Chance Encounter on a Train

Let me explain once again.

This world's technological development was strange.

Perhaps because magic existed, many aspects of civilian life were severely underdeveloped, even giving people the impression that they were still in the Middle Ages.

Yet it had somehow developed steam engines and firearms.

It had even developed steam trains!

It was just that steam trains had previously only been introduced in certain "developed countries." Li Qi had never known that railway tracks had been laid within the Duchy of Uno.

Until now.

"...They even have trains now?"

Standing on the platform with a ticket in hand, Li Qi looked up at the locomotive, which was nearly as long as two carriages, and clicked his tongue in amazement.

Whether in the world before he transmigrated, his Past Life, or the life before that, the worlds Li Qi had lived in had all been modern societies.

Forget steam trains like this—he had barely even seen Green-Skinned Trains. Whenever he traveled, it was either by plane or High-Speed Rail.

Riding a steam train now truly was a first for Li Qi, giving him the sensation of traveling through time.

Li Qi was not the only one astonished. A large crowd had gathered beneath the station platform.

They were all residents of this city. Ever since the steam train had begun trial operations, they had come almost every day to marvel at this enormous thing.

The cameras in this world were simply too bulky and massive to carry around conveniently. Otherwise, someone would definitely have been taking photographs here.

Oh, someone already was.

A newspaper reporter from the city had set up a camera in a corner below and was adjusting something on it.

Li Qi could not make sense of cameras from this era. After one glance, he looked away and carried his luggage toward the carriage entrance.

After handing his ticket to the ticket inspector, Li Qi boarded the train beneath the envious and jealous gazes of the crowd.

Perhaps in this era, riding a train was still a privilege reserved for upper-class nobles and famous politicians. After boarding, Li Qi did not see many passengers.

There were not even assigned seat numbers. It seemed that once aboard, one could sit anywhere.

After entering the carriage, Li Qi glanced around and casually chose a window seat.

Then...

Li Qi ran into a problem.

He was carrying a large suitcase, and it was supposed to go on the luggage rack overhead.

That luggage rack...

Li Qi could not reach it.

"..."

There was no helping it. He was only thirteen years old and not even one meter sixty tall—shorter than even a Squad Leader.

Reaching a luggage rack that high really was asking too much of him.

Should he just leave the suitcase here?

There did not seem to be many people anyway. Even if the suitcase occupied a seat, it probably would not matter.

No... he should find a train attendant. Though it felt rather embarrassing to ask one for help...

Looking at the suitcase by his feet, Li Qi fell into a dilemma.

It was not as if he could not use his strength to simply toss the suitcase up there, but with so many people in the carriage, it did not seem appropriate for Li Qi to make too big a commotion.

Just as he hesitated, a surprised voice came from behind him.

"Sergeant Li Qi? No, I should be calling you Warrant Officer Li Qi now."

"!" Hearing someone call his name, Li Qi quickly turned around. "Battalion Commander Sir!"

Behind Li Qi stood a square-faced middle-aged man with a crew cut.

He was Wood Coffield, Battalion Commander of the 203rd Assault Battalion that Li Qi belonged to.

Wood took off his cap and smiled at Li Qi. Seeing Li Qi salute him, he raised a hand.

"Enough. I'm no longer the Battalion Commander now. Just call me by my name."

"Yes! Wood... Captain Sir!"

Li Qi instinctively glanced at Wood's Military Rank, only then realizing that he had been promoted from lieutenant to captain. He immediately corrected himself.

After this war ended, many people had remained on the battlefield, but many others had received promotions.

Li Qi had risen from Sergeant to Warrant Officer.

The old Battalion Commander who had led him for a year had also risen from lieutenant to captain.

From the looks of it, he had been transferred to the safe rear as well.

Wood walked over to Li Qi's side. When he saw the suitcase at Li Qi's feet, he immediately understood.

"You're troubled by this, right? Let me help."

"This... how could I possibly trouble you with that?"

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about. Helping subordinates is part of a superior's job. There."

As he spoke, Wood had already picked up Li Qi's suitcase and placed it on the luggage rack overhead.

He also placed his own luggage on the rack beside Li Qi's.

Li Qi hurriedly thanked him.

The two then sat facing each other and began to chat.

"Battalion Commander... no, Captain Wood, were you transferred to the rear as well?"

As soon as he sat down, Li Qi asked about Wood's circumstances.

Wood smiled.

"More or less. I heard that while we were fighting on the front lines these past few years, many new departments were established in the rear and were desperately short of talent. I've now been transferred to a confidential department... Sorry, I can't tell you much about it."

"It's fine. I understand."

Li Qi answered with a smile, but he was thinking to himself.

Though the Battalion Commander sitting before Li Qi did not hold a high Military Rank, he was actually a knight with a title—what was known as Title Rank.

After firearms entered people's sight, Title Rank knights and mages were no longer as important as they had once been.

At the same time, because every country had begun throwing formerly treasured secret arts into major Officer Academies as military Textbooks, Title Rank individuals were no longer as rare as before.

Even Li Qi himself was now merely a Warrant Officer.

But Wood was different.

Aside from being Title Rank, he was said to be the illegitimate son of the Coffield Family. With such a background, the department he was being transferred into must hold considerable real power...

As Li Qi considered this, he heard Wood ask him.

"I heard that when you return this time, you'll be attending an Officer Academy for further study?"

"Yes," Li Qi promptly replied. "Because I come from a commoner background and lack theoretical knowledge, my commanders and other superiors arranged for me to study at an academy."

"The Duchy of Uno's Military Academy... that would be Rolex Military Academy, right? I heard it was established with royal funding. Further study there will benefit your future."

"I haven't thought that far ahead. I just want to learn more theory so I can serve the country better and sooner."

"Hehe, you're only thirteen this year, right?"

Wood smiled as he studied Li Qi.

"To possess such awareness at that age... you're probably better than many adults."

Li Qi said nothing, merely smiling shyly.

Wood had been transferred to a confidential department at the Duchy of Uno's headquarters. He might go very far in the future, so leaving a good impression on him now could only help.

The two exchanged smiles, and then Wood suddenly said,

"Oh, right. A few days ago... the day before Falor launched its offensive, Sergeant Brett came to complain to me. I heard... you beat up members of his squad? And cut off both hands of one of them?"

"...I was merely doing my duty."

"It's fine. I already understand what happened, and you weren't wrong. But once you get to the academy, you should rein in your temper a little. There are quite a few nobles there."

The Duchy of Uno was, after all, still a feudal royal system, centered around the royal family and supported by a council formed from the major noble houses.

As such, nobles held great power.

Li Qi had not seen many nobles on the battlefield because those nobles disdained going to war themselves.

But once he reached the Royal Capital, things would be different.

"Please rest assured, Captain Sir. I know where to draw the line."

"If you knew where to draw the line, complaints from other squads and companies wouldn't be piled up like mountains at my desk."

Wood teased him with a smile, but he did not pursue the matter. He quickly continued.

"I'm not criticizing you. I just want to remind you to watch your strength in the future. Military rules work well within the military, but when it comes to nobles, those rules depend on the person.

"And this time, when you return..."

Wood hesitated here. He looked around before leaning closer to Li Qi and lowering his voice.

"...According to my unofficial information... only unofficial information, but the Intelligence Department you're supposed to join when you return seems to be in a bit of trouble. If possible, transfer to another department if you can. Don't stay in the Intelligence Department."

Was there a problem with the Intelligence Department?

No, was someone trying to deal with the Intelligence Department?

Li Qi gleaned this from Wood's words.

Based on what Li Qi knew of Wood, this superior who cared for his subordinates would not say such things to him without reason. He must have noticed some rumors.

Originally, Li Qi had planned to take up a position in the Intelligence Department while attending school.

But now... he would need to reconsider joining the Intelligence Department.

Otherwise, if he really stepped into a trap, that would be ridiculous.