Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 750 Did you meet an unexpected guest?
One hundred beeswax candles illuminated the main hall of Xiaoliang Palace. The faint aroma of burning beeswax filled the air, accompanied by the brisk playing of violinists on the side stage and the melodious tunes of the azura bagpipes, adding a touch of elegance to this magnificent hall.

The moonlight pouring down from the transparent skylight in the round vaulted ceiling flickered with mysterious light, casting a hazy veil over the ancient relics displayed in the glass display cases: stone tablets engraved with ancient characters, incomplete sculptures, vases that barely retained their intact appearance, and even a few ordinary pottery cups and stone jars... In fact, none of them were important things, but when displayed in this kind of occasion, they caught the attention of the guests just right, adding a few extra topics of conversation to this evening party, which was supposed to be a social occasion.

The host was still outside welcoming the guests, and the guests who had entered early had already gathered in twos and threes according to their own social circles, forming different small groups. Sometimes they laughed in low voices, sometimes they talked loudly, and some young and energetic nobles would point at the ancient relics displayed in the glass display cabinets, talking more eloquently than the orators of the ancient Methosh Empire. The amazed or admiring eyes of each female companion beside them would become a catalyst for their vanity, prompting them to continue to show off the meager knowledge they had.

It is not known whether Professor Heinrich should be happy that his unremitting efforts to promote archaeology have finally paid off, or whether he should be sad that for the upper class, these histories that were excavated after so much hardship are just a medium for showing off in front of the opposite sex. However, Linger thought that if it were him, as long as the amount of donations from these people was as strong as their desire to show off, then it would not be impossible to forgive them magnanimously.

In addition to the glass display cases, the most indispensable delicacies and desserts for the party have also been prepared. The rectangular tables that stand tall like coral reefs are piled with roast turkey, Leisenburg-style pigeon, smoked salmon, veal loin, Murtaugh-style lamb tenderloin, fried foie gras and other delicacies and cream-stuffed cucumbers, apricot cream tarts, carrot cake, ice cream and other desserts. Maids and waiters with decent smiles on their faces carry silver plates filled with wine glasses and shuttle between the guests and the dining table. The golden liquid in the transparent high-footed wine glasses is full of temptations that are difficult to describe in words. The home-brewed wine and champagne of the aristocratic estates are not comparable to the common goods on the market.

If Alice were here, she would have started eating without saying anything. However, the upper-class people who could attend such a party were proud of their status and would not do such a vulgar thing. To them, music or dance, food or wine were just decorations at the party. Even the archaeology that Professor Heinrich promoted was not that important. What was really important was themselves - the surname or identity behind each guest, and the social circle formed by these guests. This was the only reason for them to squeeze in.

Therefore, the sound of conversation was endless, which at one point suppressed the lively and cheerful music and pushed the prelude of the party to a climax.

"Ms. Elena, you are so beautiful. I wonder if I would have the honor to invite you to dance with me later?"

"No, I assure you that the company's finances are very healthy and this deal will not result in a loss. The reason we invited you is just to show our sincerity."

"Even the East Continent is crowded with people. What places on this planet are still undeveloped?"

"One of my merchant ships will return from Quiet Bay next year, loaded with jewels and jade from the East Continent. This business will bring me a profit of 20,000 pounds. Perhaps you should reconsider my previous suggestion."

"Ha, the shape of this statue is really strange. Is this the aesthetic taste of the ancients? Excuse me, even the retro trend cannot change the backwardness of this style. But speaking of statues, my personal exhibition will be held at the Losonov Palace in September this year. I wonder if Madam can come and visit?"

……

It's so noisy.

Ling'er had a blank expression on his face. He felt like a sea fish that had strayed into a freshwater lake. He was out of tune with the atmosphere here, and even trying to fit in was impossible because the living environments of both sides were so different. How could a person change his origin and nature?

"I understand your feelings, Mr. Green." A soft voice sounded beside his ear. Her breath was too close and almost blew into the young man's ear, causing him to subconsciously turn his head to avoid it. "This kind of social occasion is really boring, isn't it? So I won't force you to fit in. Anyway, no one here knows you, and no one will take the initiative to talk to you. In this case, why don't we be the most pure guests and appreciate these relics excavated from the ancient city. If we are lucky enough, perhaps we can get some information from it without Miss Nevile and Miss Leticia spying on us."

This is a self-evident statement. Professor Heinrich would not exhibit truly important ancient relics in such an occasion. However, Linger knew that Gloria was just trying to comfort him. She had long seen that the young man could not adapt to this atmosphere, so she used this argument to divert his attention. This kind of insight into people's hearts, should it be said that it is the gift of a true noble?
The young man didn't feel he needed comforting, but he still replied, "Whatever." This was considered an agreement, so Miss Gloria smiled, took his arm affectionately, and pulled him to a glass display case to admire some ancient sculptures on display. They were some kind of ferocious beast that looked like a combination of a goat and a wolf, a species that was impossible to appear from today's biological point of view, and perhaps it had already become extinct.

Lingge couldn't refuse Gloria's kindness, and he was trying his best to put himself in the role of a guest. However, the chewing sound coming from not far away interrupted his thoughts. The young man looked up and his eyes fell on the man in a tuxedo with a sinister temperament. He watched him walking between tables to taste the food, as if this was the original purpose of his attending the party. His brows gradually frowned, and he had a familiar feeling, as if he had seen him somewhere before.

and many more!

A memory flashed through his mind like lightning, and his pupils suddenly contracted. He finally remembered where his familiarity with him came from: half a year ago, in the Thorson Mountains, the arbitrator of the Balance of Order named Wade Locke asked him about Rochelle's whereabouts, and the man in front of him was standing behind him at the time, also wearing the uniform of the Balance of Order!
……

"Hey, Michelle, can you please stop eating?" Sally said with a depressed look on her face. "We are here to attend the party, not to taste the food. Can you please restrain yourself a little? Didn't you notice that the guest was scared by you and kept staring at you?"

"Then let him see it."

Michel, who was unwilling to attend such occasions in the first place, replied coolly, but he still honestly put down the plate of fried foie gras he had just picked up. He turned around and looked in the direction Sally said, and sure enough, he found that a guest was looking at him with a puzzled look. It was a silver-haired young man, and his female companion was a petite and cute gray-haired girl.

However, the other person's appearance seemed to have been seen somewhere before...

Michelle slowly frowned. Sally noticed his unusual behavior and hurriedly reminded him in a low voice: "What are you doing, Michelle? Staring at others like this is very rude! Oh, I've already said that I would rather attend the party with the captain. Why would a simple-minded guy like you accompany me?"

As she spoke she began to complain.

Michel suddenly felt that his suspicion just now might be an illusion. This was a party for philosophers of the society, and he couldn't arrest people just based on an illusion. So he shook his head, threw the idea out of his mind, and then turned around and mercilessly pierced Sally's fantasy: "It's a very simple truth: you want to go to the party with the captain, but the captain doesn't want to go to the party with you, do you understand?"

"Shut up!"

"Oh, woman."

　Give me some meow
　　
　
(End of this chapter)