Chapter 498
Londinium, Central District.
The Duke Kester sat inside, staring blankly at the sky outside the window, seemingly lost in thought.
"Knock knock knock."
"Please come in."
With permission granted, the sergeant pushed open the door and entered. He opened the file and began reporting the latest intelligence recorded on it:
"Your Lord Duke, after Zhongli and his party left the military camp, they went to the Central City District to build..."
The Duke Kester interrupted, saying that the commotion yesterday afternoon was so great that anyone with eyes could see it.
In just one afternoon, the ruins ravaged by the Storm Cataclysm were restored to their former glory with towering buildings.
This incredible construction ability left the Dukes who heard the news in despair. Fortunately, they adjusted their strategies in time and did not fight against it, otherwise the consequences would have been dire.
Ablana is the best example.
"Wait, I know this one, next one."
Upon hearing this, the sergeant turned the page and continued his report:
"They had a bonfire party at the Self-Rescue Army camp last night and left the next morning. Judging from the direction they were heading, they should have gone to Scherzag."
"Scherzag?"
The Duke Kester couldn't understand why Shi Lei and his group were going to such an isolated country.
"Contact Grey Hat immediately and go to Scherzag to find out what they're up to. Make sure you don't alert them."
"Yes, Your Lord Duke."
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Chapter 572 The Box Opener (4K)
'Grey Hat' is not an individual's code name, but a collective term for the elite members of a special agent organization.
This is a secret intelligence unit belonging to the Duke Kester, distinguished by grey top hats and full-body black trench coats. Their standard weapon is a large folding saber, though some Grey Hat may differ slightly.
The organization's members are roughly divided into Grey Hat and trainee Grey Hat. Whenever a Grey Hat dies, a trainee Grey Hat can take their place as the new Grey Hat.
The man in the Grey Hat, whose real Bellingham, used to monitor the factory workers in the Haidon District. He lived a leisurely life, and was just one more year away from retirement.
Upon receiving the Duke Kester's order, he immediately abandoned his current task and drove his land vehicle to Scherzag at top speed to catch up with Shi Lei and the others.
A day later, the Grey Hat entered Scherzag.
The weather here was much colder than in Londinium; the wind blowing against his face was biting cold. Fortunately, he was wearing a mask and Grey Hat, and his trench coat was warm enough.
As an intelligence operative, staking out and monitoring people on the street is a common occurrence, so how could you not have good equipment?
Having set off about two hours later than Zhongli and the others, Bellingham had been trying his best to catch up.
Fortunately, they didn't Yu Kong, thus avoiding the scenery along the way. Otherwise, at the speed of the Grey Hat, they probably wouldn't even have caught a whiff of the land vehicle's exhaust.
After entering Scherzag, it was very easy to find out where Zhongli and the others were; they could get accurate information almost every time they asked.
In this icy, snowy country, they were the only ones wearing short sleeves. Such an unusual group was hard not to attract the attention of passersby. At this moment, all you had to do was pull out a green banknote and you could find out where they were.
Bellingham followed the target all the way to the train station in Scherzag before finally spotting him.
Zhongli had just hung up the phone when he and a group of women bought tickets and went to the waiting hall to wait.
The Grey Hat quickly ran to the ticket window, bowed slightly, and asked the ticket seller:
"Miss, which train departs from here the most recently? Could I get a ticket?"
Hearing the tourist's sweet words, the woman in her forties raised her head and sized him up. This kind of spontaneous trip without a destination is quite romantic.
A top hat and a trench coat—the outfit looks a bit odd.
But compared to those women who prioritized style over warmth, this tourist was barely acceptable.
"Cough cough."
The ticket seller, an older woman, tucked her fingers in and said softly:
"Sir, the next train to depart is Train No. 3, which will start in twenty minutes and terminate at Silverheart Lake. Line 2 is currently under repair and is out of service. The Line 1 train will depart in three hours, and its final stop is at the foot of the Sacred Mountain."
The older woman didn't understand why the tourist would ask about the recent train schedules. Out of professional ethics, she explained the road conditions for all three lines.
Line 2 was destroyed by Lord Lingzhi last year, and due to the severe damage, it has not been repaired. However, there is no need to explain such a family scandal to tourists.
"Are you planning to go to Silverheart Lake for the Inauguration Ceremony of the Yelagond statue? This trip will allow you to make it in time."
The man in the Grey Hat nodded, showing no interest in the Inauguration Ceremony of the statue. He would get on the bus as long as Zhongli and the others were on; if they didn't and were late, he would simply buy a new ticket.
"Okay, then give me a train ticket."
"Okay, sir, please wait a moment."
After paying and collecting his ticket, the Grey Hat did not enter the waiting hall, as going in too early would easily give him away.
He only needed to wait outside for Zhongli and the others to board the Line 3 train, and then board from the other side.
A short while later, a sweet voice rang out from the ceiling, sounding exactly like the station's public address system:
"Train MVSD-571 is about to depart. Passengers with tickets, please proceed to waiting hall number three as soon as possible. Train MVSD-571 is about to depart, please..."
Bellingham peered out from the entrance and caught a glimpse of Zhongli and his group boarding the train. He didn't immediately go forward, but instead entered just in time. Taking advantage of the last two minutes, he successfully entered the carriage from the back of the train.
As the car door closed, the frigid air outside was instantly shut out, making one feel warm.
Excuse me, may I pass by?
Bellingham quickly found his seat using the number on his ticket. He secretly observed his surroundings, using the brim of his hat and his mask for cover.
The total number of people in the carriage was significantly more than the number of seats. Many people were standing in the aisle, making the place feel very crowded. Perhaps, as the ticket seller said, they were going to attend the Inauguration Ceremony of a statue.
Besides passengers with luggage, there were also many locals from Scherzag. They spoke in vulgar language and their hearty laughter echoed in the carriage.
Bellingham noticed nothing amiss, nor did he see anyone of interest. He leaned back, shifting to a slightly more comfortable position.
Zhongli's group consists of eight people: one man, six women, and one child. Given this size, they'll likely choose sleeper berths; we need to find their locations.
The Duke Kester's order this time was to find out what they were going to do in Scherzag. Bellingham, sitting here, couldn't possibly conduct intelligence gathering.
We need to find an opportunity to check out the private room.
If you discover traces of Zhongli and the others, you can try paying to buy the space next to theirs. Eavesdrop on their conversations through the wall to gather more information.
"Wow, they're driving! Come and catch me!"
"Don't run! I will destroy you in the name of the Saintess!"
"Hehe, you can't catch me, hehehe..."
Two children, not even ten years old, were running around in the already crowded aisle. Not only that, they were also shouting and yelling, their shrill voices irritating everyone.
"Usu, come back here right now!"
"All right..."
Seeing his mother was angry, the child had no choice but to give up chasing the other child and sit behind the Grey Hat.
Just as Bellingham was pondering how to get to the box, he was startled by the sudden burst of rousing music.
Fortunately, he had received professional training and did not instinctively draw his weapon, otherwise things would have been much worse.
Bellingham turned around at the sound and found that it was that brat named Usu playing music on his phone.
Seeing himself looking back, the child wiped his nose with the back of his hand and revealed an innocent smile:
"Uncle, your hat is so big!"
After saying this, he gestured for the mother sitting next to him to watch:
"Mom, look at his hat, it looks so strange."
"..."
Bellingham was speechless and didn't know how to respond.
Fortunately, the child's mother was sensible; she snatched the phone back from Usu's hand and apologized to him with a smile:
"I'm so sorry, sir. My child is usually very loud and boisterous; I'm sorry for the trouble."
"Fine."
Bellingham turned back to continue thinking, but without his phone, Usu lost his enjoyment.
He peeked his little head out from the side, curiously examining the Grey Hat, and spoke very quickly:
"Uncle, Uncle, are you also going to the Inauguration Ceremony for the statue? I heard that the Saintess Maiden and Lord Enciodis are incredibly powerful, and that building the statue will ensure Yelagond's protection."
Before Bellingham could reply, the child's mother quickly pulled him back to his seat and sternly warned him:
"Come back and sit down properly, don't bother anyone!"
After saying that, she awkwardly tugged at the corners of her mouth and apologized to the Grey Hat for the child's disturbance.
Bellingham didn't dwell on it, reaching down to pull his hat brim low as he pondered his next move. How could he search the carriages without seeming out of place?
Five minutes after the train started moving, the train conductor's announcement came from overhead:
"Welcome aboard the Snow Mountain Express! We are currently on a regular journey. You can enjoy the beautiful natural scenery of Scherzag through the windows on both sides. During the train's journey, we will also be holding a special sale of Scherzag's local specialties on board!"
In addition to specialty cheese snacks, they also sell pack animal blind boxes. All blind boxes are limited editions sold by Kalan Trading Company. "Selected by the Saintess, quality guaranteed!"
Not long after the broadcast, someone pushed a cart full of goods into the carriage where the man in the Grey Hat was selling them.
"Excuse me, please move your leg, thank you."
The train conductor noticed that Bellingham was well-dressed, unlike other locals from Scherzag, and asked him:
"Sir, would you like something to drink? This premium bottle of Alpine Snow Water comes from the summit of the Sacred Mountain. It's the drinking water designated by the Saintess Maiden, and it's currently only four frants!"
Converted to Victoria Coins, it costs about 60 or 70 pesos for a bottle of water, which is much more expensive than regular mineral water.
Bellingham wasn't thirsty, but in order to obtain some basic information, he had to use money to pave the way:
"Then let's have one bottle."
The Scherzag in the carriage, seeing this foreigner being ripped off, all covered their mouths and looked on with glee.
Bellingham didn't seem to mind, since he could get reimbursed anyway. After paying, he casually asked:
How long until the next stop?
"Sir, this is a direct train. The next stop is the final destination, Silverheart Lake. We'll be there in two hours, and there will be no stops along the way."
"Okay, I understand, thank you."
After finalizing the itinerary, Bellingham realized he only had two hours. If he couldn't find an opportunity to search the carriages before arriving at the station, he might miss the important information that Zhongli and the others had revealed during their conversation.
Just as the man in the Grey Hat was at his wit's end, he suddenly caught a strange smell. It smelled like sauerkraut that had been left in the freezing cold for days, sour with a slightly foul odor.
Bellingham sniffed twice and realized that it was the child sitting in the back who had taken off his shoes, and his face immediately darkened.
Usu's mother was very meticulous; after ordering her child to put on his shoes, she repeatedly apologized.
This made Bellingham somewhat agitated, and he wanted to go to other carriages for some fresh air and perhaps look for an opportunity.
Waiting here will yield no results.
Seeing the foreign tourists get up and leave with cold faces, Usu's mother felt very guilty, but her child had been spoiled by the elders in the family, and no amount of discipline could help.
The Grey Hat moved to the next carriage and quickly checked it, finding nothing amiss. When he reached the carriage after that, he finally found an opportunity to search.
An Old Man with simple features was frantically rummaging through a large nylon woven bag, saying his wallet had been stolen. Tears welled in his eyes, and the loss seemed quite severe.
The train conductor happened to be pushing the cart when he heard this and asked the surrounding passengers to keep an eye out.
"Everyone, please look around and see if you can find this old man's wallet. Maybe he dropped it somewhere."
Bellingham, feigning kindness, approached the man to inquire about the situation. After learning the details of the wallet and the amount of money lost, he offered to help search for it.
You could use this as an excuse to look for the compartments in the front part of the train. Even if passengers suspect you, this reason is barely plausible.
Bellingham made up his mind and continued to the next carriage. After confirming that there was nothing or anyone of interest there, he headed towards the compartment area.
Excuse me, could you please let me pass?