Chapter 499: The Knight of the Contemporary Era

Dorothy originally thought Xia De had prepared in advance how to deal with this conversation, but as they spoke, she discovered that Xia De really seemed to understand.

"The predecessor of knight novels is heroic epics. But unlike traditional heroic legends, the protagonists of knight novels mostly fight alone for personal careers, sometimes purely for adventure, and adventures usually unfold in fabricated environments. And as knight novels developed to the contemporary era, with the decline of the knight class, the adventure components in the stories are constantly weakening, while the components of love and lust are strengthening, thus deriving some dirty creative genres."

Xia De shook his head slightly:

"In my view, compared to the ancient knight novels of hundreds of years ago, contemporary knight novels are gradually abandoning the knight spirit and the chivalric spirit displayed for defending love, honor, or religion. But this is also understandable; after all, the true knight class has disappeared. The root of creation has disappeared, so literary creation is like duckweed without roots on the water; no matter how good it looks, as long as you touch it, you know it's empty underneath."

"Very well said!"

Professor Mulder Goethe said, holding his wine glass.

This bearded middle-aged man indeed had the temperament of a literary giant; he not only had achievements in prose creation but also had some attainments in popular literature.

Others also whispered their agreement with Xia De's view. This wasn't because Xia De spoke so well, but because in this era, it had become the norm for literary figures in high society to criticize knight novels. Although not all knight novels tended toward the bottom, literature that gradually became a selling point for pornography and rude language was indeed no longer suitable for this era.

Xia De chose to talk about knight novels also because he knew that no one would defend knight novels in a public occasion at the Wang Hou's birthday banquet.

"However, Mr. Hamilton, it is a very strange thing for you, a knight who has been conferred, to say that knight novels have declined."

Baroness Ye Wa Swift from Kassenrik said; her Delarion language wasn't very good, and her speaking speed was relatively slow.

"But this is also a fact. However, in my view, the decline of old-style knight novels also represents the rise of new-style knight novels."

"Oh?"

His words naturally attracted the attention of many people, and even Dorothy looked at Xia De in surprise.

In her view, Xia De wasn't the kind of person who would talk big in a field he wasn't familiar with, and saying such things in an occasion with many writers sounded inappropriate no matter how you looked at it.

"Then, Knight, how do you define so-called new-style knight novels?"

Mr. Playwright Prosi Newman asked. Although his appearance and attire leaned toward the feminine, his speaking voice was quite normal.

"It's very simple. Old-style knight novels focus more on depicting battles with powerful enemies or even monsters in the wild and countryside, returning in triumph after winning the highest honor of a knight, becoming a prominent figure, and marrying a noble lady or a princess from afar. But for our era, where would anyone still have adventures in the countryside and the wild? Gentlemen, literature must be consistent with the background and tone of the era."

His words indeed drew agreement from people.

"So, I think the main stage for adventures in so-called new-style knight novels should be placed in the city. This is the place most familiar to civilized people who can read and like to read books to pass the time."

"Makes sense."

Poet Mr. Miles Garov said, stroking his chin. Now most people were listening to Xia De's "high-sounding talk."

"Secondly, the plot of a knight defeating bandits, defeating monsters and evil spirits, and gaining honor from it is too cliché. In urban adventures, where would there be opportunities to kill people at will? So, the stories of new-style knight novels shouldn't be like before, aiming to kill a certain powerful target, but should fight against evil in the main stage of the city with more civilized means."

Xia De accelerated his speaking speed a little before others realized what he was about to say:

"A man living in a steam city, skilled in fighting techniques, proficient in mathematics, grammar, astronomy, and mechanical production, using his own apartment as a base, shuttling through fog and steam, mingling in slums and the Lower City, lingering in clubs and noble salons. He is in close contact with the poor but can also win the favor of big figures. He fights crime, gets paid, disguises himself in the dark and shadows to obtain information, takes mysterious criminals as his number one enemy, and even gets to know noble ladies and princesses through tasks, obtaining a happy life at the end of the story..."

"Isn't this just a detective novel?"

Finally, someone heard what Xia De meant, and people broke free from the scene created by Xia De's words. For people of this era, the scene Xia De depicted was quite realistic and vivid.

Everyone laughed, because Xia De was a detective, and Xia De nodded very seriously:

"Yes, so I think detective novels should be the new-style knight novels that become popular in the later era. Detective novels will definitely succeed."

As he spoke, Xia De turned his head and smiled at the golden-haired young lady, and people seemed to understand something, showing kind smiles.

The words just now sounded a bit arrogant, but Xia De's purpose seemed to be to win the favor of his female companion, because Dorothy Miss Lu Yi Sha was the hottest detective novel writer at the moment.

Then, Xia De's statement just now could be explained as romantic, so it wouldn't cause people to feel disgusted. Moreover, the content Xia De just spoke seemed to have some truth to it.

Dorothy looked at Xia De with eyes that seemed to be shining:

"So, is a detective a knight of the contemporary era?"

She asked softly, but before Xia De could speak, the foreign Baroness from Kassenrik said:

"Then, Mr. Hamilton, as a detective, isn't he a knight living in this complicated and chaotic northern pearl?"

Probably because the words slipped out, she used the Kassenrik language. Xia De could understand Kassenrik, so he rolled his tongue and smiled, saying:

"Yes, Madam."

This was also Kassenrik; he could handle such simple expressions.

Ms. Ye Wa Swift covered her mouth and chuckled, continuing to praise Xia De in Kassenrik, and the people around also expressed their own views on knight novels.

Only Dorothy was there looking at Xia De:

"Detective..."

"What's wrong?"

Xia De also looked at her; the gas lamps and crystal chandeliers overhead illuminated the two. In Xia De's view, Dorothy was exceptionally beautiful today, and in Dorothy's view, the high-spirited Xia De seemed to be a bit different from usual.

After being slightly stunned, she shook her head with a smile:

"Wang Hou Diana will be out in five minutes."

The "illiterate" Xia De, who gained knight status by "saving Wang Hou Diana," seemed to be considered one of their own by the writers here after criticizing knight novels and expressing his views on new-style novels.

Taking advantage of the fact that the Wang Hou hadn't appeared yet, Xia De took out the business cards he had prepared and exchanged them with people, which could be considered expanding his network and soliciting business. When these rich people made commissions, the price was generally very high.

People were naturally very happy to get to know the detective from St. Deran Square. Except for the relationship between Xia De and Miss Galina, which no one dared to mention for now, Xia De himself as a detective still had some level of skill. In the two months, every commission he took on had been successfully completed.

When the sound of the French horn suddenly played, the lively banquet hall suddenly went quiet, and then everyone stood up; this was Wang Hou Diana about to appear.

First, a small team of Yodel Palace guards walked down quickly from the third-floor staircase. They were all wearing heavy armor painted with the royal family crest, with long swords and pistols at their waists.

After clearing a passage from the third-floor staircase to the second-floor balcony, horn players wearing soft hats and red cloaks with a strong old-era style also walked down from the third floor, standing on both sides of the cleared passage.

Reporters gathered on the balcony, aiming their cameras at the third-floor staircase entrance. Half of the people on the first floor came to the second floor, and half walked directly into the courtyard to look up.

Amidst the whispering, the low horn sound gradually lowered to the extreme, but after a few swirls, the tone suddenly became loud again.

The guests' voices went completely quiet, and everyone looked up at the high part of the third-floor staircase.

First, a few maids walked out, followed by several noblewomen such as the Marchioness of Hula and the Duchess of Rendall, who stood in the middle of the staircase and looked up with everyone else. While the horn sound reached its peak, Wang Hou Diana, wearing a crown and a silver-white dress, finally walked out surrounded by several princesses, and the person holding her hand was Angelina Cavendish, wearing a blue princess dress.

Although compared to her daughter, Wang Hou Diana was no longer young, appearing here at this moment, accompanied by her attire and accessories, she seemed to be shining all over.

She smiled at everyone downstairs, and the applause almost overwhelmed all the horn sounds at this moment. And the smoke and flashes produced by a whole row of flashbulbs made this scene even more wonderful.

Xia De and Dorothy stood behind the crowd with other writers, looking up and applauding with the people.

After Dorothy applauded lightly, she turned and hid behind the taller Xia De, avoiding seeing Lei Qianya. And Xia De stood on tiptoe to look at the staircase; he first saw Lei Qianya pulling the Wang Hou's dress hem, and the red-haired young ladies and youths beside her should all be the kingdom's princesses and princes.

Only then did he see Miss Galina. The witch followed behind Wang Hou Diana. She was also dressed up today; although she maintained that elegant and appropriate smile on her face, no matter how Xia De looked at it, he felt the witch seemed a bit distracted. ===== CHAPTER 500 =====