NOVEL WEB Chapter 263: Furina's Concert
"You just mentioned the Hollows—are those the Abyssal disasters? And the Ethereals… could they be the monsters from the Abyss?"
That was the first thing Furina thought of.
She was a bit surprised.
She hadn't expected that even now, there were still places in Liyue affected by the Abyss.
Beside her, Piper looked puzzled.
"What Abyssal disaster? You call the Hollows 'the Abyss'? And the Ethereals, 'Abyss monsters'?"
Furina nodded. "I suppose so…"
Clorinde, deep in thought, said, "You mentioned there's a Hollow disaster nearby. Could you take us to see it?"
Piper nodded. "The closest one is just a few dozen kilometers away. But there's really nothing to see—it's already decayed. Just an empty shell, stripped clean by Hollow scavengers."
Clorinde: "…"
Still, to satisfy Clorinde's curiosity, Piper went to the truck and brought back a few photos of Hollows and Ethereals, giving her a clearer idea of what they were.
Although Clorinde had never seen the Abyss with her own eyes, she was sure—it was definitely different from the Hollows.
As Clorinde and Furina continued learning more about this world...
Caesar, Lucy, Piper, and the others had already begun modifying the motorcycles. They sent Belle and Wise to the city to pick up additional parts.
After Belle and Wise left, Furina watched their departing car, eyes full of awe.
"Navia was right... Something definitely happened in Liyue. The changes are so drastic, I can barely recognize it anymore."
Clorinde said seriously, "Lady Furina, should we return and report this to Lady Navia as soon as possible?"
Furina shook her head. "No rush. I heard there's a Tour de Inferno race the day after tomorrow. It's a perfect opportunity to learn more before heading back to report."
They hadn't even fully grasped the current situation in Carrydon Town yet.
There were still so many unfamiliar things—cars, motorcycles, even the smartphones Nicole and the others used, which Furina found especially intriguing...
As the group was discussing these things, a brightly colored truck covered in graffiti suddenly rolled into Carrydon Town.
The truck had a striking cyberpunk aesthetic. It was clearly modified, sporting logos from both the New Eridu City Television Network and the Outer Ring Motorcycle Gang.
Caesar recognized it immediately.
It was the media van that showed up every year for the Tour de Inferno, bringing in the New Eridu TV crew for live coverage.
Moments later, a stylish young woman dressed in a flashy outfit jumped down from the vehicle.
"Hello, Carrydon! It's great to see you all again."
The last time they met was years ago.
Now, a new Tour de Inferno was about to begin.
Caesar recognized her instantly. During the last Tour, Caesar had even joined the commentary team as a special guest.
Smiling, Caesar greeted her. "Jolly Jenny, what brings you here?"
Jolly Jenny grinned. "We're here to interview you, of course! As this year's challengers, there's a lot of buzz about you."
As she spoke, her crew began unloading interview gear from the truck.
The questions were mostly standard fare.
"Miss Caesar, are you confident about the upcoming Tour de Inferno?"
"Miss Caesar, could you introduce your motorcycle to us?"
Caesar answered each one calmly. During the interview, she even revealed the team lineup for the Sons of Calydon: herself, Lucy, and Lighter.
All three were the top riders among the Sons of Calydon.
At that moment, Nicole asked the question on everyone's mind.
"Why not Piper? Isn't she your best driver?"
Caesar explained, "Piper mainly drives trucks. When it comes to truck handling, no one compares. She does ride motorcycles too, but when it comes to bike skills, Lucy, Lighter, and I are the top three riders in the group."
During their oil escort runs, it was always Caesar, Lucy, and Lighter riding up front on motorcycles, with Piper following behind in the truck.
After so many runs together, the trio's riding skills had become second nature.
That's why Caesar had full confidence in challenging the current champion in this year's race.
By the time the interview wrapped up, the sun was already setting.
Caesar smiled. "It's getting late. Why don't you stay in Carrydon tonight? You can head out to interview the victors tomorrow."
Jolly Jenny readily agreed. "Deal. But you'd better host us properly."
At this hour, trying to interview the champions was unrealistic.
Spending the night in the Outer Ring wilderness wasn't ideal—staying in Carrydon was clearly the safer and smarter option.
After finishing with Caesar, Lucy, and Lighter, Jolly Jenny wanted to take the chance to interview more locals and show the true face of the legendary Carrydon Town to viewers in the city.
Soon, she spotted Furina and Clorinde.
"Ladies, would you mind doing an interview?"
Furina faced the camera without hesitation.
"My name is Furina. Ask me anything."
"Miss Furina, you look stunning. Are you perhaps an idol or a celebrity?"
Jolly Jenny wasn't entirely sure—Furina looked like a star, but she'd never seen her around New Eridu before.
Furina responded confidently, "Of course I am."
Jolly Jenny laughed. "Looks like we've really run into a superstar. You came for the Tour de Inferno, right? Could you sing something for our city viewers?"
Sing?
That was no problem for Furina.
However, the place was full of ruins. Even if they had sound equipment, it couldn't possibly compare to the Fontaine Opera House.
But then...
Jolly Jenny opened the truck, revealing two massive speakers and a full professional setup.
Furina stared at the equipment, not recognizing any of it—she had no idea how to use it.
Jolly Jenny blinked. "Miss Furina... you really are a star, right?"
Furina held her head high. "Naturally."
More than ten minutes later, with Jolly Jenny and her crew's help, the equipment was finally set up.
Still brimming with confidence, Furina stepped onto the makeshift stage built from the truck. Holding the mic, she began to sing a famous Fontaine ballad—"Miracle Descends on Fontaine."
And the moment she opened her mouth, the entire audience was stunned.
She really could sing.
...