Chapter 319
Words:1571Update:22/06/27 10:05:11
Holmes brought Josiah to his residence, a run-down room in the tavern's kitchen.
The room was dimly lit, and when Josiah entered, he heard the faint sound of breathing.
According to the Dark Elves' intelligence report, the baby girl was lying on a bed made of a few pieces of tattered cotton cloth …
"What … do you need me for?"
Holmes's voice was muffled. He had been beaten up badly. Under the dim light, Josiah could see the bruises on his cheeks and the bruises around his eyes.
The bruises made him look like a comical clown. Holmes was also very concerned about the bruises on his face, so he kept his head lowered in front of Josiah.
"Sit down first."
Josiah brought the only chair in the small room to Holmes.
Holmes knew clearly that the person standing before him was a so-called 'big shot', one that he couldn't afford to offend, so he cooperated and sat on the chair.
Josiah moved another table in front of him and found a chair for himself to sit opposite Holmes.
"Mister … If you want to buy that baby girl …"
Holmes could not stand the interrogation-like atmosphere and finally opened his mouth. Holmes did not think that the person before him would come all the way here just for a little mouse like him …
Most likely, it was for the sake of the baby girl he adopted.
"Baby girl? I do care about the baby you adopted. "Josiah glanced at the baby lying on the bed.
Although the Dark Elves had reported to Josiah that she was a demon of Chaos, Josiah had not sensed the aura of a demon of Chaos from her …
"But this time, I came specially for you." Josiah turned his gaze to the downtrodden young man before him.
He might be experiencing the worst day of his life …
"Looking for … me?"
Holmes could not believe it. He raised his eyes, which were squinting because of his bruised eyelids, and finally recognized the person sitting before him.
"I … remember you helped me during the audition, sir."
"I'm not helping you. You earned my recognition with your own performance. I'm here to congratulate you for entering the semi-finals. I also want to know if you're ready for your next performance."
When Josiah asked this question, Holmes froze for a moment. His scarred hands suddenly clenched again, and his lips trembled slightly. In the end, Holmes lowered his head, not daring to look Josiah in the eye.
"I … I intend to forfeit." When he said this, his throat felt like it was being choked, but he still managed to say it in the end.
"Forfeit? Why … you clearly still have a chance. "
Holmes did not answer Josiah. Instead, he quietly took out a worn-out piece of paper from his shirt pocket.
It was an envelope. Due to the previous encounter, the envelope had been soaked in dirty water, but Josiah could still vaguely make out the handwriting of the Knight Of The White Thorn.
The content of the letter was roughly to congratulate Holmes for entering the semi-finals. It also explained in detail that the semi-finals was a "arena" competition.
Between the two singers, one would definitely be eliminated, and the right to decide was still in the hands of the audience.
"Are you going to face Falosi's Opera Artist in your next match? He seems to be quite well-known. " Josiah skimmed through the contents of the letter. Holmes's next opponent was an opera singer with a little fame in Falosi.
"So, sir … it's impossible for me to win. Before I left, the opera singer told me that if I forfeit … he'll give me a reward of ten gold coins."
Even though Holmes tried his best to cheer himself up when he uttered those words, the trembling tone of his voice betrayed his true thoughts.
"Ten gold coins? If you defeat that opera singer, you'll win more than just ten gold coins! Do you really look down on your own music that much? "Josh's words struck a chord in Homner's heart that was still aching.
"It's not that I look down on … sir! It's that everyone in Noland looks down on you! " Holmes pressed his hands against his forehead. His voice was choked with sobs. "The things I sing … are just trash that people in the underground don't like. How can they compare to the singing of opera singers? No one in Noland is willing to accept my music. Or perhaps … it can't even be called music."
"Then let them accept it," Josiah responded to Holmes's hoarse accusation with a plain reply.
"Don't you understand, sir? The people of Noland can't understand my music at all. "
"Then let them understand," Josiah replied calmly again.
However, Holmes felt that Josiah's response showed that he did not understand the difficult situation he was in. Holmes was about to retort when Josiah suddenly stood up and grabbed Holmes's collar.
"Listen up, kid … I know what you're trying to say. Your music isn't popular in Noland. The people of Noland, or this world, are only interested in opera! But that's not a reason for you to give up. " Josiah lifted him up with his collar, forcing Holmes to stare into Josiah's pitch-black pupils.
"But human tastes aren't the same. A real musician shouldn't follow the trend, but create the trend! Do you understand what I'm saying? "
Holmes felt suffocated. In order to get Josiah to let go of him, he could only nod. Josiah also let go of his collar.
"But … but sir, I don't think … I can do it."
Holmes's confidence had long been destroyed in the previous competition. He had already tried his best to perform. He could swear that it was the best performance of his life.
But in the end, the audience booed and shouted for him to get off the stage.
"It's true that you can't do it now, but that doesn't mean you can't do it in the future. You just need a little inspiration."
Josiah took out three pieces of paper and placed them on the table. Holmes saw the staff on the paper … and the lyrics written on it.
"If those people don't understand how to appreciate your music, then let them understand how great it is! The composer of this song is someone I admire. He was in a similar situation to you in the past. " Josiah pushed the three pieces of paper in front of Holmes. "But it won't be easy for you to interpret this song perfectly. Holmes, I'm only giving you this one chance. You only have this one chance. Either you continue to be a rat in the sewers of Squirrel Street, or … let the audience of Noland remember your name."
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