Crestet Cesimir, and Ms. Daly

Night, Tingen City train station.

The spacious platform was empty, with only large gas lamps illuminating the darkness, attracting many flying insects that circled around them. Luther and Luo Yao followed Dunn onto the platform and looked down. The light illuminated a section of the tracks and the sleepers and gravel beneath them, but further out, the tracks were bathed in darkness, stretching toward an unknown destination.

Why is the station so empty? Are there no passengers?

Luther considered this for a second with the mindset of a transmigrator, then, combining it with the common sense of this world, he quickly realized the reason. This world had not yet invented electric train lights, and the power for trains came from steam; steam locomotives almost never ran at night.

Then the Senior Deacon's train must be a special arrangement, he thought. After all, Senior Deacons were the true top brass of the Church, with only nine in total, so possessing some privileges was nothing strange.

Dunn told them that the Senior Deacon arriving this time was named Crestet Cesimir, known by the title "Sword of the Goddess." He was a Sequence 5 himself, but because he had been recognized by a Sacred object, his combat power could rival that of a newly promoted Sequence 4.

Sequence 4, huh. That sounds incredibly powerful. I wonder what a Sequence 4 of the Mysterious Scholar pathway would look like... Pfft, pfft, pfft, none of my business!

As chaotic thoughts surged, Luther immediately extinguished his curiosity.

I'll just honestly be a Sequence 9; I don't want to go insane!

Just then, the train's whistle sounded abruptly, and a massive object was crushing the tracks, rumbling as it drove toward the platform.

Luther was startled because the sound was so sudden. One second, the outside was quiet; the next, the moving locomotive was already close at hand, as if it had compressed a great distance and appeared directly here.

"It's here."

Dunn reminded the two. Just as he said, a steam train slowly pulled into the station accompanied by the sound of its movement. Steaming white water vapor surged in large quantities from beneath the train and from the chimney at the front. Under the illumination of the platform's gas lamps, the vapor looked like an orange-red giant beast, slowly stretching its massive body.

With a "hiss" of the brakes, the train came to a steady stop, and it could be seen that only one carriage was attached behind the locomotive.

Amidst the gushing steam, a man in a black windbreaker slowly appeared.

The first thing Luther noticed was the man's hands. Because on this summer night, he was actually wearing a pair of bright red gloves. One of the hands in the red glove was carrying a silvery-white metal suitcase, about the size of a violin case.

That suitcase...

Luther felt a sense of tranquility and terrifying power. That power attracted his gaze; it seemed as if black aura surrounded the suitcase, covering deeper secrets. If he were to activate his Spirit Vision, he might be able to see through the fog...

Swish!

The suitcase moved slightly; the hand holding it had adjusted its angle. Luther felt his vision loosen, and he immediately raised his head, not daring to look at the case again.

The owner of the hand glanced at Luther lightly and walked to Dunn without stopping.

He was about thirty years old, his golden-brown hair almost plastered to his scalp, his dark green eyes calm and deep. The collars of his shirt and windbreaker were turned up high, covering his chin, and even his lips were hidden in the shadows.

"Welcome to Tingen, Your Excellency Cesimir."

Dunn bowed in salute.

"Good evening, Captain Dunn. There is no Red Moon tonight, but the Goddess's stars still adorn the night sky."

Crestet Cesimir said.

The two looked at each other and smiled.

"Your Excellency Cesimir, why did you take the train? You clearly have faster ways."

"Hmm, if I were alone, of course I could, but this time I brought a guest along the way."

Crestet said this, and as his voice fell, another figure appeared from the train.

This was a beautiful lady. She wore a black robe with a hood, blue makeup painted around her eyes, and her chest and wrists were decorated with silver chains and crystals... Overall, she was eerie and beautiful.

"Ms. Daly."

Luther heard Luo Yao beside him call out, appearing to be very familiar with the other party.

Dunn, however, frowned slightly. "Why did you come too?"

"Can't I come?"

The mysterious lady named Daly smiled at Luo Yao. Hearing Dunn say this, her smile stopped, and she looked back at Dunn and asked, "Mr. Dunn Smith, Old Neil is also my teammate of many years. He has something going on now, and you didn't even tell me?"

"Old Neil has something going on? What happened to him?"

Luo Yao was shocked when she heard this, and she cast an inquiring look at Dunn.

Dunn looked at Luo Yao on the left and Daly on the right, a hint of helplessness appearing on his face for the first time.

By the time Luo Yao figured out what had happened to Old Neil, they were already in a carriage heading to Old Neil's residence.

"Old Neil is usually greedy for small gains and likes to joke, but he is a good person at heart, cautious and restrained... Captain, did you guys get something wrong?"

She asked, suppressing her emotions.

Dunn was silent for a moment and said, "I have already secretly checked Old Neil with a Sealed artifact... It is a pity, but there are indeed signs of corruption by an Evil God on him. I can only say that he usually hid it too deeply for people to discover."

"But..."

Luo Yao was at a loss for words. She looked at Luther for help, as if begging him to stand up right now and loudly announce in the carriage that he hadn't seen anything before.

Daly pursed her lips tightly, and there seemed to be some intolerance in the depths of her eyes.

"Luo Yao, you know Dunn; he never slanders others lightly. We don't know exactly what happened to Old Neil yet, but it definitely exceeded the normal range... We can only pray that he hasn't fallen too deep and can still head to God's Kingdom with a clean soul."

According to their previous conversation, Luther learned that Daly was also a Night Watcher in Tingen before. Because of her extraordinary talent and rapid promotion, she had already become a powerhouse of Sequence 7, just like Dunn, and was therefore transferred to Enmat Harbor. However, she still often came to Tingen to assist in handling cases.

Crest watched the view outside the carriage window calmly. Ever since he boarded, he hadn't spoken a word, as if he were completely detached from the situation.

"But, does this mean we can only watch as Old Neil is purified?"

Luo Yao whispered, her voice filled with a mix of unwillingness and resignation.

Upon hearing this, Dunn and Daly both fell silent.

It wasn't just Luo Yao; how could any of them be willing to personally eliminate a teammate?

"Perhaps, Old Neil can still be saved."

Just then, Luther broke the suffocating atmosphere and spoke up.

The others were stunned for a moment, then simultaneously turned their gazes toward him.

Even Crestet, who had been looking out the window, slowly turned his head to look at Luther, his eyes calm, as if he could see through to the very depths of Luther's heart.