449 Those Young Monsters

In the Anglo Embassy, it was afternoon. The well-dressed ambassador wore his sword, looking a little agitated as the time passed by. Finally, when it was about six o'clock, he sighed and asked the secretary, "How long has he been asleep?"

"About fourteen hours." The secretary replied, "I told the maid not to disturb him when he came back this morning, and then he never left the room."

"Maybe he has already gone?" The ambassador looked to his side.

The old musician shook his head. "He is still in the room but he seems to be transforming his musical theory. We'd better not to disturb him at this moment. Otherwise, if there is any problem, I am afraid the consequences will be unpredictable. "

Hearing this, the ambassador sighed helplessly. "It seems that he will be unable to attend."

Before leaving the city, Maxwell had told the ambassador secretly that although Ye Qingxuan had no establishment and position in the embassy, they should treat him the same as they treated Maxwell. If anyone dared to disrespect him, he would be accused of disrespecting the royal family. As a result, Ye Qingxuan was able to eat for free in the embassy for such a long time.

Everyone here regarded him as the successor of Maxwell, the future cabinet minister. Moreover, Ye Qingxuan did have a crucial position in the Fifth Department and he also served temporarily in the Silent Authority. He might usually ignore trivial affairs but once something really happened, he was definitely a crucial figure. The ambassador would not have wanted to disturb him if it had not been for an invitation to an important party today and Ye Qingxuan was especially invited.

After another ten minutes, the ambassador sighed and got up to command the secretary. "It seems that Mr. Ye is unable to come to dinner today. You choose a gift for him and I will bring it to the banquet. At least it won't be impolite."

The secretary nodded and quickly prepared a gift that Ye Qingxuan would give for 'being ill' and unable to attend.

Two minutes later, the ambassador and his wife boarded the carriage to the Embassy of Burgundy. Soon the carriage stopped before another mansion in the embassy district. It was already late, but the Burgundy Embassy's lights were all on.

The traffic rushed before the Embassy of Burgundy. There were constantly well-dressed nobles and ambassadors getting out of the carriages and attending this party with invitations.

The ninth of December was the national day of Burgundy, as well as the 300th anniversary of the celebration. The Embassy prepared a lot to celebrate this day and many people were invited. Within a few short hours, rich businessmen and nobles from all over the world had gathered here. There were officials and saints from the Sacred City as well.

The carriage with Anglo's emblem parked in front of the embassy. The ambassador got off with his wife. Soon, a well-dressed attendant welcomed them and guided the two into the hall.

In the ballroom, Ambassador Bertrand, clad in a suit, seemed to have waited for a long time. Due to taking care of his body, there wasn't the slightest sign of aging in his appearance. He did not look like a man in his fifties at all but a middle-aged man in his prime.

Behind him stood a handsome young man, who seemed to be his nephew.

"Mr. Baird, welcome." After exchanging greetings with Anglo's ambassador for a moment, Bertrand could not restrain his curiosity and looked to his side. "Has Mr. Ye not come yet?"

Baird smiled wryly and sent the gift that had been prepared. "Last night, it snowed. Mr. Ye had a cold and couldn't come tonight. He asked me to convey his regrets to you."

"I see." Bertrand sighed. "It's our mistake. We should have sent the invitation to Mr. Ye earlier. Please let Mr. Ye know that the Embassy of Burgundy will always welcome his visit."

After the two exchanged the pleasantries, the young man behind Bertrand left. Baird didn't care about it but looked to Bertrand. Both were ambassadors of foreign countries and had often met each other in the Sacred City. However, their rivalry did not damage the friendship between the two. They were even members of the same bridge club. Having such great ties, Baird did conceal any more.

"My old friend, don't you think it's inappropriate?" Baird looked at Bertrand and whispered, "Although there is no official position for Mr. Ye in our embassy, he is distinguished at least. How could you be so careless to send the invitation the last day?"

"I did not intend to invite such a sensitive figure like Mr. Ye." Bertrand forced a smile and shook his head. He took a glass of champagne from the waiter's hand. The two chatted while walking to the corner. "This happened because someone wants to see him. I had to send the invitation on short notice."

Baird frowned, immediately getting curious. "Who is so powerful?"

"Who else could it be?" With a wry smile, Bertrand looked at the handsome young man in the crowd who was laughing with the other nobles.

The young man seemed to have a wide circle of friends. There were so many nobles, different circles, and different schools here, but he could manage all of them. He must be something.

Baird was stunned. He did not expect that the young man next to Bertrand, who seemed to be his nephew or a secretary of the embassy, actually had a powerful background. Soon it dawned on him when he noticed that the young man's ring.

"The Bourbon family? Which branch?"

"What else can it be?" Bertrand, sipping the champagne, said softly, "The first in line for natural inheritance."

The Bourbon clan, as the royal family of Burgundy, had many branches, but there were not many people who really had the lineages and rights. From Bertrand's reaction, one could tell that the young man must be someone distinguished. Moreover, the emperor of Burgundy was seriously ill. There were not many days left for him. In a few months, it was very possible that the young man's father would rule the country.

"Which son of Louis is he?" Baird asked.

Bertrand looked at him with a vague smile. "My old friend, he is the only son of Louis now."

Baird understood his meaning and suddenly fell into silence.

"Don't underestimate the young, my old friend. There are more and more monsters among the young, such as your country's new sword-bearer." Bertrand put down the glass and looked at the figure in the crowd with more fear.

"He was an illegitimate son of the Louis family who was abandoned overseas. But half a year ago, he was welcomed back to the family and received recognition. Originally, they intended to use the young man as a bargaining chip but did not expect that the man they found back then was not an obedient puppet but a serpent.

"In less than six months, he turned from the underdog to a public leading figure. Those who had been in front of him are now dead at his feet, including his brother Louie. In addition to his own family, he also won the support of the Antonevate family. He has an engagement with the grand duke's daughter and they will get married next year.

"Now, he is my teacher Mr. Richelieu's favorite student, the future Cabinet confidential secretary... To tell the truth, during the days he stayed in the embassy, even I felt like there are thorns in my back. I can't sleep well. Thankfully, he is about to leave for home after the celebration. That's a relief."

Baird listened to this wordlessly and felt a headache coming. "Why would he be interested in our sword-bearer?"

"Who knows?" Bertrand smiled. "Maybe he wants to be a good friend with your Mr. Ye."

"That's not funny, Bertrand." Baird shook his head, drank the champagne in the cup, and finally glanced at the young man's back. "What's the name of the monster in your country?"

"Don Juan," Bertrand said, "Don Juan Dieudonne Bourbon."

-

Don Juan sat silently in the resting room of the embassy.

"What a pity, master," the attendant at his side said. "It seems that you are not seeing your good friend this time."

"A pity?" Don Juan glanced at his attendant and laughed. "Do you feel sad or are you glad? You know he is now a famous demon hunter in the countries. None of those dark musicians who met him had good endings. You must be overjoyed that he can't come, right?"

"Master, you overthink." The attendant managed a smile. "I have changed. It has been quite a long time since I've had contact with my past friends. Everyone probably thinks that the Rain Artist is dead."

"That's the best, old man." Don Juan glanced at him. Perceiving the sorrow in his eyes, Don Juan laughed with derision. "Only you will take that title as a treasure. You only killed a few people and were chased by the Sacred City like a rabbit. Think about your bullsh*t friends' endings. Poor old Colbert, why can't you look further..."

He put his hands on the 'Rain Artist's' shoulder and whispered his original name. "When my dad comes into power, the time for us will come! As long as that old man's life and death is in our hands, what can't we get?

"You want to kill someone? Just wave your fingers and there will be countless people to help you kill and take the blame! Do you want power? What about financial officer? The royal secretary of state? Navy commander or the prime minister of Burgundy?

"Compared to these things in sight, what the f*ck is the Originator? Is it worth risking your life to pursue? Is it worth your while to go through the hell for that d*mn spirit? Don't be ridiculous, Colbert. Your future is under your feet. As long as you follow me, everything is at your fingertips!"

After a while of silence, Colbert softly sighed. "Young master, how can someone like you not degenerate into a demon? It doesn't make sense."

"Degenerate?" said Don Juan, chuckling. "I'm so much dirtier than you all. Go back and send a present to Yezi." Don Juan fixed his bow tie and smiled pleasantly. "I really look forward to seeing him again. Will Yezi be startled to see me like this?" He pushed the door open and walked into the ballroom.

-

The banquet was at the climax.

Ms. Patty, a singer from the Trinity Choir, was invited to give a performance for this pageant. The singer, who gave up the music theory and the path of musicians to focus on the melody, was already a master in the music field. Every year at the Winter Festival, she would lead the choir to chant hymns while the pope sermonized. Her voice was likened to the heavenly light which illuminated the Earth and gave salvation.

Under the soft light, the elegant Ms. Patty lifted her skirt and appeared on the stage. She bowed slightly and was greeted with cheers and gasps. The old singer had some white hair but it did not reduce her grace. On the contrary, she looked full of the noble aura. When standing on the stage, she was not like a performer but the master and the emperor of the stage.

The audience bowed their heads piously, longing for her voice as if longing for nectar.

"You even invited Ms. Patty?" Baird looked to Bertrand. "Starting the year before last, she would rarely appear expect for the Winter Festival performance. I personally invited her to our celebration last year but she refused."

"That is because you are qualified enough." Bertrand smiled proudly, full of pleasure. Today, he invited Baird to come over just in order to see his current expression.

Worth it! It was worth it!

Baird looked at his proud appearance and swore in his mind. But soon, he cleared his thoughts because the singing on the stage had already begun.

Under the soft violin melody, Ms. Patty opened her mouth and sang. Her voice was like gorgeous silk melting into spring. It spread with the soft melody. The song seemed to land on the soul and rejuvenated the people. Even the skin trembled and the viscera swayed with the rhythm. They were intoxicated in the song. No one ever thought that music without power or aether could also be beautiful to such a degree, almost making them shed tears. The song began to rise like a stream converging into a river.

The gorgeous aria quivered with the consciousness of all and came into the solemn song together with the choir behind her. The Habanera music from the far north rang in everyone's ears. Everyone was fascinated, but even more frightening were the waves spread in the melody.

It was the power of the aether!

All the musicians present could feel that it was not a music theory but a mere song. However, there existed a mysterious magic so that even the aether was summoned. It emitted the illusion of divine light toward all directions with the melody.

In the divine light, everyone felt as if the whole person was baptized. All the depression and irritability were dispelled. There was no darkness but refreshing and vitality as if everyone went back to being juvenile.

Among the musicians, an old musician shook his head with a wry smile and exclaimed, "Have Patty's attainments become so powerful in these years?" Without realizing, he had been left behind and could only see her silhouette. She could mobilize the aether only by virtue of singing. There was no music theory in her song. She purely used the spirit in the melody. Even among the monks of the Scared City, few could achieve this degree!

After becoming a formal musician at the age of sixteen, Patty gave up the music theory and became obsessed with melody. But no one had expected that Patty's understanding of the music theory had come to such a level over these years.

After years of studying, the world-famous singer had relied on her own insights to advance to the Resonance level and even arrived at the Distortion level. Otherwise, how could she reach the level of the aetheric resonance with the ideas contained in the melody?

The aether was tamed by the melody, spontaneously chasing along with the song and creating miracles! She mastered the aether with the will of man and created the light of heaven with the sentiment and faith of the ego.

Countless musicians were envious of her.

Everyone knew that Ms. Patty's path to the top would be a smooth one. She had found her own subject. As long as she passed the completion stage, the creation of her symphony of predestination would be a small case. In just several years, a new grandmaster would emerge in the Sacred City.

She would be the best, even among the masters!

In the ballroom, the performance was about to reach its climax. All were intoxicated in the song. With eyes closed, they were guided by the song as if bathed in the divine light. If the previous a capella was a casual one, then with the advancement of the melody, the aether waves became even more powerful.

At that instant, many musicians sensed something and invariably raised their heads, staring at the stage above. The aetheric fluctuations that hung by Patty's side wove a complex and melodic glow.

It was a breakthrough!

She was about to break through!

Patty was enlightened on deeper music theory during her performance. Now she was about to break through the shackles and take that crucial step toward the realm of grandmasters!

In her chanting, there was some kind of magnificent power building. A divine power was conceived in it. It was so vast and pure as if it would forge the path to heaven!

Seeing all this, the crowd gasped. They had underestimated her! She had spent so many years concentrating on faith and hymns and no one expected her to have accumulated such knowledge. The Scared City would have a new grandmaster now!

To be able to witness a musician breaking through the shackles of Distortion and stepping into the realm of the master, anyone would be excited. The crowd immediately became attentive to witness this legendary moment!

And now, everyone held their breath in the almost suffocating melody and voice. All were drawn by the song as if they were falling into the hopeless frontier with the singer. That power built and built. And then it was repressed and repressed. Until finally, the air was almost frozen for her and everyone was gasping for breath. As if expecting an earth-shattering explosion, they couldn't help clenching fists and closing their eyes, ready to meet the peak of the storm.

At that instant, the glow of flames sprang from Patty's body and divine light descended from the sky. Patty took a deep breath. She gathered the insights and beliefs of her life, ready to ascend into the clouds in the next moment during the climax. Countless aether cheered and converged from all directions. A substantive aether sea appeared, interwoven with the melody of light and shadow.

And just in that moment… Everything stopped.

Because a suffocating silence came.

Those who had closed their eyes to listen and had thrown themselves into the chant, prepared to meet the climax of the storm, were stunned.

Nothing more!

The song was gone! The melody was gone! All sound was gone! The huge contrast almost made them mad. They had thrown themselves into the song. The extreme accumulation could not be released, which almost made them spit out a mouthful of blood. All went blind. Rather than erupting, the melody perished in silence!

Everyone opened their eyes in shock and stared blankly at the stage, looking at the sluggish Ms. Patty. She opened her mouth but no sound was heard. She was frozen. Her face turned green and white. The force that had been compressed raged in the body.

Suddenly, her skin broke apart. Scarlet mist poured out from the pores. The thick blood flowed from all openings. Doubling over, she vomited and collapsed on the ground, unable to move. She did not manage to release the chaotic music theory, which totally destroyed her. Her sound of heart was defeated by her power! Her efforts, understanding, and penance of the lifetime were all buried in this silence.

In a silence, Bertrand first reacted. He rose and roared, "Why are you all standing there? Save her! Save her!"

Such an event happening at the National Day ceremony was a disaster! Especially since it involved a world renowned singer… He quickly pondered how to settle the fallout of the affair. But after roaring, he realized something was wrong.

Something was wrong… It was totally wrong!

He didn't hear his voice.

Looking around, he opened his mouth and yelled but it was silent. It was as if the sound had been swallowed by something monstrous. Even the sound of breathing was frozen. Everyone was aware of the chaos and wanted to scream but they couldn't make any noise. Glasses and plates fell to the ground and were crushed to pieces but it was still silent.

No sound, no sound! Everything was frozen in this sudden stillness!

What the h*ll was going on?

All the musicians got up. They stared at each other but could not sense any fluctuations in music theory. All the movements seemed to be impotent. The notes were swallowed by the cold silence as soon as they were produced. There seemed to be an invisible black hole in the air, devouring all the power. They felt that the aether was still there and that it covered the world. But the aether that they could once use at any time now had no response, resisting all calls. As if...the aether had fallen asleep!

This silence came suddenly like a ghost. And now, it was still spreading.

Just now, it was produced from an unknown place and spread in all directions. The terribly cold stillness was widening. In an instant, it swallowed up the vast embassy district.

If one looked down from the sky, he would find that at this moment, there was a big hole in the enchantment of Scared City. The hole covered the entire embassy district, forming a perfect circle.

It was so perfect and so quiet, as if the kingdom of death had opened his door and all things fell into slumber.

In deep sleep, someone quietly turned over.

The next moment, the Central Church's shrill alarm went off!