The Divine Armor of the Old Century（Book 1）

Chapter 52

The melodious whistle interrupted the conversation between Brolin and Azure, and as he gazed upon her stunning profile, Brolin's eyes lowered, lost in thought.

The woman before him was so enigmatic; you might think you understand her, but it's merely a layer of beautiful disguise, much like her codename Azure. Like the vibrant kingfisher soaring through the woods, she eluded capture, free as the wind.

"It seems our guest has arrived," Brolin remarked, glancing towards the direction of the whistle outside the window.

"Guest?" Azure couldn't fathom who would come to this godforsaken place. Cold, dilapidated, and armed to the teeth with soldiers, even criminals would hesitate to venture here.

"It's my good detective, Lloyd Holmes. The Red Falcon radioed in earlier; he's on the train," Brolin explained.

"Is it the same Lloyd Holmes I've heard of?" Azure inquired.

Brolin nodded, confirming Azure's suspicion. The thought of dealing with this detective gave Brolin a headache; he didn't want to reveal his identity beyond being the "mob boss." After all, Lloyd was too sharp; just these clues alone were enough for him to deduce a lot.

The upcoming task was crucial, and Lloyd was a dangerous wildcard for Brolin. He was a double-edged sword; mishandling him could cut both ways.

"So, how do you plan to handle him?" Azure asked, gesturing towards the direction the Brightness Express was approaching.

"It's up to you. My suggestion? Knock him out as soon as you grab him, tie him up with some chains, and toss him somewhere. It won't kill him, but it'll keep him occupied for a while," Brolin replied, recalling Lloyd's troublesome nature. Ever since he stealthily infiltrated Brolin's circle after completing his acting training, Brolin had been extremely wary of him.

"Why me?" Azure was puzzled.

"It's simple; I don't want to deal with that lunatic," Brolin expressed his disdain.

"Well... I think you might have to face him sooner or later," Azure pointed out, raising her finger towards the dark direction behind Brolin.

Brolin seemed to realize something. He turned around to see the burning serpent rushing along the railway tracks under the pitch-black night, its blazing flames dragged endlessly by the fierce wind, painting a fiery streak across the earth.

More unsettling than this sight was the fact that the burning train continued to whistle like a cheerful Thomas.

"Everyone, get moving!" Brolin's furious roar echoed through the communication channels, prompting all the soldiers on the abandoned platform to spring into action. As the Brightness Express drew nearer, the Geiger counter began emitting a piercing sound. The distance between the two narrowed, and the cacophony intensified, eventually turning into a prolonged, piercing scream.

...

"It looks like we've arrived," Red Falcon remarked, observing the faint lights in the darkness, the electric lamps on the soldiers' helmets. He was right; there was indeed a mysterious unit here, and they were ready to intercept.

"No... we have to go back!" Red Falcon exclaimed, watching the burning carriages spew forth demons only to be slain moments later.

"Why? With me here, they can't get past us," Lloyd declared confidently, raising his sword. But clearly, Red Falcon's concern wasn't about these demons; he shouted,

"I mean them! They're carrying the Mechanist's new weapons. We'll be shredded standing on top of the carriage!"

Before his words could sink in, floodlights from the highest point of the platform shone upon the train. In that light, the twisted demons were exposed.