Am I really hallucinating?

Chapter 399 Where did these things come from?

Everyone was waiting for the appetizers, so how did the main course suddenly appear on its own?

This caused many people who were leisurely looking for seats to suddenly hurry up.

While stopping to watch and refusing to move is a valid action, being beaten to death on the spot by an angry mob with so many people blocking the road would also be considered a form of dignity.

Since it was a spontaneous warm-up act, Doris and her band didn't just randomly play a new song; instead, they chose an old tune that the band often played before.

The piece is titled "Arrival," and it was one of the pieces Doris wrote for Zheng Fan to commemorate their first encounter.

The guitar plays a significant role in the piece, a song where everyone else serves as a foil to Zheng Fan.

The band's warm-up and opening act is usually performed by either Zheng Fan or Doris. Doris's extensive repertoire allows her to perfectly capture the audience's attention with the most suitable melodies for these two instruments, instantly immersing them in the atmosphere of the live performance.

Even if the lighting is only used to a minimum during the warm-up, it is still sufficient.

Zheng Fan's favorite thing was for him to start the performance.

Not to mention the setting of this performance. To open this grand show in the capital with an illusion? Even if no one in the audience knows the true face beneath this sheet of iron, it's already crazy enough.

The initial broken chords were only minimally guided, reflecting Doris's confusion and bewilderment when she suddenly saw Zheng Fan.

Immediately following, metal-covered fingers brutally crushed, sharp claws scraped across the steel strings, accompanied by a rapid rhythm and sparks, leading the spirits of everyone present to soar upwards.

Tens of thousands of people who had already entered the venue couldn't contain their enthusiastic screams as the notes began to play.

Even the other musicians backstage got goosebumps and their scalps tingled when they heard this rhythm.

They had only just begun, yet they had already achieved the basic goal of warming up the crowd.

Fans of the Monastery Band were initially worried about whether the young band could perform consistently when they shared the stage with renowned musicians for the first time, given that the Monastery Band was still at the heart of this large-scale joint performance.

Now, Zheng Fan has shown them with a single move that all their worries were unnecessary.

The pressure always falls on other musicians.

After the performance ended, Zheng Fan, satisfied, stopped playing and ran away.

Many men and women in the audience screamed and shouted "Gundam's" name, but the easygoing Mr. Gundam could do whatever he wanted on stage; playing the guitar and then running away was just the beginning for him.

Doris had originally wanted Zheng Fan to speak, but after thinking about it, she realized that in this relatively formal occasion, even the music master probably wouldn't say anything good, so she took the microphone herself.

“It’s been three months.” Her gentle voice quickly silencing the noise that had risen to the scene. “Three months have passed since the disaster. But three months doesn’t mean it’s over. For many, this disaster may take the rest of their lives to remember…”

"And many others will forever remain only in our memories."

Although she was gentle, she didn't mince words.

Those with sensitive hearts immediately thought of their relatives and friends who had died in the disaster upon hearing this, and their eyes involuntarily welled up with tears.

“So this performance is a thank you,” Doris said. “Thank you to everyone watching, thank you for surviving. And thank you to those who died so that we could stand and sit here.”

Backstage, Tickman fumbled for a button in his hand. It was the button that Bedok had given to Doris during the earthquake to fire the poison bullets; it was the last thing he left behind, and he gave it to Tickman in the end.

Three years later, the two old friends were ultimately unable to meet again.

Tickman had many things to thank him for, but he hadn't said them yet. Biddock felt guilty towards Tickman, believing he was responsible for those three years of Tickman's suffering.

But Tickman just wanted to see him one more time, to drink together, and to boast about the amazing things they had done during the years they hadn't seen each other.

Without a doubt, even without boasting, he knew that his old friend was a very prominent figure in Jiangwen Street at the time.

After saying these simple words, Doris and her group left the stage amidst cheers. If they had played a few more pieces, there would have been no difference between starting the show and not starting it at all; there were still quite a few people who hadn't entered yet.

"Wow! We were supposed to be the opening act! After that performance, we were totally embarrassed!" Backstage, the "Nolan Knights" band, who were supposed to be the opening act, were extremely nervous. Their band name was chosen in honor of the late Lord Wayne, and they had written many songs about him, even contributing soundtracks to well-known films, which made them an instant hit.

However, as the waiting group passed by the monastery band, Doris smiled and said "Good luck," and their dissatisfaction vanished.

A nun? She's practically an angel!

"Where's Mr. Gundam...?" Doris asked after looking around backstage.

"It ran straight out. Did it drink too much water before going on stage?" someone replied, pointing to the door, making a little joke.

Gao Song put his hands on his hips and said, "I really can't sit still, but that's about right. We should warm up."

Hearing this, the others present were puzzled. Wasn't that amazing opening performance a warm-up?

However, there was no answer to the questions, and the members of the monastery band left the backstage area one after another.

Besides Tao Zhi.

"What are you going to do? Aren't you going?"

"Ah, just a small group." Tao Zhi shrugged. Since he wasn't a combat specialist, it wasn't appropriate for him to go to this kind of event; he could only stay here and announce the time.

……

With most people having entered, there were almost no seats left; the venue was packed.

However, many people still lingered outside the stadium. They didn't have tickets, but there was a large screen outside the stadium broadcasting the live broadcast, so many people just made do with what they could find there.

I can join in the atmosphere, and it's close by, so I can say that I was there back then.

However, with the decrease in the number of people, the authorities' operations became less covert and more open.

As Hong Yiyi listened to her subordinate's report through her earpiece, although she had expected it, the number of criminals they had directly stopped and arrested before the event even started was still quite staggering.

As it turns out, the statement from the Metropolitan Government's office still failed to intimidate a significant number of people, and the majority were simply trying to muddy the waters.

But it doesn't matter, they've got them all caught today.

She sat in a command vehicle, where the surveillance cameras in front of her could see every aspect of the stadium.

Next to him was Zhong Zuo, who was writing on the spot with a pen in hand.

“Your inspiration is really high today too,” Hong Yiyi said with a smile, glancing at Zhong Zuo as she took a moment to breathe.

“Sometimes different inspirations can communicate with each other. I can feel the atmosphere emanating from the scene. If I had to describe a moment when destinies converge, then this moment could be considered one.” Zhong Zuo looked up at the lively scene in the stadium being broadcast from inside the car.

Hong Yiyi nodded, but her smile faded slightly as she became serious: "With our current level of blockade, it will be difficult for extremists relying on blood-red factors and weapons to sneak in. Fantasy factors are also restricted, so it looks relatively safe on the surface."

“It’s just a show,” Zhong Zuo replied. “You know that people in the capital have endless tricks up their sleeves.”

"Yes, so we're also waiting to see when they'll make their next move. The warm-up act is over, and the show is about to officially begin."

Just then, the camera feed changed, and a new report came through Hong Yiyi's communication channel.

"A large number of armed men have appeared at the intersection of Tiyu East Seventh Street!"

"They really came." Hong Yiyi frowned. "But where did these armed men come from?"

Looking at the armored forces and even surface-to-surface missiles appearing on the screen, Hong Yiyi thought to herself.

(End of this chapter)