The Divine Armor of the Old Century（Book 1）

Chapter 46

Although night had fallen, the area remained brilliantly illuminated. Hundreds of electric lights shimmered beneath the steel and concrete dome, resembling a galaxy of stars. Transparent glass walls, several meters long, perfectly divided the vast space.

This was a marvel of human industry, known as the Central Train Station of Old Dunling. It was the beating heart of the city's transportation, with hundreds of railways extending from this central hub to every corner of Old Dunling. Enormous plumes of steam billowed out, condensing on the surrounding steel, making the air both damp and cold.

Lloyd stood at the edge of the platform, dressed in his usual attire: a black deerstalker hat and a dark coat over a white shirt, with the chain of a pocket watch peeking out from his vest pocket. He looked like an ordinary traveler, perhaps on his way to visit a friend, carrying a brown box in his arms. One corner of the box was slightly open, revealing vivid flowers inside.

Sitting on a nearby bench, Lloyd checked his pocket watch, standing statue-like amid the bustling crowd. He stayed that way for a long time, until the melodious sound of a steam whistle filled the air.

A great iron beast, spewing endless steam, approached slowly, pulling over twenty carriages behind it. Condensation formed cold droplets on the steel, like a giant serpent gliding over the earth. A bronze lion statue adorned the heavy engine, with white lettering on its rusty body declaring its name: the Glorious Steam Train. It had been built decades ago to commemorate the victory of the Glorious War, but most of these trains had been retired over time. Lloyd hadn't expected to see one today.

This train was part of the Midgard Serpent System, connecting the entire world. For just a few silver coins, one could travel anywhere in the world, a testament to the power of technology. Distance was no longer a barrier to progress, and even Lloyd could catch a train to the mysterious town of Ender tonight.

"Sir, do you need..."

"No, thank you," Lloyd interrupted as a porter approached, offering to carry his luggage. The porter, surprised by Lloyd's cold demeanor, quickly moved on, unfazed by the brief encounter.

Lloyd boarded the train and headed straight to his seat by the window. He set his heavy box down at his feet; despite his careful movements, anyone nearby could sense its weight. The box was filled with weapons for hunting demons.

Lloyd had never mentioned it openly, but he was a retired demon hunter. As he once told Sabo, becoming a priest was a prerequisite for becoming a Templar Knight, and the elite among them became demon hunters. Although all demons had supposedly been eradicated and Lloyd had enjoyed six years of retirement, the resurgence of these creatures violated his core principles. Regardless of any political or personal conflicts, he needed to find out why these damned things were back.

The train's destination was a city to the west, where significant mineral deposits had been discovered and development had begun, though it hadn't attracted much attention yet. Lloyd's target wasn't the city itself. According to the information he had gleaned from a map at the train station, the mysterious town of Ender had recently gained a railway connection, completed about three months ago. However, that railway wasn't open to the public. He would have to disembark and continue on foot when he got close.

Why would an almost forgotten town have a direct railway line? The very idea reeked of conspiracy. It turned out, as Lloyd had suspected, that about a year ago, an anonymous philanthropist had funded the construction of this railway for unknown reasons. But from what Lloyd had experienced so far, everything was becoming increasingly clear. It had all been premeditated.

The railway was a dedicated escape route for the Sacred Casket. Sabo's provisions were likely transported there via this line.

"What a bother..." Lloyd muttered to himself. Such elaborate measures couldn't be for transporting food just once. And no one knew what these "provisions" actually were. Given the railway's capacity and timeframe, the volume of goods transported would far exceed his initial estimates.

The atmosphere grew somber, as if he were venturing alone into the jaws of death. But Lloyd didn't care. This was his line in the sand. He had to investigate, no matter the cost.

As he mused, someone sat down across from him, smiling. "Good evening, sir. Are you on your way to visit a friend?"

The man, about Lloyd's age, was unremarkable in every way: ordinary clothes, ordinary looks, and an ordinary demeanor. Yet, all this ordinariness made him stand out.

He was so ordinary, he was conspicuous.

"Yes, it's been a long time since I visited him," Lloyd replied casually, his gaze falling on the box of flowers beside him. The intoxicating fragrance of the blossoms brought a sense of peace. A classic gift box from the local flower shop—a perfect choice when one can't decide on a gift.

"Long-lasting friendship, that's nice," the man across from him remarked.

"Yes, it does feel nice. And what about you? The west is quite backward. Unless it's for tourism, most people aren't keen to go there."

Faced with Lloyd's inquiry, the man thought for a moment, a hint of melancholy crossing his face before he sighed. "I don't want to go either, but it's for work."

"Work, you say? Let me guess..." Lloyd squinted his eyes, scrutinizing the man with his limited detective skills. If it was work-related, the west was mostly about mining. Yet this man was too clean, his fingers unmarked by coal dust, with no signs of labor in the mines. Despite his ordinary demeanor, there was a faint, peculiar scent—oil.

"A mechanic? Other than mining, the west does have mechanics. Something must have broken down, and you've been sent to fix it."

Bullseye. The man perked up, looking at Lloyd with curiosity. He had intended to pass the time with idle chatter, but he had stumbled upon someone interesting.

"How did you guess?"

"My roommate is a mechanic. Like you, he smells of oil, has calloused hands, and is always on call. When factory machines break down, he has to rush back, no matter where he is."

To be honest, this man, with a bit more weariness and dark circles, would be a perfect replica of Lloyd's roommate. This realization brought a sense of familiarity.

"I haven't seen him for almost half a month now. He's probably drowning in work at the factory."

"Gosh, I don't know what to say..." The man laughed awkwardly, scratching his head, clearly sympathetic to the woes of his own job.

"What about you? What do you do?" The man's curiosity about Lloyd grew.

"Hmm..." Lloyd pondered for a moment before responding. "A detective. A second-rate detective."

Lloyd didn't plan to elaborate on the specifics of his work. Catching cheaters or working for the Berlau—these weren't topics for casual conversation, let alone the more dangerous demon-hunting aspects of his job.

"A detective?" The word seemed to strike a chord with the man. This time, he truly looked at Lloyd, his eyes scanning him. Features that had been previously overlooked now began to match someone from his memory.

"And may I ask your name?" The man extended his hand, as if to confirm a suspicion while pretending to make a friendly gesture.

Lloyd naturally shook his hand, a bright smile stretching across his face. "Lloyd Holmes."

The man was momentarily taken aback by the detective's name, but he masked his reaction well, maintaining his smile.

"Kamu Naredo." The man introduced himself, still smiling.

Looking at the detective, who was hated by both Arthur and Berlau enough to want him dead, the man known as Red Falcon gave his name.