A mountain breeze brushed through woods intertwined with scarlet and gold. In this season of fluttering fallen leaves, the *Brierda* mana rail train was once more traveling through the rolling Langar Mountains near the Creti capital.
Lanqi sat in Compartment 404, undergoing an investigation.
He looked somewhat exhausted, yet remained composed.
Of course, at this moment, he was already seated opposite his original seat.
Namely, the seat of Teacher Landry Washington.
"Yes, it was I who stepped in and defeated the enemy on the train."
Lanqi honestly answered the questioning officer seated across from him.
"As for the situation at the time, I can only say it was beyond all tolerance. Where are we right now? On the doorstep of the capital, Brierda, and yet someone dared to openly challenge the authority of our Empire! I could not bear to let her run rampant for another second. I had to show her what supreme imperial power and faith in the Empire truly mean."
He couldn't help but tap lightly on the table.
Radiating upright righteousness, abhorring evil like an enemy, yet appearing completely indifferent to fame and glory, he had the officer across from him nodding repeatedly.
For nothing this young man said sounded remotely like a lie.
His attitude was fervent and sincere; sitting opposite him, any fellow imperial would feel ashamed that their own love and devotion to the Empire as an imperial soldier was not even as steadfast as this young man's.
"Well then, Mr. Landry, my superior may come by shortly to ask you some questions. We have no intention of making things difficult for you; it's just that as the central figure in this incident, we need your cooperation so we can obtain more clues about the enemy."
The investigating officer closed his notebook, stood up, and said to Lanqi.
"No problem."
Lanqi nodded, watching the officer depart.
Scorch marks ran along the carriage corridor. Had it not been covered by a sufficiently solid protective barrier, the train might have derailed long ago, lost among the towering peaks.
Members of the Capital Garrison shuttled back and forth through the carriage, soothing shaken passengers while collecting evidence and conducting investigations.
As the elite force guarding the imperial center, the Capital Garrison was renowned for its stringent selection and brutal training, tasked specifically with the security and defense of the capital.
Among the branches under its command, the Imperial Guard served as the Emperor's personal escort while guarding vital installations such as the imperial palace and government offices.
The Gendarmerie was responsible for maintaining public order in the capital region, suppressing subversive activities, and monitoring the conduct of officials and citizens.
The Air Defense Force managed the air raid warning systems and operated the capital's anti-aircraft units to repel enemy aerial assaults, while the Fortress Guard manned several massive fortresses on the capital's periphery, forming its first line of defense.
When the incident occurred aboard the *Brierda*, the unit deployed to respond was the Second Gendarmerie Brigade, responsible for the capital's outer sector.
Fortunately, most passengers were safe and unharmed, though in other carriages, the bodies of onboard imperial guards lay strewn about, blood staining shattered windows and twisted metal.
"The extremely dangerous element is no longer aboard the *Brierda*. All passengers may rest assured. The *Brierda* mana rail train has now been taken over by the Imperial Capital Garrison. Please cooperate with the military's investigation. The train will soon arrive at its final destination, Brierda. We ask for your patience for just a little longer."
The train broadcast continued soothing the passengers.
The vast majority of passengers were nowhere near as calm and collected as Lanqi.
Perhaps acting a little panicked would have been better under the circumstances.
Yet Lanqi's portrayal of Landry focused on an innate, natural confidence; this way, there were many aspects he did not need to deliberately act out.
"Lanqi, are you sure you haven't defected to the enemy? ...I'm a little scared."
Talia began chatting with him in his mind again.
As Lanqi's guardian spirit, her fate was essentially bound to his, leaving her to watch his story unfold day after day.
Now, she was gradually sensing that something felt off.
Quickly blending into one's surroundings was undeniably an extraordinary talent for a spy, but in the blink of an eye, Lanqi seemed like a full-blown native.
"Put your heart back in your chest, Tata. Accidentally helping the Empire capture the Allied spy at the start was just an accident. It won't happen again."
Lanqi wore a resolute expression, answering her with firm certainty in his mind.
There was no way he would do any more work for the Empire, and he would certainly never become a rogue ninja.
This time was different from when he was in the Protos Empire on the Northern Continent; he was very clear about his stance and faction.
"Good to hear."
Talia breathed a faint sigh of relief, amusement in her voice.
She figured that even if Lanqi wanted to make waves within the Empire, he wouldn't have the ability to do so.
The Empire wasn't so simple.
"Seems we're almost there."
Lanqi sat in the compartment, gazing quietly out the window.
Though there had been some twists and turns, overall things had worked out well.
He had obtained a new identity, the Allied spy Miss Unity had escaped, and the only casualty was Teacher Landry.
Still, Lanqi would carry out Landry's unfulfilled aspirations, using his identity to strive to change this Empire. That, in a way, would allow Landry to rest in peace beneath the nine springs.
The train gradually left the golden mountains behind, entering an endless emerald plain. On the distant horizon, the majestic outline of the Holy City grew increasingly clear.
They were finally arriving at the legendary capital of the Creti Empire—Brierda.
Towering spires atop the city walls pierced the clouds, while steel-forged skyscrapers gleamed beneath the sunlight. Enormous airships drifted through shifting clouds, and the surrounding canals carved out the city's magnificent silhouette.
Brass-built mechanical vessels and magitech beasts navigated back and forth across the water. Advanced mechanical engineering and modern magic engineering fused seamlessly here, giving rise to marvels distinct from the kingdom-style magic engineering.
Imperial magic engineering, operating independently from magic apparatuses, had vigorously pursued mechanical innovation. Its aim was to chart a technological path that did not overly rely on magic, with the eventual goal of overcoming magic through machinery.
Accordingly, vocations such as mechanics, gunners, and snipers had almost all originated in the Creti Empire.
Frey, who styled himself a backline ranged damage dealer, had once told Lanqi that if given the chance, he would definitely visit the Creti Empire.
Only gunners with immense physical strength could tame the terrifying recoil of high-tier imperial firearms.
"Are you alright, sir?"
Just as Lanqi was gazing intently at the increasingly clear city skyline, a man's voice came from the side.
The voice was deep, steady, and potent.
Only then did Lanqi notice an officer standing by the door of his compartment. Appearing to be in his thirties or forties, his uniform was immaculately pressed and his military bearing impeccable.
Tall and broad-shouldered with a robust build, his golden-brown hair was combed meticulously, touched with slight gray at the temples, exuding an air of dignified authority and composure.
The officer had a trimmed beard, a slightly pointed chin, a high-bridged nose, and blue-gray eyes that looked weathered yet held keen insight.
"I'm fine."
Lanqi smiled as he looked over and replied.
Compared to Lanqi's usual reserved demeanor, Teacher Landry's personality seemed more confident and outgoing.
"I am Burke von Arnold, commander of the Second Gendarmerie Brigade of the Capital Garrison Command."
The officer did not step inside, introducing himself from the doorway.
"Please have a seat, Lieutenant Colonel."
Lanqi recognized the officer's rank from his uniform at a glance, rising politely to return the courtesy and gesturing for him to take the seat across the table.
Though the officer was neither harsh nor hasty and treated others with polite courtesy, this did not diminish the ruthless rigor with which imperial military personnel performed their duties.
The moment imperial gendarmes detected the slightest inkling of disloyalty or rebellion, they would act with swift, decisive force.
If he took up his post at Saint Creti Monastery located on Brierda's outskirts, any security incident at the school would likely involve dealing with Commander Burke of the Second Gendarmerie Brigade.
"I heard that it was you who repelled the enemy. Were you injured?"
Lieutenant Colonel Burke von Arnold sat down, resting his clasped hands on the table as he questioned Lanqi at an unhurried pace.
He could tell that the black-haired, blue-eyed youth opposite him was a noble, and a considerably powerful one at that.
For the vast majority who had yet to cross into the realm of the extraordinary, a Tier 6 individual would be a regional hegemon in the borderlands, and even in the capital, such people were uncommon.
Fortunately, such an expert had truly been aboard this train; otherwise, it might have turned into a massive disaster.
"I wasn't injured. My clash with the enemy was merely a matter of knowing when to stop."
Lanqi replied modestly.
Hearing this, Lieutenant Colonel Burke hesitated, then took the investigation report from an accompanying soldier.
"Yet according to passengers in other compartments, you held an overwhelming advantage when facing that formidable female enemy."
Lieutenant Colonel Burke glanced at the papers, looking up to ask.
"Had I backed her into a corner, I might genuinely have been injured."
Lanqi smiled amiably.
"Is that so?"
Lieutenant Colonel Burke muttered to himself, looking at the black-haired, blue-eyed youth once more with an undisguised, appraising gaze.
The composure of an expert was unmistakable, yet the young man before him seemed even stronger than he had imagined, shrouded in an enigmatic depth.
"According to passenger records, your name is Landry Washington. May I ask the purpose of your journey to the capital, Brierda?"
Lieutenant Colonel Burke continued asking questions while taking notes.
"Work. I received an appointment letter here in Brierda."
Lanqi bent down, preparing to take the documents out of the luggage at his feet.
Yet when he looked up again, Lieutenant Colonel Burke had already turned his head toward the window.
They had seemingly almost arrived.
Neither was in any rush.
Reaching Brierda merely meant they could converse in greater comfort and security.
As the train gradually slowed, a bustling, clamorous station came into view.
Having heard news that the *Brierda* had come under attack outside the city, crowds of citizens and reporters packed the platform so densely not a drop of water could trickle through.
Murmuring swept through the throng. Though the gendarmes worked hard to maintain order, it came as no surprise that in Brierda, the political and economic heart of the Empire, even a train station was bustling to this extent.
"Mr. Landry, I may have to take up some of your time, but rest assured, I'll see you to your destination as soon as possible. Shall we talk as we walk, or would you prefer to finish our conversation here?"
Lieutenant Colonel Burke added.
"Let's talk on the way."
Lanqi picked up his luggage, stood up, and proposed.
"A wise choice. I doubt you'd find it easy to get past that human wall and the reporters on your own."
Without delay, Lieutenant Colonel Burke walked and talked with Lanqi.
Just as they waited by the carriage exit, the doors slid open to reveal another group of imperial soldiers in distinctly different uniforms, already waiting outside Carriage Four.
Strangely, the platform was not as crowded as it had seemed earlier; it was as though people had deliberately made way for these soldiers.
Their numbers were far fewer than the Gendarmerie of the Capital Garrison Command.
In fact, there was only a single operational squad.
The officer leading them wore a cap pulled low, nearly concealing his forehead.
"Section Chief Nikolai, what brings you here?"
Lieutenant Colonel Burke was the first to speak, addressing the officer outside codenamed Kestrel.
He clearly knew the man.
Lanqi observed silently. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that only Carriage Four's doors had opened. Evidently, passengers in the other carriages were still barred from disembarking; the doors had opened solely to permit these officers to board.
Well before arriving in the Creti Empire, Lanqi had done thorough preparation. The materials Nigel provided had detailed the structural hierarchy of the imperial military in the Creti capital.
From the uniform of the officer standing at the door, one could tell they belonged to a department entirely separate from the Capital Garrison Command—the Imperial Special Operations Department, also known as the Imperial Magitech Secret Service.
Among its branches, the Foreign Intelligence Section dispatched undercover operatives to infiltrate foreign nations and gather military and political intelligence, while the Sabotage Section operated on front lines and within occupied territories to conduct assassinations, kidnappings, demolitions, and other terror operations to disrupt enemy rear lines.
Focusing more on domestic affairs was the Domestic Secret Service Section, responsible for surveilling domestic dissidents, rooting out anti-war elements and spies, and safeguarding regime stability. Finally, there was a secret laboratory dedicated to developing silent, specialized weaponry—such as poisons, alchemical creatures, and high-yield explosive devices—a research facility also situated in the capital, Brierda.
The Director of Special Operations answered directly to the Emperor, possessing the authority to mobilize resources without going through conventional military channels.
Consequently, the Imperial Special Operations Department wielded immense power within the Empire.
"We suspect this attack may very well involve internal and external collusion, with a mole implicated."
Kestrel Nikolai, standing on the platform, spoke.
He was much younger than Lieutenant Colonel Burke, possessing a handsome, sharply chiseled face. His auburn hair was neatly trimmed, exuding the crisp, efficient air expected of a military man.
And the First Section of the Domestic Secret Service under his command was responsible for monitoring dissidents in the capital region to ensure regime stability.
"From where I stand, I must conduct a thorough investigation into everyone connected to this incident. Both the deceased and the survivors are potential suspects. To be prudent, I will personally cross-examine everyone once more."
Kestrel Nikolai wore a faint smile, yet it carried an undeniable chill that brooked no argument.
"Understood."
Lieutenant Colonel Burke's expression grew solemn. He frequently crossed paths with the Imperial Special Operations Department over various cases, and he trusted Section Chief Kestrel Nikolai's judgment.
Lieutenant Colonel Burke readily agreed, then turned to Lanqi and patted him gently on the shoulder, seemingly reassuring him not to feel pressured.
For an investigation by the Imperial Special Operations Department was bound to be far harsher, and as the young man at the center of the incident, he would undoubtedly face even more rigorous interrogation.
"..."
Inside Lanqi's mind, Talia was already starting to panic.
She felt that Lanqi was truly a trouble magnet.
He simply had to assume Landry's identity, and then frame the incident as Landry repelling the enemy!
While he had obtained what seemed to be a better cover identity, if the Empire's true hounds latched onto his scent, there would likely never be a peaceful day in the capital, Brierda—let alone accomplishing whatever he came here to do.
Chapter 709