The Last Gentleman
Chapter 471: 469: Tickets and Invitations

The Black Worm Train arrived directly at the entrance of the little town, prominently marked with the huge sign "Meniere Town."

Before disembarking, the train attendant kindly reminded:

"Mr. William, there are a few things about the containment zone that need your attention. Although it contains infected humans, who are considerably weaker compared to you, the collectively signed Protection Order ensures their personal safety.

Do avoid slaughtering unless absolutely necessary, otherwise, you might be directly marked by the monastery and become a prisoner."

"Oh? So, outsiders are protected here... Is it because of the fertility restrictions in the Old World?"

"Exactly. The infected humans from your world are key to stabilizing the population of the Old World. Without the Protection Order, these people without any belonging would soon become slaves, objects, or even food for some extreme Patients.

We won’t delay you further, we hope Mr. William will find the Fear Circus as you wish and ride our train again."

"Thanks."

As he stepped off the train and the town came into view, William felt as if he was returning to the human world.

To his surprise, the town known as the containment zone was not only bustling but even had a touch of ’prosperity.’

The electricity supply was totally unexpected; each household had windows glowing with light, with a single hanging light bulb visible in the living rooms.

While no power stations were in sight, William quickly confirmed via Madness Brain that the town’s electricity was generated collectively by several Patients suffering from brain illnesses.

Of course, the electricity generated this way was minimal, only enough to keep a light on in each household to ensure brightness. More often, candles were used, and posters urging the conservation of electricity were everywhere.

Walking through the town, William also discovered that it had a fairly comprehensive economic system. The infected humans maximized their illnesses for the town’s construction and development, creating a self-sufficient foundation that even allowed for numerous entertainment facilities.

"The infected living here seem to be faring better than in the Original World; no longer living in fear, having solved issues of food, clothing, shelter, and transportation, and even able to develop entertainment venues, this..."

William shook his head, dismissing some dangerous thoughts from his mind.

Though he had accepted the illness, he didn’t agree that the illness could truly lead all of humanity into a better era.

As he walked, William soon noticed something odd; although the town seemed ’lively,’ it appeared somewhat empty. Many houses lit up by lamps were unoccupied.

Even the essential public security bureau was just lit up with only a few people on duty.

Based on William’s initial estimates, about 50% of the town’s residents were missing,

As for where these residents had gone and why they hurriedly left without turning off the lights, he already had an answer in his mind.

Whoosh! In an instant, he reached the highest point in the town. With the comprehensive view provided by Little Grape, he quickly spotted a group of people moving toward a particular direction outside the town.

Some were riding bicycles, some jogging, and others were using their illness abilities to glide or crawl fast, all seeming very urgent.

"Has the Circus already sent out invitations to this town?"

William hesitated no longer and quickly followed, blending with the crowd in search of the Circus.

After walking for several hours, until the light from the Underground Sun completely vanished, he was in the midst of a grey wilderness; the townspeople’s pace gradually slowed, coming to a stop with their bicycles.

Not far ahead, a large number of bicycles were parked. This was their destination.

Something eerie occurred,

William did not see any structure related to the Circus,

yet the group of people began disappearing one by one as if stepping into a completely isolated alternate space... No matter how much Little Grape enhanced its visual capabilities, it was to no avail; people disappeared at a fixed location without leaving even a trace of their aura.

"What’s going on?"

William randomly grabbed an infected human to impart Education on the spot.

As soon as the Education was complete, the townspeople completely forgot what they were doing, knew nothing of the Circus, and were unable to step into the unknown space like the other townsfolk, nor did they hold any tickets or tools in their hands.

This situation forced William to sit down on the spot and meditate, thinking,

"These people must have gone to an Independent Space I cannot access, or perhaps it is exactly the Independent Space created by the Circus.

Humans infected in the small town could see the entrance to the alternate space and were allowed to enter it only because they had received some sort of "permission" that attracted them here.

But I wasn’t invited, had received no permission, but merely followed them here, unable to even see the circus.

No wonder even the top-ranked Transfer Company couldn’t locate the circus; such a setting already existed.

It seems I need to find a way to obtain this unknown permission."

Realizing this, William ended his educational relationship with the townspeople just then, and headed straight back to the town to implement his plan.

Not long after his departure, a gap was torn open in the alternate space where the circus was,

A pair of slender legs, clad in black and white stockings, stepped out from it.

Lips coated in black lipstick moved up and down, "Have you arrived, William? Since you already understand the requirements for entry, come in at your own pace and see how far you can get without pulling strings."

...

After returning to the town,

William headed straight to the town hall, used no mental tricks but simply took out a sum of money and directly bought the identity of a resident and a vacant property.

The properties in this pastoral area were cheap; a few dozen coins were enough for a direct transfer of ownership.

Once officially a townsman, William stayed quietly in his own home, neither practicing nor meditating but instead, went straight to sleep.

When he woke from his dreams,

Vision instantly captured signs of someone having tampered with the mailbox outside, but as Vision continued to try and look inside the mailbox, a wave of "fear" swept through Vision toward William.

Forcing him to close his eyes, shutting off the Vision effect.

With curiosity and caution, William walked to the door, opened the mailbox, and a ticket was conspicuously placed inside it.

Seeing the ticket with his naked eye didn’t invoke any fear.

"A rule of the circus, perhaps? Any violation invokes an assault of ’fear’? This is something to note; it might become crucial in interacting with the circus."

The moment William grasped the ticket in his hand,

Ashen Eye immediately detected a peculiar aura, which proceeded from the ticket into his body and along his nerves attempted to reach his brain area. Just as he was preparing to use Madness Brain to resist this mental intrusion,

A familiar voice came from around him:

"The ticket is just a material carrier; accepting this thought invitation is the real way to the circus."

"Catherine!"

William promptly suspended Madness Brain’s defenses, letting the peculiar aura flow into the layer of thought, accepting what was so-called ’the circus’s invitation’. He looked around, but did not see the familiar figure.

[Memory Palace - Library]

An additional giant circus poster emerged on the wall, its dark shapes corresponding to important figures in the circus.

A sense of traction attacked immediately afterward, leading William back to the Grey Wilderness, to the spot filled with bicycles.

This time,

the townspeople no longer disappeared without reason; instead, they queued up one by one, walking into the circus tent that looked like a dark castle.

Upon seeing such a grand, dark, and eerie tent, almost as if it could devour everything, a hint of fear spread through William’s brain.

However, the corners of William’s mouth unwittingly curled up, aside from the insignificant fear, his brain was more filled with a sense of excitement.

Since his first meeting with Catherine, learning the concept of the circus, and seeing its remarkable people, he was filled with curiosity about this place.

Even without the Duke’s guidance, even if it had nothing to do with his path, William would still have come to the circus to see for himself.

Faced with the bustling ’Audience Pathway’ and the completely deserted ’Recruitment Pathway,’ William decisively looked at the latter, towards the recruitment sign at the entrance of the path.