Some, the chosen youth of the Haili, Guas, and Augustus families meant to assist tonight, gathered in rows within the factory, not far from the train, resting as they awaited the special operation after nightfall.
They were all very curious about what exactly they would be doing tonight.
“Everyone, ” Zhang Zhiquan announced clearly. “Our captain has arrangements. ” The sound of footsteps belonging to Cheng Yunze and the others could be heard approaching.
Hearing the voice, these people immediately stood up and formed a line. The four from the Tafko Electrical Assembly Center also ran over, somewhat fearful, and stood nearby in a disorderly manner.
“Everyone except the Tafko Electric personnel should leave the factory floor for now and close all the doors. We need to make the final modifications. “
“More modifications? ” The hundreds of workers present murmured among themselves as they filed out.
“Boss Kell, what kind of modifications are they still making behind our backs at a time like this? ” a guard from the three great families said as he walked out.
Guas, a warrior with capabilities of the Third Ring, glanced amidst a faint aura of demonic blood, lightly touched his own ear, and immediately placed his hand back down.
“Mm. We’ll find out tonight. Anyway, during the daytime, they’re just ordinary vehicles that have lost their demonic powers. “
……
The factory floor was pitch black, with only a few beams of white light cutting through where sunlight leaked in from the cracks.
The Demon Train’s headlights, which served as its eyes, rotated slightly, gazing at the man who had now become so familiar to it.
“I remember last time, you brought us straight back to the stable illusion world set by Yang Zicang. “
{Hmm? }
Behind these few people, the four members of the Taff Assembly Center peeked out, watching them communicate with the demon of science in a foreign tongue.
Accompanied by Ning Jiajia, Cheng Yunze looked at the demon train with a gentle gaze:
“Outside, people are eyeing us hungrily, and we still have over two hours until the plan begins. Can you try to take us back to the illusion to wait out the remaining time? “
Fortunately, among them was a person who had held a relatively high status as a scientific researcher before leaving the empire, so Morace and Olman could roughly understand this. Then, they stared wide-eyed at the person before them.
These cunning Fogfolk were planning to escape immediately!
{Yeah, of course I can. The old boss told me many times that in any danger, we should head there at once. }
Cheng Yunze’s emotions fluctuated slightly within him. Hmph, creatures like the demon train really can’t be relied upon to keep secrets.
Zhang Zhiquan and the others immediately hugged the visualizers and wireless signal transceivers, moving forward.
Inside the dark, quiet factory.
From within the train, Cheng Yunze looked at the noisy entrance and said, “Let’s leave. “
The entire train began to be shrouded in fluctuating energy.
The people outside who had been waiting for a long time heard nothing from inside. It wasn’t until half an hour later, when someone came to ask if they should have a meal, that they still received no reply.
Kerr finally realized something was wrong.
He knocked twice on the door and immediately pushed open the factory gate. Under the gaze of dozens of eyes, the demon train, which had occupied a vast area within the entire factory, had vanished from its spot.
Kerr was stunned for two seconds before finally exclaiming in amazement, “The fact that the demon train cannot move during the day—they’ve been faking it all along! “
……
On the fourth-floor corridor of the Fei Lü Inn, burly men and maidens, scholars and wanderers—each exuding an air of leisurely ease or heavy calm—along with soldier-attired individuals wiping fine blades with handkerchiefs, were scattered through the passage, standing or leaning like resting hunters.
Suddenly, they all turned to look at the medium-statured black-haired young man emerging from room 405, the man beside him carrying two swords on his back, and the noble, elegant black-robed woman like a regal swan.
“It’s Miss Hei Yang. Truly surprising. “
Hei Yang let out a soft snicker. “I heard there was something on your ship that needed help, so I came to take a look. ” She turned her snow-white neck and gave a quick glance left and right.
“So this is the legendary Fei Lü Inn. ” Then her gaze fell on the young man beside her. “Anlong. Your friend has such confidence in you—truly fitting for a hero who commands most of the inn. “
“He comes from our city. ” Zhao Anlong spread his arms roughly with his hands clasped around his chest:
“In short, brothers all, my friend Yang Zicang, now going by Yang Buchen, is still just a novice. For the moment, he needs manpower to assist in the operation to overthrow the capital of Shidefen—oh, no, it’s a rescue mission for the commoners there. Beyond that, another small request is to beg you all not to shame me in front of my good buddy. As for the rest, it’s no big deal; this is only a small task. And don’t expect me to offer you any rewards. “
“Being able to visit the Divine Hotel once is already quite a generous reward. ” The burly, gruff-voiced middle-aged man beside Zhao Anlong, with two swords slung diagonally across his back, said boisterously, “This batch of radiance is exceptionally precious because it is tied to divinity. “
In the corridor, a young man, leaned against the wall and idly tossing dice in his hand, had a faintly ominous smile spreading across his face.
“Marshal Anlong, if I wish to frequently obtain radiance and flash-touched brilliance influenced by divinity in the future, what price must I pay? “
Zhao Anlong stared back with half-lidded eyes, his gaze heavy and deliberate.
The man beside him with two swords slung across his back looked calmly at the slender young man, who emanated a dangerous presence:
“Not everything needs an exchange of payment. At the very least, this time around, I, Sword Thirteen, have already vouched for the lifespans of everyone who entered this place. “
“Let’s go. ” A man built like a boxer, his muscles immense as a champion’s, draped his jacket over one shoulder and pushed his way ahead of the crowd, walking up toward Zhao Anlong and his two companions.
Seeing his move, Zhao Anlong also turned and strode toward the staircase, taking the lead. Next came Hei Yang in a black dress, while Sword Thirteen, his face full of stubble, waited until everyone had moved forward amidst the clatter of footsteps before following at the end.
……
Room 408.
The man with sunken eyes and dry, hard skin stood behind the door, pressing his ear against it for a while. Holding his breath, he returned to the bed and said to the pot, trembling with fear:
“We’re screwed, we’re totally screwed, ” he grabbed the pot. “It’s all your damn fault! There are experts everywhere here, why didn’t you tell me?! “
{I remember I told you. }
Bang! The man slapped the edge of the Evil Nightmare Iron Pot, sending it tumbling. Then, with a yelp, he shook his burning hand. “What do we do now?! “
The iron pot stared at the dark, soft bedsheet for a long time, then buzzed anxiously:
{Mr. Semmis, how about you go out and apologize to them? Our lord leader is a good person, she even tries to save the dead. }
Clang!
“You damned iron turtle shell! What a lousy place, you’ve led me into a huge trap! Aah! “
After panting for a while, the iron pot suddenly moved its eyes and whispered:
{How about you throw me out? I’ll find a chance to discuss it with the lord. I’ve advised her before and am already one of her core staff. If we apologize properly, she won’t be too hard on our own people. }
The man hesitated for a moment.
“Are you telling the truth? You’re not lying to me? “
The flipped-over Iron Pot then repeated in detail how Yang Zicang had saved the nearly rotting body of He Yishu, and how he had reached an agreement here with Wager, the original holder of the Divine Hotel. Then he said:
{Just now, so many people left outside. Maybe we can take this opportunity to get out together. If that doesn’t work, I’ll go find the President and apologize. }
Smess licked his lips.
Iron Pot looked at him with its dark red eyes.
The man stared back at it.
After a long silence, Smess, with his thin face and a look of fawning opportunism, nodded slightly:
“Then I’ll leave this to you, my dear. “
{Wait for it, Mr. Smess. I’ll move down bit by bit first, or ask the mice for help. Maybe I can get straight into the room. }
“Let me know if there’s no danger. “
{Okay! }
Smess, carrying the pot, hunched his back and tiptoed to the door. After listening attentively for a moment of complete silence, he nervously opened the door a crack, swallowed hard, and let the Iron Pot out.
The Malignant Nightmare Iron Pot quivered with effort, rolled its eyes to the edge to take one last look at its owner through the crack in the door.
Then, little by little, it began to edge its way toward the stairwell.
……
A few dozen minutes ago, with the arrival of Yang Zicang, several military vehicles had quickly pulled into the courtyard.
Several new command officials from nearby appeared, hoping to obtain the latest intelligence from Yang Zicang. But Yang Zicang, knowing that a single word from him could tilt the balance of the world’s power structure, only selectively disclosed certain pieces of information that had already generally leaked out.
However, he did not reveal which faction held the upper hand in the city, nor whether the Prime Minister was alive or dead.
Zhao Xuemei checked the time and turned around to enter the house.
A soldier accompanying a lieutenant colonel kept his gaze fixed on this woman; he sensed that this seemingly beautiful and alluring woman possessed strength almost on par with Yang Buchen.
Then, the soldier’s eyes widened slightly, as the woman’s aura suddenly vanished.
And with just a few seconds left, a profound, unfathomably deep aura emanated from within the room. It was quickly followed by a second, then a third! Soon, the soldier felt an overwhelming, hazy aura sweeping over him like a tidal wave. In an instant, he felt his own Stellar Yuan being forced back to the surface of his body by that power. His probing was utterly overpowered in return.
……
Inside the inn, Zhao Xuemei came out of room 409.
As soon as she stepped out, she noticed an iron pot in the corridor. Pausing to think, she suddenly realized where it came from. She walked over, lifted it by its ear—the handle—and coldly stared down at the red eyes on the bottom of the pot.
Pause
{You… you are the most beautiful human woman I have ever laid eyes on. My kind and generous lady, please, could you take me back to the side of my leader? }
After thinking for a moment, Zhao Xuemei picked it up and walked to room 409, threw it inside with a bang, dusted off her hands, and pulled shut the walnut-colored wooden door.
Rushing downstairs, she happened to see Zhao Anlong pull open the door of his room as he poked his head out to look down the hallway.
Zhao Xuemei was startled: “You’ve already gone inside? “
“Huh? ” Zhao Anlong scratched his head, then looked down at the doorknob in his hand.
……
When this group of distinguished-looking Fogfolk collectively emerged from the villa, the intelligence personnel and the military and political officials surrounding Yang Zicang, who had gathered in the courtyard, immediately watched them with wary eyes.
Without much explanation, Yang Zicang promptly spread open the giant carpet, taking this group of nearly twenty people—whose gazes fixed on him with slight wonder—up into the air. At the moment, he had no mind to worry about the stares of ordinary people; after all, in the world of today, no matter how strange things got, they were no longer considered unusual.
The surrounding troops, urgently assembled on-site, watched the flying carpet depart.
“They’ve all been disappearing and reappearing in this room lately, ” Riley Lester answered the inquiry honestly, though he believed the kingdom had surely confirmed this fact several times over already.
Combining this with the classified intelligence about a civilian house that had once been attacked and demolished near White Violet City, these soldiers engaged in hushed discussions.
Glass·Lethes watched these soldiers, speculating in his mind that it might have been the sudden appearance of over twenty Fogfolk just now, who certainly did not seem like easy folk to provoke, that this place, located in the heart of the kingdom, could no longer be tolerated to continue existing.
Sure enough, in less than ten minutes, several trucks and two tanks drove up to the roadside outside the villa. People wearing construction helmets were directing the occupants’ evacuation and moving items out of the building.
As the soldiers gradually finished the removal, the tanks’ turrets rotated with heavy, clanking gears to aim at the villa.
The commander of this small-scale mission glanced at the time displayed on the vehicle—19:04. With a pen, he made a note on the order to fire, hooking a red circle around it.
Boom!
Two shells raced by with sparks trailing from their fins, reducing the elegant building to a heap of rubble in the explosion.
……
Flying Carpet quickly sped toward the old factory that the Haili Family and the Goas family were searching for together within the city. But by the time they arrived, the train inside had vanished.
Yang Zicang’s breath hitched for a moment. They must have returned to the inn.
Hest Maricksven ran over, his face full of apology: “I’m sorry, Mr. Buchen.“
“What happened?” Yang Zicang looked up.
In the fading sunset, the young man hesitated for a moment before speaking: “Because of Mr. Cheng’s previous incident that caused civilian casualties, plus you all…“
“We’re busy. Just give us the conclusion directly,” one of the group said.
“Correct. The villa you were entering was just ordered demolished by the Second Prince. Moreover, he has declared our World Ark Committee’s relief efforts illegal and plans to launch a joint investigation. The family has received a notice to suspend all borderless relief operations. “
Fulrry Zhao immediately walked over, visibly unsettled. “What do we do, Buchen? “
“What time is it? ” Yang Zicang glanced at the sun.
“Blackwencike Standard Time, 7:12 PM, ” said someone beside him.
……
At this moment, in the Fee Travel Hotel, Cheng Yunze and his group opened their doors and walked along the corridor of this quiet, vintage inn.
It didn’t look like it had been crystallized into stability at all.
Two radio and audio specialists from Tafkorn Electric arrived at the first floor, gazing in awe at the strange humanoid construct behind the counter.
“Welcome to the Fee Travel Hotel. “
Manager Mus smiled gently.
“Here, you can check into the rooms using your own experiences. “
As the words were spoken, Cheng Yunze descended the stairs, looking at the two exchanging conversations in front of the counter. Ning Jiajia, accompanied by the partially corporeal in the form of the semi-manifesting demon train, made her way to Room 203.
{Through the room inside this door, we will be able to return to reality again. Open it. }
“Mhm… if I recall correctly, it was indeed here last time. “
She reached out, twisted the handle, and clicked—the door swung open.
Curiously wobbling its head side to side, the demon train peeked its eyes through as mice scurried about, moving the open door inward one-sidedly.
Suddenly, the demon train fell silent.
“What’s wrong? ” Ning Jiajia, who knew the train’s personality like the back of her hand, noticed something was off about the big star.
{Both times I came in, I could sense the aura of being able to leave. But this time, I can’t feel it anymore. }
“How could that be! ” Ning Jiajia was startled. “Check it quickly. “
{Hmm… okay. }
The train relied on the key to give it a try. Sure enough, there was no sensation of being able to leave. It snapped its eyes wide open and cried out in panic:
{Has my key become invalid?! }
Ning Jiajia turned around and dashed out of the room, thumping away. Her voice trailed off into the corridor.
“Brother Yunze, it seems we can’t leave! “
Cheng Yunze turned his head. Ning Jiajia waved her hand nervously. “That room 203, the train can’t sense the permission to leave anymore! “
“Don’t worry, esteemed guests. “
They immediately looked back at Manager Mus, who was speaking. The wind-up lobby manager flashed a smile.
“There’s also an accessible room on the third floor. “
Cheng Yunze nodded simply. “Thank you, Manager. We’ll give it a try. “
The group hurriedly rushed to the third floor, and the inn quickly fell quiet again.
Manager Mus, having settled in and reviewed the receipts, then heard another set of footsteps hurried down.
Yang Zicang’s rushed footsteps came bounding down the stairs. He arrived slightly out of breath and asked:
“Manager, did my train friend come back? “
“Yes. They just left from the third floor. “
“The third floor! “
Yang Zicang immediately turned and ran a few steps, then stopped and looked back, asking, “Can they leave directly from the third floor? “
“Mm-hmm. ” Mus gently nodded and smiled. “Isn’t it stipulated in your agreement that members of both associations can use each other’s rooms to enter and exit? “
Yang Zicang’s mouth opened and closed several times. “Damn it! ” He cursed the content of the agreement in his mind as he rushed upstairs.
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