Alien world

Chapter 1724, Section 357: Three Steps
“Your marionettes can also be considered machines, and they really do have ‘machine souls.’ If the machine souls are unhappy, it will affect the work. Sometimes, the difference between a perfect work and a bad one is just that. So, if you don’t understand, just listen and do what I say!”

Suddenly rebuked by Annan's loud rebuke, Baron Jim Kelly was slightly taken aback, then flew into a rage: "Young Master Olme!"

Dang clang——

The cup spilled onto the carpet, triggering a sob from the girl who had been having nightmares. She buried her head and trembled uncontrollably.

"What is it, Baron Jim Kelly?" Annan met his gaze without flinching.

Baron Jim Kelly pointed to the dining table: "The Philosopher's Stone is here, so hurry up and explain it!"

As mentioned before, Jim Carrey is not someone to be trifled with, but at the same time, as an artist immersed in creating what he considers art, he is also very patient with talented people.

"Because there's this guy who keeps asking all sorts of questions and wasting time."

Annan strode over to the girl, picked up the water glass and put it aside: "Go to the bathroom, just find any room, but don't even think about running away."

"Thank you... thank you..."

The girl, her feet red and swollen, stumbled and ran out of the banquet hall in high heels.

Baron Jim Kelly did not stop him; compared to Annan's knowledge, letting a puppet go was nothing.

Moreover, she cannot leave the manor.

Annan activated the magic stone, and magical images were projected onto the walls of the banquet hall.

As Annan's first work, and given the tight schedule, the visuals are still somewhat immature. However, this lack of artifice actually gives the visuals a sense of realism, making the scene of Jack playing cards on the street to earn tickets feel like being on a real street.

Annan pointed to the pedestrians who were not in the main subject of the picture, "Look, the pedestrians are haggling with the vendors, some buy things and leave, and some are looking around. The customers in the tavern are talking and drinking, some get up and leave, and some reach out for another drink. Their behavior is logical and coherent."

Why do I say your work is only superficial?

Annan paced through the banquet hall: “Because their behavior is so divided, the waiters just walk around with their trays along the predetermined route, the guests on the dance floor just dance for three days and three nights, and the servants and gardeners just pretend in the same place.”

"Can you imagine that when passersby in the magical images do this kind of thing, it will still feel real and shocking to you?"

Annan glanced at the returning girl, spread his hands, and continued, "When I say you're full of holes, I'm not trying to belittle you; it's just that it's true."

"Do you think I don't know?" Baron Jim Kelly's expression was not good. "Poor people don't eat meat because they don't want to? If I had a way, I wouldn't be asking you."

"Not strong enough?"

Baron Jim Kelly didn't speak, but his expression answered Annan.

He could only control the puppets in a general way, but could not precisely manipulate them to perform more detailed actions, such as playing the violin.

“I suppose so. Since you’re a fan of Annan Reeves, you must have picked up some of his good qualities and have an almost obsessive belief in his work… It must be very frustrating not being able to control the puppets skillfully, right?” Annan seemed to be praising Baron Jim Kelly. “If you trust me, how about leaving it to me?”

"here you are?"

"I'll get the puppets to cooperate with your performance."

"You think I haven't tried? Their souls are rebelling."

"That's because you didn't use the right method."

Annan walked to the girl's side and asked softly, "Can you still hold on?"

The girl glanced furtively at Baron Jim Kelly, her body trembling slightly, but she still shrugged and nodded timidly. Pulling her back to the dance floor, Annan declared loudly, "You both heard what Baron Jim Kelly and I said."

The guests on the dance floor, the waiters carrying plates, and the musicians pretending to play the violin were still doing their jobs like puppets, but if you looked closely, you could see that their bloodshot eyes were all focused on Annan.

"You've probably been captured for a long time. Look at this poor fellow, he's practically starved to death..."

Annan looked at a woman with loose, sagging skin and shook his head repeatedly: "The Baron is currently working on a project. If you cooperate enough, I can promise that once you have helped the Baron complete this masterpiece, I will ask the Baron to release you."

Baron Jim Kelly didn't react much; he knew Annan was just deceiving them, and that he didn't have the final say.

He just let out a series of cold laughs: "What if some people refuse to cooperate when you ask them to?"

Annan swept his gaze across everyone and deliberately spoke in a voice they could hear: "Then let them die. There are plenty of nobles outside, like leeks. Just capture more."

Baron Jim Kelly ruled out the possibility that Annam was a spy sent by the Empire to plant next to him.

So many nobles were killed without hesitation; even an empire couldn't do that.

He walked up to Annan: "Young Master Olme, I don't believe a word you say about a machine soul—"

"The Machine Spirit hypothesis wasn't my idea; it was Annan's. It's said that he would perform a ritual to the Machine Spirit before filming each magical video."

“As expected of Annan Reeves, when shall we begin?” Baron Jim Kelly changed his mind with remarkable fluency.

Baron Jim Kelly's affection for him was almost as strong as that for the women on the black market. Annan even wondered if, if he were to reveal his identity, Jim Kelly might directly betray Chaos and join Liberty City.

“We can do it now.” Annan stepped aside. “Let’s see if there’s any change.”

Baron Jim Kelly stretched out his seemingly ethereal hands, his fingers unusually long and slender. As he closed his eyes, his fingers danced in the air as if playing a musical instrument.

Annan looked at the men and women on the dance floor; it seemed like something had changed, yet nothing had.

“It just took less effort.” Baron Jim Kelly’s finger hovered in mid-air as he opened his sinister eyes.

If that's all there is to it, it's not worth him wasting his time with Olme...

"Of course, they've been under your control for so many days, they're exhausted, hungry, and they need to poop..."

"Don't mention that word!"

Baron Jim Kelly felt that his carefully crafted work had been desecrated.

Annan shrugged and continued, "If you want them to perform well, first let them eat something, poop... relax, and then get some rest."

"you sure?"

"Are you reluctant to part with the bread, or are you afraid they'll run away?"

Baron Jim Kelly remained silent, simply withdrawing his control over the marionette.

To complete his work, he would compromise on everything except deception.

As the manipulating force disappeared, the dance floor, which had just presented a beautiful facade, was instantly filled with the sounds of people falling over, crying out for help, and wailing.

A few minutes passed, and the noise showed no signs of stopping, so Annan interrupted, "Stop arguing, are you planning to cry here all day?"

(End of this chapter)