The Married Alpha Who Refuses to Be a Heartthrob (A/B/O · Alpha POV) - Chapter 36

The eight musketeers following the carriage spurred their horses to keep up the pace.

They couldn’t help but worry about tonight’s battle at the opera house. They felt more men should have been sent they were just twelve in total, including themselves and the four from the governor’s office. Adding the dog made it thirteen.

The squad leader of the musketeer unit was named Tom, currently holding the rank of sergeant.

His comrade voiced the shared unease: “Captain, with so few of us, can we really capture Adam?”

“We must trust the Governor,” Captain Tom replied, though his own worries lingered. He pondered the situation, capturing a top-tier wizard may require more men. Nevertheless, inside the carriage were important figures and they must do their duty to serve them.

…

As they drew nearer to the opera house, the atmosphere inside the carriage grew tense. They gazed out the windows as the street scenery sped by. A full moon hung in the sky, its glow making tonight’s night sky seem brighter, the surrounding heavens a deep, dark blue.

Kaes gripped the barrel of his gun. If they entered the opera house’s alternate space, if Baibai dies the battle would be difficult for them. All his efforts would be wasted and he’d have no way to fight Adam.

This meant Kaes would face Adam in a final showdown inside. Seeing the theater building ahead, an inexplicable urge to win and survive surged within him.

Defeating Adam would allow him to marry Keith, draw closer to the Queen, and perhaps even have her attend his wedding.

That would bring him one step nearer to vengeance.

He couldn’t even see the Queen now—he had to win!

“We’ve reached the opera house,” the coachman announced as the carriage halted, followed by the rear squad.

“Gentlemen, please be careful.” The driver stepped down to open the doors for them, he certainly didn’t want to lose his job if his masters met their end.

Everyone disembarked and looked up at the opera house. Lanqi Opera House exuded an artistic aura, with two angel statues guarding the entrance and smaller sculptures of artists and poets scattered around. The roof featured a graceful statue of a woman playing the violin.

“Follow me.” The Baibai leaped down first, trotting toward the theater’s main entrance.

It could sense the aura of Adamic magic, it is an aura Baibai carried himself which makes the search easier.

Tom the Musketeer pushed open the opera house doors first.

The opera house was lavishly decorated in gold and splendor. Having been unused for some time, no one had cleaned it, and a layer of dust covered the floor.

Inside the opera house was dim; the candles were all extinguished, leaving only the moonlight streaming in through the windows.

Erlan gathered a ball of white psychic energy in his palm, and its glow instantly illuminated their surroundings.

Ahead lay the central staircase. Flanking it were two more staircases. Their footsteps were barely audible on the red carpet.

Baibai halted at the staircase junction: “That position has shifted again. It changes roughly every ten minutes.”

Baibai chose the right staircase. The others followed, walking down a long corridor where red curtains hung neatly gathered. Moonlight streamed through arched windows.

“Here.” Baibai stopped before the concert hall doors.

Looking inside, the audience seats and stage lay silent. Four tiers of boxes flanked the stage on either side. Stepping through would transport them into the dilapidated opera house from their dream.

Several Musketeers moved to enter, but Kaes extended an arm to block them. “Hold on. This spot isn’t ideal. Let’s check the next one.”

He remembered Adam in the audience and the human-skin ghost on stage. Entering from here risked enemy detection before they were ready.

“Fine then.” Baibai showed no urgency, sitting on the ground to wait.

Ten minutes later, Baibai found an entrance in a dressing room. As they entered, the entire opera house transformed.

It was now dilapidated and eerie, with crows cawing outside the windows. Only the moonlight remained as bright as before.

Erlan’s light vanished, forcing him to illuminate the room anew with psychic radiance.

They surveyed the dressing room. Kaes recognized it as the room from his dream, it had tattered sofas and damp walls.

“We’re inside.” Longshi approached the window to survey the surroundings. Unlike the real world, the outside was filled with dead trees, their branches crowded with crows, creating a desolate scene.

“This is where I first entered in my dream… Vansen.” Kaes called out. Vansen turned to look at him.

“Governor, take my cross. It will always protect you.” Vansen removed the cross from his neck. Set with a red magical gem, it could temporarily store infused magic. Clasping it in both hands, he recited a prayer as holy white light surged into the cross.

“Could you give it to Baibai? He needs the strongest protective magic.” Kaes looked down at the puppy. Erlan’s shield probably wouldn’t cover the little dog.

“Yiing.” Baibai opened his big, round eyes.

If the puppy died, they wouldn’t be able to fight, they’d get kicked out and even the ghost nun wouldn’t be able to fight then.

“You’re right.” Vansen summoned that premium magic array and placed the cross inside.

The magic array vanished after swallowing the cross, which transformed into a translucent state and wrapped itself around the base of the Baibai’s tail.

“Where is it?” Baibai looked down, searching. It wagged its tail, suddenly feeling it grow heavy. “Why is my tail so heavy?”

“It’s right on your tail,” Kaes said. The position was awkward, conveniently blocking the “ammunition.”

“…This isn’t my fault,” Vansen immediately clarified, blaming the magic circle’s randomness. “The cross shield can withstand over a dozen attacks, but only one can exist at a time. You can only use a second one after this effect wears off over time.”

Erlan sensed Vansen was far stronger than him. He felt anxious about his own abilities, worried Kaes might look down on him.

Within the Church, support roles grew stronger with higher titles, enjoying exceptionally stable status. For centuries, no flashier support classes could challenge their position.

Precisely because of this stability, the same individuals held these positions, and few debated them anymore. The focus was usually on the relentless flow of output.

…

Leaving the lounge for the concert hall, he noticed it had three entrances: one behind the audience seats and one on each side.

The sound of the Skinless Ghost singing reached them as they neared the hall.

“Moon in the night’s embrace, reflecting tears of sorrow, I still remember our love at first sight at the ball a year ago.”

A crow flew to the window, peering inside at them: “Caw caw caw!”

Approaching the rear entrance, Kaes halted. “Long Shi, Vansen, and the Musketeers take the side door. I’ll draw Adam away while you intercept the Skinless Ghost.”

Squad Leader Tom: “The Governor and Inspector? Shouldn’t they come along too?” selecting two men from the muskeeters.

He was genuinely worried for Kaes, he didn’t want his superior to get hurt.

“Mm.” Kaes agreed. Honestly, a couple more men made no difference to him.

Long Shi and the others circled around to the side door, with Baibai naturally following Kaes.

They crept toward the door behind the audience seats. The Human-Skin Ghost continued singing. Numerous chandeliers adorned the stage, making it the brightest spot in the entire theater.

The ghost’s song echoed through the concert hall. It still wore its red stage dress, its face concealed by a mask, its body still engulfed in burning fire magic.

That was the magic Keith had left behind. Not only had it failed to burn the creature to ashes, but it now danced gracefully, enveloped in flames.

[System: The Human-Skin Ghost has acquired an additional fire magic skill, significantly increasing its damage. Refrain from casting spells on it; doing so will only grant it another magic ability.]

The perpetually burning Human-Skin Ghost, adorned in its crimson gown, resembled a fiery rose, illuminating the entire stage.

Kaes cocked his gun, Erlan cast a protective shield around him, and Baibai unleashed a speed-enhancing spell to ensure their escape would be swift.

Two musketeers stood guard at the entrance.

The audience seating was vast. Kaes and Erlan moved cautiously along the aisle, blending into the shadows to avoid detection by the skin-ghost on stage.

They spotted a figure seated in the center of the tenth row. From behind, they could see the back of the head. He was still cloaked in black, the spectator sat below the stage like a devoted fan, listening with rapt attention.

Baibai stayed close to Kaes’s feet, behaving unusually well this time.

Kaes and Erlan crouched by the aisle and waited. This spot was far from the stage, and the skin-faced specter has not yet detected the pair concealed in the shadows.

Guessing Long Shi and the others were already waiting by the side door, Kaes stood up and rested his gun on the back of a chair, the muzzle already aimed at the back of the hooded man’s head.

After waiting silently for two seconds, Erlan tugged at Kaes’s sleeve in confusion. He didn’t understand why there was hesitation, wouldn’t one shot end it?

Kaes glanced at Erlan beside him. He knew what Erlan wanted to say. His palm gripping the gun stock grew slightly sweaty. His heartbeat suddenly quickened. The index finger resting on the trigger tensed and relaxed.

Victory was within reach, who could resist that?

Kaes’s finger pressed firmly against the trigger, yet he hesitated. A whirlwind of thoughts raced through his mind as he tried to think like a top-tier wizard.

Even though he knew no magic and possessed no psychic powers, he had to decide in an instant—or they might all be finished.

Should he take the gamble?

Kaes decided against it. He was responsible for everyone’s lives.

He shifted the gun’s barrel and fired a shot beside him. The bullet whizzed past Adam’s ear.

What the hell?! Erlan nearly blurted out, stunned. His fingers dug into his palm, itching to punch Kaes.

Adam turned his head toward them. The skin-faced ghost stopped singing, its empty eye sockets fixed on them.

In that instant, the opera house fell deathly silent.