The Last Gentleman

The voice came from the second floor of the theater's main hall.

A mysterious figure, dressed in a shimmering silver suit and wearing a moon mask, stood elegantly on the second-floor railing, balanced on shiny crocodile-skin shoes.

Yi Chen was slightly taken aback. The aura of afflicted patient emanating from this figure, dressed like a gentleman, felt even more intense than the old man they had encountered in the sewers.

The four of them immediately adopted combat stances. Edmund aimed his gun at the man's abdomen, the large-caliber bullet already chambered and ready to tear the target in half.

However,

Despite the palpable killing intent radiating from the four young humans,

The mysterious figure showed no sign of defense. Instead, he walked along the railing like a tightrope walker, his steps graceful, as he began to introduce himself.

"My name is Elton John, the current owner of this theater.

Although I took over from my father only a few years ago, I've continuously improved the theater, blending modern styles with its classic aesthetic. My goal is to present the best dramas to the audience.

But, accidents soon followed. In this city, no audience remains to appreciate the shows here.

As you can see,

I've been marked by a false moon. Though I’ve gained unimaginable powers, I’ve been stripped of my status as a 'human' and can no longer return to my previous life.

Even though my mind has been somewhat affected and my worldview changed,

I cannot abandon the theater that has been in my family for generations. Even if you intend to kill me, I wish to die in a theatrical, dramatic fashion.

Of course,

If you could let go of your suspicions and join me in one final performance,

As long as your acting meets the required standard, I will offer whatever assistance I can.

Even if you want to kill me or skin me alive, I won’t resist... As long as I can die on stage, I’ll be content."

When he finished speaking,

The theater owner had just completed a full circle around the railing,

With one hand in front and one hand behind, he bowed in a theatrical salute.

The four members of the squad below didn’t immediately respond. They waited for an internal signal.

During the owner's introduction, Yi Chen had used his special vision to scan the entire main hall.

Juliana, through her sensitivity to vibrations, also confirmed that the only sick person here was the owner.

After careful consideration,

The captain, Edmund, made a decision and patted Yi Chen's shoulder.

"William, you handle the negotiation... As before, if you sense anything abnormal during the conversation, we’ll act immediately."

Yi Chen made an OK gesture and stepped to the center of the stage, bowing to the owner on the second floor.

"How do we perform?"

"I'm very glad you accepted my request. The requirements for this impromptu play aren't high. Here are four 'role cards'... You have ten minutes to adapt to your roles, and then, under my guidance, we will begin the False Moon Incident performance.

Among these cards, Dr. McCoff is the main character. The quality of the performance depends on this role, so make sure your best actor plays him."

As he spoke,

The owner flicked four cards from his sleeve.

Besides Dr. McCoff from the Twilight Clinic, there was a clinic apprentice and two gentleman investigators stationed in the city.

Books flipped in his mind as Yi Chen quickly absorbed the role details, completing the reading and memorization within thirty seconds.

He threw three cards to his teammates, stating, "I’ll play Dr. McCoff."

"Alright."

Before the ten minutes had elapsed, Yi Chen signaled to the theater owner that he was ready.

"Oh... ready already? Don’t disappoint me.

Let’s begin the final performance at Old John’s Theater: Moonlit Night.

I, Elton John, will play the creator of the False Moon Incident—the great 'Moonscar' himself."

The owner leapt lightly and landed gracefully on the stage.

Snap!

All the lights in the theater went out, except for one spotlight shining on the owner.

He raised both arms.

Two luminous moon props, suspended by thin wires, floated above the stage.

"Ah! How beautiful the full moons are,

Whether paired or reflecting the night sky, they embody humanity’s longing for the moon."

When people shift their gaze, attempting to peer at the scars on the moon's surface, it seems as though these marks are writhing, conveying a message. This message activates and transforms the human brain through visual reception or perhaps implants some kind of pathogen into it.

It erases the fundamental essence of being ‘human’ from the brain, replacing it with the brand-new identity of a ‘Moon Citizen.’

"Guided by the moon, we follow Lord Moonscar."

As the dialogue ended, the wooden stage floor began to tremble. Crack! The floor broke apart, and a long, fur-covered hand emerged.

Immediately, more figures covered in silvery fur crawled out from beneath the shattered stage. They looked up at the moon prop hanging overhead and howled like wolves.

The scene startled the team members slightly.

"These... are early-stage Moon Contaminants? So, they were controlled by the boss, piled under the stage, and performing this play in their true colors?

Great! This means we can collect enough inferior moon skin."

At this moment, the boss continued reciting his lines:

"Oh! The unseen protectors of Vinal City, self-proclaimed gentlemen of elite humanity, and Dr. McCoff's team from the Twilight Clinic swiftly detected the large-scale mutations caused by the moon.

Due to the emergency, they chose the most effective and direct treatment method—massacre.

Meanwhile, our great Lord Moonscar remained hidden, quietly observing the unfolding events."

As the boss spoke, his body was gradually enveloped by moonlight, eventually disappearing. However, the visual enhancements provided by Little Grape still allowed them to capture a humanoid outline.

It was now Yi Chen and the team's turn to take the stage, displaying their real skills to skin the "Moon Citizens" performing naturally.

Juliana was the most efficient. Her speed, accuracy, and the intactness of the moon skins she cut were unmatched. As long as the white-furred, moon-marked skin was removed, these "actors" would die immediately.

Once the stage was completely cleared, the boss resumed his lines:

"The efficient 'treatment' temporarily suppressed the riots in the city, but even the brave gentlemen suffered severe casualties.

At this point, Dr. McCoff used special methods to locate the hidden Lord Moonscar, prematurely ringing the final bell."

Edmund and the others exited the stage, leaving only Yi Chen. The boss, concealed by the moonlight, gradually revealed his true form.

Facing each other, the boss recited once more:

"Oh! The moment has finally arrived! Dr. McCoff encounters Lord Moonscar at the top of an abandoned building... but to his surprise, he seems to recognize this silver-haired youth."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"How can it be you?!"

Yi Chen delivered the line flawlessly, eyes wide with shock, fully immersed in the role.

"Why couldn't it be me, esteemed Dr. McCoff? Thanks to the special treatment you provided at the clinic, I could stand here under the moon. Allow me to properly thank you."

The battle began.

Yi Chen and the boss engaged in combat. This "fight" was somewhat theatrical, using sound effects to recreate the intense scene. Yet, Yi Chen added authentic elements to the performance.

Referring to the character card's description of "Dr. McCoff losing the right half of his body," Yi Chen deliberately allowed his right side to be damaged, appearing gruesome.

In the end, with a desperate cry, he used a hand strike to sever the boss's "head." The mask fell to the ground in two pieces, and the moon prop above crashed down as the curtain closed.

The performance concluded.

"Fantastic! Absolutely brilliant! William, are you okay?"

The boss, switching to another mask, was both thrilled and concerned about Yi Chen's injuries. However, Yi Chen had prepared by reinforcing his body with plant-based defenses beneath the skin. Though it looked brutal, his vital organs and nerves remained untouched. The pain was manageable.

The boss supported Yi Chen, exclaiming excitedly:

"You actually exposed your right side and let me destroy it! Your performance was so detailed, I could hardly tell reality from fiction. Have you acted before?"

Yi Chen shrugged, "Not professionally. As a kid, I often relied on 'acting' to avoid being the unluckiest one."

"You're a true actor. As promised, I'll assist you and share all the information I know. As for my moon mark, it's right here. You can peel off my face anytime and kill me."

Unlike the 'Sewer Watchdog', whose moon mark was on the back of the neck, the boss's mark was on his forehead, perhaps symbolically.

Yi Chen, seeing the boss's sincerity, formulated a bolder plan.

"Mr. John, our mission here isn't to eliminate you. After this performance, I hope the theater can continue to thrive and share its art with more people.

We won’t kill you; we just need your help.

If we succeed, you can continue living as a 'Moon Citizen.'"