The Pitch-Black Train (Part 2)

More importantly, he also smelled of alcohol and a woman's fragrance.

However, the faint, salty soda-like scent made Aozaki Touko feel a little uncomfortable. After all, she still clearly remembered that her silly younger sister seemed to like these kinds of cheap ocean-themed perfumes, and she didn't know how Rovey had come to like this scent; it was a completely girly fragrance.

So--

'He wouldn't have really gone out and slept with some prostitute, would he? And then he left his clothes behind in his haste.'

Thinking of this, Aozaki Touko's expression gradually became more and more strange, and the way she looked at Rovey also subtly changed.

... Hiss, how come she never noticed before that this guy had such a strange fetish? Seduce fallen girls, get them drunk, and then take them away?

But what exactly is his taste?

Even if there is a real need, it's not entirely impossible not to be gentle and considerate in front of such a beautiful woman, offer some attentiveness, and then make a romantic invitation later...

He ignores me and goes out to find other women. How bizarre must he be to do something like that?

Filled with immense curiosity, Aozaki Touko couldn't help but keep pressing for details about what had just happened. This gave Rovey a headache, and he remained completely silent about Aoko's situation.

This made Aozaki Touko feel increasingly strange, as if Rovey was deliberately hiding something from her.

But even when confronted with her persistent questioning, Rovey would frantically shake his head each time. Finally, when he could no longer bear it, he snapped at her, "Stop asking! If you keep talking, I'll throw you into the sea to feed the fish!" This was a rather amusing threat, comparable to, "If you don't go to sleep, I'll throw you out to be eaten by the big bad wolf."

"Forget it, I'm not going to bother with you anymore."

Seeing that Rovey Wei was adamant about not saying anything, Aozaki Touko shook her head slightly and then stopped paying attention to the matter.

Although I did feel vaguely annoyed, what did it matter to me if he really went out and slept with other women?

In the end, he'll be the one who suffers!

"Giggle..."

Accompanied by a pleasant chuckle, Aozaki Touko, unable to get an answer, had no choice but to give up. With that melodious laughter, like the gentle chimes of a wind chime, the two drifted further and further away from the city's hustle and bustle. Finally, they arrived together at the destination recorded on the invitation: an abandoned train station.

Although the station is still in the city, its location seems to be in a different world from the bustling city.

The cool moonlight shone through the clouds, and the twinkling starlight sprinkled on the ground of the dilapidated station. The ancient walls, the moss-covered and muddy floors, and the visible dust that covered every corner of the station created a scene filled with a sense of desolation. It was truly a very old train station.

Finland's land area is quite large in Northern Europe, except when compared to those recognized major countries.

Despite its sparse population, the transportation system is highly developed.

Trains, airplanes, buses, trams, and subways are all readily available.

Even if you're not entirely satisfied with these traditional modes of transportation, there are less traditional options. Bicycles are sold and rented everywhere, and yachts are always ready to set sail on the sea. However, what Rovey most wanted to ride was a dog sled. Unfortunately, he probably won't have the chance to try it this time.

Because compared to other modes of transportation, trains change routes most frequently, and are still the most frequently used and most popular mode of transport.

Some regions have experienced economic booms, while others have declined; some places have expanded, while others have been abandoned.

As a result, over the centuries, Finland has accumulated a considerable number of abandoned train stations, which can be considered as symbols of an era.

The location where Rovey and Aozaki Touko were standing was one of these train stations, which was also the landing point chosen for them by the Rail Zeppelin.

Because the timing was deliberately planned, the two arrived at just the right moment.

At the train station at night.

"Hmm, it's getting foggy..."

On the platform, Rovey opened his pocket watch and glanced at the time. It showed 3 a. m., which was exactly the arrival time of the train that the Rail Zeppelin had agreed upon on the invitation.

At that moment, a pure white mist suddenly rose from the abandoned platform, obscuring the two people's view of the distance.

However, this suddenly rising pure white fog is very different from ordinary fog; it is not formed by water vapor in nature.

It was neither damp nor cold, and had no real substance.

It was like a peculiar phantom.

"The timing is perfect."

"Since it's a train, it will naturally choose a station to stop at, and this ancient station is very suitable as a vessel for mystery. However, since there's no one else here, it means that the passengers' boarding routes are not uniform or fixed. This is probably just the landing point prepared for this invitation."

"... Is this what they call Dragon? I'm really curious."

With his hands in his pockets, Rovey analyzed the situation while gazing at the end of the rusty, abandoned railway track. That end was the direction from which the train was about to arrive, but it was now shrouded in thick fog, obscuring visibility for at most a hundred meters, and beyond that, nothing could be seen at all.

Even eyes that have had their vision enhanced by magic are the same; any action is futile.

Because its essence is a derivative phenomenon of large-scale ritual Magecraft, similar to the effect of erosion-type Magecraft barriers, it requires special Magecraft to break. Of course, if your Mystic Eyes are designed for this type of spell and your level is high enough, you can naturally forcibly see through it.

The scene before us speaks for itself; it is undoubtedly a precursor to the appearance of something, a special harbinger of its early arrival.

As if to confirm his conjecture, suddenly, a strange whistle sounded from the end of the fog.

The voice was long and resonant, filled with the flavor of a bygone era, as if it were telling them about that distant and long history.

Then, in the next moment, a blinding white light pierced the night's mist—the headlights emanating from the front of the train. Following that, the massive, dark, dragon-head-like steel figure broke through the mist and sped into the silent night.

If you look closely, you'll see that this massive train is entirely black, but that black isn't a monotonous darkness; rather, it possesses a deep, metallic sheen. The paint reflects delicate glimmers in the dim light, like twinkling stars in the night sky. The sharp front of the train, like a razor-sharp blade, seems poised to pierce the darkness and lead its passengers on an unknown adventure.

Gaa—gaa gaa!

The massive train gradually slowed down, accompanied by a piercing screech of brakes, until the entire steel behemoth came to a steady stop on the other side of the old platform.

It was at this moment that Rovey was able to see the patterns carved on it clearly. Its shape was no different from the train on the invitation, and the patterns belonging to the eyeballs shone brightly on the train's steel body, making it look like a brand-new work of art.

Then, at the very moment that Rovey took out the special invitation.

On the parked steel behemoth, the elegant car door suddenly clicked open from the inside, as if it had detected something and was thus opened automatically.

"Senior Aoko, let's go up together."

"Um."

Then, Rovey took Aozaki Touko's hand and they boarded the dark and mysterious train together.

The two stepped over the stairs and entered the carriage.

The view ahead suddenly became incredibly wide open.

Although the station outside wasn't exactly dark thanks to starlight and moonlight, it paled in comparison to the opulent interior of the train carriage. The contrast between the two colors created a striking visual impact.

The first impression Rovey got of this place was that a nobleman's mansion had been moved into the carriage, with expensive decorations and various kinds of antique furniture everywhere. Although there was no deliberate attempt to create an atmosphere of extravagance, it constantly showcased its luxurious and beautiful ambiance, truly deserving the description of being magnificent and resplendent, just like the hall in Professor Kenneth's house.

"This Rail Zeppelin is really well-equipped..."

"Don't be surprised too soon, this is just the entrance."

Rovey, who was visiting for the first time, was somewhat surprised by the scene. Aozaki Touko, who had been there before, took his hand and led Rovey deeper into the area.

During this time, they passed through the carriage corridors filled with the fragrance of precious flowers, and then around tables covered with red cloths and laden with fresh fruit and expensive dishes. As they continued to move forward, the music playing in the carriages and the rich incense filling their nostrils became increasingly clear.

The luxurious and beautiful scene before one's eyes, combined with the deliberately created atmosphere, makes it hard not to feel happy, or rather, refreshed.

"Hmm? Let me see who it is... Oh dear, I didn't expect it to be you two. How rude of me."

As Rovey had anticipated, the different invitations sent out by the Rail Zeppelin recorded completely different landing locations and times, so they were not the first passengers to board; there were already five guests in the carriage.

Five passengers: three men and two women, four adults and one little girl.

One of the most striking women, veiled in a magnificent gown, with long, shimmering golden hair and an incredibly alluring figure, sat in her designated spot, wearing a long red dress adorned with rose-like embellishments. She held a glass of blood-red wine, sipping it with a seductive and elegant air, exuding an indescribable, terrifying allure. Even without seeing her face, one could immediately tell she was an exceptionally beautiful woman.

The tall man standing beside her remained expressionless, standing attentively beside her; he was clearly a servant or bodyguard.

In other words, this man and woman, like Rovey and Aozaki Touko, are together.

The other two men on the other side were different. It was already extremely strange that they didn't fight even though they were in the same room together.

One of them was dressed in a distinctly religious style, typical of Rome Catholic attire. The other was Magus from the Clock Tower, and Rovey recognized the family crest—it was very familiar. The middle-aged man was also someone he knew well. Beside him sat a purple-haired girl who appeared to be about the same age as Reines and Gray. Although she sat quietly next to the middle-aged Magus, her trembling legs revealed that such sitting was an extremely painful ordeal for a child.

In other words, apart from the little girl who had little decision-making ability, the four people in the carriage formed a three-way standoff. No one deliberately tried to talk to the other, and no one took the initiative to approach the other, creating a very subtle and special atmosphere.

Rovey glanced at the four of them and instantly grasped the situation. He also sensed three different auras, or life forces, emanating from them, which surprised him somewhat. Similarly, when the middle-aged man in the Clock Tower Magus's attire saw him enter with Aozaki Touko, he stood up abruptly as if he had seen a savior, and then greeted Rovey and Aozaki Touko with great enthusiasm.

"Oh my, oh my, this is truly remarkable. I thought the people who would come after us would be some idle Magus and sellers who didn't belong to the Clock Tower. I never expected that it would be you, the Crowley Patriarch, and the famous Grand Magus Aozaki Touko."

"You know him?"

Seeing the middle-aged man suddenly stand up and greet her, Aozaki Touko looked somewhat surprised; she didn't recognize the guy in front of her.

"The current head of the Lehman Family, in terms of relationship, should be considered my uncle."

"Your own uncle?"

Aozaki Touko's attitude suddenly became dignified.

"Of course not a blood relative, just a friend of my father's."

"Oh, then that's no fun..."

Faced with the questioning look from Aozaki Touko, Rovey then answered her question and shook hands with the middle-aged man in front of him.

"Long time no see, Uncle Lehmann."

The middle-aged man in front of me is the head of the Lehman Family, an Aristocratic Faction family in the Clock Tower. Like Crowley, his family's Magecraft also requires gems for support, so he is also very close to the El-Melloi Faction, which is the Mineralogy Department.

This is also an important reason why their two families know each other and have a good relationship.

Another decisive reason is that the Lehman Family and the Crowley Family are so compatible that they can almost be described as a match made in heaven.

After all, the Lehman Family's lineage Magecraft involves processing gemstones into Mystic Eyes of different attributes—a unique form of Magecraft known as artificial Mystic Eyes. The Crowley Family, on the other hand, inherits a fragmented Golden System Magecraft originating from Aleister, along with genuine modern Western Alchemy.

Therefore, their two companies are truly a model of a powerful alliance, which is why their relationship has always been exceptionally good.

However, due to the sudden death of the previous Crowley Patriarch, Rovey forced to take over in a time of crisis, leaving Crowley in a precarious situation. To protect themselves, the Lehman Family had to distance themselves from Crowley. However, the Lehman Family didn't take advantage of Crowley's misfortune; instead, they provided financial assistance to help him through the crisis. They even proposed absorbing Crowley into the Lehman Family, essentially suggesting that Rovey marry into the family, bringing everything from the Crowley Family to the Lehman Family, thus completely merging the two families.

Although he clearly had his own selfish motives involved, compared to those enemies who wished they could kill Rovey and take the mark, the Lehman Family had already given him a lot of face, and it was indeed the best solution.

However, Rovey's research on the Law Book made significant breakthroughs, attracting the attention of Kenneth and Yulifis. The matter was thus shelved and eventually forgotten. Nevertheless, because of that incident, the Crowley Family's businesses and the Lehman Family did maintain close ties.

The butler mentioned some time ago that the head of the Lehman Family had visited him many times recently, but during that period, Rovey was busy researching the Law Book and the Angel Summoning and didn't have time to receive him. In addition, he was also involved in the Holy Grail War and other matters, so he forgot about it and they hadn't seen each other for a long time.

It seems the other party mistakenly believes that they were angry because of what happened back then.

"Please allow me to introduce myself first. My name is Kadir Lehmann, and I am the current head of the Lehman Family. This is my daughter, Yvette L. Lehmann. It is a pleasure to meet the renowned Grand Magus, Ms. Aozaki Touko."

After shaking hands with Rovey, the middle-aged man's face beamed with a happy smile. He then looked at Aozaki Touko next to Rovey and greeted her very politely, while also introducing his daughter to her.

"Hello, Aozaki-neechan."

The purple-haired little girl named Yvette stood up gracefully and greeted Aozaki Touko.

"Yes, it's a pleasure to meet you too, head of the Lehman Family."

Looking at the purple-haired little girl, who looked to be about six or seven years old, standing next to the middle-aged man, Aozaki Touko nodded slightly in agreement, but didn't say anything more.

"..."

Clearly, since they didn't know each other, they had nothing in common. The other person was obviously there for Rovey, and had nothing to do with her. So, Aozaki Touko simply nodded slightly, tactfully taking her seat and not disturbing Rovey and the Lehman Family head's conversation.

The head of the Lehman Family was deeply grateful for this.

"It's truly unexpected, Crowley Patriarch, that you have such a close personal relationship with that Grand Magus. That's quite remarkable..."

The head of the Lehman Family made a joke at Rovey.

"Just friends."

Rovey smiled and shook his head. "But you can still just call me Rovey as before. After all, the title of Crowley Patriarch is a bit too awkward for you."

"Oh, I see... Well then, Rovey. But it's so good to see you as always. I thought you were still angry with me. I've been thinking about going to apologize in person. You weren't home for a while, and I've been wanting to visit you ever since I heard you came back, but I've been too busy with some things lately."

Seeing that Rovey remained as calm as ever and did not seem angry, the head of the Lehman Family secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"No way. Uncle Lehmann, you did more than enough. You not only provided a lot of funds, but also intended to acquire the Crowley Family's property, and then were willing to sell it back at the same price. I am really grateful for that."

To this, Rovey felt that the other party was overthinking things. After all, Lehman Family had already done more than enough.

If it were any other family, they would definitely choose to take advantage of their proximity and think about how to swallow up the Crowley Family first.

He remembered that kindness.

"This is what I should do. After all, I am your elder, and I am also your father's classmate and close friend."

The middle-aged man simply shook his head slightly, then looked at Rovey with a hint of emotion in his voice.

"However, your talent has truly exceeded my expectations. In such a short time, you have not only led the Crowley Family out of their predicament but also reached new heights. Even Lord Kenneth has regarded you as his successor... If your father knew of your achievements, he would surely be very pleased."

"... Perhaps."

Rovey nodded slightly, but did not respond to what he said. Instead, he turned to look at the little purple-haired girl who had taken the initiative to sit next to him.

"What's wrong? Little sister, what should I call you?"

Rovey gave her a smile.