Sora's concert preparations went extremely smoothly.
Originally, Sora's agency thought that negotiations with Siracusa might be difficult. However, it was exceptionally smooth. During the negotiation process, the other party seemed extremely welcoming of Sora's ability to hold a concert in Siracusa.
It was actually understandable.
Siracusa's geographical location is excellent. Lungmen, Ursus, Laterano, Victoria—these countries are all near Siracusa. Theoretically, such a prime location should be very suitable for the development of tourism. However, Siracusa's tourism industry is quite lame. This is mainly due to Siracusa's internal environment. A country with multiple factions competing, without a unified leader, gives people a feeling of instability and insecurity. Plus, Siracusa's major families are all busy fighting each other and simply don't have the energy to create their own tourist attractions. Without unique features, naturally, no one is willing to come.
Therefore.
This time, facing the concert application from Sora's company, the Siracusan side approved it almost immediately. This was a good thing, and a very good start. People need a resume to find a job, and cities naturally need one too.
Although Sora was just a regional idol from the Lungmen area, not a huge superstar, her fame was still quite high. She could serve as a good starting point.
In any case, Siracusa was getting close to unification.
Sicily was crushing the other three families to the point where they could barely breathe. They were getting closer and closer to becoming the actual ruler of this country. And Sicily was also beginning to lay the groundwork for future governance and economic development.
As for a counter-attack?
Sicily wasn't afraid.
They couldn't imagine how the remaining three families could possibly counter-attack. Their trump cards were basically all used up. Although they were still putting up a futile resistance, they had already lost most of their means of making money. Their funds would only dwindle the more they resisted. When their funds were exhausted, they would have completely lost.
A week later.
[Stardust] slowly landed not far from Siracusa's largest Mobile City.
Since it was Sora's first overseas concert, and she had personally invited them, Jessica would definitely push aside her work to come, no matter how busy she was. Not only did Jessica come, but many 'idlers' from Jessica's villa all came along, including Magallan.
Magallan was the first one off the plane, looking at the Mobile City in the distance, and couldn't help but sigh.
"I remember, the last time I came here was... the last time."
Lucas Reeve walked behind her, silently retorting: "What kind of nonsense literature is that."
"That! That!"
"I remember last time, right over there, we ran into a double Originium Storm, something you see once in a century."
Magallan pointed into the distance, excitedly explaining to Skadi. Because last time they came, Skadi, Nian, and Surtr hadn't arrived yet. There were only a few people back then, just Magallan, Ceobe, Jessica, Franka, and the others. Even Shamare and Rosmontis hadn't joined yet.
Skadi scratched her head. "Originium Storm... what's that?"
"A very rare and dangerous natural disaster. We almost died there last time. Luckily, Lucas Reeve was there, otherwise you all might not have ever seen us."
Laurentina walked up to Magallan and retorted, "Have you ever considered the possibility that the Originium Storm was actually attracted by you? If Lucas Reeve and the others had gone by themselves, they might not have run into it at all."
Seeing that even Laurentina was teasing her.
Magallan got a little unhappy. "How can you say that? Am I that powerful? I can just attract natural disasters?"
"Have you ever encountered one when you were alone?"
A heart-piercing question struck Magallan's soul.
Magallan thought for a moment, then slowly nodded. "I... I have encountered one.... But I survived! And, I once encountered an Originium thunderstorm when I was out by myself, multiple disasters, earthquakes, Beast Tides, and stuff...."
"....
Laurentina's smile gradually faded. She edged to the side, pulling some distance away from Magallan, afraid of being infected by Magallan's bad luck.
Magallan and the others bickered in the back.
Lucas Reeve, meanwhile, put on the Doctor's 'vest' (account) and walked with Jessica and the others. Since the shuttle was parked a bit far away, it was impossible to walk to the Mobile City. Instead, the group drove over. The first time he came to this city was for the establishment of Raythean Industries' branch in this city, with Lisa. But the second time, he was here with many people to travel and for Sora's concert here.
A year had passed in between.
And in just one year, Lisa's strength could be said to have undergone an earth-shattering change.
At first, due to the limitations of her own talent, Lisa, no matter how hard she trained, found her progress gradually slowed or even stagnated after reaching a certain level. However, after going to Higashi and fusing with a Divine Fragment, Lisa's talent became abnormally powerful. Her progress in these few months surpassed that of the entire previous year.
And Lisa's title also gradually changed from 'Demon'
to 'Adjudicator of Sin.'
The 'Demon' title was given to Lisa by Siracusa's small-time gangs, while the 'Adjudicator of Sin' title was given to Lisa by the ordinary people of Siracusa. They had never seen what Lisa really looked like. Moreover, Lisa only killed those filled with sin, people with blood on their hands. These great villains were despised by the common people, who were powerless against them. So after Lisa executed the wicked, she naturally earned the worship of many common people.
And, there was a rumor.
It was rumored that this 'Adjudicator of Sin' was a girl.
As for whether it was a girl, no one knew, because very few people had seen her. Anyone who had, was basically already dead.
Lisa finally walked the path she had longed for, to solve her mother's worries.
This trip to Siracusa.
Lucas Reeve had also told Lisa.
However, although the current Lisa really wanted to hang out with Lucas Reeve and the others, having experienced too much, her young hands were already stained with the blood of too many villains. This caused Lisa to gradually develop a calmness and control far beyond her peers. She was currently lying in wait for the head of the largest mafia under one of the ruling gangs. Ever since Lisa's reputation grew, these bosses all hid deeper than anyone, all turning into old turtles, using body doubles when they went out. So, the difficulty of killing one was much higher than before.
Seeing Lisa insist, Lucas Reeve didn't say much more. He could only say that Lisa had grown up and had her own pursuits and thoughts.
Entering the Mobile City.
They had originally thought Sora's concert in Siracusa might face an awkward, empty venue. After all, Sora was active in Lungmen. No one knew how many fans would come for her first time in Siracusa. So, to avoid embarrassment, Sora's agency had invited many crowd-filler extras. If very few people showed up, then these extras would be responsible for acting as the audience.
However.
It seemed all the worry was for nothing.
The Siracusan organizers might have cared more about the numbers than Sora's company. Even though Sora wasn't some huge superstar, the treatment the Siracusan organizers gave her was purely A-list treatment. Just entering Siracusa from the outside, you could see a huge poster with Sora's cute photo on it, stating the date and time of the upcoming concert.
It wasn't just at the city entrance.
It was on many prominent billboards in the city.
This had little to do with Sora's agency; it was all done by the Siracusan organizers themselves. It seemed they were taking this very seriously.
And the venue for this concert was also in Siracusa's largest national stadium. This stadium was no less inferior to Lungmen's largest stadium, capable of holding forty thousand people at once. The organizers really pulled out all the stops this time.
Both the promotion and the performance venue were the best Siracusa could offer.
And the scene itself did not disappoint Lucas Reeve and Jessica.
When they arrived at the venue.
Lots of idol fans wearing Sora's venue merch had Sora's venue merch scarves around their necks, and headbands on their foreheads with 'Sora-chan' written on them. In their hands, they held Sora's official color-changing lightsticks, which could switch to various colors depending on the song.
Since there was still an hour before the concert officially started, these idol fans weren't in a hurry to go in. Outside the stadium, a group of people surrounded a speaker, playing several of Sora's most popular songs. They waved their lightsticks, shouting 'Urya! Orya! One! Five!' non-stop. A whole bunch of support cheers (cheers) unique to the idol circle, which normal people wouldn't understand at all, were unfurled without any self-consciousness.
If one person was doing this baffling behavior, it could be described as performance art. When hundreds or thousands of people do it, it's basically a pandemonium. To the side, there were even people with a speaker in the middle, waving lightsticks and performing 'Wotagei'. The "purity" (dedication) was maxed out.
Compared to them.
Lucas Reeve and the others, in contrast, seemed a bit out of place.
"Hiss... I didn't expect Sora-chan to be this popular in Siracusa too?"
Jessica couldn't help saying to Lucas Reeve.
And an otaku bro passing by just happened to explain enthusiastically.
"You guys are Sora-chan fans too? Looking at you, you must be new to the fandom, so you don't know."
"Right now, Sora-chan is super popular in our Higashi-style idol scene. It's just that she ran into an asshole before. You guys probably haven't been in the fandom long, so you don't know. Before, Sora-chan's activities were always managed by Sister Zhang. Sister Zhang, Sora-chan's agent, we fans affectionately call her Mama Zhang. Her relationship with Sora-chan is really like a mother and daughter. However, before, Sora-chan's company suddenly had a brain fart, they actually transferred Sister Zhang away, and assigned Sora-chan some asshole agent, who made our Sora-chan lose the light in her eyes."
"Now, the heavens have eyes, that asshole agent was fired, and that asshole agent was flamed into oblivion by us fans. So, this day last month is what we call 'Sora-chan Resurrection Day'!"
This fan's words left Lucas Reeve and the others speechless with confusion.
Resurrection Day...
What Resurrection Day???
Damn!
"Wow... so Sora is this popular? I'm so jealous."
After entering the venue through the side staff entrance, Franka sighed to the heavens.
"I want to be a big star too, I want to have lots of fans too...."
Liskarm, at her side, rolled her eyes at Franka. "You had plenty of chances before. You were given the chances, but you were useless."
Since Sora was busy with makeup backstage, after seeing Lucas Reeve, Jessica, and the others, she greeted them briefly, then got busy with makeup and final rehearsals. And Rope also followed behind Sora, acting as her little assistant. Lucas Reeve and the others sat directly in the front-row special seats. These seats weren't for public sale, only for complimentary tickets.
"Sora, Sora..."
Rope was helping Sora arrange her hair backstage. The current Sora had changed into a gorgeous performance outfit. Coupled with the youthful and beautiful makeup on her face, she looked like she could captivate one's soul.
Sora took a deep breath, sitting in her seat, constantly cheering herself on internally. In her hands, she was hugging the teddy bear. It's just that, compared to before, this doll seemed to have become just a real doll.
"By the way, why isn't Bailey moving? I remember Bailey was so lively just yesterday."
Rope didn't really know the situation.
But Sora pursed her lips.
"Bailey... he's... watching me from the audience....."
Rope: "???"