From the Ship of Fools to Earl of Wugang

The clerk returned and found Edmund standing in front of the bulletin board, saying, "If you're interested in local policies, you can go to the library; they have a comprehensive collection of newspapers."

"Thank you. I really should have understood why there were so many empty warehouses here before renting them."

The clerk didn't try to explain, but simply handed him the documents: "This is a structural problem, and it will take more than one person to solve it."

As I left the council chamber, the sun was setting on the sea.

Edmund walked along the square toward the hotel, passing through the busiest commercial street in the port area, when a neon sign that suddenly lit up caught his attention.

Magenta lights outlined the two cursive characters "Shedding Clothes," and the promotional poster in front of the door was quite bold. The promotional text, however, was much more subtle than the images, promising only song and dance, drinks, and the most unforgettable night in the twilight harbor.

Many well-dressed people entered through the main entrance, while some less-than-ideal-looking workers smoked nearby.

Edmund remembered the hotel receptionist telling him that if he wanted to recapture the feeling of a big city, he should go stripping at night.

This seems to be an effective way to obtain local information.

Edmund bought the ticket, handed his trench coat to the cloakroom, and then walked down a corridor covered with a dark red carpet.

The club retains the basic structure of a theater. No band was seen, perhaps due to the use of some high-end sound equipment. A semi-circular stage sits in the center of the hall, flanked by more ordinary tables and chairs. The second floor features private boxes separated by curtains.

The reliefs on the wall intertwine with the vines and grapevines, the scents of tobacco, perfume and alcohol are distinct but not overpowering, and the light flows down the wisps of smoke like a hot spring.

This place didn't seem to have any "quiet corners" designed for it. Edmund, holding a glass of "Tequila Sunset" recommended by the sommelier, casually found a seat and sat down, observing the other guests around him.

He saw clerks with red anchors on their clothes, well-dressed middle-aged businessmen, several flamboyant hippies, and women lingering among the customers.

The lights dimmed, and a woman in a deep red robe walked onto the stage, her body tightly wrapped in red bandages symbolizing muscles and tendons.

She untied one layer, then another, and another—

This must be a magic trick; no human could remove their clothes so gently.

Soft music accompanied the dancers' movements as they gradually quickened, their robes, gloves, and neck ornaments flowing gracefully along their body movements to different positions on the stage.

As the clothing was removed, the sparkling gems were revealed—it turned out that the dancer used jewels covering her entire body to showcase her graceful curves.

As the last veil slipped away, the emotions in the audience reached a fever pitch. Edmund felt a spiritual energy spreading through the applause, the music, and the fluttering clothes below the stage.

That force seemed to ignite excitement in the crowd, making everyone dizzy, hot-headed, and drenched in sweat, to the point that they wanted to break free from their restraints.

The dockworker sat up straight again, complaining that his company employee had loosened his tie, while the businessman's eyes were glazed with drunkenness. The chaotic audience erupted in lively conversation, and the dancers gently listened to their guests' troubles.

Edmund pulled the dancer who sat down next to him into his arms and asked softly, "Miss, I am a very studious person. Could you please tell me what 'the desire for food based on sight' is?"

[Rhyming verses - Visual and dietary desires: All senses are enhanced, and all emotions are deepened.]

[The first-tier influence, closely aligned with the pillar 'Alcohol,' can be easily discerned by discerning apprentices. If collected properly, it can be used as material in rituals or to deepen understanding of certain skills.]

The dancer's enchanting smile and the fingers that were circling Edmund's chest froze completely.

Upon closer inspection, Edmund noticed that the light brown-haired girl had small pieces of gold leaf pasted around her eyes, and that she was a qualified candidate.

[Gloria Moore, 22 years old, a qualified member of the Path of Abundance. She is a member of the Shedding Club, learning to perceive the vitality of life through dance and communal celebration.]

She was specially trained to listen to the private matters revealed by her guests due to excitement, fatigue, and alcohol, and had already reaped considerable rewards tonight.

The dancer quickly smiled again, snuggled into Edmund's arms, and whispered in his ear, "Where did you hear that word? I've worked here for two years, and this is the first time I've met a customer who would ask a dancer about rhythm."

"I just saw it and thought it was a local quirk used to entertain guests at gatherings—it goes well with drinks, though."

Edmund raised his glass, the orange-red liquid swirling with the ice, avoiding the dancer's inquisitive eyes.

He cared more about platitudes than about enjoying himself.

The dancer quickly smiled: "Then you should like it here. The club values ​​the experience of its guests."

A practiced answer would obviously not go on to explain the origin of "the desire for food based on sight".

Edmund nodded and gently pushed her away. "I want to meet someone who can answer this question. Please tell the club's management that I'd like to purchase a resource trading channel."

The dancer's smile faded: "Please wait a moment, I'll go ask for you."

Edmund watched her walk through the increasingly lively audience and behind the curtain on one side of the stage.

The second dancer has taken the stage, adorned with numerous silver sequins. Her movements produce a delicate, fish-scale-like sound, drawing the audience's attention.

Edmund put his drink aside and overheard the Red Anchor Development Company employees talking to the dancers about the "nasty" discovery under the breakwater, while his companions just stood by and did nothing about it.

It seems the local rally plan worked well; the money came from the people themselves.

The method of gathering intelligence by molting is not mysterious; it provides everyone with a sufficiently relaxed position and then asks them to wait patiently.

About five minutes later, the dancer returned to Edmund's side and patted him on the shoulder: "Please come with me."

Edmund got up and followed her across the side of the stage.

Behind the curtain, everything was in perfect order: actors touched up their makeup in front of mirrors, costume designers checked the costumes to be used in the next scene, and a young woman placed red bandages stained with sweat and powder into a glass box.

[Stained skin. Once used as a bandage for a high-ranking being of the 'Path of Abundance,' it thus possesses some influence from the 'Wine' pillar...]

Is that thing some kind of supernatural artifact? Edmondo glanced at it.

From this perspective, stage performances themselves bring in tickets, drinks, and information, and the rhythms generated by the performances can also become material for rituals.

Even without considering the cultivation of extraordinary individuals, the way the Shedding Club operates is enough to make many entertainment venue owners in my previous life feel ashamed.

The dancer led him up a narrow staircase, through a quiet second-floor corridor, and stopped at a door at the end, opening it for him.

"Please come in, the lady is waiting for you."

Edmund glanced inside and saw that it was an office before going in.

It was much quieter here than in the lobby; the music from downstairs passed through the walls, leaving only a continuous, soft drumbeat.

Aside from the bright green peacock tail feathers on the wall, the most eye-catching thing inside the house is a black-haired lady.

She wore a bright purple silk dress, her black hair was styled in a bun, and her gentle, oriental-style face was so captivating that one could look at her for a long time.

[Lighia Shaw, this is her alias. She is the manager of the Shedding Club, a first-tier "Reveler" on the Path of Abundance, and a participant in "Bacchus's Grand Drama." She also has other identities.]

She can sense the waxing and waning of life force and mobilize her own and others' energy within joyous environments such as music, dance, and feasting. She has mastered several esoteric rituals, including the "Beast-Splitting Ritual" and the "Carnival Flute Ritual."

She is looking for a partner who can provide authentication services.