The Show Is About to Begin

It was as if I could vaguely see a shadow of my past self again.

Are you... reminding me?

"Pretty much, but I feel like you've gotten a bit carried away lately, Aoko. Too many good things and smooth progress have made you complacent."

"Just a reminder, you need to remember that I'm not always there for you, so don't take Aoko for granted. It's essential to be vigilant."

Rovey put away the spell card, put down the quill pen in his hand, and then sat down on Aoko's bedside.

Be wary...

Lost in thought...

Upon hearing these words, Aozaki Touko's usually quiet mind began to ponder. She seemed to see herself again many years ago, when she had just become Grand Rank, fearless and arrogant, which ultimately led to her being abandoned by everyone and losing everything.

"Rovey ..."

Aozaki Touko was lost in thought, feeling touched. She turned to look at the young man behind her who had been thinking of her all along, and was about to say something.

But the next moment, a calm and familiar snoring sound suddenly rang in my ears.

"..."

Rovey was still wearing the jacket that was soaked by the rain and alcohol, and he hadn't even changed out of his pajamas. He lay down next to him and fell asleep with his arms under his head.

Upon seeing this, Aoko was speechless.

"... Are you a pig?"

She made a comment, then poked his face with her finger. After seeing the young man's sleeping face, she gave up the idea of teasing him and instead lay down next to him and fell asleep together.

"Call..."

Lying back in bed, I listened to the familiar breathing sounds around me and looked at the monotonous ceiling of the train carriage above me.

For some reason, Aozaki Touko's heart also started to accelerate slightly, as if it were keeping up with the breathing rhythm of the young man beside her, and it was still beating faster and faster. Even many troubles and bad memories that were bothering her were dispelled by this breathing sound.

It was as if as long as he was there, any difficulty would eventually be resolved.

'Am I really becoming too dependent on this idiot?'

Aozaki Touko couldn't help but think to herself.

But after thinking about it for a while, she closed her eyes and prepared to drift off to sleep.

However, as she deliberately leaned her smooth arm against the young man beside her, until it rested on the back of his large hand, her expression unconsciously became satisfied.

However, not long after—

"Idiot, if you want to sleep, get up now! At least take off these wet clothes before you go to sleep!!"

As the train swayed rhythmically, my thoughts drifted into the deeper darkness of the night.

Tonight, someone is destined to have a sleepless night...

Chapter 134 The Show Is About to Begin

Buzzing—!

At dawn, a loud whistle blared incessantly in my ears as a massive, all-black train creaked and groaned across the snow-covered Northern Europe landscape.

Pat pat pat...

Due to the season, much of the ice and snow gradually melted, and the warm sun returned to the earth. The sound of snow water being kicked up by the car wheels and dripping onto the car window became a discordant note that broke the tranquility of the room.

The sky outside was overcast, and it was clearly going to drizzle again.

Rainfall in Northern Europe is typically higher during this season than at other times, especially in the coastal areas where they are currently located.

The sound of raindrops tapping on the windowpane was incessant. Although there's a traditional saying that rainy days are good for sleeping, for Rovey, this sound was nothing but pure noise.

Moreover, given his current condition, it would be difficult for him to fall asleep even without this noise.

The reason was that the stupid woman sleeping next to him at that moment had terrible sleeping posture and was hugging his body like a teddy bear, not caring about his damp clothes or his awkwardness, and in the end, she just fell asleep peacefully.

This caused Rovey to suffer from insomnia for a whole night.

During this time, he could only continue to summarize the plan in his mind and think about whether there was any room for improvement in his technique.

Finally, after about three hours...

"Wake up, you idiot, if you keep sleeping you'll miss breakfast."

Suddenly, a familiar voice came from beside me.

Rovey opened his eyes, which had been closed in meditation, and then slowly got up. He didn't even need to think to know who the voice belonged to.

Then, he glanced at the culprit who was now sitting silently at his desk, the one who had caused him to have a sleepless night. At the same time, he made a silent decision that after he went out today, he would bring back a few chairs from outside and put them together to make a bed to sleep in. Sleeping in the same bed with this woman was really too torturous.

On the other side, Aozaki Touko, who had woken up earlier and was already sitting at her desk, had changed her clothes and was examining the spell cards that Rovey had engraved the night before, studying them thoughtfully. She probably woke up as soon as possible; those spell cards were something Rovey had specially prepared for her.

"You've been awake for a while now, Aoko."

Rovey stood up, glanced at her, and then looked out the train window.

At this moment, the train was speeding across the boundless, pure white ice plain. The snow kicked up by the wheels was like splashing raindrops, drifting in the air along with the white mist, wetting the windows of their cabins and making it difficult to see the outside scenery. In addition, Rovey could clearly sense the presence of a special concealment barrier on the surface of this pitch-black train. Even though the train was traveling so openly across the white ice plain, a stark contrast to its black color, its form was shrouded in the white mist accompanying the barrier, making it difficult to see with the naked eye from a distance.

Although the car windows were wet from the snow kicked up by the wheels, it wasn't entirely impossible to see the scenery outside.

Rovey got out of bed, walked to the bedside, and opened the window, letting the cold, fresh morning air rush into the train carriage. Then, a white, chilly mist mingled with the fog in the room, instantly making one feel refreshed.

It was at this moment, when he opened the window, that Rovey, having seen the entire outside world, realized where he was.

"We're surrounded by Norwegian forests... Does that mean we've already reached Norway in about three hours? That's much faster than a regular train."

"Yes, according to the train conductor. The next route for this train is to cross the border of Norway, then pass through Iceland and other surrounding countries, and finally complete the journey through the entire Northern Europe region."

Hearing Rovey's remark, Aozaki Touko also walked over at this moment, finding the route somewhat amusing. "However, it's truly a wonder that the owner behind this train has so much free time, actually setting up so many special-purpose barriers on the train, allowing it to travel long distances even at sea. Otherwise, the idea of taking a train directly from Finland to Iceland would definitely be considered a joke by others."

Logically, the route from Finland to Norway, and then directly to Iceland, should be accessible by air.

After all, Iceland is an island surrounded by the sea with a relatively small population. It is a large, sparsely populated island, much like New Zealand.

Because of its geographical location, apart from airplanes and cruise ships, which are the two main modes of transportation, I've never heard of taking a train directly to Iceland.

However, that principle only applies to common sense among people in the secular world.

For the train passengers who had already witnessed the train sailing on the sea last night, this situation was naturally not surprising.

Rovey and Aoko even noticed some clues in the arrangement of the train.

The train itself is a jet-black steel train, with numerous special magical barriers covering its body and wheels. This grants it stealth capabilities and the ability to navigate various terrains undetected. Furthermore, the sheer size of the train and the sheer number of Magecraft restrictions covering it are enough to send chills down one's spine.

The Rail Zeppelin they were currently riding on was less a train that could only travel along a specific route on the tracks, and more a freely moving steel Magecraft fortress.

"But it's understandable, after all, this is a Dragon traveling within the territory of Northern Europe. Over the years, it has evolved to the point that it's considered a special otherworld. So it's only natural that it has reached this level..."

Aozaki lit a cigarette, then continued with a sigh, "And I still remember what you said to me last night: 'Don't take things for granted, and never underestimate any Magus.' That kind of advice that everyone's tired of hearing."

"I thought about it carefully last night. Indeed, there are too many unexpected people in this strange world, whether it's you or me, or even that sly fox from last night. Since the beginning of the mysterious inheritance, the methods of the demonic path have been bizarre and varied. Even if something really happens that is outside the norm, it is also reasonable. So, let's cheer each other on... just so we don't accidentally crash and burn one day."

After saying that, she opened her mouth and gently exhaled a smoke ring.

"Oh my, you actually listened to what I said?"

When he heard that Aozaki Touko was actually using his words from last night to encourage him, Rovey's expression suddenly became a little strange.

He had initially thought that someone like Aozaki Touko, who appeared carefree on the surface but was actually incredibly arrogant and extremely self-centered, would undoubtedly ignore his words. But now...

Well, how should I put it?

In short, it was quite unexpected.

At least Rovey didn't expect his words to be so effective; perhaps he also has the potential to become a teacher.

"Hey, don't look at me like that, like, 'How can you actually listen to this?'"

Noticing his strange look, Aozaki Touko couldn't help but laugh and scold, "No matter what, I can tell right from wrong, and I know the current situation. Knowing that someone on this train might attack me, I won't be careless at all."

"You're really impressive. And since you understand everything, then do your best to maintain it until the end."

Rovey gave a brief reply, then smiled and turned to walk into the bathroom, which was standard in the room.

There's not much to say about this situation.

Seeing that Aoko had indeed seriously considered his words and understood: 'While Grand Magus are indeed very strong, the other Magus in this world are absolutely not to be underestimated. Never be careless, or you might suffer unimaginable losses.'

This simple truth brought Rovey a sense of relief.

As for the spell cards I drew last night, the Rune on them were specially adjusted using the modern Western system, so as long as you have a certain foundation in the runes of the Age of Gods, you can make full use of them and combine them to create an extremely powerful Magecraft ritual.

Even without much explanation, Aoko's mastery of runes should be enough to understand it. If used properly, these things can be transformed into an extremely powerful counterattack, which can be considered a backup plan he left for Aoko.

If things really get critical, Aoko could probably put on a little show for this train, even if she's all alone, with a modified version of the primordial Rune that combines elements of Northern Europe mythology and modern Western systems.

Aoko naturally understood Rovey's thoughts, but simply smiled and shook her head without saying anything more. She then put away the stack of spell cards, preparing to set them up when the opportunity arose.

About ten minutes passed.

After Rovey finished washing up, their morning chat came to an end, and the two left the room where they had rested the night before.

The train conductor mentioned last night that food will be served on the train from 7:00 to 8:00 AM. Additionally, some exhibits will be displayed after the meal to help passengers prepare for the upcoming auction.

Although they didn't know how the idea of looking at eyeballs after a meal came about, didn't they find it disgusting? Similarly, they didn't know if any of the items on display today were what Aoko wanted, but since they were from the Rail Zeppelin, they must be rare items, so there was no reason not to go and take a look.

Furthermore, Rovey was also thinking of bringing some gifts for Reines, Gray, and Sakura. The Mystic Eyes stored here seemed perfect.

He has plenty of money on him now, and last night the head of the Lehman Family also told him that the Lehman Family could provide support if he needed funds.

It's important to understand that the Lehman Family, a lineage that has always focused on the Mystic Eyes, while not reaching the pinnacle of magic within the Clock Tower, is no less wealthy. After all, the family's magic formula, combining the Mystic Eyes with gems, is simply impossible to execute without substantial funds. Therefore, the financial resources that Rovey currently possesses are truly terrifying.

He really couldn't afford to buy just a few pairs of golden-level Mystic Eyes.

Leaving the room, the decor in the corridor was clearly much different from yesterday, obviously arranged by the flight attendants overnight.

And because the train had just arrived in northern Norway, a light drizzle had started to fall.

The windows in the corridor all became ready-made musical instruments, the raindrops striking the glass with a crisp, melodious sound. Walking on the obviously newly laid red carpet, Rovey Wei felt as if he were stepping on a thick layer of cotton; he was clearly not quite used to such a thick red carpet.

Aoko, standing beside him, didn't think there was anything wrong with it. After all, all the high-class banquets at the Clock Tower were like this, and when Rovey rose to the Grand Rank in the future, it would be his turn to attend them one by one.

So the last two to emerge followed the direction indicated by the red carpet and arrived at the restaurant.

As soon as the door was opened, Hansa, Lehmann, Lita, and all the others who had appeared the night before, along with two unfamiliar guests, were all gathered together at a huge dining table.

The enormous, pristine white marble dining table was laden with a wide variety of food, numbering in the hundreds. It was not limited to any one type of food or any particular country; all the dishes were renowned delicacies from around the world, clearly prepared in advance for customers from all corners of the globe.

As the door was pushed open, the people at the table who were eating reacted differently when they saw Rovey and Aoko enter.

The most beautiful Miss Lita raised her glass to Rovey with a slight smile in her charming eyes, gesturing for him to sit next to her. However, Aozaki Touko spat at her without any regard for her image, and then dragged Rovey to sit with her on Lehmann's side.

This made Lita's expression somewhat unpleasant, while Hansa was grinning from ear to ear, and Lehmann and Rovey shook their heads helplessly.

Among the Magus in the room, Lehmann was particularly astonished to see the renowned Grand Magus, Aozaki Touko, so close to his nephew, even to the point of being able to share a room with him. He couldn't help but marvel at Rovey's abilities, managing to win him over. No wonder Lo Wei had rejected his marriage proposal; he was truly a master of deception.

While Lehmann was inwardly marveling, Hansa treated the two women's subtle rivalry as a morning drama, enjoying it alongside her food—a truly delightful accompaniment. Meanwhile, Rovey, after using his magic to verify the food was alright, casually grabbed two pieces of cake and ate them, then quietly sat in his seat without uttering another word.

Among those present, apart from Hansa, who didn't care about his position or image at all and ate and drank to his heart's content, the rest of the people just ate a little something and went through the motions.

After all, their purpose in coming to this train was not simply to have a meal, but to search for their desired treasures.

In the quiet atmosphere, time passed quickly.

"Um?"

The mealtime ended, and it was already eight o'clock in the morning.

Almost at the same moment they arrived at the agreed time, Rovey, who was the most perceptive among them, suddenly noticed something.

He followed his instincts and turned to look in the direction of the gate.

Sure enough, a beautiful woman dressed in gorgeous clothes appeared there immediately.

She strode in with elegant steps, her attire incredibly vibrant, as if she had stepped gracefully out of an oil painting, radiating an irresistible glow. A floor-length, dark red velvet gown trailed behind her, its hem swaying gently like blooming rose petals.

However, what was most striking was the eye patch she wore. The patch was meticulously crafted from black lace, its edges embroidered with intricate gold patterns, resembling the emblem of an ancient family's train. Beneath the patch, a mysterious aura emanated, making one wonder what secrets lay hidden behind her veiled eyes.

Although I didn't see it with my own eyes, there's no doubt that this woman's blindfold conceals a pair of Mystic Eyes, and judging from the aura emanating from them, their level is definitely not low. I wonder what kind of Magecraft she used to allow her to move freely even with her eyes covered.

And seemingly noticing Rovey's early arrival, the woman who had just walked in smiled politely at him before introducing herself to everyone.

"Good morning, distinguished guests. Let me introduce myself. I am the host of this auction, and I will be hosting the next auction for you."

"Um..."