Chapter 743: Utopia

Along the coast of the Jian Sea near the northeast side of the Honachis Mountains, a city of moderate size sprang up from the ground in a single night.

Within the city, on the dim streets, beside the towering clock tower, inside the peaceful quiet church, in the steam train station, and on the dock, one figure after another appeared.

They wore clothes matching the current fashion, their faces showing either sorrow or joy in turn, immersed in their respective roles, as if they had lived in this newly appeared city for a long time.

As the sky just showed a hint of pale white, several meteors slipped down silently.

Silently, the city's information became active, constantly exchanging data with the surroundings and the Spirit Realm, weaving an indistinct imprint in the Spirit Realm.

In the city's center, beneath a night‑shrouded church, KeLaiEn held a dim lantern, his expression slightly weary as he leaned against the corner.

After a brief pause, he reached into a fissure of history and pulled out two projections, the historical projections of Luosai Er and Lei Ke Dun.

Following a short silence, the historical projections of Lei Ke Dun and Luosai Er became vivid in turn, controlled by their own consciousnesses.

Luosai Er glanced around casually, taking in the city's state, laughed, then looked at KeLaiEn and said:

"Why not place the city in South Inditis? There, two true gods watch, and even though A Meng has now become a 'mistake', it would be hard for them to act right under our noses."

KeLaiEn rubbed his forehead and said, his tone a little drowsy:

"Whether it's A Meng or Charatu, they are adept at concealing themselves; while you remain in the Star Realm without actively exposing yourselves, it's hard to detect them."

"Moreover, once they discover the secret‑doll town I created, they will inevitably cause massive chaos, trying to sabotage my ritual as much as possible, which could affect the surroundings. It's better to choose a desolate place; after all, I can use my grafting ability to link the secret‑doll city with various locations."

"Huh— I need rest now, need to sleep, to separate a large number of spirit insects, and write scripts for them; juggling so many roles makes me feel I could split my mind at any moment."

"You're too hasty," Lei Ke Dun remarked, then continued, "I've strengthened the information exchange between here and the Spirit Realm; it will form a corresponding area in the Spirit Realm more quickly."

Luosai Er followed up, "I'll also build a church belonging to me here; I'll twist the local rules, granting your secret dolls some living traits, which will accelerate the formation of the Spirit Realm city."

KeLaiEn nodded, "Thank you."

After ending the maintenance of the historical projections, he yawned, left the church's underground, and stepped onto the city's streets.

Dawn's sunlight had already poured down, and the townspeople gradually returned to where they belonged.

The breakfast stall by the street was already billowing hot white steam, and the whirring steam train's roar came from the city's west, bringing its first visitors.

KeLaiEn made the lantern in his hand vanish, adjusted his half‑high silk top hat, and moved toward the western steam train station, intending to join the city's daily life as a visitor.

On the city's west side, in a brand‑new steam train station, a steam‑blowing train came to a slow halt, and after a moment, people began to disembark one after another.

Da Lei Er's right hand unintentionally tightened his grip on the leather briefcase, while his other hand lowered his hat brim, and he quietly walked onto the platform with the crowd.

He looked at the word "Utopia" written in Inditis script on the platform, puzzled.

Whether it's the Inditis words seen everywhere around or the bright‑yellow architectural style, they all indicate that this place belongs to Inditis, not Luen.

His expression seemed a bit bewildered, with a flash of panic, but it was quickly concealed.

As an extraordinary being, he knows more about this world, aware that beneath its calm surface lie many dangers, and realizes he may have just encountered a mysterious incident.

What bad luck—since accidentally becoming an extraordinary being in the previous war, I seem to keep running into this kind of thing; most of the time I'm just on the fringe, passing by, but it's still terribly unlucky.

As thoughts floated, he heard the complaint of a middle‑aged gentleman dressed as an Inditis noble beside him:

"Utopia? Does this steam train stop at this station? And we were in Luen last night—how did we end up back in Inditis today?"

Next to that gentleman, a young man wearing bronze‑rimmed glasses, with pale‑blue eyes and golden hair, slightly disheveled and scholarly, glanced around, smiled lightly and said:

"Since we're here, why not take a look around the city?"

"The steam train has broken down now; we'll have to stay here at least a day."

Listening to the middle‑aged gentleman and the young scholar, Da Lei Er sighed with a slightly mocking tone: "How naive the young are, still thinking of touring an unfamiliar city at a time like this, not noticing the oddity—though that's normal; I was just as naive half a year ago. After all, who could imagine so many horrors hidden beneath a peaceful world's surface?" He gathered his thoughts, turned his body, and kindly warned, "When I bought a ticket at the South Weir steam station, I never saw a stop named Utopia on this train's route, and we went from Luen to Inditis in an instant—that's too strange."

The middle‑aged gentleman smiled at Da Lei Er, nodded, and then offered the best explanation he could think of:

"Perhaps the train driver took the wrong track last night, entering a road not yet officially opened; this station looks brand new and empty, fitting the image of a newly built, not yet operational station."

A driver wouldn't make such a basic mistake; even if he did, we couldn't have traveled from South Weir County in southern Luen to Inditis in one night—it's not like a zeppelin. Da Lei Er's conviction grew: this city or this steam station has a serious problem.

He was still pondering what to do, how to avoid possible danger, when the middle‑aged gentleman reached out and said:

"I'm Xia Er, a South Inditis native; this is Lei Meng, a scholar from Lunbao, traveling for study. We plan to explore this city—does he want to join?"

"Of course," Da Lei Er smiled and nodded.

When the words finished, he came to his senses. Why did I agree? I was clearly thinking of refusing. Had I been subtly influenced? Or perhaps those two have issues—they're also extraordinary? Hmm, have I seen them on the train before?

Thoughts flashed rapidly in his mind, and Da Lei Er's body already followed Xia Er and Lei Meng out of the steam train station.

Behind them, many others, each for their own reasons, chose to enter the city temporarily, planning to rest here for a while.

Just after leaving the steam train station, they smelled the aroma of food filling the air.

Gurgle— Da Lei Er's stomach timely let out a protest sound, feeling

It's because we ate yesterday's dinner a bit too early; hmm, the food here also smells delicious.

The middle‑aged gentleman who called himself Xia Er smiled and suggested:

"Heh, let's find a shop for breakfast; yesterday's dinner was too early, and I now need to replenish some energy."

"No problem," Da Lei Er nodded without hesitation, agreeing to Xia Er's suggestion; the hunger in his stomach and the food aroma in the air made him temporarily

The three walked forward, arriving at a breakfast shop at the end of the street; there was already a person sitting and enjoying breakfast.

He faced the three, his features relatively soft, expression blank, wearing a white shirt, black vest, matching trousers; on the table before him lay a half‑high silk top hat and a seemingly delicious breakfast.

Da Lei Er furrowed his brow, hesitantly looking at the breakfast‑eating person; he felt the figure was familiar, yet he couldn't recall where he had seen them.

"Gentlemen, may I ask what you need?" a slightly plump man stepped out of the restaurant.

He was covered in dense hair, wore suspenders, a coarse cloth apron over them, and had rolled his white shirt sleeves up to his elbows; he approached and asked the three in fluent Luen.

Lei Meng, wearing bronze‑rimmed glasses, raised his hand and pointed at the figure eating at a table on the other side, speaking in a calm, gentle tone:

"Just like him is fine."

"No problem, a classic set, sir, please have a seat; breakfast will be ready shortly."

The man's enthusiastic greeting included Lei Meng, who also looked at Xia Er and Da Lei Er.

Xia Er gave the slightly plump restaurant owner a somewhat meaningful glance, smiling, and said:

"I want your most luxurious breakfast here; don't worry if I can finish it, I don't lack that money."

"Cough— cough—" The young gentleman at the other table, who was eating breakfast, suddenly coughed twice.

Xia Er, who had continuously maintained a gentlemanly demeanor, turned his head toward the figure on the other side, tilted his neck upward, and said loudly:

"I, Xia Er, have money!"

"Heh," Lei Meng, both hands on the table edge, while trying hard to stifle a laugh, said, "Sorry, I couldn't hold back; you go on."

Da Lei Er looked at the scene with some bewilderment; he had never expected that the middle‑aged gentleman who had been traveling with him, always so poised, would suddenly adopt the manner of a nouveau riche, and that the other had also lost the scholar's usual composure.

(End of chapter)