Old Mac wasn't actually old.
On the contrary, Old Mac was in his prime, vigorous and strong.
The reason he was called Old Mac was that he had the longest service record in the police station. As the most senior member of the unit, his colleagues prefixed his name with "Old" as a mark of respect. Then the nickname caught on, and everyone who knew him began calling him Old Mac.
"Ah, so it's Mr. Banneret and Mr. Abel. Pleased to meet you. Oh, let me see, there's also Mr. Wesley, Ms. Fox, and Ms. Reed. Good afternoon, I hope you're having a pleasant day off."
Old Mac appeared extremely amiable.
"I came to the printing factory to visit my good-for-nothing younger brother. His name is Egg Mac, twenty-one years my junior. People now call him Little Mac. He's currently an apprentice worker at the printing factory."
He explained why he was here—not to investigate a case.
"Mr. Banneret, I've heard rumors that you and the printing factory have a substantial business deal. Are you here for an inspection? How does it feel? This is the largest and newest printing factory in the area." Old Mac gestured exaggeratedly with his arms.
"Of course, it's fantastic here, and very busy. Are you heading back to the police station? Why not join us in the carriage? There's room, and it's on the way."
The amiable Old Mac was also quite talkative. Throughout the journey, the conversation in the carriage remained lively.
...
The Harvest Festival was a peculiar holiday.
It was the grandest festival of the year on this continent. Its peculiarity lay in the fact that, despite being called the Harvest Festival, it was celebrated in the depths of winter rather than during the bountiful autumn. Scholars had written extensively about the origins of this tradition, sustaining quite a few livelihoods in the process.
Over the centuries, as farmers increasingly moved to the cities, urban dwellers preserved this custom.
As planned, Hal arranged a movie-watching celebration for his friends: "Close call—I almost didn't get the tickets."
"Wait, when did you get the tickets?" Elina exclaimed. "I thought we'd have to queue for them now."
"Remember when I left for a bit during the break yesterday morning? That's when I got them," Hal said proudly. "I borrowed old Mr. Blake's vintage bicycle next door, so I had enough time to queue and buy the tickets. Even then, I could only get afternoon tickets. If we'd gone today, there definitely wouldn't have been any left."
"Hmm, then we can go somewhere else in the morning. A holiday on a non-rest day is really precious."
Revisiting old haunts.
Returning to the place where they had once "fought," their mindset was completely different now.
The zoo boasted a rich variety of species: comical-looking capybaras, elegant white swans with long necks, spotted deer said to have tender meat, honey-loving badgers, lethargic-looking wind-arrow rabbits, gentle earth bears, flamingos constantly preening their feathers, several fierce carnivorous animals, a long but placid giant snake, massive freshwater cattle that fed on aquatic plants, tusked pigeon-elephants, and beautiful foxes with nine-ringed tails, among others. Lanen even spotted a few goats, contentedly chewing hay in their separate enclosures.
"The collection here is so comprehensive. It'd be great if half of our Magical Flora and Fauna class could be held here," Sophia remarked, gazing at the bizarre array of animals.
No one responded.
"What do you think?" Sophia pressed when no one answered.
Lanen sighed. "Setting aside funding issues, do you think the Magical Flora and Fauna teacher would agree?"
Everyone shuddered, and Sophia stuck out her tongue sheepishly.
Despite their shared battle experiences, the Magical Flora and Fauna teacher remained unchanged, sticking to her original teaching methods (such as tying up misbehaving students and hanging them from the ceiling) and treating everyone equally.
They wisely dropped the topic and continued observing the rare animals.
Before they knew it, it was noon, and Lanen and the others had feasted their eyes.
Back on West Street, they found a cozy little eatery and filled their bellies with warm, delicious food for just thirty-seven coppers.
"We have half an hour to queue for entry. Now's the perfect time to head over," Hal said, distributing the movie tickets to his friends.
Outside the Broccoli Theater, a long line snaked along the street. The colorful neon sign on the high frame above the entrance still flickered. Combined with the misty breaths of the crowd, Lanen felt a long-lost festive atmosphere.
The queue moved swiftly, and soon the four were seated in the tiered auditorium with their cups and snacks.
Due to the high ticket prices, movie-watching remained a niche pastime, and the theater had only this one screening hall. Lanen ran his hand over the plush red seat—it felt brand new. Earlier, Hal had mentioned that the equipment had been recently upgraded, now featuring the latest synchronized sound technology. The furnishings and decor had likely been renovated as well.
The magical lights on the ceiling dimmed.
A cheerful, lively tune began to play.
A bright beam of light illuminated the giant screen, revealing a charming black-and-white bird hopping about and blinking. The bird then transformed into a logo, beneath which appeared the words "Polar Penguin Pictures."
As the ornate title *City of Justice* faded, majestic music swelled, and the film officially began.
The production was exquisite, opening with a grand spectacle befitting its blockbuster status.
—This was another world devoid of magic.
Daisy Isaac played the beautiful female lead, a scavenger struggling to survive. Through a series of accidents and coincidences, she met the dashing male lead, portrayed by Oscar Redley. It should have been a love story with a happy ending.
But then, war broke out.
An evil coalition launched assaults on the territories of the City of Justice from all directions, committing heinous atrocities. Driven by their belief in justice, the protagonists joined the defenders, embarking on a heroic, blood-soaked journey through one tragic battle after another.
The characters fought in ways the audience found novel and thrilling… but Lanen thought them bizarre: steam-powered machinery fueled by firewood, equipped with massive catapults; intricate, stylish torsion weapons launching steel pellets as projectiles; and brutal, gripping melee combat that formed the backbone of the story.
The film concluded with the now-disabled hero and the heroine, who had achieved immortal glory, supporting each other as they admired the sunrise and clouds.
It had to be admitted—the ticket price was worth it. The tender romance, explosive battles, cutting-edge effects, grand scenes, and gripping music all justified the film's blockbuster status and significantly increased snack consumption.
Judging by the audience's enthusiastic reaction and the brisk ticket sales, the film was a resounding success despite its steep price.
…Lanen felt a peculiar emotion.
He suddenly had the urge to bring something even more real to the people of this world.
For now, Lanen buried that impulse deep inside, waiting for the right moment.