It was already late August, and evening came earlier in Tingen than in Enki Town. It was only five in the afternoon, but the roads and trees were already painted with the colors of the setting sun.
With Luke and his wife seeing them off, Lex and Kyle boarded the carriage. Looking out the window, the Telegraph Company shareholder was waving goodbye.
Suddenly, Luke coughed a few times.
Lex was startled, thinking he would cough out strange smoke like McGovern. But when he activated Spiritual Vision, he found everything normal and breathed a sigh of relief.
Kael noticed Lex's unusual behavior and glanced at him: "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Lex shook his head and deactivated Spiritual Vision.
Back at the hotel, Lex remembered that a Beyonder gathering would be held tonight at the Red Maple Theater. Richard had already left the VIP box number for the gathering in his letter.
Lex had originally wanted to book a private room not far from the gathering place, but unfortunately, he received the news a bit late, and all the better-located ones were already booked.
In the end, Lex could only book a private room on the lower level of the gathering place, and it wasn't even a VIP box, so it didn't have a private washroom.
After informing Matthew and Gru to eat early that evening, Lex returned to his bedroom and saw the parrot in its cage, standing dejectedly to one side, not even looking at its female companion.
Lex tapped the cage: "What's wrong, had a fight?"
The parrot said dejectedly: "No, worse than that."
Lex took off his coat, unbuttoned his collar, and sat on the sofa, looking at it with interest: "Tell me about it?"
"Originally, I was quite happy, but I quickly discovered that this is just a stupid bird!"
The parrot spread its wings and held its head with them: "It doesn't understand my humor at all, and doesn't even know what I'm talking about."
"Now I know that I used to be just as stupid. Fortunately, now I am a noble Dragon."
"No, you're still a bird." Lex ruthlessly exposed it, then added, "Do you want to come out with us tonight? We're going to watch a play."
"Of course!"
The parrot raised its wing and pointed its wingtip at Lex like a finger: "Mortal, have you finally realized? Do you know how ignorant it is to keep a being as great as I am in a cage?"
Lex chuckled: "It seems you're still more suited to staying in the cage."
"Ah, no."
The parrot used one wing to push away its female companion who had come closer: "Listen, I appreciate you, and I think we'll get along great. So quickly open this damned birdcage, I can no longer tolerate this stupid bird, it even defecates in front of me, that's not ladylike at all!"
Your demands on a bird are a bit too high.
Lex eventually let the parrot out: "I can take you out, but you have to do something for me."
"Do you want me to teach you how to please females? It's very simple, first, you must have shiny, beautiful feathers, like me. *Cough*, of course, the old me..."
Lex took out his Shadow Gauntlets and waved them. The parrot, having learned its lesson, immediately shut its mouth.
"It's not what you think."
Lex opened the window, leaned out, and enjoyed the evening breeze: "Tonight, in the middle of the play, I need to leave for a while."
"I need you to watch my valet and bodyguard. If they try to find me, you need to find a way to keep them occupied until I return."
The parrot answered briskly: "No problem, can I kick their butts?"
"Whatever you want, but remember, don't expose that you're a magical animal."
"No, I am a Dragon, rawr!"
That night, by the end of 8 o'clock, many carriages were already parked outside the Red Maple Theater.
Inside the carriage, the valet Matthew held the tickets and said: "Sir, tonight's play is called 'The Earl's Expedition,' and it mainly tells the poignant love story of a young Earl who, in response to the kingdom's call, must embark on a distant expedition and be separated from the girl he loves."
"And tonight's leading lady is the recently very popular Young Miss Pamela."
Lex wasn't concerned about tonight's play, but Matthew seemed enthusiastic. After arriving at the theater, Lex got out of the carriage, and the sight of a parrot perched on his shoulder attracted a lot of attention.
The parrot whispered incessantly in Lex's ear.
"Tonight is really lively, look, all these humans are admiring my magnificent presence."
"Oh, that woman's necklace is so beautiful. I heard Dragons like shiny things, I think I also need to own some jewelry to complement my noble status."
"Hey, chick, want to go on a date with me?"
Lex pinched the parrot's beak and said with a smile: "If I hear you speak again, I'll put that thing over your mouth all night!"
Upon arriving at the reserved private room, the parrot flew to the coat rack to perch, occasionally chirping and beginning to act foolish.
Lex took off his coat, removed his hat, handed his cane to Matthew, and sat down in the chair Gru pulled out for him.
On the nearby table were fruits, wine, and cake, but the portions were limited, only enough for two people.
Lex casually picked up a bunch of grapes and tossed them to the parrot one by one. The latter caught and ate them, chirping a few times, diligently playing its role for the evening.
When the play began, the lights in the box went out, and Matthew and Gru quietly enjoyed the performance.
After a moment, Lex felt it was time, stood up, and said: "My stomach feels a bit uncomfortable, I need to go to the washroom, and might be back a bit later."
Matthew dutifully said: "Sir, I'll accompany you."
"No need."
Lex patted his shoulder: "Haven't you always wanted to enjoy a play like this? It's a rare opportunity, so you stay here, I can take care of myself."
As he left, he heard the bodyguard say: "Sir is really kind, he'll definitely be an excellent noble in the future. By the way, do you know where the theater sells ice cream?"
After changing in the washroom, Lex arrived at the gathering place. Several private rooms here had already been booked. As Lex turned into the corridor, he was stopped.
"Sorry, you cannot pass here, please use another passage."
Lex didn't explain, directly pulled out Richard's letter of recommendation, and handed it to the guard.
The other party took the letter and read it, then picked up a silver bell and rang it.
After the bell rang, someone walked out of a room ahead.
The guard handed the letter of recommendation to the man in a tuxedo with a handlebar mustache, who looked like a butler: "This is a 'guest' introduced by the musician."
The 'butler' smiled and handed the letter back to Lex: "Please follow me, sir."
Lex put away the letter and followed him into the room. The room was partitioned, and behind the door was a table with several masks on it.
"Please choose one to wear."
Lex nodded, scanned them, then picked up a lavish, flamboyant, golden mask with an exaggerated, upturned smile.