A strange world

Chapter 1431 65. New Year

At 0:00 on January 1, 1003 in the Saint Laurent calendar, the auditions for "Everyone's Singer" officially ended.

The number of people who finally passed was 20,000 more than the 200,000 that Annan had expected: an exaggerated 223,000.

However, human players account for the majority, close to 85%.

It seems that the proportion is huge, but if it is magnified to a number of more than 200,000, it means that 30,000 aliens have been attracted.

Judging from its scale alone, "The People's Singer" is already a world-class event. All major newspapers cannot avoid it. Nobles and civilians alike discuss it after dinner. Even the news that the empire has begun conscription has been overshadowed by this excitement.

This is just the beginning, the upcoming rematch is the highlight.

On January 1, 1003 of the Saint Laurent calendar, the Voice of Liberty published its first issue of the year.

The front-page headline was that the auditions were over and the rematch was announced to start seamlessly.

At the same time, the five judges and adjustments to the competition were announced: the top 1,000 contestants who pass the semi-finals will receive a prize of 10 GIN.

In addition to the champion, there are also new prizes for the runner-up and third place, with prize money of 8,000 GNR and 5,000 GNR respectively.

There is also the original champion reward: [Champion: includes all of the above and a reward of 10,000 gold nars, and will also become the heroine of Annan Reeves' ninth magical image], and a new note is added: If the champion is a man, he can also become the hero of the ninth magical image.

Brackets: A female lead is also fine.

…

The Art Palace Tower.

The new issue of Voice of Freedom was placed on the long table in the lounge. The old nobles, dressed in exquisite attire, sat at the table overlooking the city, discussing what to do next.

"That champion warlock hasn't contacted us yet?"

"No."

"How arrogant..."

They thought that with the Art Hall speaking out, the champion warlock would soon send someone to sincerely admit his mistake and then hand over "The People's Singer" with both hands... but they didn't expect that he would actually go against them.

The city of art is just as jealous of how popular "The People's Singer" is recently.

Although the outside world believes that the "Opera Competition" hosted by the City of Art is more authoritative, seeing that "The People's Singer" is spending a lot of money and everyone is talking about it, it would be a lie for the nobles in the tower not to be envious.

Opera singers are also eager to make a move. There are so many opera singers in the City of Arts that they can form a troupe, but there is only one champion... Why not try your luck in the Free City?

The 10 GIN prize money for the top 1000 is almost free, but it is not impossible to get into the top 100 if you work hard.

Seeing that the number of registered contestants was decreasing, and some contestants even "disappeared", the Art Hall had to require that each opera house must send opera singers to participate in the competition, and prohibited them from participating in similar competitions.

But this is only a temporary solution and not a fundamental solution. Theaters in the city of art have no choice but to obey due to pressure and interests, but theaters outside don't care about this.

It would be better to let the opera singer stay willingly...Learn from Liberty City to give out bonuses? How can we set such a precedent!

They give opera singers the chance to become famous, give them championship titles, and give them money?!

An old noble snorted, "What are you afraid of? The best opera singers are all in the capital of art. It's only the small actors who are attracted by the petty profits."

At this moment, the old man sitting in the second seat at the long table knocked on the table with his knuckles.

"Since Annan Reeves has extended his hand into the field of art without our consent and without any respect, we should chop off his hand!"

A great noble expressed his concern: "After all, he is the Holy Son of the Church of Wealth. Isn't it a bad idea for us to do this?"

The old man raised his head slightly and said, "We are the people of the God of Art. Do you want to let the world know that we are afraid of the Son of the Church of Wealth?"

When the God of Art was mentioned, the other old nobles immediately had no objections.

"Where is Madeline Jenkins?" the old man asked again.

“We’re already here.”

"Then there's nothing to worry about."

On the other side, Madeline Jenkins, who had just arrived in Santa Clara and was staying in the mansion prepared by the Palace of Art, stepped out of the bath.

The maid next to her hurried forward to serve her, put a bathrobe on her and dried her hair.

Madeline Jenkins sat gracefully on the sofa, her long legs crossed under her bathrobe, and asked the maid to bring her the newspaper.

Another maid returned with the Art Newspaper, and Madeline Jenkins glanced at it: "I want the Voice of Freedom."

It changed to "Voice of Freedom", and the maid knelt in front of her and wiped her legs and toes.

Madeline Jenkins opened the newspaper, accepted the maid's clothes, and read today's news.

At a certain moment, those gray-blue eyes fixed on one of the names.

"Bailey..."

…

The people of Allen Continent have the custom of celebrating the New Year.

Usually on this day, the boss would give the workers a day off and give them some worthless but prestigious food. Shops would only be open for half a day, and even the poorest families would try to have a full meal on this day.

The latest novel is published first on Liu9shuba!

However, the custom of spending money during the New Year has not yet become popular.

Liberty City is the first to try something new: a 10% discount on all shopping and consumption on the commercial street.

Elves also celebrate the New Year, but they celebrate the elven calendar which is no longer popular.

Tedel stood in front of a tree house under the crown of a huge ancient tree, gazing at the canopy-like World Tree in the distance.

On the windowsill behind him was the leaf of the World Tree, which had not sounded for eight months.

At this time of year in previous years, Annan would always contact her and send her some blessings and messages. But this year, she did not receive Annan's greetings.

It is normal for elves to have no contact for several years or even decades, but is it the same for humans?

Or is he busy with other things?

The western sky was ablaze with color, and another night was approaching.

The breeze blew across Tidel's pointed ears, and she tilted her head to look at an agile figure leaping among the treetops and landing in front of her.

"Elder Taidel."

"What's wrong?"

The female elf ranger who arrived took out a palm-sized piece of parchment.

“You should see this.”

[Austin Koch Laneto, registered as a depositor on December 11, 1003 in the Saint Laurent calendar at Port Tous Commercial Street. Holders of this deposit certificate can deposit and withdraw money at any commercial street in Liberty City]

The name was unfamiliar, the content was nothing special, and the deposit slip itself...

Teddel suddenly loosened her hand as if she had been electrocuted. Just as the elf ranger was about to reach out to take it, the deposit slip floated back in front of her.

Those beautiful eyes carefully stared at a fingernail-sized leaf on the deposit slip: "A fragment of the World Tree's leaf... Has anyone desecrated the World Tree?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Taidel shook his head.

"No... this is not a leaf of the World Tree." She looked at the Elf Ranger: "Lu Ge, where did you get this parchment?"

The Elf Ranger raised his head.

"Your human friend, Annan Reeves."