Chapter 1290 Current State of Initial Heart City

Chapter 1289 The True Cage <TOC> Chapter 1291 Forbidden Entry

Translator: SumTLMan

After a comprehensive tour of Initial Heart City, the architectural styles are as varied as the colors of a rainbow. Though with time, one grows accustomed to the plethora of designs; what remains captivating are its inhabitants.

These individuals, brought in by Freud from various corners of the world, all hail from different linguistic backgrounds. Yet, now, they harmoniously coexist within the confines of Initial Heart City. Most notably, their faces are frequently adorned with smiles, reflecting the nascent world around them. Their radiant expressions mirror the hopeful glint of a sunrise, brimming with optimism for the future.

“At first, these newcomers to the dream realm seemed lost, wandering aimlessly,” Freud explained. “However, with Marilyn’s ascension to leadership, her reforms energized the populace, drawing their passions towards city affairs. Gradually, they began to resonate with their identity as denizens of Initial Heart City.”

Consequently, the masses rediscovered their purpose in life, and from chaos, Initial Heart City emerged as an epitome of order and harmony.

Angel remarked, “It seems that this leader, Marilyn, played an instrumental role. By focusing on the residents’ life goals, has she perhaps discerned some truths about this world?”

Freud pondered for a moment, “Marilyn is an incredibly astute woman. While she never delved into the intricacies of the Wilderness of Dreams, I’m certain she harbors her own speculations. By the way, Jon once shared some insights with me.”

“Before her tenure as a city leader, Marilyn had consulted Jon about the city’s chronicles. From that moment, their paths intertwined,” Freud disclosed, a detail Angel was aware of.

“Over time, regarding city development strategies, she often sought Jon’s wisdom. Their bond strengthened, and she grew increasingly reverential towards him. Occasionally, they would discuss peculiarities of the dream realm’s newcomers, such as their immortal nature. It seems she hoped to extract some answers from Jon.”

“However, she never approached me with these inquiries. So, I’ve always feigned ignorance.”

After hearing Freud’s revelations, Angel nodded noncommittally. As a city leader, Marilyn’s perspective ought to transcend the immediate. It would indeed be strange if she weren’t curious about this world. Yet, as Freud pointed out, she embodies a blend of intelligence and caution, discerning when to ask and when to remain silent. She possesses an innate ability to gauge sensitivities, treading carefully when it comes to delicate matters.

Angel remarked, “There’s no need to concern yourself with the rest. As long as she can fulfill her duties as a city lord proficiently, you may, at your discretion, unveil some fragments of the world’s reality to her.”

Angel was indifferent to whether Marilyn perceived anything or not. Even if he were to divulge the essence of the Wilderness of Dreams, it wouldn’t matter. Her physical form was no more, and now she was but a dweller in the dream realm, posing no risk of revealing secrets to the outer world.

Regarding the future, once he gained control over the core powers of the Wilderness of Dreams, its affairs would eventually be shared with outsiders. By then, with the sharp wit of wizards, they could likely discern much of the true nature of the world. There was little worry that Marilyn would spill the beans.

Freud nodded. Currently, he was quite pleased with City Lord Marilyn. However, if Angel expressed discontent with her, he naturally wouldn’t dare to defy. Fortunately, Angel was unbothered by Marilyn’s minor antics.

…

After exploring the majority of Initial Heart City, they arrived at the Ocean Theatre.

As they stepped through the grand entrance of the theater, the cascade of piano notes greeted them. Yet, the melody was not harmonious, hinting at the novice fingers dancing upon the keys.

“Another mistake!” A familiar male voice chastised, tinged with a touch of rebuke.

A stifled sob echoed, followed by a slightly aggrieved cry, “I’ve been playing for three hours now. I’m tired. Making a few mistakes should be expected, right?”

“Don’t fool me. Do you really believe I don’t know whether you’re truly tired or not?”

“But… but I’m mentally exhausted. My head aches, and I just can’t grasp it,” a childish voice tried to argue.

“It’s not that you can’t grasp it; it’s that you don’t want to.”

“Sunny practiced for only two hours. Why do I have to practice for so long?”

“She’s mastering vocal techniques, while you’re learning the piano. The two can’t be compared. Moreover, Sunny is more dedicated to her learning than you.”

As they conversed, the grand doors of the music hall swung open. The child perched on the custom-made piano bench seemed to sense an undertone. Suddenly pivoting, his gaze was drawn to the entryway.

“Master Tyson! Master Tyson, rescue me!” After a brief pause, behind Freud, a tall silhouette emerged. The boy’s eyes gleamed with intensified radiance. “It’s the Lord! The Lord has returned! Mentor Jon, he’s back, does this mean I can skip my piano practice today?”

The young pianist was none other than Alda, the orphan from the past. And guiding him in the art of piano was the ever-teaching, never-resting Jon.

Jon’s eyes shifted towards the entrance, and immediately, his gaze settled on Angel. His face inadvertently lit up with a comforting smile. 

However, the sight of the towering man behind Angel caused his expression to slightly tighten.

Moments later, the room echoed with Alda’s naive piano melodies interwoven with subdued sobs. Alda dared not shed tears now. Supervising him were not the gentle-hearted Jon but… Angel and Freud.

While Alda played, Angel was lost in thought.

“My Lord, is it wise to let Mr. Jon and Lord Phantom Master have a private conversation?” Concern was evident in Freud’s expression.

“There’s no harm,” responded Angel, unfazed. “Whether it’s Mentor Jon or Mentor Sanders, they both understand boundaries.” Moreover, with Angel’s current godly perspective of the Wilderness of Dreams, he could discern their exchange effortlessly.

Jon was curious about Angel’s past journeys, while Sanders posed questions related to Jon’s homeland.

Both spoke candidly, yet both were guarded. Jon, wishing to protect Earth’s information from powerful wizards, shared merely cultural anecdotes. These stories piqued Sanders’ interest.

Sanders refrained from discussing much about Angel. Certain experiences were challenging to elucidate, and it felt more fitting for Angel to narrate them himself.

In Angel’s perception, at the very least, their discourse was measured and amicable.

“Do not fret over Jon,” Angel deftly redirected the topic, his eyes filled with curiosity as he inquired of Freud, “What of Alda and Sunny lately? And how fares the orphanage?”

Freud gave a slight nod, sharing the details at a contemplative pace.

Roughly half an hour later, Sanders and Jon returned from the adjacent hall. Jon stayed at Ocean Theatre, sharing some moments of conversation with Angel, while Sanders departed from the theatre, intent on exploring the surroundings alone.

Confronted with Jon once more, Angel refrained from delving into the substance of Jon’s talk with Sanders, and instead ventured into recent events of Jon’s life.

“… All things considered, life has been decent,” Jon paused, reflecting, “Recently, I’ve been more focused. There are certain documents in reality I hadn’t properly compiled. I thought about revisiting them.” He hesitated and sighed, “But on second thought, it might be moot. After all, what I’ve been documenting is the history of the Goldfinch Empire. Its relevance in the Wilderness of Dreams is rather limited.”

Owing to gaps in the historical records of the Goldfinch Empire, Jon had long harbored a passion for compiling such material. Yet as he pointed out, even with everything laid out, its utility within the Wilderness of Dreams remained questionable.

Angel pondered briefly. It seemed Jon had caught the “research” bug. Being an academic at heart, Jon’s penchant naturally leaned towards scholarly pursuits. However, of late, his endeavors oscillated between teaching music and collaborating with Marilyn on urban development projects.

While he occasionally engaged with scholars from Initial Heart City, Jon’s expansive perspective often eclipsed theirs in every realm save regional and historical knowledge. Thus, their dialogues rarely ignited intellectual sparks. Conversely, exchanges with certain artisans offered Jon profound artistic insights.

After mulling it over, Angel proposed, “How about this? I’ll bring you some materials from the real world. Should you find yourself listless, perhaps they might provide a new avenue for exploration.”

“What kind of materials?”

Angel’s eyes flickered with intrigue, “A transcendent artifact.”

For Jon, who grew up in a society dominated by scientific values, the allure of the extraordinary had always been enticing, yet elusive. When Angel offered him the chance to study such an artifact, Jon’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

“Studying such extraordinary items demands caution,” Angel warned, “Even within the Wilderness of Dreams, after all, we are dealing with transcendent energy. Who knows what could happen?”

Jon nodded in agreement, “No problem. If I could also bring those experimental tools I’ve stockpiled in the warehouse, that would be ideal.”

“Of course,” Angel responded. Back when Jon was in better health, he had crafted many rudimentary experimental tools for basic physical tests and chemical experiments. But as his mobility dwindled over time, these tools were left gathering dust in the storage.

After discussing some of Jon’s past experiences, which he had simplified for the conversation, Angel prepared to leave. 

Before departing, Jon hesitated for a moment, “You must’ve heard about what Leon mentioned during his last visit? How’s the situation at the mansion now, and how’s Leon?”

Angel had refrained from discussing this matter previously. The servants affected by the Scarlet Sovereignty were many of those who grew up with Jon, and some were very close to him, like the mute servant.

Faced with Jon’s inquiry, Angel pondered for a moment and reassured with a smile, “Don’t worry, the matters at the mansion are mostly settled. Everything’s fine, and Leon is well.”

From Jon’s understanding of Angel, he sensed some concealment. However, since Angel had taken that formidable wizard mentor to the mansion, Jon believed the issues were probably mostly resolved. And regarding Leon, Angel would certainly not keep anything significant from him.

Upon reflecting on the matter, Jon decided not to probe Angel about his concealed affairs. He nodded slightly, “Go on your way. Don’t fret over me. I’ve carved a good life for myself here. You have your own path to tread, and I’d hate to be a stumbling block on your journey.”

With a gentle smile, Angel replied, “You’ve never been a hindrance. To me, you are the beacon in the darkest night, guiding my steps forward.”

After departing from the Ocean Theatre, a somber cloud began to overshadow Angel’s visage.

As he reached the entrance, Angel bumped into Freud, who had been waiting outside. Noticing Angel’s changed demeanor, Freud asked with a hint of concern, “My lord, did something go awry? Was your conversation with Mr. Jon not a pleasant one?”

“It has nothing to do with Mentor Jon,” Angel responded with a sigh, “The mention of the estate just unsettled me a tad.”

Intrigued, Freud prodded further, “Is this related to what your elder brother mentioned the last time?”

Nodding, Angel recalled how Freud had once shut down the orphanage temporarily to travel to the Old Land Continent due to the affairs of the estate. Now, confronted with the query, Angel chose to share the general details about the manor.

Upon finishing his recount, Angel lamented with a tinge of melancholy, “Now, those servants are left stranded there, facing their inevitable fate, devoid of any purpose, unable to foresee any future.”

After absorbing Angel’s tale, Freud sank into deep contemplation. After a significant pause, he suddenly proposed, “My lord, have you considered relocating them to the Wilderness of Dreams?”

Chapter 1289 The True Cage <TOC> Chapter 1291 Forbidden Entry