall. Some stood in groups of two or three, chatting over drinks. Others rested on sofas in a corner, while still others were eating dinner at the tables.

Much to Qi Zhou's embarrassment, however, everyone there except him was dressed in a suit and leather shoes. He alone was wearing... well... a tracksuit, one Machi had sewn up after Feitan had kindly provided it-and no, this did not mean Feitan was an AI.

At the sight of Qi Zhou, who stood out like a sore thumb, most people looked taken aback, seemingly unable to understand why he looked so different from everyone else.

Some glanced at him once or twice before looking away, but a man and a woman walked over to him.

The woman crouched slightly and asked Qi Zhou, "Hello, little friend. May I ask your name?"

Qi Zhou replied, "...Just call me Noah."

Hearing his answer, the two exchanged a brief glance. The woman smiled. "Little Noah, you can call me Alia." She paused, then continued, "Did you come here alone? It's hard to imagine."

"...Yes, I came alone." Qi Zhou said, "Is there a problem?"

"Everyone who came here has made some name for themselves in their field, but we've never even heard your name," the man said. "Besides, you don't look like you have any Nen at all, and the test Mr. Wood set isn't something just anyone could solve-"

"Airei." Alia shook her head at the man named Airei, then said, "I'm sorry, little Noah. Airei didn't mean to offend you."

Qi Zhou glanced at Airei. He could see the man's disdain for his presence here.

"You see, my younger brother is a fan of Mr. Arens Wood, while I greatly admire his great-great-grandfather, Mr. Hilt Wood. My lifelong goal is to play his 'Deep Sea Sonata' perfectly."

A look of longing appeared in Alia's eyes. "So we're very curious about how you managed to get here, little Noah. We don't mean to bother you; if you don't want to tell us, never mind."

They're probably wondering what my relationship with Arens Wood is.

Qi Zhou thought this to himself as he took out his whale badge and gave it a shake. "I got in through the proper channels. Believe it or not."

"I see. My brother was rude," Alia said.

Airei muttered, "Sis, I told you it couldn't be. The boys in the Wood family all look so much alike, and he-"

Alia said angrily, "Airei, stop talking."

"All right, all right, I'll stop." Airei raised his hands in surrender. "But it's true. Arens Wood looks exactly like Mr. Hilt Wood did when he was young..."

Alia was speechless. "That's not what I meant when I said stop talking!"

Qi Zhou: "..."

So they really were wondering about my relationship with Arens Wood! Couldn't they tell it was impossible just by looking at my hair color?

Qi Zhou didn't even have the energy to comment. This guy sure has an imagination!

"...So, is there anything else you two need? If not..."

Qi Zhou looked at the table full of desserts. "May I go now?"

With that, he left the two of them behind.

Scooping up a large bowlful of ice cream and eating to his heart's content, Qi Zhou narrowed his eyes in bliss.

Long live sweets!

Meanwhile, the two musicians were discussing something, nothing more than exchanging professional compliments and talking business.

Some people, however, were discussing something that interested Qi Zhou.

A short-haired blond man looked slightly concerned. "I've heard that anyone who's listened to or played that piece comes to a bad end."

The people in the conversation were gathered around a piano. A young man in a gray-blue suit sat at it, playing the "Sonata of Darkness," though it was the flawed version that had already been made public.

When the piece ended, the people around him applauded softly.

A black-haired young man wearing glasses responded to the earlier remark. "It should just be a rumor..."

Another man with brown hair said disdainfully, "Hah. Over the past decade or so, I don't even know how many pieces claiming to be the 'Sonata of Darkness' I've heard, and haven't I lived just fine to this day? Never mind anything else, we don't even know if the movement in Mr. Wood's collection is real."

He glanced at Qi Zhou, then turned his head and said, "I was eighty percent hopeful at first, but after seeing that brat... well..."

The blond man spread his hands in feigned helplessness. "That kid lowered the tone of this place by ten whole levels in an instant."

The young man in the gray-blue suit lowered the piano lid and said coldly, "If I were Mr. Wood, I'd definitely throw that unqualified faker out."

Qi Zhou felt a barrage of gazes directed at him, but he had gotten quite used to staying calm. He scooped up another big spoonful of ice cream and put it in his mouth.

He was certain he would get to hear the genuine "Sonata of Darkness" tonight, but what would happen afterward was anyone's guess.

All he had to rely on were the two Mouths of Calamity and one Four Seasons Badge in his pocket. If even those things couldn't save him...

Then this will be my last supper, won't it? I'd better eat more.

With that thought, Qi Zhou got up and said to a servant, "Sorry for the trouble, but could I have another serving, with extra chocolate and matcha?"