Anything really could turn up in the Wasteland.
The people of this world had actually created counterfeit trains like this, which could even carry Train Armaments.
But clearly, a fake was still a fake.
This thing was nothing but an empty shell.
It could not race through the Wasteland on voyages like a real [Train].
Even so, Ye Qiyan developed a keen interest in it.
They served the King of Chalk.
And they knew about Train Conductors and trains.
So...
"Your king also came from the Wasteland?"
The knight on the roof froze for a moment, then answered instinctively:
"The King Came from Heaven and bestowed his grace upon us."
This was one of their sayings, passed from child to child.
But the knight did not understand why he had suddenly said it.
Still, the knight knew.
The Wasteland was a mysterious, terrifying place.
And only outsiders-Train Conductors like the king they worshipped-could come here from that world.
So.
There was no mistake.
This man, who looked quite young, was the one they were searching for.
"Greetings, great Train Conductor. It seems something unexpected happened with our king's summons, preventing you from going directly to Chalk City and bringing you here among these... you can see them too, I presume?"
Ye Qiyan did not answer.
He merely looked at the girl beside him, whose face was filled with shock.
"Y-Ye, what... what are you talking about?"
"Anli."
Ye Qiyan spoke the girl's name.
"Charlie is still alive."
This was not a lie.
A nanite from the Nanite Swarm that Ye Qiyan had left on Charlie to observe him had indeed reported that he was still alive.
He was simply very far from this place.
Beyond the Nanite Swarm's consciousness-link range.
He reached out and pointed in a direction.
"That way.