241-245

Chapter 241: The Circus Has Arrived

“It seems my decision to invest a large amount of [Plot Points] in the evolution of Spike was indeed the right one.”

Through the system panel, Allen observed Spike’s performance. He nodded, satisfaction evident on his face.

Having Spike as part of Amanda’s team to drive the plot had undoubtedly saved him a significant amount of [Plot Points] needed for script revisions.

Contentedly, Allen shifted his focus away from the team’s display.

At present, although Amanda and the others, with Spike’s warnings, sensed something unusual about the situation, they were still some distance from engaging in the main storyline.

Meanwhile, during this time, another part of the script was also quietly unfolding.

With Allen’s mental command, the system panel’s view shifted from Amanda’s investigation to a lively small-town scene.

Bandera Town

Bandera, a town founded by Polish immigrants and home to one of Texas’s oldest churches, St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, was known for its cowboy culture. Residents often dressed in cowboy attire, a nod to the town’s Western heritage, which, like the cowboy era itself, had gradually faded. Bandera had not seen much excitement in a long time.

Today, however, an unexpected group of visitors broke the town’s prolonged tranquility.

“Have you heard?”

“A traveling circus has arrived outside town, and they’re putting on a show!”

“You’re behind the times—I found out that their performance includes a freak show. I even sneaked a peek past the tent while they were resting and saw some really strange-looking folks…”

“A freak show? In this day and age, who would still have that?”

Like cowboy culture, freak show performances had mostly disappeared with the passage of time. The speakers hadn’t expected such an antiquated form of entertainment to still exist.

“Did you notice? The style of this traveling circus feels very old-fashioned. Some of the town’s elders said it reminds them of their youth. Can a vintage circus like this even make money today?”

“Well, if they’re still touring, they must be making something. Besides, whether the circus makes money isn’t really our concern. As long as they put on a great show and entertain us, that’s enough. It’s been ages since the town has had anything this exciting.”

Conversations like these spread throughout Bandera. For the town’s children, who had only seen circuses on TV, the prospect of a real performance was especially intriguing.

Around the circus tent, a crowd of curious children peeked inside.

“Sorry, kids, the show isn’t ready yet…”

Standing at the entrance, the circus ringmaster, with a strained smile that attempted to appear friendly, held the eager children back. “If you want to see the greatest show on Earth, go tell your parents to bring you tonight. I promise it will be unforgettable.”

The ringmaster’s words and slightly unsettling expression sent the curious children scurrying away.

Watching them leave, the ringmaster’s mouth curled, revealing sharp teeth.

“Keep a close watch on the entrance. Don’t let any outsiders sneak in.”

He turned and warned Lobster Boy before limping into the tent on his cane.

Inside, the circus was bustling with preparation.

Through the system’s display, Allen spotted many familiar faces, such as General Thumb and Bearded Woman, among the freak show performers, getting into costume.

Following the activities, Allen’s eyes quickly locked onto a striking figure.

The Swedish Nightingale—Jenny Lind.

“For tonight’s show, you’re the star, Nightingale. I need you to captivate everyone. The circus needs more performers.”

The ringmaster, limping over to Jenny Lind, spoke with a gleam of greed in his deformed eyes. His voice softened as he addressed her; as the circus’s main attraction, Jenny was treated better than the other performers.

After all, what he called the “greatest traveling circus on Earth” owed much of its fame to The Swedish Nightingale.

“I know what to do.”

Jenny’s expression remained unchanged as she stared at her reflection in the mirror, replying softly.

“Good, as long as you understand.”

The ringmaster, satisfied with her response, nodded and hobbled away.

Passing by a few feathered freaks, he paused, savoring their frightened expressions before releasing a harsh, grating laugh and moving toward the back of the tent.

“Are you really going to help the ringmaster with this, Jenny?”

As the ringmaster’s figure disappeared, the tent regained some liveliness. The Bearded Woman, her face partially obscured by her thick beard, approached Jenny with a worried expression.

“If you do, many families in this town will be shattered.”

“I know, but if we don’t follow his orders, we’ll all be punished.”

Jenny’s delicate face showed a trace of sorrow. “In this circus, we’re all under the ringmaster’s control. As long as he’s here, we can’t escape. Mary Shaw was the only one who tried, and though she succeeded, she also failed…”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 242: News Report

"Perhaps Spike was right," Austin said.

Angela, reviewing recent reports on Siren Head, stared at the travel routes displayed on the computer screen. She turned to Amanda behind her and said,

"Although we can't guarantee the accuracy of all these reports claiming encounters with Siren Head, the sightings do indicate a consistent westward movement towards Texas. Its last reported appearance aligns with the forest near BSI's location."

"Each of these reports shares a similar story: the victims encountered a massive creature, over ten meters tall, passing by without engaging them," Agent Zhou commented while scrutinizing the map.

"What’s odd," Zhou continued, "is that none of the reported victims were attacked. They were merely frightened—no disappearances, no fatalities."

Agent Phil nodded in agreement, noting the peculiarity.

"This is completely different from what the BSI agents experienced," he remarked.

Clearly, the team had identified numerous unusual details within these accounts.

"Angela, could you show me the report about the couple who spotted Siren Head?" Spike asked, his gaze fixed on the route map.

Angela glanced at Amanda for confirmation. Seeing her nod, she switched the screen back to the news report. Leaning forward, Spike meticulously read through the description.

“…According to Mrs. Laura, she had never seen such a horrifying creature. It had two enormous heads and emitted a hellish song. She felt as though her soul was being pulled away, leaving her paralyzed. Just as she thought her life was over, the creature abruptly stopped and disappeared into the forest."

"Local townspeople claimed they saw no trace of such a creature and believed Laura was hallucinating due to her husband’s recent disappearance. A traveling circus had been in town a few days prior, and Laura’s husband vanished shortly after it left. Laura encountered the monster while searching for her husband and insisted it had taken him."

Although the report focused on Laura’s encounter, Spike noticed a previously overlooked detail in its latter half.

"A traveling circus?" Spike muttered, repeating the term. Something about it felt significant, though he couldn’t yet piece it together.

The ringing of a phone interrupted the tense atmosphere.

"Amanda here," she answered. Her expression shifted as she listened.

"I see. Thanks, Robin," Amanda said, hanging up. She turned to the group and announced,

"A patrol officer found a BSI agent's ID card about ten kilometers from the site of the disappearance."

---

"I’ve practically handed you the evidence. Let’s see if you can follow through," Allen muttered, his gaze flickering as he observed Amanda’s progress. Using *plot points*, he had directed a Texas patrol officer to discover the clue he left behind.

The system’s screen transitioned, revealing a view of the small town.

---

*Bandera Town – Circus Tent*

"Lobster Man," with his deformed hands raised, vigilantly scanned his surroundings.

He moved with caution, having been warned by the ringmaster.

Waving his grotesque hands at the children outside the tent, he elicited gasps of surprise.

"Go away! The circus show hasn’t started yet. Don’t come any closer!"

The impatience in his tone was evident as he shooed the kids away.

"Did you see that? His hands look like a monster’s!"

"It’s just a deformity. I saw pictures like that online."

"So gross…"

"If my hands looked like that, I’d rather die," one child murmured.

Hearing their remarks, Lobster Man’s expression turned increasingly sorrowful.

He looked down at his fused, misshapen hands, his face heavy with sadness.

---

The low bellow of an elephant echoed through the circus tent.

Leaning on his cane, the ringmaster limped past the animal cages. The moment he approached, the elephant lifted its trunk and let out a deep cry.

"Keep a close eye on them, Jiang Bao," the ringmaster said, patting the elephant’s trunk before hobbling into a smaller tent at the back of the circus.

---

"How are you, child?"

The ringmaster tipped his top hat and revealed a toothy grin as he entered the tent, his sharp voice cutting through the air.

"Are you getting used to your 'home'?"

Creak, creak—

Within the tent, a clockwork marionette sitting on a small wooden chair slowly turned its head, its joints creaking with every movement.

"You lied to me. This isn’t 'home'!" the marionette said, its voice laced with bitterness.

"How can you call it a lie?" the ringmaster replied, the corners of his mustache curling upward with smugness.

"This is where you were created, the place you truly belong. Here, you can have everything you’ve ever wanted—all you have to do is work for me."

"No! This isn’t my 'home'! I hate it here!"

The marionette’s voice grew louder, its joints creaking more violently. Its body twisted unnaturally, and the winding key on its back began to spin erratically.

As the marionette's agitation escalated, the surroundings inside the tent began to transform, wooden textures spreading across the fabric.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 243: The Documents

“I want to leave this place!”

The wind-up puppet twisted its neck a full 360 degrees and let out an ear-piercing scream at the circus ringmaster.

“I said it!”

Inside the tent, wooden textures began spreading outward from the ground.

The ringmaster’s eyes, under his top hat, flashed with a sharp glint. He raised his cane and tapped it on the ground a few times.

“In this circus, I am the ringmaster. All of you must obey me—including you!”

With this action, the screeching from the wind-up puppet sitting on the wooden chair abruptly stopped.

The puppet looked down at its own body. Its once articulated hands rapidly transformed, and its entire body began to shrink. In the blink of an eye, the puppet sitting on the chair had turned into a small wooden rabbit with visible woodgrain textures.

“For the time being, you’ll stay here quietly...”

Gazing down at the wooden rabbit hopping on the chair, the ringmaster tipped his top hat with his cane and grinned. “...my son.”

---

“Jonathan?”

On a vast highway in Texas, Amanda and her team arrived at the location where a clue had been discovered. They took the documents found by the highway patrol and opened them.

“I know this guy. We met him briefly during the investigation in New York City,” Agent Phil couldn’t help but remark as he saw the familiar photo in the documents.

“It looks like this document went through a lot before being found.”

Agent Zhou frowned as he examined the tattered document in Amanda’s hand, particularly focusing on the battered BSI badge.

“This is a highway. It’s normal for documents to get damaged,” Zhou stated.

“However, judging by the state of this document, it’s not just from being run over by cars,” Angela interjected, analyzing the situation.

Taking the BSI badge from Amanda, Spike compared the imprints on the document and then examined the marks on the ground. “Has anyone here ever ridden a horse?”

The unexpected question left the team bewildered.

After exchanging glances, Agent Phil finally spoke up, shaking his head. “Not me.”

Agent Zhou added, “Same here.”

Angela chimed in, “I’ve thought about it, but never got the chance.”

Amanda hesitated before admitting, “I’ve ridden a few times. I worked as a cowboy.”

The team looked at Amanda in surprise.

“What?” Amanda shrugged, noticing their curiosity. “It was a summer job on a ranch. Riding horses was part of the experience. It’s not unusual—there are plenty of ranches in Texas.”

“Fair enough,” Spike nodded. He handed the BSI badge back to Amanda with a smirk. “Well then, cowgirl, can you tell me how many horses left these tracks on the highway?”

“Don’t call me a cowgirl,” Amanda muttered, clearly disliking the nickname.

Taking a closer look at the hoofprints on the highway, Amanda frowned. “I can’t give an exact number, but it’s clear that a lot of horses passed through here—at least twenty or thirty. And they weren’t just passing by; they were pulling carriages or something else.”

“Carriages? In modern times?” Angela remarked skeptically.

“With today’s technology, carriages are outdated. Cars are faster and more efficient,” she continued, emphasizing how unusual the situation was, especially in America, a country known for its automotive culture.

“There’s no doubt that over two dozen carriages on a highway is strange, especially since a BSI agent’s badge was found in their path,” Spike concluded.

Amanda glanced at the damaged badge in her hand, then at the direction where the hoofprints disappeared. She quickly made a decision.

“Everyone, prepare to move out. Whether or not these carriages are connected to the disappearance of the BSI agent, we need to investigate.”

With Sirenhead still unaccounted for, Amanda’s team had little else to pursue. Following the trail of the BSI badge seemed like their best lead, even if it might uncover something unexpected.

---

“Finally, all the groundwork is in place.”

While Amanda’s team followed their new lead, in San Marino, Allen let out a sigh of relief as he reviewed the system interface.

The plot had grown more complex than Allen originally anticipated. Integrating Amanda’s team into the storyline had been a meticulous process, but his efforts had paid off.

By leveraging pre-planned clues and using *Plot Points* for correction and guidance, Allen had successfully directed Amanda’s team onto the investigation path he had designed. Meanwhile, the circus in the small town was preparing for its next performance.

Once Amanda’s team and the circus crossed paths, the script for The Circus Is Here would finally enter its main storyline.

“Now, the next phase will be the confrontation between the circus troupe and Amanda’s team,” Allen mused.

The system interface shifted from Amanda’s journey to the town to a scene inside the circus.

Watching the ringmaster scold his performers, Allen’s eyes glimmered.

Though the ringmaster had shown a kind demeanor when dealing with Allen, the version depicted in the system was his true nature as envisioned in the script.

This duality would eventually lead to the ringmaster’s downfall, a fate Allen had already set in motion.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 244: The Reason

"So, what made you decide to give up being a cowboy and become a cop instead?"

Texas. On the road during the investigation.

Spike gazed at the desolate road outside the car window and casually asked Amanda, who sat beside him.

"I already told you—being a cowboy was just part of my summer plan."

Hearing Spike’s question, Amanda couldn’t help but show a hint of exasperation. She turned to look at the others in the car, briefly meeting their curious gazes, and then explained.

"You still haven’t told me why you chose to become a cop."

Spike nodded noncommittally at Amanda's answer and pressed further.

"I don’t know. Maybe there was a very important reason when I originally chose this career, but now I’ve long forgotten it."

Amanda shook her head, genuinely unable to recall why she had decided to become a police officer.

"That’s not a very satisfying answer, Amanda."

"You remember why you became a cowboy but forgot why you became a cop."

The disappointment on the faces of the others in the car was evident as they reacted to Amanda’s response.

"We’re here."

Before the conversation could continue, Agent Zhou, seated in the driver’s seat, interrupted: "This is the closest town to the investigation site."

"Hey, cowboy!"

At that moment, Agent Phil suddenly called out.

"I told you, don’t call me that anymore!"

Annoyed by Phil's teasing, Amanda grew visibly irritated. She felt that their jokes were going a bit too far.

"I think Phil is referring to the actual cowboys in this town, boss," Angela explained from the back seat, trying to diffuse the situation as Amanda fumed.

“…”

Hearing Angela's words, Amanda’s anger gave way to slight embarrassment. She turned to look at the locals dressed in cowboy attire outside the car, her face stiffening momentarily. After a pause, she feigned composure and said firmly, "Zhou, you, Phil, and Angela take one group and investigate the town. See if anyone has noticed anything unusual or any suspicious individuals. Spike, you’re with me—we’ll cover the other half of the town."

"Got it, boss!"

Once Amanda issued her orders, the team refrained from further comments on the previous topic.

"Ah~"

Getting out of the car, Spike stretched, adjusting his stiff back.

The high-intensity investigations with the BSI team lately had clearly taken a toll on him.

"You look like you’re a bit worn out."

After giving instructions to the others, Amanda turned to Spike and remarked.

"Even though I’m a psychic, that doesn’t mean I don’t get tired."

Yawning, Spike glanced around the small town. Observing the residents, he remarked, "It looks like something is going on here—maybe a special event or some occasion."

"What makes you say that?"

Amanda followed Spike's gaze toward the bustling town.

"Because there are a lot of parents with children here."

Turning back to Amanda, Spike replied softly, "And children tend to wear their emotions on their faces. They look happy and like they’re anticipating something."

…

"Hurry up, Mommy! Hurry!"

A child, tugging at his mother’s hand, excitedly urged her toward the direction of the circus.

"Don’t rush, sweetheart. The show hasn’t started yet."

Dragged forward by her eager child, the mother sighed helplessly.

"But so many people are heading toward the circus already! What if we miss the show?"

"It’s just a circus performance. Haven’t you seen one on TV before?"

"It’s not the same! It’s different!"

The child protested loudly, pulling his mother’s hands insistently toward the circus. "I want to see the live show! I want to see the elephants perform!"

Unable to resist her child’s pleas, the mother quickened her pace toward the circus.

"So many people…"

Arriving at the circus, the mother was taken aback by the crowd gathered outside. It was far more than she had expected.

"You’re here too, Lisa."

Someone familiar greeted her in line, also holding an energetic child by the hand.

"I had no choice—my kid wouldn’t stop begging to see the circus," Lisa replied, shaking her head with a helpless smile.

"Same here. I don’t even understand what’s so fascinating about the circus," the acquaintance replied, shaking her head as well. The two women began chatting while their children played together.

"Looks like a lot of people came to watch the circus tonight," Lisa remarked, glancing at the long line ahead.

"Well, the word is this traveling circus is only performing in Bandera for one day. They’re leaving tomorrow, so a lot of people didn’t want to miss the chance to see the show."

"Only staying for one day?"

Lisa frowned in confusion. She wasn’t familiar with circuses, but she thought traveling troupes usually stayed in a place for a few days before moving on.

"That’s strange, isn’t it?"

"Who knows? Maybe they’re heading to a busier location to perform. Bandera might just be a stop for rest, so they’re performing here for one day to make some travel money."

"Or maybe it’s a scarcity tactic…"

As the two women continued their conversation, the line gradually shortened.

Soon, it was Lisa’s turn.

"Tickets are five dollars," said the flamboyantly dressed *"Lobster Man"* at the tent entrance.

"How much for children?"

"Three dollars."

Handing over eight dollars, Lisa’s gaze lingered on the man’s unusual hands for a moment before she took her eager child into the circus tent.

---

(End of chapter)

Chapter 245: The Circus Begins

“Lisa, over here!”

As Lisa entered the circus tent, the first thing she noticed was the packed audience seated throughout the venue. Her gaze swept over the central stage and lingered briefly on the suspended apparatus hanging above.

At that moment, a familiar voice called out from the audience seating nearby.

Looking in the direction of the voice, Lisa spotted a familiar face seated in the corner. The person, holding a child, gestured to the empty seat beside them, clearly inviting her over.

Glancing at the seat number on her ticket, Lisa hesitated for a moment but eventually gave in to the enthusiastic invitation and made her way over.

Beep beep, dee-dee-dee, dee-dee-dee—

Beep beep, dee-dee-dee, dee-dee-dee—

Dee-dee-dee, dee-dee-dee, dee-dee-dee, beep beep—

Just as Lisa sat down, cheerful music began to play inside the circus tent. Following the direction of the sound, she saw a clown dressed in a comically bright costume with a red nose. The clown was seated at a piano, playing an upbeat tune. With an exaggeratedly busy demeanor, the clown alternated between playing, pulling, and blowing various instruments attached to their body, all while stomping on a drum pedal to create a full musical arrangement—the perfect opening act.

Accompanying the clown’s performance, the circus ringmaster hobbled into the center of the tent, leaning heavily on a cane.

The spotlight illuminated the ringmaster’s rotund figure. Underneath his top hat, his gaze swept across the audience, pausing momentarily when it landed on Lisa.

Raising his arms dramatically, he shouted, “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Barnum Traveling Circus! Here, you will witness the greatest circus performances in the world!”

The crowd’s reaction to the ringmaster’s grand proclamation was mixed, but polite applause followed nonetheless.

A smug expression appeared on Barnum’s face as he surveyed the audience, his gaze once again lingering briefly in Lisa’s direction. Leaning on his cane, he announced the first act: “And now, presenting our opening performance: the extraordinary Birdmen Acrobatics!”

As Barnum spoke, three figures covered in feathers appeared on the stage, balancing on rolling balls. Holding hands, they performed a series of comedic acrobatics, occasionally pulling small balls from their pockets and juggling them to add flair to the routine.

It was clear that during their time in the circus, the trio had grown accustomed to their roles and had honed a performance that was both entertaining and skilled.

“These three feathered Birdmen,” Barnum declared theatrically, “were discovered during one of my circus tours. They are triplets, born with vibrant plumage covering their entire bodies. Throughout their lives, they faced ridicule and discrimination for their unusual appearance—until they found a new home in my circus, where we gave them hope and purpose.”

As the Birdmen performed, Barnum continued weaving an embellished backstory, drawing more attention to the stage.

“Are those feathers real?”

“Is it a trick?”

“I bet they’re fake—humans can’t grow feathers!”

“But look closely—it really does seem like the feathers are part of their bodies, not just glued on.”

The feather-covered Birdmen captivated the audience, sparking debates about the authenticity of their appearance.

“Did you notice the ringmaster looking at us earlier?”

Amid the chatter, Lisa’s expression turned uncertain. Since Barnum’s entrance, she had felt his gaze lingering on her more than once.

“That’s impossible—you’re imagining things, Lisa,” her companion replied dismissively, keeping their eyes glued to the Birdmen’s performance. “By the way, do you think their feathers are real?”

---

Meanwhile, at the same time the circus performance began, Amanda’s team reconvened after a brief investigation.

“The name of the town is Bandera,” Amanda said.

“It’s also known as the ‘Cowboy Capital of the World,’” Angela added, glancing at Amanda. Her report was met with Amanda’s usual stoic expression.

“That explains why so many people in town are dressed like cowboys,” Angela continued.

Mindful of Amanda’s past, the group refrained from delving further into the topic. However, Spike, as usual, paid no attention to such considerations.

“Another cowboy story, huh?” Spike teased. Although Amanda had initially been irritated by his jabs, over time, she grew indifferent.

Ignoring Spike’s tone, Amanda turned to Agent Zhou and asked, “Other than the town’s history, did you find anything significant?”

“The town seems peaceful, with little of note—except for a traveling circus that’s recently arrived,” Zhou replied.

“A circus?” Amanda raised an eyebrow.

Before she could say more, Spike chimed in, “Do we know what kind of circus it is?”

“It’s reportedly a freak show,” Agent Phil interjected. “Several townsfolk mentioned seeing performers with unusual appearances. Many were put off by the nature of the show and chose not to attend.”

Freak shows were not everyone’s cup of tea. While some were drawn to the spectacle, others found such performances distasteful.

“If it’s a freak show, they must have animal acts too, right?” Spike speculated.

Amanda caught on to Spike’s implication immediately. Frowning, she replied, “You think those wagons belong to the circus?”

“With so many wagons in one place, it’s unusual enough. Combine that with a collection of animals, and the only logical connection is a traveling circus,” Spike concluded.

---

(End of Chapter)