Old-time musicians

"apostle?"

Fan Ning frowned, and when retelling the confirmation, he changed the word to ancient Janus.

[Writing this, I hope readers will remember our domain name Taiwan Novel Network→𝓉𝓌𝓀𝒶𝓃.𝒸ℴ𝓂]

"Well, the 'apostles' in the mouths of the Orthodox Church, Esotericists and Fatalists, the 'martyrs' in the mouths of others in the Special Patrol Office, the 'pseudo-concepts' in the eyes of most members of the school... Do you think the concept of 'apostles' exists? Huh?" Viadlin turned around.

"I haven't thought about this question carefully..." Fan Ning answered calmly.

"Only the theology majors think much about this." Viadlin also smiled, "So, there are no other disputes, right? For a young talented artist like you and the backbone of the school, I can help you resolve the little troubles you have with the Special Patrol Office. ”

...other entanglements?

During the moment of Fan Ning's hesitation, a large number of keywords were stirred in his mind: Top Hat/Sealing Room/Fan Chenxun/Scriabin/Music Fragments/Road Signs/Qiming Church/Vincent/Abnormality district…

As for these scattered threads, the three most important nodes are...

——Cellphones, secret doors, and “the old days.”

Even if you are given a chance of immunity that falls from the sky, which one can be considered a small trouble that can be solved?

"I haven't thought about it for a while." Fan Ning shook his head.

"Okay, Caroln, let's get back to the topic... I didn't expect to have such an experience at tonight's New Year's concert, especially from the perspective of a pure audience."

This short and casual topic ended, Viadlin twisted his fingers vigorously, and the 2-pound note, which was not made of very rigid material, spun as fast as a propeller, and then stopped in his fingers.

"I have lived to my twilight years in the sense of an ignorant person, and I have had many high moments, low moments, joyful moments, and sad and disappointing experiences. But now I feel so comforted that I deeply feel that I don't want to leave or look forward to it. We must be able to gather together like this for next year's New Year's Concert - I think everyone hopes so. It's really a surprise one after another... Your planning ability is even more amazing than your artistic talent."

Viadlin said at the end, turned around and followed the flow of guests into the banquet hall.

"Of course." Fan Ning accepted the affirmation without any hint of humility.

He lowered his head and straightened the white roses of the same color as his shirt on the front of his tuxedo, and then looked at the moving heads and colored lights and candles in front of him:

"I said, if there is 'joy without regrets'."

Stepping forward and stepping through the door, the noise from the guests became a little louder, and a wave of warmth rushed towards my face.

Along with it comes the extremely tempting aroma of food. The aroma of stewed meat, fried meat and barbecue cooked with special spices, the fragrance of fruits and vegetables, and the sweet aroma of pastries linger on the tip of the nose.

Fan Ning, who was walking on the golden carpet, responded to the respect and admiration of the guests with an elegant expression.

The glass banquet hall on the top floor is a viewing balcony in terms of layout.

It's just that the depth is too spacious, reaching an astonishing 50 meters in length. Several medium-sized long tables arranged vertically are filled with shining silver tableware and wine glasses, and the entire floor-to-ceiling glass window facing outwards allows guests to While dining, you can have an unobstructed view of the New Year's snow scene and gorgeous fireworks in Uflandsel from above.

Waiters filed in with steaming dishes. Taking advantage of this time, Fanning invited Nieman and Schillings to the stage, gave a toast and clinked glasses with them.

And the last paragraph of his speech shocked everyone again——

"...Turner Art Hall, as an old art venue that has resumed business, has received such a great response in the first quarter. The first person to thank is naturally the distinguished guests, cooperating artists and music fans. Because of your love and support, we had the New Year's concert and the 'blessing gift rain' just now to thank all our friends. Now, it's time to thank our own team, and the form will also adopt the most 'sincere' Way--"

“Now I am announcing that all staff at Woodpecker Consulting and Woodpecker Restaurant, all musicians of the Old Symphony Orchestra, and all administrative staff of Turner Art Hall will receive an additional 20 weeks of salary in the name of year-end dividends or year-end bonuses! Children recruited by music aid programs, including affiliated choirs, will also receive living allowances based on the standards!”

"Wow!——"

At this time, most of the people in the banquet hall jumped up from their seats with joy!

Cheers soared into the sky and rushed out of the large building, directly overpowering the sound of fireworks exploding in the sky at the same time.

Although there is a huge difference in income from the musicians, the children in the choir are equally happy. While studying off-the-job, they can also receive a large subsidy of 20 pounds in the New Year. This recognition will undoubtedly become the pride of their families. It can also buy many things for frugal parents.

"Did I hear wrongly? Is this someone else's employer?" A lucky music fan who was invited to the table dropped the fork in his hand with a clang.

"So the first sentence means that the members of the school branch can also get the money?" Monroe, Dupont and Cyndia were carefully counting the banknotes that had recently fallen into their pockets.

A few days ago, several of their members received an average of 1,500 pounds in annual settlement dividends from the Uvransell branch's treasury. Due to well-known reasons, the Woodpecker Restaurant's turnover experienced a blowout growth in the fourth quarter. The Turner Art Hall's order method is not a certain number of copies, but as long as they are delivered, they will be purchased at a 30% discount. The main problem with limiting turnover is that they can't do more.

Now, this year-end income will exceed the 2,000-pound mark. Even for civilian staff, the total will probably be 300 to 400 pounds, which is equivalent to a direct reward of half a small apartment at the end of the year.

"My worry about him closing the restaurant is unnecessary..." Viadrin, who sat at the same table with the masters, shook his head helplessly, "The fact is that my salary has increased since I left..."

"Wouldn't the two of us get 2,000 pounds at once?" At another table, until ten minutes later, Kapurun thought that his "career change" seemed a little unreal. This speed seemed to exceed the highlight of his work in the financial industry of Santaranburg. "Hey, dear, why are you frowning?"

"This is an additional fixed expense for five months." Olga has a strong sense of professionalism. "Mr. Fanning is too generous. I feel that the strong foundation after the previous large amounts of money have been almost emptied out now..."

"Shiran, how do you count as a member of the school and the orchestra?" Joan asked doubtfully with a table knife in hand.

"Is this the point?" Sheeran looked at Olga, who was not far from her, with the same thoughtful expression, "Well, this is Caroen's usual style. At least after tonight, the excellent artists who come to the orchestra for interviews will really be crowded..."

"What do you want to toast with?" During the chat, Fanning was already holding an empty cup and standing in front of her with a smile.

"Freshly squeezed orange juice." Sheeran said.

The servant behind him put the peeled sweet orange into a silver container with a hand-cranked handle. Half a minute later, the sweet juice was squeezed into two high-footed glasses.

"Ding--" The two clinked glasses.

"I didn't expect to spend the New Year this year in this way." Sheeran's eyes smiled, and his lips left the rim of the cup.

"So what you originally thought?"

"Similar to when we were together last year."

"What did you do last year?" Joan seemed very interested.

"I didn't do anything..." Sheeran was stunned.

"Your toast drink." Fanning came to Joan.

"Can it be red wine?" Joan asked hesitantly.

"One of the most common choices, but why do you suddenly want to drink?"

"It is said that socializing with drinking as the medium is easier to get things done..."

"What do you want to talk about?"

"Can I play some works with you for the chamber music performance plan next year?"

"Ding——" Fanning asked after clinking glasses, "Why are you so serious?"

"I feel good about the first variation of "C Minor Choral Fantasy."

"Okay." After drinking a small glass of red wine, Fanning passed through several guests with a pen, met with an administrative official from the cultural department, and inquired about the trend of the orchestra ranking in the new quarter.

He stood in the crowd for a while, and then saw Roy standing in a corner of the French window, looking at him through the crowd.

"Improved version of 'Smoking Bishop'?" Fanning walked over and asked with a smile.

"No, elderflower dew."

"Is this a summer drink?"

"A drink that I like after summer is over." Roy, wearing a bright red dress, shook the empty cup in her hand.

The attendant pushed the cart over, and while pouring the cup, she asked again: "You seem to be worried?"

Fanning thought for a while and asked: "Miss Roy, do you believe in the concept of fate in the world?"

"Fate?" She tilted her head in confusion.

"The ending direction that is not affected by free will." Fanning explained.

"For example, destined to get, or destined to lose?"

"One of them."

The girl blinked her eyelashes when she heard it, lowered her head and sniffed the fragrant liquid in the cup, and asked aloud:

"Will fatalists look at the signal lights when crossing the railroad tracks?

Fanning's inquiring smile hovered on his face, he blinked first, and then continued to blink.

The other party was also watching him blink.

"Is this the reason why you drink summer drinks in such a cold day? "Finally, Fanning shook his head and smiled.

Roy chuckled and raised the glass in his hand.

"The fragrance of the brightest summer--"

"The fragrance of the brightest summer--"

Fanning imitated her to repeat.

"Ding--" The two clinked glasses, and fireworks bloomed outside the floor-to-ceiling window, making the girl's cheeks change with various colors.

But after the New Year, the weather in Uvlansel is rarely sunny, but mostly with dense drizzle or wind and snow.

On a gloomy afternoon of rain and snow on January 7, Fanning looked up from his desk and continued to read the piles of documents, publications and work files.

In an hour, he closed several doctrinal publications of the Orthodox Church in succession, involving the three witnesses of "Unfallen Fire", "Raven" and "Fragrant Poet".

"The Special Patrol Office believes that Vasius may be an 'Apostle'? "Fanning frowned deeply.

It should be said that "apostle" is not a secret concept, and it has a similar meaning in the Orthodox Church.

——In these widely circulated readings, it refers to the first batch of disciples who accepted the missionary mission under the will of the Lord of Witness. For example, the Holy Sun Church calls these people "saints" or "light-bearers". Their deeds were active in the early period of the distribution of the 63 archbishops. A small number of "light-bearers" have also served as popes. Compared with the actual head of the pope, "saints" or "light-bearers" seem to be a more transcendent category.

This is common sense in the world.

But Fanning has read more than church publications these days. He has also read other meanings.

In secret organizations, especially forces organized in the form of "esoteric religions", or in the works of fatalistic writers, poets, artists and mystics, the meaning of "apostles" has been expanded to become "sent people" in a broad sense.

How does the Lord of Witness affect the course of the world? The most common saying is that they control the phases, they represent the rules, they judge the history, so the rise and fall of celestial bodies, the progress of civilization, the good and bad of the year... are all controlled by their words.

This statement is very high-level, but it is inevitably too indirect or abstract.

Therefore, the esotericists or fatalists believe that the Lord of Witnesses has another more direct way to influence the world process: the birth and death of people are determined by the will of the Lord of Witnesses.

The meaning here is not the control of the "Pool" over the law of reproduction, but something more special - the life direction of a small number of people is originally determined by the more inclined will of the Lord of Witnesses.

For example, those founding fathers, military strategists or influential politicians...

An assassin, poisoner or intelligence officer who completed a key mission...

A scientist who played a key role in theoretical innovation in the advent of the industrial age...

Some people from all walks of life who are not high-ranking or well-known, but have made sacrifices for some transcendental ideas...

In other words, "The Lord of Witnesses determines special people, special people burn themselves and promote special historical events. Events are big and small, and together they constitute the key process of history." - Buckle, a senior investigator of the Special Patrol Office in the middle of the last century, explained in his book "Folklore Survey Experience" that "The Lord of Witnesses determines the world process."

This shows that some investigators in the Special Patrol Office also have fatalistic tendencies. Of course, they do not call them "apostles", but think that the people in these cases are "martyrs."

Another example is the taboo book "My Deeds, My Greatness, My Unhealed Wounds" in Fanning's hand.

This is a propaganda document of the "Eternal Life Esoteric Sect" that he retrieved from the archives of the school branch. It was destroyed nearly 200 years ago. The document records that a core believer believed that he had "dreams of dark green about division, rebirth and amorphous bodies" since he was a child. It was "inevitable by fate" that he joined the Eternal Life Esoteric Sect at the age of 20. At the age of 25, he became a "bright cornerstone" in a ritual, allowing "the mentor to rise higher", which was also "inevitable by fate."

There is no doubt that the author of the document believes that this person is an "apostle."

The church has the term "apostle", and some investigators in the Special Patrol Office also believe that there are "martyrs", but the school generally does not think so. They think--

"Isn't this a kind of hidden knowledge pollution?" Fanning shook his head.

In a world where extraordinary power can be proven to be effective, he thinks that the existence of "saints" like those in the Orthodox Church may be true. For example, if one understands the faith and knowledge of "the eternal fire" to the extreme and passes through the upper three doors, he may become a "bather of light", but the concept of "sent" expanded by the secret organization is obviously polluted by the evil god.

"Why does the Special Patrol Office think that Vasius is an 'apostle'?" This made Fanning unsure, "They think that Vasius lost contact for a period of time after carrying out the mission, but in fact Vasius was erased in the town of 'Hidden Light'. Did they find that Vasius appeared several times later, that is, in fact, there was something wrong with my own actions? Or was it an earlier contamination, for example, the symbol of the 'True Word of the Serpent' in Vasius's hat?..."

Fanning tapped the pen lightly on the table, carefully pondering the strangeness of it.

"Zizi-zizi-zi"

The telegraph machine next to him spit out several documents.

It was the financial situation copied by Olga from the administrative department after the tabulation was completed.

As of the last meeting in December, the current funds in the Turner Hall account were: 382,155 pounds.

"Afternoon tea and intermission tea break in December: -20,150;"

"Staff salaries and fixed expenses in December: -33,996;"

"Title sponsorship and publicity costs for ten opening season performances: -100,000;"

"Art exhibition ticket and souvenir sales; +11,592"

"New Year's Concert box office; +30,720"

"New Year's Concert raffle and dinner: -12,000;"

"Year-end dividends for the new calendar year 913: -162,575;"

"Afternoon tea and intermission tea break in January (estimated): -20,000;"

"Staff salaries and fixed expenses in January (estimated): -34,000;"

"Currently available current funds are 41,746 pounds?" Fanning's eyes stayed on the bold number at the bottom.

I did make a lot of effort in the past month.

But soon, the four albums covering the concertos will be released.

Fanning, who still has enough confidence in his financial situation, began to think about the performance arrangements for the new year.

“Zizi-zizi-zi”

A few hours later, the telegraph machine spit out paper again.

Fanning picked it up and read it, then stared at the gloomy rain and snow outside the window for a moment.

“Ms. Hamilton, a famous pathologist, psychologist, and infectious disease expert, died in the hospital on the morning of January 7, 914 in the new calendar, at the age of 58.”