Chapter 122: The Theater's Emblem |
After those words were spoken, not a single person in the crowd below left.
Because they had already known about Evina's requirements long before coming to the audition. They had heard about them beforehand.
Having heard the requirements and still come, having completed the interviews and assessments, they were already dead set on staying here.
As long as they weren't fired, they would absolutely never leave.
The corners of Evina's lips curled upward, maintaining her smile as she let out a light chuckle.
"Mm-hmm, such good puppies~."
Her outfit today was as seductive as ever.
Beneath a deep V-cut that plunged all the way down to her navel, layer upon layer of semi-transparent black lace formed her long skirt. But it wasn't sewn shut; the slit ran very high, and with every step she took, her long, fair thighs wrapped in knee-high black stockings were revealed without reservation—you could see the thigh band on her right leg and the high heels on her feet.
Though it was a long skirt, it looked a bit like a modified open-front robe.
Her pinkish-blue hair wasn't braided; it simply hung naturally down her back. No hair accessories either—the fin behind her ear, also pinkish-blue but a shade darker than her hair, was the best ornament she could have.
She crossed and recrossed her legs.
"Excellent. It seems my little puppies have all made up their minds."
"Starting today, I am your highest-ranking superior."
"You can call me Lady 'Elegy,' or you can just call me 'Master.' I don't mind either way."
Her voice carried far, reaching every single person's ears, and tinting the eyes of everyone present—men and women alike—with a hint of pinkish-blue. Their faces flushed as they watched her with fervent excitement.
Back in Liant Town, she had committed over a dozen crimes, large and small. The biggest one was smuggling—a strictly forbidden "no entry or exit" offense.
On top of that, being a Mutant made her an unquestionable "outsider," the kind that could be judged without needing any confirmation.
All of this suppressed nearly half the power of this "newborn," who had only been separated for less than a week.
But now, she could radiate her charm without restraint.
Against ordinary people, even a casual word from her could drive them into a frenzy.
Even if she ordered them to die, most would find it hard to resist, going to their deaths with blissful smiles.
This was the Siren—one of the Mutants who had caused massive casualties during the Mutant Uprising.
Uncrossing her legs, Evina lightly pushed off the high platform she was sitting on and leaped down.
The lace skirt, resembling an open-front robe, fluttered up with the wind from her descent, but defied physics by stopping before it reached a certain height.
Soon, she landed on the ground, and the Travel Guide in her hand vanished in an instant.
Within the Theater, her code name was "Elegy."
Originally, she had wanted to name herself "Mother" or "Master," but after thinking it over, she realized that even if she chose such names, people probably wouldn't use them. If they didn't know her name, they could just call her "that Siren" instead.
Given that, there was no point in giving herself such a name.
So, she simply drew from her own traits, combining them with the Siren's talent for song, and named herself Lady "Elegy."
Pleasant to the ear, easy to remember, and distinctive.
Stepping into the crowd below, she left a trail of fragrance in her wake.
After merging the Travel Guide into her soul, its ability to store and retrieve items had transferred to her skin's surface.
She reached into the deep V-cut on her chest, pulled out a folding fan, then clasped her hands behind her back, holding the fan in both hands as she walked toward the door.
"Since you've all passed the earlier interviews, follow me," she said, casting a glance at the few people present, then turning and walking away without looking back. "I'll advance you some pay in advance—you need to get yourselves some outfits."
"After that, before the theater officially opens, I'll need you to help with the renovations, moving bricks, and carrying things."
She wasn't worried about whether these mostly untrained people could handle the renovation work.
It didn't matter. Because Celt was here.
Because a "Morning Star" was present.
Where Celt's heart pointed, fate would follow.
Even if they were terrible at renovations, it wouldn't matter.
When painting the walls, they would coincidentally not drop a single drop of paint. When moving things, they would end up placing everything in the best positions. When scheduling shifts, someone would inevitably have a sudden flash of inspiration and come up with a brilliant idea.
That was the "Morning Star."
Her beautiful legs beneath the skirt were intermittently visible, and the fullness of her chest swayed gently.
Everyone who had come to apply—men and women alike—instinctively fixed their gazes on a few specific parts of Evina's body.
Far from minding it, Evina seemed to enjoy it.
But the Siren's unabashed charm momentarily overwhelmed some of the weaker-willed individuals.
One man, probably thinking Evina's outfit was an invitation, boldly stepped forward, trying to get closer to her.
And then...
Rustle, rustle~
A sound a bit like crashing waves washed over everyone's ears.
Followed by the sound of someone tumbling across the floor several times before being slammed into a wall.
"Keep up, but know your distance," Evina said with a smile, closing her folding fan and snapping it against her palm with a sharp crack. She had no intention of explaining to these ordinary people how she had sent a man flying over ten meters with just a fan.
"Alright, little puppies," she said, standing in front of a door. She turned sideways to look behind her. "Remember this—this is Finance. Go in and pick up your first batch of dog biscuits."
"I'll advance you three weeks' worth of wages. But you must remember—runaway puppies become stray dogs forever. I hope you won't take the money and bolt immediately, and I trust you wouldn't be able to handle the consequences."
She tapped the fan against her palm. Though her eyes were hidden behind the blindfold, everyone present felt as though a pair of eyes so seductive they almost dripped with allure had swept over them, leaving their entire bodies tingling and numb.
The men instinctively hunched over; the women unconsciously pressed their legs together.
They lined up voluntarily, without pushing or arguing.
Evina nodded repeatedly.
"Mm-mm, very good. Looks like I won't need to train you specially."
The door to the Finance room opened, and someone was already waiting inside.
These were temporary employees sent by Allenay to help out. Once the theater was fully settled, they would leave on their own.
For now, they were acting as "all-purpose staff."
Meaning, if anything was missing, they could be told about it.
In theory, they could handle any job.
But of course, Celt and the others weren't going to treat them like nuclear-powered donkeys. Instead, they saw them as veteran teachers for training newcomers, occasionally filling in for vacant positions.
Standing at the side of the line, Evina gently swept a strand of pinkish-blue hair behind her ear, and the fin behind her ear moved slightly.
Her gaze swept over the crowd before finally landing on one particular young woman.
Evina slowly walked over, stopping in front of her.
"What's your name?" she asked, using the folding fan to lift the young woman's chin.
Evina's proximity brought with it a refreshing, intoxicating scent. Her unabashed charm, far surpassing that of an ordinary four-mark Law Seeker, caused the young woman's face to flush bright red. Her mouth hung open, her breathing quickened, and for a long moment, she couldn't speak.
When Evina lifted her chin with the fan, the young woman's gaze grew dazed, her body trembled, and it was unclear what she was thinking.
"Never mind, it doesn't matter," Evina said. Her fan flicked upward under the young woman's chin before she withdrew it, then lightly tapped the young woman's cheek with the side of the fan.
The young woman snapped back to reality, but her gaze at Evina grew increasingly strange.
"This face has good bones. It's put me in a slightly better mood. You can get an extra thirty percent."
"Treasure this opportunity well."
With that, she turned and casually strolled toward the back of the line, unconcerned about the young woman's increasingly rapid trembling, then her sudden stillness, or how her bowed face grew redder and redder.
In fact, that was precisely her goal.
Having achieved her goal, she was naturally satisfied.
Very happy. Very pleased.
Evina had never considered herself a good person.
She was, after all, Samuel's wicked side—she did whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted.
Not to mention that this was simply one of humanity's most primal desires.
She was sure the young woman wouldn't hold a grudge.
After all, for Evina, she could literally make a stone fall in love, let alone a human being.
It didn't matter even if the gender wasn't a match.
Starting today, that young woman's tastes had probably changed.
Envious glances came from the long line.
Whether it was for the extra thirty percent or for the teasing they had just witnessed, everyone present was filled with envy.
"If anyone has confidence in their looks, feel free to volunteer," Evina said, tapping her lips lightly with her fan.
Perhaps noticing the expressions of some employees, she added, "If it's a man..."
"Then he'd have to be at least this handsome~."
She reached into her chest again, pulled out a thick book, and opened it, displaying it before everyone.
The Lunatic's World Travel Guide immediately caught on, and with fine lines, it quickly sketched out a man on the page.
Golden long hair, delicate features, smooth skin, soft facial contours, and eyes that seemed to radiate a gentle, all-embracing softness and a sensitivity akin to an innocent maiden.
The Fifth Prince, Allenay Odius.
"If you think your own looks can match his, then by all means, step forward. I'll gladly give you a raise."
Evina tapped the portrait with her fan, her smile radiant.
Everyone in the long line looked away.
Though none of them knew Allenay or had ever seen this Fifth Prince before.
They still had basic aesthetic sense, and they knew their own looks couldn't hold a candle to his.
Putting away the Travel Guide, Evina's mood improved even further after having dealt a blow to her employees' morale.
Today, too, was a day full of happiness.
A few employees walked past Evina carrying a large signboard. Evina glanced at it out of the corner of her eye—it was a board with the theater's emblem painted on it.
It was a grinning face wearing a hat, looking like a clown, but not entirely a clown.
At a glance, it seemed like overlapping layers of smiling faces, or perhaps various expressions stacked on top of each other.
But upon closer inspection, it turned back into a single, laughing face.
The lines intertwined, and staring too long made one feel slightly dizzy.
This was the Law Rhyme of "Absurdity Clown," simplified thousands of layers by Samuel and drawn onto a flat piece of paper, becoming the emblem of the Theater.
Samuel wasn't worried about anyone achieving enlightenment from the image he had created.
If someone actually tried to study it deeply, forget about enlightenment—if they could keep themselves from going insane, they would already be impressive.
In summary, this emblem of the theater was incomprehensible to those below the Law Contemplator level, but even if they stared at it, nothing would happen.
Those at the Law Contemplator level or above could understand what it represented after studying it, but they were also keenly aware of how dangerous it was and wouldn't rashly attempt to comprehend it.
"Going to hang it at the main entrance?" Evina asked with a smile.
"Ah, yes," the employees carrying the large signboard said in unison, turning to nod at her.
Evina waved her hand casually, signaling them to leave.
Once the employees carrying the signboard had gone, Evina clasped her hands behind her back, stretched out her long, beautiful legs, and continued teasing the newly hired staff.
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