Chapter 1932 - 528: The Ripples Stirred by the Bell Sound Resonate in Everyone's Hearts (Part 2)

This is why he doesn't have a noble title, yet he's so wealthy.

The children exchanged glances, and the slightly older one muttered softly.

"But I saw Debicco go in..."

Horace laughed and patted him on the shoulder.

"I know, but your father is not like those people. We have to stand with the crowd that supports us!"

His wife, standing behind Horace, stared at the man in disbelief as if she'd just met her husband today.

Saint Sis above...

She had never seen anyone as brazen as this!

Citizens in all sorts of clothing queued up, like those in Twilight City waiting for relief.

However, they were ultimately a bit different.

Those well-dressed Thunder City citizens, from the hands of the ticket seller, received not the bread they depended on for survival, but "spiritual nourishment."

These tickets ranged from cheap standing tickets at five copper coins apiece to costly VIP boxes priced in the hundreds of silver pounds.

But regardless of the ticket price, they earned it with their sweat, not through the grace of the ticket seller or Prince Colin, to exchange for another's sweat.

Meanwhile, this grand theater was unlike Theoden's Summer Palace, and the stage's "Bell Sound" would ring for every audience member.

Debicco sat in the box the Baron occupied yesterday, while the stingy Mr. Horace eventually squeezed into the theater.

With his wife, each holding a child in their arms, they were pulling along the biggest one, standing in the back row of the theater.

Spotting the familiar face in the crowd, Debicco, sitting high up, spat lightly and cursed the show-off as truly shameless and hypocritical.

You don't have that 100 silver pounds, and neither does that prick?

What a poser!

Those with understanding apparently wouldn't fall for it, but unfortunately, in Thunder City of Aus Calendar 1054, people with understanding were too few.

At least those with understanding in this theater were far fewer than in that place called "Three-level Council" upriver on Rushing River.

Including Debicco, not a single person realized that this abstract character bought the standing ticket simply because he was cheap!

Winning hearts?

Ha-ha, Horace's aides weren't here today. He brought his family out for fun while everyone was at work, not out of cleverness.

Interestingly, not only did Debicco recognize him, but a few dock workers, also there to watch the excitement with standing tickets, recognized his face.

They had seen him in the newspaper, although not on the front page, but the sentence printed in the newspaper did touch them.

"...this city doesn't just belong to the respectable people, but also to those who are not yet respectable."

This was Mr. Horace's statement in Parliament.

Not just idle talk.

It was said that opening the technical school in the New Industrial Zone of Princess Aileen was his idea, and an old loom inside was donated by him.

Even though the machine was already broken at the time, the principal and teachers of the technical school spent some time repairing it.

Although there were many factory owners in Thunder City, he was probably the first and currently the only one willing to invest in the future of the poor.

After all, he truly had his "shares" in Thunder City.

They whispered among themselves for a while, hardly believing they could see such a distinguished gentleman here, and thus wagered on their beer for the night.

To decide who would pay for tonight's drinks, a braver fellow came over, feigned surprise, and extended his right hand.

"Hey, I think I know you, you're... that... uh..."

"Horace!"

Releasing one hand from his child's grasp, Horace smiled and shook the calloused hand, not minding that the man didn't know his name, shaking it firmly.

"And you are?"

"Joe, Joey." The man, built like a chimney, stammered in reply, clearly not expecting Mr. Horace to not only acknowledge him but also shake his hand and talk.

Saint Sis above... he just wanted to confirm that this guy was who he thought he was.

Not far away, some of Joey's fellows raised their fists excitedly, while others took off their hats in regret—it was clear who had lost the bet.

"Joe? Ha-ha, that's a good name. I wish you a pleasant day."

With those words, Horace threw a conspiratorial wink at his shy son.

He didn't care about this fishy character, he just wanted to prove to his son that he hadn't been lying.

See, your dad isn't stingy.

He's here for the people's support!

Unexpectedly, such a distinguished figure shook hands with him, Joey's cheeks turned red like a boiler in a steel factory, unsure of what to do.

It must be said, the dock workers of Thunder City were indeed too naïve.

The terrible Horace earned their goodwill without spending a penny.

Watching her husband full of bluster, this time his wife said nothing, merely glaring at their eldest son to keep him from running around.

No matter how many eye rolls she gave in private, this strict lady would never criticize her husband in public.

Although their love wasn't as grand and boundless as that of Miss Eloise, they had their own little family.

And—

Even bone-deep realist Mr. Horace couldn't help but shed a few tears for that tragic love as the thin curtain opened and fell.