Chapter 321 - 321: Music Really Is Magic!

"Let's not. Scalped tickets are so expensive! Even though I really like Astra, I guess I'll just listen to the album. Paying several times the original price is just..."

Even though she said that, Belle's eyes glistened with unshed tears.

"Just buy them. We aren't short on money, and besides, we have a commission right now, don't we? The money we earn should be spent on occasions like this. Your happiness is what matters most!"

Wise had no problem spending a little extra on his dear sister.

"Really? Thank you, Brother! You're the best! Mwah! Mwah!"

After planting several enthusiastic kisses on Wise's cheeks, Belle happily went to prepare for the upcoming commission.

Not long afterward, Wise personally headed to the designated Hollow. With his ability to alter cognition, there was no need to worry about being recognized.

Besides, given the connections he had built by now, what did it matter even if he openly revealed his true identity?

"The client should be around here," Wise muttered as he scanned the area.

It didn't take long for him to spot a clearing within the Ballet Twins, where several Ethereals surrounded a woman dressed in red.

To his surprise, that woman was none other than Astra Yao.

Just as he was about to step in, Astra began to sing. Her clear, ethereal voice, carried by magnificent melodies, swept across the area, defeating every Ethereal before he even had the chance to act.

"Thank you all for liking my music~ Oh? It seems there's still one more audience member."

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a figure standing outside the Ballet Twins. The moment she recognized him, surprise spread across her face.

"Oh my, it's you, Wise. Why are you here all by yourselves with a Bangboo?"

Wise was about to answer, but Belle, who was controlling Eous, beat him to it. Waddling forward on the Bangboo's tiny legs, she hurried straight over to Astra.

"Astra! It's really you! I'm so excited to see you in person! I never imagined we'd be the ones to receive your commission on the Inter-Knot!" Belle exclaimed, waving Eous's tiny arms excitedly.

"Oh my, what an adorable Bangboo. And it can even talk. You must be the younger sister Wise mentioned. Your name is Belle, right?"

Astra asked that with a warm smile.

Hearing that, Belle became even more excited. She was so thrilled that even Eous's little steps turned clumsy.

Astra then shifted her gaze to Wise, lightly covering her mouth with one hand as a troubled expression appeared on her face.

"I never expected we'd meet under circumstances like these. But now you've put me in quite a difficult position. I'm honestly conflicted."

"What's wrong? Don't worry. Belle and I are legendary Proxies. We won't let anything happen to you, Astra."

At his words, Astra gently shook her head.

"I'm not worried about the Hollow. I'm wondering... whether I should punish you just a little. We've known each other for so long and been through so much together, yet I had no idea you were hiding an identity like this. It almost feels like I never really knew you at all..."

As she spoke, Astra puffed out her cheeks slightly and rested her hands on her hips, putting on an adorably sulky expression that practically said, 'I'm upset, so you'd better make it up to me.'

"That's right! My brother's always like that, but I won't keep any secrets. I'll tell you everything!"

Belle's spirited declaration immediately made Astra burst into laughter, her feigned anger vanishing without a trace.

"Pfft... Haha, you two~. This really is an unexpected surprise. Out of all the Proxies on the Inter-Knot, the ones accompanying me on this journey turned out to be you. I knew it, fate truly favors me~. Today's treasure hunt is definitely going to be a success!"

As she spoke, Astra's gentle smile was directed at Wise alone.

Watching the two of them, Belle couldn't help feeling both envious and just a little jealous.

"Oh, I wanted to ask earlier... what could be so important that it requires you to get personally involved, Astra?"

Wise couldn't help but feel puzzled. Someone of Astra's status could easily send bodyguards or simply post a commission for others to search on her behalf.

Astra, however, answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"It's a treasure everyone covets! Of course, I had to come myself. The legendary recording of Joran de Winter's final performance! I told you before, didn't I? The version circulating on the market isn't the real one at all."

She then explained that the album being sold commercially was merely a re-recording of Joran's classic songs, created as a marketing gimmick to boost sales.

The reason she knew the truth was that she had unexpectedly attended the artist's final performance when she was little.

By then, Joran had already left his management company and been forced to stop performing because of legal disputes.

Both Fugue and Odeum claimed ownership of Joran's performance rights, and one of those companies was the very one Astra was currently signed with.

Despite owning his own voice, Joran was no longer free to perform. After his death, that unreleased performance became his final work.

Only recently had rumors begun spreading across Inter-Knot that a privately recorded copy of the performance still existed.

"How should I put it... the atmosphere that day was... incredibly pure. Joran was in incredible form, too. We were just talking, and then he suddenly started improvising."

"The way he interacted with the fans felt so natural. Everyone sang along, our voices blending together in perfect harmony... It's impossible to put that feeling into words. It almost felt as though we had summoned something truly extraordinary."

Although Wise couldn't fully understand what she meant, he could vaguely grasp a part of it.

"Maybe it was the power of music. Perhaps that's why ancient mages used chants to cast their magic," he said, voicing his thoughts.

"Wise, you're right. Music really is magic!"

Astra's voice became noticeably more animated before gradually softening with emotion.

"It was after that performance that I realized something. My heart skipped a beat, and a sense of destiny washed over me... I knew that one day, I would become a musician."

"It sounds like this album means far more to you than just a rare recording. I'm glad I'm the Proxy who gets to help you find it," Wise said with a gentle smile.

"Mm. Then I'll leave it in your hands, Wise."

Standing beside them, Belle silently grumbled to herself.

'But I'm here too! Astra, stop looking only at my brother and pay attention to me as well!'

With that, the two of them, along with the Bangboo, continued exploring the Ballet Twins.

Since Wise was already familiar with this Hollow, the journey progressed smoothly.

He and Astra chatted as they advanced, effortlessly defeating every Ethereal they encountered along the way, while Belle, trapped in her powerless Bangboo body, could only watch from the sidelines.

Before long, they came across a timeworn document. The moment Astra recognized the handwriting, a bright smile spread across her face.

"It's an expedition log... I knew it. I had a feeling today would go smoothly!"

Then, as though something had suddenly occurred to her, the excitement on her face quickly gave way to a serious expression.

"Come to think of it... Weren't there rumors back then that only truly great music could summon the Marionettes of the Ballet Twins? There was someone on Inter-Knot with the ID 'SofaCushions&PotatoChips' who claimed to possess a bootleg recording of Joran's final performance."

"They were absolutely convinced. They believed that the album was a genuine musical masterpiece... and that it would definitely attract the Marionettes."

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