Night, Tingen City Train Station.
The spacious platform was empty, with only large gas lamps illuminating the Darkness, attracting many flying insects to circle around them. Lu Ze and Luo Yao followed Dunn onto the platform and looked down. The lights illuminated a section of the railway tracks and the sleepers and gravel beneath them, but further down, the tracks were bathed in Darkness, extending to an unknown destination.
"Why is the station so empty? Are there no passengers?"
Lu Ze considered this for a second with a Transmigrator's mindset, then, combining it with the common sense of this world, he quickly realized. This world had not yet invented electric train lights, and trains were powered by steam. Steam locomotives rarely operated at night.
"Then the High-Ranking Cleric's train must be a specially arranged one," he thought. "After all, High-Ranking Clerics are truly at the top of the Church, with only nine of them in total. It's not surprising for them to have some special privileges."
Dunn told them that the High-Ranking Cleric arriving this time was named Creste Cesima, titled "Sword of the Goddess." He was a Sequence 5 himself, but because he had gained the recognition of a Holy Artifact, his combat power could rival a newly promoted Sequence 4.
"Sequence 4, huh? Sounds incredibly powerful. I wonder what a Sequence 4 of the Secret Supplicant Pathway would be like. Bah, bah, bah, what does that have to do with me?!"
As soon as these chaotic thoughts arose, Lu Ze immediately stifled his curiosity.
"I'll just honestly be a Sequence 9; I don't want to go crazy!"
Just then, the train's whistle suddenly blared, and a massive object, rumbling, rolled over the tracks and approached the platform.
Lu Ze was startled because the sound was too sudden. One second ago, it was still quiet outside; the next second, the moving locomotive was already close at hand, as if it had compressed a large amount of distance and appeared directly here.
"It's here."
Dunn reminded the two, and just as he said, a steam train slowly entered the station with a whooshing sound. Large amounts of white steam billowed from beneath the carriage and the chimney of the locomotive. Under the illumination of the platform's gas lamps, the steam resembled a giant orange-red beast, slowly stretching its massive body.
With a "hiss" of the brakes, the train stopped steadily. Behind the locomotive, there was only one carriage attached.
Amidst the gushing steam, a man in a black trench coat slowly appeared.
What Lu Ze noticed first were the man's hands. In this summer night, he was actually wearing a pair of bright red gloves. In one of his red-gloved hands, he carried a silver-white metal briefcase, about the size of a violin case.
"That briefcase."
Lu Ze felt a sense of tranquil, terrifying power. That power drew his gaze, and it seemed as if a black aura surrounded the briefcase, obscuring deeper secrets. If he were to activate his Spirit Vision, he might be able to see through the mist.
Swish!
The briefcase moved slightly, as the hand holding it adjusted its angle. Lu Ze felt his vision relax, and he immediately looked up, daring not to look at the case again.
The owner of the hand glanced at Lu Ze lightly and walked to Dunn without stopping.
He was about thirty years old, with golden-brown hair almost plastered to his scalp. His dark green eyes were calm and deep. The collars of his shirt and trench coat were raised high, covering his chin, and even his lips were hidden in shadow.
"Welcome to Tingen, Your Excellency Cecima."
Dunn bowed.
"Good evening, Captain Dunn. There is no Red Moon tonight, but the Goddess's stars still adorn the night sky."
Creste Cesima said.
The two exchanged a smile.
"Your Excellency Cecima, why did you choose to travel by train? You clearly have faster methods."
"Well, if it were just me, of course, I could, but this time I also brought a guest along the way."
Creste said. As his words fell, another figure appeared from the train.
This was a beautiful lady. She wore a black hooded robe, with blue eye makeup on her brows and eyes. Silver chains and crystals adorned her chest and wrists. Overall, she was enchanting and beautiful.
"Ms. Daly."
Lu Ze heard Luo Yao call out from beside him, seemingly very familiar with the other party.
Dunn, however, frowned slightly. "Why are you here too?"
"Can't I be here?"
The mysterious lady named Daly smiled at Luo Yao. Hearing Dunn's words, her smile suddenly froze, and she looked back at Dunn and asked, "Mr. Dunn Smith, Old Neil has also been my teammate for many years. He's in trouble now, and you didn't even tell me?"
"Old Neil is in trouble? What happened to him?"
Luo Yao asked in surprise, turning her inquiring gaze to Dunn.
Dunn looked at Luo Yao on his left and Daly on his right, and for the first time, a hint of helplessness appeared in his eyes.
— — — —
By the time Luo Yao understood what had happened to Old Neil, they were already in a carriage on their way to Old Neil's residence.
"Old Neil is usually a bit greedy for small advantages and likes to joke, but he's essentially a good person, cautious and restrained. Captain, did you make a mistake somewhere?"
She asked, suppressing her emotions.
Dunn was silent for a moment, then said, "I have already secretly examined Old Neil with a Sealed Artifact. Unfortunately, there are indeed signs of an evil god's corruption on him. All I can say is that he usually hid it too well, making it difficult to discover."
"But…"
Luo Yao was momentarily speechless. She looked at Lu Ze for help, as if begging him to stand up immediately and loudly declare in the carriage that he hadn't seen anything before.
Daly pressed her lips together, and there seemed to be a hint of unbearable pain in her eyes.
"Luo Yao, you know Dunn. He never slanders others easily. We are not yet clear about what exactly happened to Old Neil, but it is definitely beyond the normal range. We can only pray that he hasn't fallen too deeply and can still go to the Goddess's Divine Kingdom with a clean soul."
According to their previous conversation, Lu Ze learned that Daly was also a Nighthawk in Tingen before. Because of her extraordinary talent and rapid advancement, she had become a Sequence 7 powerhouse, just like Dunn, and was therefore transferred to Enmat Harbor. However, she still frequently came to Tingen to assist in cases.
Creste calmly looked out the carriage window. Since getting into the carriage, he had not spoken, as if he were completely uninvolved.
"But, if that's the case, can we only watch Old Neil be purified?"
Luo Yao said in a low voice, with a mix of unwillingness and resignation.
Dunn and Daly both fell silent upon hearing this.
It wasn't just Luo Yao; how could they be willing to personally eliminate a teammate?
"Perhaps, Old Neil can still be saved."
Just then, Lu Ze broke the suffocating atmosphere and spoke.
The others were stunned upon hearing him, then simultaneously turned their gazes to him.
Even Creste, who had been looking out the window, slowly turned his head to look at Lu Ze. His gaze was calm, as if seeing through to the deepest part of Lu Ze's heart.
The pace seems a bit slow; I'll speed it up immediately.
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