"!"

Lanci snapped back to reality from his thoughts, feeling the gentle brush of the winter breeze on his cheeks, away from the dense crowd. The noise of children playing, musicians performing, laughter, and songs all reached him here.

He was ready to do what he needed to do.

Just as Lanci resolved that he would stop Hyperion even if it meant a confrontation.

He suddenly saw a figure emerge from the crowd, rushing towards Hyperion, reaching out to tickle Hyperion's waist, startling Hyperion into turning around, warily assuming a combat stance.

Hyperion only relaxed his guard once he turned and clearly saw the figure.

"Sigrid, why is it you?"

Hyperion didn't understand why Sigrid was also at Gold Bee Amusement Park today, and alone, looking so dashing.

"This morning was so hard to pass the time, and I ended up finding you. Aren't we sisters supposed to have a good time playing together?"

Sigrid rushed over to embrace Hyperion, asking her.

"Wait, Sigrid, I don't have time to play with you today. I have something very important to do right now, and there's a performance later in the afternoon, so I'm sorry."

Hyperion refused with a solemn expression.

But Sigrid seemed completely unable to hear her words.

"Come on, Hyperion, play with me."

She firmly clung to Hyperion's arm, shaking it, pointing in the direction of the roller coaster.

"But, but..."

Hyperion was still trying to glance back in that direction.

Watching Loren and Juliana walk farther away, she was about to lose them, yet Sigrid came even closer.

Sigrid quickly placed both hands on Hyperion's cheeks, turning her gaze back to her, making her look only at her.

"Sister, don't you want to enjoy the amusement park with me?"

Sigrid's eyes turned as innocent as Siegler's, pleading with Hyperion in a coquettish manner.

"Si, Sig!"

Hyperion knew it was Sigrid, yet she felt as if she had fallen into a dream.

Only in dreams could she imagine playing freely in an amusement park with her sister Siegler.

"Sister, sister."

Sigrid repeatedly pleaded with her.

"Alright, I'll play with you, my Siegler!"

Hyperion finally lost her rationality, hugging Sigrid, deciding to play with her sister.

And so, Hyperion was taken away by Sigrid, powerless to resist.

Sigrid waved back at Lanci without turning her head, temporarily regaining her flair.

She could only help Lanci this much.

At a distant bench.

"..."

Lanci gazed dazedly at Loren and Juliana smoothly leaving Gold Bee Amusement Park.

He experienced a whirlwind of emotions in a brief moment: shock, survival, relief, and excitement.

He thought he was on the brink of failure, but Sigrid saved the day for him.

Sigrid, my beloved wife.

No one has ever given him such a sense of security; he wanted to tell Sigrid this.

Today could still continue.

It wasn't over yet.

He must complete his mission.

"Lanci, are you crying?"

Talia placed a finger at the corner of Lanci's eye, finding it slightly moist.

She had heard from Antanas that the opera in the afternoon would be very moving, with the leads giving their all, promising a great show.

Yet his tears had already come and gone before the afternoon performance.

"Meow meow, take a break."

Cat Boss, too, saw Lanci physically and mentally exhausted like this for the first time.

The slightest mishap could be the final straw for him.

Even the Great Love Poet had never seen Lanci's mindset collapse like this, today being the closest it ever came.

"No, not at all."

Lanci lifted his sleeve to wipe the corner of his eyes.

There was no time for reflection; he had to think about the next moment.

Having gotten through the morning, filled with uncertainties and surprises at Gold Bee Amusement Park, the afternoon should be much steadier.

Although it seemed challenging to not command Loren for those two hours at Ikelite Opera House, it was actually far simpler than the morning.

Loren just needed to shuttle between three boxes, a task akin to a simplified version of Gold Bee Amusement Park, and Lanci believed Loren could handle it well.

The only difficult part would be at the end of the performance when Loren needed to bring Florence, Juliana, and Artemis out from the boxes in three separate time slots.

Otherwise, during the curtain call when the theater corridors were packed, Loren wouldn't be able to smoothy get all three out, and with so many eyes around, being spotted might lead to a media scandal turning into a major scandal for Emperor Cret.

But no worries, Lanci on stage would perform at his best to ensure the media's attention stayed on him and the lead actress, allowing the performance to land smoothly without any disturbances.

This was his final task.

"Lanci, you seem really tired. How about I take you to rest for a bit?"

Talia felt that after a round at Golden Bee Amusement Park in the morning, Lanci looked like he'd spent centuries in Immortal Eternal Penalty, his entire being seemed on the verge of breaking.

"I need to head to the theater in advance. I might have to prepare backstage; maybe I can take a brief rest there too."

Lanci shook his head, his eyes filled only with determined charm.

They were the same eyes he had when facing death with Lankros.

"Then I'll take you to the theater."

Talia was supposed to watch Lanci and Xiu Bao's performance in the afternoon as well.

The Brielda Opera House was just on the other side of the Yara River in the Ikelite North District, easily reachable by crossing the bridge.

After lunch with Lanci, she would send Lanci off to prepare for the performance, and she could enter early to wait for the opera or try to find Xiu Bao backstage.

"Mm."

Lanci agreed.

"Lanci, don't die meow..."

Cat Boss looked at Lanci, praying for him.

It understood how much danger and pressure Lanci had endured that morning.

The brain is a very energy-consuming organ, and Lanci's was probably nearing its limit.

Yet he was still holding on.

Hoping Lanci could also get through the afternoon.