Chapter 247: Lekachep Circus School Exam – 1

Chapter 247: Lekachep Circus School Exam – 1

Providing patrons with news from the outside world was considered one of the fundamental virtues of local taverns in this era.

From small-town gossip to major international affairs, enticing topics could reignite a dwindling drinking party, which in turn boosted the tavern’s revenue.

Hence, bartenders honed not only their cocktail-shaking skills but also kept a keen eye on the happenings of the world.

Some taverns even went as far as hiring jesters specifically for storytelling.

These jesters would come down from their rooms when the patrons’ interest waned and enliven the place with their comedy acts.

They sold information to merchants,

“Throwing and splashing tomatoes everywhere? Such a revolutionary idea, fitting for the ‘Iron Mask,’ renowned for her unique perspective. Haha, as someone who performs on stage, I’m a bit scared though. The first ever tomato festival to be held next year! Aren’t you curious about the potential locations? People are speculating about three main places.”

Told risqué jokes to soldiers,

“The duke’s daughter eloped with a mere jester! Could that jester have been handsome enough to captivate a maiden? Or was his tongue skill exceptional? Haha! Hey, don’t stick your tongue out like that! What are you imagining? I meant his eloquence! Show that kind of thing carelessly and our maid Bess won’t sleep a wink tonight... Oh dear, Bess, please don’t throw things!”

And provided farmers with targets for their frustrations about the injustices of reality.

“The Crown Prince has proposed a tax reduction policy, but the Senate blocked it. It just shows the limitations of a regent’s authority. Those greedy old men are the death of independent farmers. What is the Senate anyway? Just an old folks’ home doing errands for the great nobles in exchange for pocket money.”

After throwing out such topics, the patrons would continue their lively drinking with these as their discussion material.

Jesters thus always prepared several topics in advance to cater to different types of patrons.

However, in recent times, jesters had little trouble choosing material.

Thanks to the Circus Grand Prix.

Even though the competition had been running for over four months, it provided fresh topics every week.

From news about the preliminary exams to various incidents and accidents as the circus troupes gathered, and the pride battles among the six host countries.

The Grand Prix’s issues spilled over from the cultural scene into society, politics, and economics, ensuring that no day was quiet.

With so much to discuss and enjoy, it didn’t take long for the Circus Grand Prix to become the go-to topic for tavern jesters.

In a small town tavern in Castya, the jester chose the Circus Grand Prix as his comedy theme.Follow the latest novels on no/velbin(.)com

That morning, he had received some hot-off-the-press news via telegraph and had crafted his script on the spot.

The drinkers were just starting to cool down and their lips were parched.

He organized the script in his mind and stood up.

His name was Sikrik.

He was the leader of ‘Le Vaudevillien,’ a troupe known for its all-jester lineup.

Their performances typically involved well-prepared skits and characters on a proper stage.

However, Sikrik often enjoyed performing incognito in small taverns.

The raw interaction with the audience offered a thrill that the big stage couldn’t provide.

Today’s story was about ‘counterfeits.’

Counterfeits had recently become a major social issue.

In the current world, whenever a company poured its heart into developing a new product, imitations flooded the market shortly after.

Even trademarks were frequently copied.

In severe cases, counterfeit goods dominated the market over genuine ones.

This phenomenon arose with the industrial revolution, which allowed anyone with machinery and facilities to manufacture goods.

In the past, the state regulated this through monopolies, but in the era of free trade, markets were generally beyond government control, except for strategic materials like salt and gunpowder.

Some countries even actively promoted the counterfeit industry.

Though scholars in various fields proposed solutions, few were implemented in practice.

Sikrik intended to highlight a recent incident in Yeterinpuurk involving counterfeits.

He grabbed a cold beer and stepped onto the stage.

“In a time when it’s hard to tell real from fake! Quality degradation is a bonus! It’s common for the handle of an expensive beer mug to snap off, and who knows, the beer you’re drinking might just be horse piss mixed with alcohol!”

The patrons burst into laughter, but Sikrik noticed the tavern owner in the back had a look of shock on his face.

He even turned his head away when Sikrik made eye contact.

He took the golden tomato pieces he had brought out and put them back in the freezer.

He spent some time cooling off from the chill of the freezer.

But that only delayed his explosion, not prevented it.

Soon, a thundering roar shook the inn room.

***

“I heard the Head is very angry?”

The woman neither raised her voice nor furrowed her brow.

She merely turned over the documents in her hand with a serious expression.

That alone made Minova feel like he was suffocating.

The woman tossed the pile of documents she had been reading in front of him.

“My reputation is also in ruins.”

These were telegrams from merchants belonging to the Morning Star Trading sent from various parts of the continent.

They contained stories about deals falling through or becoming a laughingstock in social gatherings because of what happened in Yeterinpuurk.

“Uh, is it really that serious...?”

Minova, feeling embarrassed, smacked his lips as he flipped through the documents she handed him.

The woman let out a small, regretful sigh.

“A person of the Marquis’ stature would naturally have many rivals. With five sponsors involved, people who wanted to tear him down have spread the news and taken jabs at him. It didn’t help that we publicized the ‘Fantasy Number 13’ so widely ourselves.”

“What did the Head... say?”

At his question, the woman’s expression hardened.

She was the one responsible for pushing the sponsorship of this Grand Prix on behalf of the Morning Star.

Being a fan of circuses, she had taken on the task.

She found it quite fulfilling to build connections through promotional performances, adjust sponsored items, and broaden her insights into the local market.

She thought her standing within the trading company would rise.

That was until she received a barrage of profanities from the Head yesterday.

But she had enough self-control not to relay that to the person in front of her.

“I’ll handle the internal affairs of the guild. So, Director, please focus on the competition. You absolutely must win a star at the November exam.”

“What if I don’t?”

“The circus might be disbanded. Or you might be replaced.”

The Satbyeol was a project-based circus formed by a sponsor.

Disbanding the circus itself wouldn’t be easy due to the contracts with the organizers, but replacing the director would be simple.

Having finished discussing business, the woman relaxed her stern demeanor a little and looked sympathetically at Minova, whose shoulders were slumped—though they still stood out more than most people’s.

“Where did Ruelle go?”

“She went to see the Halloween festivities with Dosville.”

At his words, the woman raised her eyebrows.

“You left the child with that man?”

“It’ll... it’ll be fine. Ruelle is strong... and, well... there are other kids too.”

The woman could guess who he meant by ‘other kids.’

Perhaps the ones having the hardest time weren’t the adults, but them.

With a complex expression, she gazed out the window.

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Chapter 246: Wonderland (End)