Mr. Zhongli, we can't slack off anymore!

The Gladiator let out a deep roar, took heavy steps, and charged forward, brandishing his battle axe with terrifying momentum. The Executioner's scythe was already in his hand, drawing a black arc as he precisely met the oncoming axe blade.

"Clang!"

The metal collided violently, bursting into a burst of dazzling sparks, and the sharp friction sound pierced the eardrums.

The audience erupted in even louder cheers.

To most people, this opening clash was full of tension and excitement, a testament to the power and skill of the contest.

However, in the eyes of travelers...

That seemingly fierce charge was actually somewhat unsteady in its steps, and those sharp slashes were so slow in her eyes that their trajectories could almost be predicted. The collision of forces relied more on the weight of the weapons themselves and the pre-designed movements, lacking the explosive power of a real life-or-death struggle.

They fought back and forth, their axes flashing and swords gleaming, creating a fierce and exciting battle. The loud clashes of weapons were a constant source of excitement, accompanied by exaggerated rolls, dodges, and even occasional close calls, drawing gasps from the audience.

But to the traveler, it was more like a spectacular dance, or rather... two kittens with their fur standing on end, hissing at each other, and cautiously extending their paws.

Especially when the "gladiator" swiftly dodged an overly powerful vertical slash, nearly staggering and falling due to inertia, and the "executioner" tried to follow up, he tripped over the edge of the armor deliberately placed by the "gladiator," and the two almost rolled into a heap. They hurriedly separated and regrouped, their movements somewhat comical and hasty...

"Hum..."

The traveler finally couldn't help but let out a very faint laugh through his nose.

However, this subtle laughter, amidst the surrounding frenzied shouts, was clear and distinct, especially to the audience members standing beside her.

Wearing simple leather armor similar in style to the "gladiators" on stage, he was clearly a friend of the contestant.

They immediately turned their heads, their disapproving gazes all fixed on the traveler. One of them even frowned, as if he felt the traveler's laughter was an insult to the person they supported.

The traveler immediately realized she might have caused a minor problem. She didn't want to complicate things at this moment, especially in this unfamiliar place, which was clearly a mixed bag of people.

"Sorry, sorry." She immediately gave the audience a kind, apologetic smile and waved her hand to indicate that she had no other intentions.

Then, taking advantage of the moment when the two on stage were "intensely" fighting again, attracting the attention of most people, she quietly squeezed out through the gaps in the crowded people and left the noisy and deafening core area.

Stepping out of the performance hall, the roaring cheers behind me were shut out by the heavy doors, turning into a muffled background noise. The air in the corridor was much cooler and quieter, with only a few latecomers hurrying towards the entrance.

Being so far apart, it would be difficult to get to know each other...

No need for deliberate planning; those destined to meet will find their paths intertwined by fate, with destiny itself shaping their destiny.

With that thought in mind, she decided to stop fixating on the distant view at that moment.

Perhaps taking a stroll through this enormous opera house and experiencing the atmosphere elsewhere would be a good option.

She walked along the wide, richly carpeted corridors, admiring the portraits of famous actors from different eras and performance photos hanging on the walls. The opera house's interior was a complex maze, and before she knew it, she had arrived at a relatively spacious atrium. This atrium connected several different performance halls and lounges, and now quite a few people had gathered there, seemingly drawn by something.

A light, cheerful voice, with the mysterious and alluring quality unique to magicians, drifted through the crowd:

"So, for the next magic trick, we need a brave gentleman or a beautiful lady to join me and my assistant. This will be the most incredible moment of the day..."

That voice... sounds somewhat familiar.

The traveler stopped in his tracks, curious, and looked toward the source of the sound.

In front of him, on a small open space, twenty or thirty spectators were gathered, their backs to the traveler, forming a semicircle, intently watching something within the circle.

Occasionally, a vibrant color or a nimble hand gesture can be seen through the gaps in the crowd.

Just as the traveler was considering whether to get closer to take a look, the crowd suddenly seemed to receive some silent command and tacitly parted to both sides.

A gloved hand with long, elegant fingers pointed straight and precisely at the travelers standing on the periphery from the automatically parted passage of the crowd.

Immediately afterwards, a young face with a charming smile and eyes that sparkled with cunning and enthusiasm appeared in the traveler's sight. He wore a signature red and black top hat, with a few light-colored strands of hair playfully sticking up from under the brim.

“Miss, it’s you. Could you do us a small favor? This will be a miraculous moment that we’ll never forget.”

Linni spoke in his clear and infectious voice, his smile growing even brighter, as if he had found the perfect participant.

As soon as he finished speaking, a few low sighs, tinged with envy and regret, came from the crowd, as if they had watched an unexpected stroke of luck and excitement slip through their fingers and land on someone else.

"Me?" The traveler subconsciously raised his finger and pointed to himself.

I am not some naive and clueless traveler.

I really know who you are...

Her gaze swept quickly across Linni's radiantly smiling face, then over his doll-like, exquisitely beautiful assistant, Linette, beside him.

With so many people here... why was I chosen?

Are the Fools trying to contact me in this way?

Could that young master be nearby too? Is he waiting for me to step into his magic trap, then using some weird magic mechanism to suddenly restrain my hands and feet, and then, like last time, with that bright, battle-crazed smile, say something like, "This time I'm definitely taking you back to Winter!"