Whoosh!
The whistle reverberated in every corner of the platform as the monster-like steam locomotive slowly came to a stop, dragging more than twenty carriages behind it.
Dressed in a tuxedo and a half top hat, Klein carried an exaggerated suitcase that didn't match his size as he steadily stepped onto the ground of Baekeland, the capital of the Kingdom of Rouen.
The city was split into two by the Tussock River, which flowed southeast to the sea. It was connected by Baekeland Bridge and ferries. With a population of more than five million, it was the most prosperous city in the Northern and Southern Continents.
Klein looked as far as he could and saw light yellow fog everywhere. Visibility was extremely poor. The hanging gas lamps on the platform had long been lit, dispelling the gloom and darkness.
It's only half-past six, right? It's like it's nine or ten … Klein shook his head indiscernibly as he suddenly recalled a joke he had read in the Tussock Times.
"A gentleman who had just arrived in Baekeland lost his way in the thick fog. He had no choice but to ask a drenched gentleman who passed by him how to get to the Tussock River. The gentleman replied in a very friendly manner, 'Go straight, don't stop. I just swam up from there.'" (Note 1)
Every time I read a newspaper or magazine in Baekeland, a bunch of reporters and editors would mock the air pollution here and the increasing number of foggy days … Previously, the Baekeland Daily even did a special statistical report, saying that similar weather had increased from about 60 days thirty years ago to about 75 days now … For this reason, many knowledgeable people have established organizations such as the Soot Reduction Association and the Smoke Reduction Association … It's said that there's a motion in September that proposes the establishment of the Kingdom's Atmospheric Pollution Investigation Committee … Klein put down the huge suitcase and pinched his nose to alleviate the sudden discomfort.
Then, he followed the golden chain and took out a gold watch from his vest pocket. He snapped it open and glanced at it to confirm the time.
After bidding farewell to his brother and sister, Klein specially went to a department store and spent four pounds and ten soli to buy a gold pocket watch and a gold chain that cost one pound and five soli.
To him, not being able to grasp the specific and clear time at all times would create a sense of panic.
Originally, Klein had planned on buying a silver pocket watch, feeling that it suited his temperament. However, after considering the true meaning of a Clown, he finally chose a more ostentatious and grandiose gold watch.
6: 39 … I'm not that late … Klein put away his pocket watch, picked up his cane and suitcase, and followed the crowd out of the steam locomotive station.
Suddenly, without warning, he turned a corner, and the person who had been quietly following him and had her hand in his pocket touched nothing.
Klein didn't pay attention to this interlude. He walked along the cement road, mixed in the crowd, and walked to the crossroads in front of him.
There were lawns and gardens in the middle of the street, surrounding a column that rose like a chimney.
"No, it might be a chimney …" Klein saw the thick smoke spurting out from the top of the pillar.
Part of the smoke floated up into the sky, while the other part turned into tiny water droplets and scattered in all directions.
Klein paused once again, put down his suitcase, and unfurled the newspaper and map in his other hand.
While riding the steam locomotive, he had already planned where he was going and what he was going to do next.
His recent experiences and the experience of pretending to be a Clown in the morning made Klein finally understand the true meaning of a Clown. That was, "Although one can slightly predict fate, one still feels helpless towards fate. Hence, one uses a smiling face to hide all the sadness, pain, confusion, and depression."
At that moment, he clearly felt the Clown potion being digested. He believed that if he continued acting like this, it wouldn't take long for him to attempt an advancement.
But the problem was that he still didn't know the name of the corresponding Sequence 7 potion, much less the specific formula.
How should I obtain the formula? The Secret Order rarely appears. They seem to only be interested in the items of the Antigonus family … This is also the reason why others don't know much about them. Hmm … I have to consider two aspects. One is to make contact with the local Beyonder circles to see if I can find any clues. The other is to take the initiative to set a trap and use the Antigonus family's treasure as bait to lure the members of the Secret Order out. After all, I have that strange vertical eye formed from many mysterious symbols.
But the risk is too great. I have to be careful. The bait I use can't be too good, nor can it be too bad. If it's too bad, others won't be interested. If it's too good, it'll be easy to hook a giant shark, one that can swallow me in one bite … The leader of the Secret Order, Zaratul, was a figure who guided Rosell The Great. Perhaps he even obtained the biggest piece of the cake from that feast of change … Of course, he might not be alive to this day. This was something that happened nearly two hundred years ago …
Amidst his thoughts, Klein felt the coldness of Baekeland. He couldn't help but shiver and decided to find a place to stay as soon as possible.
Flipping through the newspaper, he browsed through the housing rental section once again and saw the line he had previously circled.
"15 Minsk Street, Cherwood Borough … Terrace house … Weekly rent of 18 soli …"
As for where to stay, Klein had repeatedly thought about it. Although Baekeland had a population of more than five million, he still had to be wary of the possibility of encountering the local Nighthawks. Be it Daly, who had just been transferred here, or Lorotta, Aiur Harson, or Borgia, who previously belonged to Baekeland, they would definitely be able to recognize him.
Therefore, Klein eliminated the North Borough, where the headquarters of the Church of the Evernight Goddess's Baekeland diocese, where Saint Samuel Cathedral was located. He also eliminated Empress Borough and West Borough, which had the best security and strictest supervision. These two boroughs belonged to the nobles and top merchants, and the former was more inclined toward Empress Borough.
After eliminating a few industrial areas, the dock area, the East Borough where the poor gathered, and the Baekeland Bridge area, Klein didn't have many choices. First, it was Hillston Borough, which had the Baekeland Stock Exchange, clearing houses, futures centers, the headquarters of the seven major banks, various trust funds, various railway companies, and various bulk trading companies. It was known as the economic, commercial, and financial center of the Kingdom of Rouen. Second, it was Cherwood Borough, which had many small companies and residences.
These two boroughs had a large flow of people, and the security was relatively good, making it easy to hide. After serious consideration, Klein chose the cheaper Cherwood Borough.
The reason why he didn't seek out organizations like the Metropolitan Housing Improvement Association or the Metropolitan Working Class Housing Improvement Corporation was that these required identification, and he wasn't able to produce one at the moment.
If I can't successfully rent a house today, I'll find a motel that doesn't require identification to stay temporarily … Klein closed the items in his hands, picked up his suitcase, and walked towards what looked like a department store's entrance according to the map.
It was the entrance to the Baekeland subway.
Yes, the subway!
When Klein first saw the term "subway" in the newspapers and magazines, he was given a fright. He never expected that such a means of transportation had become a reality before they even entered the electrical age.
It was born twenty-five years ago. In the beginning, it connected the two banks of the Tussock River. Now, it had expanded to the main city. Of course, there weren't many stations.
After passing through the entrance, Klein followed the person in front of him and walked towards the ticket booth.
After waiting in line for a few minutes, he finally saw a ticket seller with beautiful blonde hair.
The lady didn't raise her head as she pointed at the wooden signboard hanging near the window.
"During peak hours (seven to nine in the morning, six to eight in the afternoon), there are ten minutes, and the remaining fifteen minutes. First-class seats are six pence, second-class seats are four pence, and third-class seats are three pence. The round-trip price is nine, six, and five pence respectively. The annual pass is eight pounds for a first-class seat, and five pounds ten soli for a second-class seat. There are no annual passes for third-class seats."
It's cheaper than I imagined … There's actually no distance restriction … Melissa will definitely like this better than a carriage. This is the crystallization of machinery … As Klein thought about it, he suddenly felt a little upset.
He revealed a bright smile, took out four copper pence, and handed it to the ticket seller.
"Second-class seats."
Pa! The ticket seller tore a ticket, stamped it, and handed it to Klein.
After finding the line that led to Cherwood Borough and passing through the not-so-strict inspection, Klein walked down the stairs and quickly arrived at the platform. Following the markings on the ground, he found the corresponding second-class seats.
Woo Woo Woo!
Not long after, he heard the sound of a steam whistle reverberating like thunder. He saw the head of a huge steam locomotive break through the illumination of the gas lamps on both sides with a majestic feeling of power, clattering to a stop.
Its massive shape, sinuous body, black metallic luster, and complicated machinery mixed together, giving it a unique sense of beauty.
Baekeland's subway still used steam locomotives. The smoke that spewed out was specially designed to pass through the pipes above, enter the chimney, and rush out to the outside world.
This was also the "true use" of the lawn and garden in the middle of the street.
Amidst the sound of metal scraping, Klein waited for the passengers in front of him to alight before he slowly walked up with his cane and suitcase, and he was checked by the ticket seller.
Unlike third-class seats, second-class seats were reserved for each person, so there was no need to worry about others snatching their seats. Just as Klein sat down, put down his suitcase, and leaned on his cane, he heard a series of hurried footsteps.
He subconsciously turned his head to the side of the door and saw a thin boy with a youthful face rush into the carriage.
The boy was wearing an old coat and a round hat that didn't match his age. He carried a worn-out satchel and had his head bowed low.
"Sorry, I got on the wrong carriage. I'm in third-class …" He flashed his ticket and apologized to the ticket seller before briskly walking towards the third-class carriage.
Klein retracted his gaze and confirmed his destination again as he waited for the carriage door to close.
At this moment, he heard a flurry of hurried footsteps. Following that, he saw a few men in black coats and half top hats rush into the carriage.
They're chasing after the fifteen-year-old boy? This thought instinctively surfaced in Klein's mind.
He shook his head slightly and continued reading his newspaper and map, no different from the other passengers in the carriage.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
