The Divine Armor of the Old Century（Book 1）

Chapter 16

Lloyd led Eve into the frenzy of the banquet, and everything became clear before her eyes. The long corridor led directly to the depths, but like a spider's web, numerous small paths branched out along the way. At every turn and intersection, people lay with dazed eyes, seemingly intoxicated by an unreachable dream.

"What is this...?" Eve could barely speak, feeling suffocated.

"The Feast of Paradise," Lloyd answered in a flat tone, unaffected by the electrifying atmosphere. It was as if his blood ran cold. His gaze swept over the people lying on the ground, entangled in warm embraces, collectively lost in the dream.

This was just the periphery, and no one knew how many more people were intoxicated beneath this vast underground palace. But Lloyd didn't care about that. He continued to lead Eve forward, stepping over twisted and writhing bodies.

"What are those people doing?"

"Dreaming. It's their way of escape," Lloyd explained as he walked with Eve.

"Do you know about the hallucinogens rampant in the outer city? They inject themselves with it. Just a little bit can help them escape reality for a long time. This is also one of the programs at Sabo's ball. People in the Lower City usually call these gatherings the Feast of Paradise. To them, this behavior is like ascending to heaven together."

His gaze turned slightly cold. Lloyd never liked such means of escape.

"But it only lasts for a while. Dreams always come to an end. They wake up from the beautiful paradise and cry out loud in the dirty Lower City."

Eve was stunned, feeling the cruel reality of the world just beginning to reveal itself to her. She felt immensely oppressed.

"Why... Why would they do this?" It was as if she was asking why they didn't work hard or love life.

---

This was the era of steam technology, where the thunderous engines drove the world's technology forward with force. But the benefits of this technology didn't favor everyone, not even in Old Dunling of the Inverig. The entire Old Dunling was in a sickly, deformed state, with thick clouds covering the sky, and the Zeppelin airships never diving. The world's top technology was nurtured under the industry's hotbed, and everything was progressing towards the best direction.

But the cost of all this progress was equally painful. The air mixed with exhaust echoed in the lungs of every Inverig person. To keep the furnaces burning forever, the old forests had long been burned to ashes, leaving only undeveloped wasteland.

At the pinnacle of technology, military service always took precedence. Therefore, Inverig ultimately triumphed in the glorious century-long War of Light, and the dividends of war, along with its unique military technology, propelled its rapid rise. Under the distorted development, the Court of Serpents almost covered all of Inverig's territory, and the silent tide of steel was enough to easily destroy any country that refused to submit.

But the darkest part always lay under the daylight's deep shadow.

The gradually advancing public infrastructure could only meet the needs of nobles and some of the people. The Mechanist Academy could now send hundreds of tons of war machines into the sky, but it couldn't light up every dark home with electric lights. After freeing up productivity, countless people became unemployed. They were driven out of their own country like stray dogs, surviving in the damp sewers until finally succumbing to madness in desperation.

"The entire Old Dunling is like a pyramid, with layers of class pressing down, ultimately supported by those powerless people," Lloyd said ruthlessly.

"Machines don't need wages, don't need rest. But people do. So they get eliminated and can only survive here."

Eve didn't say anything. As a member of the nobility, she had nothing to say.

After traversing the long journey, Eve's senses were constantly assaulted by the bewildering surroundings. When they finally entered the true ballroom, Eve breathed a sigh of relief.

As they entered, all the guests had arrived, and the large doors behind them slowly closed. The sound of music rose, and men and women swayed on the dance floor, as if the closed doors were shutting out the entire world, isolating the chaotic warmth completely.

Countless crystals hung from the enormous chandeliers, reflecting the light and illuminating the dome as if it were daylight.

The space of the hall was much larger than what Eve had seen in the corridor. The stairs rose layer by layer, like the ancient Roman arena. This place was unimaginably bustling. Eve had never imagined such a facility in the impoverished Lower City. It seemed as if all the wealth of the Lower City had gathered here to create this magnificent place.

"Do you know how to dance?" Lloyd asked as he led Eve, bowing and without waiting for her answer, began to dance with her on the dance floor.

"I'm not very good," Eve said, but she felt it was too late. They had already started, weaving through the crowd on the dance floor.

The band on the platform played with abandon, and the music incited everyone's emotions.

"As a noble, you should learn. Perhaps you'll meet your future husband at a ball like this," Lloyd remarked, displaying an incredible skill. Eve felt like a puppet in his hands, swaying and dancing with him.

"But how about you? Does a detective need to learn to dance?" Eve asked.

"You know, catching a cheating spouse usually happens after the ball ends," Lloyd replied somewhat dryly. He always felt a bit awkward mentioning his shady past.

Eve smirked, feeling her mood relaxing unintentionally. If she forgot how she got here and her purpose, this was no different from an ordinary ball.

"Carefully observe your surroundings. Our next task is to find Sabo," Lloyd whispered in Eve's ear as they spun around. The girl was much lighter than he had imagined, and her long skirt swirled like a blooming lotus.

"You don't know what he looks like?" Eve asked quietly.

"I'm just a detective. How could I have seen him? So we need to find a way to locate him before the end," Lloyd replied, his gaze constantly scanning the surroundings.

"He's a tall Viking, so he should be very conspicuous," Eve suggested, but Lloyd shook his head.

"He won't appear on the dance floor. He's the host here, and this is just the warm-up. The host doesn't need to show up so early."

Lloyd's gaze finally settled on a high platform. "I think I found him."

It was a platform where the most distinguished guests were seated. They were engaged in conversation, sampling fine wines and delicacies, discussing matters they didn't want others to know.

"Do you think he's among that group of people?" Eve whispered as she glimpsed the platform.

"No, he's higher up," Lloyd replied, his gaze fixed on the colorful glass murals on the wall.

Though they were underground, the walls were adorned with painted glass, depicting myths like those in a cathedral. Yet here, underground, the sacred light could never shine, leaving everything dark.

"This is underground, but those colorful glass murals are so abrupt. There must be a room behind them, and he's behind that glass, quietly observing us," Lloyd explained.

"What should we do then? Shoot towards that direction?" Eve blurted out.

"If we do that, we'll die together here today. This is underground, and you've seen how complex the routes are. The only known exit is the way we came. It's advantageous terrain. As long as someone holds a gun at that exit, he can take on hundreds alone. Even a whole army would struggle to break through," Lloyd explained, likening it to the Thermopylae Leonidas defended, where the narrow terrain meant a balanced fight.

"What should we do then?"

"Wait," Lloyd said confidently. "There will always be an opportunity."