Beginning (A New Arc Begins~)

"So that means you know nothing about the current situation of Rail Zeppelin [Rail Zeppelin], right?"

"What happened?"

"It's nothing serious, just an attack."

"Okay, I understand."

After hearing Touko Aozaki's words, Rojian nodded nonchalantly. However, she then realized what was happening and glared at Touko Aozaki.

"So, this is your reason for disturbing my rest?"

Seeing Rojian's displeased expression, Touko Aozaki seemed to have guessed it all along and revealed a meaningful smile.

"What if I told you that the person who attacked the train was one of the Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors, just like you?"

"... Who is it?"

After a brief silence, Rojian's voice was so cold it seemed to freeze the entire room.

Every Dead Apostle possesses an extremely strong sense of territory, Rojian was no exception.

Although Rojian the Rail Zeppelin was merely a pastime during her long years.

Therefore, in her view--

The so-called [Rail Zeppelin] is nothing more than a toy that can be discarded at will. It's already more than enough that I was able to find a temporary manager for it after I left.

Even so, it's still my own toy; how could I let other naughty kids touch it?

As for Touko Aozaki, one of only two people in the room, she smiled and softly uttered a name—

"[Night of Wallachia]"

"What is this thing?"

Looking at the sphere in front of him, which resembled a black hole, Wang Xiaoming turned to Kayneth beside him and asked a question.

"[Night of Wallachia], that is, the main force behind the entire incident."

Kayneth, being very reliable, immediately gave an answer. However, after carefully examining the black sphere in front of him, Kayneth couldn't help but frown.

"At this rate... [TATARI] is almost complete."

[Reality Marble. TATARI], one of the abilities of the Night of Wallachia.

By inciting people's fears, turning them into rumors and spreading them, until they eventually develop into a system of explicit "obvious things," becoming something like [an urban legend that only lasts a summer].

Whenever a rumor takes shape, the Night of Wallachia manifests within this [barrier]. However, the form and abilities it takes depend on the scale of the rumor and the fear people feel.

"As expected of [Lord], El-Melloi."

Words of praise rang out from within the black sphere.

"Let's skip the unnecessary sarcasm; I sensed this from the beginning—"

Kayneth wasn't going to take the compliment seriously, which was full of sarcasm.

"Using the enclosed and cramped environment of the Rail Zeppelin, he promotes his growth by spreading rumors about the Mystic Eyes of Petrification and fabricating murder scenes that show the phenomenon of being petrified."

Such an obvious thing, I originally...

"That's right, you had the ability to prevent all of this from happening."

The sound emanating from the black sphere was somewhat smug.

"With your prestige as [Lord], you could easily have stopped this train and stopped the spread of the rumors. But now, [the TATARI (rumor)] has taken shape, and you've missed this opportunity because of your hesitation."

"So what?"

Kayneth's voice remained unchanged.

"If you don't transform 'TATARI' into a physical entity, what can you do in this state? You're just a big sphere."

"..."

"However, to be honest... I'm a little curious, what kind of form can you manifest through this rumor of [petrification]?"

Looking at the silent black sphere, a meaningful smile unconsciously appeared on Kayneth's lips.

"Medusa? Or... Gorgon?"

"As expected of [Lord], El-Melloi."

The same praise came from the sphere again, but this time, Kayneth and Wang Xiaoming could still hear the sincerity in it.

"That's right. In my plans, I once envisioned becoming [Medusa], after all, she is the only one in mythology known for [petrification]."

However, I now have a new goal...

After a suspenseful pause, the Night of Wallachia finally provided the answer—

"It is you, Mr. Wang. The information emanating from your soul tells me that you have an object of far greater fear than Medusa!"

That fear mixed with disgust is the most delicious [food] ever!

"Hey, hey, hey, you can't be serious?!"

Wang Xiaoming vaguely guessed what was going on, tried to stop the other party's next move, but it was too late.

A sound like an eggshell breaking emanated from the black sphere, and a thick fog of smoke gradually filled the entire room.

"If you notice anything wrong with me later, run away right away. Okay?"

Taking advantage of the obscured vision by the smoke and dust, Wang Xiaoming quickly gave Kayneth some instructions.

"Want to run? No problem, run all you want. You'll be fleeing for your lives in my hunting grounds!"

As the smoke and dust gradually dissipated, a figure slowly emerged.

"Ah~ how wonderful~~~"

Feeling the powerful energy emanating from her body, Night of Wallachia revealed an expression of ecstasy.

With a mere gesture, one can move mountains and fill seas; a person possessing such power must have already entered the [realm of gods]. As for his name—

"Now, let me introduce myself to everyone..."

But before he could utter this sentence, he was interrupted by a voice filled with madness and fury—

"A--Chrys--Lius!!!"

[Note: Thus, until dawn, Wang Xiaoming's rationality remained dominated by the rage emanating from a certain queen.]

Although Rojian has given up on the Rail Zeppelin, it is still, after all, her toy.

Therefore, necessary surveillance measures are still required.

However, this surveillance experience was probably not a pleasant one for Rojian.

"Is this what you want me to see?"

After turning her gaze away from the surveillance footage, Rojian looked at Touko Aozaki with a strange expression.

Rojian had initially thought that Touko Aozaki's purpose in visiting was to use her to resolve the issue of the Night of Wallachia, but now it seemed that she had been overthinking things.

That guy didn't need my help at all; he single-handedly tore through the Night of Wallachia until dawn. If it weren't for the [Reality Marble: TATARI] running out of time, the Night of Wallachia would probably have wanted to die.

No, perhaps he didn't actually want to die?

What if he's not actually dead?!

As one of the Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors, Rojian naturally understood the conditions for the end of the Night of Wallachia.

Aside from the factor of time, the only way to end [Night of Wallachia] is to revert him back to his [original form], which is the Dead Apostle form named [Tsbia Eltnam Oberon].

But under Wang Xiaoming's brutal torture...

When did you meet this lover?

Rojian looked at Touko Aozaki with suspicion.

"If you have the energy to think about something that doesn't even exist, then why don't we first discuss how you'll be paid for helping maintain order on the train?"

"Compensation...?"

After hearing Touko Aozaki's words, Rojian glanced again at the [Rail Zeppelin] in the image, which was almost reduced to wreckage.

Without several years of repairs, restoring this level of damage to operation would be nothing short of wishful thinking.

However, due to the terrifying destructive power of "someone's lover," Rojian ultimately signed her name "humiliatingly" on the unequal treaty offered by Touko Aozaki.

See you next time you wake up.

Watching Touko Aozaki's figure disappear into the room, Rojian muttered to herself:

"He left in such a hurry, he must be rushing to see his lover."

(The Rail Zeppelin Chapter - End)

PS2: I'd also like to recommend a book.

<The King of Marvel Cinematic Universe>

It's a slow-burn book, but the author's character is guaranteed.

(Above)

Chapter 376. The Beginning (New Volume Starts~)

Early in the morning, as I gently entered Fuyuki City in early winter, the sky was still just beginning to lighten.

Shirou had already gotten up and washed up, had just walked down the stairs to prepare breakfast for his family in the kitchen when he was surprised to find that his "destination" had already been taken by someone else.

"Good morning... Oh, Dad, it's you?"

Pushing open the kitchen door, Shirou, who had assumed his younger sister was busy in the kitchen, was surprised to find his father there.

"Hey kid, what are you looking at? Get over here and help!"

Hearing the noise behind him, Wang Xiaoming turned around and glanced at his own son. Upon discovering it was his son, he began to order him around without any hesitation.

So much so that--

"Uncle?"

Sakura, who arrived in the kitchen a few minutes later, saw the busy father and son and wondered if today was some kind of funny holiday.

Then the answer was found--

[Obviously not]

Mission accomplished.

Looking at the elegantly laid-out breakfast on the table, Wang Xiaoming wiped non-existent beads of sweat from his forehead and then turned to look at his son again.

"You brat, you haven't done your homework for today, have you?"

"Uh, not yet..."

Upon hearing his father's question Shirou felt a strange sense of unease, but he still answered truthfully in the end.

"That's perfect, I'd like to stretch my muscles too."

Wang Xiaoming said this.

And then--

"Be careful on your way home, and remember to go home early after school."

After a series of "warm-up activities," Wang Xiaoming, standing in the entryway, watched his two children leave the house.

"Uncle went too far."

Recalling her brother's bruised and swollen face from earlier, Sakura complained with a touch of heartache.