After Cinnati received his promised deal, the predicament facing the Okhema Theater grew even worse.
Fire inspectors came one after another, and every time, the result was the same: the fire-safety rectification would be delayed yet again.
It looked as though the reopening of the theater was nowhere in sight.
Only then did the people who loved the theater finally realize what was happening.
After repeatedly asking officials and getting no answers, they understood, someone was targeting the Okhema Theater.
A few young people whose parents worked at the fire department learned from their elders that an important figure in the Arts Committee had set their sights on Okhema.
That was why pressure was being applied, forcing Okhema to bow its head.
The news spread through the small town like the wind.
"You people from the big cities stole the industries we depended on more than ten years ago."
"And now you even want to take away our only form of entertainment?!"
The residents were unusually furious, especially the elderly.
The plight Okhema now faced made them feel as though they had gone back to more than ten years ago.
The town's pillar industry had been relocated due to so-called structural adjustments.
A place that could have become a real city was left to wither away.
During that time, some local companies still cared about the town and were willing to stay.
And the tactics used against them were exactly the same as what Okhema was facing now.
Thus, the residents petitioned of their own accord and started marching in the streets.
"Support Okhema Theatre!"
"Support Okhema Theatre!"
"Refuse to bow to the Arts Committee!"
"The town needs Okhema Theatre!"
Dozens of residents, mostly young people and the elderly, held hastily written cardboard signs and marched along the streets near Okhema Theatre.
Some of the young people filmed short videos on their phones and uploaded them to social media.
These people, especially the young ones, were full of hope.
According to the understanding they had formed since childhood from countless reports, when citizens took to the streets, social attention would surge, and the media would swarm in.
As long as public pressure was created, the officials who ignored the residents would be forced to resolve the problem.
It was a process they believed in completely, the standard procedure of the free world.
...
Inside the Okhema Theater.
Everyone had gathered in the theater's meeting room, including Furina.
Aglaea was going to announce a difficult decision here.
"Everyone, Okhema Theatre is now facing the greatest danger since its founding."
"It's not just a matter of operations."
"There are greedy wolves eyeing us."
Aglaea sat at the main seat, forcing herself to explain the situation in the calmest tone possible.
Cinnati. The Arts Committee. Their coveting of Okhema.
Most importantly, what these people would do to everyone's ideas, what kind of destruction they would inflict.
Aglaea explained the matter to everyone, word by word, leaving nothing unclear.
After hearing her words, many people were stunned, and then, they felt genuine anger.
If they really became a theater under the Arts Committee, not only would Heart of the Spring and I was once in Arcadia be completely altered, more importantly, the Amphoreus they had created together would be subjected to who-knows-what kind of revision and distortion.
"We're just performing our own plays in this small place. We haven't provoked anyone."
Phainon said in disbelief, "We only want to tell a good story… how is that even a crime?"
"A crime?" The sharp-tongued Anaxagoras gave a cold, cutting laugh. "No. Our crime is doing too well."
"Our crime is not clinging to those moldy dogmatic scripts like those old fossils, waiting around for someone to notice."
"They couldn't keep their own audiences, so now they want to play dirty."
"And they want to make us just as foul as they are."
"Aglaea, if you really choose to bow your head, then I'm quitting Okhema Theatre right now."
Normally, upon hearing something like this, Aglaea would have mocked him back.
But now, she simply waited with a heavy expression for Anaxagoras's outburst to finish.
Tribios pressed her lips together, weak but resolute: "Okhema Theatre, and Amphoreus, will never become tools to please others."
Hyacine nodded vigorously. Though she had suffered unfair treatment, she firmly supported Tribios's stance.
Castorice, sat in the last row, head lowered, tears welling in her eyes.
Aglaea looked at this group of furious companions, took a breath, and said firmly, "Seeing that your thoughts match mine, I'm relieved."
"Okhema Theatre will never bow."
"Because in the story of Amphoreus that we created, there has never been a chapter about compromise."
"So, I want to make a decision, and I want to ask for everyone's opinion."
"That is… to abandon Okhema Theatre."
It took all of Aglaea's strength to speak the final sentence.
"W-what?!"
"Abandon Okhema Theatre?!"
Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief when they heard Aglaea's proposal.
From the moment they had joined the theater, everyone knew Okhema was Aglaea's treasure.
It was not just a theater, it represented the heritage of her family.
The final remaining property of a fallen household.
Her personal ideal. And now she was proposing to give it up?
Even Anaxagoras stared at Aglaea in shock, waiting for an explanation.
"Cinnati and those people… Those high-ranking figures are so confident they can control us."
"Because our 'home' is Okhema Theatre. On this land of Greece, it cannot move."
"But Okhema Theatre, and everything we do here, are ultimately for our ideal."
"If achieving that ideal requires us to leave its embrace, then I'm willing to accept that bitter result."
Aglaea could no longer maintain full composure. With a trace of sorrow, she said, "Let us… leave this place. Leave Okhema Theatre. Leave… our home, to seek a new beginning."
That decisive proposal left everyone silent.
But in the midst of that silence, the first to respond was Phainon.
"I… support it." Phainon lowered his head and spoke.
All he felt now was anger, a powerless, overwhelming anger.
Facing Cinnati, he could do nothing.
Rather than go on like this, he might as well follow Aglaea's proposal, something almost like self-destruction.
Even destroying themselves wouldn't let those bad people succeed.
"Little Phainon…" Tribios looked at Phainon and called out worriedly.
She was especially concerned about Phainon's mental state right now.
This simple young man from the countryside had endured tremendous pressure in just this short period of time.
At that moment, Hyacine suddenly spoke.
With a hint of hope, she asked, "Aglaea, the residents outside are holding a march right now. Do you think… is there a chance that this kind of petition could have… any effect?"
Her voice carried a sincere expectation.
"Yeah, everyone outside is petitioning," Tribios added, realizing it too.
Those people marching had now become their last strand of hope.
"Sigh…" Aglaea sighed. She didn't think it would work.
She was just about to figure out how to explain to everyone that these marches were only useful if there was a political group backing them, and without funding, they were pointless,
When Furina, who had been silent all this time, suddenly raised her hand.
She spoke weakly: "Um… did you… forget about me?"
Furina's clear, ringing voice at that moment was like heavenly music.
Everyone suddenly realized.
Right!
They still had a wealthy lady with them.
"Hiss…" Anaxagoras sucked in a cold breath, already seriously considering going to France to find a new job.
Originally, Aglaea's suggestion had been a desperate, self-destructive gamble, though deep down, Anaxagoras actually agreed with it.
But he couldn't ignore the difficulties such a move would bring.
Visas, residency status, unfamiliar language and environment, and most importantly… the money.
None of those problems had been solved.
But now, with Furina stepping forward, everything suddenly became clear.
For the first time, Anaxagoras experienced this revelation: Damn… being rich is great.
"Furina…"
"Right, we still have Miss Furina!"
"We almost forgot, Furina Bao has an impressive background!"
Hyacine's eyes lit up…
Even Castorice lifted her head and looked toward Furina.
Aglaea looked at everyone's reactions and couldn't help but give a bitter smile in her heart.
It wasn't that she hadn't considered this. It was just that Furina had already helped the Okhema Theater so much.
In such a life-or-death moment, she didn't want to put even more pressure on this kind and innocent girl.
But in this situation… Having someone like Furina by their side was also a blessing.
Even so, she didn't want to trouble Furina too much.
"Miss Furina, we truly appreciate your willingness to help."
"What we need isn't much, just an identity and residency status in France. The rest, we'll figure out ourselves."
Aglaea was a practical person. She didn't directly refuse Furina, she simply requested the bare minimum, hoping Furina could help them solve the hardest part.
"What do you mean 'just' that?" Furina had originally planned, after confirming things with Xia Wen, to bring up the acquisition during the meeting.
But hearing Aglaea say this, she couldn't hold back anymore.
"Hmph!"
She let out a proud huff, hands on her hips. "If you go to France, not only will I help you get identity and residency, I'll also arrange the best hotels for you! And I'll buy you a big theater too!"
"Are you doubting this lady's capabilities?"
"You're my good friends! If you went to Paris and had to fend for yourselves, that would make me look bad!"
This bold statement… left everyone stunned.
So this was… a true flex?
Way too rich. Even Aglaea re-evaluated her understanding of Furina.
She had originally thought Furina was merely wealthy.
Now she needed to add a big very in front of that.
"No, no, that's not what I meant!"
Furina suddenly realized something and quickly waved her hands. "You're still welcome to visit Paris, but that's not the important thing right now. I need to tell you something really important!"
"You aren't actually alone in this situation." She hadn't forgotten her mission.
"Please, go on." Anaxagoras straightened his posture with solemn respect.
Everyone else also sat upright.
"Ahem…"
"The truth is, you're not without support."
"That Cin-whatever guy only thinks you're an easy target because you're a small theater without backing."
"But have you considered that your theater's performances are of the standard that world-class entertainment companies admire?"
"Look, these companies have stages, have resources. Even if Okhema Theatre isn't allowed to perform, with that kind of support, you could still tour everywhere, even step onto bigger stages, and be seen by far more people!"
Hearing this, Aglaea shook her head. "Furina, I understand what you mean. Before I met you, I had indeed considered seeking help from big companies or capital."
"They could provide a stage and resources, but they would also demand something in return."
"When it came down to it, we'd have to change our stories according to them and make compromises. Which… isn't much different from what Cinnati wants us to do."
"Just packaged in a more commercial explanation."
After Aglaea finished, Furina spoke:
"Then… what if there is a company that perfectly matches all your conditions?"
Her somewhat whimsical idea made Aglaea smile softly. "If such a company existed, why would it know about Okhema Theatre, a tiny, unknown theater? And why would it choose us?"
Aglaea had never believed in pies falling from the sky.
"Ahem! Well, isn't this a coincidence?"
Sensing the perfect moment, Furina cleared her throat and announced solemnly: "It does know you. Not only that, it has been eyeing you for quite a while!"
"Who?"
Aglaea asked in confusion.
"MiHoYo."
She quickly added, "The big entertainment giant, that MiHoYo!"
"If you're willing, MiHoYo will immediately acquire Okhema!"
"Just as I said, unlimited stages and resources, all for an Amphoreus that will never compromise!"