Fangzhou Xier, starting with failing the art exam

Lacey gave up arguing with her.

Trying to reason with a madman is itself a crazy thing.

"Alright, then I wish you success in your great endeavors." He turned to leave.

"So, Miss Artist, what brings you here?"

“I want to follow you,” Arturo said without hesitation.

"Follow me?" Lacey stopped and turned to look at her.

“Yes.” Arturo’s gaze was fixed on him.

"You are a contradiction."

"You use the most sincere words to stir up the emotions of the people, but your heart remains unmoved."

"I want to know, where exactly is your true self hidden?"

Lacey was amused by her blunt, almost offensive declaration.

“We in the Workers’ Party don’t support idlers.” He looked Arturo up and down, observing his slender yet curvaceous figure and his hands, which clearly hadn’t done any work, and shook his head.

"What we need here are hard-working and capable individuals, not artists who are lazy and ignorant of farming."

“You will need me.” For the first time, a smile appeared on Arturo’s face, but it was both innocent and eerie.

Lacey remained silent for a moment.

He had to admit that the madman had a point.

Her Originium Arts, if used in the right context, can indeed have an effect beyond imagination.

Whether it's to boost morale, intimidate the enemy, or even deliver a psychological blow to a specific target...

“Alright.” He finally nodded. “You can come with me.”

"However, you must abide by the discipline of the Workers' Party and obey my orders. If you do anything that jeopardizes our cause..."

Lacey didn't finish her sentence, but the warning in her eyes was clear.

“Deal,” Arturo replied cheerfully, like a child who had just received a beloved toy.

And so, this scene unfolded on the streets of Salem.

Workers' Party leader Lacey walked in front, followed by a young girl in a gothic kilt carrying a cello, the two at a distance that was neither too close nor too far apart.

……

Holy Lytanian Empire: Chapter Twenty-One: Serafina, You're Jealous of Me

After initial renovations, the streets of the slum are much cleaner. The garbage heaps and puddles that used to be everywhere are gone. In their place are patrolling members of the Workers' Party Action Team and residents who come and go in a hurry but whose faces are filled with hope.

Lacey led Arturo to the Workers' Party headquarters, where a Workers' Party flag, composed of a crossed sickle and hammer, hung at the entrance, fluttering slightly in the wind.

All eyes were on the girl in the black dress who was holding the cello.

Her demeanor was completely out of place here.

Taylor was leading a team of scouts carrying newly arrived timber when he saw Lacey. He put down the timber, wiped the sweat from his brow with his rough sleeve, and strode over.

"Boss, you're back. And who is this?" His gaze swept over Arturo.

“Arturo, an artist,” Lacey introduced briefly, “is also one of us from today onwards.”

This introduction caused a small stir in the crowd.

artist?

What they need are blacksmiths, carpenters, and tough men who can fight. What can a girl who plays the violin do?

Lacey ignored the whispers, patted Taylor on the shoulder, and was about to say a few words.

Arturo bypassed him and went straight to Serafina, who had rushed over upon hearing the news.

“Your heart is very genuine.” Arturo tilted his head and looked at her.

Serafina was stunned.

As an expert who can sense other people's emotions, she is used to "seeing" others. This is the first time someone has "seen" her in such a direct way.

"Alright," Lacey's voice rang out just in time, breaking the standoff between the two.

"Taylor, take Miss Arturo around to familiarize herself with the surroundings and find her a clean room to settle in."

"Her violin is very valuable, be careful."

"Okay, boss."

Taylor scratched his head. Although he didn't understand the situation, following orders was his duty.

He gave Arturo a simple, honest smile: "Miss Artist, this way please."

Arturo said nothing more, and followed Taylor with her cello in her arms.

Only after the two figures disappeared around the corner of the warehouse did Serafina turn her gaze away. She looked at Lacey and said:

"Lassie, that girl is dangerous."

“I’ve never met anyone like her. Her mind is in turmoil. I can’t see through her, but my gut tells me she’s going to be a big problem.”

“I know,” Lacey replied calmly.

He paused, then continued, "Our cause needs all kinds of talents. Her abilities are very special, and if used properly, their impact will be immeasurable."

"Don't worry, I'm sensible."

Seeing that Lacey was determined, Serafina did not try to persuade her further.

She knew Lacey; he never did anything he wasn't sure of.

She could only suppress this worry in her heart.

"Any news from Miss Gertrude?" Lacey changed the subject.

Serafina quickly composed herself and took out a folded note from her pocket. "Heinrich sent word that Miss Gertrude has agreed to your proposal and has decided to come to Salem to meet with you in person."

"The time is set for 3 p.m. the day after tomorrow, at the Rye Cafe in the east of the city."

"The owner of that shop is one of our people, absolutely reliable. I have already arranged for the area to be cleared and security to ensure the privacy of the meeting."

“Very good.” Lacey nodded, a look of approval on her face.

Serafina always handled things perfectly, saving him a lot of trouble.

He turned and walked toward his office, where piles of documents and plans awaited his attention.

Watching Lacey's departing figure, Serafina's worries about the mysterious girl did not lessen.

She took a deep breath and turned to walk towards the temporary accommodation that Arturo had just been arranged for—a small room converted from a storage room.

When she opened the door, Arturo was sitting on the edge of the bed, carefully wiping her cello.

“I think we need to talk,” Serafina said bluntly.

Arturo put down the velvet in his hand, looked up at her quietly, and said nothing.

“I don’t know what your purpose is in approaching Lacey, nor do I know what the truth you’re talking about really is,” Serafina said calmly.

“But I must tell you, Lacey is doing something very important, and very dangerous.”

"It concerns the fate of tens of thousands of people in Salem, and even throughout Letania."

"I will not allow anyone, for any reason, to destroy it or harm it."

She took a step forward, looking down at Arturo sitting on the edge of the bed.

He then continued, "I can sense the chaos within you, a force that you yourself may not be able to control."

“If you try to use it to influence Lacey or cause any harm to our cause, I guarantee that I will make you disappear from here, whether Lacey agrees or not.”

Serafina spoke these words with absolute certainty.

Given her personality, it's unprecedented for her to utter such harsh, almost threatening words.

This is not only out of her personal feelings for Lacey, but also out of her dedication to protecting this cause.

She witnessed how Lacey transformed from an avenger into a leader followed by thousands, and she also saw firsthand the dramatic changes that took place in the slums under the leadership of the Workers' Party.

All of this was hard-won, and she would never allow someone of unknown origin to destroy it.

Despite Serafina's undisguised hostility and threats, Arturo showed no fear or anger.

She even tilted her head back with great interest to carefully examine Serafina.

“Anger, worry, loyalty, protection… and an emotion called jealousy that you yourself are unaware of.”

Arturo, holding her cello, slowly stood up, walked to Serafina, tilted her head, as if admiring a work of art.

"You're much more genuine than him."

After saying this nonsensical remark, she picked up her violin, brushed past Serafina, and walked out of the room.

Serafina stood frozen in place.

envy?

She never imagined that this word would be associated with her.

Her feelings for Lacey were clearly admiration, following, and camaraderie...

But... but the moment Arturo uttered that word, she found herself unable to immediately and confidently refute it.

A strange sense of irritation welled up inside me.

Serafina called out to Arturo, "What do you know!"

"How could an artist like you, who has never experienced hardship and only knows how to play decadent tunes, possibly understand what we are doing!"

"You have no idea what this cause means to us, to those struggling at the bottom!"

These words are very unlike Serafina's.

She was trying to change the subject to cover up her inner turmoil.

However, Arturo did not refute her. Instead, he stopped in his tracks and began to speak slowly, in a narrative tone:

"A long time ago, there was a little girl."

"She was born with the ability to hear the voices in other people's hearts, and those voices were noisy and chaotic, giving her nightmares every night."

"To help her, her mother taught her to play the cello. Her mother said that music is the purest language in the world, and when she focuses on playing, she can block out those noises."

"The little girl loved her mother very much. One day, through the music of her piano, she heard her mother's deepest thoughts—her mother wanted to become a war correspondent."

"So, Mom left, went to a faraway place, and never came back. She died in a border conflict."

"At her mother's funeral, the little girl played one last piece of music for her, wanting to use the music to tell her mother in heaven that she understood her choice."

"However, her music exposed the true feelings of all the guests who came to the funeral."

"Some people are cursing Mom in their hearts as an unfaithful and crazy woman, some are plotting how to seize the family property, and some are coveting Dad's position..."

“Those relatives and friends who usually acted so respectable to her, tore off all their pretenses as she played the piano, and like a pack of ugly wild beasts, they tore at each other, cursed and insulted one another.”

"That funeral turned into a farce."

The story of Arturo is finished.

She didn't look at Serafina, but instead looked down at the cello in her arms.

"From that day on, the little girl understood."

"Lies are the cornerstone of how this world works."

"People use lies to cover themselves up, to protect themselves, and to hurt others."

"And what she has to do is use music and her abilities to tear off the masks of these lies and let everyone embrace the truth."

Serafina fell silent, staring blankly at the girl before her.

“I won’t hurt Lacey,” Arturo said softly.

"Because he is the most unreal person I have ever met, I want to see what kind of truth is hidden in his heart."

“As for you…” Arturo raised his head and looked Serafina in the eye for the first time.

"Your authenticity is also very interesting."