Black Cat Opera’s first performance after changing their costumes was a huge success. The suitable and fitting clothes, beautiful singing and exciting plot wowed the audience. Even in the dilapidated opera house, they still gave the audience an excellent opera performance.

  After the show, Vicki led all the actors in taking a bow.

  All the audience stood up and clapped. The applause lasted for a long time.

  Meanwhile, in a corner at the last row, a few inconspicuous audience members looked at this scene with tears in their eyes.

  “Maestro’s dreams have finally come true. It’s great,” said a young man smilingly.

  A middle-aged man sighed and lamented, “Yes. Unfortunately, it has nothing to do with us. If we had held on for a little longer, we would be on the stage with them.”


  “Let’s go. It’s time to go back.”


  The few of them lowered their heads and followed the crowd out to the door, looking a little desolate.

  They had gone through the toughest time together, but they chose to be deserters just as dawn was coming.

  However, it still made them emotional and tearful when they saw their former companions act out the opera that they had practiced so hard for on stage.

  “Since you are here, do you still want to leave silently?”


  They had reached the door and were about to leave when a voice spoke up from in front of them.

  All of them looked up and saw Vicki at the door.

  “Maestro,” all of them called out instinctively.

  Then, all of them lowered their heads in shame, unable to meet Vicki’s eyes.

  “What do you think about today’s show?” Vicki asked smilingly.

  “This is the best show I have seen. Your performance is mesmerizing,” Four looked up and said seriously.

  The few of them also nodded. Today’s opera performance made them feel excited.

  Perhaps, it was the enhancement of the costumes that made them feel that everyone had done excellently today and created an exciting opera.

  Bao lowered his head and gently said, “I’m sorry, Maestro. We didn’t even say goodbye when we left.”


  The others also looked self-reproachful and avoided Vicki’s eyes.

  They were all rescued by Vicki from dire situations and they had all been working towards the same dream, helping and encouraging one another. However, the few of them became deserters.

  “I have never blamed you guys for that. I don’t know how I would have let you guys go if you’d come to say goodbye to me.” Vicki looked at all of them with a smile. “At least, you guys have food to eat when you’re there. You would only have starved hopelessly if you stayed on.”


  All of them looked increasingly ashamed.

  “However, everything is different now. We have our own opera house, new costumes and an audience who appreciates our performance. Moreover, we have food every day and we have meat for every meal.” Vicki stepped forward and said to all of them seriously, “Come back. We need you and Black Cat Opera needs you.”


  “Maestro!”


  All of them looked up and stared at Vicki in disbelief.

  They had imagined being scolded or sneered at by Vicki, at the very least, she wouldn’t want to see them. They had never imagined that Maestro would ask them to come back?!

  “Yes. Four, Bao and Little Seven, come back. It’s very tiring for us to act in so many roles. Moreover, only you guys play your roles best.” Ibaka appeared next to Vicki.

  The other actors who were still wearing their costumes, walked out from the side door. They came over to Vicki and said to Bao and the rest, “Come back, we need you guys.”


  “Everyone…”


  Bao and the rest finally couldn’t help but cry.

  The audience who was about to leave, halted their footsteps when they saw this scene. Some even spoke up for them.

  Bao wiped away his tears and said, shaking his head, “Maestro, even though we would like to come back very much, I’m afraid we can’t.”


  Four and the rest also revealed a desolate look in their eyes.

  “Why?” Vicki looked at Bao and frowned, “Did Pascal force you guys to sign something?”


  After a moment of deliberation, Bao said with guilt, “Pascal made us all sign a contract when we joined Maca Opera. We have to stay in Maca Opera for three years. If we try to leave, we’ll have to pay 50,000 copper coins of liquidated damages for breach of contract.”


  “50,000 copper coins!”


  All of them in the opera troupe sucked in a cold breath.

  To the opera troupe which was just beginning to get on its feet, this was, without a doubt, a huge sum.

  Even though there were many people who came tonight, they only collected 3000 to 4000 copper coins. After deducting their expenses, they wouldn’t have too much money left.

  There were eight of them, including Bao, so 50,000 copper coins for each of them would be 400,000 copper coins in total.

  Obviously, this wasn’t something that the Black Cat Opera could afford now.

  Vicki waved her hand and said with conviction, “You guys go back first and I’ll personally go to Maca Opera to bring you all back tomorrow. You don’t have to worry about money.”


  “But Maestro…” Bao panicked a little.

  “Since you called me Maestro, follow my instructions. Don’t hem and haw.” Vicki frowned and her presence immediately increased.

  Bao only felt a chill down his neck. He instinctively shivered and kept quiet.

  Vicki stepped to the side and said, “Alright, let’s stop blocking the door.”


  All of them also quickly stepped to the side to let the audience go out.

  ***

  Bao and the rest returned first and the audience left too.

  “Maestro, do we really have the money?” Ibaka asked Vicki. He was already holding the money bag in his hands, “I still have the wage that you gave us yesterday. Why don’t you take it first?”


  “Me too. I only ate a bowl of noodles with it and the rest is still here.”


  “I bought a piece of clothing, but it was only 30 copper coins. The rest is here.”


  All of them took out their money and came forward.

  Vicki looked at the tattered money bags in their hands and smiled. She pushed Ibaka’s hands back and said to all of them, “Money is not an issue. I can resolve it. These are your wages, put them away. I’ll go get them back tomorrow.”


  All of them looked at Vicki. After some hesitation, they put away the money.

  Maestro never lied to them. This was their consensus.

  Since she said it was fine, then it was definitely fine.

  “I’ll go buy some quilts for them tomorrow. Little Seven is afraid of the cold.”


  “I’ll get Little Seven a pretty dress. The little maiden loves to dress up. She has even talked about it in her dreams a few times.”


  “Four’s clothes are already tattered. I’ll go buy a big coat for him tomorrow.”


  “We’ll be able to perform other operas if everyone is back. The audience will definitely like it if we rotate the shows.”


  Everyone chimed in as they started to fantasize about their future.

  Vicki had a smile. She was suddenly very grateful to Mr. Hades for giving her a choice today. It gave her the ability to bring her troupe members back.