"What is the essence of a circus? A special organization of a certain world, or a unit directly under the Black Tower?"
"The Dark Circus is a special organization directly recognized by the Black Tower and at the same time a world?"
This explanation left Han Dong stunned: "What? Both an organization and a world?"
"That’s right, the origin of the Dark Circus is quite secretive,
even I, as a former scene designer, don’t really know... Very long ago, even before I was born, it was registered by the Black Tower as a [Special World], and all related documents are top-level secrets.
After I left the circus, I also tried to inquire about its origin through the Black Tower, but found no clues.
Since I wouldn’t have any more contact anyway, I stopped bothering with it."
Han Dong stroked his chin, murmuring, "If the circus itself is a portable, mobile world marked as [Special], it seems quite normal.
Even if Mr. Bokes, you don’t know the origin of the circus, you should be aware of some of its daily things, right?
How does the circus usually operate, and what is its profit model?"
Bokes awkwardly scratched his lone leg:
"Well... just like when Mr. Han and I signed a confidentiality agreement about the Prison World, I also signed a confidentiality agreement during my work, and it’s lifelong.
I can’t provide a lot of information, especially regarding internal intelligence which I mostly cannot disclose."
"It’s okay, just tell me what you can."
"Since the circus belongs to a secret organization under the Black Tower, it is not limited by the world’s membranes and has the right to enter any open world.
Every month, it will randomly appear in some world, which could be a small world, or a Super World, completely random without being influenced by any factors.
The circus will choose the area with the lowest population density to root and stay for a week.
On the first day, ’flyers’ are distributed worldwide,
the second and third days involve the setup of the circus venue and reception of the arriving audience,
the fourth to sixth days are for normal performance shows,
and the last day is for a closing performance and a summary of this show."
Han Dong asked puzzled:
"Distribute ’flyers’ worldwide? Even a small world has hundreds of thousands, or millions of people, right? How many people can the circus accommodate at most?"
"The circus can accommodate at most a thousand people.
However, only special individuals can recognize the true form of the ’flyers’ and see the location and related introduction of the circus clearly.
As for what constitutes a ’special individual’ and how they are defined, we workers aren’t quite clear.
These are all personally defined by the troupe leader, even the ’flyers’ are made by him... each time it ensures that the number of viewers who recognize the flyers and come to the circus is exactly a thousand."
"Hmm~ special flyers, selection mechanism... interesting.
How are circus tickets calculated?"
"No need for tickets, just holding a flyer allows one to watch the three-day performance for free..."
The audience might receive a performance invitation from the circus during the show, come on stage as an assisting guest to perform some simple acts, and if they perform well, they might be invited to join the circus?"
Bokes was slightly surprised, not expecting Han Dong to really guess it... but such a conjecture is just superficial.
The things that happen inside the circus are not something outsiders can easily imagine.
"That’s right, I eventually became a member of the circus through the ’audience’ identity.
I remember before joining the circus, I dreamed of becoming a comedic magician.
But no matter how hard I tried, no matter how many people I killed who disliked my magic or ridiculed my one-legged stance, stuffing their brains into a hat and conducting human anatomy performances, I still couldn’t get recognized.
In despair, it was the circus that took me in... just for this alone, I am grateful to the troupe leader, hehe!"
The Comical Bokes, when mentioning his past experiences, inevitably felt some melancholy and longing, but mostly expressed it with mockery.
Han Dong continued to ask, "Will the circus scale increase with recruitment?"
"No... the scale will not change.
Once new blood is injected, someone might lose their job.
The kid who replaced me back then, although not necessarily having better design skills, was indeed more suitable to stay in the circus.
Of course, some spectators recruited in are only temporary... they are treated as disposable human props, or transformed into performing Beast Men by Beast Tamers, or used as our nutritional supply, etc.
Only individuals with real talent are likely to replace existing members."
"So, you’re constantly optimizing internal members?
So Pennywise was also replaced back then? Did the circus find a more suitable clown than him?"
Although I really hate this guy, I have to admit, his interpretation of the [Clown] role is quite on point... His departure came from a direct order from the troupe leader.
As for the reason, I’m not quite sure.
I also know that besides me, many people had major grievances against this clown."
"That puts my mind at ease. If there truly is a clown more interesting than Pennywise, I’d really like to see it for myself..."
Han Dong has already made a rough guess in his mind.
The nature of the [Dark Circus] is probably similar to [Derry Town]. This special, individually elite world will end up developing into a special department of the Black Tower.
"Is it possible to find out through special channels in which world the circus is currently located?"
"Theoretically, the appearance of the circus is absolutely random and secretive... but if you inquire through your status at the Black Tower, you might find it."
"Alright, while you design and model in the Prison World, I’ll try my luck."
Upon hearing Han Dong wants to make direct contact with the circus, the Comical Bokes felt a stir in his heart, and his words became earnest.
"Mr. Han, if you really have contact with the circus, or even get a ’flyer’ and become an audience member, can I request something from you..."
"Oh? Do you want to come out and watch the show as well?"
"No need to come out... I hope Mr. Han can share some of your vision with me, let me hide in your world and watch the performance, that’s enough."
"Then you better work hard! I hope you can present me with satisfactory designs."
Sharing vision is not that problematic.
Thus, acquiring a fully submitted employee, Han Dong was quite pleased.
If these two designers perform well, Han Dong will, through an equivalent exchange, transfer them from the foundation to become workers in the prison.
After completing the tour with the Comical Bokes and reuniting with the backpacked Sova, they briefly distributed work.
Sova was responsible for the expansion and Modification of the world’s basic framework, while Bokes was responsible for the special traits Modification of the Dominating Tower and tried to establish some new world facilities, planning unique areas.
Han Dong also secretly transmitted instructions, having the doctor monitor the movements of the two in the dark.
Han Dong returned to the Black Tower Office and immediately summoned a staff member, giving five keywords related to the [Dark Circus].
There was an immediate change in the staff’s expression.
"Mr. Han, we are not authorized to touch such a special organization here, please proceed to the mid-level zone to inquire about related information... terribly sorry."
Han Dong found this quite normal; it made things more interesting.