Chapter 93
Calm down, Aiden, calm down.
You can't swear.
He bought a third-class ticket and then left to head to the waiting room.
However, he soon heard a sound.
"Hey beautiful, wanna get some money?"
The speculator's voice rang out once again.
"How much."
"200 Victorian currency."
"What's up... Is this ticket genuine?"
"Sigh, I queued up for these tickets all night, how could I possibly..."
"I'm asking you, is this ticket guaranteed to be genuine?"
"... Are you deliberately trying to cause trouble?"
Aiden turned his head and looked at a young Kuranta girl with gray hair standing in front of the ticket scalper.
"Tsk, the watermark on the ticket is clearly different from that of the official ticket window, and the paper quality is rough and doesn't meet the standards... This is a fake ticket."
"You * Victoria * are using foul language to slander my vote, aren't you? I—"
"Victoria trainee RCMP officer, Constable code: Grani, sir, please come with me."
"All evil will eventually be brought to justice!"
Grani took out his badge and pinned the ticket scalper to the ground.
"Will all evil... ultimately be brought to justice...?"
Aiden sighed as he looked at the scene not far away.
I hope so.
Then, he looked down at his ticket, which showed his seat information.
Third-class ticket, carriage 11, seat number: 1b
"Steam trains, Victoria toys are getting more and more interesting."
The Bloodfiend Great Lord sat in the waiting room with a sofa, looking at the scarlet train ticket in his hand.
First-class ticket.
To save face for Kazdel, he naturally wouldn't allow himself to go to a carriage that didn't suit his status.
Anyway, the funding was approved by Theresis.
Waaaaah, a major blow! Double update canceled tonight.
Waaaaaah, ahhhhhhh!
My heart is like withered wood, twisted and lifeless, like a withered skeleton.
≈∥⒏∵⑹℃save%^?>!~⑼?Ⅲ‰{}∪its√q@!
This afternoon, I was discussing with everyone in the group what team-building activities to do on New Year's Eve. We're also waiting for tomorrow when we get our royalties, after which people in the group will give us a few monthly cards and a gift from Stardust.
That evening, my editor suddenly told me that the finance department might not be able to settle the payment before the end of the year.
It's highly unlikely that it will be sent tomorrow; it will have to wait until after the New Year. I'll try to finish before the 20th.
Waaah, I'm broke for Chinese New Year... Thank you. The air conditioning in the room is nice and warm, but the snow outside is hot, and I feel a tightness in my chest.
I'll go to bed early tonight and try to forget the tragic information I saw earlier.
That way, I can wake up tomorrow morning and convince myself that nothing happened, and then go back to writing as usual?
Chapter 50, The Train to Londinium
[I'm saying... next time, if possible, could you please change the connector location?]
Zuo Jian transformed into flesh and blood and merged into Laurentina's side, then handed over the luggage and belongings he was carrying to Laurentina.
"Phew, there's no other way. The station is so crowded; this is the only place we can get you back without you being noticed."
Laurentina got up, carrying the large bag containing small sizes, and then turned the handle of the toilet stall.
"Besides, the restrooms perfectly meet the requirements of avoiding crowds and having no surveillance cameras, so stop complaining."
[... But this is the women's restroom.]
"What's wrong with the women's restroom? Special circumstances shouldn't be restricted by such pointless dividing lines. Besides, I even saw several girls with long hair going into the men's restroom next door."
She walked to the mirror and smiled at her reflection, though it seemed more like she was doing it for Zuo Jian's benefit.
I think you shouldn't make assumptions about someone's personality so easily. What if they're just a guy who looks like a girl...?
"Unspeakable moans that could not pass censorship"
The groans that suddenly came from next door abruptly interrupted Zuo Jian's words, accompanied by a series of heavy gasps that rose and fell like waves.
The frequency was like ocean waves, each one faster than the last, and the pitch rose steadily until it pierced the walls and resounded around Laurentina.
"... I see, it's someone who looks like a girl..."
Laurentina listened to the heavy breathing coming through the wall and gave a look of sudden realization.
However, the next moment, several tentacles transformed into cat-ear-shaped earplugs that covered her ears.
The sudden isolation cut off Laurentina's ability to perceive sounds from next door.
[You're right, the neighbor is a woman. The world is going to the dogs; it's morally corrupt... Children shouldn't listen to this.]
"Huh? But didn't you just say the other person was more likely to be—"
[You misheard.]
"Hmm? Is that so?"
Laurentina asked in a teasing tone.
[Alright, alright! It's my fault! Let's go, let's go!]
As if admitting defeat, Zuo Jian shouted helplessly, then urged Laurentina to leave amidst the shouts coming from next door.
The outcome of this battle...
It was Zuo Jian's defeat.
"Huh? Shark, what are you doing so late?"
Skadi stood in the waiting room, watching Laurentina walk towards her carrying her luggage...
It also had a fluffy cat earmuff.
"What? Orca, what did you say?!"
Laurentina looked cheerful as she removed the earmuffs from her Zuo Jian and asked.
"I said... why did you guys come back so late?"
"Well, it's mainly because some issues arose during the handover— Victoria, you're really open-minded..."
Splat!
However, the next moment, the earmuff in her hand suddenly split into a tentacle with lightning speed, slapped her head, and then quickly retracted at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye.
Children should not relive those strange scenes!
"Tsk tsk, I never knew Zuo Jian was so innocent?"
Upon realizing Zuo Jian's reaction, Laurentina's smile deepened even more.
"What strange scene, and..."
[No... it's just that the location is a bit convoluted, nothing else particularly noteworthy.]
[No!]
At the end of his words, Zuo Jian made a point of repeating them.
At the same time, he secretly called out to Laurentina.
[And you! Stop reliving what just happened, it's unhealthy! Very unhealthy!]
"Yes, yes, I understand, I understand, I don't want to~"
Laurentina responded, her smile growing wider.
Looking at the two people in completely different states, or rather, one person and one insect.
Skadi tilted her head in confusion, but ultimately didn't say anything.
I have a feeling that there's nothing wrong with it?
Ladies and gentlemen, the train is about to arrive at the station--
Just then, the loudspeaker came on, breaking the eerie atmosphere in the three-person room.
[The train has arrived, Laurentina.]
An eye opened in the Zuo Jian, on the Sapphire brooch on Laurentina's chest.
Then, it used its tentacles to hand out two light blue train tickets from its pocket.
[Second Class, Carriage No. 5.]
The train attendants got off the train and began checking tickets one by one at the entrance of each carriage.
Laurentina stepped forward with Skadi in her arms and then handed the two tickets to the other person.
The flight attendant glanced at the tickets, then used a clipper to cut off a portion before handing them back to the two passengers.
Stepping into the carriage, the interior space was revealed to them.
"Wow, it's so crowded."
Laurentina was in the lead, smacked her lips and then found her seat according to her ticket.
On one side of the corridor, there was a small seat, and on the seat was a simple bed.
"... More spacious than the captain's transport vehicle."
Skadi glanced at the bed, then at the seat below, seemingly not as disgusted as Laurentina.
[Stop complaining, it's already pretty good. At least the carriage is clean, the layout is normal, and there are beds. This journey will probably take at least two days, so having beds will greatly reduce mental fatigue.]
[But speaking of which... it's quite similar, compared to the trains I remember.]
Laurentina sat in her seat, leaning against the side and looking out the window.
"Aegir's trains are much more spacious than this..."
[It's already pretty good; at least it's not unbearably crowded. You haven't seen worse conditions.]
"A worse environment?"
Laurentina frowned, somewhat curious about what kind of even worse environment Zuo Jian had described.
[... you wouldn't want to know.]
.
Third-class carriage.
The Doctor swallowed hard and stepped into the carriage, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.