Chen Ling and the other three walked into the train car.
This train had a total of six cars. Five were exclusively for freight, and only one could seat passengers. As soon as Chen Ling and the others boarded the train, they saw four figures sitting together, similarly dressed in Law Enforcer uniforms.
If nothing unexpected happened, they should be the same batch of Law Enforcers heading to the Ancient Vault of the Military Path.
"A-3... right here." Following the signs, Zhong Yaoguang found his seat and was the first to sit by the window.
"What a pity. If I had known earlier, I would have brought some fruits and snacks so the journey wouldn't be so boring."
"If you want to eat, I have some right here." Another peer handed over a bag of Sunflower Seeds from his bag.
"Thanks."
Chen Ling had no interest in cracking Sunflower Seeds, because ever since he boarded the train, he saw the fog on the window condense into two lines of characters:
【Audience Expectation Value +7】
'Something's not right...'
Every time he saw the Audience Expectation Value inexplicably rise, Chen Ling's entire body would tense up, because this usually meant something was about to happen.
"Chen Ling, aren't you going to eat some?" Zhong Yaoguang proactively offered the Sunflower Seeds to Chen Ling.
Chen Ling narrowed his eyes slightly. This time he didn't refuse, but took the Sunflower Seeds, crushed them in his hand, and watched them drift to the ground bit by bit...
'No poison.'
Chen Ling became thoughtful.
"..." Zhong Yaoguang's eyelids twitched slightly. "Chen Ling... even if you don't want to eat them, you don't have to do this, right? You could have just said no."
Since they met, Chen Ling's attitude had been incredibly cold, seeming entirely unwilling to get close to them.
To be honest, Zhong Yaoguang didn't reject this kind of personality; after all, everyone grew up in different environments. But Chen Ling's current actions really made him feel it was a bit excessive.
"Stop arguing, be quiet for a bit." Chen Ling was currently frowning, carefully looking for what was wrong, and had no interest in bickering with him at all.
The Expectation Value had suddenly risen after they boarded the train, so there must be a problem on this train!
"Chen Ling, you..."
"Alright, alright, stop arguing." Jiang Qin timely spoke up to mediate. "We are all colleagues from District Three. What's there to argue about over such a small matter... Chen Ling is tired, let him rest for a while.
Zhong Yaoguang, aren't you bored? How about the three of us play some cards?"
Seeing Jiang Qin speak up, although Zhong Yaoguang was displeased, he didn't say much more. Since Chen Ling didn't want to socialize, then forget about him.
"Alright."
Jiang Qin seemed to have come prepared. He pulled out a deck of poker cards from his bag and started playing with Zhong Yaoguang and the other.
Chen Ling's gaze swept across half the train car. Even with the enhancement of the Secret Pupil, he didn't find any problems... Moreover, he didn't know much about the trains of this era, making it difficult to gather any useful intelligence.
Thus, Chen Ling's gaze landed on the four Law Enforcers at the next table.
"Which district are those Law Enforcers from?" Chen Ling asked suddenly.
"District Five and District Six."
Jiang Qin glanced at the numbers on their uniforms. "Sure enough, only four people came... just like on the list."
Seemingly sensing Chen Ling's gaze, those four Law Enforcers also turned their heads to look at him. After exchanging glances, they looked away and calmly gazed out the window.
Chen Ling remembered that since boarding the train, he hadn't heard those four say a single word... not even chatting among themselves.
Chen Ling frowned slightly. He vaguely felt something was wrong but couldn't quite place it.
"Which district is Winter Harbor in?"
"The border of District One and District 2... What's wrong?"
"Winter Harbor should be further away from the other great districts. Besides taking the train, they have no other way to get here." Chen Ling's brain raced.
"But why... are there only us and the people from District Five and District Six on this train?"
Jiang Qin froze. "Maybe District Seven is too far, so they took the train over yesterday?"
"Then what about District 4? District Five and District Six both chose to depart today. There's no reason District 4 wouldn't take this train... Where are they?"
Zhong Yaoguang spoke faintly, "It's fine as long as we got on the train. Why do we care if the people from District 4 got on or not?"
Chen Ling completely ignored his words because he felt he had grasped something.
"Officer Jiang Qin, how many people came from District 4 this time?"
"About ten?"
While the two were conversing, Zhong Yaoguang, who was getting impatient waiting for his cards, propped his head on one hand and glanced out the window.
"Huh?"
"What's wrong?" his peer beside him asked.
"Are my eyes playing tricks on me?" Zhong Yaoguang rubbed his eyes, staring wide-eyed out the window. "...Where are the tracks??"
The moment this sentence was spoken, everyone froze for a moment. Chen Ling quickly looked out the window. The broken snow was being swept up by the wind created by the Steam Train, dancing all over the sky. Everything outside was a vast whiteness, and at some point, the tracks the train was running on had disappeared.
"Gentlemen, please remain seated and do not walk around without permission." A Train Stewardess carrying a black basket stepped forward. The basket was full of snacks and fruits for sale. Reaching one hand into the basket, she smiled and asked,
"Would you like anything?"
Zhong Yaoguang and the other two were all stunned for a moment. Just as they were about to say something, Chen Ling's voice suddenly rang out!
"Watch out!!"
Bang——!!
A thunderous gunshot echoed inside the train car. A bullet pierced through the basket and instantly struck the head of Zhong Yaoguang, who was closest.
The next moment, Zhong Yaoguang's bewildered head exploded, splattering red and white matter onto the other peer sitting next to him, turning him entirely bloody!
This sudden turn of events terrified him and Jiang Qin silly. Immediately after, the Train Stewardess pulled the trigger again!
But almost simultaneously, a whip kick fiercely struck the bottom of the basket, completely overturning it!
Bang——
With the second gunshot, the bullet embedded into the iron skin of the train, scraping out a piercing screech.
Jiang Qin was a veteran Law Enforcer after all; his reaction was extremely fast. He immediately flashed in front of the Train Stewardess and smashed a right hook into her temple. The terrifying force sent her flying, crashing into the seats aside!
He drew his Handgun from his waist with lightning speed. The moment his muzzle aimed at the Train Stewardess, another bullet shot over from a distance!
This time, the ones firing were the four Law Enforcers from District Five and District Six sitting by the window.
They sat calmly in their seats, squinting their eyes, their gazes toward Chen Ling and the others full of mockery.
The bullet pierced through Jiang Qin's palm. He let out a tragic cry, and the Handgun fell to the ground with a clatter.
At the same time, a figure appeared at each of the two entrances of the train car. One was a Middle-Aged Man wearing a Train Conductor's uniform, and the other was a male steward. The two stared fixedly at Chen Ling and the others, sneering:
"Nice reaction... Unfortunately, you can't get away."
"Number 17, if you don't make your move now, that kid's blood will run cold soon."
The Train Stewardess who was knocked down by Jiang Qin's punch also slowly stood up. She shot Jiang Qin a venomous glare, then walked over to Zhong Yaoguang, whose head had been blown off by a gunshot, and placed her palm on his face.
A flash of gray light passed, and the skin and features of Zhong Yaoguang's face vanished out of thin air, leaving only a bare, bloody visage staring blankly at the ceiling.
The next moment, the Train Stewardess's face twisted violently, gradually transforming into Zhong Yaoguang's appearance...
She stole Zhong Yaoguang's face.
Seeing this scene, Jiang Qin's eyes widened in disbelief!
"Path of the Thief... You are Fire-Stealers?!"