Chapter 217: On the Train (4400+ words)

Woo-woo!

The steam-powered black-and-red locomotive puffed out rolling white smoke, traveling along the tracks.

This was a special train departing from Green Forest City, bound for the Royal Capital of Invis—Plymouth.

Inside a certain carriage.

Aaron and Bruce sat facing each other; Bruce gazed at the pastoral scenery outside the window, slightly lost in thought.

Nominally, he was traveling to Plymouth alone to inherit another portion of Clark Das's estate there.

And once they boarded the train, Aaron rendezvoused with him.

"No need." Aaron waved his hand with a smile, looking at the bartender whose expression was somewhat unnatural: "Is there a menu? We would like to have dinner here."

Clearly, there were no high-end restaurants in such a small town, so they had no choice but to go to a bar for a drink and to settle dinner.

"Lemonade."

"New Year, huh..."

The dressed-up bartender asked with a gentle smile on his face and recommended: "How about a glass of the local specialty, 'Golden Honey Wine'?"

Aaron touched his forehead and replied with a slightly strange expression.

Aaron's expression became slightly solemn.

He muttered a silent complaint in his heart.

Bruce nodded and looked at Aaron.

Mentioning this, Bruce's expression shifted slightly; after scanning his surroundings, he lowered his voice: "According to my teacher... 'Sun King' Arthur managed to end the domestic chaos because he received the support of a certain Sui Zhi Xue... and that Sui Zhi Xue very likely holds the authority of 'Light', bestowing the fire of civilization upon Arthur, driving the development of industrial civilization..."

"Yanan Town? It's barely even on the map... As expected, it's a tiny, pathetic place you can see through at a single glance..."

'Mortals cannot harm Great Existences, so... does the birth of that at least "Angel-level" Magical Item represent Sun King Arthur colluding with other Sui Zhi Xue, betraying "Dawn"?'

Among those Hidden Existences, besides the former Siming God, the one that made him feel the most wary was 'Dawn', who was born after the fall of the 【Scarlet Maker】.

The only bar in town was brightly lit, and the meaning of the almost paint-peeled letters on the sign could be barely made out.

'But judging from the fact that the "Sun King's Spear" from the ruins that day was stained with the blood of a Sui Zhi Xue... I just feel the relationship between that "Sun King" and "Dawn" is somewhat subtle.'

'Heading to Invis this time, I wonder if there will be an opportunity to carefully examine the "Sun King's Spear"?'

"The Sui Zhi Xue who holds 'Light', is it 'Dawn' or 'Unmelting Ice'? Or do both of them support Invis?"

Just as they stepped onto the platform, they felt a cold wind blowing in their faces.

"Happy New Year, what would the two guests like to order?"

Aaron said with emotion.

Bruce recovered from his daze, his expression still somewhat distracted: "Before I knew it, the new year is coming again..."

"I hope the local chef has better skills than the one on the train's dining car."

Perhaps because it was New Year, even the stingiest people would treat themselves to a drink.

Bruce squeezed out a smile: "It seems... even the conductors and the train captain don't want to spend New Year on the train... Let's go down and walk around; maybe there are celebrations in town."

"High probability it's 'Dawn'; that is my teacher's speculation." Bruce replied in a low voice.

In the past year, he had successfully stepped through the door to the Mysterious world, fulfilling his long-cherished wish, but he had also lost his teacher and his dearest friend.

"Yes, thanks to Sun King Arthur, we were the first to end darkness and chaos, igniting the flames of industrial civilization, thereby defeating the continent's powerful enemies, the 'Romani Principality' and the military power 'Tiesage', and actively exploring new routes, crossing the dark sea known as the 'Dark Sea' in the Mysterious realm, and successfully colonizing South Innis... gaining endless wealth."

Aaron rubbed his fingers; his own 'Maker' heart was stirring.

The 'Sun King's Spear', stained with divine blood, was the most terrifying Strange Object Aaron had ever seen; a mere phantom of it could erupt with powerful might.

Seeing Bruce's mood recover slightly, Aaron began to discuss other matters to divert his attention.

Bruce muttered a word and pushed open the bar door.

In this day and age, Invis is the undisputed number one power in the world!

Aaron speculated.

"Of course!"

"Give me a glass of honey wine!"

The corners of Bruce's mouth pulled into a smile, carrying a strong sense of pride.

Aaron sighed and said.

"Hey, my friend, this is New Year, after all; traveling outside is hard enough... won't you give yourself a reward?" Bruce asked in surprise.

"Black Blood Bar?"

In the shoulder-to-shoulder, crowded environment, Bruce clutched his wallet and followed Aaron to the bar counter.

'Of course, if Xisituosi hadn't once received the recognition of the "Sun King's Spear", he wouldn't have been able to manifest its phantom even if his Spirituality were exhausted!'

Just then, the train slowly pulled into a small station ahead and stopped, moving no further.

After waiting a while longer, a conductor came over with a regretful face to notify them: "Respected passengers, because of heavy snow blocking the road ahead, we will temporarily stop at Yanan Town railway station and rest for the night. Passengers may get off to rest, but please board the train before eight o'clock tomorrow morning..."

A wave of heat mixed with the smell of alcohol rushed toward them; business in the bar was quite good.

Aaron picked up the newspaper left to the side and glanced at it: "The Kingdom has achieved another glorious victory in the South Innis colony, successfully suppressing three rebellious Native States and defeating several rebel forces..."

Aaron added with a smile, and the two mingled into the crowd, walking into the noisy, bustling town.

"It is winter, after all."

The two walked out of the train station and saw a small town not far away, with many European-style buildings piled together in a disorderly fashion; the most conspicuous were a small bar and a messy market square.

"Isn't this a normal thing? We, Invis, are the number one power on the continent."

Aaron put on his coat, donned his hat, picked up the White Crystal 'Staff Sword' he had crafted, and walked off the train with Bruce.

Bruce sighed, and seeing the dim sky, he also took a horse lantern.

"It takes 20 hours from Green Forest to Plymouth; it looks like... we will have to spend New Year on the train."

Bruce was somewhat disappointed, but seeing the colored paper pasted on every household's windows for the New Year, and the beautiful celebration trees made by cutting down firs and wrapping them with various ribbons, the expression on his face still became a bit more smiley: "Let's go to the bar for a drink!"

"Only 'Haggis', it is also a local specialty; you will surely like it."

The bartender revealed a Mysterious smile.

(End of this chapter)