Chapter 93

As Walter had expected, when the Divination Commission intercepted Kafka's communication, there was a faint mechanical noise in the background; after comparison by the artisans of Gong Zao Si, they could confirm that Kafka was located at Revolving Star Port.

Walter felt that a tough battle might be coming soon, so he decided to rest and recuperate, conserve his strength, and wait for the enemy to tire.

"Hey, Xing, let's first send a message to the train to report we're safe. Especially Dan Heng, hehe, you ask him what he's doing, then tell him we're having fun here!" San Yue Qi couldn't wait to show off.

Xing immediately sent two messages to Dan Heng, but both failed to send, and he didn't know why.

……

Not long ago, on the Astral Express.

Dan Heng stood outside the carriage window with a worried expression, staring blankly at the scenery of Luofu outside.

"You've been standing there blankly for half an hour; it's rare to see you so worried." Ji Zi walked over to comfort him: "Are you worried about the safety of those two kids? With Walter around, you can relax a bit."

... Dan Heng remained silent for a moment, then said: "Ji Zi, you should have saved the long-distance communication logs of the Starcore Hunters, right? Could you let me see them?"

"Sure." Ji Zi nodded and called up the previous communication records.

The communication played from the very beginning, and Dan Heng watched it silently until... the moment Ren appeared, his whole body suddenly tensed, and he exclaimed excitedly: "Stop!"

"Do you know him?" Ji Zi felt a faint sense of foreboding.

"The Xianzhou is dangerous! … This person, this person——if he is on the Xianzhou, then everyone——Mr. Walter, San Yue Qi, and Xing——will be in danger!" Dan Heng's emotions were unusually out of control.

At this moment, the underground great tomb of Nazarick.

Being able to force Dan Heng into this expression shows that Ren's strength is quite excellent.

The shattered blade in Dan Heng's memory should be Ren's weapon; thus, Ren is also a human swordsman, and his strength is probably comparable to Dan Heng's... no, perhaps even stronger.

Although Ainz has no lungs inside his body, he still drew in a deep breath and then exhaled.

...... He could sense that the opportunity he had always wanted had arrived.

After letting Sebas leave, he again summoned Cocytus alone; at present, this guardian knelt on one knee respectfully, and only after receiving his command did he dare to slowly raise his head.

How are the lizardmen's governance experiments going...... Cocytus?

"Everything is going smoothly, Lord Ainz." Cocytus visibly became nervous.

"Is that so......"

After subduing the lizardmen, he no longer paid much attention to the governance experiments, but upon seeing Jingliu's heaven‑splitting swordsmanship in the light curtain, Ainz grew curious——could anyone among humanity learn her sword technique?

But this thought only existed for a few seconds...... after a bubble popped in Ainz's heart, it promptly shattered.

Talent in swordsmanship also varies in rank; without her personal guidance, trying to replicate her sword technique from just a light‑curve image is sheer fantasy. Not to mention that humans cannot do it, even letting Cocytus try might not succeed.

If Jingliu were still alive, there might still be a chance to learn from her; unfortunately, she was reduced to ashes by a single blow from Jingyuan's divine lord, and no matter how formidable her swordsmanship, it vanished like smoke.

But Ren is still alive.

From Dan Heng's expression it's easy to see that, as a swordsman, Ren is not only alive but also very strong——this gives Ainz the opportunity to study and replicate their sword technique.

"Cocytus, you must record Ren's martial arts thoroughly, then integrate and comprehend them...... and then teach them to the lizardmen."

"Ah, Lord Ainz......" Cocytus seemed to have something hard to say, his words caught in his throat.

"If you have something to say, go ahead and say it, Cocytus."

"I......" He did not intend to veto the Supreme One's proposal; in fact, even if he sacrificed his life, he would not dare to commit such an overreach, but merely considering the facts, he blurted it out involuntarily.

Cold sweat instantly condensed into ice beads on his surface, rolling down his hard silver‑white carapace to the ground.

"...... Subordinate merely believes that fully mastering their swordsmanship would likely take a long time."

Cocytus had no doubt about his own talent in martial arts, yet he also had no doubt about the complexity of the Xianzhou sword technique——especially after witnessing Jingliu's swordsmanship.

"Don't worry, Cocytus, just go at your own pace." The master's voice sounded like he was soothing a child, his tone extremely gentle.

"Furthermore, when teaching the lizardmen swordsmanship, you only need to teach them a single move——the simplest one in the sword technique."

"I want to see how much of a boost the lizardmen's overall strength would gain from a single sword technique forged with all their effort; at that time we can drill it together with my undead legion."

——

""He and you...... are related to what you want to escape from, right?" Ji Zi saw through Dan Heng's current state at a glance; he was quite uneasy.

""Hmm." Dan Heng nodded heavily: ""But I...... can't just leave him be. I'm afraid...... my burden has finally caught up with me, dragging everyone into it.""

""Who doesn't have a burden? Even little San Yue Qi, who remembers nothing, still carries something heavy on his shoulders."" Ji Zi comforted him.

""Don't overthink it, Dan Heng. According to the rules, the train's stop lasts seven standard days. During this period, passengers can freely arrange their time. Do whatever you want—it's better than regretting later.""

Ji Zi's words gave Dan Heng a goal and finally made him resolute.

"Just as he was about to turn and leave, Ji Zi suddenly said: ""By the way, after this is over, you'll travel with everyone on the train, right?"""

Dan Heng didn't reply, but he nodded very solemnly.

"Why do I always have this ominous premonition......"

Maple Crimson Hall, Navia looked at Dan Heng with a worried expression, as if she had encountered some terrible ending, tears about to roll from her eyes: "Don't let that kind of thing happen......!"

"Stay calm, Navia, you're not possibly thinking of some plot from an Inazuma light novel, are you?"

Clorinde lightly struck the girl's forehead with a hand‑blade, her expression blank as she said: "For example...... 'the fiancé who said before the big battle that they'd get married after the war,' 'a man completely fine, no problem,' and so on......"

"Yeah." Furina elegantly lifted her teacup, tilted her head slightly in thought: "What was the line from that light novel I read before? Oh oh, I remember now......"

"Navia, don't underestimate the bonds of the train crew!"