"Black Mountain Train Station?"

"Considering the situation with Yizi Forest before, are the rails over there still usable?"

Having accepted the invitation, Ronald, after dealing with the affairs of Kulpis, took Costate with him and joined the returning party of R'lyeh.

However, before reaching the destination,

Ronald cautiously considered and still raised this question.

The impact that the "Organic Encyclopedia" had caused in Yizi Forest, he, who had personally dealt with the matter, knew all too well.

So, that nominal train rail…

Was it really still in operation?

Facing Ronald's question, R'lyeh, who once again tied up Xiesta, replied with a smile:

"Are you referring to those strange modified creatures in the forest?"

"Rest assured—under the double protection of Entrode and Gren, nothing can breach the safety of those tracks."

"…"

Ronald nodded on the surface to show he understood.

But his thoughts were somewhat complex.

He hadn't forgotten his experiences with the Secret of Aogen and the Sorato School. Trapped in Yizi, the two schools, though in different situations, faced external conditions limiting their actions that were not much different.

And it was at a time when the two schools had nowhere to turn for help,

Entrode and Gren maintained their railway in the forest and seemed completely indifferent to other changes.

This… probably was just the reality of it.

"…"

"Sir, we are approaching Black Mountain."

Amidst the question and answer, Costate softly reminded Ronald.

The Black Mountain he had not seen for so long was now in sight.

"…"

Ronald actually cared quite a bit about this place.

After all, it was here that he first truly encountered the mystical side and acquired the "Divine Comedy."

As the former experimental site of the "Ultimate Secret Meeting."

Black Mountain still certainly held secrets.

Like those very unsettling tentacles dealt with by the "Spirit Thin Prison" that looked.

—The "Divine Comedy," as the original text, doesn't have this kind of spell.

—Back then, the "Anomaly of the World" started from the outside in, and the basement was not affected.

The sole explanation

Lay in whatever else lay hidden on top of Black Mountain.

Then, building a new train station near Black Mountain, did Gren and Entrode gain new profits from here?

The roads around Black Mountain had undergone repairs.

Following a road now much smoother than one year prior, Ronald and his companions arrived at the brand-new town of Black Mountain.

It was, of course, impossible to build the train station on the mountain itself.

The new town, built to serve the train station, naturally did not opt for the old town of Black Mountain that was midway up the mountain.

Just a few minutes into his walk,

Ronald understood the situation in the town.

All the buildings here were constructed with the quicker method of wooden structures, and the entire population of the town, including the train station employees, was kept under a hundred.

A gathering place for the mystical side that was absolutely up to standard.

And one step further, one would realize that the staff of the train station maintained a hundred percent composition of Casters!

Ronald was almost certain that Black Mountain had become a key node in the political games of Gren and Entrode. Perhaps in a few decades, Black Mountain would replace Berenwicke as the most important strategic town closest to the eastern border.

Only after entering the station and waiting for the train to the other side of the forest,

Did R'lyeh speak to Ronald:

"Mr. Ronald, it seems this place has stirred up quite a few memories, huh?"

Herosis was once under R'lyeh's command.

The other party knew about the matters on Black Mountain, which was only natural.

So, Ronald nodded and responded to the other party, while also subtly probing:

"Indeed, this place holds special significance for me."

"I'd like to visit the top of Black Mountain if I get the chance in the future."

"The top of Black Mountain..." R'lyeh was pleased to do Ronald a favor, immediately leaning in to whisper, "As far as I know, Gren actually found some interesting things inside the mountain."

"The investigative bureau here is still in its infancy, and the work is not as perfected as in Springs. If you are interested, you can definitely come here to explore further afterward."

Ronald nodded slightly, indicating he understood.

"..."

What followed was a somewhat tedious wait.

The concept of train transportation in this era was different from that in modern times.

Despite changes in policy, there was only one train per day that passed through Black Mountain Station.

—— On the first day in the morning, the train went from Berenwich to the opposite side of Yizi.

—— On the second night, it traveled from Yizi back to Berenwich.

This meant that Ronald and his party had to wait an entire night at the station to catch the train crossing the forest the next morning.

As for the feeling of waiting for a train...

Ronald actually didn't mind it that much.

Before his journey, he often encountered similar situations due to work, and this moment somewhat brought back that original sensation.

It was now winter.

The temperature at Black Mountain Station was piercingly cold.

But thanks to his multiple physical enhancements, Ronald was not affected at all— he even comfortably fell asleep in such conditions.

—— Waiting for the train and then sleeping in the waiting room.

—— Truly nostalgic.

"..."

"Sir, wake up."

The next morning, before the sun started its zig-zag dance in the sky, Ronald was woken up by Costate from a light doze.

Ronald looked around.

Among the four of them, only he had enjoyed memories and fallen asleep at night, while the others remained in a very alert state.

Even Shiesta, who was tied up,

One could see that the cloth in her mouth had taken a different shape.

Costate, noticing Ronald regaining consciousness, timely reminded him from the side:

"Sir, the train is coming."

Listening carefully, Ronald indeed noticed the distant sounds approaching.

He stretched and then asked the maid:

"Costate, did anything happen while I was asleep?"

"Sir, everything is normal," Costate promptly answered, her gaze sweeping around, "During your rest, five people came to the waiting room; none of them are within the range of concern."

Ronald saw the five people Costate pointed out.

Only one among them was a Caster, the rest were all well-dressed ordinary people.

In such a place, and with their party's makeup...

It indeed shouldn't pose a problem.

"..."

Thinking this, the sound of the train by Ronald's ear grew louder.

He unconsciously stood up and then peered towards the tracks.

Soon, Ronald saw the train about to enter the station and also recognized this familiar 'old friend'.

"Ah, it's the Dongfeng number."

"..."

Watching the train enter his field of vision, a smile also formed on Ronald's lips.

Being able to ride the Dongfeng number on this trip.

This journey to Entrode might turn out to be a very smooth one indeed.

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