Autumn afternoon sunlight and golden leaves flashed past outside the window. Through the slightly ajar carriage window, a faint, fresh woody scent drifted into the compartment, reminiscent of pine and cypress.
"In my opinion, the Creti Empire is undergoing an unprecedented transformation. Ever since the National Revival faction gained prominence, earth-shaking changes have swept across many areas."
Disguised as an elderly man, Lanqi tapped the tabletop in a grave, resonant tone.
"First is the cultural sphere. The imperial family vigorously champions nationalism and heroism, rekindling the Creti people's national pride. Literary figures and thinkers such as Julius Wolff and Felix Roth are celebrated like never before, their philosophies forming an essential pillar of state ideology. Meanwhile, 'degenerate' artistic movements such as modernism and expressionism face purges and suppression—which is, in truth, an unfortunate phenomenon.
"In social life, Emperor Saint Bardo Hoffman Miaogou the Great has instituted a series of policies aimed at shaping the ideal Creti citizen. These promote physical fitness, statuesque builds, and a return for women to traditional roles of bearing more children. Conversely, commoners whose ancestors migrated from northern kingdoms, such as the Esters and Romani, face growing marginalization within the central city-states, driving a wedge once more into the divide between nobility and commonfolk.
"Currently, the vigorous expansion of the arms industry has improved employment, making the Creti Empire even stronger within the Southern Continent. Although we live in turbulent times, the Creti nation's domestic problems have steadily been diverted outward under the banner of imperial revival. In the short term, it will indeed present a vibrant and prosperous facade, but do you truly believe that is a good thing...?"
The magitech train raced along the horizon.
Disguised as the elderly publisher Lovia, Lanqi chatted with the young man sharing his compartment about imperial culture, social trends, recent geopolitical developments, and trade.
Leaning back against the soft seat cushion, he alternated between talking and gazing out the window at the boundless mountains to gauge their approximate location.
Towering into the clouds, the majestic peaks naturally made one feel insignificant.
Such magnificent scenery had a way of soothing the heart, gently settling restless anxieties.
By the looks of it, they would arrive at the Creti capital of Brierda in less than an hour.
"Precisely, Mr. Lovia. The empire's hidden perils truly exist. The downsides of this war have merely been selectively ignored by many. I believe we should not only study in this direction, but study it with absolute seriousness,"
Landry, the black-haired, blue-eyed young man, agreed.
The two had chatted like this throughout the journey.
As their conversation progressed, Lanqi had noticed that although this brilliant imperial youth opposed the war, it was hard to conceal his underlying far-right convictions.
Landry believed domestic strife should be eliminated through non-military means: aggressively developing the imperial lineage of magical engineering, defeating the Southern Continent Alliance kingdoms in a trade war, and co-opting and gradually fracturing the Alliance. Creti would serve as the undisputed leader, thereby restoring its hegemony through peaceful avenues.
Then again, a young instructor directly hired by Saint Creti Monastery would naturally surpass ordinary people in both specialized craft and scholarship, displaying an erudition far beyond his years.
Just as Lanqi was about to continue discussing imperial development strategies, a familiar female voice sounded in his mind.
"Lanqi, don't get too lost in your act. I know you're a master troll, but sometimes you get so authentic that people can't tell whether you're playing a role or are an actual die-hard imperial."
Talia knew Lanqi excelled at rapidly blending into any environment.
Consequently, ever since arriving in the empire, he had acted far too much like a genuine imperial.
It was as though he had already internalized the identity, viewing every issue strictly from an imperial perspective.
She half-suspected this rascal had done the exact same thing back in the Protos Empire.
"Don't worry. When the time comes for my glorious return, my allegiances will be obvious at a glance. I'm through-and-through a loyal kingdom citizen," Lanqi assured her inwardly.
This was simply adhering to the principle of "when in Rome."
"Good to know."
Talia worried that following Lanqi around in the Creti Empire might turn her into a spy as well.
She considered herself a veteran Ikerite resident now, steadfast in her stance.
All she hoped for in this lifetime was to retire in peace within the Hutton Kingdom.
Just as Lanqi's thoughts began to drift, he distinctly felt the train decelerate.
It gradually ground to a complete halt.
Lanqi and the young man simultaneously looked up at each other, confusion in their eyes.
"Do magitech trains usually stop like this?" Lanqi asked, puzzled.
This was his first time encountering such a situation.
"It is quite rare," Landry concurred.
They could hear murmurs and commotion rising from the other compartments as passengers wondered what was happening.
Right then, accompanied by a buzz of feedback and the rustle of a microphone being lifted, a rich, resonant male voice broadcast through the train's speakers, drawing everyone's attention.
"Dear passengers, we apologize for the interruption. We have received intelligence that an extremely dangerous element has boarded this train. Our officers are currently conducting screenings for suspicious individuals. Please remain calm, do not panic, and refrain from moving about the carriages. We have already requested assistance from the Brierda city-state authorities, and Imperial Army reinforcements are en route at top speed. Thank you for your cooperation."
The broadcast was slightly distorted, yet the speaker maintained a steady tone to reassure the passengers.
The moment the announcement ended, the previously quiet train erupted into a stir.
Before long, hurried footsteps and anxious whispers echoed down the corridor. The passengers were plainly rattled by the sudden news.
Talia's voice abruptly rang out in Lanqi's mind once more.
"Lanqi, should we make a run for it? Your identity might have been compromised. Continuing to Brierda will be exceedingly dangerous."
Talia had no idea what was happening and was already poised to assist Lanqi in battle at any second.
The announcement's warning might very well be pointing at Lanqi, the infiltrator.
At this distance, escaping should still be feasible. At the very least, the War Gods would not deploy so readily from the capital of Brierda just to apprehend a suspect in the remote wilderness.
"An 'extremely dangerous element' clearly doesn't mean me. I'm neither extreme nor dangerous in the slightest," Lanqi argued with utter confidence.
"..."
Talia was at a loss for words.
She figured Old Sang probably wouldn't object to Lanqi's words.
Still, she also felt that Lanqi had acted with utmost caution all along, leaving no reason for exposure.
Lanqi's only handler was Nigel, and since entering the empire, he had not even made contact with any other Posen intelligence agents.
"I just need to keep acting like an imperial and attend to my business," Lanqi comforted Talia, reassuring her.
Lanqi's principle was to maintain his persona and performance until the dust settled. If it was a battle of wits, one had to see the bluff through to the end and never panic first.
The moment one panicked and showed a flaw was the moment one truly exposed oneself.
"I'll follow your lead," Talia replied.
Lanqi's awareness shifted back to reality.
He saw the black-haired, blue-eyed young man across from him furrowing his brow, a solemn look in his eyes.
Landry instinctively reached toward the inside of his coat, as though readying himself for any sudden threat.
"Are there many extremely dangerous elements around the capital of Brierda?" Lanqi asked softly.
He sensed that the young man possessed a deeper understanding of Brierda's internal affairs, perhaps even holding some clues.
"Since we recently declared war on external powers, the entire empire stands on the crest of a storm. The imperial authorities are conducting stringent screenings and will show zero tolerance for internal subversion," Landry answered, shaking his head with cautious restraint.
Lanqi nodded in agreement.
The tension between the nobility and the commoners in the empire had a long history. While maintaining a delicate balance on the surface, they had never ceased their covert struggles, even sparking large-scale rebellions years ago that left behind numerous historical grievances.
With the Creti Empire waging war abroad, it was the perfect opportunity for internal agitators to strike.
Yet he had not expected their reach to extend onto a civilian passenger train.
At that moment, an uproar broke out outside the compartment.
Shouted commands, warnings, and the clatter of combat erupted in chaos, punctuated by the rumble of explosions drawing steadily closer to Carriage Four.
Immediately following was a bloodcurdling scream tearing through the air, as if someone had suffered inhuman torment, though it cut off abruptly, indicating the victim had perished.
Lanqi and the black-haired, blue-eyed youth exchanged another glance, both wearing expressions of shock and unease.
"Mr. Lovia, I must go check the situation. At a critical juncture like this, we cannot allow those cancerous elements seeking to harm the empire to run rampant."
The young man gritted his teeth with fierce resolve, evidently harboring a deep-seated hatred for those who stoked civil unrest.
"I will go assess the situation. Stay here, do not move, and keep yourself safe."
With that, he used a magic card to conjure a gun-like staff and strode boldly out of the compartment.
"Be careful, Professor Landry!"
Lanqi watched him leave, a hint of worry in his heart.
With the young instructor's Tier 6 strength, he should be able to weather most storms.
Unless absolutely forced, Lanqi would not step in, as his current persona as the elderly Mr. Lovia possessed a modest rank and lacked real combat capability.
Sure enough, not long after the young man left, the entire train shuddered violently, as though the stationary carriages had collided with something massive.
Simultaneously, a deafening explosion blasted out, instantly engulfing a section of the carriage in flames!
The violent tremor nearly knocked Lanqi to the floor. His ears rang, and his vision was blinded by blinding firelight and billowing smoke.
A clash of at least Tier 6 scale had commenced.
"Meow, meow, meow! Lanqi, you vehicle-killer!"
Boss Cat shivered as it hid within the shadows.
It had had enough!
Riding a ship with Lanqi led to a shipwreck.
Riding an airship with Lanqi led to an air crash.
And now, riding a rail train with Lanqi still brought disaster?
Lanqi truly held a vendetta against vehicles!
Wait... it seemed Boss Cat had been present during every single one of those accidents as well.
Could it be that Boss Cat was the vehicle-killer?
Meow.
Boss Cat sank into deep contemplation.
Thick smoke billowed outside Compartment 404, seeping through the cracks around the door.
Lanqi scrambled over to the door and pulled it open, only to be driven back by a wave of searing heat.
Only with Boss Cat's telekinetic magic was he able to force the compartment open fully.
As the smoke cleared slightly, he took in the horrific scene within the carriage.
The once elegant, orderly corridor was reduced to ruins. Broken furniture lay strewn about amidst scorched marks and winding fissures. The air was thick with an acrid stench of burning that made him cover his mouth.
Some of the bright ceiling lamps had shattered, while others flickered erratically, spitting sparks and casting eerie, dancing shadows throughout the carriage. Several guards lay strewn across the floor.
The imperial guards had almost all been struck down in single blows, scarlet blood pooling from their wounds into gruesome slicks along the floor.
Yet what shocked Lanqi most was that beside the heap of bodies lay a familiar figure in a dark blue coat.
His head had been severed, and over a dozen translucent magic cards shimmering with purple-pink radiance floated above his corpse.
The tremendous commotion of the battle earlier had clearly been Landry casting his spells.
Yet he had died so quickly?
Just how powerful was the enemy?
Before Lanqi could ponder further, the answer presented itself.
At the far end of Carriage Four, a silhouette materialized within the haze.
More precisely, it was a woman standing beside Landry's corpse.
Tall and slender, she wore black garments that accentuated her graceful curves. Her long, ink-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, contrasting sharply with a white porcelain mask that appeared all the more chilling.
The masked woman's gaze was icy and devoid of expression, while dark red blood dripped steadily from the blade of the short sword in her hand.
The female assassin fixed her eyes upon Lanqi, who had just stepped out—or rather, toward Compartment 404 behind him.
"Boss Cat, use Black Gas," Lanqi commanded immediately.
Ever since he bound the Original Slate: Seal, the miniature sun he had previously used to obscure vision was forcibly altered by the seal's properties to project the obsidian special effect of the Divine Era. Consequently, he had supplied Boss Cat with several cheap, lower-tier substitute cards.
Instantly, thick black mist enveloped the smoke-filled carriage, cutting off all lines of sight.
If Lanqi was forced to fight, he could not allow any surviving passengers to witness him doing so.
The sudden appearance of this female assassin on the train, along with her identity and motive, remained a complete mystery.
Lanqi could not yet deduce the cause.
After all, fierce inherent contradictions plagued the Creti Empire. Due to the turmoil years ago, deep-seated hostility lingered between factions of commoners and nobles, spawning various extremist factions.
At the moment, the only certainty Lanqi had was that the broadcast's "dangerous element" referred to this female assassin.
His own cover remained intact.
Regardless of faction, he could never stand by and watch innocent lives perish; the train carried the elderly and children, unarmed civilians.
The optimal strategy right now was to maintain his imperial facade, neutralize this threat, and proceed safely to the capital of Brierda.
"Professor Landry was a Tier 6 spellcaster. Even if he leaned more toward academic research, for her to kill him so swiftly means she possesses formidable power and is a well-trained veteran," Talia spoke in Lanqi's mind.
"Good. The gap isn't insurmountable; theoretically, Landry had a chance of victory,"
Lanqi had already decided on his approach.
He would forge a scene depicting mutual destruction between Landry and this female assassin—though she had managed to slay the young instructor, she succumbed to exhaustion from the grave wounds Landry inflicted upon her.
When the dust settled, Lanqi could quietly walk away with his anonymity intact and continue his infiltration into the imperial capital of Brierda.
As these thoughts raced through his mind, the female assassin raised her short sword, a frosty wave of killing intent sweeping forward. She clearly had no intention of sparing the elderly imperial gentleman from Landry's compartment.
Without a single word, the female assassin launched her attack.
The short blade carved a sharp, freezing streak through the air, flashing straight toward Lanqi's face in an instant.
Possessed by Talia, Lanqi barely leaned aside, executing a flawless dodge to evade the fatal strike.
"Be careful, Lanqi," Talia warned.
This assassin was likely bordering on Tier 7; no wonder Landry had lost his head so quickly.
Aside from Inoan during the underground matches at the Sacred Silver Vine Arena, she had never seen such a lethal Tier 6 opponent.
Or rather, only an assassin of such professional caliber would dare strike along the transit route toward Brierda to ensure nothing went awry.
The female assassin appeared visibly surprised.
An old man without the slightest aura of a martial practitioner had somehow evaded her lethal strike.
Lanqi had no time for reflection, for the assassin's follow-up attack arrived instantly.
Her next slash dragged another chilling arc of light, driving straight toward Lanqi's vitals.
Knowing a direct clash was ill-advised, Lanqi sprang backward to open the distance. A small whirlwind formed before him, howling as it rushed toward the assassin, stirring up dust and debris along its path to briefly knock her back.
Boss Cat's wind magic was clearly insufficient to bridge a two-tier gap against such a ferocious opponent.
However, it was merely a distraction.
In the next instant, dozens of mental mana threads surged forth, weaving into an inescapable web that swept toward the female assassin.
Sensing the abnormal mana, the assassin was forced to take it seriously.
This time, she had completely misjudged the old man's strength.
She abruptly lost control of her limbs, as though the nerves throughout her entire body had been locked down. Letting out a pained snarl, she unleashed her power in a desperate struggle.
The entire carriage rattled violently, threatening to tear apart under her immense physical force.
Countless fragments and splinters flew through the air, but her movements steadily subsided. As the dust settled, an eerie silence swallowed the corridor.
The female assassin lay pinned amid the wreckage.
This was the quietest spell Talia could muster.
Had they deployed Tier 7 or Tier 8 magic, not only would the other passengers have been doomed, but explaining who had intervened afterward would have been entirely impossible.
Struggling stubbornly against the floor, the assassin finally concluded that this old man was at least Tier 7 and that she was completely outmatched. She ceased her resistance.
Lanqi approached her.
Before the dust cleared, he needed to uncover the cause and effect from her.
Landry could not die in vain.
He felt deep regret over Landry's death, but he had had no choice; with an expert like Landry present, Lanqi could not act openly without revealing his flaws and blowing his cover.
In the end, Landry would be remembered as a hero who sacrificed himself to protect the passengers. That was the only thing Lanqi could do for him.
Lanqi was also curious as to the reason behind this turmoil.
Yet before he could question her, the assassin spoke first.
"Just who... are you...?" she asked through clenched teeth, unwilling to accept defeat.
She could not comprehend who this old man was, nor why a Tier 7 presence would appear here.
"Unrivaled is the imperial crown; absolute is the empire's faith,"
Lanqi recited coldly, perfectly imitating Landry's voice.
"Whoever violates our Creti Empire shall be executed, no matter how far."
Perhaps other passengers were listening in terror from within their compartments.
He deliberately wanted them to hear, so they could serve as witnesses.
Witnesses that this had been a fight between the assassin and Landry.
"So you are..."
The assassin seemed to realize something.
The Creti Empire's Magitech Special Operations Unit—the most relentless hounds within imperial borders. A man with this caliber of skill was likely in the top three of their ranks.
"..."
Talia could not help but marvel at Lanqi's dedication as an actor.
You can even make up matching dialogue on the spot?
Sometimes he could fool even himself, bewildering everyone to the point where no one would ever suspect he was actually a kingdom native.
Lanqi slowly knelt before the assassin and established a soundproofing barrier.
"Hmph."
The assassin let out a cold smirk, her eyes conveying that no matter how severely she was interrogated, she would never speak a word.
"Relax, relax, I won't interrogate you,"
Lanqi spoke gently, like a kindergarten teacher coaxing a child to take a nap.
"?"
The gaze behind the white porcelain mask froze.
"Let me see your memories,"
Lanqi murmured softly, simultaneously prompting Talia in his mind to cast the minimum-radius version of Overflowing Land of Gentle Slumber.
"No! Stop!"
The assassin instantly realized what was happening. Her icy resolve, which would not have wavered under torture, fractured completely, replaced by genuine terror.
Her captor was a master of mental magic. Having subdued her so effortlessly, he likely possessed deep-probe mind magic as well. In his grasp, she could not even end her own life!
"I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"
She shrieked with venomous rage.
The glare behind the white porcelain mask looked ready to tear Lanqi apart alive.
Yet she could not resist the overwhelming drowsiness that blanked her mind. Tears brimmed in the corners of her eyes as she drifted into slumber.
"Lanqi, I really felt like you were a high-ranking imperial officer just now—and one of the most dangerous kind," Talia could not help remarking in his mind.
"How could that be? I've only been in the empire for a few days, and I was merely maintaining order due to the circumstances. It's not like I intended to help the empire," Lanqi declared.
He closed his eyes, gradually sinking into a brand-new world as the surrounding space rippled like unstable water.
Similar to the Fallen Land of Gentle Slumber, the Overflowing Land of Gentle Slumber could intervene in another's dreams.
At this moment, Lanqi felt as though he had shed his physical form to converse directly with the space of the mind.
When he opened his eyes again, the setting was entirely different from the ruined train carriage.
Beneath a clear sky, an expanse of pristine azure met his gaze.
Warm spring sunlight washed over his skin, and the melodious babble of a nearby brook drifted through the air.
It was a picturesque town.
In this pleasant season, casual clothes provided the perfect warmth; everything felt just right.
Sharing their consciousness, Lanqi and Talia descended together into the assassin's dreamscape, observing from a distance as translucent spirit-like figures.
In the dream, the female assassin stood in a daze along a bustling town street. The only sounds in her ears were the laughter of children chasing each other across the open square and the cheerful chime of handbells.
Her face was striking. She reflexively stroked her cheeks and arms in the reflection of a storefront window, discovering that all her scars were gone.
A young girl sharing similar facial features and hair color—evidently her younger sister—walked beside her in vibrant health.
"Big Sister Unity..."
The girl tugged at her hem, confused as to why she had stopped and looked so lost.
"..."
Unity slowly came to her senses, staring blankly at her healthy sister.
Tears spilled over as she embraced the girl tightly.
Her lips murmured disjointed reassurances: "You must stay safe... Big Sister will never leave you again..."
Relieved, she allowed her sister to lead her along the town streets.
There was no brutal battlefield here; fallen comrades crossed paths with her and waved greetings.
And the landmarks...
Judging by the script, this place was clearly within the Western Hub's Kingdom of Canbera.
Lanqi and Talia exchanged glances within her dream.
"Why is she dreaming about the Kingdom of Canbera?" the translucent Talia asked.
"Because she's obviously from the kingdoms," Lanqi replied matter-of-factly.
Both realized the truth at the same instant.
This female assassin was one of their own!
So the "dangerous element" the broadcast spoke of was indeed an Allied spy.
Lanqi had wondered how his own cover could have been blown.
There had been another kingdom operative on this very train!
The imperial forces had been hunting this Allied assassin named Unity.
Like two children who had just realized they caused trouble, Lanqi and Talia scurried out of Unity's dreamscape, returning their consciousness to reality and using beneficial mental spells to awaken her.
Without outside interference, Unity quickly opened her eyes.
Her bleary gaze took in the old man before her, who had not harmed her.
Yet the mental restraint still held her firmly against the ground.
"You filthy imperial dog!"
Recalling the dream, Unity instantly recognized his mental interference ability.
Using such a dreamscape to probe her mind crossed every line she held as a warrior of the kingdoms!
To think such a master was hidden on this train; she had truly walked into a trap.
She could not fathom why she had been ambushed, nor who had betrayed her.
Yet the mysterious man before her was undeniably the mastermind hunting her down!
She could not bear to imagine how much intelligence this man would forcibly extract if he continued excavating her consciousness!
The more she thought, the more humiliated and desperate she felt, until it all coalesced into pure hatred toward the imperial officer standing over her.
"..."
Lanqi pointed at himself in utter bewilderment and innocence, completely lost for words.
His loyalties were not compromised; he had not intended to aid the empire.
"She isn't lying. She genuinely believes you are an imperial," Talia added, using her lie-detection talent to remind Lanqi.
Perhaps she truly had misjudged Lanqi from the start.
Other spies needed immense resolve and agonizing effort to pull off a flawless imperial disguise. But you, my friend—you are the chosen imperial.
Chapter 707