Ugh!
The sound of the steam whistle echoed in every corner of the platform as the enormous, Monster Steam train, pulling more than twenty carriages, slowly came to a stop.
Dressed in a tailcoat and wearing a top silk hat, Klein carried an oversized leather suitcase that seemed disproportionate to his size and stepped steadily onto the ground of Backlund, the capital of the Kingdom of Loen.
The city is bisected by the Tussock River, which flows southeast to its mouth, and is connected by the Backlund Bridge and ferries. With a population of over five million, it is the most prosperous city in the Northern Continent.
Klein looked around and saw only a pale yellow mist everywhere, making visibility extremely poor. The gas lamps hanging on the platform had already been lit one by one, dispelling the gloom and darkness.
"It's only 6:30, but it feels like 9 or 10..." Klein shook his head almost imperceptibly, suddenly remembering a joke he had seen in the * Tussock Times *:
"A gentleman who had just arrived in Backlund got lost in the thick fog and had to ask a passing gentleman, who was soaking wet, for directions to the Tussock River. The gentleman very kindly replied, 'Go straight and don't stop. I just swam up from there.'" (Note 1)
Every time I read a Backlund newspaper or magazine, the reporters and editors are always finding ways to mock the air pollution here, and the increasing number of foggy days... The Backlund Daily even did a special statistic, saying that similar days have increased from about 60 days 30 years ago to about 75 days now... Because of this, many insightful people have established organizations such as the " Soot Abatement Society " and the " Smoke Abatement Society "... It is said that one of the proposals in September was to establish the " Kingdom Atmospheric Pollution Investigation Commission "... Klein put down his huge suitcase, reached out and pinched his nose to relieve the sudden discomfort.
Then, following the gold watch chain, he took out a gold watch from his vest pocket, snapped it on, glanced at it, and checked the time.
After finally saying goodbye to his brother and sister, Klein made a special trip to the department store and spent £4.10 Soli on a gold pocket watch, along with a gold chain that cost £ Soli.
For him, not being able to grasp specific, clear times at all times creates a sense of panic.
Klein originally intended to buy a silver pocket watch, feeling it suited his temperament, but considering the true essence of the " Clown," he ultimately chose a more flashy and extravagant gold watch.
"6:39... not too late..." Klein tucked his pocket watch into his pocket, picked up his cane and suitcase, and slowly walked out of the Steam train station with the crowd.
Suddenly, without warning, he turned a corner, leaving the person who had been secretly following him empty-handed when they reached into his pocket.
Klein paid no attention to this incident and walked along the paved road, blending into the crowded crowd, toward the intersection ahead.
There are lawns and gardens in the middle of the street, surrounding a pillar that stands like a chimney.
"No, it might just be a chimney..." Klein saw the thick smoke billowing from the top of the pillar.
Some of the smoke drifted into the sky, while some turned into tiny water droplets that sprinkled all around.
Klein paused again, put down his suitcase, and unfolded the newspaper and map he was holding in his other hand.
While riding the Steam train, he had already planned where he was going and what he was going to do next.
The experiences of this period and the mental state he had when he impersonated the Clown that morning finally made Klein realize the true meaning of " Clown ": "Although he can slightly foresee his Fate, he still feels helpless in the Fate, so he uses a smile to cover up all his sadness, pain, confusion and frustration."
At that moment, he clearly felt the effects of the " Clown " Potion taking effect, and he believed that if he continued to Acting like this, it wouldn't be long before he could try to advance in rank.
The problem is that he doesn't know the name of the corresponding Sequence 7 Potion, let alone the specific recipe.
"How do we obtain the formula? The Secret Order rarely appears; they seem only interested in the Antigonus Family's items... This is why others know almost nothing about them. Hmm... Consider two approaches: one is to contact the local circle of Beyonder to see if we can find any clues; the other is to set a trap, using the Antigonus Family's treasure as bait to lure the Secret Order out. After all, I possess that eerie vertical pupil composed of numerous mysterious symbols."
"But the risk is too great, we must be extremely cautious. The bait we use can't be too 'good' or too 'bad.' If it's too 'bad,' no one will be interested; if it's too 'good,' we'll easily catch a giant shark that can swallow my giant shark whole... Zaratul, the leader of the Secret Order, was a figure who guided Emperor Roselle, and perhaps he even got the biggest slice of that era's transformative feast... Of course, he might not be alive today; that all happened nearly two hundred years ago..."
Amidst a flurry of thoughts, Klein felt the chill of Backlund and couldn't help but shiver. He decided to find a place to stay as soon as possible.
Flipping through the newspaper, he browsed the rental section again and saw the one he had circled earlier:
"15 Minsk Street, Cherwood Borough... Townhouse... Weekly rent 18 Soli..."
Klein had given much thought to where he should live. Although Backlund had a population of over five million, he still had to be wary of encountering local Nighthawks. Whether it was Daly, who had just been transferred here, or Lolota, Al Hasson, Borgia, who had been with Backlund before, they would definitely recognize him.
Therefore, Klein ruled out the North Borough, where the Church of the Evernight Goddess's Backlund parish headquarters, " Saint Samuel Cathedral," was located, as well as the Queens Borough and West Borough Districts, which had the best security and strictest supervision and belonged to nobles and top-tier wealthy merchants, with the former being more inclined towards the Queens Borough.
After excluding several Factory Borough, Dock Borough, the East Borough of the East District, and the Backlund Bridge Area, Klein's choices were limited. One was Hillston Borough, home to the Backlund Stock Exchange, clearinghouse, futures center, headquarters of the seven major banks, various trust funds, railway companies, and bulk commodity trading companies, known as the economic, commercial, and financial center of the Kingdom of Loen. The other was Cherwood Borough, filled with small companies and numerous residences.
Both areas have high foot traffic and relatively good security, making them easy to hide in. After careful consideration, Klein chose the Cherwood Borough, where the rent was cheaper.
The reason he didn't approach organizations like the " Metropolitan Housing Improvement Association " or the "Metropolitan Working Class Housing Improvement Company" is because these organizations require certain identification documents, which he currently lacks.
"If I can't find a place to rent today, I'll find a small hotel that doesn't require identification to stay in temporarily..." Klein put down what he was carrying, picked up his suitcase, and headed towards what looked like the entrance to a department store, following the map's directions.
That's the entrance to the Backlund Metro.
Yes, the subway!
When Klein first saw the word "subway" in newspapers and magazines, he was really shocked. He never expected that such a mode of transportation would become a reality before the advent of the electrical age.
It was established 25 years ago, initially connecting both banks of the Tussock River, and has now expanded to the main urban areas, although there are not many stations.
Klein followed the people in front of him through the gate, walking step by step towards the ticket booth.
After queuing for several minutes, he finally saw the ticket seller with beautiful blonde hair.
The young woman didn't look up, but pointed to the price tag hanging near the window:
During peak hours (7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM), trains run every 10 minutes; otherwise, every 15 minutes. First class costs 6 pence, second class 4 pence, and third class 3 pence. Round trips cost 9, 6, and 5 pence respectively. Annual passes are £8 for first class, Soli 5.10 for second class, and there are no annual passes for third class.
It's cheaper than I expected... and there's no distance limit... Melissa will definitely like this more than a carriage; it's the culmination of mechanical engineering... Klein thought about it and suddenly felt a little sad.
He flashed a bright smile, pulled out four copper pennies, and handed them to the ticket seller:
Second-class seat.
Snap! The ticket seller tore up a ticket, stamped it, and handed it to Klein.
After finding the line leading to the Cherwood Borough and passing through a not-so-strict check, Klein descended the stairs and quickly arrived at the platform. Following the markings on the ground, he found his seat in second class.
Waaaaah!
He didn't wait long before he heard a booming, thunderous whistle and saw a huge Steam locomotive burst through the gaslights on either side with tremendous power, then came to a loud, clanging stop.
Its massive size, winding body, black iron color, and complex mechanics combine to create a unique aesthetic.
Backlund's metro still uses Steam trains, and the billowing smoke, through a unique design, enters the chimney through pipes above and flows out into the outside world.
This is the "real purpose" of street lawns and gardens.
Amidst the metallic scraping sounds, Klein waited for the passengers ahead to disembark before slowly walking up, carrying his cane and suitcase, and having his ticket checked by the flight attendant.
Unlike third-class seats, second-class seats are for one person only, so there's no need to worry about someone taking your seat. Klein had just sat down, put down his suitcase, and leaned against his cane when he heard a series of hurried footsteps.
He subconsciously turned his head to look at the door and saw a thin, youthful-looking boy hurriedly enter the carriage.
The boy was wearing an old, Round Tower- out coat that didn't suit his age, a bowler hat, and a tattered satchel, his head bowed low.
"Excuse me, I got on the wrong carriage. I'm in third class..." He showed his ticket, apologized to the conductor, and then quickly walked towards his seat in the third-class carriage.
Klein looked away, reconfirmed his destination, and waited for the carriage doors to close.
Just then, he heard a series of hurried footsteps and saw several men in black coats and top hats rush into the carriage.
Was he chasing after that fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy? This thought instinctively popped into Klein's head.
He shook his head slightly and continued reading his newspaper and map, just like the other passengers in the carriage.
Note 1: This joke comes from an old United Kingdom magazine, "Punch".